Google voices

Organized labor came to Silicon Valley earlier this year when employees of Alphabet, the parent company of Google , formed the Alphabet Workers Union . It's the first union to be open to any Alphabet employee anywhere in the world, including the temporary workers, vendors and contractors who make up more than half the company's workforce. With a membership of over 800 people, the union represents less than 1% of Alphabet's current employees, but the union's relatively small size hasn't stopped it from taking action and achieving results. Editors' top picks Subscribe to CNET Now for the day's most interesting reviews, news stories and videos. The AWU filed its first complaint with the National Labor Relations Board in early February on behalf of contractor Shannon Wait, who was briefly suspended after complaining about conditions in the data center where she works. Less than a week after she filed the complaint, Wait posted on Twitter that she'd been invited back … [Read more...] about Google workers explain why they unionized

There's never been a better time to cut the cord . These days, more than ever, people are looking to save money on streaming , and the selection of robust, affordable live TV streaming services make cable TV totally unnecessary. T-Mobile is throwing its hat into the ring with its revamped TVision service . After spending some quality hands-on time with TVision , I can tell you that it offers one tier that promises particularly good value at just $10 per month. The more expensive options? It's complicated. TVision began as a not-so-affordable cable replacement in 2019 , but the service is now similar in concept to app-based services like Sling TV and Philo . At the moment it's available only to T-Mobile and Sprint wireless customers, while everyone else should be able to sign up in 2021, though likely for higher prices . The entry-level tier, TVision Vibe, offers a grab bag of solid cable channels for $10 a month. There's nothing else that comes … [Read more...] about T-Mobile’s TVision live TV hands-on: Worth $10 if you’re already a customer

If you think of all your home's lights, climate controls and automation gadgets as a sort of Russian Nesting Doll , you start to understand Apple HomeKit and its database-driven approach to home automation. See also: The 18 Most Important Features in iOS 8 During a HomeKit introduction session at Apple’s World Wide Developer’s Conference ( WWDC ) in San Francisco on Tuesday, an Apple engineer described how virtually every home, room, device, function and setting would have a name in the HomeKit system and how Siri, Apple’s intelligent voice assistant, could recognize and let you control it all thanks to a common database. Apple’s overarching goal is to bring “some rationality to home automation,” said the Apple engineer. To do so, the HomeKit iOS 8 app and API both guide the user through the distinct naming of every room and device, but can also, if the accessories support Apple's Home Automation Protocol and iOS devices, intuit home automation device capabilities. … [Read more...] about Inside Apple’s Plan to Automate Your Home

Oct. 23, 2001: The iPod The very first iPod launched with "1,000 songs in your pocket." It had 5GB of storage space, weighed 6.5 ounces, featured a 160 x 128 pixel display and FireWire connectivity and cost $399. July 2002: Second Generation iPod As well as an increased capacity topping out at 20GB, the second generation iPod got an important new feature -- Windows compatibility. This came not via iTunes, but through MUSICMATCH Jukebox, with software called "iPod for Windows." April 2003: Third Generation iPod 2003 was a big year for the Apple iPod. In April, the third generation model was introduced. Thinner and lighter, this complete redesign now boasted a touch-sensitive interface, dock connector and 30GB capacity. USB syncing and the launch of the iTunes Music Store solidified the early iPod ecosystem. These elements helped Apple hit some milestones in 2003 -- one million iPods sold (which rose to two million by the end of the year) and 25 … [Read more...] about Rest in Peace, iPod

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more . Alexa call mom Jeramy Johnson 7 Mar 2021 Source: Amazon I love my Amazon Echo Show device for a lot of reasons. It cycles through my favorite photos to remind me of better times. It lets me watch shows and movies while I'm cooking or doing chores. I can even get video news briefings, check the weather, and watch YouTube through an actual web browser like Mozilla's Firefox or Amazon's Silk ( hello Google/Nest? ). However, hands-down, one of the neatest things it can do is easy peasy, hands-free video calling with Alexa. I'll show you how simple it is to make a video call on an Echo Show device in the steps below. How to set up Alexa calling and messaging Before you can start making video or audio calls on your Echo Show device, you'll need to set up the capability within the Alexa app itself. Open the Alexa app on your smartphone. Tap on the Communicate button on the bottom … [Read more...] about How to make video calls on an Amazon Echo Show