Apple AirPods 2 undergoes Bluetooth certification

We may or may not be seeing the second iteration of Apple’s AirPods soon. The accessory is currently undergoing certification by the Bluetooth SIG, according to a declaration form published online. It’ll reportedly come with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and is listed under model numbers A2031 and A2032. With this certification process happening, it’s usually a sign that the device launch is upon us. Other trademark filings have also unveiled possible new features of the AirPods 2. Filings in Europe and Hong Kong suggest we’re going to get things like its own health tracking sensor. According to MySmartPrice, “It also covers monitors, speakers and displays of measuring, displaying, tracking, reporting, monitoring, storing, and transmitting biometric data, heart rate, body movement, and calories burned." We won’t be surprised though if the AirPods 2 gets these feature. With Apple honing in on its health- and fitness-related features, it makes sense it brings these to more of its devices.

Google Maps is testing out crash, speed trap reporting

It seemed inevitable, or rather expected, that Google would be making use of some of Waze’s features. And that day seems to have arrived—at least for some users. Reports surfaced online that Google Maps is letting some Android users report crashes and speed traps while they navigate, similar to what you can do on navigation app Waze. For those who are part of the test, they see a new “+” report sign at the bottom left of the display. It does only show up though when you navigate with the app. And whether it’s going to be a feature we’ll see in the future is still up in the air. Google hasn’t made a comment on the report just yet.

Source: CNET

Microsoft Word aims for productivity boost by automatically making to-do lists for users

A new beta feature being tested out by some Mac for Office Insiders brings added productivity features to Microsoft Word. The word processor can now automatically detect notes and messages you leave for yourself and others and turn these into actionable to-do lists. All you need to do is type in things like “todo” or “<insert something here>” in a document and Word’s AI-powered writing assistant Editor will create a list based on these items. It can even suggest things based on recent documents and files. For example, if you type in "<insert graph here>," it’ll show you recent charts you’ve worked on. If you’re collaborating with someone in a Word document, you can @-mention these colleagues to let them know what tasks need to be done. The tagged person will get an email and can even take action on the document by replying directly to said email.

As mentioned, it’s first available to Mac for Office Insiders who are on the Fast level, which is a group of users that get features first to provide feedback. Slow level Insiders will get a more stable version at a later date. The Windows version is expected to land in the coming weeks. It’ll eventually be rolled out to all existing Office 365 users. The other Office apps will get the feature later on.

 Source: Engadget

Netflix to launch six new animated films and series

With Disney gearing up to launch its own streaming service, Netflix is steadily adding its own slate of kid-friendly content. Right now, the streaming service is adding two new films and four series to its roster. The new films are My Father’s Dragon and The Willoughbys. The former tells the story of a young runaway who goes off in search of a captive dragon. It’ll be made by Oscar-nominated director Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner) and will be written by Oscar-nominated writer Meg LeFauve (Inside Out). The latter is an adaptation of a Lois Lowry novel about four children who have been abandoned by their parents. Production has already begun with big names—including Ricky Gervais, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, and Jane Krakowski, to name a few—attached to the project.

As for the shows, there’s Jorge Gutierrez’s (The Book of Life) Maya and the Three, which he describes as “Mexican Lord of the Rings, but hilarious.” It’s going to feature a heroine, who’s half human and half divine. It’ll be set in a mythical Mesoamerican-inspired world. There’s also Craig McCracken’s (Powerpuff Girls) Kid Cosmic, which is about a boy who dreams of becoming a superhero but then struggles with his powers once he becomes one. There will also be Trash Truck and Go! Go! Cory Carson. Both are geared towards preschool-aged kids. All the six projects are expected to hit the service between the years 2019 and 2021.

Source: Variety