But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, which devices currently support Google Assistant? Google Assistant on phonesGoogle Assistant first launched inside Google’s own smartphones, the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL. Through Android Wear 2.0, Google Assistant is a somewhat stripped-down version of the Assistant you’ll find on a phone. Most people with Android Wear 2.0 will have gotten an update from the original Android Wear. Google Assistant on carsGoogle announced in mid-May a partners

Google wants its Google Assistant to lead the way, and with new Google Photos, Google Home and exciting DayDream VR announcements, but made some significant progress today. 11:58AM: Google has one more trick up its sleeve for the Google IO keynote. 10:59AM: So far, every Google IO keynote announcement seems connected, from Google Lens, to new Google Home features to Google Photos Shared Library and Photo Books. 09:48AM: There’s a lot of work that goes into bringing you news and updates of live e

HTC has launched a new Vive standalone VR headset that doesn’t need a phone, a PC or a cabled connection to any device. The current HTC Vive requires the sizable headset to be tethered to a substantial PC rig – but the Taiwanese firm has now cut the cord with its more mobile Vive standalone offering. Instead of sliding your phone inside the headset, the new Vive VR viewer already has the screen, power and room-mapping smarts packed in. It’s due out in late 2017 – we’re still waiting for a firm H

Google is making its Daydream VR platform available to standalone devices, the company announced today at the Google IO 2017 conference. Google is also partnering with HTC and Lenovo to develop the first standalone Daydream VR headsets, and those will be available later this year. We already have details on HTC Vive standalone headset, and it will be the first to go cable and free with Google’s Daydream platform. As standalone headsets, users won’t need a cable, PC or inserted phone to experienc

Google might not have shown up with new Home hardware to Google IO 2017, but its latest software update will make the six-month-old Google Home feel like a new machine. While some of these changes will have more of an impact than others (you can now make phone calls from Google Home without a landline or a cell phone at no cost! OK, Google, show me what you can doLet’s start off by covering the two biggest announcements first: hands-free calling and Bluetooth. The Home will make the call from ei

Google just launched its new Google Lens camera app at Google IO, and it’s already blowing my mind. But it’s the next feature that’s really got me hankering for some of that sweet Google Lens action. Google says Lens will be able to remove the fence, and seamlessly fill in the spaces it leaves. While Google’s demo on stage, at its own event, specially tailored to make the Google Lens features look great, was impressive, there’s nothing like actually seeing it work with your own eyes. There’s no

As a free and open source operating system, Linux is the ideal candidate for setting up your own server. The community of developers behind each Linux distribution (distro) regularly review the source code of their chosen OS to make sure it’s free of bugs. When it comes to servers, the emphasis should obviously be on stability. While upgrades are a good thing on the face of it, they have the potential to interfere with the smooth running of your server. We’ve highlighted some of our favourite Li

In celebration of Overwatch’s first birthday, Blizzard is holding a special event starting on May 23 and lasting until June 12. Titled the “Overwatch Anniversary” event, it will be full of new game modes, special features, and of course, collectible content for players to chase after. Funny enough, Blizzard didn’t say exactly what all will go down for the celebration. For players just now hopping into the world of Overwatch, purchasing the GOTY version will net you the exclusive “Origins” conten

Google had a host of new features to announce for its smart home speaker, Google Home, at this year’s Google IO. But what was surprising about many of the announcements is how closely they mirror similar ones made by Amazon with its Amazon Echo in the past couple of weeks. Sounds a lot like the Amazon Echo Show to me. After all, Google has managed to integrate voice recognition into Google Home while Amazon is still fumbling with its multi-user support. But these developments show just how close

Google Photos is a must-have app for any smartphone photographer, offering unlimited cloud storage of your snaps and smart image recognition within your pics. Organising your library automatically, it’s getting a handful of big updates off the back of the Google I/O 2017 event. It’ll be available on Android and iOS devices, as well as through Google Photo’s browser build. Share, share, shareSuggested Sharing is another new feature. The feature can be set so that shared photos appear seamlessly a

Google IO 2017 kicks off Wednesday, May 17, with a 10am PT (1pm ET / 6pm GMT / 3am AEST May 18) keynote hosted by CEO Sundar Pichai. But not to worry if you didn’t get yours: there are a few easy ways to watch the Google IO 2017 keynote livestream, including right on this very page. As for the main event, we’re hosting the Google IO 2017 keynote livestream right here, so feel free to bookmark this page to join all the fun once it starts. You can also watch the keynote directly on the Google IO 2

With its combination of familiar features and intuitive new additions, Windows 10 is Microsoft’s most user-friendly operating system to date. Its accessibility doesn’t end with the new Start menu and straightforward Cortana search functions, though – Windows 10 also packs an impressive suite of extra tools to make using your PC as easy as possible. In Windows 7, certain features (including the magnifier) were only available as part of the Aero display scheme, which put heavy demands on low-power

Thankfully, there are free tools to combat both types. Download here: Trend Micro Ransomware File Decryptor Tool3. Kaspersky Anti-Ransomware Tool for Business is designed to help small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) protect their data from such a catastrophe. Kaspersky Anti-Ransomware TOol runs happily alongside your regular security suite, monitoring network activity for anything that matches known ransomware behavior. Its threat database is stored on Kaspersky’s cloud servers, so updates

A Netflix TV series based on the Witcher franchise is currently in development. We started production of the series based on “The Witcher” in coop. pic.twitter.com/hYXWCHySOFMay 17, 2017The author of the Witcher books, Andrzej Sapkowski, will serve as the show’s creative consultant. In the past video games have proved challenging to adapt into movies, with last year’s Assassin’s Creed being another high profile disappointment. Hopefully the combination of a TV series being adapted from a game ba

Xbox One and PCWhat is Sea of Thieves? Sea of Thieves is heavily co-operative, although there are combative elements with other parties, too. You’ll be pleased to know that all the greatest hits from a life lived on the seas and beyond the law can be found in Sea of Thieves. But what do you actually do in Sea of Thieves, beyond sailing around and causing trouble? Some have NPCs, ready to dish out quests; others will be deserted; some may even have a rival pirate crew on the same mission as you.

App developers and small businesses are invited down for discussions about their products and how Apple can better serve their needs. With all these newly-modernised stores, Apple is no longer selling gadgets, but an experience. A future Apple Store in Chicago is planned to open up a new space onto the waterfront in the same manner of encouraging people into the shop. It’s Apple in the most Apple way possible, the hand of Ive obvious throughout the design ethos of the new stores. Apple for the f

On this page we’ll find you the best prices for the Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast 2 (or just Chromecast now) and Chromecast Audio and explain how they differ. Chromecast 2 dealsThe Chromecast 2, or ‘new Chromecast’ as it’s also known, is very similar to the now discontinued 2013 Chromecast. Chromecast Ultra dealsThe 4K Chromecast Ultra is the newest member of the Chromecast family. If you have a 4K TV or are planning on getting one, it’s certainly worth picking one of these up. Chromecast Ultra d

Not content with just announcing a new addition to its Echo line of smart speakers, Amazon continues to upgrade Alexa to be your go-to digital assistant. Amazon will soon add another ability to Alexa’s repertoire in the form of notifications — giving users spoken updates from Alexa on what’s new across a selection of the digital assistant’s 12,000-plus skills. Like most of Alexa’s talents, catching up on notifications is as easy as a voice prompt of “Alexa, what did I miss?” or “Alexa, what are

Fresh, new MacBooks may arrive much sooner than previously expected, according to a new report out of Bloomberg. The outlet reports, citing sources “familiar with the matter,” that Apple looks to use the WWDC 2017 stage this June to debut three refreshed MacBook models. The models reportedly due for upgrades are, unsurprisingly, the MacBook Pro, 12-inch MacBook and perhaps even the MacBook Air. According to Bloomberg, these refreshes are marked internal upgrades aimed to instill a sense of dedic

Apple’s R&D team has been hard at work it seems as the iPhone maker just landed a haul of patents today — two of which may turn out supremely relevant to this year’s iPhone 8. Fifty-six different patents were granted to Apple today from a variety of filing dates, with some of the more eye-catching ones including an edge-to-edge display and a method for implementing biometric features like Touch ID on a touchscreen surface, according to Patently Apple. Image Credit: United States Patent and Trade