Category Archives: iOS

Android, iOS, Mobile, News

WhatsApp boosted with flurry of new features

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Exciting times ahead for WhatsApp users as we round up the many new features coming very soon to your device!

Improved privacy features for messaging and calls

WhatsApp made great strides in privacy for messaging apps, when they introduced view-once messaging. Now, this process will get a whole lot easier. Spotted on a WhatsApp beta build on the Play Store, simply long-tap the send button to send a view-once message. This will also apply to sharing view-once photos and videos, though at the moment, GIF formats will not be able to be shared this way as reported by WABetaInfo.

WA NEW MESSAGE MENU VIEW ONCE IMAGES VIDEOS FEATURE ANDROID
Image source: WABetaInfo

Another boost to privacy, WABetaInfo have previewed a new feature called “Protect IP address in calls”. This feature can be toggled to mask your IP address by relaying calls through WhatsApp servers, making it harder to trace your location. While more secure, the feature comes at the cost of a small reduction in call quality. Another security feature for calls was the option to silence unknown callers. This toggle feature will stop calls from unknown callers ringing, while still showing up in your Calls tab.

WA PROTECT IP ADDRESS IN CALLS PRIVACY RELAY FEATURE ANDROID
Image source: WABetaInfo

Text formatting and enhanced media sharing

We can now expect more personalization and utility in messaging thanks to the new text formatting feature coming to WhatsApp. WABetaInfo showcased formatting tools such as syntax for blocking code snippets, quoting specific text, and creating text lists. There will also be a new “Quote”, which improves upon the existing “Quote message” feature. This will allow you to now quote specific parts of messages instead of the whole message.

WhatsApp formatting
Image source: WABetaInfo

WhatsApp will also be addressing another key issue; sharing HD media. As reported by 9to5Google via the Verge, there is a new “HD” button available when adding an image to a message. Selecting it brings up two options; standard quality (1600 x 1052) and HD quality (4096 x 2692). Recipients will also have the option to keep the standard quality or HD quality versions when on slow connections. No details on how compressed the images will be as of yet. WhatsApp will also give the same choice for HD video, as reported by TechCrunch. Users can now opt to send their videos either compressed to the current app standard of 480p or toggle HD video of 720p.

Native macOS app may be a reality soon

Great news for Mac users, WhatsApp will soon be available as a native macOS app. As reported by Tech Radar, the new app is already available to download for free via WhatsApp servers. However, if you prefer to use the Mac App Store, you will have to be patient as it is not available as of yet. Along with the new app, you can also expect integration with native Mac features such as “drag and drop” for easier media sharing and longer chat histories. There will also be enhanced call features, with capacity to connect 8 people on video call and 32 people on audio call. You can also join a group call after it has started, see your call history and opt to receive call notifications even when the app is closed. Alongside this features, you will also get the expected functionality of WhatsApp including end-to-end encryption and cross-platform support. Mac users will need to have a system running on macOS 11 Big Sur and powered by Apple chipsets; at least the Apple M1, to be able to use this app. If you don’t meet those requirements, don’t fret as there is always WhatsApp web.

WhatsApp mac
Image source: Meta

Screen sharing and quality of life improvements

Another big addition coming to WhatsApp will be screen sharing over video calls. Keeping up with competitors like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, WhatsApp will now allow sharing of your phone or desktop screen as reported by Android Police. You can choose to share a specific app or your whole screen over a video call. Screen sharing will be protected by end-to-end encryption. The drawbacks are audio cannot be shared in screen sharing. To further support this feature, WhatsApp will allow video calls in landscape mode, to take advantage of your screen’s real estate. The feature might be coming sooner than expected. Keep a lookout for a Share button in the bottom action bar in your next video call.

WhatsApp screen share changelog
Image source: Android Police

WhatsApp is also rolling out some quality of life enhancements to improve your app experience. This includes a revamped UI for Settings and the chat list along with a dedicated “You” page which houses your account information. There will be some minor visual enhancements, including the profile picture moved to the top right of the home screen.

WhatsApp new UI
Image source: WABetaInfo

Along with this UI update, Android Police has reported a new, sleek animation on the button when switching between audio message and video message. The icons jump up and twist when changing from a mic to a camera. This makes it easier to know which type of message is being composed, in addition to the existing floating tooltip. And finally, Android Police also reports the addition of a new page encouraging users to create their own Community. With WhatsApp being a staple for group chats, the Community feature will help organize messaging for larger groups of people. This is especially useful for neighborhood, schools and even select work groups. There is also a handy Get Started button that will help walk you through creating your first Community.

New features may already be in your hands

There are no exact dates when the new features will be available, but as it is a staged roll out, you may already have the chance to experience the enhanced WhatsApp. With the addition of these new features, WhatsApp is making great strides in keeping up with the competition. In fact, they may just end the year as the best messaging app in the market!

Android, Computers, iOS, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Kaspersky Redefines End-Point Protection – Go Standard, Plus, or Premium 

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Cybersecurity is a big talking point today. It is not a new thing; it really has been a concern since the digital age. There are always going to be perpetrators out in the wild who try to cheat, game systems, and even do harm to others for their own benefit. The most recent security threat, and still is one of the biggest threats to cybersecurity, is ransomware.  

The thing is, while there are numerous talks about how cyber security should be implemented in corporations and company devices, we often forget that the cyber-first world encourages users to also use their own personal devices for work and at work – your smartphones for example. Where your organization’s issued devices are locked down and secured, your own devices are not. Where Your organization implements security measures on their own back-end digital infrastructure, your own devices are often left untouched. Where your company protects itself, you are left unprotected. So, what do you do?  

You get yourself a protection plan of yourself of course. You get yourself Kaspersky’s latest and most comprehensive protection program. For 2023 Kaspersky introduces products that are more streamlined than ever and more comprehensive for all kinds of budget. With updated UI, the Kaspersky protection suites are also made to be more intuitive than ever while offering the most comprehensive protection and control back to users. Their latest suites also offer protection for Windows, Mac, Android, and even iOS. 

Kaspersky Standard, or Plus, or Premium 

The product naming scheme has become even more simplified than before too. Now you pick between the Standard, Plus, and Premium protection plans that offer different coverage and protection layers. Of course, they come with different price points too.  

With the Standard package starting at MYR 70/year (1 device), you get the full might of Kaspersky’s antivirus program that will also detect and remove viruses or malware even before you get your Kaspersky security suite. On top of that, you get real-time protection against the latest known threats to your devices. Kaspersky standard also comes with Safe Browsing and Anti-Phishing suites alongside Firewall and Network Monitor to further protect yourself from malicious websites, downloads, extensions, and even applications. Unlike older cybersecurity suites that tend to slow your PC down, the new Kaspersky security suite offers Quick Startup, PC Speed-up, and Disk Cleanup Tools to ensure that your PC is always working optimally. If you game on your devices too, Kaspersky offers a Game and Do Not Disturb modes to ensure that your devices work to offer the best performance for your games while ensuring that you are not disturbed in an intense battle.  

The Plus suite from MYR 96/year (1 device) onward adds an unlimited VPN subscription and Premium Password Manager to the mix. You also have access to Data Leak Checker that monitors the internet and dark web for compromised personal data while offering steps to ensure that your data is always protected. The plan also offers users the ability to monitor their home network and the devices that are connected to the network. 

The Premium plan offers the full might of what Kaspersky can offer you for MYR 139/year (1 device) onward. On top of everything you get from the Standard and Plus plans, you also get Kaspersky’s identity protection suite and premium technical support that can even help you install your Kaspersky application for you, if it is too much of a hassle for yourself to do. They also offer the occasional PC health checks done by a professional if you need. In terms of identity protection, they offer something they call an Identity Protection Wallet that stores copies of your sensitive data including identification documents and even licenses in an encrypted format. There is also a one-year free subscription of Kaspsersky Safe Kids suite to further protect your family.  

Price and Availability 

Kaspersky’s Standard, Plus, and Premium protection plan is now available for MYR 70/year onward (Standard, 1 device) all the way to MYR 195/year (Premium, 5 devices). You can get them from Kaspersky’s website or authorized retailers across the nation. If you choose to get your Kaspersky protection suite now from their website, you are entitled to a 17% introductory discount for your 1-year subscription.  

iOS, Mobile, News

Apple Releases a Rapid Security Response update to the iOS 16.5.1. Why? Security Reasons, obviously.

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Apple has updated its latest iOS 16 to version iOS 16.5 rather recently. Even more recently, they have just released the 16.5.1 version of the iOS 16.5. Apparently, they have just updated the 16.5.1 again. While being only a 2.7MB update, it is a critical one.

Apple labels this as one of their Rapid Security Response updates for their software. Alongside the Apple iPhone, the iPad is also getting the Rapid Security Response for the iPadOS 16.5.1. As per the release notes, the iOS 16.5.1(a) update is available for iPhones with iOS 16.5.1. But it is not just the iPhone and iPad that is getting a security update. At the same time, Apple is releasing security updates for MacOS Ventura [13.4.1 (a)] and Safari (16.5.2).

The thing about Apple’s security updates is that they can be rather vague in their description. According to their release notes, the update addresses “web content processing that may lead to arbitrary code execution”. According to Apple as well, there has been reports on the issue being heavily exploited, hence the need for iOS 16.5.1 (a) update. The release notes says that the update will bring “improved checks” to address the issue, whatever that means.

Rapid Security Response updates are important updates, they tend to patch security issues that has been reported or found. That also means that it is recommended that users on the latest iOS to check for their updates if they have not been updated yet. It is a relatively small update too, which also means that you might not have too much trouble or too long of a downtime with your iPhone when you do update your device. Once updated, your iPhone will request that you restart your device. Once you do so, your device should display iOS 16.5.1 (a) instead of the regular iOS 16.5.1 when you check its software version.

iOS, Mobile, News

[WWDC 2023] iOS 17 is Here, and it is More Personal Than Ever!

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At WWDC 2023, the one that just happened, we expected a new iOS, and we got a new iOS for the not so new iPhone, and it is a major one. The iOS 17 replaces the iOS 16 and it is technically better than the older iOS in some ways. No, you do not get a new iPhone to come along the new iOS. Yes, it is still the same iOS that you have come to know and love. The people from Cupertino have made a few minor improvements that might majorly change your user experience though.

New Phone App, Who Dis?

  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 Contact Posters 230605
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 Contact Posters Hari Nair 230605
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 Contact Posters Vivian Chou 230605
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 Live Voicemail 230605
    Source: Apple

One of the minor things they changed is the Phone app. It is a minor change but huge experience improvement, supposedly anyway. Instead of a boring plain screen with the usual ‘swipe to answer’ slider and a few other buttons, you can now customise what appears on the caller screen. You can choose a photo that not only appears in a small circle, but fill the entire screen with the photo, just so that you know is calling. You can even change the fonts that shows the name of the caller, just to add some flavour to your friend’s caller ID screen. If you want, you can even add emojis to it. They call it Contact Poster and it does not just work with the default phone app. Apple says that Contact Poster is also available for third-party apps, so you can expect your Telegram and WhatsApp calls.

If you are not available to listen to voicemails, the app also now does real-time transcriptions. That way you can just read your voicemail like it is a text from your friend. You can either choose to reply to your friend via messenger apps or the default messaging app. It even cleverly filters out identified spam calls even when they leave a message.

New Messages Too, Who Dat?

  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 iPhone 14 Pro 3 up 230605
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 Check In 3up 230605
    Source: Apple

iOS 17 also updated the iMessage app. While stickers have been a feature for the iMessage app for a while now, they have improved the experience with the 17th iteration of iOS. You can now create Live Stickers, allowing users to quickly create stickers out of their everyday subjects and environments in an instant. All that can be done through the iMessage app itself.

Apple has also overhauled the search engine for their messaging app. It is more precise, more powerful, and much more accurate this time. There is a new catch-up arrow tat allows users to know where their conversations trailed off or where they left their conversation. You can easily reply to different text lines too on the app by just swiping the desired bubble. Live Locations is also a new feature added to the app. Even audio messages can be turned into a text with the new app with Live Transcription. Rather than texting your loved one that you have arrived at your destination safely, the app allows you to quickly Check In to quickly send out notifications to your family members and friends with is a single click. Your emergency contact will also receive information on your location, battery level, and cell service status when you are not making any progress to your destination.

Autocorrect and dictation is now better than ever. Instead of just picking predicted words, you can form full sentences with Autocorrect now. Based on how you type, and the kind of words you like to use, the algorithm can easily complete your sentences as quick as you can hit the spacebar. There is a new speech recognition model too that is supposed to be more accurate for Dictation.

FaceTime, Now on Apple TV

Leaving voice messages is one thing, you could never have left a video message, not like what you do with FaceTime now. Instead of hanging up the video call, you can just directly leave a voice or video message right on the FaceTime app itself. You do not have to hang up and then record a video, or a voice mail and send it to them via your messenger anymore, which adds a layer of convenience to FaceTime that has never been seen before.

FaceTime now also allows users to express like never before. You can be more expressive with the addition of Reactions in FaceTime now. For iPhone users, it is not just FaceTime that gets the feature though, other video calling apps can also take advantage of the new features.

They also made FaceTime even more accessible than ever before. The Apple TV 4K now supports FaceTime with the new update. In fact, the new update will also install FaceTime to Apple tvOS by default. Users can now start video calls directly from their Apple TV hardware and use the cameras from their iPhones or iPads. You can even start the call from your iOS devices and pass the call on to the Apple TV. Center Stage also makes it to FaceTime for Apple TV.

AirDrop, NameDrop, Drop Whatever You Want to Each Other

  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 Apple Music collaborative playlists 230605
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 AirPlay connect 230605
    Source: Apple

AirDrop is the one feature that Android users wish they had, and it is now better than ever. NameDrop now allows users to quickly share contact information by just putting their iPhones close to the other iPhone they want to share information with. You can even do that with Apple Watch devices. AirDrop now also works with SharePlay feature to share music quickly from one iPhone to the other. They also say that you can share a game session with another iPhone user all from using AirDrop bringing all kinds of possibilities for mobile multiplayer gaming.

Everything Else

  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 StandBy lifestyle 230605
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 StandBy Siri Weather 230605
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 StandBy photo album 230605
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 StandBy Calendar 230605
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 StandBy Apple Music 230605
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 Privacy 230605
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 Maps offline 230605
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 Journal recent activity 230605
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 Journal prompts 230605
    Source: Apple
  • Apple WWDC23 iOS 17 Health emotion 230605
    Source: Apple

Since wireless charging and docking has been a thing now, your iPhone with iOS 17 can be more than just a smartphone you put on the wireless charging station. It can sort of become a quick info hub on the side of your bed, or your workstation with the new StandBy feature. There is also a new Journal app that helps users take notes and keep a log of their daily lives. You can even include photos and videos in the journals app to keep tabs on what you have been up to. They have improve Safari and its Private Browsing functions and protection. There is a new Health app that offers new mental health check and measuring features. Maps is also now available in offline mode, if you need to still find your way around without data. They even improved the Home app so that you can track your use data in the past 30 days. Of course, your Privacy is now more important than ever in iOS 17 with more parental control options and a new Sensitive Content Warning feature that also helps adults navigate the web safely.

Availability

iOS 17 is now available on Beta for developers on the developer link. You technically can sign up as a developer and try out the beta version for yourself. If not, they are releasing a public beta in a month’s time. They have not mentioned the availability of the full-fledged iOS 17 just yet. We are guessing it will be available about a month after the public beta is released. More information on iOS 17 can be found on their website.  

Accessories, Android, Business, iOS, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Apple and Google Agrees on Something Again – AirTags Needs Better Standards for Improved Privacy.

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Apple and Google hardly agree on many things when it comes to their consumer offerings. When we say that they hardly agree, of course we do not mean that they are always on each other’s throats on every single issue. They offer two wildly different products that arrive at the same solution most of the time. Take Android and iOS for example, both highly successful smartphone platforms that offer an app ecosystem, smart integrations, and even machine learning based digital assistants. Both platforms look vastly different and function even more so in the hands of consumers though. There is a common denominator for both Google’s and Apple’s offerings though – privacy and security.

In this case though, while Apple and Google share the same concern over privacy and security, their approach can also be quite different. Android’s privacy and security layer has a slightly different depth compared to Apple’s. The Apple Play Store and Google Play Store ensure that app developers comply to certain practices and regulations to stay relevant, but both Apple and Google offer slightly different guidelines for their app marketplaces. Still, if developers want to have their app listed on both stores, their apps naturally must comply to both Apple’s and Google’s guidelines. Not so for location tracking devices so far though.

Apple introduced a clever Bluetooth based location-tracking tool we now know as AirTags. While the AirTags were intended as a sort of keychain or tool to keep track of your things at home or as a reminder for you not to leave things in your favourite café, the reality is a little different. A few weeks after AirTags were introduced, there were reports of the tiny pucks used for stalking purposes. To be fair, while AirTags was the center of attention in many of these cases, Apple’s solution was not the one being used in privacy invasion cases. Solutions from manufacturers like Samsung got involved shortly after they were introduced. To be fair though, thanks to the sophistication of the AirTags, offenders preferred Apple’s solution.

Over the years, Apple has introduced new measures as a stop gap solution to ensure that users are not being unwantedly tracked by other individuals. One of the solutions was a sort of notification when an AirTag device that your iPhone does not recognize comes in proximity via Find My app on the iOS. But this is only a solution for AirTags, what about others in the field? This is where Google also comes in.

Google does not make their own Bluetooth based location-tracking tool, but their partnering manufacturers do. Players like Samsung, Tile, and a few others make tracking devices that can easily pair to both Android and iOS devices. That also means there needs to be a standardized specification to ensure that all the trackers are as safe as one another to use. Yes, it is a beneficial thing for us the users.

Google and Apple’s partnership in the issue of standardizing Bluetooth based locating-tracking tools is a big step forward for this segment in the industry. In one way, it allows other players in the industry to catch up to what Apple has done with their AirTags. It ensures that industry players comply to a certain standard in making these little tracking devices, meaning there will be standardized parts produced by a single or multiple manufacturers creating economies of scale allowing the technology to be a lot more accessible. Standardized parts not only ensure that the industry can be policed at higher standards, but it also offers plenty more compatibility for users. It could allow Android users to use an AirTag to track their keys, for example and vice versa.

For now, standardized specifications for these trackers are not yet a reality. Google and Apple have submitted their draft proposal to the authorities for now, which means you can only expect to see some sort of results in the coming few months. Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, eufy Security, and Pebblebee have expressed their support in the program, which is a good sign for the proposal. Google and Apple expects to have some sort of production guideline and implementation by the end of 2023 with support for both iOS and Android in the same timeline.

Android, iOS, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

iPhone Users Can Now Try the Galaxy S23 On Their iPhone.

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Samsung has been at the forefront of Android smartphones for quite sometime now. Samsung has also led the charge in getting iPhone users over to the Android boat. The employed many tactics for this. They poked fun at Apple in their own ads, they offer incentives for Apple users choosing to opt into Android, they made data transfer from an iPhone to Galaxy smartphone much simpler and hassle free than before, and they encourage iPhone users to try the Galaxy devices as much as they can. In their latest effort, iPhone users get to use the Samsung Galaxy S23 for free, on their iPhone that is.

They cheekily call it the Galaxy app. Yes, it is an app that will run the Galaxy S23 interface on your iPhone. It is not available on the Apple App Store, so you have to download it via web. It is also not a proper app that overlays your iPhone with Android 13 based One UI 5.1 interface. It is a web app, a web page that lets you test run the Galaxy S23 on the web.

But it is not just some web app that lets you scroll through the home page, the app tray, and nothing else. It allows you to try the camera interface too, through your iPhone cameras and experience things like Nightography and Night Mode. You can even try apps like Photo Remaster on the web app, allowing you to edit whatever photos you take on the app. All this is to show how powerful a Samsung Galaxy S23 camera system is. You can even try gaming on the Galaxy S23 to see how smooth it can be, although you are not technically playing a game.

Of course, you can customise your Galaxy S23 experience all on the web app. You can change the wallpaper, background, themes, icons, and even more that is available on One UI 5.1. The app is also designed specifically for iPhone, so it will not do anything if you try going on your web browser on your PC to test it out. If you are on an Android device, there will also be an attached warning for the web app. In that case, if you are on an iPhone, you can test out the web app and try out the Samsung Galaxy S23 yourself via their web app.

iOS, Mobile, News

iOS 16.4 is Here and It Is Nearly All About Emojis

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It is that time again, that time to update your iPhone. No, not buy a new iPhone, just update its operating system (OS). The iOS 16.4 is here!

Apple’s release notes should be a good enough indication of what you technically can expect from your iPhone once you update it. In this update, you get some bug fixes as expected, but you also get plenty of new emojis you can use for iMessage. Of course, it is not just about those.

New Emojis

ios 16 4 emoji characters
Source Apple

That is the first thing they listed in their release notes for the new version of iOS. To be fair, they did release 21 new emojis for you to use. You get a new shaking head, pink heart, blue heart, grey heart, and a few new animals like a donkey or a moose now. There are also a few new objects you get like   flute, maracas, a comb, and even a pea pod, for some reason. You get a few new hand gesture emojis too, like a ‘talk to the hand’ in left and right variations.

Push Notifications for Webs

Your websites now can send your iPhone a push notification if you add the webpage to your home screen. While it is something that just makes sense, the feature has never been a thing before for Apple’s iPhones. You can now opt in for notifications from your favourite websites. You can also easily opt out from notifications via the notification tab in Settings. Your notification can be received on the iPhone itself, viewed from the lock screen, or you can even get your web app to notify you on your Apple Watch. Since it is a new feature, not all websites might work with push notification.

The web push notification is also supported by Focus. You can choose which notifications appear at whatever appropriate time you set.

To be fair, the feature has been teased and mentioned when iOS 16 was launched. The feature was not included with the original iOS 16.0 release though. It is now, so you cannot say that Apple does not deliver on their promised features.

More for Podcasts

CarPlay Dash iOS16 L 1x
Source: Apple

iOS 16.4 has not just added a tonne of new emojis to the iPhone. It offers big update to Apple’s Podcasts app. Users can now see the channels that they are subscribed to on the top of their library. If users follow a show that is part of a channel, that channel will also appear in their library so that they can also explore other shows from the same channel.

They have also updated the ‘Up Next’ feature. Apple Podcasts helps queue new episodes from shows that users follow or channels that users subscribe to. The feature is not only for shows users follow though, it will also play other podcast shows or episodes they do not follow. Once the show is fully played, Apple Podcasts will remove it from your ‘Up Next’ list.

You have more overview of the podcasts that you have or have not played too. It is not a huge change in interface, but your followed, played, and unplayed podcasts now surface better. You can see more of your subscriptions and probably have a better overview to what you are paying for.

All of these functions mentioned will also go to CarPlay. Of course, you still have to access Apple Podcasts on CarPlay to access the new ‘Up Next and Browse’ interface. The Browse tab allows users discover even more shows they might like in the comfort of their car.

AppleCare Overview

You can also now see your AppleCare coverage right on your iPhone. You can go to Settings and find out what sort of warranty coverage that is available to you iPhone and even how long you have left before your iPhone goes out of coverage.

Emergency SOS via Satellite Expanded

Emergency SOS via Satellite iPhone YT
Source: Apple

Emergency SOS is not necessarily a brand-new function to iPhone. It is not available everywhere in the world though. In the case that you live outside of the coverage area like North America, you are out of luck. The new iOS 16.4 expands its availability to six more countries though.

If you own an iPhone 14 with iOS 16.4 installed and you live in Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and Portugal, you now can use Emergency SOS. It connects to Globalstar satellites where available and allows users to send text messages to emergency dispatch even without a cellular signal. It is a subscription-based service though, oddly enough. Users get to use the function for free for two years after activating their iPhone 14. For existing iPhone 14 users in newly supported countries, their two-year deal starts as soon as they update to iOS 16.4.

They have also expanded the emergency calling feature. Users will automatically connect to 112 in their emergency in case there is no cellular signal. Of course, since it is a satellite technology, you want to ensure that you have a clear line of sight of the sky at least to function it.

PlayStation 5 DualSense Edge Controller Support

The subheading should be an explanation on its own. Sony’s DualSense Edge is Sony’s answer to the high-end aftermarket controllers in the market. Since it is new, it is not supported on the iOS, until now at least.

Even More Security Patches

ios 16 security
Source: Apple

Every new update should come with security updates. On The new iOS 16.4 there are over 30 security and bug fixes. Apple found possible exploits to accessibility feature that could allow third-party apps access to user information and patched that. They have also fixed potential exploits that affects Apple Neural Engine, Calendar, Camera, CarPlay, Bluetooth, Find My iPhone, iCloud, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari browser. There was also a kernel exploit that allows codes to be executed on your iPhone without your knowledge.

Time to Install iOS 16.4

iOS 16.4 is now available for your latest iPhones. You might not care about the PlayStation DualSense Edge, or the new emojis. You do not want to ignore the security concerns that your iOS device can raise though. Most updates bring not only new features to your smartphone, they also bring new security patches that can help protect you in the long run. The iOS 16.4’s full release notes are as below.

This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:

  • 21 new emoji including animals, hand gestures, and objects are now available in emoji keyboard
  • Notifications for web apps added to the Home Screen
  • Voice Isolation for cellular calls prioritizes your voice and blocks out ambient noise around you
  • Duplicates album in Photos expands support to detect duplicate photos and videos in an iCloud Shared Photo Library
  • VoiceOver support for maps in the Weather app
  • Accessibility setting to automatically dim video when flashes of light or strobe effects are detected
  • Fixes an issue where Ask to Buy requests from children may fail to appear on the parent’s device
  • Addresses issues where Matter-compatible thermostats could become unresponsive when paired to Apple Home
  • Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models”
Android, iOS, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

Telegram Now Comes with Power Saving Mode with new Update

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Like Whatsapp, Telegram has become one of the world’s most popular messenger app to date. It is younger than Whatsapp though, if you are wondering. Its funky UI and the fact that you can use a single messenger account on multiple devices at the same time is really what attracts users into the platform though. Being in a popular position means that they do want to maintain that popularity by constantly introducing updates and improvements to the app.

In their latest update for the app, Telegram has introduced a few new features to the app. One of the most significant improvements is in the battery consumption department of the app. Telegram can now go into a sort of “power saving mode”.

The mode, as Telegram puts in their blog, is not just to improve battery life, or to extend battery life in emergencies. It is also a measure to improve the app’s performance on older smartphone devices. It can also be set to automatically turn on at a battery level threshold, or you can manually toggle it on or off on your own.

The mode will turn off things like “autoplay” for videos, stickers, and even GIFs that you receive or send to your friends. It also limits the interface animations and effects. All this will also lessen the app’s burden and demand on the CPU and GPU of your smartphone which translates to less power consumption from the hardware itself while running Telegram.

For iOS users, they can even opt to limit the app’s background updating. But that means you might not see Telegram notifying you of new messages unless you get into the app. In that case, you might just want to leave that feature alone unless your battery levels are at a desperate level.

https://techent.tv/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/c9091c1b402de7f95e.mp4

Other improvements from the update includes a more granular control to playback speeds on received and sent media. You can now play videos at 0.2x to 2.5x speeds. You can also easily keep track of who has read your messages in groups with less than 100 members. It offers a timestamp data too, allowing more of an overview to who your messages have reached. Invitations to groups has been made a little better and easier too for users who restricts their profile. Those users will get invite links instead of being automatically added to the group. They have also updated the sticker order to show your ‘recently used’ stickers on top first before listing everything else you have. There are new packs of animated and interactive stickers and emoji you can explore and use. If you are a Telegram Premium user, you have access to ten new custom emoji packs. For more information on Telegram the improvements they have just introduced in their app, you can head over to their blog.

Accessories, Android, Camera, iOS, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

FUJIFILM Launches INSTAX UP! Smartphone App, Because an INSTAX Camera Alone is Not Enough

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The INSTAX cameras are a lot of fun. In any social gathering, the INSTAX camera and printer can capture great memories and you can physically keep the photos for these occasions and start a collection. There is only one issue, with most INSTAX cameras, there is no way for you to digitally store the photos. This is where INSTAX UP! app comes in.

It is not another camera app. You do not need another camera app on your smartphone, since most modern smartphones offer better than ever camera experiences today. But it still does rely on using your smartphone’s camera.

Instead of capturing the regular things like portrait or objects in street photography, it captures your INSTAX print outs. It can even recognize the type of print you are using including mini, SQUARE, and WIDE films. To ensure that the digital copy is free of all sorts of blemish, the app automatically reduces glare on the photos in challenging conditions. You can even adjust the contrast, brightness, and even colour vividness and temperature after capturing the photos. All that is then stored in your smartphone digitally so that you can reprint the image using an INSTAX printer if you want.

There are more you can do with your INSTAX photos now with the INSTAX UP! app. There is a new ‘photo in photo’ mode. You can take the print and put it against a backdrop of a scenery or other photos to be shared across social media directly from the app itself. You can even compile your favourite photos within the app. While compiling your collection, you can shake the app to mimic the INSTAX films being tossed around in a box. You can even share this collection with your friends directly from the app.

The app even allows you to choose how you want to view your INSTAX photos. You can keep it neat and organized in the ‘list view’ mode. Or, if you do not mind a little bit of chaos, there is the ‘box view’ mode that makes it look like you tossed your INSTAX films all into a box. You can also find a few ‘tips and tricks’ from the app itself in taking photos and portraits that will look good on and INSTAX films or even how to spice up your home and room with INSTAX products.

  • INSTAX UP USE CASE 1
    Source: FUJIFILM
  • INSTAX UP USE CASE 2
    Source: FUJIFILM
  • INSTAX UP USE CASE 3
    Source: FUJIFILM
  • INSTAX UP USE CASE 4
    Source: FUJIFILM
  • INSTAX UP USE CASE 5
    Source: FUJIFILM
  • INSTAX UP UI 1
    Source: FUJIFILM
  • INSTAX UP UI 2
    Source: FUJIFILM
  • INSTAX UP UI 3
    Source: FUJIFILM
  • INSTAX UP UI 4
    Source: FUJIFILM

The app is now available for free on Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store. The app, as mentioned, is compatible with any INSTAX film and photos that has been printed. Again, it is not a camera app. You can find out more about the INSTAX UP! and other products from their website.  

iOS, Mobile, News

iPhone 14 Crash Detection and Emergency SOS saves lives

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Apple’s Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite service has saved the life of an iPhone 14 user involved in a car crash in the USA.

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A potential life saver in your iPhone 14.
Image source: Apple

Intelligent crash detection and vital information sharing

According to a Twitter post by law enforcement and first responders, a vehicle with two passengers swerved off the Angeles Forest Highway and plummeted 300 feet into the canyon of in the Angeles National Forest. This fall was detected by the users iPhone 14 through the Crash Detection feature. This feature detects crashes with the help of the gyroscopes, accelerometer,barometer and even microphone to detect elements of the crash such as abrupt motion and the sound of glass breaking.

When a severe crash is detected, an alert will appear with a slider to make an emergency call. You can slide to call emergency services or dismiss this alert if not required. If no response is received in 10 seconds, a further 10-second countdown will start. At the end of it, emergency services will be contacted immediately. Siri will then read out the automated message “The owner of this ‌iPhone‌ was in a severe car crash and is not responding to their phone”. It will then relay your approximate location with latitude and longitude. It will also send a message to your emergency contacts after another 10 second countdown, if you have them set up.

Emergency SOS uses satellite when cellular

reception is unavailable

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Emergency SOS sends a text to Apple relay centers by satellite. Image source: MacRumors

However, during the car crash at Angeles Forest Highway, there was no cellular reception for Crash Detection to call emergency services. So, Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite feature came in to play. It sent an emergency text message to an Apple relay center via satellite. An employee then called the LA County Sheriff’s department to relay that information. With this, rescuers were able to locate both passengers and get them to a hospital for treatment. Apple’s features have definitely come in clutch to save the lives of at least these two people.

For more information on how to set up Crash Detection on your iPhone, visit the Crash Detection feature page on Apple’s official website. This feature is available on iPhone 14 and iPhone Pro, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), and Apple Watch Ultra.

Source: MacRumors, 9to5Mac