Whether it’s a gadget, software, or any online platform, there’re continuously new things invented and launched every new day. In this article, I’ve come up with the technology news dose of September 2020.
However, there’re hundreds of announcements and news came around this month but I’ve selected only the top 10 technology news updates of the month of September 2020. Companies like LinkedIn, Amazon, Instagram, Xiaomi, BSNL, Jio, and more have some great news and announcements for you. Let’s have a look at the top 10 headlines of this month.
1. LinkedIn Introduced Video Chats & Other Features
If you’re a writer, blogger, or any other professional, you must be using LinkedIn for seeking opportunities. To make the conversations easier on LinkedIn, the company added a variety of new messaging features like Video Calling as announced in a blog post.
You will be able to place video calls on LinkedIn to switch the conversation from chat to face-to-face using Microsoft Teams, BlueJeans by Verizon, and Zoom directly in your LinkedIn messages.
Not only this, but LinkedIn added some more interesting messaging features like editing and deleting a message altogether, reacting to a message with emoji, bulk-managing of your messages, reporting inappropriate messages, and inviting others to join your conversation.
2. Google Maps to Show COVID-19 Hotspots
To identify the new COVID-19 hotspots, Google Maps added a new layer that will highlight the areas infected with COVID-19 cases. Tapping the new “COVID-19” option in layers feature in a top corner of a screen will show up the latest 7-day average of cases per 100,000 people in areas being viewed.
Sujoy Banarjee, Product Manager, Google Maps said in a blog post that with the help of this COVID layer in Google Maps that shows the critical information about COVID-19 cases in an area so people can make more informed decisions about where to go and what to do.
3. Amazon Launched the 4th Gen Echo Devices
This month, Amazon launched it’s 4th Gen Echo devices with more interesting features, Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Dot with clock smart speakers. The 4th Gen Echo devices replace the older Echo as well as Echo Plus and come with a built-in Zigbee Hub that enables communication with various smart home devices.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) price in India has been set at Rs. 9,999, while the Echo Dot (4th Gen) comes at Rs. 4,499 and the Echo Dot (4th Gen) with the clock is priced at Rs. 5,499.
4. Instagram Reels Got New Edit Features After Update
Instagram announced in a Tweet about the new update that brings more extended and interesting features for Instagram Reels. Users will now be able to create a reel for up to 30 seconds. Until now, reels were strictly only up to 15 seconds.
Some other features are also revealed such as you can extend the timer to 10 seconds when you’re recording. It’s also now possible to trim or delete any clip.
5. Zoom For Android Introduced Virtual Backgrounds
Zoom with the latest update for Android introduced virtual backgrounds to be used during video calls. The feature currently works for photos. Videos cannot be used for virtual backgrounds.
Users can either choose from the default virtual backgrounds or add their own from the gallery. To add a virtual background, click on More, and then select Virtual Background. Just tap on the pre-existing backgrounds or click on the plus sign in the right to add your own.
6. Xiaomi Launched “Mi Store on Wheels”
In September 2020, Xiaomi launched it’s “Mi Store on Wheels” shopping experience in India. According to Manu Kumar Jain, Xiaomi Global Vice President and Managing Director of India operations the Mi Store on Wheels innovative concept is launched to connect villages through the moving Mi store.
7. BSNL Announced to Extend “Work@Home” Plan
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in the month of March 2020 launched a Work@Home plan that offers free Internet access at no additional cost for 90 days to help people work from home during the ongoing pandemic. BSNL now extended this plan till December 2020.
8. Jio Launched a Special Rs. 598 Recharge Plan
Jio recently launched a special recharge plan of Rs. 598 which includes 2GB per day data for 56 days along with a free Disney+ Hotstar VIP annual subscription which is currently priced at Rs. 399.
Last month Jio launched two other plans; Rs. 499 and Rs. 777 with Disney+ Hotstar VIP annual membership. The Rs. 499 prepaid plan comes with 1.5GB of daily data benefit and a validity of 56 days. This is only a data pack that doesn’t give the voice calling and SMS benefits.
The Rs. 777 plan also offers 1.5GB of daily high-speed data and additional 5GB data for a validity of 84 days. This new plan also offers Jio-to-Jio unlimited calls, 3,000 minutes of Jio to non-Jio calls, and 100 SMS messages per day benefit.
9. YouTube Shorts Launched in India
After Instagram Reels, the world’s biggest video sharing platform is trying its hand into short video sharing. Google this month launched a short video feature named YouTube Shorts that will allow you to share 15-second videos. It is going to be one of the best TikTok alternatives in India.
10. Facebook Messenger Introduced Watch Together
Facebook launched Messenger Rooms in July and now this month a feature called “Watch Together” is introduced that will allow a user to add up to eight people through a video call and up to 50 people through its videoconferencing tool Messenger Rooms.
That’s all. These 10 are the most highlighted technology news of the month of September. If you have gone through any other essential or worth-mentioning news, don’t hesitate to let me know via comments.
