Editor’s note: Technology is playing an increasing role in the day-to-day business of sales reps. In this department, Repertoire will profile the latest developments in software and gadgets that reps can use for work and play.
Watch that tone of voice
Amazon has announced a new feature for its Halo fitness-tracking gadget: Alexa integration. Halo owners will be able to ask Alexa devices for various health stats, such as their sleep score or activity points obtained during the day. The integration will be off by default and owners will need the latest firmware on their Halo bands and the latest version of the iOS or Android app to enable it. The Halo band is Amazon’s first fitness-focused product and it’s had a less than stellar reception since it was announced last fall. Aside from the standard fitness capabilities, such as tracking your movement and sleep patterns, the $100 Halo also has the ability to police the tone of your voice and tell you when you’re being dismissive or condescending with your words. The companion Halo app also has a feature to 3D scan your body through your phone’s camera and measure your fat composition.
Samsung, Mastercard to offer biometric payment card
Samsung is collaborating with Mastercard on a biometric scanning payment card with a built-in fingerprint reader, reports EnGadget. The technology appears to be similar to Mastercard’s biometric payment card, unveiled in 2017, which lets you authenticate purchases without ever touching a keypad. However, Samsung said the cards will adopt a new security chipset from Samsung’s System LSI Business that integrates several key discrete chips, rather than using Mastercard’s current tech. The aim is to increase security while reducing physical contact points, as your fingerprint is scanned directly from your own card and not an external point-of-sale (POS) device. The card will be compatible with Mastercard’s authentication tech, and function at any Mastercard chip or POS terminal.
WhatsApp for desktops
One-on-one voice and video calling is now available on WhatsApp’s desktop app for Windows and Mac. Until last year, the Facebook-owned messaging service only offered the feature on its mobile app. At the moment, the company is testing one-on-one, end-to-end encrypted calls on the desktop. WhatsApp promises to expand the feature to include group voice and video calls in the future.
Teleport to your next sales call
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes that by 2030, people will use advanced smart glasses to “teleport” to locations and speak to them as if they’re physically present, allowing in-person meetings to be replaced by a headset-based digital experience, reports CNBC. Most big technology firms, including Apple, Microsoft and Google, are reported to be working on augmented reality technology, which overlays computer-generated graphics on images of the real world. They’re all competing to shape the next major computer interface after the smartphone and touchscreen.
T-commerce
Amazon executive Albert Cheng says the era of “T-commerce” – the sale of goods through TV screens – is finally dawning. He made the remarks during a panel hosted by the Interactive Advertising Bureau, reports Deadline. The company has long sought to “leverage the reach of Prime Video and marry that with commerce,” he said. Though T-commerce is in its early days, Cheng said he is encouraged by Amazon’s partnership with pop star Rihanna’s fashion brand Savage x Fenty. Starting in 2019, Amazon has streamed its star-studded fall shows and embedded those streams with buying opportunities.
Phone-based video chats
Google Meet’s group video chats have had a tile layout on large screens since the start of the pandemic, but you’ve had to endure a far less practical (and less egalitarian) view if you wanted to participate on your phone. Now Google is rolling out the grid view for mobile users on iOS, with Android coming soon, reports EnGadget. Instead of focusing primarily on one caller at a time, Meet now gives equal treatment to several participants. It’s a relatively simple move, but it’s also an acknowledgment that video chats have changed as a result of social distancing and the shift to working from home. You’re less likely to be watching a boardroom presentation and more likely to be holding running conversations with coworkers, family and friends.
Manage your Zoom calls
A newly launched Mac app called Superpowered aims to make it easier to stay on top of all your Zoom calls and Google Meets, without having to scramble to find the meeting link in your inbox or calendar app at the last minute, reports TechCrunch. Instead of relying on calendar reminders, Superpowered offers a notification inbox for the Mac menu bar that alerts you to online meetings just before they start, which you can then join with a click of a button. To use Superpowered, download the app and then authorize it to access your Google Calendar. The app currently works with any Google account, including G Suite, as well as subscribed calendars. Once connected, Superpowered pulls all your events into the menu bar, which you can view at any time throughout the day with a click or by using the keyboard shortcut Command+Y.