What’s new
Google Play will rank apps based on performance quality
Google has announced changes to its search and discovery algorithms that will see better-performing apps rank higher on the Play Store than those riddled with bugs and other performance issues. The new ranking algorithm will direct users to apps that experience fewer crashes and use up less battery, leading to improved rankings, user retention, and monetisation, Google said in a blog post.
You can read more here.
Facebook is now exclusively using AI to translate posts and comments
Facebook announced that all of its user translation services are now powered by neural networks, which are a form of artificial intelligence. The company says the new AI-powered translation is 11 percent more accurate than the old-school approach, which is what they call a “phrase-based machine translation” technique that wasn’t powered by neural networks.
More info are available here.
New products
Motorola Moto X4
The phone will have a 5.2-inch screen, 64GB of internal storage, Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor and a 3000mAh battery. It will come with dual cameras on the back with 12MP and 8MP sensors.
More info here.
Samsung SM-G9298
The phone has two 4.2-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) Super AMOLED displays, Snapdragon 821 processor and 4GB RAM. It comes with 12 MP primary camera and a 5MP front camera.
More info here.
You might want to know about this
Xiaomi has become the world’s largest wearables vendor in Q2 2017
The news comes from a research firm, Strategy Analytics, which depicts that Xiaomi, for the very first time, has overtaken Fitbit in the wearable industry with an estimate shipping of 3.7 million devices. Not only Fitbit but Xiaomi also beats Apple in selling wearable devices.
You can read more here.
Accenture acquired marketing and sales consultancy company Brand Learning
Brand Learning provides a range of corporate training services for clients in over 60 countries primarily focused on marketing, sales, digital and HR capabilities. A press release stated that with this acquisition Brand Learning’s advisory team will join the management consulting and industry specialists within Accenture’s Customer and Channels practice.
More info can be found here.
Fun stuff
Hydralight uses water to create electricity
The technology involves a simple ion exchange that is activated by ordinary salt water. Just a few dips in water can charge the cell for days, providing over 250 hours of power. The products are designed to be used in any temperature or weather condition.
You can read more here.
