Siri Vs Google Assistant

CNBC put Siri and Google Assistant head to head and we’re sure you won’t be surprised of the result.

That’s right, Google Assistant comes out on top!  Apple have needed to improve Siri for a long time.  You are often not given the answer you need or are simply referred to a Bing search, really, what use is that!

CNBC set the following challenges for each of the assistants:

• Translate a line of English into Spanish
• Ask how long it will take to get home
• Where is the nearest petrol station
• Play a music video on YouTube
• Send a text
• Ask about a market cap
• Ask who won a sports game
• Ask how tall a bridge is
• Turn on lights
• Show pictures of a location

Are you surprised about the results?  Let us know in the comments section below!

Check out CNBC’s full report here:

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/20/siri-vs-google-assistant-on-iphone.html

Google Allo….Goodbye!

Will you say hello to Google Allo?

Ongoing Issues is a fan of Google, and we like what they have done with Google Allo but, do we really need another messaging app?  We think that WhatsApp has the cross platform messaging covered, and we are  already split between iMessage, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, not forgetting LinkedIn Messaging for our professional network.  Will the public adopt Google Allo?  We’re not sure they will, we certainly won’t be at this time.

Check out exactly what Google Allo can do in their promo video, ‘Say hello to #GoogleAllo’:

 

Google Release The Chromebook Pixel

So it turns out that the rumours were actually true as Google release it’s high end Chromebook, the Pixel.

The success of the Chromebook in the UK has we are sure been a huge shock to some.  Chromebooks now represent more than 10 percent of notebook sales at Currys PC World.  We are not shocked about this and experienced first hand how hard it was to get hold of one from the shops.  Always out of stock!  Another interesting fact is that the Samsung Chromebook has been #1 on Amazon’s bestseller list for laptops every day since it’s U.S. launch 125 days ago.

The Samsung Chromebook has been #1 on Amazon’s bestseller list for laptops every day since it launched 125 days ago in the U.S., and Chromebooks now represent more than 10 percent of notebook sales at Currys PC World, the largest electronics retailer in the U.K.

So what does the Pixel bring to the market?  Well it’s certainly not aimed at the lower end, or even mid range.  This home grown product is aiming straight for the top coming in at a surprising £1,049.  So what does all that cash get you?  Well they’re selling it mainly on the sleek design and an amazing high def touch screen.

For seeing and touching

A spectacular view

4.3 million pixels – each invisible to the unaided eye – work together to bring you crisp text, vivid colours, and extra wide viewing angles. The 12.85” screen has the highest pixel density of any laptop, and with a 3:2 photographic format that’s designed for the web, you can put every one of those pixels to good use.

At your fingertips

Organise windows, swipe through apps, and edit photos with the tip of your finger. A 0.55mm layer of touch-enabled Gorilla® Glass fused directly to the screen gives you smooth interactions while preserving picture clarity.

So let’s take a quick look at the promo video:

So will people go for this?  Yes they will, but a small number of people.  This is defiantly a high end machine that is going to strike a lot of appeal, but it’s not what the Chromebook is about.  The Chrombook is supposed to be a very affordable device which is almost instant on, syncs with the cloud and if broken is easily replaceable.  The perfect web enabled device.  The Pixel is more like a MacBook without the more functional operating system and local applications.

We can’t wait to get our hands on one and we hope that the Pixel does well, but this device is by no means going to be the way Google gets it’s operating system spread further across the market.

You can purchase your Chromebook Pixel from the Play Store and find out more information on the official Google Chrome Blog.

 

 

Google Doodle…Well Game

Google’s latest Doodle is in honor of inventor Frank Zamboni.

Frank Joseph Zamboni, Jr. was a U.S. inventor whose most famous invention is the modern ice resurfacer, with his surname being registered as a trademark for these resurfacers.

When clicked on the doodle changes into an ice rink and a fun little game where after people have been skating on the ice, you take out the ice resurfacer to clean up the mess.

Have a go and see how you get on!

Google Fiber Special Announcement

Google Fiber, Google’s 1000 Mb service, are hosting a live special announcement right now:

Check out Google Fiber’s official website here for more information:

https://fiber.google.com/about/

EDIT:

Here’s more information about getting Google Fiber into your home (America only)

Marissa Mayer Appointed as CEO of Yahoo!

It has been announced today that Google’s 20th employee Marissa Mayer has officially been appointed the CEO of Yahoo!

This is certainly and shocking and exciting piece of news at the same time.  Yahoo has been in trouble for a long time now so will Marissa be able to save them?  We hope so.

The official press release announced:

Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO) today announced that it has appointed Marissa Mayer as President and Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board of Directors effective July 17, 2012. The appointment of Ms. Mayer, a leading consumer internet executive, signals a renewed focus on product innovation to drive user experience and advertising revenue for one of the world’s largest consumer internet brands, whose leading properties include Yahoo! Finance, Yahoo! Sports, Yahoo! Mobile, Yahoo! Mail, and Yahoo! Search.

Marissa then went on to say:

I am honored and delighted to lead Yahoo!, one of the internet’s premier destinations for more than 700 million users. I look forward to working with the Company’s dedicated employees to bring innovative products, content, and personalized experiences to users and advertisers all around the world.

Marissa starts work at Yahoo! tomorrow and all eyes are now going to be on her every move.  It’s going to be interesting how she plans to move the company forward to success with Google being her main rival.

Ongoing Issues wish her the best of luck!

Google+ Updated for the iPhone

Google have released an important update to their Google+ app for iPhone as well as releasing the full iPad supported version.

The update includes essential social features:

• Google+ Events
• Attach instant upload photos to posts
• Start and join hangouts

This was a much needed update to bring iPhone users in line with those on Android. Hopefully this will continue to encourage the use of Google+ as it was frustrating not being able to get fully involved with the community. Let’s hope this update wasn’t just that little bit too late.

The Verge in Depth Nexus 7 Review

The Verge bring us an excellent in depth review of the exciting new Nexus 7.  Be sure to check out their video:

http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/29/3125396/google-nexus-7-review

Google+ Events – We knew it was coming

Google have updated their social networking site Google+ again with another nice addition, Events.

We were always expecting to see this at Ongoing Issues as I’m sure you were, but will it get used?  I’m not sure that Facebook Events are used very much at all now, certainly not in a lot of our group of friends.

Do you use Facebook events, and will you use Google+ Events?

Google launches G+ Local with Zagat scores

Google has just announced that it has lunched Google+ Local.  It is a new way of sharing and finding local information across Google.  It has been integrated with:

• Google+
• Search
• Maps
• Mobile

They have partnered with Zagat to create scores and offer reviews based on users views and social interaction.  If you have an Android phone they are also rolling out this feature to Google Maps.  Hopefully iPhone users will have the same in the near future.

Google say:

Make smart decisions with Zagat’s summaries of user reviews and its expressive scoring system that helps you make a decision based on Food, Service, Decor and Price. The most comprehensive local information is now on Google. See Zagat reviews and scores in Search, Maps, Google+ and on your phone.

Look out for the Local button on your G+ ribbon which should have now magically appeared:

This is yet another move to get us using G+ even more, increase social interactivity and build a positive online community experience.  Having played with Local a little bit already, we can see the potential of this already and look forward to using it in more social situations and contributing to reviews.

Here are a couple of promotional videos for Local: