A Facebook account will be required to use Oculus VR in the future

Popular VR platform Oculus has announced that the company’s VR headsets will soon require users to log in with a Facebook account, much to the dismay of Oculus users worldwide. In a blog post on the matter, the Facebook-owned company said that the change will go into effect starting October 2020 and new users will need a Facebook account to use their VR devices while existing users will have to merge their existing Oculus account with their Facebook account.

For the time being, the company is giving existing Oculus users a chance to keep their Facebook and Oculus accounts separate. However, it plans to end support for Oculus accounts by January 1, 2023, after which all Oculus VR headsets will require a Facebook account. The company also announced that all new VR devices launched in the future will require a Facebook account by default.

Today, we’re announcing some important updates to how people log into Oculus devices, while still keeping their VR profile. Starting in October 2020, everyone using an Oculus device for the first time will need to log in with a Facebook account. // https://t.co/SMeDOXgehN

— Oculus (@oculus) August 18, 2020

Oculus claims that the Facebook account integration has been put in place to provide tighter integration with the social media platform and make it easier for users to find, connect, and play with friends in VR. The integration will also unlock a host of social VR features like VR chat, user/developer created events, livestreaming, VR groups, and VR parties. It will also allow the company to unlock more social VR experiences like Facebook Horizon, which will allow users to explore, play, and create worlds in VR.

what happened to this then pic.twitter.com/ao6BnJkt56

— jasper (@zReaper42) August 19, 2020

While the Facebook account integration does unlock new possibilities for the VR platform, several Oculus users have voiced their concerns regarding intrusive data collection, targeted advertising, and data privacy. To address these concerns, the company has revealed that users will have the option to keep their VR activities separate from their Facebook activities. The company has also revealed that it will only utilize users’ data to provide an improved experience across Facebook products, promote safety and integrity on all services, and display personalized content, including ads, across Facebook products. Check out the full FAQ regarding the recent changes in the source page linked below.

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Source: Oculus blog

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Fitbit Sense, Versa 3, and Inspire 2 leaked renders reveal Fitbit’s next set of wearables

It’s been a while since Google announced its intentions to acquire Fitbit for $2.1 billion, and that is mainly due to regulatory, antitrust investigations by the USA and the EU. In the meantime, the smartwatch company has been preparing to add software features such as Google Assistant integration into its fitness bands. But that apparently is not all, as newly leaked renders indicate that Fitbit is working towards launching the new Fitbit Versa 3, Fitbit Sense, and Fitbit Inspire 2.

Winfuture.de shared renders and preliminary info on the upcoming new devices, and Evan ‘evleaks’ Blass followed up with high quality renders of the Fitbit Versa 3.

Fitbit Sense

The Fitbit Sense is speculated to be the first smartwatch-fitness tracker product from the company to launch with the ECG function, as the symbol on the back of the watch indicates; though this could also be for continuous heart rate monitoring. You are also likely to get other features such as temperature, GPS support, and water resistance. The build is expected to be of metal, so you can expect to see higher pricing on it.

Fitbit Versa 3

The Fitbit Versa 3, on the other hand, is expected to be cheaper and will come with support for voice input (and perhaps Google Assistant), GPS, and water resistance. The build is expected to be of polycarbonate, positioning it as a slightly cheaper alternative to the Sense.

Fitbit Inspire 2

The Fitbit Inspire 2 will be a fitness tracker foremost, and likely the cheapest device out of these three.

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There isn’t any more information available on these devices yet. Google Assistant integration is also not confirmed, so there remains a tiny possibility that we might see Amazon Alexan integration continue for another generation, depending on the OEM’s contract. It will also be interesting to see how Fitbit positions these products in the market, in light of the increasing competition from other smartwatch makers such as Xiaomi and Garmin, and Apple and Samsung of course.

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Samsung’s One UI 2.5 update lets you use navigation gestures with third-party launchers

Samsung owners patiently waiting to use Android 10’s full-screen navigation gestures in third-party launchers will be happy to know that the One UI 2.5 release adds compatibility for this feature. It’s been a long wait for Samsung device owners who are also fans of launchers like Nova Launcher, Action Launcher, Lawnchair, and others, but it’s better late than never. As of now, the Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 5G are the first devices to run One UI 2.5, which is based on Android 10.

Samsung isn’t the only company to delay adding Android 10 gesture nav support with third-party launchers. In fact, when Android 10 first became available for Google Pixel phones, you couldn’t set a third-party launcher as default when gesture navigation was enabled. It wasn’t until December 2019 when an update rolled out that support was added.

If you want to test out the new changes, you can download a third-party launcher like Nova Launcher or Action Launcher and then set it as the default when you’re using gesture navigation. Be wary, however, as early reports suggest the new implementation is choppy, particularly with animations, but nothing a few updates can’t fix.

It’s unclear when One UI 2.5 will be available on Samsung devices outside of the Galaxy Note 20 series, but let’s hope it’s soon with Android 11 just around the corner.

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Via: Android Police

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Zoom is coming to Google Nest, Facebook Portal, and Amazon Echo Show smart displays

Zoom on Wednesday announced it will make its video conferencing software available to use on the Google Nest Hub Max, Facebook Portal, and Amazon Echo Show smart displays later this year.

The announcement comes as a surprise considering these companies all have competing video conferencing solutions. Google has Meet, Facebook has Rooms, and Amazon has Chime. This is ultimately good news for the consumer because it means people working from home have more devices to choose from for joining meetings.

Smart displays have become a common gadget in households across the world, and thanks to their large displays, built-in touchscreens, and high-quality directional microphones, they’re the perfect devices for video conferencing. The experience will vary depending on which smart display you own, though. Facebook Portal devices will get a Zoom app, which users can launch like they would an app on a phone, tablet, or computer. Zoom for Facebook Portal will take advantage of the display’s “smart camera” technology to automatically keep users in the frame. Google Nest Hub Max and Amazon Echo Show 8 can launch Zoom meetings that are scheduled in a calendar. It’s not quite as seamless as on the Facebook Portal, but regardless, it’s nice that Zoom is even available on these devices at all, because the service is one of the market’s most popular video conferencing options.

Facebook Portal owners can start using Zoom starting this September, while Google Nest Hub Max and Amazon Echo Show 8 owners will get support later this year. Other smart displays with Google Assistant support will also be able to participate in Zoom calls.

If you want to video chat on an even bigger screen, Google this week announced Meet on Chromecast, which will allow Meet users to cast their meetings to any Chromecast device.

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Via: USA Today

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Launch Your IT Career With 102 Hours of ISC2 SSCP and CISSP Exam Prep for $39

While some industries are struggling right now, there are more jobs than ever in IT. Anyone can make a career in this sector, but you do need to earn some professional certifications. The ISC2 SSCP & CISSP Certification Training Bundle helps you fly through two of the most important exams, with 102 hours of essential training. You can get the bundle now for only $39 at the XDA Developers Depot.

If you want to work in any kind of technical career, knowing the basics of cybersecurity is absolutely essential. Employers want to know that you can take care of their data.

This bundle provides prep for two security certification exams: ISC2 SSCP and CISSP. Each course teaches you everything you need to know for the test.

Along the way, you learn how to design, implement, monitor, and administer enterprise-level systems using secure methods. The courses explain all the key concepts of cybersecurity, with videos on cryptography, malicious code, and more.

You also learn about risk management and disaster rescue, covering everything from desktop threats to network programs. 

Both courses come from iCollege, which has been providing premium instruction since 2003. The training is delivered through concise video lessons, and you have the opportunity to connect with other students. 

You would normally pay $590 for this training, but you can grab the bundle now for just $39.

 

The ISC2 SSCP & CISSP Certification Training Bundle – $39

See Deal

Prices subject to change 

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Google Chrome Canary now lets you check for compromised passwords

Back in October last year, Google introduced a slew of privacy features for Google Maps, YouTube, and Google Chrome. This included a Password Checkup feature for Chrome, which would allow users to check if any of their passwords had been compromised in a public data breach. Now, the company is rolling out the feature in Google Chrome for Android.

According to a recent report from Techdows, the latest update for Google Chrome Canary introduces a new “Bulk password check” flag. Once enabled, the flag adds a new option in the browser settings called “Check passwords.” Tapping on the new Check passwords option scans all stored passwords and alerts users if their password has been compromised in a data breach.

In case you wish to try out the new feature on your device, you can download the latest version of Google Chrome Canary from the Play Store link below. Once you have the browser installed on your device, you’ll need to visit the chrome://flags page and search for the “Bluk password check” flag. Then, after you enable the flag and restart the browser, you should see the new “Check password” option within the “Passwords” setting on the browser.

Along with the Password Checkup feature, the Chrome Canary update also introduces the browser’s Safety Check feature to the Android version. In order to use the Safety Check feature on Android, you’ll first need to enable the “Safety Check on Android” flag and then restart the browser. You should then see a new Safety check option in the browser settings which will help keep you safe from data breaches, unsafe websites, and more.

Chrome Canary (Unstable) (Free, Google Play) →

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Source: Techdows

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New BlackBerry smartphone with a physical keyboard and 5G is coming in 2021

BlackBerry once occupied position as the maker of one of the more coveted pieces of technology to own, but the company and the brand have fallen a long way since then. When the company lost its market share in the smartphone market, it opted to license its name in 2016, letting other smartphone manufacturers design smartphones under the brand name. TCL took up the opportunity with devices like the KEYone, Motion, KEY2, and KEY2 LE, but the company would have to stop using the BlackBerry name as its agreement came to an end this month. But if you are still yearning to own a BlackBerry device, a new company has picked up the mantle, promising new BB-branded smartphones with 5G connectivity and physical keyboards.

OnwardMobility has announced a licensing partnership with BlackBerry and FIH Mobile Limited (a subsidiary of Foxconn), which allows OnwardMobility to develop, engineer, and produce a new 5G-enabled BlackBerry-branded smartphone. The only other pieces of information available on this smartphone, apart from a part of its name, are the facts that it will have a physical keyboard and that it will come to Europe and North America in the first half of 2021.

“Enterprise professionals are eager for secure 5G devices that enable productivity, without sacrificing the user experience. BlackBerry smartphones are known for protecting communications, privacy, and data. This is an incredible opportunity for OnwardMobility to bring next-generation 5G devices to market with the backing of BlackBerry and FIH Mobile.”

Peter Franklin, CEO of OnwardMobility

The press release appears to be leaning into the needs of the enterprise market, as more and more employees are currently working remotely with critical data and applications.

“BlackBerry is thrilled OnwardMobility will deliver a BlackBerry 5G smartphone device with physical keyboard leveraging our high standards of trust and security synonymous with our brand. We are excited that customers will experience the enterprise and government level security and mobile productivity the new BlackBerry 5G smartphone will offer.”

John Chen, Executive Chairman and CEO, BlackBerry

As part of the agreement, FIH Mobile will design and manufacture the smartphone, while OnwardMobility will conduct product planning and market development. BlackBerry, on the other hand, leverages its name and reputation. It remains to be seen how far forward can the name survive on its own.

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