Google Allo will keep your messages on its servers until you delete them

Google is backtracking a bit from what they’ve announced at Google I/O and sharing how they plan to store messages on its new Allo app. If you’re not using Incognito Mode in the app, the messages you send there will be stored “transiently.” What this means is your chat history will remain on your device and Google’s servers until you physically delete them. According to Google, they made the change to improve the smart reply feature of the app. Of course, the messages will remain encrypted. But if you don’t want to have to delete the messages yourself (the one you’re messaging has to delete them, too, to completely remove the data), you can choose to use Incognito Mode within the app.

Source: Engadget + The Verge | Download: Google Play Store + Apple App Store

‘Forza Horizon 3’ comes to Windows 10

Fans of the Forza series are in for a treat. The Windows 10 version is almost here. Pre-order for the Forza Horizon 3 Ultimate Edition brings the game into your hands on September 23, which is four days ahead of the release of the Deluxe and Standard editions. Coinciding with this release, NVIDIA and AMD are going to launch game-ready drivers for Forza Horizon 3. While the current drivers work, the updates will bring performance optimization and stability improvements.

Playground Games is currently working on some in-game errors with some marketplace functionality—including selecting DLC like VIP or Car Pass from the in-game Marketplace tab and accessing certain DLC cars from within the Autoshow. The game should be up and running for September 23.

Source: Xbox Wire

Netflix plans to fill half of its catalog with originals in the coming years

Marvel's Luke Cage is a Netflix-exclusive show

In an effort to get more people to come and stay with its service, Netflix’s CFO David Wells talks about the streaming service’s plan to have at least half of its catalog be composed of its own original shows and movies in  the next few years. Netflix is supposedly “one-third to halfway” towards reaching that target. The service is steadily being known as home to a lot of acclaimed originals that are either made by Netflix themselves, co-produced with other studios, or acquired post-production. Wells says they’ll continue with this approach to reach that target. And if they’re able to get good content, this might help them keep subscribers on its service as other companies won’t have access to their exclusives.

Source: The Verge

Big tech companies pledge to help millions of refugees

U.S. President Barack Obama announced at the Leaders Summit on Refugees at the United Nations that tech companies are among the 51 companies who are “investing, donating, or raising” over US$650 million to help educate, employ, and train around 6.3 million refugees from 20 countries. Some of the companies include Microsoft, Facebook, Google, HP, TripAdvisor, Uber, SAP, and Airbnb. Earlier in June, the White House started an initiative that aimed at getting “measurable and significant commitments” from the private sector to help out the forcibly displaced. Google, HP, IBM, and Microsoft were among the 15 companies who helped found the initiative.

An example given by CNET is that Google plans to give a $1 million grant to the Clooney Foundation for Justice, which was established by George Clooney and his wife Amal, to help educate Syrian refugee children in Lebanon. Another example is Microsoft plans to work with local providers in Malawi to provide wireless broadband access to refugees and international aid organizations.