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Volvo's new brand is devoted to app-based car services
Volvo is launching another spinoff brand, but this time it's not about convincing you to buy a car... in fact, it might wean you off ownership altogether. The Swedish automaker has unveiled M, a badge devoted to "rethinking traditional car ownership" with an "intuitive app." Details of what that involves are unsurprisingly vague. However, M is developing "proprietary learning technology" that gauges your specific needs instead of simply telling you where to pick up a car -- in other words, a smarter form of car sharing.
Facebook Messenger will translate Spanish messages for you
Facebook Messenger can now translate messages from Spanish to English (and vice versa) for you, whatever it is you and your friend are talking about. The feature, called M's translation suggestions, debuted at F8 in May as one of Facebook's new tools for businesses and used to only work for chats between buyers and sellers in Marketplace. Starting today, though, you'll see a "Translate to English/Spanish" module pop up when someone messages you in either language, so long as you're in the US or Mexico.
CNBC: Facebook's smart speaker could debut outside the US
According to rumors, Facebook decided that since it's mired in privacy controversies this year's F8 event might not be the best time to introduce an always-listening connected home device. Amazon has Alexa and Echo, Apple has Siri and HomePod, Microsoft pushes Cortana and Google has Assistant/Home. Now, with the opening keynote of F8 over and no smart speaker or video chat-ready "Portal" device mentioned, CNBC reports that the device is still in the works. It's apparently connected to remnants of the dearly-departed "M" chatbot technology but when it does appear there's a possibility it will launch first in international markets. An "M" powered AI assistant could even get a new name, like...Marvin, and use the translation features announced for Messenger today. Still, with the fallout from Cambridge Analytica and the prospect of increased regulation hanging over its head, Facebook will keep watching the home assistant battle from a spot on the sidelines.
Facebook kills its ‘M’ AI assistant on January 19th
Facebook M is, or was, an artificially-intelligent AI that used human operatives to ensure that its recommendations were on point. "Was," at least, because the social network has revealed that its shutting down the platform on January 19th after two-and-a-half-years of operation. The news was confirmed to the Verge today, with Facebook saying that the project was an experiment that it learned a lot from. These insights will be used on other internal AI projects, while the human operatives will be found jobs elsewhere in the company. For everyone else, though, the technology powering M has been used in Facebook Messenger's M suggestions, and those will continue going forward.
Facebook's 'M' AI assistant will help you choose a movie
Facebook had grand plans for its in-Messenger AI assistant, M, when it was launched in 2015. While the service hasn't quite yet lived up to the hype, the company is continually rolling out new features in a bid to make using it a fun experience, and to make it easier to get things done. From today, users in the US will see three new suggestions when using the app.
Facebook’s AI suggestions come to Messenger in the UK
According to Facebook, chatbots were going to change the way we get things done. Users were meant to be able to to buy flowers, order fast food and check in with their bank without ever having to leave the Messenger app. The company quickly dialed back its enthusiasm, admitting that they were somewhat overhyped, but its core technology, M, still underpins Messenger today. Most of that functionality has been limited to the US, but this week Facebook has brought what it calls "M Suggestions" to the UK, allowing users to enjoy recommendations from its AI-powered personal assistant.
Facebook's Messenger AI will sniff out Spotify tracks for you
Facebook Messenger integrated Spotify into its chat extensions back in April of this year, then added a way to create group playlists within the chat app a month later. Now, the music streaming service is showing up in M, Facebook Messenger's AI assistant. The virtual helper monitors the words in your conversation, then pops up with hopefully relevant responses like "you're welcome," "no problem," or suggestions like "send birthday greetings" or "save bookmark." Now, though, when you mention playing music in a chat, you might find a new little popup that says "Find Music" next to the Spotify logo.
Facebook Messenger's AI assistant helps you save links for later
Two months ago, Facebook finally rolled out M, its AI-powered personal assistant, to the general public. Well, sort of. Instead of the limited edition of M that would answer your every beck and call (it had a lot of human help), the public version of M has to be triggered with certain words. A few features at launch include suggesting stickers to use in conversations or prompting an Uber ride if M detects you need to get somewhere. Today, Facebook is adding even more M suggestions to the mix: a "save it for later" function, birthday wishes and call initiations.
Facebook's AI assistant is ready to hang out in Messenger
A couple of years ago, Facebook introduced M, an AI-powered personal assistant for Messenger. The idea behind M is that you could ask it to do pretty much anything -- book flights, cancel your cable service and even find a plumber -- and it'll do it for you, with the occasional help from human beings. It was rolled out to just a small test market of users in San Francisco, but we've not heard much about it since then. Until now. Today, Facebook has announced that a version of M will finally be available to all Messenger users in the US. It's called "M suggestions," and it'll essentially pop up at certain points of your Messenger conversation to recommend related content or features.
Facebook Messenger test hints at a bigger role for AI
Facebook wants its M chat assistant to be useful for much more than shopping and travel recommendations. It's testing an M suggestions feature that has the artificial intelligence offer actions depending on the circumstances in your chat. Some will be familiar: if a friend asks where you are, it'll give you a Google Hangouts-style opportunity to share your location. Others are more creative, such as suggesting stickers in response to common phrases like "thanks."
ICYMI: Soon flying UAVs could pick stuff up; carry it away
try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: A large format hexacopter with mechanical gripper arms is all set to swoop in on your backyard and move some chairs around. Going by the Prodrone's YouTube video, it can carry 10 kilograms.
Google is reportedly making an AI-powered chat assistant
Hey, Facebook: you might not be the only tech giant with an artificially intelligent chat assistant. The Wall Street Journal's sources understand that Google is building an AI-based messaging service that would search the web to answer your questions. From the description, it sounds like a more elaborate, more conversational Google Now. Third parties may even build their own bots to give you site-specific answers.
Facebook 'M' makes Messenger your personal assistant
Remember that talk of Facebook testing its own virtual assistant? Well, it's real. The social network is trying out M, an artificial intelligence-powered Messenger assistant that can answer questions and complete tasks. You can ask it for advice on places to go, for instance, or have it make travel arrangements. Think of it as a Siri- or Cortana-like helper that exists solely in text chat. It should be less likely to make mistakes, though, as Facebook is quick to note that there are humans training and supervising the AI behind the scenes. And in case you're wondering, it only bases its conversations around Messenger -- it's not using your regular Facebook data to make decisions.
Leica teases Mini M camera, scheduled to debut on June 11th
Leica seldom updates its camera lineup, so we're especially intrigued to discover that it's teasing a completely new model, the Mini M. On the camera maker's website, this TBA model is represented by only a black box, tucked in between the full-frame M and the APS-C-loaded X2 (Micro M). There's no other official info aside from its June 11th unveiling date, but Leica Rumors is poised to bet that this is the company's first mirrorless ILC entry. The site's sources claim this model will thankfully not be a re-badged Panasonic Lumix -- Hasselblad and Sony's Lunar (a leather-adorned NEX-7) already did enough damage on that front.
Gateway revs the M-series laptops to X and XL
It hasn't even been a year since Gateway dropped the M-series laptop on us, but with all the other kids getting fancy new Penryn shoes, it's time for an upgrade -- say 'allo to the M-151X and M-151XL. Only the XL gets the fancy new 2.4GHz T8300 Core 2 Duo, actually -- poor X here is still wearing last year's 65nm 1.66GHz T5450 fashions. Both feature a 15-inch glossy screen, though, as well as 256MB ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT graphics with HDMI out, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, fingerprint reader, 5-in-1 memory card reader, slot-loading dual-layer burner, 250GB drive, and Vista Home Premium. Not a bad little package, especially for the price: the X will set you back a cool grand, while the XL runs $1,299.[Via Laptoping]
Olympus rolls out high-speed Type M+ xD-Picture Cards
Believe it or not, Olympus' original Type M xD-Picture Card crashed the scene over a year ago, so it's about time its successor showed up, don'tcha think? The revamped (and ever-so-slightly renamed) M+ card promises data transfer speeds of up to 1.5 times faster than the vanilla Type M, yet somehow still supports "virtually all digital cameras with xD-Picture Card slots" -- whatever that means. Unfortunately, these speedsters still cap out at 2GB, and while pricing deets remain undisclosed, they should be landing sometime in April for all to see.
Manhunt 2 one step closer to British unbanning
In America, it was quite the saga getting Manhunt 2 from AO-rated, system-excluded game an eventual, mediocre M-rated release. In Great Britain, though, the battle to get the game released continues to this day, though it is moving in Rockstar's direction.GamesIndustry.biz is reporting that Rockstar has won its appeal of the BBFC's decision to refuse the game classification by a four to three vote. The game's not out of the woods yet, though -- the BBFC could still continue to defend it decision through further appeal to the High Court. "We won't make a decision until we've seen the full printed judgement," a BBFC spokesperson told GI.biz.
A look at Verizon's busy summer
Please, we beg of you, take these dates with the proverbial grain of salt -- but according to sources, the dates draws near for what could be one of the busiest phone launching quarters for The Network ever. Word on the street is that several phones should be launching shortly including UTStarcom Libra at the end of June, the Palm Treo 755p, UTStarcom Titan, Sierra Wireless 595U USB aircard, and the Motorola Q9M (aka iPhone Killer) rounding out the month of July. A few other honorable mentions we'd like to throw in for ya: looks like the Samsung I760 might be forced to downgrade to Windows Mobile 5.0 in order to make the summer launch schedule, the Treo 800W is on track for late August and BlackBerry Pearl 8120 some time in the fourth quarter of the year. Not a bad list, eh?[Thanks, Jesse and HTC Kid]
Verizon prepping iPhone killers from Motorola and LG?
When Verizon passed on the iPhone, was it a bad business decision or was it a part of a much larger idea for The Network to bring a next-generation music device to market? Enter Motorola and what is being described as an "iPhone Killer" by employees of both companies. Code named the "M" and designed for the mediacentric user, it's likely to impress (if they really want to kill the iPhone, anyway). Details are on the slim side, but reports suggest a 3 megapixel shooter with a large QVGA display and lots of internal storage. In addition to the M, word is that LG is preparing a CDMA version of the popular -- but -- expensive KE850 (aka Prada) for release sometime in the 3rd quarter (this one's also a potential iPhone nemesis, if you ask us). Make sure you keep a lookout for more deets![Thanks, Roc a fella]
How would the ESRB rate your game collection?
I'm very open to all sorts of games, be it genre or game rating. That being said, I've noticed that, more often than not, I'm buying mostly M-rated games. It's not a huge surprise to me. If given the option, I'd rather shoot someone in a game than shake their hand. It is a bit unique to a portable system though, and while I don't only love the PSP because I can play M rated games on it, I do appreciate it. Are you similar to me in this regard? If the ESRB were to give a blanket rating to your PSP game collection, what would it be? Did you get the PSP partly because of the ability to play more M rated games?
