Google has introduced a new feature called School Time, which helps parents manage their children’s screen time during school hours. The School time feature is currently available on Fitbit Ace LTE smartwatches and will be available on select Android phones, tablets, and Samsung Wear OS smartwatches over the next year.

Google’s School Time Feature

School time helps to reduce distractions by allowing parents to set their child’s device to a special home screen with limited features during school hours. This means students will have fewer apps and notifications to deal with while they are in class.

Now, parents can choose which apps are allowed. They can still let their children receive calls or texts from specific contacts in case of emergencies. This feature can also be turned on outside of class when students need to concentrate on homework or take a break from screens.

In addition to this, Google is also updating its supervision features for YouTube. Starting this summer, parents and teens can link their YouTube accounts so parents can see what their teens are watching.

Family Link will continue to let parents manage which apps their teens can use, set screen time limits, and track their location. Google also keeps safety settings in place for all users under 18, including SafeSearch and content restrictions.

The search giant is planning to expand the School time feature availability to Wear OS Samsung watches including Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 5, Galaxy Watch 6, and Galaxy Watch 7 series.

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Google continues to upgrade its Gemini AI assistant. New development signals upgraded Gemini AI integrated a host of Google apps including Calendar, Keep, Spotify, and Tasks. The rollout is yet to be kicked off but inputs have already been exposed.

Samsung Galaxy phones will also benefit from upgraded Gemini AI. Now with the integration of new apps and services, Gemini AI is set to uplevel user experiences. The extensions are now linked with Gemini to perform relevant tasks directly.

Google Keep extension lets you ask Gemini to create new notes and lists, add information to notes, and add or remove items from lists.

Google Tasks extension allows you to use Gemini to create new tasks, such as reminders as well as easily view existing tasks and show their due dates.

Google Calendar extension empowers you to create new calendar events, view all upcoming calendar events or ones on a specific date, and edit calendar events.

Back in May, the US tech giant teased these upgrades incoming for Gemini. The integration is currently flagged in the app’s code signaling imminent rollout. We’ll have to wait until the official release to check the capabilities of these extensions.

Replacing Bard, Google launched Gemini AI as an Assistant alternative. The company has also debuted Gemini-titled AI models, such as Gemini Nano. The AI model brings on-device AI capabilities to Android smartphones.

Samsung’s Jay Y. Lee got angry over Apple-like design adoption in the latest products. Following the Galaxy Unpacked, netizens started trolling Samsung for replicating the Apple Watch Ultra and AirPods design in the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Buds 3 series.

Both products are facing quality concerns given major changes. The company has already halted delivery of the latest earbuds. The Watch Ultra owners are also criticizing its poor battery performance, which is just the opposite of Samsung’s claims.

Samsung simply copied Apple’s design language in its latest wearable products. Even the Galaxy ecosystem fans mocked the company over the lack of innovation. The Watch Ultra’s arrival also shocked the industry as it looks quite similar to Apple products.

AjuNews citing an internal source reported that personnel actions have also been taken against some executives, including the MX Division group leader. Lee who rarely gets angry strictly ordered Samsung MX Division to re-examine plans.

The chairman himself stepped in after the controversy over Apple’s design plagiarism and quality issues surrounding the Buds 3 series and Galaxy Watch 7 released last month. Samsung’s Lee also added that the internal atmosphere is currently very bad.

Given the scenario, we could see some structural and strategic shifts in the MX Division. Future plans, if any inspired by Apple, would be also abandoned. Overall, it’s a good sign that Samsung should maintain its lead in terms of innovation rather than replication.