Trump trades ‘unsecure’ Android device for shiny new iPhone

After a wealth of hacking concerns, the President has finally swapped his unsecured Android handset for a new iPhone. The White House director of social media — Dan Scavino Jr. — tweeted yesterday that Trump has now been using his new Apple device for the past couple of weeks. After recent tweets from the POTUS account marked as sent from an iPhone raised questions, this new information now confirms their authenticity.

.@POTUS @realDonaldTrump has been using his new iPhone📱for the past couple of weeks here on Twitter. Yes, it is #POTUS45 reading & tweeting!

— Dan Scavino Jr. (@DanScavino) March 29, 2017

With the leader of the free world privy to all kinds of sensitive information, Trump has been criticized in the past for using an off-the-shelf, unsecured Android phone. While it was originally reported that he’d parted with the phone before his inauguration, it later came to light that the Republican leader still used it to send tweets. With retail phones easily hackable, the President’s reluctance to use a more secure handset scared his colleagues, eventually prompting letters of complaint from members of Congress.

While more secure tech is always advisable, Trump’s hostile attitudes towards Apple in the past make his new choice of phone surprising. With the outspoken tech company often critical of Trump’s administration, he even once called for a boycott of their products. Now, it seems this once-important feud was short-lived. If this tweet is anything to go by, however, it looks like Trump may not have completely abandoned his old device just yet.

Although the President’s new iPhone may be more secure than what he had previously, Trump still remains an increasingly high-risk target for hackers. In a bid to minimize attacks, Obama opted for an incredibly basic locked down ‘play phone’. Yet with Trump’s brief term already incredibly tweet-heavy, it remains to be seen whether he’d sacrifice his Twitter habit for national security.

Source: Twitter

Watch Samsung’s Galaxy S8 livestream right here at 11AM ET

It’s that time of the year again: Samsung is holding an event to unveil its latest and (hopefully) greatest Galaxy S phone, and it wants you to tune in. Visit this post at 11AM and you can watch a livestream of Samsung’s big Unpacked gathering as it happens. You likely already know that the much-anticipated Galaxy S8 will be the star of the show — there have been enough leaks and pre-event announcements to give you a good idea of what to expect from the giant-screened handset. Samsung has a history of unveiling additional gadgets and software, however, so don’t be shocked if there’s more to the story than what you’ve seen so far. And if you want our own take on proceedings (or just can’t stream), you can always check out our live blog to get the full scoop.

Click here to catch all the latest news from Samsung’s Galaxy S8 launch event!

Source: Samsung Mobile (YouTube)

Privacy Concerns Loom as Congress Moves to Allow Internet Providers to Share Users’ Sensitive Data

The House of Representatives voted this week to repeal a law previously passed by the Obama administration, requiring Internet Service Providers to gain permission from users in order to access and share certain pieces of personal information with advertisers (via The Washington Post).

The law, which was approved last year prior to the Presidential election, limited what ISPs such as Verizon, AT&T and Comcast could do with sensitive data including user location, browsing history, and even their Social Security numbers. The law also required ISPs to strengthen protections against hackers and online data thieves, and would have officially gone into effect at the end of 2017.

Image via The Verge
The Republican majority House has now voted to repeal these measures, with critics of the previous law arguing that the move will allow ISPs to enter a level playing field — and subsequently increase healthy competition in the targeted online advertising market — with companies like Google and Facebook. With the repeal, ISPs will no longer need user consent to sell their data to marketers “and other companies that mine personal data.” The vote ended with 215 in favor to 205 in opposition.

In a party-line vote, House Republicans freed Internet service providers such as Verizon, AT&T and Comcast of protections approved just last year that had sought to limit what companies could do with information such as customer browsing habits, app usage history, location data and Social Security numbers. The rules also had required providers to strengthen safeguards for customer data against hackers and thieves.

The Senate has voted to nullify those measures, which were set to take effect at the end of this year. If Trump signs the legislation as expected, providers will be able to monitor their customers’ behavior online and, without their permission, use their personal and financial information to sell highly targeted ads — making them rivals to Google and Facebook in the $83 billion online advertising market.

According to The Washington Post, the repeal is considered “the first salvo” in what is expected to turn into a “significant reworking” of rules and regulations regarding internet security and privacy under the Trump administration. The repeal goes so far as to include wording that aims to prevent the Federal Communications Commission — which drafted the original law — from issuing similar protections in the future.

Those in support of the original FCC protections argued that ISPs require strict regulations because they represent a much broader scope of access to user data, unlike search engines which only access a snapshot of a user’s browsing data. If a user is unhappy with a site’s data access they can decide to stop using it, the FCC supporters argued, but switching ISPs because of potentially intrusive data mining “is far more difficult.”

On the other side, supporters of this week’s repeal said that strict ISP privacy regulations “stifle innovation” when providers are forced to abide by such overbearing guidelines and laws.

Tuesday’s vote is a sign that Internet providers will be treated more permissively at a time when conservatives control the executive and legislative branches. That could be a boon for companies such as Verizon and Comcast as they race to become online advertising giants.

Internet providers have historically made their money from selling access to the Web. But now these providers are looking to increase their revenue by tapping the vast troves of data their customers generate as they visit websites, watch videos, read information and download apps.

As some watchers of the repeal have noted, interest in virtual private networks has grown online in the wake of potential threats to user privacy. VPNs provide secure and encrypted connections between a user’s Wi-Fi device and the VPN server, cloaking their browsing history and preventing intrusions into their private information. Major businesses and corporations most commonly use VPNs to ensure sensitive information remains private.

For the new legislation, the next step is for it to be signed by the President, at which point it will be officially enacted.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tag: privacy
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Apple SIM Partner GigSky Now Offers Data Plans in Over 40 More Countries

Apple SIM partner GigSky today announced that its data plans are now available in over 180 countries around the world.

MacRumors obtained a list of the 40 or so new countries and territories that GigSky has expanded into as of this week:

• Algeria
• Argentina
• Bahamas
• Bangladesh
• Belize
• Bhutan
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Botswana
• Burkina Faso
• Cambodia
• Cameroon
• Cape Verde
• Chad
• Colombia
• Côte d’Ivoire
• French Polynesia
• Guam
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Kenya

• Liberia
• Macau
• Madagascar
• Mongolia
• Morocco
• Myanmar
• Namibia
• Nepal
• Nicaragua
• Pakistan
• Palestine
• Papua New Guinea
• San Marino
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Tonga
• Uruguay
• Vanuatu
• Zimbabwe
• Rwanda

A few of the countries listed above appear to have already been supported, but the majority of them are new.

Apple SIM enables iPad users to easily switch between different short-term data plans from select carrier partners without needing multiple SIM cards. Given that GigSky supports more than 180 countries around the world, Apple SIM is particularly convenient for staying connected while traveling.

GigSky data plans start at between one and five cents per MB depending on the country. To purchase an Apple SIM plan, open the Settings app and tap Cellular/Mobile Data > Set Up Cellular/Mobile Data. Data is activated immediately following payment. Plans work in the country in which they are purchased only.

GigSky’s announcement also outlined some new deals:

30-day plans in Canada and Mexico now include 5GB for $50, previously 1GB for the same price. Plans in the United States and Puerto Rico include 5GB for $50, up from 3GB for the same price — and most $50 GigSky plans in Europe offer 3GB of data. Customers will receive a minimum of 1GB in all other destinations, with many plans offering 2GB or more.

Apple SIM is embedded in the 9.7-inch iPad Pro and preinstalled in the cellular-enabled new 9.7-inch iPad, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4, and 12.9-inch iPad Pro sold in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the UK.

Apple SIM is also available for purchase separately at Apple Store locations in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Keep in mind that not all carriers support Apple SIM, and it is not available in China.

GigSky’s competitors include AlwaysOnline Wireless and Truphone. Visit the Apple SIM website for other partners and countries supported.

Tags: Apple SIM, GigSky
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Spotify Launching Carpool Karaoke-Like Series Called ‘Traffic Jams’, Focusing on Original Music

Last year Apple Music announced that it would be launching a new version of James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke as a standalone, original series for subscribers of Apple’s streaming music service. Today, Spotify has countered Apple’s move with its own car-based music series called Traffic Jams, which has a twist focused on original music creation in an attempt to differentiate itself from Carpool Karaoke (via Variety).

On Traffic Jams Spotify will team up “well-known hip-hop producers and rappers,” but instead of singing along to popular songs, the participants on the show will have to produce an entirely new track in the backseat of a moving car. Record producer Southside and rapper T-Pain are set to be the first to appear on the show, which will launch on mobile and desktop Spotify applications on April 4. Once they have created their new track, they’ll have to perform it in front of a live audience at the end of the show.

T-Pain and Southside in Traffic Jams

The streaming music service announced a new original video show Wednesday that takes some cues from James Corden’s hit series, but shoots for a different audience altogether: “Traffic Jams” teams up well-known hip-hop producers and rappers, and challenges them to produce a track in the backseat of a driving car.

Comedian DoBoy will be driving the car and providing commentary on the proceedings, similar to James Corden’s position in the original Carpool Karaoke series from The Late Late Show With James Corden. Spotify will debut a new episode of Traffic Jams each week for eight weeks straight, representing the show’s first season of content. CNET reported on the official episode list, including:

• April 4 – T-Pain & Southside
• April 11 – D.R.A.M. & MeLo-X
• April 18 – Joey Bada$$ & Cardo
• April 25 – Pell & !llmind
• May 2 – Jidenna & Sonny Digital
• May 9- Madeintyo & AarabMuzik
• May 16 – Dae Dae & Marvel Alexander
• May 23 – E-40 & Willie B

For Apple’s Carpool Karaoke: The Series, the company has yet to announce an official launch date, so it appears that Spotify’s just-announced series will get a leg up on Apple Music’s foray into original video content. In terms of overall subscribers, Spotify’s 50 million paid subscribers are still far ahead of Apple Music’s 20 million.

Tags: Spotify, Carpool Karaoke
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What’s new in Windows 10 Creators Update? The best new features from the 11 April upgrade

Since mid 2015 we’ve had Windows 10 in our lives. And rather than giant update packages – like the service packs of old – W10 has taken a more step-by-step update stance.

From the 11 April the rollout of the free-to-download Creators Update – the third major one, following November update 2015 and Anniversary update 2016 – will bring a variety of new features. Here are some of the best:

Paint 3D

Yes, it’s Paint, but not as flat-form as you may remember. Paint 3D, as its name suggests, introduces 3D modelling direct in Windows 10 – without the need for pricey software.

• Adds 3D modelling, including pre-made models from Remix 3D source
• Freehand 2D drawings (pen input, as applicable) can be made into 3D models
• Stickers can be positioned across 3D models for texture; use your own pictures
• Depth control and lighting adjustments
• Save as 3D project or 3D object, export and even 3D print

Gaming – new Broadcast and Game Mode

Gaming has been added as its own section within Settings, shown under its Xbox-branded logo. It’s the centre to control gaming settings.

• Includes Game Bar and Game DVR (as per Xbox)
• Adds Broadcasting (live broadcast via Beam technology; sub-1sec latency)
• Game Mode (toggle on for gaming-focused performance; adds preference to gaming over background tasks)

Precision trackpad

Three and four finger gestures have been added – whether swipes or taps, as defined – with assignable app loading, Cortana and Action Centre launch, or to operate as the “third click” middle mouse button. Neat.

Edge browser update

Windows 10’s baked-in browser adds a few new pointers.

• Tab preview, for small-scale preview of open tabs (individual rollover, plus all open tabs in a dedicated preview bar)
• “Set Aside” will save all open tabs for future reference (to the side of the browser, as the name suggests)
• Acts as e-reader: can open books, adjust font size, spacing and bookmark to pick up where left off

Photos and Film & TV apps

• Photos app adds ability to annotate pictures or video (using pen, if applicable), then export and share

• Film & TV app adds 360-degree video support, touchscreen navigation

Start Menu – adds groups of apps within Tiles

Similar to multiple apps in folders in Windows Phone (or Android/iOS), the W10 Start Menu adds the ability to add multiple apps into a single Tile. These expand when clicked so you can make a selection and more clearly see the icons. A great way to tidy up your Start Menu.

Windows Defender – new layout

Windows Defender, the section for protection and parental control, doesn’t add new features, instead it introduces a new layout to make sourcing the desired information and controls all the easier. Family/parental controls, in particular, are now easier to click straight into.

O2 enables 4G and Wi-Fi calling: Here’s how to use it

Mobile operator O2 is the latest UK network to offer 4G and Wi-Fi calling for its customers. The new service replaces the TU Go app, and means O2 customers with a compatible phone – for now just an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus – can make and receive calls over Wi-Fi when there’s little to no regular signal.

If however you do have good 4G signal, then O2 says the 4G calling function will provide clearer call quality and improved indoor coverage. If you are on a call and transfer from a 4G area to a Wi-Fi area, or vice versa, your phone will simply transfer to whichever signal is strongest without affecting your call.

• How to activate Three Wi-Fi Calling on iPhone

You don’t need to worry about 4G calling using your data, either, as the service uses your minutes instead. Wi-Fi and 4G calling is only available to O2 customers on pay monthly, SIM-only or business tariffs and these should receive a notification for a software update very soon. O2 says more devices will be added over time as well.

The service is also currently limited to London, Leeds and Slough, but more UK cities will be added over the coming months. 

Before enabling Wi-Fi and 4G calling, you’ll need to make sure your iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus is running iOS 10.3 or above. To update your phone, follow these instructions:

Go to Settings > General > Software Update
Download and install any software update that pops up, if none, move on to the next step
If you do install a new software update, you may get a notification to update your carrier settings, if you do, select “Update”

Once you’re running the latest software, you can then activate Wi-Fi calling by following these steps:

Go to Settings > Phone
Select “Wi-Fi Calling”
Toggle “Wi-Fi Calling on this iPhone” switch to the on position
Confirm that you want to activate the feature

To activate 4G calling, follow these steps:

Go to Settings > Mobile Data
Select “Enable 4G”
Select “Voice and Data”

The Galaxy S8 can stream music to two headphones at the same time

Samsung hasn’t been able to catch a break recently. After suffering a brand-battering blow with the Note 7, it now looks like almost every feature of the S8 has been leaked ahead of today’s launch event. Earlier today, a Galaxy S8 user guide prematurely surfaced on Samsung’s download center, confirming many previously leaked specs and features. Before it was swiftly taken down, Phandroid managed to copy all the notable information from the guide, revealing the existence of a previously unreported feature — Bluetooth dual audio.

This Sonos-esque software enables users to stream Bluetooth audio to two different speakers or headsets simultaneously, allowing you to control the volume of both audio sources separately. The leak also revealed more about the new Samsung Dex — a feature which uses a dock to connect the S8 to a display, allowing users to navigate its OS with a keyboard and mouse.

With the official Galaxy S8 launch only hours away, Samsung can’t be too pleased with this admin error stealing its thunder. We’ll be attending today’s event, so you’ll be able to read our thoughts on the anticipated smartphone very shortly.

Source: Phandroid

Windows 10 Creators Update starts rolling out on April 11th

Windows 10 users won’t have to wait much longer to get their hands on Paint 3D. Microsoft announced today that the upcoming Creators Update for the OS will be available starting on April 11th. As usual, though, Microsoft is staggering the rollout so it doesn’t inundate every Windows user (and its servers) at once. Windows 10 desktop users will have their go at it first, and afterwards it’ll head to laptops and mobile devices.

The Creators Update is a big deal for a few reasons: It’ll introduce Paint 3D, Microsoft’s new 3D creation app that’s simple enough for children to use. And it packs in some useful new features like Game Mode, which devotes more system resources to games, ensuring better overall performance. There are also some helpful Edge upgrades, like the ability to preview tabs and file away collections of tabs for later use. The Creators Update won’t make Windows 10 look much different, but it should hopefully make it a much more useful OS.

Microsoft’s Windows 10 Creators Update lives up to its name

The Windows 10 Creators Update, which starts rolling out on April 11th, is more than just a mere operating system upgrade. Microsoft wants to make it clear that Windows isn’t just a platform for productivity apps, it’s also an OS where you can produce all sorts of creative things. That could mean building a 3D model with the new Paint 3D app, or kicking off a livestream of your favorite PC game. It’s not like you couldn’t do these things in Windows before, but now it’s easier than ever. And that’s an ideal way for Microsoft to encourage kids and traditional creative types — or, in other words, the people who typically use Macs.

Getting started

Aside from the setup process, which is now narrated helpfully by Cortana, there aren’t many surprises with the Creators Update. Your desktop and apps will still look the same, so don’t go in expecting a major facelift from last year’s Anniversary Update. But given that Windows 10 already looked fairly refined, I don’t think that’s a huge issue.

Instead, you can look forward to the many small improvements. The built-in Night Light mode will make it easier to work after dark by reducing the amount of blue light on your monitor (similar to the popular app Flux and the Night Shift feature on iOS and Mac OS). You can now use Windows Ink to mark up your photos and videos. And you can also upload music to OneDrive and listen to it in the Groove app, which could serve as an easy way to jam out out to your music library on the Xbox One.

The real reason this update is interesting, though, is because of the bigger additions.

Paint 3D

Paint 3D, an evolution of the classic Paint app in three dimensions, is the highlight of the Creators Update. Just like the original version (which is still available in Windows 10), it’s basically just a blank canvas for doodling. But it’s also much more fully featured, since creating 3D objects isn’t as simple as 2D drawings.

The app’s interface is pure minimalism. Along the top, you can choose between brush tools, 3D objects, 2D stickers, text, canvas effects and Remix 3D. The latter is particularly interesting, as it’s being positioned as a community for uploading and sharing 3D creations. On the right side of the screen, you’ve got different options for all of those tools. If you’ve used Paint before, you’ll be familiar with some of them: The brushes include markers, pencils and crayons. This time around, though, you can also give them matte and metal sheens.

Things get more interesting with the newer tools. The 3D models include a man, woman, dog and cat by default, but you can also add more from Remix 3D. There are also geometric 3D objects, and you can turn doodles into sharp and soft-edged 3D objects. While the initial assortment of objects feels a bit generic, I have a feeling kids will enjoy drawing their own, as well as collecting new figures from Remix 3D. As for the stickers, those serve as both 2D objects for your canvas as well as textures for 3D objects. Perhaps the most useful new addition: There’s now a history bar for reversing bad decisions, and it can also generate a video of your creation process.

I didn’t think much of Paint 3D at first, but my mind changed the instant I overlayed a leafy texture on top of a 3D cat. That’s the sort of thing you previously needed pricey and complex 3D modeling software to do — now it’s a free part of Windows 10 that’s simple enough for kids to use. Even manipulating the 3D objects blew my mind a bit. You can rotate any model using the buttons displayed around them, and you can even change their position in relation to other objects on the 3D canvas without much fuss. Paint 3D offers plenty of helpful hints for using these features, but they’re also laid out easy enough for anyone to figure out with a bit of experimenting. That’s simply good software design.

While Paint 3D is intriguing on its own, it’s particularly inspired when taken together with the Remix 3D social network. If you’ve used a Windows machine before, there’s a good chance you’ve sketched out something in Paint, only to have it sit in obscurity on your hard drive. By having a way to quickly share creations, as well as bring in art from others, Microsoft is also hoping to spark a bit more creativity among Paint 3D users. It’s easy enough to search for new items from Remix 3D within Paint 3D, but there’s also a Pinterest-esque website for you to browse community submissions (you can even manipulate items in 3D within Edge).

One big takeaway from the Creators Update: Microsoft is mastering the art of synergy more than ever before. For example, you can take your creations from Minecraft and dump them into Paint 3D. And eventually, you’ll be able to 3D print them from the app, as well. That may not be useful in most homes, where 3D printing never quite took off, but it could be huge for schools that jumped on that bandwagon.

Gaming updates

Expect to hear a lot more about Windows 10’s game bar in the Creators Update. Microsoft is pushing the feature heavily now (you can activate it by hitting the Windows key + G), in part because it’s the way you activate Windows 10’s built-in game broadcasting feature. Clearly, Microsoft didn’t waste any time integrating Beam’s broadcasting tech after snapping them up last summer. The company is targeting less experienced streamers, who might not have the patience to deal with Twitch streaming. Reps tell us Beam’s tech also sports sub-second latency, which allows for near real-time feedback between what you do and what your audience sees.

Your Xbox Live friends are alerted whenever you start a Beam broadcast (there’s that whole synergy thing again), and you can view them from either a PC or Xbox One. And yes, Xbox One owners will also be able to broadcast their games using Beam.

The Creators Update also introduces a new “Game Mode” into Windows 10. Simply put, it prioritizes your system resources whenever you’re playing a supported game. So, if for example you’ve got Photoshop running in the background while you’re playing Doom 3, your PC will focus more CPU and GPU horsepower on the game. Microsoft reps say that by doing so, Game Mode will ensure higher peak performance as well as more consistent frame rates.

I didn’t have a chance to test out the final version of the feature on my gaming rig, but on the Surface Pro 4 I noticed a slight bump of around 5FPS while running Minecraft with Paint 3D and several browsers open. That’s not much, but I’ll take whatever I can get, especially on a machine running integrated graphics.

Intriguingly enough, Microsoft also hinted that Game Mode could eventually apply to other apps. Artists would likely want to allocate as much horsepower to Adobe Photoshop and Premiere while they’re working, for example. While the reps wouldn’t say anything for certain, it sounds like Microsoft has something along those lines in the works. Or perhaps it could simply rebadge Game Mode as “Turbo Mode” or something more generic.

Better Edge browsing

You know things have changed quite a bit when Microsoft’s Edge is beating Google and Firefox to innovative browser features. With the Creators Update, you’ll be able preview tabs by hovering your mouse over them, which could be useful if you’re the sort of person who ends up piling dozens of tabs into a single window. (To be fair, Opera did this first.)

Even more useful for tab-aholics, you can now set collections of tabs aside for later viewing by hitting a single button. (And no, there’s no limit to the amount of tabs you can save.) You can also browse and restore those bundles of tabs easily. Sure, you’ll have to wait a few seconds for them to reload, but it’s a much more useful way for tracking your tabs than saving them to your bookmarks. Because, really, who uses bookmarks anymore? It’s a feature that clearly reflects our changing browsing habits.

Wrap-up

If you were expecting a momentous shift in the way Windows 10 looks and works, the Creators Update will probably disappoint you. What’s more important, though, is how Microsoft is fundamentally shifting its focus towards creativity. Paint 3D could end up showing someone that they have the ability to design things in entirely new ways. And the built-in game streaming feature could end up creating some new online stars. I’ll take that over a minor facelift any day.