July 6, 2017

The Figaro Digital Digest: 7th July 2017

Summer is here and, while we’re all out enjoying the outdoors, the digital world continues to spin.

If you’re unwilling to give up your time in the sun for a continuous stream of articles, fear not, our digital digest is here to provide you with all the information you need.

Samsung’s Bixby Continues to be Delayed

Billed as an interface that would allow users to do exactly what they do with their keyboard using their voice. The long promised English language version of Bixby is yet to be rolled out, with an insider confirming this week that the spring deadline would not be met.

Having already failed to meet its May deadline, Samsung would be eager to ensure that its innovative interface is ready for its English-speaking audiences.

However, according to the insider, the interface is struggling to adapt to the English language (it’s currently mainstream in South Korea) and geographical barriers are preventing any further deep learning.

With no official word from Samsung as of yet, it’ll be interesting to see whether the tech giant will be able to keep up with the competition and keep its eager audience happy.

Google Brings Virtual Reality to Mobile Ads

The VR industry has one major issue: can it be monetised?

Advertising for VR has been a contentious issue, with many fearing that the inability to optimise advertisements for the platform would lead to a serious lack of interest from corporate sponsors. However, Google have made some major headway with their newest development ‘The Cube’.

Google’s experimental unit, known as Area 120, has developed an advertisement interface that will activate upon user interaction.

While still early days in terms of being rolled out across all VR platforms, some developers have been sent the technology in order for them to get to grips with the interface. An innovative way around a complicated issue, we should come to expect nothing less from the search engine.

Toyota Bring Cognitive Ads to its Prius Prime

Hybrid car giant Toyota has added another touch of innovation to its cars this week as it introduces cognitive ads to the driving experience. Made in partnership with IBM Watson, the application will allow drivers to engage in conversation with certain ads and apps.

The Toyota Watson Ad will come equipped with a body of knowledge that will advise users on the car and its interface, alongside auto shopping opportunities.

The Toyota Watson ads include an extensive amount of language capabilities, so responses will sound conversational, natural and above all, human.

Gmail Will No Longer be Used for Mining

After years of mining users’ Gmail accounts in the name of ad personalisation, Google has now announced that it will no longer use Gmail as a means of gathering information.

While this may mean an end of Gmail mining, Google will continue to find the necessary information elsewhere, using platforms such as YouTube as a substitute. Alongside this, ads will continue to be shown within Gmail, however the information that forms the personalised ads will not, get it?

Further Updates…

New developments happen every day in the digital word, and can be a pretty tough task attempting to keep up. Thankfully, we’ve got you covered.

For all the information you need with the unnecessary bits cut out, take a look at more of our articles below.