The large pill-shaped combination cutout that's planned for the iPhone 14 Pro models will display privacy indicators for the microphone and the camera, according to a source that spoke to 9to5Mac.
Image via 9to5Mac
Apple is planning to replace the notch on the iPhone 14 Pro models with two separate pill-shaped and hole-punch cutouts that will house the TrueDepth camera system hardware for Face ID, but as we learned today, the cutouts will be combined together using software, appearing as a single long, pill-shaped cutout when the iPhone is in use.
The space between the two cutouts will apparently be used to show the orange and green dots that indicate when the camera or the microphone has been activated by an app. At the current time, these indicators are shown to the right of the notch when the hardware is actively engaged, but putting them front and center on the iPhone's display will make it more apparent when the camera and the microphone are in use.
Having the green dot front and center when the camera is active will make the experience of using an iPhone similar to using a Mac. On a Mac, when the webcam is in use, there is a green indicator light that cannot be disabled, with the light located right next to the camera.
Apple will apparently let users tap on the green and orange dots to receive more information about what apps are using the iPhone's hardware. Right now, that data is provided in Control Center, with Apple listing apps that have recently used the camera, microphone, and location.
9to5Mac claims that Apple will also redesign the Camera app, moving most of the controls to the top of the display to provide users with a larger view of the camera preview, but this change is "still not entirely locked in."
When the privacy indicators are not engaged, the space between the two cutouts on the iPhone 14 Pro models will be blacked out so that it appears as a single cutout. iPhone 14 models will use a standard notch and will therefore likely continue to feature the same hardware indicators that are available on the iPhone 13 models.
Article From & Read More ( iPhone 14 Pro's Large Pill-Shaped Cutout Will Display Camera and Microphone Privacy Indicators - MacRumors )
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Apple is expected to announce four new iPhone 14 models at its September 7 event, including a standard 6.7-inch model that has been widely referred to as the "iPhone 14 Max" in rumors. However, the device could actually end up having a different name.
According to a photo of an alleged iPhone case from Apple, shared by Twitter user "Tommy Boi," the new 6.7-inch model might actually be named the "iPhone 14 Plus" instead. This would result in the lineup consisting of a 6.1-inch iPhone 14, 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus, 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Of course, a photo like this could easily be photoshopped, but the "iPhone 14 Plus" name is still a possibility even if the leak is fake. The name "iPhone 14 Plus" could help to distinguish the device from the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and make it clear that the device is not a maxed-out model in terms of specs despite having a large 6.7-inch display.
Apple last used "Plus" branding for the iPhone 8 Plus in 2017. Since then, Apple has used "Max" branding for its largest-sized iPhones, including the iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
An argument can still be made in favor of the "iPhone 14 Max" name, as Apple selling an iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max alongside an iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max would certainly provide some consistency. We'll ultimately have to wait and see which names Apple announces at its event just seven days from now.
The next iPhone SE will finally drop its current design and switch to one that will allegedly be identical to that of the iPhone XR from 2018. That is, if a new rumor on the matter is to be believed. Its source is Jon Prosser, talking on the Geared Up podcast, and he has provided reliable information in the past, so maybe this does in fact pan out.
But you probably shouldn't get the bubbly ready just yet, as there was a new iPhone SE launched earlier this year, and it came two years after its predecessor. And thus, if Apple keeps the same release pacing for this series, it means the new model, the one that's going to look like an iPhone XR, will only arrive in 2024. By which time that design will be six years old. You can clearly feel how much Apple cares about its most affordable phone, can't you?
iPhone XR
Moving on to devices the company definitely cares about, the iPhone 14 Pro series is now rumored to sport an upgraded ultrawide camera, with 1.4μm pixel size. That would be a big increase from the 1.0μm pixel size on the iPhone 13 Pro's ultrawide camera, and it unsurprisingly has led to the components being more expensive for Apple to source.
iPhone 13 Pro
The sensor is apparently made by Sony, while the "compact camera module" is made by LG Innotek, and both companies are set to be beneficiaries of the price increase. On the other hand, buyers of the two Pro models coming out later this year will theoretically be the beneficiaries of better ultrawide shots, especially at night. Let's see if that actually happens.
Article From & Read More ( Next iPhone SE to look like the iPhone XR, iPhone 14 Pro to get new ultrawide camera - GSMArena.com news - GSMArena.com )
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The new features could better customize users’ explore page.Photo: UNSPLASH (AP)
After bombarding people’s feeds with unwanted content, Instagram has realized its mistake. The social media platform is testing out ways for users to have more control over what pops up on their Explore page and regular feed by informing the app on what they don’t want to see.
Instagram is testing two new features, as well as highlighting already existing features that can better shape one’s timeline, the company announced on Tuesday. The first tool lets users mark multiple posts on their Explore page as “Not Interested,” which automatically removes the posts and refrains from showing similar ones in the future. The platform is also testing a tool that lets users stop seeing suggested content with certain words, phrases, emojis, captions, and hashtags that they have added to a list on their account.
The company also highlighted certain features already on the platform that help users see more of what they like pop up on their screens. Those features include the “favorites” tool that lets you add certain accounts to a list that prioritizes their posts, or lets you view a feed of coveted content. There’s also the “Following” feature that lets users only view content posted by accounts that they follow in a chronological order (ah, like the good ol’days). The social media platform also has a feature to snooze suggested posts, allowing users to take a 30 day break from the unwanted content.
Instagram has been changing up its feed in ways that mimic its rival TikTok. But the changes have prompted the platform’s users to speak out about how much they hate the new Instagram. And you know things were really bad when one of the most followed people on Instagram, Kylie Jenner, pleaded to bring the old Instagram back. Jenner’s opinion on social media is rather important, when she tweeted to complain about Snapchat’s new layout in 2018, the company went on to lose $1.3 billion.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri responded to the concerns regarding the platform’s new feed saying that the company is experimenting with different changes to the app. But he also clarified that while he loves the photos on Instagram, he sees the future of the platform leaning more towards video. So while Instagram may not be returning to its old ways, it might be trying to give disgruntled users more ways to get a nostalgic glimpse into the way their feed used to be set up.
Our Tuesday deals begin with the first substantial discount we’ve seen on the Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-canceling headphones. The original price for the XM5 headphones was $399.99, but Woot has discounted them to just $339.99. If you’re okay with settling for Woot’s 90-day limited warranty instead of the one-year warranty offered by Sony, this is definitely a deal worth looking into. While the XM5 headphones don’t offer any sweeping changes over the previous iteration, the XM4, they still include some of the best noise cancelation capabilities you’ll find in a pair of headphones, in addition to improved sound quality and better performance on voice calls. Read our review.
Hot on the heels of some of our Xbox Series S deals from last week, you can currently get the Xbox Series S for less than retail at eBay, courtesy of Antonline. It may not come bundled with any games, but right now, you can get the Series S for roughly $238 when you use the code LABORDAYSAVE at checkout. This is the best price we’ve seen for the standalone, digital-exclusive console that typically sells for $299.99. It may lack the disc drive of the Series X and play games at a lower resolution, but the Series S is still an excellent way for GamePass subscribers to access their titles in their living room. Read our review.
Another excellent Android deal includes the unlocked model of the last-generation OnePlus 9, which is currently discounted to $379.99 at Amazon in its black and white colorways. Originally available for $729, the performance of the OnePlus 9 may pale in comparison to modern flagship phones, but its SnapDragon 888 CPU is still enough to outdo some contemporary midrange options. Some of the other specs you get at this accessible price point include a 6.55-inch 1080p OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera. If you’re not married to the Apple ecosystem and want to try an Android device outside of the realms of Samsung or Google, this deal on the OnePlus 9 is worth checking out. Read our review.
The Elgato Game Capture HD60S Plus is available at Best Buy for $139.99, its lowest price ever. It’s not a gadget for your typical gamer, but it’s an essential for any streamer or content creator who wants high-fidelity video from a console or external PC. Capable of capturing output from any 4K HDMI source at 60Hz, the capture card plugs into your console and operates as a throughput to a nearby PC with streaming software.
An inexpensive wireless headset that nails the basics, the HyperX Cloud Core Wireless is currently discounted to $49.99 at Best Buy from its usual price of $99.99. The Cloud Core Wireless has a mostly aluminum frame with leatherette cushions on the headband and earcups. The headphones can operate for up to 20 hours on a single charge and feature DTS:X digital surround sound. While it does come packaged with a 2.4Ghz wireless dongle, the headset is, unfortunately, only compatible with PCs.
Correction August 30th, 2:17PM ET:An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the WF-1000XM5 headphones were on sale. The correct name of the model being discounted is the Sony WH-1000XM5. We regret the error.
Twitter Circle is a lot like Instagram’s “close friends” feature, which lets you share your posts with a smaller group of people. On Twitter, you can add up to 150 people to your Circle, whether they follow you or not. When you want to send out a tweet that you might not want the entire Twitterverse to see, you can choose to share it with your Circle instead.
You’ll see the option to share to your Circle when you open the tweet composer. Choose the dropdown menu at the top of the composer, and then hit Circle. You can choose who you want in your Circle by hitting the Edit button that appears next to the option. Users won’t receive a notification when you add or remove them from your Circle. But those included in your Circle will see a highlighted badge that reads, “Only people in @[username]’s Twitter Circle can see this tweet” beneath posts sent to your Circle.
The feature could help users gain a little more control over their privacy without making their accounts completely private. However, content shared with your Circle is still subject to the platform’s community guidelines, and it also doesn’t stop other users from screenshotting your posts.
Watch out: someone is spreading cryptocurrency-mining malware disguised as legitimate-looking applications, such as Google Translate, on free software download sites and through Google searches.
The cryptomining Trojan, known as Nitrokod, is typically disguised as a clean Windows app and works as the user expects for days or weeks before its hidden Monero-crafting code is executed.
It's said that the Turkish-speaking group behind Nitrokod – which has been active since 2019 and was detected by Check Point Research threat hunters at the end of July – may already have infected thousands of systems in 11 countries. What's interesting is that the apps provide a desktop version to services generally only found online.
"The malware is dropped from applications that are popular, but don't have an actual desktop version, such as Google Translate, keeping the malware versions in demand and exclusive," Check Point malware analyst Moshe Marelus wrote in a report Monday.
"The malware drops almost a month after the infection, and following other stages to drop files, making it very hard to analyze back to the initial stage."
Along with Google Translate, other software leveraged by Nitrokod include other translation applications – including Microsoft Translator Desktop – and MP3 downloader programs. On some sites, the malicious applications will boast about being "100% clean," though they are actually loaded with mining malware.
Nitrokod has been successful using download sites such as Softpedia to spread its naughty code. According to Softpedia, the Nitrokod Google Translator app has been downloaded more than 112,000 times since December 2019.
According to Check Point, the Nitrokod programmers are patient, taking a long time and multiple steps to cover up the malware's presence inside an infected PC before installing aggressive cryptomining code. Such lengthy, multi-stage infection efforts allowed the campaign to run undetected by cybersecurity experts for years before finally being discovered.
"Most of their developed programs are easily built from the official web pages using a Chromium-based framework," he wrote. "For example, the Google translate desktop application is converted from the Google Translate web page using the CEF [Chromium Embedded Framework] project. This gives the attackers the ability to spread functional programs without having to develop them."
After the booby-trapped program is downloaded and the user launches the software, an actual Google Translate app, built as described above using Chromium, is installed and runs as expected. At the same time, quietly in the background the software fetches and saves a series of executables that eventually schedule one particular .exe to run every day once unpacked. This extracts another executable that connects to a remote command-and-control server, fetches configuration settings for the Monero miner code, and starts the mining process, with generated coins sent to miscreants' wallets. Some of the early-stage code will self destruct to cover its tracks.
"At this point, all related files and evidence are deleted and the next stage of the infection chain will continue after 15 days by the Windows utility schtasks.exe," Marelus wrote. "This way, the first stages of the campaign are separated from the ones that follow, making it very hard to trace the source of the infection chain and block the initial infected applications."
One stage also checks for known virtual-machine processes and security products, which might indicate the software is being analyzed by researchers. If one is found, the program will exit. If the program continues, it will add a firewall rule to allow incoming network connections.
Throughout the multiple stages, the attackers use password-protected RAR encrypted files to deliver the next stage to make them more difficult to detect.
Check Point researchers were able to study the cryptomining campaign through the vendor's Infinity extended detection and response (XDR) platform, Marelus claimed. ®
Article From & Read More ( That 'clean' Google Translate app is actually Windows crypto-mining malware - The Register )
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Trademark filings spotted by Bloomberg suggest Apple might incorporate “Reality” in the name and branding of its long-rumored mixed reality headset. Three separate filings show trademarks for “Reality One,” “Reality Pro,” and “Reality Processor,” matching the realityOS name that cropped up in Apple’s code and a trademark application that potentially refers to the headset’s operating system.
The applications weren’t filed by Apple itself, but by a company called Immersive Health Solutions, LLC. Companies like Apple often use the names of shell companies when filing for a patent or trademark to help keep their plans private. But, as Bloomberg points out, the Delaware-based Immersive Health Solutions was registered by Corporation Trust Co. — another shell company that also appeared on the realityOS trademark.
In addition to the US, applications were also filed in the EU, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, and Uruguay. All three filings mention “virtual and augmented reality headsets, goggles, glasses, and smartglasses.” It’s possible that the “Reality One” trademark refers to the name of the headset itself, while “Reality Pro” indicates a spec-boosted version that Apple has planned down the road, in line with the same “Pro” moniker Apple applies to its higher-end devices. Meanwhile, the name “Reality Processor” may allude to the headset’s processing unit, which is rumored to be an M2 chip.
Article From & Read More ( Trademark filings point to 'Reality' branding for Apple's mixed reality headset - The Verge )
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The $99 SwitchBot Lock is the first smart door lock I’ve tested that doesn’t replace any part of your existing lock. Instead, it attaches to the back of your door over the top of the thumb turn. This removes a major pain point of smart locks: an involved installation. But the SwitchBot Lock is really odd looking — my husband literally stopped in his tracks and said, “What is that thing?” I had a similar reaction when I first saw it and was wholly unconvinced this large piece of black plastic would have the power to unlock my deadbolt.
I was surprised to discover that the SwitchBot Lock moves that thumb turn just as well as I can, and it stayed firmly put during my two weeks of testing, despite being attached solely by double-sided sticky tape. (No word yet on long-term durability, but it looks promising so far).
The downsides are that it’s not very smart and it’s missing a few key features (haha). You also need around $70 worth of accessories to add smart home control and a keypad. This puts it closer in price to more elegant-looking solutions, such as the $230 August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, which needs a bit more work to install but doesn’t leave you with a honking great piece of plastic on your door.
The SwitchBot Lock is a retrofit Bluetooth-powered smart door lock that can lock and unlock your door using the SwitchBot app on a smartphone or Apple Watch. (It’s not Home Key compatible). It attaches to your door using 3M VHB tape and uses a small plastic grabber to hold on to and turn the lock’s thumb turn.
That grabber can turn anything. Videos in Amazon reviews show it even turning a key, making this an excellent solution for people with nontraditional door locks and multipoint locks who can’t get any other smart lock to work (see a list here). It’s cleverly engineered with shifting base plates that prevent the lock from twisting itself off while turning the lock.
This is SwitchBot’s thing: making regular devices smart. They have a little bot that presses your light switch for you and a robot that crawls along your curtain rod to open and close the curtains. This one is a robot hand for your door lock. It comes with three different-sized adapters, so you can find the right fit for your setup. The SwitchBot Lock doesn’t remove any function — you can still use your key, and you can still turn the deadbolt manually; it just adds the ability to use your phone or watch as your key.
There are a total of seven ways to control the door lock: your key, the smartphone / Apple Watch app, NFC tags using your phone, a key code using a keypad, a fingerprint reader, an NFC keycard, and smart home / voice control. That’s a lot of options — although only the first three work out of the box.
For the keycard, keypad, or fingerprint entry, you’ll need one of SwitchBot’s two Bluetooth keypads. These attach with double-sided tape (or screws if you prefer). I tested the fingerprint version, which costs $60, and it worked quickly and reliably.
The non-fingerprint version is only $30, but fingerprint access is my favorite way to use a smart door lock. The keypads also work with NFC keycards. (One is supplied and you can buy a three-pack for $15.) Although, if you have a keypad, I don’t see a need for a keycard, as you can dole out permanent, temporary, and one-time codes to anyone who needs access. Annoyingly, six digits is the minimum here, which is a lot of digits.
If you don’t go for the extra keypads, another unlock option is using the two NFC tags that come with the lock. You can pair those to your phone to lock or unlock the door with a tap of your phone. But you have to use two tags: one to lock and one to unlock. Sticking two white pieces of plastic on your door does not improve the overall look here, and if you have your phone out already, using the iOS or Android lock screen widget is almost as fast.
The SwitchBot does work with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Siri Shortcuts (but not HomeKit), so you can use voice commands to lock and unlock the door and add the lock into smart home Routines (Alexa and Google only).
But you need a $40 SwitchBot Hub Mini to connect the lock to Wi-Fi and make these integrations; the lock itself communicates over Bluetooth. You also need the hub to control the lock or check its status when you’re not at home using the SwitchBot app. The hub works with all of SwitchBot’s gadgets but needs to be installed near the lock.
Operating the SwitchBot with an Apple Watch over Bluetooth.
I installed the SwitchBot Lock on my back door, which is a main entryway to our house. It leads into our mudroom from our garage and gets a lot of foot traffic. The fingerprint reader and keypad made it easy for my children to use the lock — no need to download an app. Without those, though, there is not an easy way for a kid without a smartphone to access the door.
Specs for the SwitchBot Lock
Dimensions: 4.39 inches x 2.32 inches x 2.88 inches
Weight: 8.9oz
Color: Black
Lifespan: Up to 50,000 cycles
Power: Two 3V CR123A batteries
Battery life: Six months locking and unlocking 10 times per day
Communication: Bluetooth 5.0
Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Siri Shortcuts, IFTTT, SmartThings
Encryption: AES-128-CTR
I was also disappointed that the notifications when the door is unlocked didn’t show which code or fingerprint was used. This is a common feature on other smart locks and one I personally use to help keep track of my older kids’ comings and goings when I’m at work. I could check the log in the app to see who unlocked it, though.
Locking and unlocking are fast when controlling it with the keypad, but the phone app takes over five seconds to connect — very irritating if you’re standing in the rain. The Apple Watch connects more quickly, and if you didn’t have a keypad, is the easiest way to control the lock. All these interactions are over Bluetooth, so you must stand by the lock. To control it remotely with the app or voice control, you need the hub.
Bringing connected devices into your home also brings with it concerns about how the data they collect is protected. The Verge asks each company whose smart home products we review about safeguards it has in place for your data.
The primary data a smart door lock collects is when you lock/unlock the door and how (keypad, manually, with the app, etc.). When you install the SwitchBot app on your smartphone, you must give it access to Bluetooth, location, and notifications. The app says it will not track or store your location information.
SwitchBot says it uses various security technologies and procedures, including TLS encryption, to protect data. It says it retains data for as long as you use the product and/or as legally required to. Any personal data no longer needed is deleted at regular intervals.
SwitchBot says it does not sell your personal data and only shares it with other companies when you authorize that transfer (i.e. to connect to Amazon Alexa), as well as companies it hires for support or security services.
You can request SwitchBot to update, delete, or deactivate personal information and “opt-out” of having your personal information used for certain purposes.
Setup and installation were quick, under 5 minutes in all. This is one of the lock’s biggest selling points, but it also wasn’t entirely straightforward. There’s a bit of lining up to do to make sure the lock will turn before you tape it to the door, and you need to use a small screwdriver (supplied) to adjust the spacing of the lock. Cleverly, it attaches in any direction, vertically or horizontally, so you can fit it around your door handle. It also comes with a magnet to sense when the door is open or closed, although I could still lock it remotely while it was wide open without any alert or notification.
The SwitchBot app is basic. There’s no way to create schedules to lock or unlock the door at a set time of day, and the auto-lock feature was very spotty. It only worked with both the “Lock after a set period of time” and the “Re-lock if the door has been unlocked but not opened” toggles on, and even then, it was unreliable. This seems like a software bug that may get fixed. But it did mean I had to get my phone out to lock the door (there are iOS and Android lock screen widgets to make this quicker), use the Apple Watch app, or use my key. When I added the keypad, though, I could hit a button to lock it.
There are some useful notification options, including when the door is locked, if the door has been left unlocked, and if it’s been left ajar after a certain amount of time. Notifications require the hub to work, and really, they should just sell this with the hub. It definitely makes it a better smart lock. With the hub, I could connect to Alexa and add the lock to an Alexa Routine that automatically locked it every night at sunset.
The SwitchBot Lock a good option for renters who can’t change their door lock at all or for those who can’t or won’t remove any part of their existing deadbolt. It does need to stick to the doorframe using a heavy-duty adhesive, which will likely take some paint with it if you ever remove it. Similar retrofit options from August, Wyze, and Bosma require removing the rear deadbolt, and they all cost over $100.
But its smart features are limited to controlling the lock locally with your phone, Apple Watch, or existing key. When you add in the Wi-Fi hub, you get away-from-home control and more useful smart home integrations, but only with Google Home and Alexa; there’s no HomeKit support and limited IFTTT integration. (The lock is only a trigger, not an action.)
If you also add in the keypad — especially the fingerprint one — this becomes a much more useful proposition, but then you’re knocking on $170, closer to the price of less ugly options with better smarts that don’t require all this extra equipment (but do require removing some or all of your door lock). These include the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock plus Keypad and the Eufy Smart Lock Touch with Wi-Fi (fingerprint reader and keypad in one but a full lock replacement).
The biggest benefit of this lock is its versatility. You can even use two on one door to deal with multipoint locking. Its ability to grab pretty much any type of locking mechanism, including a key, means it may be the only smart solution that works for your door.
Photography by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
Agree to continue: SwitchBot Lock
Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we started counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate.
To set up the SwitchBot lock, you must download and sign in to the SwitchBot app. You can use Apple, Google, or Amazon sign in or create a SwitchBot account. If you choose to create an account, you agree to SwitchBot’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
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