Facebook says it has deployed a feature in its Community Help hub to make it easier for users to assist each other during the pandemic. As of this week, AI will detect when a public post on News Feed is about needing or offering help and will surface a suggestion to share it on Community […]
YouTube Stories on iOS gains AI-powered speech enhancement
Google today launched Looking-to-Listen, a new audiovisual speech enhancement feature in YouTube Stories captured with iOS devices. Leveraging AI and machine learning, it allows creators to take better selfie videos by automatically boosting their voices and reducing background noise, the company says. While smartphone video quality continues to improve with every generation, audio quality remains […]
FCC commissioner calls for scrutiny of subsea data cables that link to ‘adversary countries’
(Reuters) — A member of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday called for new scrutiny of undersea cables that transmit nearly all the world’s internet data traffic. “We must take a closer look at cables with landing locations in adversary countries,” FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said Wednesday at a commission meeting. “This includes the […]
One Of The Best Nintendo Switch Controllers Gets A Pac-Man Makeover
The Hori Split Pad Pro is one of the best Nintendo Switch controllers you can buy. Each handle slides into the Switch, replacing the Joy-Cons and giving you more substantial pads to use in handheld mode. Hori recently released a number of different colours, and now the company has revealed a Pac-Man-themed version of the […]
Google says Pixel’s Hold for Me feature records and stores audio on-device
One of the just-announced Pixels’ most intriguing features is Hold for Me, a Google Assistant-powered service that waits on hold when you call a retailer, utility, airline, or other business’ toll-free support number. When a human comes on the line and is ready to talk, Hold for Me — which will launch in preview in […]
Launch Night in Google: How to watch, and what to expect
During its Launch Night In event, which kicks off today at 11 a.m. Pacific (2 p.m. Eastern), Google is expected to launch a slew of hardware across its product families. Leaks and premature sales spoiled some surprises — eagle-eyed buyers managed to snag Google’s new Chromecast from Home Depot, while Walmart’s mobile app leaked the […]
Baidu’s smart home group seeks to raise capital at a $2.9 billion valuation
Baidu today announced that it will seek to raise financing for its Smart Living Business (SLG), the internal group that maintains Baidu’s DuerOS voice platform and DuerOS-powered smart devices. Baidu expects a series A funding round valuing SLG at approximately RMB 20 billion ($2.9 billion) to close in Q4 2020 with definitive agreements from CPE, […]
Xbox Series X And S Preorder Info: Both Consoles Are Still Sold Out
Microsoft is launching the next generation of Xbox in just a couple of months, and retailers are currently sold out of preorders of both the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. The Series X and Series S release November 10 for $500 and $300, respectively, and as of now, it’s proving to be quite […]
PS5 Preorder Info: Consoles Still Sold Out, PS5 Accessories And Games Are Available
Sony finally revealed preorder information for the PlayStation 5 after months of relative silence, including the price and release date for the next-generation console. Launching November 12 at $500 for the standard console and $400 for the digital edition, the PS5 went up for preorder right after the recent PS5 event, and since then, stock […]
Seismic raises $92 million to automate sales processes
Seismic, a startup developing a sales enablement and market orchestration platform, today raised $92 million at a valuation of $1.6 billion. (That’s up from a $1 billion valuation in December 2018.) A company spokesperson tells VentureBeat that the capital will be put toward international growth, mergers and acquisitions, and product R&D. Sales enablement is a […]