Apple CEO’s Stance On Resolving iPhone Texting Challenges On Android Questionable

There’s a lot of talk going around town about Apple CEO Tim Cook’s behavior and stance on solving issues related to iPhone texting on Android devices.

The news comes as the boss of the Cupertino company was seen dismissing a query made by a reporter who surprisingly happened to be an iPhone user.

The subject of discussion was linked to how Tim Cook’s company is awfully reluctant to solve challenges that many global users have been facing for a while now. And as far as why Apple has failed at addressing the matter is simple.

It was like a slap in the face when he mentioned how Apple users are not asking for it, so we’re not going to do it! Truly, we believe it couldn’t have gotten any more savage than that.

It’s been ignored for a while now, and we don’t know why or for how much longer this will occur. Moreover, the comment was accompanied about how issues that arose due to poor quality videos being sent over might be solved by telling the user to purchase an iPhone. It’s almost like he indirectly promoted his product in the least likable manner imaginable.

It’s been a long time since such issues aren’t being dealt with seriously, and people are getting fed up with Apple’s stubborn behavior. Refusing to repair the ordeal is a huge burden on the shoulders of Apple’s iPhone customers, not just those belonging to Android. But if only Cook could see eye to eye with the thousands of others concerned.

If you get the chance, do visit Apple’s famous community page on the app. It’s a location where prospects request the firm to take notice of issues like repairs, and you’ll find around 600 different posts on the matter.

There’s major reluctance being seen from Apple, which is perplexing because while the CEO finds it awfully funny, others are not. And they’re getting upset. Everyone wants their device to perform well, and the thought of not being able to send out optimal texts to buddies with Android devices is just concerning.

So, is there a solution to the problem of not?

Of course, there is. Experts claim that if the tech giant went on board with the decision to produce an app based on iMessage for Android, the matter could be resolved in seconds. But wait, there’s another better option, as explained by experts. It’s being called Wealthy Communication Solutions to have the problem solved. It’s accepted broadly, so why not give it a shot here?

Just a little cooperation is needed for RCS (Rich Communication Services), but Apple isn’t willing to give it.

Read next: Apple Outlines The iPhone 14 Benefits Of 8 eSIMs and Dual Active eSIMs Versus Traditional Models
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Google Adds New Tweak To Lens That Enables Users To Launch Specific Filters Instantly

Right after a few other expected announcements that will arise by this month’s end, Google has decided to update its Lens. This change will enable users to launch into a filter instantly.

Ever since 2021, users who opened up Google Lens through their Search Bar, seen across the home screen or search, were first directed to a new three-part display. This gallery view gave rise to screenshots while the images were made to appear across a grid moments later.

You were even allowed to tap or swipe all the way down toward the ‘Search’ using your camera. Now, the company has opted to introduce a new carousel comprising lens filters that immediately introduce you to a new section.

After tapping on one, you activate the tool designed for visual search. And after swiping, you get the chance to click a description to see what every filter is designed to do.

As you can tell, it’s now a much more immediate process than the classic or default version of Google Lens. Previously, you’d have to open up the Search and then allow make sure users had refined their questions.

This great feature is up for grabs for both Android and iOS users today. Meanwhile, reports are hinting at how the company is all set to make a series of announcements regarding some more new Lens functionalities soon at its upcoming Search On. This is scheduled to occur by this month’s end.

Some visual search capabilities that have already been teased and talked about but not yet released include the multi-search using MUM technology for some harder and more detail-oriented queries.

Other than that, scene exploration is also being anticipated, where you basically search for something that’s right in front of you at that point in time.


Read next: Google Activates New Flag On Chrome So Users Can Lock Incognito Tabs With Biometric Authentication
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Google Activates New Flag On Chrome So Users Can Lock Incognito Tabs With Biometric Authentication

The concept of incognito tabs has really altered the way many of us browse in today’s world. It may not disguise your browsing activity from internet providers and pesky third parties on a mission to track you down, but it does have its benefits. This includes hiding all of your history as well as cookies used to locate you on a regular browsing mission.

But with time, we’re getting more news about how Google is bound to change things further. And by that, we mean the thought of locking your incognito tabs with biometric authentication. How cool does that sound?

The tech giant is in the works of testing a new flag on Chrome that manages to do just that. So now, it’s going to be possible to hide from those handling your tablets and your mobile phones.

As per our findings the feature is yet to be launched on a big scale. But, it’s coming slowly and steadily for Android users. If you’re a little impatient and wish to avail it immediately, feel free to activate it by downloading the Chrome Canary version and enabling the new flag feature by searching "Enable device authentication for incognito" in Chrome experimental flags section here chrome://flags or you can simply copy paste this: chrome://flags/#incognito-reauthentication-for-android in the Chrome Canary browser to enable the incognito lock.

After restarting that browser, you will see an option for locking the incognito tabs after exiting Chrome in the settings > security and privacy. Tap it and activate it, but you will need to work a bit more to unlock the feature when you wish to gain access to them again, right after you leave the Chrome browser.

Thankfully, the company says you’ll still be given a chance to immediately shut the Incognito buttons via a similar notification alert without unlocking.

In case you did not know, the concept of unlocking via Fingerprints is definitely not new. It’s been in the works for a while now. The first time we saw it take center stage on the search engine giant was last year. During that time, we saw the flag pop up on Chrome 94. And yes, it didn’t work well or at all during that period.

We must add that it’s awfully bizarre that it took the company this long to actually find a solution for Android devices because it was fine on the iOS variant of the browser. They’ve had it for a while now.

So how does this whole biometric authentication work? Well, you get the chance to choose between allowing Face identification alongside the classic fingerprint option. And across Apple, Google is even allowing the feature to extend to Drive, Authenticator, and its Search as well.

So now that the Incognito tab feature comes with better security protection in the form of locking and there’s already a whole flag being identified by Google, it’s not going take the tech giant too much time for the launch to all users having Chrome for Android.

Also, note that this is not the sole feature up for grabs on Chrome 105 or the program’s other variants, as there might be more in store that’s not being revealed.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Google has come up with new updates to Messages its native chatting app

With the addition of WhatsApp and other online chatting apps in our daily lives, we often don’t need to use normal Messages, and Giant tech companies including Apple know it. But, on the other hand, for some reason, we have Google who is adamant that normal SIM messaging is the future and is working to make many and we mean many developments on it.

And when we talked about the many developments we were talking about these because not caring about the fact if investing in Messages is a good idea or not, Google is continuing to add all sorts of features to the app that are very similar to the ones we have on WhatsApp. Today, we will be talking about 3 new features that are coming to the app soon: Voice memos, emoji reactions, and more.

Well here is the thing. There have been some developments to the messages app but none of the new features are out to the public just yet. This further proves that some features are in development at the Google headquarters and something is coming very soon.

Armed with this knowledge let us take a deep dive into what we know about them as of now. First in line are transcripts for voice memos. What are they? Well, they are just the text that the feature has automatically translated for you into a text message from a voice memo. This will make it easier for people who are in a hurry and don’t have the time to write a proper message. Now, this also works the other way, as if you are somewhere that you can’t listen to the voice message let’s say public transport then this feature will convert that message into a text one for you to read, instead of listen to.

Moving on, it has been a couple of years since Google first introduced the emoji reactions into its native messaging app but it is now getting some very well-deserved and much-needed improvements into the system. Right now, if you want to send an emoji reaction, you would have to choose between a couple of options that are already given but now with this new feature you would be able to choose from any emoji that would be listed in your phone’s emoji section.

Lastly, the app is getting a brand new renovated photo picker that will allow users to pick any photo that they want without having to go to a new page to select recent images. Currently, this feature is only for recent images but will soon be available for older ones as well.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

New Details From Unsealed Documents Emerge On A Handful Of Apps Audited By Facebook

For years now, Facebook has been slapped with scandal after scandal. And it’s not an easy job being the CEO of the firm, as Mark Zuckerberg would better elaborate.

The company has managed to keep its lips sealed on the topic related to third-party app audits that the CEO said would be done in 2018. See, he wished to buy more time as bad reputations of the firm misusing data related to the privacy crisis of Cambridge Analytica went viral.

Now, more details are emerging on the matter that really turned into a major controversy. The news comes after the revelations came forward from a series of unsealed documents. These were put forward by plaintiffs in the lawsuit accusing the firm of privacy issues. Moreover, it provides a very thorough glimpse of what went on, or shall we say, what the Meta-owned app’s audit team found when it went through the third-party applications.

There is much talk about the app’s privacy-free area and how Facebook really helped make the most of the data of users belonging to millions. Shockingly, the majority had no idea what was going on and that they were forced to embark upon the app’s experiment.

Two known firms are being outlined as being audited by Facebook. They include game-making giant Zynga and media tech firm Yahoo. And both of these companies gave rise to apps on the platform, and they have incredible amounts of access to the data of millions. And it’s interesting to note how a lot of the information was very sensitive.

Facebook is accused of using the Facebook friends permissions route for data access, a similar means by which it scrapped information from millions via Cambridge Analytica. And nobody knew at that time.

One of the ADI files even mentions that out of the massive 500 different apps produced by Zynga, most had access to details like images, videos, events, groups, relationship status, and so much more. And then, another file goes on to speak about how so much more personal information was made public and shared with advertisers by sharing social network IDs.

One ADI memo related to Yahoo mentioned that it affected around 123 million users across the board and took information sensitive to users and their friends that they could easily detect.

Then there is much talk about a developer who goes by the name AppBank. It was responsible for making quizzes and apps for the purpose of virtual gifting. And just like, the list went on, many called it a never-ending affair.

Plaintiffs of the case argued that the app was slapped with sanctions, and now, they’re busy trying to figure out just how many millions of users’ data was utilized and how they were exposed by the simple ‘friends permissions’ route.

So as you can see, Facebook is really stuck in a sticky mess at the moment. For now, investigations are continuing, and plaintiffs are checking to see if the platform has given all the details they had initially requested.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

YouTube Goes All In With Its Shorts Program As Plans To Split Ad Revenue With Creators In The Works

YouTube and its Shorts venture is being hailed for obvious reasons. The feature has taken the app to new heights of success, not to mention the great popularity and huge revenue generation.

Now, the company is planning on going all out on a possible new project in the works. The news comes to us thanks to a recent meeting held internally. From next week, creators of Shorts will be able to reap the benefits of their Shorts content as monetization is being rolled out.

The significant change is one that will enable the feature to give creators a new and much-anticipated means of making more money on the platform. And as you can expect, it was a long time coming. The company adds that these new changes will all be made public by September 20.

Recently, we’ve seen a number of creators speak about how they required watch times of around 4000 hours and around 1,000 subscribers before they could make more money through the app’s Partner program. But if you think the same criteria would still stand for creators of Shorts, well, think again.

This way, it won’t take a lot to be eligible for monetization when you’re putting out Shorts content, and the news is being hailed as a great one by creators. And then there were some talks about how ad revenue would be split up as well.

About 45% of the share would be handed to the creators, while the platform will keep the rest. And that’s quite different from what was outlined for regular content. In that case, it was a 55% share. But even this will do, we believe. The company is hoping that such a change manages to sway all types of creators to its app because there are so many opportunities to make money these days on YouTube.

This is what signals it out from other archrivals who are struggling with this part of the ballgame.

In times of economic uncertainty, what more could people ask for?

For a decade or more, the app has been called out for serving as the true powerhouse in terms of video content. And while most of them aren’t usually paid, creators enjoy making content and expressing themselves through the app.

Nevertheless, if you’re popular, you benefit more from others, and we’re talking about the creator economy turning into an actual career for some.

In the recent past, the uprising of vertical videos has really become attractive on the app. We saw it doing the same for similar apps like TikTok, which many claims is the leader in this respect. They were the pioneers of the feature, proving to be dominating. And as you can expect, others had to follow in their footsteps.

So, YouTube thought, why not make the most of the feature by pushing ahead with the ad business. And it’s also now planning on adding popular tracks in videos for an added incentive.

Much of the content on the app was flagged for copyright issues, and the platform was forced to send out the revenue generated from ads to those having the rights to the songs. Now, it’s planning on introducing a new and exciting venture. This is related to a collab with YouTube Music and Shorts where there will be a shared Playlist.

For now, the news is very new, but if and when it does launch, we feel it could be a true game changer for the app. Hence, this is just the start of great things on the app.

H/T: NYT

Read next: YouTube Gives A Sneak Peek Regarding Improvements Made To Its Channel Pages
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Apple Outlines The iPhone 14 Benefits Of 8 eSIMs and Dual Active eSIMs Versus Traditional Models

So the new iPhone is out, and people are just trying to figure out the pros and cons. And in case you didn’t know, there’s quite a bit of frenzy surrounding the US model dropping traditional slots for SIM cards and opting for eSIMs.

A lot of concerns were on the rise for the topic, and that’s why the Cupertino firm is now unleashing facts via a support document that it feels can help justify the change. This includes the added ease and convenience provided to US travelers flying overseas.

But users aren’t convinced just yet. Some even claim that it might prove to be an added hassle because switching between cellular providers will have them paying major fees in the name of roaming.

Apple disagrees and is sticking by its guns. According to them, it’s nothing like that. The new iPhone 14 series has the capacity for up to 8 different eSIMs, and it’s been the same for product models dating back to the good old iPhone XS. Additionally, both iPhones 13 and 14 may have 2 active eSIMs.

You could have one dedicated to your residence while the other would be for your travel needs. And you can choose to swap them both out by simply going and clicking on the settings part of your device. Yes, it’s that simple.

And with this electronic SIM, you stay organized because all of your SIMs are located in a single place, your device. Hence, you get rid of the hassle of carrying, swapping, and storing SIMs that can easily get lost.

• Also read: How Many Hours of Work Does It Take to Buy the iPhone 14?

Moreover, the document can be seen going on and on about how it’s quite simple to adopt an eSIM if this is your first time. The support documents outline a step-by-step guide, and all in all, we love the detailed approach it’s providing.

Now, there’s no need to break a sweat, as getting the desired SIM from either a local or a foreign carrier is easier than you may have thought. Some are even providing convenience that comprises prepaid options. Hence, you can also have your SIM prepared for you before your arrival.

As a whole, Apple claims at least 400 different carriers can be found around the globe. And each of them caters to Apple’s eSIM.

Despite Apple’s insistence, critics argue that not every carrier supports the eSIM technology But seeing how strongly they’re getting adopted in the US model of the latest iPhone means we could soon hear of others being inspired.

Read next: Even after taking eco-friendly measures, Apple is in a hotspot for its iPhone 14 release
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World