Researchers: Facebook’s web tracking violates European privacy law
If Facebook thought it had a lot of privacy-related legal trouble on its plate, it hasn’t seen anything yet. Researchers commissioned by Belgium’s data protection agency have determined that Facebook’s latest web tracking policy violates European Union privacy law. Reportedly, the social network uses cookies to track web visitors without permission, whether or not they log in or take advantage of the EU’s proposed opt-out rules. Cookies are only supposed to be used when you’re signed in, and only for things you’ve agreed to. The kicker? The opt-out system that Facebook uses appears to put another tracking cookie on your system if you’re in the EU, so you never completely escape.
Not surprisingly, Facebook takes issue with the report. It tells The Guardian that the study has “factual inaccuracies” (though they’re not detailed) and says it has offered to clear the air with the Belgian government. However, officials have turned down these requests so far. Unless they have a change of heart, there’s a chance that Facebook will have to defend itself against some pretty serious EU allegations in the near future — whether or not there’s any merit to the claims.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Paul Sakuma]
Filed under: Internet, Facebook
Via: Ars Technica
Source: The Guardian, Ku Leuven
App Runtime for Chrome (ARC) Beta runs Android Apps in Chrome
If you are one of the many people that wishes you can use the apps you love from your phone on your computer, you’re in luck. Thanks to Google’s new Chrome app, ARC Welder, you can now run your favorite apps like Duolingo, Clash of Clans, or Vine, all from your Chrome web browser.
If you’d like to figure out how to run your apps from your browser, follow these steps:
1. Download and install the ARC Welder Chrome app from the Chrome Web Store.
2. Launch the app and select the .apk file you want to run.
3. Finally, select the settings for the app. (landscape or portrait mode, tablet or phone mode, etc.)
4. Launch your app and have fun using it!
This is new software, so, as usual, expect bugs, and expect plenty. Many apps will work swimmingly with the new ARC Welder, many won’t. It’s important to contact the developer for any application with bugs, and this is no exception, so when you reach problems, let Google know.
Got anything else to add? Leave a comment below and start a discussion!
Source: Chrome Developer
Come comment on this article: App Runtime for Chrome (ARC) Beta runs Android Apps in Chrome
Here are all of the Android-related April Fools’ Day gags worth watching
Ready for some April Fools’ Day fun? We have Motorola announcing its selfie stick ambitions, Samsung is taking to the kitchen, and OnePlus is aiming for the skies.
Microsoft launches MS-DOS Mobile for Lumia smartphones
Today, Microsoft has launched MS-DOS Mobile, a new OS designed especially for Lumia smartphones. In case you didn’t know, MS-DOS was installed on millions of desktops. Well, now you can install it on your phone. “Black and white text has never looked so good,” says Tom Messett from Microsoft Lumia Marketing in the launch video. Watch the video to see glimpses of the new/old OS before deciding if you should install it on your phone.
Todoist redesigns its iOS app to save you time, increase productivity
There are plenty of to-do list options out there, ready to equip your phone with software to help you meet deadlines. Todoist is one of those, and the iOS version of the app just got a massive redesign. First, instead of typing in an item, and then having to tap a few more menus to assign a due date or tack onto a project, composing all of that info in the text box will automatically complete the necessary tags. The app inputs the date and makes sure that the item appears in the correct project. Not only is it handy, but it’ll surely save you some time. There’s also a button at the bottom right of each project screen for quickly adding new tasks. Need that reminder in a specific spot? Pull two existing items apart and you’ll be able to add it right where you need it.
New features also include the ability to assign start and end dates to tasks, collapse list views, edit multiple items at once and add color themes if you prefer a bit more visual organization. The folks at Todoist spent a few months carefully studying how users employ the app to determine how to improve it, and today’s update is the result of that research. While the new version is only available on iOS right now, web, Mac and Windows updates are on the way. A new Android version is in the works, too — and yes, it’ll come draped in Material Design.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile
Source: Todoist
Facebook Ads new Scrapbook Feature for Pictures of your Kids
If you’re like most parents, you tend to post a large amount of pictures of your children onto Facebook. However, you’ve probably noticed that the user-friendliness of posting pictures and sharing them with your target audience and tagging others to reach their friends is subpar. That’s why Facebook is introducing a new scrapbook setting.
Now, when you have a new picture to add, you can just go to your Family and Relationships setting, then start a new Scrapbook. You can choose to co-own it with your significant other in order to let friends of each of you see all of the photos. Each child can have his own scrapbook, so that you can organize the photos of your bundle of joy more efficiently.
If this sounds interesting to you, you should definitely check it out next time you log on to Facebook. After giving it a go, check back here and let us know how well it works!
Source: Facebook Newsroom
Come comment on this article: Facebook Ads new Scrapbook Feature for Pictures of your Kids
Samsung Galaxy S6 seems to be water-resistant, but not water proof
Yesterday we saw the new Samsung Galaxy S6 receive a beating that it handled surprisingly well. Following that, we have another test that shows what the phone can handle when water is involved. If you were hoping to take your Galaxy S6 SCUBA diving with you, this news will be disappointing to you (though, you really shouldn’t take any phone SCUBA diving…).
A YouTuber by the name of TechSmartt did a water test on Samsung’s newest flagship to see if the phone was up to snuff of its younger brother, the S5. However, the results show that the S6 is only water-resistant, though it is worth noting that even that wasn’t announced by Samsung. See the mentioned video below.
As you can see, water is still not best friend’s with the S6. The good news though is an accidental spill while at a restaurant won’t be the end-all be-all of your fancy new S6.
The post Samsung Galaxy S6 seems to be water-resistant, but not water proof appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Inbox by Gmail adds custom snooze times
Inbox by Gmail has been one of the best things to happen to my email. What used to be something that was terrifying has become more of a breeze and not so much to tackle. “Inbox Zero” used to be a myth, and is now something I see on a regular basis. One of the features of Inbox that has made this possible is the Snooze feature. That feature is being updated today to become even better.
A new post on the Official Gmail Blog outlines how Snooze times are now customizable. Before, “This evening” and “Tomorrow” times were up to whatever default Inbox had in place. Now, either through settings or a prompt after choosing a custom time, you can change what the Snooze times are. If you are a student who sleeps until the start of your 10:00 AM class, or a mom who is up by 5:30 AM to take care of kids, Snooze will now work with your schedule.
The post also mentions that contacts are now accessible through Inbox on the web. It also mentions to look out for other features such as easier ways to delete emails, and add a signature for emails in Inbox.
All day Google pushed out its news today as opposed to tomorrow in preparation for April Fool’s Day, something Google really enjoys taking part of. They have already put Pac-Man on Google Maps to kick things off early. Keep a lookout tomorrow for a post from us showing all the April Fool’s Day pranks being pulled around the Internet.
The post Inbox by Gmail adds custom snooze times appeared first on AndroidGuys.
The New York Times will bring ‘one-sentence stories’ to the Apple Watch
The New York Times showed off how its app will work with the Apple Watch earlier today, with the highlight being what it calls “one-sentence stories.”
One-sentence stories are exactly what they sound like: the meat of a story summed up into one sentence, with the goal being a quick way for users to keep up on the day’s news right from their wrist.
One-sentence stories aren’t limited to a short blurb, however, as users will also have the option to scroll through a bullet list and relevant photos that summarize the story’s content. Additionally, users will have the option of passing the story off to their iPhone or iPad using Handoff, or even saving the story for later by adding it to a reading list.
The New York Times also notes that it will have editors specifically dedicated to crafting news stories for display on the publications mobile and Apple Watch apps.
The New York Times updated their app when the first batch of Apple Watch-enabled apps started hitting the App Store last week, but this is the first real glimpse we’ve gotten into how the publication plans to present stories on the Apple Watch.
In any case, it looks like The New York Times has crafted an interesting experience for its app on the Apple Watch, and it will be interesting to see what other developers bring to the table now that Apple has opened up Apple Watch app submissions to all developers.
Source: The New York Times
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Pandora CFO calls Apple a ‘frenemy,’ sheds light on CarPlay integration
While Pandora was noticeably absent from Apple’s list of launch partners for CarPlay, that is all set to change according to the company’s CFO.
In an interview with Fox Business Network, Pandora CFO Mike Herring revealed that the music streaming service will “definitely be in CarPlay.” While Herring did not give a specific timeline as to when the streaming service will debut on CarPlay, he did share his insights on Pandora’s relationship with Apple:
Pandora, which owes part of its success to the popularity of its iPhone app, has a “frenemy kind of relationship going on” with Apple, according to Herring. “We were part of what made it fun to have an iPhone,” Herring added. While the two companies are “close partners,” it is a “very interesting relationship.”
Apple’s purchase of Beats Music makes it a direct competitor to Pandora, with the hardware giant reportedly hard at work in launching a retooled version of the service later this year.
Source: Fox Business
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