Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Google Assistant Launched for Apple Devices

Image result for photos of Google Assistant

I watched a video podcast this morning (iOS Today on  the TWIT Network) that praised the release of the Google Assistant on iOS devices. It is a fairly new app that has already been highly praised, but only ran on newer Android phones. I think it took everyone by surprise when it show up on iOS a few days ago.

The show’s hosts ran comparisons between it and Siri issuing the same voice commands. Google Assistant blew Siri away. It can do far more than Siri can do at the present time. Of course, we’ve know that Siri is the weakest of voice command apps. It is way behind Google Assistant, Amazon Echo, and Microsoft’s Cortana.  

I downloaded the Google Assistant this morning for my iPhone…and it also showed up on my iPad. Because my day was so hectic, I have not had a chance to even look at, but will do so very soon. Looking forward to giving it a spin. You can read about it in our Mobile Computing section below.

But be sure and read our first story about how Google is blowing the doors off of Apple (as is Microsoft). Apple is in danger of falling way behind in so many ways. Few of the most used apps in the Apple ecosystem are made by Apple. The only Apple apps I use on my Mac are Notes and iTunes. The majority are made by Google, Microsoft, and Adobe.

While Apple is the most valuable company in the entire world, it dare not sit on its laurels for too long. I look forward to see what they have to offer at WDDC in June. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

Apple should fear Google. Here's why

Commentary: Google is crushing Siri and dominating the smart home, but Apple has a chance to strike back in June.

 

FCC Officially Votes to Gut Net Neutrality Rules

As expected, the FCC voted to move ahead with a plan that would dismantle net neutrality rules put in place by the previous administration.

 

Senators ask FCC why reporter was “manhandled” after net neutrality vote

Senators to FCC: Don’t roughhouse journalists who are trying to ask questions.

 

Microsoft's new Surface Pro has 13.5 hours of battery life and LTE option

Microsoft is launching a new Surface Pro today, and it’s dropping its numbering scheme as a result. While many were expecting a Surface Pro 5, Microsoft’s new tablet / laptop hybrid is simply the Surface Pro from now on.

 

Apple reveals it received a secret national security letter

Authorities demanded data from twice as many Macs, iPhones, iPads in the second-half of last year than the first-half, despite fewer overall requests.

 

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

The 2017 ultimate guide to Gmail backup

Want to make sure you have a local or backup copy of all that mission-critical business and personal history in your Gmail archives? Here are your options.

 

11 Hidden Tricks Inside Windows 10

With such a complex, nuanced, and vast piece of software, it makes sense that there are little tricks and UI flourishes that most people don't even know about.

 

How to set up a new Windows 10 PC perfectly in one hour or less

Doing a clean install of Windows used to be a tedious process that could take the better part of a day. With Windows 10 and cloud-based software and services, you can get the entire job done in an hour or less.

 

How to Optimize Google Chrome for Maximum Privacy

If you’re concerned about the data Chrome sends to Google, we’ll explain what all the various settings do so you can make your own decisions.

 

How Long Will Microsoft Support My Version of Windows With Security Updates?

Microsoft doesn’t support every version of Windows forever, and there are different types of support. For example, Windows 7 is no longer receiving “mainstream support”, but is receiving “extended support”—what does that mean?

 

Mobile Computing

Google Assistant for iPhone Review

Google Assistant now lives on the iPhone. Its purpose lies in its name: to help you with your day-to-day life. Here is a quick review.

 

Redesigned Version of Microsoft OneNote Now Available on iOS

Microsoft took the unusual step of pushing out a redesigned version of OneNote for Mac and iOS ahead of its release on Windows and Android.

 

Tips and Tricks: Backing Up Your iOS Device

Apple has made things a lot easier since the introduction of iCloud in iOS 5. Since that time, we have had the capability to backup our devices to the cloud automatically.

 

Android Device Manager is now known as Find My Device

In Version 2.0, there are a few changes to make navigating the app a bit easier.

 

12 new and notable Android apps and live wallpapers from the last week

Welcome to the roundup of the best new Android applications and live wallpapers that went live in the Play Store or were spotted by us in the previous week or so.

 

Google Voice updated to 5.2, adds new widgets and call screening

Google started rolling out another update to Google Voice, bringing things up to 5.2 The new version of the app brings widgets in three new size.

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