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Virginia launches COVID notification app using Apple-Google technology

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Shanmugam
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Image Credit:nbcnews.com

Ever since the pandemic of Covid-19 has hit the globe, tech companies have been trying to figure out how the people can be notified about the situation around them and a lot more. The main aim of such technology is to help people prevent any situation which can prevent Covid-19. Recently, Virginia has launched a new mobile application with Apple and Google Coronavirus notification technology. The app has been named CovidWise and has been developed and launched just under four months after the Apple-Google partnership was first announced.

virginia notification

Virginia would be the first state to use the technology built into iPhones and Android smartphones. The notification uses contact tracing technology, which is not easily accepted in all the countries. The app uses the Bluetooth signal to determine the distance between two phones and collect the phone owner’s identity at the same time. If the phone users turn out to be affected by Coronavirus, the other person will get a notification about it and will be suggested to take a test immediately.

As per the Director of the Virginia Department of Health, the app has not been created to track any person’s whereabouts in the state. It is created to inform a person immediately if he is exposed to the virus or is closeby to a person who already is. The department provides a six-digit number to the infected people and asks them to enter the same in the app to be easily recognized. There are more apps very similar to this one used in other countries and states, which use GPS to identify the location and if anyone in the current vicinity is infected.

Virginia has planned to advertise this app across the state for people to use and know about it. If effective, the same app can also be planned for other states and countries.

Google Pixel 5 could come soon

By
Sriram
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Image Credit:tomsguide.com

Google recently released its new budget smartphone on August 3, which was the Google Pixel 4a. Just a day after, the tech giant confirmed that they would be launching the new Pixel 4a(5G) and Pixel 5 later this year. With the launch of Pixel 4a, users were expecting Google to launch a 5G ready phone, but the feature was not available in that model. It is now clear that Google was adding the 5G connectivity to the next range of their phones.

Although Pixel 4a (5G) would remain almost the same in terms of configuration, the only addition to it will be the support for 5G technology and a new chipset. Google has confirmed that the 5G ready Pixel 4a would launch at a price tag of $499, and the devices will initially launch in the US, Australia, the UK, Germany, Canada, France, Japan, Taiwan, and Ireland. The rest of the countries will see the launch as soon as 5G services are offered there. When it comes to Pixel 5, there are a lot of leaks about the specs.

The phone is said to have a Snapdragon 765G chipset, which is 5G ready and has also been used in other smartphones like OnePlus Nord and LG velvet. The phone will also have a dual-camera setup, which is very different from the triple or quad camera setup that other companies offer. However, Google’s camera software provides the same kind of image quality after processing as the other premium mid-range phones. The Pixel 4a (5G) would be getting the same camera sensor as Pixel 4a, and Pixel 5 will get a new camera software, which will provide much better and clear pictures when compared to premium flagships.

The Pixel 5 will feature a 5.8-inch screen, and a higher version of the same can also have a 6.67-inch screen, which will be announced in the future. It is also expected that Pixel 5 would have a 120Hz refresh rate for the screen, which would lead to a bigger battery in the phone. As per the details, the phone could be launched in about two months.

iPhone 12 rumored to have a magnet ring

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Shanmugam
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Image Credit:9to5mac.com

Apple iPhone 12 is one of the most expected smartphones launches this year. Many leaks for this version of the iPhone as well and every leak is bringing out information about a unique and new feature. This time the rumors are coming from the Chinese accessory manufacturer “EverythingApplePro.” As per the images and details shared by them, Apple iPhone 12 is said to have a ring of magnets inside. A similar magnetic structure can also be seen in the iPad Pro model, where the magnets inside it aid the attachment of Magic Keyboard.

It is expected that the magnet rings could be a setup for some kind of accessory that Apple is planning to launch alongside the iPhone 12. Rumors are that the coil or magnet ring could be positioned to aid magnetic wireless charging, which seems to be very logical and practical. It would hint that Apple might be working on a new kind of wireless charging technology for the new generation of iPhones. The image leak shows many tiny magnets, which are arranged in the shape of a circle and is attached to the leather case for the iPhone 12.

Apple is also working on a small wireless charging pad, launched along with the iPhone. It might be a possibility that it is connected to the new device. The feature makes a lot of sense as the magnets would keep the device in place over the wireless pad, making sure that the phone does not fall off in any condition or moves from its place. Since we are getting close to the launch month of the iPhone 12, more and more leaks and rumors are expected to pop-in, which happens before releasing every iPhone. The magnets do seem to be there for a good reason, and we can only speculate until any more leaks are revealed.

Android brings “Nearby Share” to compete with “AirDrop” on iPhone

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Shanmugam
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Image Credit:xda-developers.com

Android gives some of the best features to its users on smartphones, and yet another feature is coming up on Android smartphones, which have been inspired by Apple iPhones. Those of you who have used an iPhone know about the AirDrop functionality, where two different iPhones can share the data in seconds, which would otherwise take a lot of time through any other means. Google has been testing the same feature in the name of Nearby Share.

The feature has been rolled out for all Android smartphones since yesterday, and you will soon be able to use it. The feature will be added to Pixel and select Samsung devices first, after which the feature will be rolled out to other phones globally. Google has confirmed that the feature of Nearby Share will soon be available on all Android smartphones in the next few weeks. The same feature has also been confirmed in the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra.

The feature can easily be used from the Quick setting menu, where you can turn on the feature just like other features on the phone to accept or send the files. The user can send multiple types of files like images, docs, video links, etc. The Nearby Share app will provide the fastest speed for data transferring between Android phones. The device can be identified using the device name and your profile picture if added. The phone will be detected using the Device Visibility settings, and it can also be switched to hidden is required.

In case you are trying to receive a file through Nearby Share, you will get a notification on whether to accept the file. Once accepted, only then the file will start downloading, which can be viewed in the Downloads section on your phone. The feature seems to be great for file sharing between Android, which will remove any dependency on third-party apps.

SpaceX NS5 prototype makes a successful attempt towards Mars

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Sriram
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Image credit: freenews.live

SpaceX has been one of the most innovative companies of the decade, and Elon Musk is leaving no stones unturned in bringing out new and power-efficient technology. Recently, the company has launched a new prototype ship towards Mars, to make humans multiplanetary species. In Boca Chica, the company has performed a 500-foot hop in what is named to be the SN5 prototype ship.

The prototype was shaped very oddly and looked nothing like a ship. It was designed like a cylindrically shaped tunnel, which rose to around 150 meters through a single Raptor engine. The nine-story tall ship, then gently returned to the ground and landed upright near the take-off position. It is not the first time that SpaceX has tried to make a spaceship to travel to Mars. There have been attempts before, but many failed during the pressurization test and were not able to leave the ground.

However, SN5 was designed for orbital flight, but it was decided that the ship will only do a small hop for testing purposes. It is not the final design of the spaceship, but just a tiny model of what SpaceX has been designing for their final project. Although this model did not have a nose, the final project design will be different and look like a rocket with a pointed nose. The shape of this NS5 was very similar to what a thermos looks like. The company has been going through a great and successful time recently when they brought back NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley from the International Space Station and splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend.

SpaceX has been trying to solve the question of “Whether humans can travel to Mars” with all their technology and innovation. It is expected that this successful flight result would bring out a lot more from the company, which everyone is excited to see.

Google announces new features for family and kids using Smart assistant

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Sriram
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0
Image Credit: theverge.com

Google’s smart assistant has been one of the best services for a virtual AI assistant, which can do almost everything through your voice commands over the smartphone of Google device. The company has been adding many features regularly to this platform to make it better and one of the best AI assistants in the market. On Tuesday, Google announced a new feature that could help parents and kids with the online classes during the pandemic.

The new feature will help parents and kids manage their time while learning from home. One such feature to be announced is the “Family Bell“, which will create a bell sound for a specific time. Such as bells through the day for lunch, naps, homework, virtual classes, studies, and a lot more. One simply has to say, “Hey Google, create a Family Bell” on the smart speaker through Google Assistant. The Family Bell feature will alert you about any kind of virtual classes for your kids. Users who have a Google smart screen can play background school sounds to make it feel more realistic.

As per the company, it will help a kid feel like they are in an environment similar to the school. The user just has to say, “Hey Google, start the school day” or “Hey Google, the school’s in session“, to start playing those noises. Users can also use smart light through the Google Assistant to flash orange, red, and yellow, signifying that the school has started. The last feature is more focused on the Nest Hub and smart speakers, which will get more broadcast controls.

It can be used to broadcast a message through the entire home using the other speakers at home. You can let your family members in the other room know about any specific event or activity.

Apple is no longer number 1 in phishing attempts

By
Sriram
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0
Image credit:mytechdecisions.com

Apple has been one of the innovative tech giants in the world, due to which they are regularly attacked by malicious software and a lot of phishing attempts to steal their data. Apple has been on the number one spot when it comes to phishing attempts. However, it’s not the same case now, and the number spot from Apple has shifted to other popular brands. Apple ID credentials have been on the top of the list for phishing attempts and hackers using fake websites and e-mail.

However, it seems that the layer of security used by Apple is hard to get by, due to which this year, Apple has just faced a mere 2% phishing attempts, which the number spot for the same has gone to Amazon and Google with 13% of phishing attempts on each. As per experts, the pandemic has been a major reason for the same. As people are under lockdown and were using Google cloud services to work from home, these services’ usage rose to a very high level, making them the perfect target for phishing attempts and stealing the login credentials.

Similarly, Amazon has also seen a large increase in phishing attempts on online shopping. The good things were that both the browser companies and web hosting companies responded quickly to this deceptive website and could suspend them. The list of top ten companies which were a target for phishing attempts this year are:

  1. Google
  2. Amazon
  3. WhatsApp
  4. Facebook
  5. Microsoft
  6. Outlook
  7. Netflix
  8. Apple
  9. Huawei
  10. PayPal

Companies suggest their customer check the link of the website or the link provided in the email before logging into the account. As soon as they log in through these platforms, their login credentials will be compromised, leading to loss of information and money. The users can also face an issue where their account is either suspended or closed. The users will generally get an e-mail or an ad on the website, providing an offer at low prices, which is too good.

Microsoft Team coming up with lots of new features

By
Shanmugam
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0
Image credit: thestatesman.com

Microsoft has been busy with the development of new features being added to its multiple products. Today, Microsoft has made yet another announcement where they added a new set of features to Team, including a feature that scales the meeting to 20,000 participants. The feature will be made available to all the users in the current week and is specially meant for the organization to connect multiple employees from the main office to the home office across location and time zones.

The feature can be accessed by initiating a one-on-one call and later adding a large group of colleagues to the platform. The feature will be a great addition for companies who would like to have a conference and large events virtually. Apart from this feature, many other features have been added to the Team. One such feature allows the employees to use phone numbers to make and receive calls with anyone, from both office and home. The feature will use the cloud-based phone system of the Team to connect people.

The list of features also adds a new team display, where dedicated Team devices will use the ambient touch screen, High-quality calls, and video and hands-free calls using Cortana. The Team will now also offer extended support for Skype for Business phones after 2023. The Team will continue to support core calling on SIP phones from Yealink, Cisco, Polycom. The support for SIP phones will be made available in 2021. Lastly, Microsoft will be offering a new range of Team phones with new features such as physical button, core calling, and high-quality audio.

The USB phones will have a dedicated Team button and out of the box usage. The device will be compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems for use, made available for sale in late 2020.

Mobeewave acquired by Apple for $100 million

By
Sriram
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0
Image Credit: mobilesyrup.com

Apple is always on a lookout for new companies that promise to bring new and innovative technology in the market and companies that could be a great addition to a new feature or service they are planning for the future. Recently, Apple has acquired Mobeewave, a Canadian startup that is working on converting iPhones into mobile payments terminals. The details of the deal were reported by Bloomberg, where it is found that Apple acquired the company for $100 million.

The technology, when fully developed, will help merchants to use Apple Pay much more easily. The technology that they use for this feature is the NFC chip, where the users have to tap the smartphone or credit card to another device for processing payments. NFC is one of the most common features that exist in all the iPhones after the iPhone 6 was launched with this feature. Good news for Mobeewave is that Apple has retained all its employees, which is around 100, and they will be working from the Montreal office location. No changes will be made to the office as well.

The company has also partnered with Samsung last year to develop a payment technology, which resulted in 10,000 downloads of Samsung’s POS app. With Apple acquiring this company, we can soon expect to see this feature being integrated into the iPhone with more features and functions than what we could see in Samsung. The company will be working in the same way as before, something Apple did not want to interfere with to maintain the team’s creativity.

WhatsApp brings in the new “Search the Web” and “Reverse Image Search” feature

By
Shanmugam
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0
Image Credit:9to5google.com

WhatsApp is, without a doubt, one of the most popular messaging apps of all time. The app provides unlimited messaging capabilities to its users, giving it an advantage over the normal messaging services through mobile networks. However, the unlimited messaging feature also became one of the most known drawbacks of the app. Whatsapp is very popular for spamming people with fake news and videos, due to which even WhatsApp had to limit the number of users to whom you can forward messages.

Although the restriction is partially removed, users get irritated by fake news and videos that often act like spam in the app. WhatsApp has now introduced a new pilot feature, which allows the user to search if the information received through WhatsApp is fake or real. The assertions made in the messages can now be directly searched on the internet. The services are currently available in Italy, the UK, Brazil, Ireland, Spain, Mexico, and the US.

whatsapp search image 1

Once someone sends you a message on WhatsApp, you will see a magnifying glass in front of the message. It applies to messages and images that have been at least forwarded five times. Once the user clicks on the magnifying glass icon, the assertion will be searched on the internet to verify it. The feature allows the user to upload the text and images via browser, due to which WhatsApp never uploads the data or messages to themselves. The feature will soon be rolled out in other countries as well.

It is expected that the feature will take a few more months before it is released in a stable version. The step has been taken due to the increasing spread of misinformation, especially in this pandemic. Due to their changes in message forwarding features, the forwarded message on the platform went down by 70%.

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