Indonesian government may ban over 80 LGBT apps and websites
While homosexuality isn’t technically illegal in Indonesia, it’s extremely frowned upon in society. That extends to the digital realm, like when the country’s Information and Communications Ministry pressured social app Line to remove LGBT themes and stickers back in February. While that and other government statements reportedly stoked anti-gay sentiment through the spring, they began drafting a bill to ban pro-LGBT sites in March. Yesterday, officials from multiple agencies exited a closed-door meeting at the Communications Ministry ready to block over 80 apps and websites in the country in an unprecedented crackdown.
The meeting was originally held to review a police request to block Grindr and 17 other apps they allege were used in a child prostitution ring, according to Buzzfeed, but the ministry expanded the list to include other pro-LGBT services. But the bans seem to come from a larger moral panic within the government.
“We would be pleased if the communication ministry blocked [gay apps] without hesitation because the smell of pornography is so strong on them, such as exhibiting nudity,” Ericson Siregar, an officer with Indonesia’s National Police Criminal Investigations Department told Buzzfeed.
Though this government action alone might resurrect anti-LGBT sentiment, others worry that this is an opening salvo to carve out US services from Indonesian internet. Communications Ministry Head of Investigations Teguh Arifiadi told Buzzfeed that they’ve already requested that Google remove three apps, Grindr, Blued, and BoyAhoy, from the country’s Play store. They could, and likely will, proceed with takedown requests for some or all of the 80 other sites and services they reviewed.
90 percent of Indonesia’s 255 million people are Muslim, and efforts to cull pro-LGBT apps and websites has been enthusiastically endorsed by religious organizations and officials. But the anti-gay pushback could be related to a greater rejection of Western values that some conservative Islamic clerics see brought in by US internet titans. True, Indonesian religious authorities are also combating the influence of radical Islam from overseas which are also using Facebook and Twitter for their own agenda. But time will tell whether the anti-LGBT online crackdown stops at curbing app and website interaction or is part of a larger campaign for Indonesia to seal its cyberspace off from influences its government doesn’t condone.
Source: Buzzfeed
Apparently, that ‘Monster Hunter’ movie is still happening
Films based on video games really don’t have the best track record. From 1993’s Super Mario Bros. to this year’s Warcraft, these movies almost always seem to lack whatever it is that resonates with fans of the games they’re based on. What’s the next potentially disappointing adaptation? Monster Hunter, apparently. Speaking at Tokyo Game Show, Capcom’s Ryozo Tsujimoto revealed that a live-action adaptation is currently under development.
The announcement was almost an afterthought to a new trailer for Capcom’s Monster Hunter Stories, though Tsujimoto was careful to note that the two projects were unrelated. “While it isn’t related to Stories,” he said, “there is a Hollywood movie adaptation of the main series in progress.” It’s not the first time we’ve heard about such a project, either — in 2012, Resident Evil director Paul W.S. Anderson showed interest in making a Monster Hunter film. There’s no indication that Anderson is involved in the current film, however, and Tsujimoto didn’t offer any details on director, release date or cast. Still, one more major video game franchise is heading to the silver screen. Will you see it? Tell us all about it in the comments below.
US consumer safety group recalls the Samsung Galaxy Note 7
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has officially recalled the Galaxy Note 7, noting that its lithium-ion battery can overheat and catch fire. This follows a recall that Samsung itself implemented in early September. Shortly after this initial rollback, the CPSC published a statement urging anyone with a Galaxy Note 7 to power it down and stop charging it, and Samsung said it was working with the safety group on an official government recall.
Samsung says that the overheating issue affects just 24 per 1 million devices, but the company isn’t taking chances. On top of a global recall of 2.5 million devices, the company plans to launch a software update on September 20th that limits the Galaxy Note 7’s battery to a 60 percent charge.
Since news of the fire hazard broke, the Federal Aviation Administration and New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority have warned against bringing the Galaxy Note 7 on both planes and trains, respectively. Samsung lost $26 billion in market value in the weeks following the recall.
Developing…
Source: CPSC
The Wirecutter’s best deals: Save $50 on Bose QuietComfort 20 headphones
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. Read their continuously updated list of deals at TheWirecutter.com.
You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot—some of these sales could expire mighty soon.
HiFiMan HE400S Headphones
Street price: $300; MSRP: $300; Deal price: $250
The first good drop we’ve ever seen on these headphones, despite tracking them for a long time. It’s rare to see any discount on these at all, let alone a $50 discount.
The HiFiMan HE400S are our pick for the best open-back headphones under $500. Brent Butterworth said, “Unbelievably spacious and natural sound—along with unusual versatility—makes these the only open-back headphone all of our panelists loved.”
“The HiFiMan HE400S headphones were the only ones of all those we tested for this guide that every panelist agreed was worthy of our recommendation. Not only do we feel it (arguably) matches or exceeds the performance of any under-$500 headphone we tested, it’s comfortable to wear and it’s relatively affordable for about $300.”
Bose QuietComfort 20 Headphones
Street price: $300; MSRP: $300; Deal price: $250
This is only the second time we’ve seen a great deal on these headphones. We’ve had them as a pick for years, and the first sale we saw was about a month ago. This deal matches that low price. This is for the black Android version, which has a slightly different remote than the white Apple version.
The Bose QuietComfort 20 are our pick for the best noise-cancelling in-ear headphones. Geoffrey Morrison wrote, “The Bose QuietComfort 20 offer significantly better noise reduction than any other in-ear headphone.”
For more detail about the noise reduction, “the main takeaway is that at certain frequencies, the QC20s drop the ambient sound by 45 decibels. This is an incredible amount. To put this amount in perspective, the average noise levels inside an airplane and a library are roughly 45 dB apart.”
Crock-Pot Programmable Cook and Carry Oval 6-Quart
Street price: $50; MSRP: $60; Deal price: $40
This deal comes within a couple of dollars of the lowest price we’ve seen it before, and is the first decent deal we’ve seen in a few months. Outside of a lightning deal, this is pretty close to the best price you’ll see on this slow cooker. This deal is only for the silver model of the Crock-Pot.
The Crock-Pot Programmable Cook and Carry Oval 6-Quart is our runner-up pick in our guide for the best slow cooker. Christine Cyr Clisset wrote, “If you find you need a timer that goes longer than 14 hours (which is the upper limit on the Set & Forget), we recommend the highly reviewed and easy-to-use Crock-Pot Programmable Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker. It does cook for 20 hours, compared with the Set & Forget’s 14, and looks more up-to-date (because it is); we like its handles and locking mechanism a little better, too.”
Z-Edge Z3 Dash Cam
Street price: $106; MSRP: $200; Deal price: $90
Here’s a decent $16 drop on our pick for the best dash cam. This dash cam has been featured in a couple of lightning deals before, and this sale matches the price from the last lightning deal. Since the last few notable deals have either been lightning deals or incredibly brief, it’s unlikely that this price will last long.
The Zero Edge Technology Z-Edge Z3 is our pick in our guide for the best dash cam. Eric Adams wrote, “The affordable Zero Edge Z3 hits all the marks with great video quality in the wide 2560×1080-pixel format across a range of difficult outdoor light. Though the Zero Edge Z3 was a late entry in our testing, it impressed us with its high-quality video and build, which is on a par with dash cams that cost almost twice as much. It also includes a 32GB microSD card, making it an even better deal. Combine that with the best mount of any camera we looked at, video footage that is easy to see fine detail with, rock solid build quality, and easy setup, user interface, and installation, and you have a camera that easily beats the competition.”
Deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.
T-Mobile Tells Customers Not to Install iOS 10 on iPhone 6, 6 Plus, and SE
T-Mobile CEO John Legere says T-Mobile customers who own an iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, or iPhone SE should not install Apple’s iOS 10 update, released on Tuesday. According to Legere, iOS 10 is causing those three iPhone models to lose connection to the T-Mobile network.
Legere’s comments come following customer complaints that started circulating following T-Mobile’s latest carrier update, 25.1. It was initially believed the problem was the carrier update on T-Mobile’s end, but Legere says that’s not the case.
Apple is working to resolve the issue with iOS10 for @TMobile customers. Don’t download iOS10 if you currently use an iPhone 5SE, 6 or 6+
— John Legere (@JohnLegere) September 15, 2016
Apple is working to resolve the problem, but in the meantime, customers should avoid the update. T-Mobile has offered a fix for those who have already updated to iOS 10 and are experiencing connectivity issues – restart. According to the company, the only way to resume connectivity is to restart the iPhone each time that it loses connection.
Apple is expected to have a fix ready in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Tag: T-Mobile
Discuss this article in our forums
Messages in iOS 10: How to Send Handwritten Notes
The Messages app in iOS 10 has been entirely overhauled, adding a slew of new capabilities that make it more fun to keep in touch with friends and family. One of the more personal touches added to Messages is a new handwriting feature, which allows users to send handwritten messages to their loved ones.
Using the handwriting feature is simple, but it’s also a bit hidden on the iPhone, because the button to activate it won’t show up unless you’re in landscape mode. Here’s how to do it:
On an iPhone, turn it to landscape mode. On the iPad, you can use handwriting in landscape or portrait mode.
Tap the handwriting squiggle to the right of the return key on the iPhone or to the right of the number key on the iPad. On the iPhone 6 and 6s, the handwriting screen will pop up automatically.
Use a finger to write whatever you would like to say on the screen. Once you reach the end of the screen, press the arrow if you would like to keep writing. Go back to the beginning by using a two finger swipe.
Alternatively, tap one of the pre-written options below, which include phrases like “thank you,” “happy birthday,” and “I’m sorry.”
When finished, tap “Done” to return to the standard keyboard. Your handwritten message will be available as an image to send in the message compose box.
After you send your handwritten message to someone, it will display as a neat little animation that lets the person on the other end watch as you write each letter. Handwritten messages need to be viewed within the Messages app and notifications for them will simply read “Handwritten Message.”
Message length is limited to two screens on the iPhone or iPad, so the handwriting feature is primarily designed for short phrases meant to complement longer text messages, but it’s a simple addition that adds a sweet personal touch to your conversations. As a bonus, it can also be used to send little drawings, much like Digital Touch.
Related Roundup: iOS 10
Discuss this article in our forums
First iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Pre-Order Customers in New Zealand Begin Receiving Shipments
With time zone differences, Apple customers in Australia and New Zealand are always the first to get their new devices when orders begin shipping out.
It’s just about 9:00 a.m. in New Zealand, so customers who pre-ordered an iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, or Apple Watch Series 2 are beginning to receive their shipments and have begun sharing photos of their devices on social networks like Instagram and Twitter. Deliveries will begin soon in Australia.
Image via Instagram user Hamad960
As September 16 hits around the world, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will be available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UAE, the UK, US Virgin Islands and the US.
Image via Instagram user 0anna0banana0
Retail stores in those countries will be opening at 8:00 a.m. local time letting customers pick up reserved devices and purchase new phones via walk-in. Customers who did not pre-order will have a limited selection of iPhones for walk-in purchases, as Apple has said there are no iPhone 7 Plus models and no Jet Black iPhone 7 models available at all.
Customers who planned to wait in line to obtain an iPhone 7 Plus or a Jet Black iPhone 7 should instead order online. Delivery estimates for those devices range into November based on color and configuration.
In the United States, the first iPhone 7 deliveries will begin starting at approximately 8:00 a.m. local time, with the first deliveries occurring on the east coast.
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Discuss this article in our forums
Top 5 Android apps for privacy and security
Are you a fan of Android, but maybe not Google? Are you tired of using services that track your every move, what you say and use that information against you? Here is a roundup of our favorite apps for privacy and security.
Email: Protonmail
Protonmail is an encrypted email service based in Switzerland. Since your data is stored on Swiss servers, they are protected by strict Swiss privacy laws. You get strong security with end-to-end encryption, so third parties like Google or the NSA (is there a difference?) can’t read them.
Protonmail doesn’t keep any personal information, not even IP logs. It’s compatible with OpenPGP and fully open source. You can protect emails with passwords, send emails that self-destruct and use custom labels and filters.
Protonmail comes in three tiers: Free, Plus and Visionary.
Google Play Link | Source Code
Messaging: Signal
By using Signal, you can send fully private messages to your friends and family. It offers end-to-end encryption on all of your messages. Unlike Facebook Messenger or Google Allo, every message is in incognito mode.
Just like most other messaging apps, you can chat with people one on one or create groups. Signal is free and open source software (FLOSS) so anyone can verify its security. The app uses your existing phone number and address book.
Not only can you send private messages, but you can also use Signal to call people anywhere in the world with no long distance charges.
Google Play Link | Source Code
VPN: LiquidVPN
LiquidVPN is a great tool to protect your web browsing. Many people recommend using a VPN on public Wi-Fi, but we at AndroidGuys recommend using a VPN all the time, on public and private Wi-Fi.
With LiquidVPN you can hide your IP address, encrypt your data, bypass censorship and unblock websites. The Wyoming-based company has servers located in nine different countries.
The service has unique features not found with other VPN providers, like modulating IPs, a custom DNS service, shared IP VPN tunnels and a technology called Liquid Lock. Liquid Lock controls your system’s firewall so only encrypted traffic can stream out.
LiquidVPN has three plans:
- Sidekick: $7/month (two devices)
- Road Warrior: $10/month (four devices)
- Ultimate: $18/month (eight devices)
Google Play Link
Cloud Storage: Mega
Mega offers 50GB of free end-to-end encrypted cloud storage. Dubbed “The Privacy Company” Mega is a New Zealand-based company. With Mega, you can automatically upload your photos and contacts.
You can upload, download and share encrypted files with other people. They have a free plan as well as several paid plans, giving you more storage and better bandwidth. However, you can only buy the pro plans through third-party resellers.
Google Play Link
Web Browsing: Orbot
Orbot is a free tool that lets you browse Tor. Although Tor isn’t without issues, having been notoriously hacked by the FBI, it’s still generally secure enough for the majority of users.
Orbot encrypts your web traffic and routes it through a system of nodes/relays around the world. It’s open source and if your phone is rooted, you can route all app traffic through Tor, not just the internet.
Google Play Link | Source Code
Conclusion
As you can see, being safe and secure while using the internet is easy. As technology becomes more advanced and the Internet of Things becomes further entrenched in our lives, privacy will become more important in the future.
Further Reading: www.privacytools.io – encryption against global mass surveillance 🔒
Visually stunning puzzler Pavilion makes debut exclusively on SHIELD TV
Discover the mysterious world of Pavilion on your Nvidia SHIELD Android TV!
Fans of the Nvidia SHIELD will get a rare exclusive look at a brand new indie title, as Pavilion makes its debut exclusively for the Android TV console today, available on the Google Play Store for $10.
Pavilion is a beautiful “fourth-person puzzler”, which drops you and the main character into a mysterious world without any text instructions, backstory or really any context at all. With no tutorials or guides, players explore and interact with objects in the beautifully crafted levels as an omnipresent orb, as you try to help the A.I.-controlled main character work through intricate puzzles.
The real standout here is the beautiful, hand-drawn 2D levels, which has earned the game developers at Visiontrick Media heaps of praise over the past year. The environments are rich with fine details and take on a dreamlike aesthetic that runs throughout the game. Accompanying the beautiful images is a wonderfully ambient soundtrack that blends environmental sounds with a calming musical score. Taken as a whole, Pavilion’s sounds and visuals create a fully-immersive experience.
After a week of SHIELD exclusivity, Pavilion will launch on Steam and the Humble Store on September 22. The game will hit consoles such as the PlayStation 4 and mobile Android devices later in the year. This release is called Chapter One, so we can also expect more Pavilion puzzles in 2017.
Check out the launch trailer to prepare yourself for an otherworldly gaming experience!
Android Gaming
- Best Android games
- Best free Android games
- Best games with no in-app purchases
- Best action games for Android
- Best RPGs for Android
- All the Android gaming news!
How much faster are Samsung’s Fast Wireless Chargers?
How much faster are Fast Wireless chargers?
Wireless charging is one of those things most folks tend to ignore for two reasons. No Android phone that supports wireless charging has ever included a wireless charger in the box, and wireless charging is never as fast as the charger you do get in the box. It’s only marginally more convenient to set a phone on a little tray than it is to plug it in, so the list of positives has never really been high enough to justify mass adoption.
Samsung’s recent phones have included a new kind of wireless charging — dubbed Fast Wireless Charging — which aimed to do something about the charging rate. With more Samsung phones arriving with this Fast Wireless support, we decided to take a look at the difference between these new chargers and the older Qi chargers from the Nexus 5 days.
Your average wireless charger
Qi and Powermat chargers have been around for a while, and while most of them look like small platters you connect Micro-USB cables to there are a few that have drifted from this design. Zens has a cool Qi car charger you just slip your phone into, Fonesalesman makes a battery pack with a Qi coil on top, and the list goes on. The problem with these chargers is rarely design, and usually output. These chargers had a maximum output of 5V/1A, which charges a Galaxy S7 from 9% to 100% in about five hours.
This is fine if you’re charging your phone overnight, or if you’re leaving your phone at your desk all day during work, but when your power cable can replenish 30% of your battery in 10 minutes that wireless charger becomes a lot more difficult to justify. The only real benefit here is less stress on your Micro-USB or USB-C port, which is frequently not worth the cost of a wireless charging accessory. Even a really cool one.
Fast Wireless Charging
Setting the same Galaxy S7 on a new Samsung Fast Wireless charger offers a mostly similar experience. You get a notification that your phone is charging wirelessly with a fun animation, and the phone starts charging. There’s a small indicator for faster charging, like you get with Samsung’s included rapid charger, but the results are a little different.
On a Fast Wireless charger, our Galaxy S7 charged from 9% to 100% in just over two hours, cutting the total charge time in half. A quick look at power input through Ampere confirmed that Fast Wireless Charging was delivering almost exactly twice the amount of energy to the phone. This isn’t quite as fast as a rapid charger, which will take this same Galaxy S7 from 9% to 100% in 90 minutes, but it’s still pretty great when compared to the alternative.
Should you upgrade?
Samsung’s Fast Wireless Charger certainly delivers a much faster charge than the previous generation of Qi and Powermat chargers, but it’s still an additional accessory you need to buy for your phone. That means shelling out around $50 for one of these accessories from Samsung, or keeping your eye out for a deal on third-part Fast Wireless Chargers. Now that Fast Wireless chargers exist for the house and car, it may be worth considering a full replacement to wireless charging. On the other hand, your included power cable still delivers the fastest overall charge.
AIVAnet 