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After launching to users in 2018 and expanding to online orders earlier this year, Google Duplex on Assistant is making its debut on Nest smart displays in the near future as another feature also expands to more users. Google announced today that, “soon,” Nest smart displays will be able to book a table at a restaurant using Duplex. Phrases such as “Hey Google, book a table at…

Apple announced a whole slew of features for FaceTime today, but there was one major announcement for Android users: You’ll soon be able to join FaceTime calls via your phone’s web browser. Famously, Steve Jobs said in 2010 when FaceTime was announced that it would be based on open standards and work cross-platform. That reality didn’t play out until today, at WWDC 2021, where Apple…

Back in October, Google introduced default and custom wallpapers for Meet. Google Meet is now rolling out video backgrounds that are first coming to the web.  This capability was first announced with the revamped Google Meet web UI that’s now widely rolled out. In addition to static backgrounds, you can now select videos: Custom backgrounds can help you show more of your personality, as well…

As has happened quite a few times in recent memory, Google’s position in the advertising industry is coming back to bite the company a bit. Today, France has issued a fine against Google for “abusing” that position. The French Competition Authority’s investigation against Google’s advertising business found that the company had “unfairly” sent business to its own products and, in…