You can turn Netflix movies and shows into audiobooks

Sometimes you don’t want to watch things but have them play in the background. That’s You can actually do that with some Netflix movies and TV shows. Netflix has a category called Audio Descriptions within the app. It’s the last category after Thrillers. Basically it offers audio descriptions or voiceovers of what the characters are doing in a scene. Think of it like turning the movie or show into an audiobook or podcast of sorts. It’s currently available for a limited number of titles but from my end I see Netflix shows like Marvel’s Punisher, Chef’s Table, Master of None, Glow, 13 Reasons Why, and movies like Sausage Party, Jurassic World, Minions, etc. (This, of course, changes to what shows are available in your region.)

Source: Lifehacker

Canadian Reviewer Weekly Roundup 11/26-12/2

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Apple and Stanford University use the Apple Watch to study irregular heart rhythms

Samsung’s China-exclusive smart flip phone comes with industry-first widest aperture camera lens

Unknown to most Samsung markets around the world, the South Korean tech company has been releasing a smart flip phone in China for the past decade. Part of the company’s W line, the phones are considered luxury devices and are priced higher and marketed as a means for raising funds for charity. The latest addition, the 10^th anniversary W2018, comes with specs that are on par with the latest Galaxy S8 and Note8 devices with one industry-leading feature: its rear camera lens. The W2018 comes with a 12-megapixel rear shooter with an aperture of f/1.5, a first for smartphones. It’s supposedly able to capture sharp photos in less light than those of its competition. When there’s enough light the phone will switch to f/2.4 aperture. And this is partnered with a 5-megapixel front camera.

Aside from this, the phone packs in two 4.2-inch displays. When the phone is closed, there’s the Full HD AMOLED screen. When you flip it open, you get a Full HD display. Feeding our nostalgia for flip phones, it has things like a directional pad and number keypad. The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 64GB of RAM, Android Nougat, 64GB or 256GB storage options, and a 2,300mAh battery. An additional service for users includes various perks like concierge help at airports and subways, dedicated hotline, and free software tech support. No word on pricing and availability yet but last year’s model went for US$3,000 (around CA$3,800).

Source: The Verge

Apple and Stanford University use the Apple Watch to study irregular heart rhythms

Apple, together with Stanford University, has just launched an app designed to collect irregular heart rhythm using the Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor. It’s part of the company’s Heart Study initiative the company announced back in September when it launched watchOS 4. The app, called Apple Heart Study, can detect irregular heart rates using existing Apple Watch tech. It makes use of green LED lights that flash hundreds of times per second as well as photodiodes that detect how much blood is flowing through the wrists. If it senses irregularities, it’ll send notifications to the user telling them they might be suffering from atrial fibrillation (AFib).

Launched in the US, those who choose to participate in the study are provided a free consultation with a study doctor and an electrocardiogram (EKG) patch for further observation. Apple is opening the study to users who are 22 years old or older with an Apple Watch Series 1 or later.

Source: The Verge