Issue voice commands for Sphero's BB-8 on Android

Sphero's BB-8 droid was missing the ability to take voice commands on Android. Now, that's changed as a new update for its Android app allows for voice interaction. You can now command your little droid to "go explore," among other things. The latest app update also fixes some communication issues between the smartphones and droids. It's also now compatible with more Android phones and tablets. 

Source: Android Central | Download: Google Play Store (Free) 

Cyanogen to 'deeply integrate' Microsoft's Cortana into OS

Looks like Cyanogen is trying to legitimize itself further from Android with its new plans. According to Cyanogen CEO Kirt McMaster, they are working with Microsoft to "deeply integrate" Cortana into the next version of Cyanogen OS. "Cortana is currently available as an app on Android, but in order for it to make a real difference, it needs to be able to be integrated at the OS level so that its full potential can be leveraged," McMaster said. 

Cyanogen is one of the more popular third-party ROM for Android phones and tablets. If this partnership works, it'll be a win for both sides. Microsoft will gain legitimacy for Cortana as a platform-independent tool and Cyanogen gets a new feature from a non-Google source. We have a bit of wait though as Cortana is still in beta for Android. 

Source: International Business Games | Via: Android Police 

Instagram now allows for 30-second ads on its platform

Instagram is giving brands more room to work with by allowing them to have ads that last up to 30 seconds long. Companies will also be able to use the new landscape format for their photo and video ads. Ads are already available in over 30 new countries, including India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and South Korea. It’ll be launching in more markets around the world on September 30^th.

The social network also promises to offer brands optimization tools to help them reach users both on Instagram and Facebook. They’re also introducing a new premium product called Marquee. Instagram describes it as a way to help “drive mass awareness and expanded reach in a short time-frame—perfect for events like movie premieres and new product launches.”

Source: Instagram | Via: The Next Web

Facebook gives you more control over your News Feed

Facebook’s latest update is giving you more control over who and what you see on your News Feed. The social network is expanding the customization features to let you select who you’d want to see first on your News Feed. It’ll let you reconnect with people you’ve unfollow, although we’re not sure why you’d want to do that. And you can discover new pages to follow, too. You can find this settings under the “More” option near the settings menu. The update is available for both iOS and Android.

Source: Droid Life | Download: Google Play Store (Free) + Apple App Store (Free)