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  1. Ishtiaqe Hanif
    WhatsApp beta brings draft filter, status archive and more to Windows, Android and iOS by Ishtiaqe Hanif Meta is working on bringing a flurry of new features to WhatsApp. Its iOS build v23.10.76 brings companion mode, which lets users log in to the same account from up to five devices. Previously, this mode only had a chatting and notification option from other larger screen devices, and the latest update brings calling and other mobile phones to the mix. Source: WABetaInfo This update enables users to make and receive calls from multiple phones using the same account, just like most other chatting apps. Users may expect to receive the update over the coming weeks. In another update on Android, build v2.23.11.18, WhatsApp added support to archive status for business users. This comes as it brings its UI redesign for the Android app, both the traditional flavor and business variant. Source: WABetaInfo It also introduces usernames through the beta program on the Google Play Store. WABetaInfo spotted this feature on build v2.23.11.15. WhatsApp is preparing a public rollout of searchable usernames as an alternative to contacting other users based on phone numbers. Source: WABetaInfo Windows users on WhatsApp beta channel v2.2320.1.0 onwards can expect to change app languages independently of the system language. The language change option can be found in the settings menu under General. Users can now also filter chats with drafts written in them. It can be helpful to keep track of and find the currents quickly. Source: WABetaInfo For iOS and Android users on the latest builds, the chat app adds password encryption to end-to-end encrypted backup as an additional layer to ensure backup security. Users will be prompted to enter a password to retrieve backed-up messages on the cloud. All these features are still under development, and to gain access, users may have to sign up for beta testing. Beta testers can expect to try out some of these features before the public rollout. For Android, ensure you are on the latest build above, v2.23.11.18; for iOS, v23.10.76 and Windows, v2.2320.1.0. To sign up for the beta, visit the Android and Windows links here. Source: WABetaInfo 1, 2, 3, 4
  2. zikalify
    Chinese Communist Party submitted by far the most App Store takedown demands to Apple by Paul Hill Apple has published its 2022 App Store Transparency Report recently and in it, there are quite a lot of stats. One notable stat, however, is the amount of app takedown demands the Chinese Communist Party has submitted. Apple said that it had received a total of 1,474 government takedown demands from around the world. Strikingly, China mainland accounted for 1,435 of those and Hong Kong accounted for one. Both of these territories are now under the control of the Chinese Communist Party which is known for taking strict measures. The vast majority of the removals were games that had not obtained a Game Registration Number, Apple said. In China, publishers planning to release commercial games have to get a Game Registration Number (GRN) from the authorities. These are used to regulate the gaming industry in the country to ensure releases meet the country’s content standards. While the GRN regime can be useful for protecting children from harmful content, the process makes game development more bureaucratic. It’s clearly frustrating to some in China as 1,276 games were submitted to the App Store without first obtaining a GRN. China’s government topped the list for app takedown demands to Apple. It was followed by India (14 removal demands), Pakistan (10 removal demands), Russia (7 removal demands), and Turkey (2 removal demands). Moving away from China’s takedown demands, Apple also highlighted the most common reasons that it rejects App Store submissions. The most common reason for rejecting submissions was performance issues, then legal issues, and then design issues. Other common issues were safety and business issues. The iPhone maker also shared that it had a total of 36,974,015 developers signed up as Apple developers. In 2022, it had to terminate 428,487 accounts, mainly for fraud but export controls were also a reason given. Apple said that it will publish a new App Store Transparency Report on an annual basis. It should be interesting to keep an eye on how government takedown demands change over the course of the next year.
  3. rahul.naskar
    OpenAI launches ChatGPT app for iPhone users by Rahul Naskar A couple of months ago, we heard rumors of OpenAI working on the ChatGPT app for mobile users. Luckily, it's no longer a rumor, as OpenAI has recently announced the ChatGPT app for iPhone users. However, only US users can download the app on their iPhones for now. ChatGPT is a free app on iOS, but you will need a Plus subscription to benefit from GPT-4's capabilities. As is the case with ChatGPT on the web, Plus subscribers will also get access to new features earlier than normal users on the iPhones. Plus, the app syncs history across devices. Long story short, iPhone users get the same experience as on the web. As highlighted by OpenAI, the ChatGPT app for iPhone has the following features: Instant answers: Get precise information without sifting through ads or multiple results. Tailored advice: Seek guidance on cooking, travel plans, or crafting thoughtful messages. Creative inspiration: Generate gift ideas, outline presentations, or write the perfect poem. Professional input: Boost productivity with idea feedback, note summarization, and technical topic assistance. Learning opportunities: Explore new languages, modern history, and more at your own pace. OpenAI has promised that it will expand to markets beyond the US in the coming weeks. Besides iPhone users, the ChatGPT app will also be available for Android users "soon." Meanwhile, you can download the ChatGPT app on your iPhone here from App Store. ChatGPT Plus subscription with GPT-4 capabilities costs $20 per month. Microsoft's ChatGPT-powered Bing AI chatbot also incorporated GPT-4, and the app is available on App Store for free. You can download the New Bing app here from App Store. Source: OpenAI
  4. TarasBuria
    Apple releases iOS and iPadOS 16.5 with a new wallpaper, Apple News improvements, more by Taras Buria Apple has started rolling out new software updates for its operating systems. Version 16.5 is now available for download on compatible iPhone, iPod, and iPad models, bringing customers new wallpaper, improvements for Apple News, and various fixes across the operating systems. Here is what is new. What is new in iOS 16.5 and iPadOS 16.5? New Pride Celebration Wallpaper for the Lock Screen to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture. The wallpaper is only available on iOS. Sports tab in Apple News with easy access to everything sports-related and your favorite teams or leagues. Score and Schedule Cards in Apple News can take you directly to game pages with additional details about specific games. And here are the bugs iOS and iPadOS 16.5 fix: Fixed an issue with unresponsive Spotlight Fixed an issue causing problems with loading podcasts in Apple CarPlay (iOS only). Fixed an issue with Screen Time setting reset and sync problems across devices. What iPhones support iOS 16.5? iOS 16.5 is available to all iPhone models running iOS 16. The list of supported iPhones includes the following: iPhone 8 and 8 Plus iPhone X iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max iPhone SE 2020, SE 2022 iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max What iPads support iPadOS 16.5? iPad Pro (all models) iPad Air 3 and newer iPad 5th gen and newer iPad mini 5 and newer You can download iOS and iPadOS 16.5 by heading to Settings > General > Software Update.
  5. John Callaham
    Microsoft 365 Insiders can now sign PDFs in the Android and iOS apps by John Callaham Signing files digitally is becoming more and more common and PDF files are perhaps the most common types of files that support virtual signatures. Today, Microsoft announced that members of the Microsoft 365 Insider program can try out a new feature in the Android and iOS app that lets users sign PDF files. Microsoft's blog post states: Many of you use your mobile devices to remain productive on the go. You’ve shared that one task you want to be able to complete in such situations is signing a PDF. Whether you need to sign a tax documents, a rental agreement, a contract, or any other important PDF document, we have got you covered. It's pretty simple to use. Just open a PDF file, then tap on the More section, and then the Sign PDF option. You can then tap where you want to sign the file, then tap the Create new selection, and then sign the PDF file. The app also allows users to store their digital signature so that they can use it again for future PDF work. If the file is sent as an attachment or a read-only file and you sign it, it will be saved automatically in a Signed folder. The new feature is available now for Microsoft 365 Insiders if they have the Android app on build 16.0.16327.20270 or later or the iOS app on version Version 2.72 (Build 23041202) or later. There's no word on when the mobile PDF signature feature will be available to all Microsoft 365 users.
  6. Ishtiaqe Hanif
    Google's AI-powered privacy platform Checks is making compliance simpler for developers by Ishtiaqe Hanif Introduced in February 2022 as part of its Area 120 incubator program, Google Checks was created to aid increasingly concerned app developers about privacy rights and data collection. It helped developers by giving them access to easy-to-use tools to make privacy compliance simpler and save time. Today, Google announced they have fully integrated Checks into their product line. According to a poll by McKinsey, 52% of B2B purchasers have ceased business activities with companies that have violated their digital trust. Checks leverage Google's cutting-edge Large Language Models (LLMs) and app understanding technologies to offer automated analysis, comprehensive monitoring, and pertinent recommendations. This enables organizations to transform their insights into actionable steps, with all the features easily accessible from a user-friendly dashboard. Checks provides services in three key product areas: Compliance Monitoring helps companies identify potential regulatory and mobile app store compliance issues by using automated tests to scan an app and its privacy disclosures, and provides actionable recommendations to help address any identified issues. Data Monitoring provides end-to-end visibility of an app’s data collection and sharing behaviors, enabling teams to more efficiently manage their data governance practices. Store Disclosure Support helps companies ensure that their Google Play Data safety section is accurate and up-to-date. After being integrated into a developer's workflow, it will automatically prompt them with compliance alerts and recommendations. This feature works for pre-production apps as well. It ensures developers have access to resources for better compliance before an app launches. Google says the new program has already helped app development companies like Angry Birds creators Rovio, along with Miniclip, Kongregate, Crayola, and Yousician, makes sure that their games and apps are following privacy guidelines. One interesting thing is that Google Checks is working with the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), the US video game rating agency. Its Privacy Certified team collaborates with Google Checks so that members of the ESRB will release games that are in line with the current privacy regulations. Source: Google
  7. zikalify
    Chrome 113 for iOS now lets you translate text manually by highlighting it by Paul Hill Google has just released Chrome 113.0.5672.69 for iOS users. The release notes are not very expansive, as is typically the case with Chrome for iOS releases. The main feature of this update is the ability to highlight text on a web page and manually translate it. To translate highlighted text, just press Chrome Menu > Translate. Aside from the new translation option, Google said this update comes with stability and performance improvements but didn’t specify exactly what was addressed. This is the first major update to Chrome on iOS since April 4 when Google introduced download previews and a redesign for the Password Manager. If you have Chrome installed on your iPhone already then the app should automatically be updated if you have enough space on your device. If you want to check manually, open up the App Store, tap your profile icon at the top of the screen and scroll down to the pending updates. From there, tap Update next to the app. If you want to learn more about this update, check out Google’s dedicated blog post. It contains a link to the Chrome release’s Git log but be aware that it’s quite dense and can be hard to understand.
  8. John Callaham
    Apple and Google put down their fists and join together to combat unwanted wireless tracking by John Callaham Normally, Apple and Google are fierce competitors, especially in the smartphone business with their competing iOS and Android operating systems. Today, the two companies temporarily put down their pitchforks to announce a joint venture that aims to combat unwanted tracking of wireless devices. Apple's press release states: Today Apple and Google jointly submitted a proposed industry specification to help combat the misuse of Bluetooth location-tracking devices for unwanted tracking. The first-of-its-kind specification will allow Bluetooth location-tracking devices to be compatible with unauthorized tracking detection and alerts across iOS and Android platforms. Apple, of course, has its own AirTag device that is supposed to help people find lost luggage or other personal items. However, since the devices launched, it has been used to track actual people. In 2022, Apple set up some protections to keep AirTags from being used to track humans. Today's joint announcement with Google seems to be an extension of those efforts. The press release states that other companies that make their own Bluetooth tracking devices, including Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, eufy Security, and Pebblebee, have "expressed support for the draft specification". Hopefully, that means they will incorporate the new rules in future products. Apple and Google will submit a draft of their unwanted wireless tracking specifications to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Businesses and groups who have an interest in this draft will be able to make comments on it, and Apple and Google will take that feedback and make any changes to the draft. The plan is to submit the final specifications by the end of 2023, after which they will be incorporated into future updates for iOS and Android.
  9. Ishtiaqe Hanif
    Your Apple iPhone, iPad and MacBook is getting a rapid security response update by Ishtiaqe Hanif For the first time, Apple is rolling out a Rapid Security Response update. It is a new method of software release for its three popular operating systems, iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Previously, security patches were baked together with OS updates. This delayed the deployment of security issues that have already been patched. Rapid Security Responses, or RSR, separate the security updates from the OS updates. Now security patches, especially zero-day bugs, can be tackled with automatic over-the-air updates without having to wait for the OS update to be rolled out. Devices running iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, and macOS 13.3.1 onwards are eligible to receive RSR. A big difference with RSR is that it does not always require you to restart your device for it to apply the patches. By default, auto-updates are enabled. You can check your device's settings as follows: iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates, then make sure that "Security Responses & System Files" is turned on. Mac: Choose the Apple menu > System Settings. Click General in the sidebar, then click Software Update on the right. Click the Show Details button next to Automatic Updates, then make sure that "Install Security Responses and System Files" is turned on. For your safety, if you choose to disable RSR, Apple will still provide you with relevant fixes or mitigations in the next software update for your devices. Source: Apple
  10. Ishtiaqe Hanif
    Apple is reportedly working on an AI-powered health coaching service by Ishtiaqe Hanif Tech giant Apple is working towards a bigger push into the health sector with some new services for consumers. The latest edition of its pioneering health-oriented smartwatch, namely the Apple Watch Series 8 was released in September 2022. It featured a new temperature sensor to track the user's period cycle. The watchOS 9.4 brought A-Fib to more regions and improved cycle tracking. Now, Apple is working on its latest service, codenamed Quartz. It is an AI-powered health coaching service, aiming to track emotions. This feature is reportedly planned to be released with iPadOS 17 and iOS 17. Quartz can help users track their exercise, eating, and sleeping habits. This may motivate users to improve their habits and daily lifestyle. Empowering these data with AI can help generate personalized health solutions. This may attract more users to the paid-only service. Apple worked on a similar service earlier with the Singaporean government called LumiHealth. The big difference being Quartz is a paid service and the latter is free of charge. An Apple spokesperson declined to comment on the matter. Apple plans to expand its health products and service to more of its devices by introducing the health app for the first time to iPads. Initially, the mood data will be manually entered by users, but Apple ultimately plans to evaluate mood conditions by tracking user typing, speech, and other data on the devices they use. This can be of serious privacy concern to users. Apple is hoping the iPhone could use algorithms to determine a user’s mood via their speech, what words they’ve typed and other data on their devices. Besides tracking emotions, Apple is bringing a vision condition management feature and working on noninvasive glucose monitoring. This technology will enable diabetic patients to passively monitor their glucose levels throughout the day without finger pricking. You can learn more here.
  11. Ishtiaqe Hanif
    This Apple CarPlay bug is plaguing all iPhone users, glitching their car infotainment system by Ishtiaqe Hanif Apple CarPlay is a modern infotainment system for more than 800 models of cars. It is part of the Apple ecosystem, making it easy for Apple users to connect their iPhones and mirror their favorite apps to the car's infotainment display. It supports beaming navigation information, streaming music, video, and serving notifications among other features. While testing a Lucid Air, Edmunds noticed significant lag and stutter when using Apple CarPlay connected to an iPhone. The responsiveness and user experience were hampered. The reporter posted a video of this experience on Twitter as seen below. Last year, our Lucid Air’s infotainment was buggy and lagged. Today, responsiveness has improved and CarPlay functionality has been added — now we’re just trying to make it more aesthetically pleasing… pic.twitter.com/oR4kpiNong — Edmunds (@edmunds) April 24, 2023 Marques Brownlee, also known as MKBHD also experienced the same issue. He says it might never get fixed, therefore it's better to know how to avoid facing such problems when using the service. To avoid this problem, iPhone users should refrain from using the phone's camera while it is connected to Apple CarPlay. This solution was found by Edmunds while they debated about the issue, you can see a demo here.
  12. zikalify
    Apple will help developers retain app subscribers with new sheet starting in the summer by Paul Hill Apple has told its developer community that it will help them retain subscribers beginning in the summer. If an auto-renewable subscription doesn’t renew due to a billing issue, customers will be presented with a sheet to let them update their payment method. What’s nice is that the sheet will be shown within the app so customers have fewer obstacles to resuming their subscriptions. According to Apple, developers won’t need to take action for the system-provided sheet to appear in their app. If developers want to familiarize themselves with the sheet, they can do so in Sandbox. They can test delaying or suppressing the sheet using messages or display in StoreKit if they don’t want it to appear. For developers that are happy with the change, their users must be on iOS 16.4 or iPadOS 16.4 for the sheet to appear. Apple also notes that the new sheet that appears will be quite intelligent too. As an example, the company says that if the subscription is in the billing retry state, Apple uses machine learning to optimize payment retries to increase the chances of success. Developers that want to learn more about the sheet should check out the documentation page. If you want to test billing issues in Sandbox, check out this webpage for more information.
  13. John Callaham
    YouTube Premium adds new features including higher iOS video quality and more by John Callaham YouTube Premium already offers a number of features for its $11.99 a month fee that standard free YouTube users don't have. These include no video or banner ads, playing videos in the background while using other apps, downloads for offline viewing, and full access to YouTube Music. Today, YouTube owner Google announced a number of new features that are either available now or coming soon to YouTube Premium subscribers. In a blog post, Google stated that iOS users in the coming weeks will get an enhanced bitrate 1080p option for playing videos. Google stated: While all users will still have access to 1080p, this enhanced 1080p quality setting will look extra crisp and clear, especially for videos with lots of detail and motion. This feature will be added for web YouTube Premium users as an "experiment" in the near future as well. Google also will add ways for people to share watching YouTube videos with others. Android users with a Premium subscription can use Meet Live Sharing via Google Meet sessions. People in a session can watch the same YouTube video together, even if some of them don't have a Premium subscription. iOS device owners will get the same feature, via Face Time, in the coming weeks. Premium subscribers on phones and tablets can now queue up YouTube videos so they can keep watching a series of clips without having to select one each time. Those users can also set up Smart Downloads, which will add and download recommended videos automatically, via a Wi-Fi connection, to your mobile device for offline viewing later. Finally, web, iOS, and Android users can watch a video on one device, stop in the middle, and then pick up where they left off on another device.
  14. Anushe Fawaz
    WhatsApp working on a feature that will let you share Statuses on Facebook automatically by Anushe Fawaz WhatsApp is currently working on new features for WhatsApp on iOS, including new options to share content and a few changes to the app interface. Although the iOS 23.7.0.75 and iOS 23.7.0.74 versions of WhatsApp are available to beta testers, the features are not accessible yet. WABetaInfo reports that the latest version of Whatsapp beta (iOS 23.7.05) showcases a new capability that allows users to share WhatsApp statuses on Facebook Stories simultaneously without the need to switch between apps. Previously, to do this, users had to manually share the update whenever they posted on WhatsApp. With this capability, updates will be posted automatically on both platforms without leaving WhatsApp, although users will get to choose settings for each post. By default, the option of posting on Facebook will be turned off. To enable it, users must go to Settings>Privacy>Status and choose their desired settings for sharing their Status. Naturally, users will have the option to turn automatic sharing off. Apart from this, the preceding version, WhatsApp beta for iOS 23.7.0.74, includes a redesign of various sections on WhatsApp. The new version would include rounded corners and smaller margins on the edges for different settings in the app. This minor yet new feature is currently in the making and will be available in an update to beta testers running iOS 13 and above. Source and images: WABetaInfo
  15. Anushe Fawaz
    Any.do combines workspaces and WhatsApp as it integrates with WhatsApp for teams by Anushe Fawaz Any.do, a task management and productivity platform, is announcing its integration with WhatsApp for teams. This update combines workspace activities and WhatsApp as people can manage projects and teams and deal with clients directly from WhatsApp. It is important to note that WhatsApp for teams is a third-party utility provided by Any.do and has no affiliation with the Meta-owned WhatsApp. In an email to Neowin, Any.do CEO Omer Perchik highlighted the role of communication through WhatsApp in workplaces today, and how its functionality is still restricted as users cannot organize and manage their workflows on the platform. He added: “After talking to hundreds of teams of Any.do Workspace all around the world it became clear that a huge amount of small and medium businesses fully rely on WhatsApp for daily communication but miss the ability to easily keep track of tasks, due dates, and responsibilities - until today.” Although Any.do integrated with WhatsApp in 2021 (YouTube link), with the update, there are five additional capabilities users will be able to benefit from, for example, they can create tasks on their Any.do Workspace boards and assign them to their team members and colleagues from WhatsApp. People who are assigned tasks can also get reminders about due dates and new tasks they are responsible for. Any.do adds that WhatsApp for teams lets you: Create tasks on any of your Any.do Workspace boards via WhatsApp Assign tasks to any of your team members directly from WhatsApp Get notified in Whatsapp when you’ve been assigned to a task or have been added to a board Get reminders in WhatsApp when your assigned tasks are due Chat about any shared task in Any.do without leaving WhatsApp" To benefit from the features, users must follow these steps: Go to Any.do account settings on the Web or desktop application Click the Integrations option and select WhatsApp Fill in the required details by entering their personal or WhatsApp business number to complete the verification process. Users can also set their preferred notification settings. Once this is complete, they will get an automated message from Any.do on WhatsApp. From their chat with Any.do, they can complete their desired tasks. Here is a step-by-step video showing how it works: While the feature is rolling out today, the company added that in the coming weeks, users will be able to connect to WhatsApp for teams from their Android and iOS devices.
  16. TarasBuria
    iOS 16.4 is out with new emojis, voice isolation for cellular calls, and more by Taras Buria Apple has started rolling out a new feature update for modern iPhones that support iOS 16. Version 16.4 is now available for download, and it brings several features and improvements. As usual, those updating from iOS 15 (or even older) can check out what is new in the previous releases: 16.3, 16.2, 16.1, and 16.0. What is new in iOS 16.4? Here are the changes waiting for users in the latest feature update for iOS: This update introduces 21 new emoji and includes other enhancements, bug fixes, and security updates for your iPhone. New emoji: iOS now features 21 new emoji, such as animals, hand gestures, and objects. Voice Isolation for cellular calls: Your iPhone can now prioritize your voice and block ambient noise during cellular calls, delivering a better experience for the person talking with you. Notifications for web apps are now available on the Home Screen. The duplicate detection feature is now available for photos and videos in iCloud Shared Photo Library. Maps in the Weather app now support VoiceOver. Your iPhone can now dim the brightness when a video contains bright flashes or strobe effects. The update fixes a bug when Ask to Buy requests from children fail to appear on a parent's or caregiver's device. The update fixes a bug when Matter-compatible thermostats stop responding when paired to Apple Home. The update optimizes Crash Detection on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models. What iPhones support iOS 16.4? All iPhones that support iOS 16 can download version 16.4. Here is the full list of compatible models: iPhone 8 and 8 Plus iPhone X iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max iPhone SE 2020, SE 2022 iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max You can download iOS 16.4 in Settings > General > Software Update.
  17. John Callaham
    Xbox head Phil Spencer says it will be "pretty trivial" to add Xbox gaming to smartphones by John Callaham A few weeks ago, Microsoft Xbox head Phil Spencer first revealed that the company had plans to launch its own mobile games store to better compete with Apple and Google. Now he's talking more about those plans in a new interview with FT. Spencer says that Microsoft will take advantage of the European Union's Digital Markets Act. That will make both Apple and Google open their iOS and Android mobile operating systems to third-party app stores starting in March 2024. Spencer says that they hope to bring its Xbox games, and games from other publishers, to all types of screens. He added: Today, we can't do that on mobile devices but we want to build towards a world that we think will be coming where those devices are opened up. Microsoft's plans to acquire Activision Blizzard will also tie into their mobile game store plans, stating that if the deal goes through, being able to offer mobile games like Call of Duty Mobile, Diablo Immortal, and Candy Crush Saga is "critically important". There's no word on how quickly Microsoft could launch a third-party mobile store after March 2024. He did say it would be "pretty trivial" to offer both Xbox games and its Xbox Game Pass service to smartphones. As we have mentioned before, the Xbox Cloud Gaming service available to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers already lets Android device owners play over 100 games with Microsoft's Xbox Android app, and even iOS owners can access the service via the Xbox website on Safari. Source: FT
  18. zikalify
    Brave launches desktop VPN and cross-device subscriptions by Paul Hill Brave Software has released its VPN to desktops with the most recent 1.49 version of its browser. The company already offers its VPN on Android and iOS but the recent news makes it fully cross-platform. To reflect this, the company says that anyone who buys a desktop VPN subscription will be able to use the protections on up to five devices, regardless of platform. Brave said that its Firewall + VPN service is available for $9.99 per month and that the $99.99 per year option will be available on desktops soon. If you have five devices to connect to the VPN, that’s about $2 a month per device. By using the Firewall + VPN on your phone, trackers will be blocked across all the apps on your device, not just in the Brave browser. If you’re intrigued by the VPN offer from Brave you can update your browser on your desktop and press the new VPN icon near the address bar. This will show a pop-up that showcases the features included and an option to buy a subscription. The company is also giving prospective customers a free 7-day trial to see if they’d like to buy a subscription. On your phone, you can go to the Settings menu and toggle the Brave Firewall + VPN option. If you already have the subscription on mobile, you can connect your browser too by toggling on the option and then connecting your device on the account.brave.com website which you should automatically be taken to.
  19. Anushe Fawaz
    Users can now preorder Apple's dedicated app for classical music, Apple Music Classical by Anushe Fawaz In 2021, Apple revealed its acquisition of Primephonic, a music streaming service for classical music, and mentioned it would launch a dedicated app for Classical music in the future. Now, it has made the app available for pre-order on the App Store called Apple Music Classical. Introducing Apple Music Classical, the new app designed specifically for classical music. Pre-order today on the @AppStore. https://t.co/lwnF4Dx4ua pic.twitter.com/F8uMKMVm2i — Apple Music Classical (@AppleClassical) March 9, 2023 The app will be available only to Apple Music subscribers running iOS 15.4 and above from March 28, 2023. Apple Music Classical would provide users over 5 million classical tracks, curated playlists, high-quality audio, composer biographies, and more. Subscribers can also play tracks without ads bothering them. Some additional details about the upcoming app Apple mentions include: Get unlimited access to the world’s largest classical music catalog (over 5 million tracks) with everything from new releases to celebrated masterpieces, plus thousands of exclusive albums. Search by composer, work, conductor, or even catalog number, and find specific recordings instantly. Listen in the highest audio quality (up to 192 kHz/24-bit Hi-Res Lossless) and enjoy thousands of recordings in immersive spatial audio with Dolby Atmos. Benefit from complete and accurate metadata to make sure you know exactly what and who you are playing. Learn while you listen, with thousands of composer biographies, descriptions of key works, and more. Listen using AirPlay on compatible wireless devices. TechCrunch mentions that at the time of launch, Apple Music Classical would feature commissioned portraits of well-known classical musicians like Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Frédéric Chopin. Users would also access more information about renowned works from the artists and get editorial notes. The application is available everywhere where Apple Music is accessible with the exception of “China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.” Furthermore, support for Android could launch “soon.”
  20. Fiza Ali
    Enterprise users can now securely save files to OneDrive in Microsoft Edge mobile app by Fiza Ali When you download and save files locally on mobile devices, you are potentially putting enterprise data at risk of being illegally accessed by malicious actors. In order to tackle this issue, Microsoft has now announced that it is bringing a new way for users to download and access files securely on mobile devices. Users will be able to start this experience with version 111 of the Edge mobile app. Now, you no longer have to block users from saving files to local device storage to avoid potential data leakage on mobile devices. With Microsoft's latest update to its Edge mobile app, you can put this, although secure but less-than-optimal, approach behind. By being able to securely download and save files from the Edge mobile app to OneDrive to access later, you automatically eliminate the risk of potential data abuse and theft. The tech giant further mentioned: This new method of saving files joins other Edge data security measures such as the Edge mobile app's coverage under Intune’s App Protection Policy (APP) and its limited sharing of browser data only to other protected Microsoft 365 apps, such as Outlook and One Drive. To use the latest feature, you can follow the steps given below: Users need to log on to the Edge mobile app with their Azure AD accounts Intune admins need to assign Intune App Protection Policy (APP) to users If you have set “Save copies of org data” as Block, you need to allow OneDrive To know more about the App Protection Policy (APP), head over to the dedicated web pages here (Android) and here (iOS/iPadOS).
  21. TarasBuria
    Microsoft revamps its Translator for iOS with new UI and improved backend by Taras Buria Microsoft has a new update for its Translator app. Version 23.2.1 is now available for download from the App Store, bringing customers a redesigned user interface and UX improvements, expanded language support, and backend enhancements. The latest update does not contain new features nor integrate the mighty AI-powered Bing. Still, the new UI is a welcome change for the app that looked significantly outdated compared to modern applications and other Microsoft products on iOS. Here is the official changelog for version 23.2.1: Introduction to our new and improved Microsoft Translator user interface! This major update includes a new and revised UX that allows you to start translating quickly. Select your language pair, and the app will give you access to available actions such as language translation, image translation, and text translation. The new image translation feature has an updated backend and enhanced language support. The new conversation feature has an updated backend, enhanced language support, and allows you to transcribe/translate real-time conversations. At the end, you will have access to the transcription and chapters to simplify navigation within transcripts. Bug fixes and general improvements. Microsoft Translator is available on iPhone and iPad, and you can download the service from the App Store.
  22. John Callaham
    Windows 11 will finally let iPhone users text and call from PCs by John Callaham Microsoft has just announced the big "Moment 2" update for Windows 11 with a ton of new features. That includes a preview of the new Phone Link for iOS app feature. If you are a member of the Windows Insider program, you will get first dibs on checking out this addition, with some members of the program getting it sometime this week. The app will allow Windows 11 PC owners to see calls and texts from their paired iPhone. In a blog post, Microsoft says this first preview will be available for all Windows 11 users signed up for any of the three Windows Insider channels. While the preview of the Phone Link for iOS will be controlled from a cloud server, Insiders will still need the Phone Link app to be updated to version 1.23012.169.0 or higher. While a small number of Insiders will get this preview this week, it will be expanded to more members of the program in the coming weeks. If you are one of the Windows Insiders selected to test drive the new version of the app, you should see the iPhone button in the updated app available to click or tap on to proceed with the pairing of Windows 11 to the iPhone. Microsoft states: After choosing iPhone, the guided installation will kick off to pair your iPhone. You will be directed to follow a set of steps that will guide you to pair your iPhone and PC over Bluetooth. This will initiate after you scan a QR code shown on your screen, and then move on to the confirmation steps that helps us confirm the phone and PC are in range. During this step, you will be asked to confirm the code in Phone Link matches the code shown on your iPhone. Once you complete pairing, you’ll be asked to grant a set of permissions that allow us to get all your favorite content sync’d over to Phone Link. After that, your Windows 11 PC will be able to show you your iPhone's calls, texts, and contact list. However, this version of the Phone Link app won't let you send replies to group messages or send media in messages. There's no word on when or if the app will add these features in the future.
  23. Anushe Fawaz
    Google brings Magic Eraser, HDR effect on videos, and more editing tools on Google One by Anushe Fawaz Magic Eraser UI Google One members on Android, iOS, and Pixel are getting Magic Eraser and other editing features on Google Photos starting today. These members will, thus, get exclusive collage styles, an HDR effect for videos, and free shipping on their print orders. With the addition of the Magic Eraser, users can enhance their photos by removing photobombers or unwanted objects with a few taps. They have the Camouflage option that helps things blend in better with their surroundings and can encircle or brush over unwanted objects to remove them from their photos. With the latest announcement, Google also brings users an HDR effect that can be applied to videos to adjust their brightness and contrast. The capability was previously available for photos but is now applicable on videos. Furthermore, members can get new collage editor designs in Google Photos. The company blog post describes the feature by stating: “First, all Google Photos users can now apply Styles to a single photo in the collage editor. Second, a range of new Styles are coming to the collage editor for Google One members and Pixel users, so you have more designs to choose from when making your collages.” Lastly, Google One members who wish to get their photos printed in different sizes can benefit from free shipping on their orders from the print store in Canada, the U.K., the U.S., and European Union. These latest capabilities are available to all Pixel users and Google One members on all plans. Any individuals who are not subscribed to Google One can start their free trial of Google Photos to access these features in early March.
  24. LoneWolfSL
    Bethesda reveals Mighty Doom, an "adorably violent" shooter for Android and iOS by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Bethesda is known for taking mobile ventures now and then, and its latest project in this space is Mighty Doom, a top-down action game aimed at Android and iOS gamers. Featuring a miniaturized, but still very capable, Slayer, the arcade title has players cutting through demons starting in March for free. As the above trailer's gameplay segments show off, this is a top-down experience that has the Mini Slayer using an array of familiar Doom weapons and movement abilities to rip and tear through levels. Falling in battle in this means going back to the beginning of the run with earned XP to level up and upgrade the Mini Slayer's armaments and skills. Mighty Doom's development is being handled by Bethesda's Alpha Dog studio, a mobile game-focused team based in Canada. It has been a part of Xbox Game Studios since 2021 following Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax Media. The game is set in an "animated Doom universe" according to the studio, a dimension "inspired by DOOM Eternal’s collectible toys." Here's how the developer explains the setting of this spin-off experience: When an unknown energy surge rips through a Gibbo toy factory, the Mini Slayer is brought to life and transported to an alternate dimension. Your mission? Kill every demon that stands between you and your stolen pet bunny Daisy. Mighty Doom has a March 21, 2023, launch date attached to it as a free-to-play experience. Pre-registrations are now open across Android and iOS. Those who jump in early will receive some free gear to spend in-game as well as exclusive weapon skins.
  25. Chasethebase
    WhatsApp Beta for iOS 23.4.0.70 released with updates to upcoming 'HD Quality' photo sharing by Steve Bennett Meta has just submitted a new version of WhatsApp beta to the iOS platform via TestFlight, version 23.4.0.70, and with it more updates to a new feature that is in development bring it closer to fruition. For the longest time, when you send a photo in WhatsApp, the app will compress it slightly to allow for more speed and less data usage when sharing between users and groups. However, this upcoming feature will allow for images to be shared in what the platform dubs "HD Quality." This feature has been in development for a while, with it first being discovered during the 2.23.2.11 update on WhatsApp Beta for Android. It has been identified in WhatsApp Desktop Beta as well. WhatsApp will default to "standard quality" every time you send a photo when this feature is available to the wider public, so if you want to share high-definition photos all the time, you will need to select "HD Quality" each time. It's been identified as well that HD Quality is not Original Quality and does still compress the photo ever so slightly. But now, it will apply light compression limiting the original quality to 90%. There is a correction for the news. It seems WhatsApp recently changed some configuration, and the quality will be set to "90%" when sharing images by using the "HD" option. This option will still preserve image dimensions, but a light compression is still applied to the image. https://t.co/bFnkn3NP6u — WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) February 16, 2023 It is not yet known when the feature will be available to the main update channel. Source: WABetaInfo