Technology - Google News

Microsoft and Amazon release preview of Cortana and Alexa integration
Samsung just unveiled a new component that gives it a big advantage over the iPhone
Android Pie update OEM checklist: who's in and who's not

Microsoft and Amazon release preview of Cortana and Alexa integration

Posted: 15 Aug 2018 06:01 AM PDT

Microsoft and Amazon are integrating their digital assistants this week. A new preview is being offered to both Cortana and Alexa users in the US that will allow each digital assistant to summon each other and access additional apps and services. The integration was first announced last year and demonstrated earlier this year at Microsoft's Build developer conference, and now Microsoft and Amazon are seeking feedback before it's broadly rolled out to all devices.

The integration is rather basic right now and requires users to summon each digital assistant through a rather clunky process. "Alexa, open Cortana" will launch Cortana on an Echo device, and "Hey Cortana, open Alexa," will do the same on Windows 10 PCs and devices like the Harman Kardon Invoke speaker. Cortana and Alexa will both be enabled as a skill on each platform, allowing you to call up Cortana from an Echo device and get access to some of the Windows / Office specific features of the digital assistant. Likewise, Windows 10 users will be able to access Alexa through Cortana to access a host of skills and smart home integrations.

While the integration might be clunky, Microsoft and Amazon are working towards improving this in the future. "The goal is to have two integrated digital assistants who can carry out tasks across different dimensions of daily life," explains Microsoft's Jennifer Langston. Features like streaming music or alarms are not available just yet, but Microsoft says additional skills and features will be added over time. "Engineers will use feedback from the public preview to deepen the collaboration between Cortana and Alexa," explains Langston.

Amazon is also bringing Alexa to a number of Windows 10 PCs with a dedicated app that can listen for the Alexa wake word. Microsoft hasn't really been pushing ahead with Cortana, though. With the exception of the Cortana-powered thermostat, Microsoft's digital assistant has not started appearing in more speakers, cars, fridges, toasters, and thermostats like the company promised. Cortana has now fallen far behind both Alexa and Google Assistant, and Microsoft has now placed its Outlook for iPhone boss in charge of Cortana to help improve the situation.

If you want to try out Alexa on Cortana, and vice versa, you can simply say "Hey Cortana, open Alexa" on a Windows 10 PC, or say "Alexa, open Cortana" on an Echo device.

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Samsung just unveiled a new component that gives it a big advantage over the iPhone

Posted: 15 Aug 2018 03:51 AM PDT

Samsung on Wednesday unveiled a brand new smartphone component that will equip Galaxy phones soon.

It’s unclear at this time what Samsung devices will get the new chip next year, but it sure is a smartphone part that Apple doesn’t have for the iPhone, and that could offer an exciting marketing advantage to Samsung for at least a year.

That’s the Exynos Modem 5100 5G chip that will equip Samsung’s first 5G handset next year. We already know from Samsung that the first Galaxy phone to deliver 5G support next year won’t be the Galaxy S10, but we have no idea what it’s supposed to be. It’s likely that Galaxy flagships launching in the second half of 2019, as well as all future high-end Samsung phones and tablets, will pack 5G support.

Apple, meanwhile, has to outsource 5G modems for the iPhone from a third party, with Intel and Qualcomm being the likely manufacturers of such components. Even Samsung might have to use Qualcomm modems inside future 5G phones that will be powered by next-gen Qualcomm processors, like the Snapdragon 855 that’s rumored to debut next. The Exynos Modem 5100 will likely be paired with the next-gen Exynos chips from Samsung.

Samsung says the Modem 5100 is the industry’s first 5G modem that is “fully compatible with 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 15 (Rel.15), the most up-to-date standard specification for 5G New Radio (5G-NR).”

The chip is built on 10nm process technology and offers legacy radio support. Aside from 5G, the chip will also support older standards, from the old 2G to the current 4G LTE, and that’s just what we expect from 5G modems. It’ll be a while until 5G support becomes widely available, so devices packing 5G chips will have to be able to connect to 4G networks.

When it comes to performance, the Modem 5100 should support speeds of up to 2Gbps in the sub-6GHz settings, and up to 6Gbps in mmWave settings. The 4G LTE speeds also get a notable bump, from 1.2Gbps to 1.6Gbps. These are theoretical speeds, of course, so actual mileage may vary in real-life conditions.

Samsung says the 5G modem will be available to customers, including its mobile division by the end of 2018, but no actual brands are mentioned.

While Samsung already confirmed that it’ll launch a 5G phone next year, it’s unlikely to see a 5G iPhone debut as soon as next fall, considering what Apple did in the past.

Image Source: Samsung

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Android Pie update OEM checklist: who's in and who's not

Posted: 15 Aug 2018 05:31 AM PDT

It’s that time of year again. New Android version, new guessing and then waiting game for which phones will get the update and, just as importantly, when. Things have gotten better over the years, in no small part thanks to high-profile security scares and Apple gloating, but it’s far from being ideal. Ideally, that would be when lists like this will be superfluous. But until that glorious day, here are some of the smartphone makers who have gone public about their love for Pie and those that have been unsurprisingly yet annoyingly silent for the past weeks.

Google (duh!)

Just for the sake of being complete, if you have a Google Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, or Pixel 2 XL, what are you standing around for? You’ve got dibs on the update from Day One. Go forth and enjoy your more intelligent and more swipe-y Android Pie!

Essential

Essential has given us yet another reason to mourn the Android Community’s loss. There have been very few, if not none, who have been able to provide updates to at least one device on the day of Android’s public release. Granted, the Essential PH-1 was one of the chosen few to participate in Android P betas but, as we’ll see, it’s not a guarantee.

We’re proud to bring Android 9 Pie to Essential Phone the same day it’s released! Check your phone now for the update. 🥧 pic.twitter.com/pniUDl9yr8

— Essential (@essential) August 6, 2018

HMD Global/Nokia

The Android faithful can at least take comfort in HMD Global’s so far impressive track record of keeping true to its word and pushing out regular updates. The Nokia 7 Plus was part of the Android P beta club but its entire range, including the Nokia 3, 5, 6, and 8, will get equal treatment. With the promise to put Android One and Android Go on its phones, that should be the same for future models. Hopefully, it doesn’t change its culture or its mind.

Hi, Android Pie will be available for the Nokia 3, 5, 6 and 8. Roll-out will be phased as usual to secure quality delivery. Nokia 7 Plus is part of the Android One program, which guarantees two years of software updates, including Pie.

— Nokia Mobile (@Nokiamobile) August 8, 2018

OnePlus

While OnePlus can’t boast of the same flawless history, you can at least see it tries its best. After participating in the Beta, the startup is now working to bring the final Android Pie version to the OnePlus 6. In a recent forum post, the company practically promised the update for the OnePlus 5/5T and the OnePlus 3/3T, the latter reaching its end of life this November. Don’t be surprised, though, if it gets distracted by an upcoming OnePlus 6T launch.

Sony

While the Sony Xperia XZ2 was one of the chosen few for the beta testing program, the company has yet to make any noticeable movement in bringing the final version to the smartphone. That said, a report claims that Sony is already working on the update for the Xperia XZ2 Compact, Xperia XZ2 Premium, Xperia XZ1, Xperia XZ1 Compact, and Xperia XZ Premium. It’s not leaving its fans empty-handed though. It has actually just made a guide available for installing Android Pie on smartphones belonging to its open program so others can bring third-party ROMs up to snuff in the meantime.

Xiaomi, OPPO, Vivo

Just because they became part of that same Android P beta doesn’t immediately translate to quick and guaranteed updates. For the first time, the big Chinese OEMs have taken part in the Android update craze but there is still no news when the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, the OPPO R15 Pro, and the Vivo X21 will get their Pies. Worse, there is not even a whisper about their other current models, except perhaps for the Android One Xiaomi Mi A1 and Mi A2 phones.

HTC

It didn’t get into the beta, but HTC is more than happy to let its fans know it has turned over a new leaf. It has said over on Twitter that it will be bringing Android Pie to the HTC U12+, U11+, U11, and U11 Life (Android One). The question, however, is when and HTC is only saying “in due time”.

We're pleased as pie to confirm updates to Android Pie for the HTC U12+, U11+, U11, and U11 life (Android One). Timeframes for roll-out will be announced in due course.

We can't wait to know what you think of Google's freshest slice of Android! pic.twitter.com/mPJePFegne

— HTC (@htc) August 10, 2018

Huawei

Huawei is on a crusade to improve its image in the smartphone market, from mobile photography to sales numbers to software quality. It has a chance to do so with the Android 9 Pie update that it says will be coming to the Huawei P20 (of course), the Huawei Mate 10 Pro, the Honor 10 and the Honor V10. The OEM is already testing the Android update so it should happen hopefully within this year. Oddly no mention of the Huawei P10.

Motorola

You know who else is just now starting the journey towards Android Pie? Motorola, that’s who. Once a Google property, the old Motorola prided itself for bloat-free software and fast updates. How the might have fallen. It is still mind-boggling why Motorola is only now “working on the new code” for unspecified devices, given OEM partners would have had that code even before the public release. It will probably take a miracle to see Android 9 coming to the Moto Z3 this year, never mind the other phones from the past two years.

Samsung

There are no miracles in Samsung land, though. The OEM is completely and utterly silent and the rumor mill has stopped turning as far as Android Pie updates are concerned. OK, Samsung is probably too busy with the Galaxy Note 9 launch which, by the way, isn’t running Android 9 Pie out of the box. Given it will only start its rollout of Android Oreo for its mid-range next year, who knows when the Pie will arrive.

LG

LG has caught up to its compatriot but not in a good way. Like Motorola, it was once the pride and glory of the Android world. The 2016 LG V20 only got update to Android Oreo last month. LG might come out with the LG V40 in a few weeks and boast about how it’s the first new Android smartphone to come with Android Pie out of the box. It loves doing that. It loves updating old phones less.

BlackBerry

BlackBerry is a bit of a mystery. On the one hand, it is one of the few that roll out monthly security updates as soon as Google makes them available. On the other hand, it isn’t as fast as updating phones to new Android versions. There’s a BlackBerry KE2 LE launch coming up, which could explain TCL and BlackBerry’s silence. But the atmosphere in BlackBerry forums aren’t at all hopeful.

Wrap-up: Treble Test

As always, the update situation on Android is all over the place. The beta program that included a few OEM smartphones but only half of those have so far born any fruit. Some companies haven’t changed their ways at all and a few have become even worse. With many of this year’s phones running Android Oreo from the start, however, the narrative could change soon. Android Pie and Android Q will be the true test of whether Project Treble’s promise actually holds water or if it was just wishful thinking.

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