Google on Thursday shared early access to its Read Along app for Android, which is designed to help kids 5 years and older learn to read. The app provides verbal and visual feedback as children read stories aloud. Read Along is one of several online platforms meant to keep students engaged and learning as schools …

Fitbit on Wednesday launched the Fitbit Heart Study, which aims to validate the use of its wearables to help detect atrial fibrillation, or AFib, the most common form of heart rhythm irregularity. The virtual study is open to Fitbit users 22 years and older with a current Fitbit device. The company hopes to enroll hundreds of thousands of people in …

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites. New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday asked seven cable and satellite TV providers to cut or eliminate fees linked to live sports amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Companies are continuing to charge customers for live sports programming, despite the fact that events …

YouTube on Wednesday said it’s launching 11 free new original shows as people spend more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. They include a dance special called Move With Me featuring dancer and producer Matt Steffanina, and a show about people being creative together during the pandemic called Create Together With Me, hosted by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  “Some shows will …

Spotify on Wednesday said it’s rolling out a new feature that lets artists highlight a fundraising campaign on their profiles. Similar to how they can choose music to highlight as an Artist’s Pick, they can now also use the Artist Fundraising Pick to feature campaigns raising money to support themselves, their bands or their crews amid the COVID-19 pandemic. They …

You may soon be able to have WhatsApp group calls with up to eight people, according to a Tuesday report. The Facebook-owned chat service is reportedly rolling out the feature to devices with the latest iOS and Android beta update installed.  Participants with the most up-to-date version of WhatsApp will be able to participate in group voice or video calls, according …

Fox on Monday said it has completed its acquisition of Tubi, a free video-streaming service, for around $440 million. The companies announced the acquisition last month. Tubi is an ad-supported video streaming site with over 20,000 movies and TV shows. It works with more than 250 content partners, including Warner Bros. and Lionsgate. In February, the service said its monthly active users hit 25 million in …

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites. Your Google smartwatch will now ping you to wash your hands every three hours to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The new feature is part of a Wear OS update, Android Police reports. After the alert from the clock app is opened, …

Heads up, Pokemon fans. Razer is launching Pikachu wireless earbuds, complete with a Pokeball charging case.  The yellow headphones have an outline of Pikachu on the back, and the charging case features a front button that lights up to show battery level and a wrist strap for carrying. Engadget notes the earbuds are essentially the Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds, just stylized (and …

Motorola will be hosting a virtual event April 22 to launch its latest flagship phone, the company said in a Monday tweet. The event kicks off at 9 a.m. PT.  An accompanying teaser video shows footage of what appears to be the rumored Edge phone. No further details were shared.  The company has joined a handful of other companies, including …