Microsoft, Google and Facebook join Apple's fight with the feds

These are the top stories of the week. Apple gains some powerful allies. Amazon releases new gadgets. And, everything else you need to know. Amazon introduced two new devices that can access Alexa, the personal assistant that lives in the Echo and the Fire TV. Say hello to the Amazon Dot and the Amazon Tap. The Amazon Dot kind of looks like someone cut the Speaker off of a full-sized Echo. The Dot does what the Echo does. They both are always listening to your requests. The Dot has tiny speakers. But it's meant to be attached to your own speakers using a wire or over Bluetooth. The Amazon Tap is a portable version of the Echo. But you'll have to tap the mic button To get Tap to listen to you. Both are less expensive than the Amazon Echo. Alexa power devices also learned a new trick. They can now control Google's Nest smart thermostat. Apple is still in the middle of challenging a February 16th US court order that would require Apple to build a new version of iOS. To bypass the security of an iPhone. Both Apple and the FBI spent five hours fielding questions from the House Judiciary Committee on March first. After that, a bunch of other organizations showed their support of Apple's position By filing amicus briefs in federal court. The American Civil Liberties Union both filed individual briefs. A brief signed by parties including Airbnb, Reddit, Twitter, and Kickstart was also filed. There's also another brief signed by lots of big guns Like Amazon, Cisco, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo. Microsoft states, that the statute being used by the U.S. government is ill-suited to apply to current technology. The FBI is trying to use the All Writs Act enacted in 1789 and last amended in 1911. Apple has also set up a Dedicated page on its website to collect all of the amicus briefs. In software news Microsoft officially announced it is no longer developing project Astoria. Project Astoria was the code name for Microsoft software that would allow developers to bring Android apps to Windows 10. Does that mean we won't get Android apps on Windows through Microsoft. Well not necessarily. Microsoft just purchased a company called Xamarin. Xamarian's technology allows developers to write native apps for Windows, iOS, Mac OS 10 and Android using the programming language C#. Some quick bit you should know, it's time to go RapidFire. Apple wants customer support on Twitter with the username @AppleSupport. Facebook live streaming is now rolling out to Android in the US Support for more countries will follow, and Star Wars The Force Awakens will arrive for digital download on April 1st. DVD and Blu-Ray versions will arrive on April 5th. 3D versions are coming later. Let's take a look at what flew under the radar Microsoft announced that soon you'll be able to play some Xbox One games on Windows 10 PCs. Every new Forza Motorsport racing game will ship on both Windows 10 and Xbox. The title Quantum Break will be released on Windows 10 and Xbox One on April 5th. How is this happening? Microsoft is merging its software for PCs and Xboxes. If you're worried that Microsoft is ditching the Xbox, Don't worry, Xbox head Phil Spenceer says, the company is committed to the console. Now you're all caught up in tech to get your daily dose of tech news. Check out CNET.com slash update. For a weekly dose, hit up CNET.com slash rader. I'm Iyaz Akhbar, signing off.