‘OK Google’ was a feature of the previous version of Google’s chrome internet browser, but will no longer be available in the desktop format. The feature allowed users to use the phrase ‘OK Google’ and then follow up with a request such as something to search or a website to go to, similar to ‘Siri’ for Iphones.

The feature will no longer be available for use on Windows and Mac desktops but will still be available to use with android smartphones. Google said the reason for the elimination of the feature was the lack of use in the desktop format according to a Forbes report.

The concept of communication with devices is still new and therefor not widely used. Seemingly this concept is more fit for a smartphone when there are moments like being in a car or away from your phone when the communication makes more sense than with your internet browser, when the control is already at your fingertips.

Voice search will still be available on Google.com, it will just not be triggered by the phrase ‘OK Google’ any longer. Because of the lack of use the feature being still there but not regularly updated actually posed a security risk for users, because attackers could use the feature even if the primary user does not. The added expense of updating the feature even though it was not popular was another reason for it being completely removed rather than just being still available while not being updated.

This past Friday a jury ruled that Apple must pay the University of Wisconsin-Madison $234 million after they infringed on their patent. The tech giants used the University’s microchip technology in their Iphones and Ipads without permission and now must pay damages.

The technology that Apple used helped improve the performance of the processors in their devices, and the company has stated that they will appeal the decision but did not comment any further.

The University was initially seeking $400 million in damages and the jury in the case eventually settling at the $234 million number reported by Reuters. The suit was filed in January 2014 and alleged that Apple illegally used the University’s “predictor circuit” in their A7, A8 and A8X processors used in several different versions of their Iphones and Ipads.

The University of Wisconsin has sued over this patent previously in 2008 when they received $110 million from Intel. Apple was arguing that this amount was even too much, but in the end the jury settled on the number they did pending the appeal that Apple has stated they will seek.

Wisconsin recently filed another suit against Apple stating the same infringement on the same patent, but this suit focuses on chips used in even more recent apple products such as the Iphone 6s and Ipad Pro.

Dell has continued their transformation as a company with their purchase of EMC, the data storage company. The price of the deal is $67 Billion according to a ABC News report, and will be finalized in early 2017 after being voted on by EMC stockholders.

Dell rose to prominence as a seller of affordable personal computers, but are now shifting their focus to providing software and other services such as data storage and security which EMC specializes in.

This move comes at a time where the landscape of technology is changing drastically and both companies need to adapt to the changes. Dell’s sales of computers has been suffering as of late and this change could be what they need to get back to being one of the leading names in the space.

Because of how much data is out there in the world and how much more of it there is being created storage and utilization of the cloud has become paramount for tech companies. Companies like Amazon, IBM and Microsoft have all made recent strides to offer more in the storage sector, and now Dell and EMC will team up to do the same thing.

The deal is mutually beneficial for both companies as EMC will be able to partner with a big name in the tech space with a good reputation to boost their profile, while Dell needed to make more of an effort in the storage space to compete with rival companies and EMC will help them achieve that.

Parent company Facebook recently announced that their photo-sharing app Instagram has surpassed 400 monthly active users. The growth has been rapid as 100 million of those users have come since December, and marketers have begun to take notice.

The company has announced that it will be opening its ad platform to all users by the end of September using parent company Facebook’s ad structure. Now companies using the app will be able to target users based on their interests, similar to how companies use Facebook to market their business.

Not only in America is the app used heavily, according to a WebProNews report nearly 75% of users live outside of the US, and of the 100 million new users over half are in Europe and Asia.

Instagram has now surpassed Twitter in terms of monthly average users and marketers and advertisers will gravitate to the app now that ads are available to all users. Advertising using the photo and video app is still in its infancy so marketers will have to adapt to how they can use the app to their advantage.

Now that ads are available to all on Instagram it could be somewhat of a gold rush for marketers on the app. The race to figure out the best way to use the app to a business’ advantage will now be on and only time will tell who figures it out the quickest.

Google is set to debut their two new versions of the Nexus phone on September 29th. That release date did not stop eager fans from getting an early look as pictures of the two new devices leaked this week. The debut of the new Nexus’ will be accompanied by the commercial release of the next version of Android: Android 6.0 according to a USA Today report.

The leak of an awaited product such as a google powered smartphone is the norm in the world of technology, and another norm is fans wondering what type of new features the phones will have.

There will be two new versions of Nexus, the 5X and the 6P. The 5X will be made by LG and have a 5.2 inch screen in 1080p resolution as well as a 13MP camera, while the 6P will have a 5.7 inch screen be made by Huawei and have a 1440p display as well as 128GB of internal storage.

The main question that has arouse after the leaked pictures of the new smartphones is what is that glass strip on the back that is clearly not the camera or flash? Many believe this could be apart of new technology that allows the phone to gauge distance.

Many developers have been toying with a new bit of technology that can allow a smartphone to measure distance of objects such as walls or people and have motion tracking technology as part of the camera. This technology could be implemented into many new apps such as measurement apps or apps that could track your movements for functions like retracing your steps on a hike.

All the speculation will be over on September 29th when Google reveals the new line of Nexus phones as well as their new Android platform, Android 6.0.

After the BlackBerry 10 failed to live up to expectations the Canadian phone company announced it would launch an Android based smartphone slated to come out by the end of 2015. The new phone will be called ‘Priv’ as an ode to privacy and have some of the old features BlackBerry customers have come to expect, such as a slide out keyboard which is very rare for current smartphones.

A limited number of apps on the BlackBerry platform was generally cited as the reason for the lack of success of the BlackBerry 10. This was the reason for the switch to the Android platform, so there would be a greater more expansive base of apps.

BlackBerry still has their sights set on becoming more of a software based company, but in the meantime this Android based smartphone is what they expect to correct their companies recent losses. The software the company does sell currently is only 15% of their current revenue compared to hardware sales still making up 41% according to a New York Times report.

‘Priv’ will combine the security and productivity that BlackBerry customers have become accustomed to combined with the expansive app platform that Google’s Android will bring to the table. BlackBerry customers are some of the most loyal in technology and this move should be one that keeps them coming back while the company looks to become more software based.

The order and pay app for lovers of Starbucks has now been expanded from being available in only the Pacific Northwest to being available nationwide in their nearly 7,400 US locations. The app was expected to be rolled out nationwide by the end of the year, but with the success the company saw in the Northwest they now launched it for the entire country three months ahead of schedule.

Mobile order and pay apps have become a growing trend in the world of fast food and Starbucks is just the latest company to jump on the trend along with others like Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. USA Today has reported that in the stores that were using the app it accounted for nearly 20 percent of payment methods.

The nationwide launch of the app is the first step on the way to Starbucks ultimate goal of offering delivery as apart of their service. The Seattle based company has already begun testing delivery by partnering with third party delivery services in both San Francisco and New York.

Starbucks is now in the process of also partnering with the ride share app Lyft as a way for their customers to earn reward points when they use the Lyft for rides. This could also lead to Lyft becoming somewhat of a delivery service for Starbucks similar to the Uber Eats program offered by Lyft’s direct competitor Uber, who have implemented the system in major cities like LA, Chicago and New York.

This is all in the name of convenience as the world moves even more towards using technology for nearly everything. This app will allow customers to skip paying and go right to picking up their food or drinks, as well as knowing exactly when their orders are ready, cutting down the wait time significantly.

Microsoft Office has had a major update and the main changes have geared the software towards easier collaboration via the internet. The update focuses on making it easier to work with someone on the same project without having to email files back and forth between each other, but rather have the same file used simultaneously through the web.

Other Microsoft programs such as Skype and their search engine Bing are also integrated into the new Office says ABC News. The company had features like this on a web based version of the program, but now these features will be implemented into the stand alone version.

Being able to edit things in this manner, simultaneously with a collaborator online, had been offered by companies like Google in the past and now Microsoft is catching up. Microsoft has also taken steps recently, with many of their programs, to make them more Mac and mobile friendly via apps.

Rather than offering a classic one-off model of selling the updated Office, it will be a part of a new subscription based service know as Office 365. This will allow subscribers to get updates only available through the service monthly, as well as access to online storage and other enhanced features.

The one off version of Office will still be available but for an inflated price of $150, and will not have the updating capabilities. Microsoft clearly realizes a subscription will help sales as more people lean towards Mac and using other services than classic Office or the Windows based devices. Sales models and how people use technology are changing and this update by Microsoft of one of its flagship services adapts to the new way technology is being consumed.