Google tries to make an AirDrop competitor called Fast Share

It looks like Google wants to build its own take on Apple’s AirDrop feature. Called Fast Share, this will take the place of the deprecated, NFC-based Android Beam. The aim is to simplify file sharing between devices, including Android phones, Chromebooks, and possibly even iPhones. Everything from photos, files, to URLs and text snippets are supposedly going to be shareable to nearby devices without using the internet. According to 9to5Google, it’ll use Bluetooth with Location enabled, having physical proximity factored in. It can be accessed through the Share menu or by heading to Settings > Google > Fast Share. And you can give frequent senders “Preferred Visibility.” This feature seems to in testing right now. But if it goes public, do you see yourself using it?

Publishers reportedly concerned over revenue it’s gained from Apple News+

Apple News+ seems to be off to a rocky start and the publishers have started to notice. According to a report from Business Insider, multiple publishers have expressed their concern about the early numbers and revenue they’re getting and how it isn’t living up to what Apple promised. The subscription revenue they’ve gotten from the service was reportedly underwhelming, based on the first two months of data after the trial ended. According to the report, one publishing executive said Apple projected publishers would get 10 times the revenue they made from Texture at the end of the first year of Apple News+. But it’s “one-twentieth of what they said” and “it isn’t coming true.” And that the subscription revenue right now is lower or on par with what they got from Texture, which is a small subscription driver to begin with.

Another issue is that the layout and magazine structure doesn’t seem to be conducive for news and that users are getting confused over the free stories and the new paid content. Apple is said to be taking on the feedback from its publishers and will use this moving forward. There isn’t any concrete plan yet, but Apple certainly has its work cut out for it.

Source: iMore

Canadian Reviewer Weekly Roundup – 6/23 – 6/29

Apple’s legendary designer Jony Ive leaves the company to put up his own design firm

YouTube will let you try on makeup while watching tutorials with the help of AR

‘Queer Eye’ is coming back for Season 4 and 5

Netflix Hack Day project brings phone vibrations to action sequences

Chinese smartphone maker Vivo teases Super FlashCharge tech that can charge a 4,000mAh phone in 13 minutes

Folding Microsoft Surface that can run Android apps is tipped to launch in the Q1 of 2020

Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro might get an update in September

‘Harry Potter: Wizards Unite’ is now available in Canada

Apple acquires self-driving car startup Drive.ai

Samsung is reportedly working on a folding clamshell phone

Google starts rolling out Android Auto’s new interface

OPPO debuts its under-screen camera

Apple patent shows the company thought of putting a camera in the Apple Watch’s band

Samsung Galaxy Buds update fixes Ambient Sound problem as well as improves on audio quality

Facebook tests out a feature that’ll let you mute notification dots

Google patent shows a foldable ‘smart book’ with multiple screens

Apple’s new AirPods ad promotes its wireless charging case

Waymo starts offering self-driving minivans for Lyft riders

Waymo starts offering self-driving minivans for Lyft riders

If you find yourself in Waymo’s Phoenix, Arizona testing zone, you might be able to get a self-driving Lyft ride. The autonomous driving subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet launched its tie-in with ride-hailing service Lyft. Less than 10 self-driving minivans are roaming the streets of Phoenix and picking up Lyft riders who opt-in with the program. According to TechCrunch, Waymo plans to introduce 10 cars in the testing zone but it “isn’t there yet.” While not a lot of people will get to use the service, those who decide to be part of the testing can choose to use the Waymo minivan or a traditional Lyft ride.

This partnership doesn’t mean Waymo isn’t working on its own projects. The company still has its own commercial autonomous ride-hailing service called Waymo One. Earlier this month, Waymo struck a deal with Nissan and Renault to help build self-driving vehicles for those automakers.