gizmosure

Category: Apps

  • Netflix snubs iTunes for new user subscriptions

    Netflix snubs iTunes for new user subscriptions

    Netflix is no longer allowing users to subscribe to the streaming service via iTunes, the streaming giant has officially confirmed. The move will reportedly save the company over $250 million a year, and is going to cost Apple in excess of $250 million a year. With this change, new Netflix users with an iOS device will be required to subscribe for the service by directly visiting their official website.

    “We no longer support iTunes as a method of payment for new members. Existing members, however, can continue to use iTunes as a method of payment,” ,” a Netflix spokesperson told VentureBeat.

    Apple typically gets a 15 percent share if users pay for an app via the App store. While this may not sound a lot, but if you have thousands of users and subscribers worldwide, this small interest amounts to a lot of money.

    It’s also worth noting that active users who’ve subcribed for Netflix through iTunes are not affected by this move. They can carry on using the service as they’ve been until now. It’s only new users, or someone who wants to reactivate their account will have to do so via the official Netflix website.

    Netflix did the same thing with Google Play. Back in May, the company stopped allowing users to pay for the service via the Play Store. Interestingly, it’s not just Netflix who’s trying to avoid fees from Apple and Google.

    Fortnite Developer Epic Games, has now launched its own dedicated store for PC and Mac users to avoid taxes from Apple. Besides, even music streaming service Spotify has ditched Apple. The music streaming giant now wants users to sign up for the service directly through Spotify, rather through iTunes or the AppStore to avoid fees Apple charges on subscriptions purchased through iOS.

  • Apple Music finally arrives on Amazon Echo speakers

    Apple Music finally arrives on Amazon Echo speakers

    Apple Music support has finally arrived on Amazon Echo spekaers in the United States via the Alexa app on Android and iOS. Users can now sync their Apple Music account with Echo speakers via the Alexa app and enjoy Apple’s streaming service using Alexa voice control. The iPhone-maker’s streaming service now joins the likes of Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, as well as Amazon’s own music service on Alexa devices.

    Apple Music subscribers can set the service as their default music service on Alexa. Now, this essentially lets you play songs directly via Apple’s music service without having to tell Alexa which service to use every time.

    There are some HomePod feaures that Apple Music misses on Alexa. That said, the integration of Apple’s music streaming service with Alexa is a great addition for Echo users. They can control playback on Alexa, and even play Apple Music on speaker groups created using the Alexa app. Besides, users can also set alarms to music on Echo speakers.

    For now, Apple’s music streaming service is only supported by Echo speakers, therefore, you cannot control the service with Alexa on speakers like Sonos, even if they offer support for the iPhone-maker’s service.

    To recall , Amazon recently signed a new deal with Apple to sell Cupertino’s latest products such as iPhone XS and iPhone XR via its online store. That said, Amazon will not sell Apple’s HomePod speaker through its ecommerce store, as it directly competes with Amazon’s own smart speakers. Not to mention, Amazon also doesn’t sell Google’s Home devices on its platform.

    Have you tried Apple Music with your Amazon Echo speakers yet? Do let us know in the comments below

  • Facebook bug exposes photos of 6.8 million users

    Facebook bug exposes photos of 6.8 million users

    Facebook has officially announced that a bug on its network has exposed photos of 6.8 million users without their consent. The social network states that a photo API bug gave third-party app developers access to users’ photos they may not have publically shared.

    “Photos that users started to upload to Facebook but did not post could have been accessed, along with images posted to Facebook Stories. We’re sorry this happened,” wrote Tomer Bar, an engineering director at Facebook, in a blog post.

    According to Facebook, photos could have been accessed by 1500 apps created by 876 developers as a result of this bug. Next week, the company plans to offer tools for app developers which will allow them to find users that may have been impacted by the bug.

    Besides, the company added it will notify users who may been affected by the bug through a Facebook notification that will redirect them to the Help Centre. You can find a mock-up of that notification in the image below:

    facebook bug

    “Currently, we believe this may have affected up to 6.8 million users and up to 1,500 apps built by 876 developers. The only apps affected by this bug were ones that Facebook approved to access the photos API and that individuals had authorized to access their photos,” further explained Facebook.

    Facebook added that the bug was live for 12 days from September 13th to September 25th. The company said it discovered the bug on September 25th, and informed the Office of Data Protection Commissioner (IDPC) on November 22nd.

    As to why they waited so long to disclose the bug, Facebook reportedly said that it took time to investigate the issue and find out how many users were affected.

    For now, Facebook recommends users to log into any apps with which they might’ve shared their Facebook photos with to find out which photos they’ve gained access.

  • Instagram adds voice messaging to Direct Messages

    Instagram adds voice messaging to Direct Messages

    After rolling out Close Friends, Instagram has added a new voice messaging feature to DMs. As the name suggests, the feature allows users to send and receive 1 minute long audio messages in private as well as group chats. The feature is now rolling out globally for iOS and Android devices.

    “Starting today, you can send voice messages in Direct. Talk the way you want to be heard, whether by whispering what you’re up to or shouting a compliment,” said Instagram on Twitter.

    instagram

    To use the voice messaging feature in DMs, just hold down the microphone button and record your audio message. The message is sent automatically as soon as you release the microphone button. Besides, you also get the option to cancel or re-record the message by sliding your finger over to the trash icon. The message will be automatically deleted if you do so.

    Instagram may be a little late to implement voice messaging to DMs, as Facebook users have been enjoying the feature for years now. That said, the addition of voice-messaging will certainly appeal Instagram users, given the rising popularity of voice-messaging on platforms such as WhatsApp and WeChat.

    Besides, it’ll also appeal to users who aren’t really comfortable typing messages, giving them the option to talk instead of typing.

    Instagram has announced several changes to its network this year. The company has already announced its plans to introduce a redesigned user profile page. Last month, the Facebook-owned social network rolled out a new feature called Close Friends. Not to mention, Instagram is also taking stringent measures to crack down fake followers and likes on its platform.

  • Google Plus suffers another data bug, 52.5 million users affected

    Google Plus suffers another data bug, 52.5 million users affected

    Google Plus has witnessed another data bug, and the company has now decided to close the social network earlier than initially planned. The service will now shut down in April next year instead of August 2019, according to Google.

    The company confirms that the new data leak has affected a whopping 52.5 million users. The bug may have compromised personal user information such as their name, email address, profession, and age, even if they set their profile to ‘private’.

    “With the discovery of this new bug, we have decided to expedite the shut-down of all Google+ APIs; this will occur within the next 90 days. In addition, we have also decided to accelerate the sunsetting of consumer Google Plus from August 2019 to April 2019. While we recognize there are implications for developers, we want to ensure the protection of our users,” said Google in a blog post.

    No misuse so far

    The bug was discovered in Google Plus API, and the company assures that its API will stop functioning within 90 days. Google, however, suggests there’s no evidence of the vulnerability being misused so far. The company also asserts that the bug has been patched now, and users can safely use the service until April.

    To recall, a similar security bug was found in Google Plus back in October, which exposed users private and personal data to developers for as many as three years. The vulnerability was discovered in March this year, though Google did not publicly acknowledge the issue up until October. Following the public reveal, Google announced its plans to shut down Google+ for consumers, which has since struggled to attract users.

    However, with the latest bug, Google states it found the leak by itself which was live only for a period of six days. Google also says it’s begun informing users and business customers who may have been impacted by the latest vulnerability.

  • Google retiring its chat app Allo for good

    Google retiring its chat app Allo for good

    Google has officially announced plans to shut down its chat app, Allo. That said, the news shouldn’t come as a surprise given the fact that Google stopped investing in the app since April. Back then, Google revealed that Allo couldn’t garner the level of popularity the company thought it would.

    Google has always struggled to create a chat app to rival the likes of WhatsApp or Messenger, despite owning Android, the world’s most adopted smartphone OS.
    Allo was launched nearly two years ago with much fanfare. Though, Google has now announced plans to retire the chat app, adding that Allo will continue to work only till March next year, and users will be able to download or export their conversations until then.

    Google will now put its focus on creating ‘Messages’, another chat app the company is prepping for Android phones. The company announced earlier this year that it has joined hands with mobile carriers on the new RCS (Rich Communication Services) standard. It’s essentially an upgrade to old-school SMS texting, which according to Google, should make messaging and group chats more seamless across Android devices.

    The company has also announced its plans to kill off ‘Hangouts Classic, which will be replaced by two enterprise-focussed apps, Hangouts Chat and Meet. Both of them will launch for all consumers next year, as right now, Chat and Meet are only available to G Suite users.

    Well, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard Google deciding to shut down its chat apps. The serach engine giant has become rather infamous for killing off several chat apps and social networks. In the past, the company has axed multiple apps such as the original GChat, Google Plus, Buzz, as well as Wave.

  • Tumblr finally announces war against adult content

    Tumblr finally announces war against adult content

    Tumblr has announced that it wil no longer allow pornographic or adult content on its platform. The move come shortly after Tumblr’s app was ousted from the App Store after images depicting child sexual abuse appeared on the platform.

    Tumblr has promised that starting December 17, it would not allow explicit content on its platform. Such content includes ‘photos, GIFs, or videos that show real-life human genitals or female presenting nipples and any content — including photos, videos, GIFs, and illustrations — that depicts sex acts”, said Tumblr.

    The company also stated that all blog owners will be notified of the new guidelines so they’re ready to implement changes before deadline. Tumblr says it’ll be using automated tools to identify pornographic content, and users can export their content if it’s impacted by the new guidelines.

    Tumblr became notoriuosly infamous for sharing adult content on its platform. The platform was banned in Indonesia in 2016 for sharing pornographic content. However, the company’s CEO now assures it’s aiming for a clean future.

    “There are no shortage of sites on the internet that feature adult content. We will leave it to them and focus our efforts on creating the most welcoming environment possible for our community,” said Jeff D’Onofrio, CEO of Tumblr.

    That said, some adult content would still be allowed on the platform under the new guidelines. For instance, content such as breastfeeding, health and birth related matreial, as well as erotica.

    “Written content such as erotica, nudity related to political or newsworthy speech, and nudity found in art, such as sculptures and illustrations, are also stuff that can be freely posted on Tumblr,” explanied Tumblr’s FAQ page.

    Besides, blog owners whose posts have been identified as adult content will be notified, and they’ll have the right to appeal to Tumblr’s decision.

  • Instagram rolls out a new feature called Close Friends

    Instagram rolls out a new feature called Close Friends

    Instagram has announced a new feature called Close Friends, designed to give users a little more privacy on its social network. As the name suggests, the new feature allows users to share stories which they might consider private to just a select group of friends.

    “Starting today, you can make a close friends list on Stories and share with just the people you’ve added. Instagram Stories has become the place to express yourself and share everyday moments, but our community has grown and sometimes what you want to share isn’t for everyone. With Close Friends, you have the flexibility to share more personal moments with a smaller group that you choose,” the company said in a press release.

    Using the feature is relatively simple. To add friends you want in the list, just go to your profile and tap on “Close Friends” in the side menu. When you share Stories, you’ll get the option to share with just the people you’ve added on your Close Friends list.

    Besides, you’ll have absolute control over the list, as no one can request you to add them. To know if you’re on someone’s Close Friends list, you’ll see a green circle around their photos in the Stories tray, or a green colored badge when you view their Stories.

    That said, it appears the feature is only available for Stories, and not regular posts. Nevertheless, it’s a new feature that gives you more control over who can see your Stories on Instagram. Close Friends has started rolling out today globally on the latest version of the Instagram app on Android and iOS.

    Instagram has been working on several changes to its platform. The company has already announced its plans to introduce a redesigned user profile page. Besides, the Facebook-owned social network has finally stepped up to crack down fake followers and likes.

  • Sennheiser headphone app susceptible to hacking

    Sennheiser headphone app susceptible to hacking

    Sennheiser’s HeadSetup and HeadSetup Pro applications are susceptible to hacking, according to Germany’s Secorvo Security Consulting. Sennheiser has now advised users to update to the latest versions of the app after researchers discovered they added two Certification Authority CA certificates into the local system’s Trusted Root CA store, which could potentially allow man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.

    Sennheiser claims that the update removes these vulnerable certificates from its HeadSteup app. Besides, Secorvo Security Consulting has also published a report with detailed information about this vulnerability, along with a list of mitigation measures. Users who’ve downloaded the HeadSetup app on their systems are advised to manually uninstall the certificate. For more information on how to uninstall the certificate, follow the link here.

    In the wake of this vulenrability, Microsoft has also published an advisory which informs customers of two disclosed digital certificates that can be used to remotely spoof website or contents. In addition, the Windows-maker has also updated the Certificate Trust List to ensure that user-mode trust has been ousted from the two Certification Authority certificates installed by Sennheiser’s apps in the local system’s Trusted Root CA store.

  • Google removes 13 malware infested apps from the Play Store

    Google removes 13 malware infested apps from the Play Store

    A security researcher has found over a dozen malware infested apps have on the Play Store that trick users to install malware on their handsets. Renowned malware security researcher, Lukas Stefanko, has found 13 malicious apps on the Play Store, all of which happen to be motor racing games.

    According to Stefanko, these apps were created the same cybercriminal Luiz Pinto. Stefanko also notes that these apps have been downloaded by users nearly 560,000 times. Besides, he also added that a few of them also happen to be top trending apps.

    Reports suggest that once users were tricked into installing these malware infested apps, these apps never functioned properly as they crashed whenever a user tried opening them. And over a period of time, these apps could hide the icon from a user’s view and then asked users to install in-app application Game Center.

    Users were mostly unaware, and without their consent it used to install malware in the background to steal sensitive information. Researcher Stefanko informed Google about such malicious apps thriving on the Play Store.  Thankfully, Google came out with a swift response as the company has now removed 13 such malicious apps from Play Store.

    That said, the search engine giant continues to fail in its efforts to stop such malware ridden apps popping up on the Ply Store. As this isn’t the first time malware researcher Lukas Stefanko has found malicious apps on the Play Store.

    Earlier, this month, he found a Trojan-ridden call recording app which disguized itself as a normal call recording app and tricked users into downloading an additional app. While back in September, he found a Trojanized banking app which stole banking information from compromised Android devices.

    Stefanko suggests that if an Android app asks you to download Flash Player from servers besides Adobe, it should be taken as a warning sign as the app is most likely infected.

    One of the primary reasons that such apps are constantly showing app on the Play Store could be Google’s open source code policy. In contrast, Apple controls almost everything for its iOS store apps and allows developers to work within stringent parameters only. Hopefully, Google takes a cue from Apple to prevent such instances from happening in the future.

  • Instagram working on a redesigned profile page

    Instagram working on a redesigned profile page

    Instagram plans to introduce new changes to its platform, this time concerning a user’s profile page. The Facebook-owned social media platform has announced that users might soon see changes to icons and buttons, as well as navigation between tabs. That said, it isn’t as big a change compared to the recently introduced redesigned Explore tab, or changes in algorithmic feed.

    Instagram said in a blog post that icons that users see above the grid displaying photos could change to words. However, the grid’s layout won’t change a bit. Once this change is implemented, a user’s profile could move to the right hand corner, while the username would moved to the top of the page in bigger fonts.

    “Over the next several weeks, you may see features re-arranged at the top of your profile including changes to icons, buttons and the way you navigate between tabs, which we hope will make profiles easier and cleaner to use. The photos and videos you’ve shared on your grid won’t change,” Instagram explained in a blog post.

    Besides, this change would reduce focus on follower counts as they’ll appear in a much smaller font and won’t show at the top. The ‘Message’ and ‘Follow’ buttons are placed next to each other, and users can see their mutual followers when they tap on the Following tab.

    Not to mention, grids, texts, and tagged photos icons will show up as text. In addition, business accounts will get a new ‘Shop tab’ along with buttons such as Call and Start Order. You can see the potential changes coming to our profile in the photo below:

    instagram
    Potential changes arriving on your Instagram profile

    Instagram has implemented several major changes to its platform in October and November. Earlier, the company introduced a new daily usage tracking dashboard called Your Activity.

    Besides, it also introduced three new shopping features along with a new nametag feature, something similar to Snapchat’s Snap Codes. Instagram is working on making its platform more authentic instead of focusing on numbers.

    The platform has finally stepped up to crack down fake followers and likes, and uses machine learning to tackle follows and likes from fake apps and accounts.

  • Tumblr ousted from the AppStore over child pornography issues

    Tumblr ousted from the AppStore over child pornography issues

    Tumblr suddenly went missing from the AppStore a few days back, though no statement by either companies were issued over the disappearance. Now, a report from Download.com has revealed the reason as to why the social media app went missing from the App Store.

    According to the report, Tumblr was removed from the AppStore because some images showing child pornography appeared on website. The report further claims that the cause of disappearance was confirmed by independent sources within the company.

    “As this is an industry-wide problem, we work collaboratively with our industry peers and partners like [the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children] (NCMEC) to actively monitor content uploaded to the platform. Every image uploaded to Tumblr is scanned against an industry database of known child sexual abuse material, and images that are detected never reach the platform. A routine audit discovered content on our platform that had not yet been included in the industry database. We immediately removed this content. Content safeguards are a challenging aspect of operating scaled platforms. We’re continuously assessing further steps we can take to improve and there is no higher priority for our team,” said Tumblr in a statement.

    Just like other websites, Tumblr scans images that users upload. Though in this case, these images depicting child sexual abuse somehow got through the website’s filters. The social network is now reportedly deleting all kinds of NSFW blogs, even those not related to child pornography. Apple has laid down clear iOS guidelines that all apps must have content filter to detect such material, and it appears the Yahoo-owned app doesn’t have enough tools yet.

    Tumblr notes that getting back to the AppStore is now its number one priority, however, it didn’t reveal an exact timeframe when it’ll be back. Tumblr is infamously tolerant of NSFW and adult-oriented content, which also led to its brief ban in Indonesia. As back in 2016, the Indonesian government banned the site for a while over pornography content.

  • Apple ousts WhatsApp stickers from the AppStore

    Apple ousts WhatsApp stickers from the AppStore

    Apple has reportedly decided to remove all WhatsApp stickers from its App Store. Not because they’re competeing with its own iMessage platform, but because Apple thinks they’re apparently violating certain AppStore gudelines.

    Apple has not one, but three reasons as to why they’re violating its AppStore guidelines. First, Apple beleives there are too many apps that exhibit the same behaviour. Now, this essentially implies that there are far too many stickers available for download, which Apple thinks isn’t a good thing.

    Secondly, Apple thinks WhatsApp need to be installed in order to download these stickers. And the company doesn’t allow apps that need other apps to perform downloads.

    Finally, Apple thinks the design of these stickers are too similar as they lack enough creativity. As a result of this move, WhatsApp stickers can no longer be downloaded on your iPhone.

    WhatsApp hasn’t yet issued an official statement on how it plans to deal with this restriction. However, it appears the platform could rectify this issue is by building a dedicated store for stickers, something like what Facebook offers for Messenger users.

    It’s also worth noting that at this point, Google hasn’t laid down any such restrictions for stickers on its PlayStore.

  • Netflix will not support Wii after January 31, 2019

    Netflix will not support Wii after January 31, 2019

    If you’re still using the old Wii console just to watch Netflix. Well, it’s time you should start looking for a new alternative as Netflix has officially confirmed that Nintendo will suspend Netflix and other streaming services on the Wii after January 31, 2019.

    In addition, Nintendo also announced the shutdown of the Wii Shop channel indicating that the console won’t be of much use besides playing offline games starting next year. Nintendo emailed customers of the news pointing users to get other alternatives to continue watching Netflix, suggesting the streaming service might soon land on Nintendo Switch.

    “We hope you’ll soon enjoy an even better Netflix experience with additional features on a supported device,” said Netflix.

    The move is likely to disappoint Wii owners, as keeping online services up for the Wii would’ve fetched the company more brand loyalty. Wii owners were already disappointed when Nintendo decided to stop users from adding points to Wii Shop anymore. Put simply, moves like this are just a reminder of the issues we face with streaming services. Most of us have other systems like a PS4 or Wii U to use streaming services. However, the older lower middle class who got a Wii long ago and don’t want anything else are out of luck.

    However, the news shouldn’t come as surprise as the Wii is nearly a 12 year old console and is approaching the end of its life cycle. If you don’t own a smartTV which has built-in streaming apps, you have the option to get a streaming device that’ll cost much less than what you paid for your Wii.

  • Facebook launches a new standalone video-sharing app, called Lasso

    Facebook launches a new standalone video-sharing app, called Lasso

    Facebook quietly launches its standalone new video-sharing app, dubbed as Lasso. The new app is essentially a TikTok rip-off, which lets users share and create music filled videos. Facebook has reportedly been working on Lasso since October, and is now available on both iOS and Android users.

    Lasso is Facebook’s attempt to attract youths who’ve been ditching its flagship platform. The app allows users to discover content using hashtags, create new short videos using a bunch of fun-filled tools, and follow other creators.

    Facebook also promised that its new app features a massive music library, just like the popular short-video social networking app TikTok. Users can record themselves lip-syncing and dancing. The app also offers other TikTok-like features such as adding music and cool effects to your videos. Even Lasso’s user interface looks exactly similar to that of TikTok.

    Being a Facebook-owned app, you can create a Lasso account with your Facebook or Instagram. Just allow the app to access your profile page, photos and videos, and Lasso lets you share your videos from the app directly to your Facebook story. Once you’re through with the setup, you can directly scroll through a huge library of short videos.

    Given the fact there’s already tons of content on Lasso, it appears the app was available to a small group of community users before its public release. Reports also suggest that a similar support is also expected to arrive with Instagram stories later this year.

    It’s also worth noting that Facebook has been surprisingly quiet about Lasso’s release. The company has posted no official statement on its website, apart from a short Tweet by Facebook product manager Andy Huang where he announced the app’s launch.