Prior versions of Android have included developer APIs to create apps for people with disabilities—voice-command-driven menuing systems, for example. In this new update, Google has added new functionality that will allow developers to create applications that respond to six unique facial cues: opening mouth, smiling, raising eyebrows, looking left, looking right and looking up. Developers are free to associate any of these gestures with commands of their choosing. An app could respond to a user opening their mouth, for example, by opening a highlighted file.

The software allows users to control the degree of sensitivity of gesture recognition to prevent undesired execution of commands or to watch more closely for people with limited facial mobility. The configuration software also allows for choosing the number of switches (one or two) involved in helping a device recognize a given gesture. This means that developers can create commands that are executed only when two unique gestures are recognized. It also allows for turning the Camera Switch on and off. Google has also made sure users will know when Camera Switches is using the camera by displaying an icon on the screen. They have also added a note in the setup routine promising users that images captured by Camera Switches are not stored anywhere or sent to Google. And they have posted another note that acknowledges that Camera Switches consume a lot of power—Google suggests that Camera Switches only be used when the phone is plugged in.

Because the new features have been added to the beta version of Android 12, they are not yet available on Google Play, but as the team at XDA Developers notes, users unwilling to wait can download the update from third-party sites.

The Apple AirTags are another great addition to the Apple ecosystem

One of the best things about being an iPhone user is that as long as you are committed to Apple’s ecosystem, you get superior cohesive connectivity across a wide range of devices and gadgets that other phone brands simply have not been able to match.

An AirTag is a slightly larger-than-a-coin-sized disc that beams its location to Apple’s “Find My” network, which can be accessed via iPhones, iPads, or Macs. Those with iPhone 11 or iPhone 12, because they have the special U1 chip, can locate an AirTag/multiple AirTags with pinpoint precision if the AirTag and iPhone are not too far away.

Apple’s upcoming M2 chip enters mass production

Аpple’s latest transition, from x86 to their own in-house ARM CPUs last year, for the first time  has full control over their computers’ software and hardware like with their smartphones and tablets, but the CPU itself, the Apple M1, manages to trade bouts with the most powerful Intel Core and AMD Ryzen CPUs out there in terms of performance.

The Apple M1 SoC has already shipped in the 13-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro as well as the Mac Mini, and this M1-powered product lineup was joined by a redesigned iMac and a more powerful iPad Pro during the last Apple event.

ARM refresh and the 14-16 inches MacBooks are to launch with another chip that’s apparently called the “Apple M1X”, featuring a 12-core design instead of an 8-core.

However, given that we’re about to enter the second half of the year in some months and seeing that these chips are set to start shipping in July, just less than 3 months from now, we might just be talking about the same SoC. If it’s indeed the same SoC, we’re seemingly going to see considerable performance improvements, whether it launches as the Apple M1X or as the Apple M2.

Of course, this is all just speculation. We might learn more about this SoC and maybe even about the upcoming MacBooks on WWDC 2021, which is set to be held from June 7 to June 11.

Speaking of Apple and iOS:

Spotify has introduced podcast subscriptions

With the release of iOS 14.5 this week, Apple has introduced a way for creators to offer subscriptions through its Podcasts app. Spotify hasn’t wasted any time following suit, bringing new podcast monetization tools to its platform.

Spotify introduced paid podcast subscriptions, allowing creators to make money off their shows.

Podcasters who use its platform can mark their episodes as subscriber-only and then publish them to Spotify. Interested creators can join a waitlist.

Xda Developers discovered that the term “sunset” had been added to several strings of code in the Shopping app, suggesting the apps were being discontinued.

A Google spokesperson said that the apps will continue to function through June.

“Within the next few weeks, we’ll no longer be supporting the Shopping app. All of the functionality the app offered users is available on the Shopping tab. We’ll continue building features within the Shopping tab and other Google surfaces, including the Google app.”

The app allowed users to choose from among thousands of online stores and make purchases using their Google accounts. One user found the Android app to be working normally on Sunday, whereas others were already seeing a “something went wrong” message when they tried to use the app.

The mobile Shopping app is just the latest Google product to get the axe— Reader, Hangouts, Plus— the list goes on.