Indoor Nest Cam IQ gets support for Google Assistant

Nest just updated its indoor Cam IQ security camera to add support for Google Assistant. The move seems in line with Nest being merged into Google’s hardware division fairly recently. However, Nest made the announcement about this feature back in September but thankfully it’s finally here. When you use the usual “OK Google” commands, the Cam IQ’s blue light will shine to let you know it’s listening. It’ll let you do basic web searches, create shopping lists, set reminders, dim the lights, and change the temperature. But you can’t use it to control the Cam IQ itself. You can’t use your voice to turn it on and off just yet. But who knows if Google plans to add this in the future. It must also be noted that this update won’t be coming to the outdoor version of the Cam IQ.

Source: Engadget

Time to say goodbye to Swype

The keyboard app responsible for making swipeable virtual keyboard an essential feature is going away. Nuance, the company who bought Swype around six years ago, just announced it’s discontinuing the app for both iOS and Android. Users can still use it as normal and will continue to have access to tech support in the coming months despite it being taken out of the app stores. Nuance it seems wants to put its focus on its other products, specifically mentioning their artificial intelligence-powered solutions.

In a statement sent to The Verge, Nuance said, “the core technology behind Swype will continue to be utilized and improved upon across other Nuance offerings—and integrated into our broader AI-powered solutions—most notably in Android-based keyboard solutions for our automotive customers.”

Spotify might be getting serious about entering the hardware game

We’ve seen job listings for Spotify in the past that showed the streaming services wanted to create “category defining product(s) akin to Pebble Watch, Amazon Echo, and Snap Spectacles.” There was also mention of the company wanting to include voice control features. It looks like Spotify is pushing forward somewhat with the idea with new job postings showing up for a Project Manager, Senior Project Manager, and an Operations Manager that will help the company “on its way to creating its first physical products” and help with “creating innovative Spotify experiences” via connected hardware. Spotify is said to be setting up its operational organization for “manufacturing, supply chain, sales, and marketing.” It is evident the company wants to develop hardware that is unique to its brand, much like Pebble Watch and Snap Spectacles. Whether we get to see this soon is a question we can’t answer just yet. The company has declined to comment on the matter.

Source: Music Ally

Leak shows Samsung Galaxy S9 design being shown off in augmented reality

At this point we’ve seen most of the big features we can expect from Samsung’s upcoming flagship. And if you thought there wasn’t anything else to leak, apparently there’s one more thing. A capable Reddit user was able to tear down the Unpacked 2018 mobile app and found a hidden feature. The attendees of Samsung’s Unpacked event at Mobile World Congress will be able to see the Galaxy S9 in augmented reality. All they need to do is tap their phone against the event badge to see the back of the device and see the various colors the phone will be coming in. Samsung is set to unveil the Galaxy S9 on February 25^th.

Source: The Verge