TECHNOLOGY : Google Assistant Old and New Features you need in 2021

 

Google Assistant, the digital assistant from the global search giant Google, is available to users through their smartphones, laptops and smart speakers.

The Assistant initially was launched in May 2016 as part of Google’s messaging app Allo; and its voice-activated speaker Google Home. After being exclusively available on the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones, it came on other Android devices in February 2017; and eventually reached iOS devices in May 2017.

Users basically interact with the Google Assistant through natural voice, however, it also supports keyboard input.

By 2017, Google Assistant had been installed on more than 400 million devices globally. While most of us are aware of the Google Assistant and what it can do, here are five things that are not that well known. Take a look:
Google Interpreter Mode
Users can ask the Google Assistant to translate the conversation with someone who does not speak your language.

You can pick what language you want the conversation to be translated to when you trigger the interpreter mode.

After interpreter mode is enabled, the user can ask Google Assistant to translate between more languages.

The devices on which this is compatible include the Google Home speakers; speakers with Google Assistant built-in, smartphones and tablets, among others.

In order to translate a conversation a user needs to follow these steps:

1. Say “Ok Google.”

2. Give out a command, like:

Be my Italian interpreter

Help me speak Spanish

Interpret from Dutch to French

Chinese interpreter

Turn on interpreter mode

3. If the user has not identified languages, they can choose them according to their choice

4. When one hears the tone, he/she can start speaking in either language. The user doesn’t have to alternate between languages for interpreter mode to work

5. To stop using interpreter mode, users can give commands like:

Stop

Quit

Exit

Google Assistant Lens
Google Lens lets users point their phone’s camera at an object and have it instantly recognised, complete with contextual responses.

In order to use this feature, one needs to tap on the Lens icon while viewing a photo.

Once this is done, dots will be visible on the screen as the device analyses the objects in the photo.

Google Assistant will then pop up and give information about the objects in the image.

Get Google Assistant to read news
For the Google Assistant to read news, an individual has to tap the software home button. When the pop-up box comes up with the Google Assistant question; “How May I help you?” the user has to say, “Good morning.”

It will say, “Good morning, (your name)” and will inform the user about the weather in the city and will also read the latest news from the customised news sources.

Open apps
To open apps through Google Assistant the user must have Android version 5.0 or later and should ensure that latest version is downloaded on the device.

Once this has been achieved, another app, Voice Access, needs to be downloaded. Once the latest versions of both the apps are downloaded; following steps need to be followed:

1. Open device’s Settings app

2. Tap Accessibility, then tap Voice Access

3. At the top, tap the On/Off switch

4. Turn on Voice Access:

• If Voice Match is on, say “Ok Google.”

• If Voice Match isn’t on, open your notification shade and tap the “Touch to start” Voice Access notification.

5.Test by opening an app

6. The first time you turn on Voice Access, two extra steps come up:

• A guide to “Ok Google” settings helps user set up a hands-free experience

• An interactive tutorial teaches user how Voice Access works

Play Games
Google Assistant users can use voice commands or the keyboard to play games through it. Say or type the title of the section as a command.

For example, to play “I’m Feeling Lucky”, launch Assistant and say “I’m Feeling Lucky”. To start Pangolin Love; say or type “Pangolin Love”. There are a plethora of options offered by the Google Assistant as far as games are concerned. Some of them are:

I’m Feeling Lucky: The command will start a game show hosted by the Assistant.

Let me talk to Akinator: This is a game where the user guesses a character and the bot asks the user questions to find out the character

Emoji Movie: It’s a chat game where users are asked to guess the movie name by looking at the emojis that the Assistant sends

Entertainment Quiz: It asks questions on the entertainment field and the user has to answer them.

Guess the Founder: With this game the users can test their knowledge of founders of companies, startups etc.

POLITICS : It’s too early to consider South-East for 2023 presidency – Rotimi Amaechi

 

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has said that considering a candidate from the South-East for the 2023 election is a bit too early.

Amaechi made this known during an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday.

He, however, backed Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola’s comment of having respect for zoning by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

”I believe that the zoning which was done in the north and south should be respected, just like Fashola said.
“The best conversation to have now is how to deliver on the railway, maritime as it pertains to the responsibility assigned to me by the president.

“Why not allow me to complete the responsibility that has been given to me by the president which is being the minister of transportation,” he said.

Boko Haram : Presidency reveals why Buhari has not sacked service chiefs

 

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has said his principal is yet to sack service chiefs, because he is satisfied with their performance.

Shehu stated this while appearing on Arise TV on Monday night.

He flayed the calls for service chiefs to be sacked, describing it as “out of place”.

There have been fresh demand for Buhari to fire his service chiefs, following the beheading of at least 43 rice farmers at Zabarmari in the Jere Local Government Area of Borno State last Saturday.

But Shehu insists the decision to sack or retain any of the service chiefs is entirely Buhari’s.

“I am not aware that the tenure of service chiefs is subjected to any law of regulation that is clearly stated. They serve at the pleasure of the president and (if) the president is satisfied with their performance, he keeps them. The buck stops at his table — with due respect to the feelings of Nigerians.

“The clamour for the sack is out of place considering that the president is not subject to opinion of the opposition political party which has clamoured for this all the time. It is entirely his own determination; he decides who he keeps as his service chiefs and for how long,” Shehu said.

SPORT : Champions League: Man United confirm players to miss PSG clash at Old Trafford

 Manchester United have confirmed that Luke Shaw and Axel Tuanzebe will miss the Red Devils’ Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night at Old Trafford due to suspension and injury.

Tuanzebe is serving a one-match suspension for picking up three bookings, while Shaw is still recovering from a hamstring injury he sustained against Everton last month.

Man United made this known in a post via its website on Tuesday morning.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side head to the game following a 3-2 victory against Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday.

“Axel Tuanzebe was a stand-out performer in the French capital, keeping the dangerous Kylian Mbappe quiet, but he is a confirmed absentee for United as he is serving a one-match suspension for picking up three bookings.

“We’ve known for some weeks that Luke Shaw would miss this game, as a result of the hamstring issue he picked up at Everton last month,” Man United said.

The kick-off time for the match is 9 pm, Nigerian time.

Technology : Samsung may discontinue high-end Galaxy Note smartphones - sources

 

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd may discontinue its premium Galaxy Note phone next year, sources with knowledge of the matter said,

 a move that would reflect the sharp drop in demand for high-end smartphones due to the coronavirus pandemic.

SEOUL: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd may discontinue its premium Galaxy Note phone next year, sources with knowledge of the matter said, a move that would reflect the sharp drop in demand for high-end smartphones due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Galaxy Note, known for its large screen and a stylus for note-taking, is one of two Samsung premium phone series - the other being the more compact Galaxy S which draws in consumers with its state-of-the-art parts.

At present, the South Korean tech giant does not have plans to develop a new version of the Galaxy Note for 2021, three sources said, declining to be identified as the plans were not public.

Instead, the Galaxy S series' top model, the S21, will have a stylus and the next version of Samsung's foldable phone will be compatible with a stylus, which will be sold separately, one of the sources said.

A second source said company development efforts that normally would have been directed to the Note would now be channelled into its foldable phone range.

Samsung declined to comment.

Tom Kang, an analyst at research firm Counterpoint, said sales of Samsung's Note series are expected to fall by a fifth to 8 million this year while sales of the S series are likely to drop by 5 million to less than 30 million.

"Premium demand has decreased this year and many people are not looking for new products," he said.

The Galaxy Note 20 was launched in the United States this year with a US$999 price tag, on par with the Galaxy S20 while the iPhone 12 starts at US$799.

Samsung first launched the Note in 2011, breaking new ground in the market for larger screen models and helping it overtake Apple Inc to become the world's largest smartphone maker for the first time that year.

(Reporting by Heekyong Yang, Joyce Lee and Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

Technology : OPPO Reno 4 4G and Reno 4 Pro 4G get their first ColorOS 11 beta based on Android 11

 

OPPO’s ColorOS 11 update is the latest update coming to smartphones from the Chinese OEM. Along with a rebase onto 

Android 11, the ColorOS 11 update also adds in new features 

such as dark mode customizability, three-finger translation with Google Lens, FlexDrop, Super Power Saving Mode, Private System, and more. 

Of course, you also get the changes that Google has added in with Android 11, so you do have a whole lot to look forward to in the newest UX update. Now, the update is on its way to more phones, with ColorOS 11 beta announced for the OPPO Reno 4 4G and OPPO Reno 4 Pro 4G in some regions.

As OPPO had promised in its rollout timeline, the OPPO Reno 4 Pro 4G is getting its update in November 2020, while the OPPO Reno 4 4G is also joining in a day before its December 2020 deadline. 

This update is still in Beta and will be rolled out batch-wise to users in India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Unlike other OEMs that operate Open Betas, this is a closed beta, so you need to apply and get selected for the update to arrive on your phone.

To apply for the ColorOS 11 beta on your Reno 4 4G (India and Vietnam) or Reno 4 Pro 4G (India, Indonesia, and Vietnam), ensure that you are on either the A.21 or A.23 update. 

Then, head on over to Settings > Software Update > Settings Icon > Apply for Beta, and then follow the guide to apply. There is a quota in place, so act quickly if you are interested.

OPPO Reno4 4G Forums 

As is the deal with betas, it is highly recommended that you apply only if you know what you are doing — betas are unstable by definition, so expect unintended bugs and other hindrances.

 Further, back up all your data before proceeding, as data loss is a good probability when testing out these updates.

 OPPO also notes a known bug at this stage: the Ultra Steady Pro Mode for video recording has some lag, so if you rely on this feature a lot, it’s best to wait out till the update rolls out to stable with the bugs fixed.

Business : Frantic CBN allows diaspora remittances to be withdrawn in dollars and sold anywhere including black market

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the amendment of procedures for receipt of diaspora remittances in an apparent and frantic attempt to improve liquidity in the forex market and reduce the disparity between the black market and official I&E window.

This disclosure was made in a circular issued by the CBN on Monday, November 30, 2020, to all authorized dealers and the general public and signed by its Director for Trade and Exchange Department, Dr O.S. Nnaji.

In the new amended procedure, CBN stated that beneficiaries of Diaspora Remittances through International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) shall henceforth receive such inflows in foreign currency (US Dollars) through the designated bank of their choice.

The CBN’s circular partly reads,

‘’In an effort to liberalize, simplify and improve the receipt and administration of diaspora remittances into Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) wishes to announce as follows;

Beneficiaries of Diaspora Remittances through International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) shall henceforth receive such inflows in foreign currency (US Dollars) or into their ordinary domiciliary account. Such recipients of remittances may have the option of receiving these funds in foreign currency cash (US Dollars) or into their ordinary domiciliary account.’’

• The apex bank also stated that such recipients of remittances may have the option of receiving these funds in foreign currency cash (US Dollars) or into their ordinary domiciliary account.
• The CBN stated that these changes are necessary to deepen the foreign exchange market, provide more liquidity and create more transparency in the administration of diaspora remittances into Nigeria.
• The apex bank also points out that these changes would help finance a future stream of investment opportunities for Nigerians in the Diaspora, while also guaranteeing that recipients of remittances would receive a market-reflective exchange rate for their inflows.
• It also urged all authorized dealers and the general public to note that beneficiaries shall have unfettered access and utilization to such foreign currency proceeds, either in cash and/or in their domiciliary accounts in line with the circular.

What this means

This new directive means when Nigerians living in diaspora transfer money to loved ones in the country, they can in turn withdraw the money in dollar cash and sell wherever they want to.

• Currently, the exchange rate in the black market is around N500/$1 compared to N395 at the official BDC market.
• Now, Nigerians who recieve foreign transfers such as Western Union or Moneygram can withdraw it in dollars and then sell at the black market rate or wherever they want to.
• Currently, most Nigerians living in diaspora who transfer cash to loved ones back home do so at the parallel market exchange rate, Nairametrics can confirm.

The optics

Nairametrics believes this latest move by the CBN is aimed squarely at improving liquidity in the retail end of the foreign exchange market hoping that this will strengthen the naira at the retail end of the black market.

• In a news interview on Arise TV, Dr. Nnaji explained that “when you have more inflows into the country at dollar value it will help bring down the BDC rates, it will also help solidify or unify the rates in the market so we don’t have multiple currency rates,” a confirmation that this is targeted at the black market.
• A visibly pertubed and contrite Nnaji reiterated that “for now become US dollar is a currency that we have available in the banking sector, you can collect your money in US dollars” maintaining that this was the only currency that you withdraw for now.
• She also claimed you can collect in Naira.
• Nigeria receives an average of $5 billion per quarter in foreign remittances but suffered a sharp drop in the second quarter of 2020 when it fell to $3.38 billion.

Flashback on Dr. Nnaji

Earlier in the year, Nairametrics reported that the CBN claimed it was investigating  remittances in the diaspora between January 2016 and December 2019. Ironically, the same person who made the claim was Dr. Nnaji.  Here is what she said;

“If the dollar and euro are everywhere, what happens to our currency, the Naira now is not an internationally accepted currency, if we dilute it, it will have consequences. We want our Naira to be acceptable by other West African countries; we want it to be an internationally accepted currency. 

“If we have more funds come in as remittances, our foreign reserves go up, and when that happens, the confidence in the Nigerian economy will go up. It helped in price stability and exchange rate stability management and that the apex bank was interesting in increasing Diaspora remittances,”