Posts Tagged: users’
Microsoft is once again asking Chrome users to try Bing through unblockable pop-ups
Microsoft has been pushing Bing pop-up ads in Chrome on Windows 10 and 11. Windows Latest and The Verge reported on Friday that the ad encourages Chrome users (in bold lettering) to use Bing instead of Google search. “Chat with GPT-4 for free on Chrome! Get hundreds of daily chat turns with Bing Al”, the ad reads. If you click “Yes,” the pop-up will install the “Bing Search” Chrome extension while making Microsoft’s search engine the default.
If you click “Yes” on the ad to switch to Bing, a Chrome pop-up will appear, asking you to confirm that you want to change the browser’s default search engine. “Did you mean to change your search provider?” the pop-up asks. “The ‘Microsoft Bing Search for Chrome’ extension changed search to use bing.com,’” Chrome’s warning states.
Directly beneath that alert, seemingly in anticipation of Chrome’s pop-up, another Windows notification warns, “Wait — don’t change it back! If you do, you’ll turn off Microsoft Bing Search for Chrome and lose access to Bing Al with GPT-4 and DALL-E 3. Select Keep it to stay with Microsoft Bing.”
Essentially, users are caught in a war of pop-ups between one company trying to pressure you into using its AI assistant / search engine and another trying to keep you on its default (which you probably wanted if you installed Chrome in the first place). Big Tech’s battles for AI and search supremacy are turning into obnoxious virtual shouting matches in front of users’ eyeballs as they try to browse the web.
There doesn’t appear to be an easy way to prevent the ad from appearing.
Microsoft reportedly confirmed the pop-up’s authenticity in statements to Windows Latest and The Verge, cringingly painting the move as an opportunity for users. “This is a one-time notification giving people the choice to set Bing as their default search engine on Chrome,” a company representative wrote. “For those who choose to set Bing as their default search engine on Chrome, when signed in with their MSA [Microsoft account] they also get more chat turns in Copilot and chat history.”
In a reminder of how friendly its intrusive ads supposedly are to user freedom, it added, “We value providing our customers with choice, so there is an option to dismiss the notification.” Engadget emailed Microsoft for independent verification, but the company didn’t immediately respond. We’ll update this article if or when we hear back.
Windows Latest described the advertisement as coming from a “server-side update” and said the ad wasn’t part of a Windows update. Instead, the outlet speculated that it’s linked to BCILauncher.EXE or BingChatInstaller.EXE, two processes Microsoft reportedly added to “some Windows systems” on March 13.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-is-once-again-asking-chrome-users-to-try-bing-through-unblockable-pop-ups-184348202.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
YouTube Picture-in-Picture Is Rolling Out To Free Users
Free users of YouTube in the US have enjoyed picture-in-picture for a long time, but it finally looks set to roll out to users in Europe too.
TalkAndroid
T-Mobile Users Will Receive Fewer Spam Texts From Now On
Spam messaging is the bane of owning a mobile phone but T-Mobile is on the case and is implementing fines and even permanent suspensions for repeat offenders.
TalkAndroid
The Morning After: Google will settle $5 billion lawsuit over tracking Incognito Chrome users
Google’s Chrome has long featured the ability to launch the browser in Incognito mode, offering a seemingly blank slate for your internet browsing, away from your usual cookies, forms and web history. But that seemingly didn’t mean Google wasn’t keeping an eye on where you were browsing.
The company faced a lawsuit in 2020 that accused it of tracking Chrome users’ activities even when they were using Incognito mode. Google has now agreed to settle the complaint that originally sought $ 5 billion in damages, after failing to get the suit dismissed.
The plaintiffs said Google used tools like its Analytics product, apps and browser plug-ins to monitor users. By tracking someone on Incognito, the company was falsely making people believe that they could control the information that they were willing to share with it.
The lawsuit’s plaintiffs revealed internal emails that allegedly showed conversations between Google execs proving that the company monitored Incognito browser usage to sell ads and track web traffic. Which does sound like a thing Google would do. According to Reuters and The Washington Post, neither side has made the details of the settlement public.
– Mat Smith
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Xiaomi says its EV can outperform Porsche and has more tech than Tesla
It tapped former BMW and Mercedes designers.
Xiaomi, best known for its smartphones, smart home peripherals, and many other things, has made an EV. Unveiled at a Beijing event yesterday, the Xiaomi SU7 — pronounced “soo-chee” in Chinese — is a sedan that will come in two flavors: the dual-motor all-wheel-drive SU7 Max, and the single-motor rear-wheel-drive SU7.
Xiaomi claims the SU7 Max has a range of up to 800km and a 0-100km/h acceleration of just 2.78s, both of which apparently beat Tesla’s Model S and Porsche’s Taycan Turbo. There’s also a lot of tech splashed around, with a dedicated in-car entertainment system, ports for your (Xiaomi, of course) tablets and headlamps designed to look like the chinese character for rice – also the ‘mi’ in Xiaomi. We’ve chewed over all the details below.
Apple is selling its contested Watch models again
Both the Series 9 or Ultra 2 are available again from the company’s website.
The Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 are back on sale, after a federal appeals court in Washington D.C. granted a temporary pause on an import and sales ban. However, Apple’s wearables aren’t out of the woods just yet: the ban could be reinstated on January 10, when the International Trade Commission (ITC) decides on whether to grant Apple a longer pause.
The ban could also return on January 13, when the same agency makes a decision regarding Apple’s redesign of both smartwatches. The original ban lasted a little more than a day.
Look at LG’s two-legged robot
It’ll feature AI-powered skills and face recognition.
Yes, CES is in a couple of weeks. Why do you ask?
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-google-will-settle-5-billion-lawsuit-over-tracking-incognito-chrome-users-121651324.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Discord could ban users if they continue to deadname trans people
Discord has officially updated its hateful conduct policy to add behaviors that don't reflect its "goal to promote acceptance and inclusivity." These newly added bannable behaviors include "deadnaming or misgendering a transgender person." According to TechCrunch, Discord started internally implementing its expanded policy in 2022, but the chat app has just only made it public in an effort to provide more transparency.
"As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure Discord remains a safe and fun place for people to hang out with friends, we continually evaluate potential harms and update our policies," a spokesperson told the publication. "We often work with organization and subject matter experts to ensure our policies accurately encompass a holistic view of how these issues manifest across the internet and society."
In addition to misgendering and deadnaming trans people, Discord also considers expressing contempt or disgust towards members of protected groups, perpetuating negative stereotypes about them, repeatedly using slurs to degrade them, threatening or promoting violence against them, as well as calling for their segregation and exclusion as hateful behaviors. LGBT organization GLAAD has praised Discord in its call for social networks to update their policies to recognize deadnaming and targeted or deliberate misgendering as hate speech.
GLAAD also points out that among the biggest social networks today, TikTok is the only one that explicitly prohibits intentional misgendering and deadnaming. Notably, X implemented a rule against the behavior in 2018 when it was still called Twitter, but it quietly removed that section in its hateful conduct policy under Elon Musk's leadership.
Discord won't be banning users who violate its hateful conduct policy after just one infraction, though. Under its warning system, users who go against its rules will receive a direct message detailing their offense, with the platform weighing each violation differently based on the "severity of harm." Users can see their account standing in their settings page. If they have one or more violation, their accounts will be marked "at risk," while they could be permanently suspended if they're marked as having "severe or repeated" violations.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/discord-could-ban-users-if-they-continue-to-deadname-trans-people-083112064.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Beeper Mini team says a fix is ‘coming soon’ and promises to extend users’ free trials
The Beeper Mini team has apparently been working around the clock to resolve the outage affecting the new “iMessage on Android” app, and says a fix is “very close.” And once the fix rolls out, users’ seven-day free trials will be reset so they can start over fresh. Beeper Mini was released earlier this week, and seemed an especially promising entrant due to its unique approach to bridging the iMessage-Android gap. The app, reportedly the result of a 16-year-old’s work to reverse-engineer iMessage, routes messages directly through Apple’s own servers, making it more secure than some of the other options out there.
But, only days after its release, Beeper Mini users on Friday found that they could no longer send and receive messages, sparking questions about whether Apple intervened and put a stop to it. In an update posted on social media, the team said it’s deregistered users’ phone numbers from iMessage while it works to fix the issue. That may not be the end of the immediate headaches caused by the outage, though. “Annoyingly, the iPhone Messages app ‘remembers’ that you were a blue bubble for 6-24 hours before falling back to SMS,” the Beeper Mini team wrote, “so it’s possible that some messages will not be delivered during this period.”
Beeper Mini – fix coming soon
Our fix for Beeper Mini is still in the works. It’s very close, and just a matter of a bit more time and effort.
In the meantime, we have deregistered your phone numbers from iMessage so your friends can still text you. Sorry, you’re temporarily a…
— Beeper (@onbeeper) December 9, 2023
While Beeper says a fix is coming soon, it may still have a greater struggle ahead if Apple actually was behind the shutdown. The chat app costs $ 2 a month after the seven-day free trial and offers end-to-end encryption for messages sent between Android and iMessage users. In a statement to Engadget yesterday, Beeper co-founder Eric Migicovsky said, “If it’s Apple, then I think the biggest question is — if Apple truly cares about the privacy and security of their own iPhone users, why would they try to kill a service that enables iPhones to send encrypted chats to Android users?”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/beeper-mini-team-says-a-fix-is-coming-soon-and-promises-to-extend-users-free-trials-171310651.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Evernote is reportedly testing a severly restricted plan for free users
Evernote is experimenting with severe restrictions to its free plan, which may nudge users to upgrade or quit the app entirely. According to a report from TechCrunch, some Evernote users were greeted with a pop-up message announcing that the free plan would be limited to a single notebook and 50 notes. The pop-up also introduced a “special 40 percent off” offer, encouraging users to upgrade to a paid plan to create notes and notebooks without limits.
But despite the in-app notification, Evernote’s website has no mention of changes coming to its free plan. A representative for the company explained to TechCrunch that the website had not been updated because the change was not yet final. The company confirmed it has been testing the limited plan with less than 1 percent of its free users. Based on how that goes, Evernote will determine whether to implement the new plan. If that does happen, the representative said the company would then communicate the changes to “the relevant customer touch-points.”
The limited version of the free plan would not prevent users from managing, editing or deleting their current notes. It would only take away the ability to create new notes unless users took the plunge and paid for their plan.
For years, Evernote was the go-to app for countless power users and productivity gurus. However, the app has been kind of on a downward slide for a while. In 2020, it appeared Evernote was trying to reclaim its crown with the release of a major cross-platform redesign. But the updates weren’t enough to revive the app, which was once valued at almost a billion dollars. Last November, Evernote was purchased by a Milan-based company called Bending Spoons, which went on to lay off 129 staffers. Bending Spoons later announced it would be abandoning most of its US operations, shifting Evernote development to Europe.
If implemented, this would be a dramatic change for die-hard Evernote fans who have stuck with the free plan for lightweight note-taking purposes. The change would make the free plan basically useless, and there would be no compelling reason to use Evernote over something free and more powerful like Apple and Google’s own note-taking apps.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/evernote-is-reportedly-testing-a-severly-restricted-plan-for-free-users-184607435.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
YouTube’s enhanced 1080p playback option is rolling out to Premium users on the web
Viewers might see a new option in YouTube's dropdown resolution menu on the web if they're paying for the video hosting platform's Premium subscription service. According to The Verge, YouTube's 1080p playback option with "enhanced bitrate" is now available on desktop around the world. It's located above the ordinary 1080p option in the menu, and clicking on it will prompt users to pay for Premium if they're not currently a subscriber.
YouTube started testing 1080p Premium earlier this year, describing it as a "version of 1080p which provides more information per pixel that results in a higher quality viewing experience." The higher bitrate, which is used as a measurement for the amount of video data transferred within a certain timeframe, it provides could give viewers a better quality without having to watch in higher resolution. Yes, 4K is available for some videos, but that means having to stream a larger file that not everyone's connection can handle and could eat up a significant portion of some people's data allowance.
The service also rolled out enhanced 1080p on iOS a few months ago, but now more people will have access to it. That said, YouTube recently raised the prices for a Premium subscription from $ 12 a month to $ 14 and from $ 120 a year to $ 140. It does eliminate ads from the viewing experience, though, and it comes with features other than enhanced 1080p, including offline viewing and background playback.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/youtubes-enhanced-1080p-playback-option-is-rolling-out-to-premium-users-on-the-web-130058566.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Nothing Phone 1 users can sign up for the Android 14 beta program (but you probably shouldn’t)
If you haven’t upgraded to the Phone 2 and are still using the Phone 1 you’ll be happy to learn that you can now sign up for Nothing’s Android 14 beta program. Once enrolled, your Phone 1 will be eligible to download the Android 14 Beta 3 build which comes with a few caveats you […]
Come comment on this article: Nothing Phone 1 users can sign up for the Android 14 beta program (but you probably shouldn’t)
TikTok users sue to overturn Montana’s statewide ban of app
Just hours after Montana announced a new law banning the TikTok app statewide from next year, a group of TikTok users has sued in a bid to block the ban.
Digital Trends
BeReal’s latest feature is a curated timeline of high-profile users
Days after it started offering users the option to post more than once per day, BeReal is rolling out another new feature. RealPeople is a curated timeline of "the world’s most interesting people." Sorry if you didn't make the cut. The feed includes updates from athletes, artists, activists and other notable users.
As with everyone else on BeReal, users featured in the RealPeople timeline will be prompted to drop everything and take a snapshot of their lives with their phone's selfie and rear cameras when the app sends them a notification at some point during the day. This, BeReal suggests, enables RealPeople to offer "real unfiltered glimpses" into the day-to-day lives of the likes of tennis star Coco Gauff and singers Tinashe and Danny Ocean.
"RealPeople isn’t about influencing, amassing likes or comments or promoting brands," the company wrote in a blog post. "You won’t see perfect photoshopped pictures, product recommendations or ads disguised as posts. It’s trying to show we’re all more alike than we think."
As with the Bonus BeReal feature that debuted last week, RealPeople will only be available in the UK at first before it becomes more broadly available. For now, you'll be able to react to a RealPeople post with an emoji, or hide or report it. Other ways to interact with RealPeople posts are on the way.
Observers have suggested that BeReal didn't move quickly enough to capitalize on the momentum it gained in 2022. The company has said that last year was largely about stabilizing the service amid a large influx of users. It has refuted claims that its user numbers have nosedived in recent months. To help it keep folks engaged though, BeReal is finally starting to roll out new features, something the company wasn't able to do before largerrivals started copying it.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/bereals-latest-feature-is-a-curated-timeline-of-high-profile-users-172232299.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Venmo now lets you send crypto to other users for some reason
Paypal-owned money transfer service Venmo dipped its toes into cryptocurrencies in 2021 after opening up an in-app trading platform. That was just for individuals to buy or sell crypto. Now, the company is going further into the once-heralded digital currency space by allowing users to send crypto directly to other Venmo customers.
This looks to be Venmo’s attempt to simplify the often-confusing task of sending crypto to other people. To that end, the company says this feat is easily accomplished in a “few simple steps.” Just head to the Crypto tab, tap the transfer arrow and follow the prompts. Venmo’s new platform also lets you send currency to Paypal handles and any external crypto wallet. You can also tap Receive to display a QR code that’s embedded with your unique crypto address.
This does seem much easier than rival platforms, but this is crypto, so there is a major caveat. These transfers are not protected in any way, shape or form. They cannot be canceled or reversed, so triple-check the Venmo handle or wallet address before slapping that send button. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
More details on the actual transfer process are found here and Venmo says the update will begin rolling out to users in the next week, but this is a tiered update, so it could be until the end of May before everyone has access to the feature. This tool will not be available in Hawaii and New York and it only pertains to cryptocurrencies available for purchase on Venmo, like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash.
Despite the public’s love affair with crypto starting to cool down, Venmo says that its trading platform has seen steady growth. It boasts that nearly 75 percent of crypto customers have held onto their funds since 2021 and that 50 percent have expanded their balance since the beginning of 2023.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/venmo-now-lets-you-send-crypto-to-other-users-for-some-reason-192015694.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Snapchat will reportedly make Android users pay $4 monthly for Dark Mode access
Over the years, developers have often added new features to iOS apps ahead of their Android counterparts. I’ll even go as far as saying that some app developers actually penalize Android users, as evidenced by the lack of a dark mode option on the Snapchat app but which has been present on the iOS app […]
Come comment on this article: Snapchat will reportedly make Android users pay $ 4 monthly for Dark Mode access
Apple TV+ app is now available for DirecTV Stream box users
DirecTV users can now watch Ted Lasso without buying extra hardware. The television provider announced today that the Apple TV+ app is now available to install on the company’s DirecTV Stream box.
This is the first time Apple’s streaming network has been available on DirecTV Stream, a multipurpose device for subscribers that supports live TV, streaming apps, on-demand content and DVR recordings. The satellite provider launched the device in 2020; subscribers can rent it for $ 20 per month, and it’s bundled with some premium plans. In addition, it includes a remote control with access to Google Assistant.
The Apple TV+ app will include the iPhone maker’s original content like Ted Lasso, Severance and CODA, and access to Apple’s broader library of rentals / purchases for television series and movie rentals. Additionally, it includes in-app support for premium add-ons like AMC+, Paramount+ and Starz. The app is widely available on other streaming devices, including PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, Roku, Fire TV, Google TV and smart TVs from Samsung, LG and others.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-tv-app-is-now-available-for-directv-stream-box-users-214547480.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
Microsoft mistakenly offered Windows 11 upgrades to users with unsupported PCs
Earlier this week, Windows 10 mistakenly prompted some users to upgrade to Windows 11, despite the fact their computers did not meet the operating system’s minimum requirements. Twitter user PhantomOcean3 was among the first to notice the error after Windows 10 displayed a full-screen notification telling him he could install the software on a system that only had 2GB of RAM.
Windows 11 free upgrade being offered to unsupported Windows 10 devices/VMs?
Screenshots from a Windows 10 22H2 VM that does not meet the Windows 11 system requirements, big ones being TPM (none) and RAM (2 GB) pic.twitter.com/VNNswgMLiC
— PhantomOcean3💙💛 (@PhantomOfEarth) February 23, 2023
“Some hardware ineligible Windows 10 and Windows 11, version 21H2 devices were offered an inaccurate upgrade to Windows 11,” Microsoft states in a support document spotted by The Verge. “These ineligible devices did not meet the minimum requirements to run Windows 11. Devices that experienced this issue were not able to complete the upgrade installation process.” Microsoft adds it resolved the issue the same day it was detected.
As The Verge notes, this isn’t the first time Microsoft has erroneously prompted some Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11. Last year, hundreds of Windows Insider beta testers were able to install the operating system, even though their machines didn’t meet the minimum requirements. The incidents highlight an ongoing frustration with Windows 11. Microsoft requires that a PC feature a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) before you can install its latest OS on your computer. Ever since Microsoft first revealed that requirement, there’s been confusion about what PCs can run Windows 11.
Outlook users express alarm as inboxes flood with spam
Microsoft Outlook users were having to deal with inboxes full of spam on Monday after filters that usually send them to the junk folder stopped working.
Digital Trends
Twitter is down and not letting us tweet — it says users are over a daily limit [Update]
Having problems with Twitter? Not able to tweet anything? It looks like you aren’t alone.
Digital Trends
[Promoted] BLUETTI’s Users Always Get More Than Power for Their Off-Grid Lives
BLUETTI’s “Share Your Story” campaign is in full swing. It began on December 15, 2022, and will end on January 15, 2023. All participants have the chance to win free solar generators, solar panels, outdoor gear, coupons, and BLUETTI Bucks, which can now be used to redeem BLUETTI Lifestyle products, besides its previous exchange for […]
Come comment on this article: [Promoted] BLUETTI’s Users Always Get More Than Power for Their Off-Grid Lives
YouTube is repeatedly crashing for some iOS users but a fix is on the way
Google is working to fix an issue that is causing the YouTube mobile app to repeatedly crash for some iOS users. “Hi, we’re aware that many of you using the YouTube app on iOS devices may be experiencing crashes,” the company said in a tweet caught by The Verge. “We’re so sorry about this & have begun working on a fix! Updates soon.”
hi, we’re aware that many of you using the YouTube app on iOS devices may be experiencing crashes
we’re so sorry about this & have begun working on a fix! updates soon🔍
— TeamYouTube (@TeamYouTube) November 30, 2022
As of the writing of this article, YouTube has yet to share more information on the situation. Google did not immediately respond to a comment request from Engadget. We’ll update this article once there’s more information to share. It’s unclear how widespread the problem is among iOS users. On my iPhone, I was able to watch this incredible video of the Artemis 1 launch synced to “Free Bird” without issue during my lunch break. However, Downdetector indicates there have been more than 7,500 reports in the US of the app not working.
Google Play Store now offers third-party app payments, but only for some users
Ahead of the EU’s Digital Markets Act coming into force, Google opens up the Play Store to third-party payment providers.
Android | Digital Trends
Instagram’s grid pinning feature is now rolling out to all users
Following a test that began in April, Instagram has begun rolling out grid pinning, a new way for users to highlight posts they want others to see. When you pin an image or Reel, it will appear above the photo grid on your profile page. It’s possible to showcase up to three pieces of content in this way. To start pinning, tap on the three dots icon above an individual post and then select “pin to your profile.”
The release of grid pinning coincides with Instagram and Facebook adding new features to Reels. It’s now possible to add interactive stickers to your clips and import your own audio. Meta has also extended the maximum length of Reels to 90 seconds. Speaking to all the changes, Instagram head Adam Mosseri said they would make it easier for creators to engage and share their work with fans. He added the company was looking at more ways to give users control over their profile pages.
📣 New Features for Creators 📣
Some fun, new features built for creators that make it easier to engage and share:
– 90-second Reels
– Import audio in Reels
– Interactive stickers in Reels
– Grid pinningLet me know what you think👇🏼 See you next week ✌🏼 pic.twitter.com/VrW5IWmWcZ
— Adam Mosseri (@mosseri) June 7, 2022
Google’s ‘Switch to Android’ app helps iOS users do just that
Google has finally countered Apple's "Move to iOS" app by releasing "Switch to Android" for iOS on the App Store, confirming earlier rumors. As the name indicates, it's designed to help iPhone and iPad users import contacts, photos, calendars and video to an Android device. It also shows users how to turn off iMessage in favor of Android messaging and transfer photos/videos by connecting to iCloud.
Google dropped the new app without a lot of fanfare, as TechCrunch notes. On its Switch to Android website, the app is still not mentioned and can only be found on the App Store with a direct link — search results still turn up nothing.
The app is a big improvement over the current system, which requires you to back up photos, video, calendar and contacts using the Google Drive iOS app. It was first spotted last summer by 9to5Google in code tucked into Google's Data Transfer Tool, and seen in a more recent release with the ability to import iCloud video and photos into Google Photos.
Apple's equivalent app arrived way back in September 2015, so Google certainly took its time responding. "Move to iOS" works in much the same way, helping users import photos, video, messages, contacts and more over to an iOS device. One Android device maker, Samsung, has its own device migration app as well called Smart Switch, helping you switch from an iPhone or other Android device to a Galaxy smartphone. However, it's only available on Google Play or its own Galaxy store and doesn't run on iOS.
You can now use PayPal to send money to users in Ukraine
PayPal will now allow peer-to-peer payments to and from Ukraine. The company announced today that it was significantly expanding its services in Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion. Prior to this, Ukrainian PayPal customers could only use the payment platform to send money outside of the country. Earlier this month, the company announced it was exiting Russia, citing the country’s “violent aggression” against Ukraine.
PayPal users in Ukraine will now be able to send money to and receive money from outside the country, as well as domestically. It’s a move that likely will make life easier for Ukrainians receiving financial support from family and loved ones who live abroad. Ukrainians will also be able to send funds directly to their bank account by linking their Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card.
Perhaps most significantly, PayPal is waiving its own fees (until June 30th) for both sending and receiving funds in Ukraine. The payment platform traditionally charges a fee for international transactions that starts at 5%, and increases depending on your payment method and the region where your recipient resides.
A new payment option is likely to have a significant impact in Ukraine, where only a few options exist to send or receive money abroad. Sending money to individuals in Ukraine (or virtually anywhere abroad) can be costly. Every payment platform that serves a global customer base in Ukraine (including WesterUnion, MoneyGram, Remitly) charges an international transaction fee or commission, and exchange rates can often be unfavorable. Hopefully, this temporary grace period from PayPal will make a significant impact for those seeking to send money to loved ones in Ukraine.
Surface Duo users rejoice – the Android 11 update is finally rolling out!
Today is a day of wonderment and joy for the owners of the original Surface Duo because after languishing on Android 10 since it launched, Microsoft’s foldable device is finally getting its Android 11 update that was supposed to roll out before the end of 2021. The Android 11 OTA is rolling out to unlocked […]
Come comment on this article: Surface Duo users rejoice – the Android 11 update is finally rolling out!
Best gifts for Samsung phone users
Best gifts for Samsung phone users to buy this holiday season.
Mobile | Digital Trends
Need last-minute gift ideas? Here are 10 great picks for Pixel users
We rounded up the best gifts for Google Pixel users, so if you’re still on the hunt for a good gift, then look no further!
Android | Digital Trends
Google Play users have voted for their favorite game and app for 2021
At the beginning of November, users were able to vote for their favorite app and game on the Play Store for the Google Play Users Choice Awards that are held every year. The Google Play editorial team also reveal its choice of best apps and games based on their quality, design, technical performance, and innovation. […]
Come comment on this article: Google Play users have voted for their favorite game and app for 2021
Twitter’s tool for removing unwanted followers arrives for web users
All Twitter users can now remove a follower without having to block them. The company started testing this option last month, and starting today, everyone will have access to it. To quietly stop someone from seeing your tweets in their feed, go to the Followers tab on your profile, click the three-dot menu next to the user in question and select the "Remove this follower" option.
rolling out to everyone on the web today? https://t.co/Nqhhf2q2fo
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) October 11, 2021
This is part of Twitter's efforts to reduce harassment on the platform. Blocking someone you don't want to follow you could lead to retaliation from that person via their allies or their secondary accounts after they find out. Cutting them in this fashion and muting them will mean they're none the wiser that they're out of the loop.
This method won't prevent someone you boot from your followers list from seeing your public tweets. Only blocking them or making your account private will do that. Elsewhere, Twitter is testing a Safety Mode, which automatically blocks accounts that use “potentially harmful language.” It's also looking into more ways to filter and limit replies, so it seems the company is making its anti-harassment efforts a bigger priority.
It’s time to vote for 2020’s Google Play Users’ Choice awards
It’s that time of year again where Google asks you, the app user, the game player, the movie and TV show watcher, and you in the corner, the book reader, to pick your favorites from a shortlist that the search giant has drawn up. These Users’ Choice winners will be announced on December 1st, along […]
Come comment on this article: It’s time to vote for 2020’s Google Play Users’ Choice awards
iCloud outage takes down backups and photos for some users
If you’ve been having problems syncing data across your Apple devices, you’re not alone. Apple is reporting (via 9to5Mac) outages across several of its iCloud services, including backups, calendars, Find My, photos and even sign-ins. The company only…
Engadget
Uh oh: the Pixel 5 is apparently already coming apart for some users
Have we ever had a Google Pixel phone without some kind of controversy? I don’t think so. This time around, it looks like we might have some manufacturing issues with the Google Pixel 5, and some users are reporting gaps between the display and screen of their brand new phone. Uh oh. Google Pixel 5 […]
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Apple will let Epic Games users ‘sign in with Apple’ for a bit longer
A day before Apple was set to shut down the “sign in with Apple” prompt for Epic Games users, the company has retreated on its threat. Apple issued an indefinite extension on the matter, meaning for now, Epic Games players can still use “sign in with…
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Chromebook users get three free months of Stadia Pro
Google is giving you an extra incentive to buy a Chromebook: a whole lot of cloud gaming that could make your laptop shine. The tech giant has introduced a perk that gives Chromebook owners a free three-month trial of Stadia Pro. You’ll need a system…
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Nokia 1 Users Can Expect Android 10 to Arrive Soon
If you’re a Nokia 1 user, we have some great news for you: Android 10 is coming your way sometime soon. If you haven’t received the update yet, not to worry. Android 10 is rolling out to the Nokia 1 in waves, and they’re just getting started. Wave one, which includes many countries in South […]
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Google is knocking $10 off any game for all current and previous Stadia Pro users
If you’ve had your eye on any particular game on Google Stadia, now might be the time to pick it up. Google is offering a $ 10 discount on any game in the Stadia store for a huge amount of users, with the only catch that your account has to be a Pro subscriber, even if […]
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Lawsuit accuses Google of tracking users in Incognito mode
A proposed class action lawsuit filed against Google is accusing the company of violating federal wiretap laws by tracking users’ online activities even when they’re in Incognito mode. The complaint says the tech giant uses tools like Google Analytic…
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Some users are reporting early deliveries, have you received your OnePlus 8 or 8 Pro yet?
The brand new OnePlus 8 Series only launched on April 14th with pre-orders opening the day after, but some Reddit users in the US are reporting that they’ve already received their orders. Others have said that they’ve had tracking numbers and shipping confirmations emailed to them. Have you received your OnePlus 8 or 8 Pro […]
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Google launches braille software keyboard for visually impaired Android users
Google has created a new type of braille keyboard in Android with software only, potentially greatly improving the typing experience for millions of visually impaired Android users. Unfortunately, for the last ten years the default typing experience for blind or otherwise visually impaired Android users has typically involved the use of external braille keyboards which […]
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Comcast made a VR version of its Xfinity Stream app for visually impaired users
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Washington, DC sues DoorDash for allegedly misleading users about tips
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Samsung posts video asking users to treat their Galaxy Fold nicely
After a big launch during the Galaxy S10 Unpacked event on February 20th, Samsung’s first foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, was revealed to suffer from a number of flaws, most notably with its display and the ingress of foreign objects. Samsung canceled preorders and pulled review units from tech sites while the Galaxy Fold underwent […]
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Netflix raises prices for existing users in the UK from October 3rd
It isn’t all that long ago since Netflix announced that it was raising the price of its Standard and Premium Plans in the UK for new subscribers, and now it seems like its the turn of those with existing subscriptions to feel the pain. From October 3rd?, kicking back and bingeing on the new season […]
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Peer-to-peer 8Chan mirror makes users responsible for its child porn
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TikTok rolls outw comment ‘dislike’ button to all users
You now have a way to show your disapproval of hurtful (or simply pointless) TikTok comments. In the wake of a test this spring, TikTok has started the global rollout for a comment 'dislike' button. As with other social networks, you can tap a thumbs-down button to express your displeasure, or undo the action if you've had second thoughts.
The company bills the feature as another way to get feedback regarding "irrelevant or inappropriate" comments. Ideally, a comment with a large volume of dislikes will warn TikTok about hate speech, spam or trolling that it might otherwise miss. That, in turn, could promote healthier comment sections.
Before you ask: yes, TikTok is aware of the potential for abuse. Like YouTube, TikTok won't show dislike counts. A mob might have less incentive to downvote comments it disagrees with. TikTok hasn't said if it will crack down against misuses of the button, but we've asked the company for clarification.
This isn't the only moderation tool at TikTok's disposal, and the combined resources could help the company get a handle on comment sections that all too frequently go downhill. With that in mind, it's not clear how effective the dislike button might be given TikTok's challenges with enforcing its policies. TikTok still has problems controlling misinformation, for instance. Dislikes might help, but they don't represent a surefire fix.
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