Microsoft makes it way easier to report revenge porn
Revenge porn is disgusting, destructive and getting to be tragically common, so much so that titans of the web have been cooking up ways to deal with it. Microsoft is the latest to join the fray, as it just joined Google in giving victims a way to shut down illicit stuff they don’t want seen. Starting today, people can fill out a form on Microsoft’s support site to flag the content in question, confirm that they didn’t want whatever it was to be distributed in the first place and provide legal documentation if they’ve got it.
If the request is valid, Microsoft will then strike the offending matter from the web-crawling record that is Bing, as well as “remove access to the content itself when shared on OneDrive or Xbox Live.” As valuable as the tool might seem (we’ll see how quickly Microsoft resolves these cases) it’s still just part one part of the process a revenge porn victim has to deal with. If that not-so-private content got indexed by Google, for instance, that’s yet another search party to contact and deal with. And these steps are what need to happen just to ensure such results don’t infect a person’s search engine presence; none of it even begins to deal with the other creepy randos serving up the offending photos and videos themselves. Revenge porn will live on as long as shitty people do — and that won’t change any time soon — but at least it’s getting a just a little easier to mitigate.
Source: Microsoft on the Issues
Skype punches up Android app with visual refresh
Skype today rolled out a new, visually refreshed version of its Android app. Marked as version 5.6, it’s designed to give users a more intuitive user interface.
The updated app provides at-a-glance access to more chats in the Recent tab. Hopping back into a conversation, or starting a new one, should be much quicker.
Additionally, the new Skype app lets you see which of your contacts are online, regardless of where you are in the app. Avatar pictures have been given a tweak, too, and have a more consistent look and feel.
As for the actual chats, the color of bubbles have been adjusted for clarity. This should lead to an experience that easier on the eye, particularly when there’s multiple participants.
The post Skype punches up Android app with visual refresh appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Video Review: Catalyst’s Waterproof Case Keeps Your iPhone 6 Dry, but With Some Drawbacks
For our latest video review, we went hands-on with a waterproof iPhone 6 Plus case from Catalyst, which the company calls “the most protective case in the world.” It’s waterproof up to a depth of 5 meters (16.4 feet) and it’s also shock and drop resistant, made from polycarbonate with a rubber bumper and silicone seals.
In our testing, the Catalyst case lived up to its claims and kept our iPhone safe when we stuck it in a sink full of water, but in our opinion, this isn’t a case you’re going to want to use on a daily basis.
It’s protective, but that comes at the expense of the thin and svelte form of the iPhone. Catalyst’s case adds a lot of bulk, plus it makes the volume and the power buttons nearly impossible to use because the material it’s made of is so rigid. We also had a harder time using the iPhone’s touch screen due to the air gap between the protective cover and the display.
Catalyst’s waterproof case may not be ideal for every day use, but it’s a great option for situations where water protection is essential. You can use this case to take photos at the beach, in the pool, while snorkeling, and more, and your device will be protected from water, dust, dirt, and other elements.
The iPhone 6 Plus case is available in several different colors from the Catalyst website, and it’s priced at $74.99. There’s also an iPhone 6 version, which is priced at $69.99, and there are several accessories available for purchase like a floating lanyard, an audio adapter, and replacement parts.
Note: MacRumors received no compensation for this review.
Sonavation embeds fingerprint sensor under Gorilla Glass
Sonavation isn’t a house-hold name in the smartphone world, but they may soon gain popularity due to their fingerprint sensor work. They’ve recently hit a milestone in their research to bound an ultrasound fingerprint biometric sensor within Corning Gorilla Glass.
“This dramatic advancement in authentication technology will allow manufacturers to seamlessly integrate a 3D ultrasound biometric sensor into a smartphone or IoT device making it capable of capturing fingerprint data into the ridges and valleys.“
They add that the system will work despite moisture, dirt, or oil on your finger.
This technology can’t come soon enough in my opinion. We’ve been seeing OEM’s trying different ways to work the fingerprint scanner into their designs. Most recently, the One M9+ and OnePlus Two (if this leak is correct) have unfavorably borrowed the look from Samsung’s Galaxy home button.
It must be mentioned that this isn’t the first we’ve heard of 3D biometric fingerprint authentication. Qualcomm announced Sense ID back in March, which uses similar ultrasonic technology and can work through all kinds of materials (metal, plastic, glass). It is unsure which company is further along with it.
We can only hope that this technology will hit the market in a reasonable amount of time.
The post Sonavation embeds fingerprint sensor under Gorilla Glass appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Apple Releases Flash Storage Firmware Update for 2015 MacBook Pros
Apple today released MacBook Pro Flash Storage Firmware Update 1.0 for the 2015 MacBook Pro, which fixes a storage firmware issue that could cause data corruption in rare cases.
Apple recommends that all customers who have a mid-2015 MacBook Pro download and install the update. It can be acquired from the Mac App Store on affected machines or directly from Apple’s support site.
Mid-2015 MacBook Pros include the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro released in March and the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro released in May.
Trring brings nostalgia to your lockscreen [App Review]
Want something different for a lockscreen? Look no further. Trring brings a rotary dial phone-type launcher right to your lock-screen, granted that you don’t care much about security.
Setup
Because of how simple it is, you really don’t need instructions on how to use it. Nevertheless, there is still a tutorial that shows you how to assign different apps to the different slots. I did experience lag, but that can be attributed to the fact that the app is in Beta.
Function
The obvious use of the app is to provide a unique lockscreen. It’s like a rotary-style phone except that instead of numbers you have your designated app. Pressing and dragging on the app icon like dialing on the phone unlocks and launches the chosen app. It’s a simple but effective way to have shortcuts on your lockscreen that cannot be accidentally launched while in your pocket. There is another icon at the bottom of the screen that will allow you to switch ‘phones’. Instead of having app shortcuts, you now have setting shortcuts, like WiFi toggle and Bluetooth on/off. This can of course be changed back by clicking on the same button. It’s a pity that I experienced lag, however this was mostly when using the actual application; and to be fair, the app is in beta testing.
Is it for me?
Unless you’re a big fan of unlock patterns and passcodes, it may not be a bad idea to check it. I myself enjoyed it, but, as it lacks any sort of security, I simply could not use it on a permanent basis.
What we liked:
- Original and nostalgic design
- Simple to use
- Easily customizable
- No adverts
And not so much:
- Lack of security
- Lag
It’s worth a shot if you don’t mind some occasional lag and lack of security. It’s worth mentioning that it’s also not great for daily use. Sure, we can all handle some unresponsiveness and lag, but when it’s the lockscreen… maybe not so much. If you love it there is a paid version available which will unlock some more features.
The post Trring brings nostalgia to your lockscreen [App Review] appeared first on AndroidGuys.
T-Mobile delivers iMessage-style texting, starting with Samsung phones
What if the default texting app on your phone offered some of the same handy features as iMessage or Hangouts? Well, if you’re a T-Mobile customer, you’ll soon be privy to more tools. The Uncarrier announced its Advanced Messaging tech today, delivering options like near real-time chat, larger images and more. Like iMessage, BBM and the like, you’ll be able to see when a message has been delivered, read and when the person you’re chatting with is tapping out a response. Those larger images? The size limit is bumped to 10MB for photos and videos, giving you more space to futz with if needed.
As you might expect, Advanced Messaging is only available on T-Mobile and Samsung’s Galaxy Grand Prime will be the first device to arrive with it on board. Galaxy S5 and S6 users can expect to nab via a software update and the company says “nearly a dozen more hot devices” will be included before the end of the year. As you might recall, T-Mo also offers VoLTE and WiFi calling, so it has a bit of a knack for developing new features. In fact, Advanced Messaging is built on the Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard that the company touted back when rolled out VoLTE. The new texting features are said “to work across all devices, makers and operating systems.” so we’ll be interested to see what other phones are on that list. T-Mobile is planning hopes to make this a standard option on all new phones, so we may not have to wait long to find out.
[Image credit: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, T-Mobile
Source: T-Mobile
Watch this: The Soyuz rocket launch
A Soyuz rocket carrying three astronauts — Kjell Lindgren of NASA, Oleg Kononenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency and Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency — launches out of Kazakhstan today at 5PM ET, but you can watch it from wherever you are, right here. Soyuz departs for the International Space Station and the crew will remain there through December. NASA TV’s coverage of today’s launch begins at 4PM ET. Check it out below.
The best of Public Access Vol. 6: Apple Watch edition
It’s unlikely we’ll get the real dirt on Apple Watch sales anytime soon, but that hasn’t stopped analysts, journalists and basically anyone with a pulse from speculating about the wearable’s potential success or failure. In the leadup to Apple’s latest earnings report, we heard news of declining adoption rates from Fast Company and developer disinterest from The New York Times. Since everyone seems to be watching the Watch, we asked you to weigh in on the future of the wrist-worn category and you delivered. Brandon Côté envisioned a wearable future that mirrors Ender’s Game while Carl Zetie suggested that it’s a largely a product category without a problem to solve.
While all eyes are on Apple today, next week we’ll be watching Motorola as it prepares to unveil its latest flagship smartphones. The Moto X is a far cry from the first commercially available mobile phone, the DynaTAC 8000x, but Motorola’s impact on the world of mobile technology is undeniable. What would the world look like without cellphones today? This week we want you to consider the biggest technological advancements of the last 50 years and imagine where we’d be without them today.
Selfie sticks anyone?
P.S. The homepage is coming soon! in the meantime you can check out the latest from Public Access right here. Not a member? Apply, and keep the weird alive.
Recommended Reading
“So goodbye early 2000s with your clunky laptops, nice knowing you 2010s with your smartphones, but can’t wait to meet you 2020! The decade when my watch is my personal computer, and instead of capacitive glass as an input, I use my vocal chords and ear canal-no biohacking involved!”
Read the rest of What’s a wearable for? To augment yourself, of course by Brandon Côté
“The darkest view of all, though, is that the problem is neither the technology nor the app. The problem may be that wearables are a technology still looking for a problem to solve.”
Read the rest of The Unwearable Truth by Carl Zetie
Your Dose of Inspiration
A world without smartphones …
While all eyes are on Apple today, next week we’ll be watching Motorola as it prepares to unveil its latest flagship smartphones. The Moto X is a far cry from the first commercially available mobile phone, the DynaTAC 8000x, but Motorola’s impact on the world of mobile technology is undeniable. What would the world look like without cellphones today? This week we want you to consider the biggest technological advancement of the last 50 years — smartphones? the World Wide Web? online dating? — and imagine where we’d be without it today.
How-to: Stay secure online
With the recent hacking of infidelity enabler Ashley Madison, we’re reminded again of how precarious online privacy really is. Share your best tips and tricks for staying secure online.
Filed under: Announcements, Wearables, Apple
T-Mobile’s new Advanced Messaging feature aims to make texting much better
If you think about it, over the years services like Facebook, Skype and Snapchat have done a great job at pushing mobile messaging forward with the constant addition of new features, applications and more. During this time, wireless service providers haven’t really done much to enhance their subscribers’ text messaging experience. With that said, T-Mobile has just announced a new messaging feature that will hopefully change that for the better.
The new feature is called T-Mobile Advanced Messaging, and it’s built on a standard called Rich Communications Services (RCS). Advanced Messaging will come with a slew of messaging enhancements such as real-time group chatting, typing confirmation, 10MB file sharing in text messages and much more.
Here is a list of features Advanced Messaging will bring to the table:
- Rich 1 on 1 and group messaging, including near real-time chat
- See when others are typing, when your message is delivered and even read
- Share high-res photos and videos up to 10 MB just as you would a regular text message
Since this is based off of the RCS standard, Advanced Messaging will be able to work across all platform ecosystems, smartphones and even wireless carriers. The Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime is the first smartphone that comes with this feature built-in, and T-Mobile says the Galaxy S5 and S6 will both get Advanced Messaging via a software update later this year. More than a dozen additional phones will get this feature in the coming year, as well.
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