Slack, which has become the chat software of choice in the workplace, now lets users set up videoconferencing from within Slack’s desktop apps. Users can make video calls to one person or to a group by clicking on the same icon that launches voice calling. That, in turn, brings up another button with an icon …

Is the world about to get a smart speaker that features Microsoft’s Cortana voice assistant? That’s the question Windows watching are asking after getting a glimpse of a video posted by audio-equipment maker Harman Kardon. The 30-second video doesn’t give much away, preferring to rely on its self-evident title, “Harman Kardon + Cortana: Premium audio meets personal assistant.” That combination …

Google‘s Android operating system was the big winner in a big time for worldwide phone shipments, market researcher Strategy Analytics reported Wednesday. Android captured 88 percent of all smartphone shipped in the third quarter of 2016, a period that also marks the fastest growth rate in a year. “Android’s gain came at the expense of every major rival platform,” Strategy …

eBay Collective probably isn’t for the likes of you and me — assuming you’re not on the hunt for a rare Paul Revere candlestick or some other pricey antique. If you are, eBay’s new “elevated shopping experience” could be the site for you. That’s because eBay aims to make it easy for interior designers and well-heeled consumers to search for …

YouTube Red is moving into Hollywood territory with its latest round of original programming. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s company Seven Bucks Productions will coproduce the eight-episode “Lifeline” about a time-traveling insurance agent. “Impulse,” from director Doug Liman, will follow a young girl who can teleport out of danger. Dan Harmon, who produced the “Community” TV series, will deliver a scripted …

Feeling guilty you let your kids spend hours looking at videos from your phone? The new Playtime Pad from PBS Kids might ease your guilt. For starters, the bright blue and green tablet is from the TV powerhouse known for its entertaining educational programs and games. Parents might also feel better about the tablet because it lets them set time …

If there’s smoke, there must be fire. In this case, the heat centers on a Twitter purchase as Walt Disney becomes the latest company rumored to eye the stagnating microblogging service, according Bloomberg News. The report Monday follows CNBC’s story last week that several tech companies, including Google and Salesforce, would soon make formal bids for Twitter. Disney’s interest stems …

Want a smarter Alexa, savvier Siri, brainier Google Now or a cleverer Cortana? So do Amazon, Apple, Alphabet and Microsoft — and each is working to make its voice assistant your personal Einstein of choice. Amazon recently enhanced its efforts by nabbing an AI expert from eBay, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. Hassan Sawaf is now Amazon’s director of …

Strap in for a roller-coaster ride in tablet sales. In a surprise to no one, the tablet market will shrink for the rest of 2016, market researcher IDC forecasts. The predicted 11.5 percent year-over-year decline is a bit of a shocker, though. Worldwide, 183.4 million tablets will have shipped by the end of 2016. What is a surprise is IDC’s …

OK all you Google+ users (you know who you are). Google is rolling out its redesigned social network to everyone, by default. Enlarge Image The social network’s new look will roll out to all users. Google The company introduced a new look to Google+ last November, which put Communities and Collections “front and center.” At the time, users had to …