QUICK BYTES 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.
Technology news Watch that tone of voice Amazon has announced a new feature for its Halo fitnesstracking 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.
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-toend 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 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 34
May 2021
•
www.repertoiremag.com
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
