Tag: Google Assistant

Google Authenticates The Nest Secure Has Been Discontinued

Google seems to be on a big hack-and-slash spree this year, culling products in an attempt to streamline its offerings. The tech giant is known for abandoning or restructuring certain devices, services, and apps that didn’t take off the way it hoped. But 2020 seems to be the year for it. And now Android Police reports that Google will be discontinuing Nest Secure, its $400 home security system, by the end of the year.

The company launched Nest Secure in 2017. The product itself didn’t seem too bad. Unlike other home security systems that require a technician to install, Nest Secure was easy enough for a user to set up themselves. Similar in size to a smart speaker. It featured a keypad on which users could punch in a predetermined code to arm and disarm the system.

Google Will Be Discontinuing Nest Secure

Google Will Be Discontinuing Nest Secure

But the system itself was limiting. Its motion detector could only sense motion within a 10-foot radius. Privacy concerns could have also been one of the reasons why Nest Secure didn’t catch on. Until Google integrated this product with Google Assistant in February 2019, users didn’t know the alarm system’s hub had an always-on microphone.

Just add Nest Secure to the pile of products that have been killed by Google. By June of next year, the company will completely do away with Hangouts and migrate everyone’s chat history and contacts to Google Chat. Trusted Contacts, an app that lets users share their location with emergency contacts, bites the dust in December, the same month as Google Play Music and Cloud Print are also dying. Google’s Daydream VR headsets and apps are completely dead already, along with a bunch of other gadgets and features you may or may not have even known existed.

 

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6 new Android 11 features: Did you know about them?

In the lastest mobile operating system, Google caught up to some iPhone features and even past others. Have a look at six of the most interesting and useful updates coming to Android 11 phones in 2020.

1. Third-party apps now can work with Google Assistant

For years, working with Google Assistant was limited to Android apps and services. But on Apple’s device, Siri has been able to control third-party apps for a while now.

But Google recently announced partnerships with 30 third-party apps, including Walmart, Mint, Spotify, Etsy, and Discord, and expects to add more in the coming weeks and months.

Now Android 11 users will be able to accomplish tasks on specific apps by saying things like:

“Hey, Google, search scarf on Etsy”
“Hey, Google, play Cardi B’s album on Spotify.”

Android 11

2. Verified Calls lets you know who’s calling

You want to know who’s calling and why when your a call is coming? The Android app that making and receiving calls has updated. It should help you figure out, even when you don’t recognize the number.

Besides ilencing calls from numbers Google has identified as potentially fraudulent, Google has also introduced its Verified Calls feature, which authorizes certain businesses and shows you the company name, logo, reason for calling and a verification symbol.

There’s a similar program called Verified SMS for text messages.

3. Android 11 can turn noises into push notifications

Sounds from microwaves, fire alarms or door bell are to alert you.
But if you have hearing loss or sometime you might not catch them all. Android’s new Sound Notifications feature will listen for all the sound around you, then push notification on your phone to alert you.

Sound Notifications can listen for 10 different types of sounds. It can reconizes baby noises, running water, smoke and fire alarms, appliances beeping and door knocking. Apple also has a similar feature called Sound Recognition on iOS 14.

4. Google TV comes to Android 11

Google TV is rolling out to Android devices with a host of new and old features that sync across devices, including your library, recommendations and watchlist. This brings it up to par with Apple TV ($180 at Best Buy) devices and apps.

Specially, Google TV ability search across multiple providers like Netflix, Hulu and even live TV.

5. Google Duo adds screen sharing, video voicemails

New ways to connect on Google Duo’s mobile-only video calling, through screen sharing and video voicemails with captions. These are two features that Apple’s FaceTime still lacks.

During a video call, you can share your screen by taping the three dots in the bottom right corner, then tap Screen Share. You will be asked if you want to share sensitive information on the call. Tap Start Now to accept.

If the call to go unanswered for 60 seconds, you can leave a video message to the receiver. You also can press Leave a video message while it’s still ringing to leave a video message.

6. Action Blocks app turns pictures into speech

The new Action Blocks app can convey short phrases by using pictures and symbols. It can be calles as an “artificial voice for people with cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, autism, aphasia, and other speech related disabilities.”

To try Action Blocks, download it from the Google Play app store.

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