July, 2018

• 3 July

  Your Samsung phone might text photos to contacts without permission

  

  Drunk dialing and butt-dialing are bad enough, but what if your Samsung phone sent some… private photos to your contacts without you knowing?  That’s what a handful of users at Reddit are worried about (as spotted by Gizmodo) — including one who claims his Samsung Galaxy S9+ sent his entire photo gallery to his girlfriend …

  Read More »
• 3 July

  Facebook bids farewell to Hello, tbh, Moves

  

  Say goodbye to Hello. Also to Moves and tbh. On Monday, Facebook said it was bidding adieu to the three apps, none of which generated enough user interest to continue supporting them. The world’s largest social network also promised to delete the user data from all three apps within 90 days. “We know some people are still using these apps …

  Read More »
• 3 July

  Xiaomi hopes to enter US market next year despite rivals’ struggle

  

  Xiaomi reportedly plans to enter the US market in 2019, even as its competitors find themselves trapped in a political web. The Chinese phone company’s senior vice president, Wang Xiang, told Reuters Tuesday that Xiaomi is starting work on developing devices for the US. “Next year we hope we can do something there,” he said. The timeline may face challenges, …

  Read More »
• 3 July

  An AR app is helping child cancer patients cope with anxiety

  

  A three-eared rabbit stands on Bridgette Czarnecki’s hospital bed. He playfully wiggles his ear and adjusts his yellow bow tie. “You’re stronger than you know,” he tells the 8-year-old. “I wish I was that strong.” A flying pink-haired cow swoops in, pirouetting in the air. “Believe in yourself,” she says in a gentle voice. “I sure do.” Nearby a friendly …

  Read More »
• 3 July

  Companies must let customers cancel subscriptions online, California law says

  

  A California law that went into effect July 1 is aimed at making it easier for customers to cancel their subscriptions online.  The law states that customers who accept an automatic renewal or continuous service offer online must be able to cancel the service online. That could include a pre-written “termination email” provided by the company that can be sent …

  Read More »
• 3 July

  This smartphone fingerprint sensor checks your temperature for extra security

  

  Forget fingerprint scanners tucked away on the back of your phone or beneath a home button — your next smartphone is probably going to have a fingerprint sensor under the screen that measures your temperature, just to make sure you’re a real human. In an article published in Nature Communications on Tuesday, a group of Korean researchers revealed they have …

  Read More »
• 3 July

  Google Doodle celebrates 4th of July early with recipes from all 50 states and US territories

  

  Google Doodle is getting America ready for the 4th of July a day early with an interactive map highlighting food from across the country. The map, known as a “Foodle,” suggests recipes from the 50 states and five US territories — Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam — based on search data from the last …

  Read More »
• 3 July

  Trump moves to block China Mobile from US market

  

  The Trump administration opposes China Mobile’s entrance to the US telecommunications market, citing national security concerns. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, a branch of the Commerce Department, said Monday it had recommended the Federal Communications Commission deny China Mobile’s application. The carrier’s application was submitted in 2011. “After significant engagement with China Mobile, concerns about increased risks to US …

  Read More »
• 3 July

  Light’s phone prototype has 9 cameras, for when dual cameras aren’t enough

  

  So, you just got your Galaxy S9 Plus with dual rear cameras. Or maybe you went all out and got the Huawei P20 Pro with three cameras. Well, you’re about to get a case of phone-camera-envy anyway. Camera manufacturer Light is reportedly working on a prototype phone with nine rear cameras, according to The Washington Post. Light will reportedly release …

  Read More »
• 3 July

  Netflix is testing a new “Ultra” tier of service

  

  Netflix may be introducing a new, higher tier of service. Known as Ultra, the new tier would allow four devices to receive Ultra HD video and audio streaming simultaneously, according to Italian blog Tutto Android. Netflix currently has three subscription plans: $7.99 Basic, $10.99 Standard and $13.99 Premium. Basic allows users to watch Netflix on one screen at a time; …

  Read More »