Google is rolling out Assistant in Maps for iOS
Google’s voice-activated Assistant feature can now help you navigate in Google Maps for iPhone and iPad, play music, reply to messages and more.
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Some users report LTE calling and SMS issues with iOS 12.1.2 (bonus: temporary fix)
iOS 12.1.2 has broken some core features for hundreds of affected users, including basic smartphone functions like using cellular phone calls and making and receiving texts.
Instagram launching walkie-talkie voice messaging feature in Direct
Voice messaging began rolling out globally on Instagram Direct today, allowing you to send short audio message to a contact in a walkie-talkie-like fashion.
Amazon is bringing Apple Music integration to Alexa customers in time for the holidays
Yes, voice-enabled Apple Music integration is coming to Amazon’s Echo devices the week of December 17, just in time for the holidays.
Animoji could get sound effects and voices based on specific facial expressions
Sound and voice could play a bigger role in Animoji as Apple seems to have come up with additional ideas to make the feature even more fun, per a recent patent application.
Apple researching offline Siri mode
Surely you’ve seen the annoying “I’ll tap you when I’m ready” message? An offline Siri would put an end to that.
Cortana 3.0 brings refreshed UI, music & podcast integration, more
Microsoft today released Cortana 3.0 for iOS with an update to the user interface enabling conversational experiences like with Google Assistant. It also brought other enhancements, including voice support for reminders, calendars and timers.
How to send voice messages on iPhone, iPad and Mac
Send a lasting memory or share an important conversation. This tutorial shows you how to send voice messages on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
WhatsApp gains iPhone XS Max support, consecutive voice messages & more
WhatsApp for iPhone has been refreshed with support for iOS 12 and the new iPhone XS Max display resolution. The app comes with a redesigned interface for quick bubble actions and a new consecutive voice messaging feature.
Refreshed Fire TV costs $10 more, but brings 4K & Dolby Atmos support, 3 HDR formats
Amazon has refreshed its Fire TV HDMI dingle, adding support for 4K resolutions, the Dolby Atmos surround sound and three major HDR video formats: HDR10, HDR+ and Dolby Vision.
How Siri recognizes obscurely named points of interest like local restaurants & businesses
Siri’s speech recognition system is paired with a bunch of geolocation-based language models allowing the smart assistant to recognize obscurely named places on a map.
WhatsApp rolls out group calling for voice and video with up to 4 participants simultaneously
WhatsApp users can now engage in group calls using voice and video with up to four people simultaneously, with end-to-end encryption and adaptive, reliable connections in different network conditions.