MacOS Sierra 10.12.5 eases Windows 10 Creators Update Boot Camp install

Why it matters to you

You can now install Windows 10 Creators Update in MacOS Boot Camp without jumping through hoops.

Apple’s Boot Camp feature is the easiest way to use a Mac to run both MacOS and Microsoft Windows. Boot Camp typically supports the latest version of Windows, although it can take Apple some time to enable the utility to install Windows updates.

Such was the case with Windows 10 Creators Update, which was released on April 11 to Windows users. Boot Camp supported the update, but with a caveat: Users could not clean install Creators Update, but rather needed to first install Anniversary Update via a USB flash drive and then run the update process from there.

Apple has now made the process much easier with the latest version of MacOS, Sierra 10.12.5. As Apple points out in its update notice, support has been added for media-free installation of Windows 10 Creators Update using Boot Camp.

Additional updates include the following fixes and enhancements, as listed on Apple’s update page:

• Fixes an issue where audio may stutter when played through USB headphones.
• Enhances compatibility of the Mac App Store with future software updates.
• Adds support for more digital camera RAW formats.
• Resolves an issue, affecting some enterprise and education customers, that may cause the system date to be set to the year 2040.
• Prevents a potential kernel panic when starting up from a NetInstall image. This fix is available when starting up from a NetInstall image created from the macOS 10.12.5 installer.

In addition, Apple issued a number of security updates in MacOS Sierra 10.12.5, along with updates for El Capitan and Yosemite. Highlights include:

• A fix for a flaw that allowed malicious networks with 801.1X authentication to capture network credentials.
• A fix for a bug in the accessibility framework that could allow an application to gain system privileges.
• A fix for an error in the HFS that allowed applications to read restricted memory.

The list of security fixes is fairly extensive, and so if there’s a particular vulnerability that you’re worried about then be sure to check the list. Given that MacOS has been the target of a number of recent exploits, applying this security update as soon as possible is an important step in keeping your Mac safe and secure. Follow the instructions here to update to MacOS Sierra 10.12.5.

Verizon’s Galaxy S8 picks up update to fix red tint display issue

Verizon is the latest carrier to roll out an update to fix the red tint issue on the Galaxy S8.

Verizon has started rolling out an update to the Galaxy S8 and S8+ that fixes the red tint display issue. After installing the update, you’ll be able to fine-tune the colors by adjusting the display settings to eliminate the red tint.

Samsung has been proactive in rolling out the update around the world, with units in South Korea, India, the UK, and Canada already receiving the update. T-Mobile and AT&T also issued the update last week, and Verizon is the latest carrier to roll out the OTA in the U.S.

The update bumps the version number to NRD90M.G950USQU1AQDF for the S8 and NRD90M.G955USQU1AQDF for the S8+, and includes additional bug fixes and performance tweaks. The changelog for the update lists Bixby Vision, but that particular feature was added in a previous update that rolled out weeks ago.

If you’re rocking a Verizon-branded variant of the Galaxy S8 or S8+, head into your phone’s settings to download the update.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ review!
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs
• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
• Join our Galaxy S8 forums

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AT&T
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How to add a second Google account to your Android

How do I add a second Google account to my Android device? This is how.

Updated May 2017: Made sure the process works as described for the latest version of Android.

Instead of trying to keep all of your Google accounts in order on multiple devices, why not have everything on one device? Android has made it easy to add accounts, sync accounts, and remove accounts — here’s how.

• How to add a second Google account to your Android
• How to remove a Google account from your Android

How to add a second Google account to your Android device

Launch Settings from your Home screen, the app drawer, or the Notification Shade.
Swipe up in the Settings menu to scroll down.

Tap Accounts.

Tap Add Account.
Tap Google.

Type in your email address in the provided field. You can also create a new account to be added.

Tap Next.
Type your password.

Tap Next.

Enter the 2-Step Verification code if you have it enabled and tap Next.
Tap Accept to agree to Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Tap a billing information option.

Tap Continue.

How to remove a Google account from your Android device

Swipe down from the top of the Home screen.
Tap the Settings button. It looks like a gear.

Swipe up in the Settings menu to scroll down.

Tap Accounts.
Tap Google.

Tap the Google account you’d like to remove.

Tap the Menu button. It looks like three vertical dots.
Tap Remove account.

Tap Remove account to confirm the account removal.

When you remove any Google account, all the data associated with it is deleted from your phone. Your account isn’t deleted from the cloud, so things like contacts or paid apps can be retrieved if you re-add the account or use the account on another device, but all your local data (like messages or app settings) is gone forever. You’ll see a warning about data deletion before you finish the process.

HTC U11 coming to Canada in early June for $899 with no carrier backing

HTC’s latest phone is coming to Canada for nearly a grand, but it could be a good deal.

The HTC U11 is, as we’ve learned, shiny and squeezy, and it’s also reasonably priced — at least down in the U.S. — at around $650 U.S. And while it’s not going to burn the barn doors down with a single carrier partner, Sprint, it’s certainly better than nothing.

That nothing is exactly what Canadians get when looking for carrier options; the HTC U11 will only be available unlocked directly from the company’s e-commerce site, for the spendy price of $899 CAD. It will be shipping in early June according to the company.

While that’s not quite as expensive as the HTC U Ultra, which debuted in Canada earlier this year to little fanfare, it’s still not cheap, and without carrier support may damper its appeal to the average Canadian.

That said, the unlocked price is still in line with current US – CAD exchange rates, and is considerably lower than the equivalent unlocked Galaxy S8, which goes for $1,035 CAD.

Here are a few things to note about the unlocked Canadian version:

• It is compatible with Freedom Mobile’s Band 66.
• It comes with support for Rogers, Bell, Telus, Videotron, Eastlink, SaskTel, BellMTS, Freedom Mobile, and practically every other Canadian network, out of the box.
• It technically supports VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling, though it’s unclear whether that will translate to real-world capabilities given that none of the carriers have explicitly optimized the phone.
  The same is true of the theoretical support for 3x Carrier Aggregation which, despite technical support by the phone’s Snapdragon 835 chip, needs to be carrier-optimized in the software.
• Unlike the U.S. version, there is no mention of Alexa support — for obvious reasons.
• The phone will be available in dark blue, light blue, and black — for now.

Obviously, the value proposition of the HTC U11 is untested right now, but its pedigree is excellent, and HTC has a very good track record of keeping its unlocked devices updated in Canada. The phone is also shipping with Android 7.1, so it’s ahead of the Galaxy S8 and LG G6 from the start. It’s unclear whether the Edge Sense gimmick — the ability to squeeze the phone to initiate actions — will turn into anything worth using on a consistent basis, but the hardware is otherwise quite sound.

The Snapdragon 835 and UltraPixel 3 camera alone should make for a great shooter, while the inclusion of water resistance and a pair of high-fidelity headphones (at the expense of a headphone jack, natch) increases the value of the phone, too.

Are you interested in the HTC U11 in Canada? Give us a shout in the comments!

See at HTC

HTC U11

• HTC U11 preview
• HTC U11 specs
• Manufacturing the U11: Behind the scenes
• Where to buy in the U.S.
• Join our U11 forums
• HTC U11 vs Galaxy S8
• HTC U11 vs LG G6

May security patch rolls out to the Galaxy S8 and S8+ in India

May 2017 security patch is now live for the Galaxy S8 in India.

Samsung has started rolling out the May 1, 2017 security patch to the Galaxy S8 and S8+ in India. The update comes in at 613.25MB, and aside from the May security patch, there doesn’t seem to be anything else that’s new (at least from a user-facing standpoint).

The changelog details the usual stability fixes, “enhanced features”, and performance improvements. The build increments the version number to G950FXXU1AQE5 on the Galaxy S8 and G955FXXU1AQE5 on the S8+.

If you’re using either phone in India and don’t see the OTA update yet, head to Settings > Software update >Download updates manually to initiate the download. As the update is over 600MB in size, make sure you’re on a Wi-Fi network before starting the download.

Notice anything new? Let us know in the comments.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ review!
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs
• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
• Join our Galaxy S8 forums

Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint

Automatic screenshots are the latest Nintendo Switch problem. Do you have it?

The Nintendo Switch is without doubt a fantastic console and has helped to revive Nintendo after the failings of the Wii U. But, like other games consoles, it’s not without its faults and the most recent one that some users have encountered, is the Switch taking several screenshots automatically.

• Nintendo Switch: Price, specs and everything you need to know

It’s not a major problem by any stretch, but it’s something that shouldn’t be happening. The console will take screenshots every second or so, without users pressing the screenshot button. Some have even noticed the console will wake itself up to take some, too.

The majority of users that have come across the issue have also installed Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition, so the thinking is the game is causing the problem. However the game hasn’t been running in some cases and screenshots are still being taken. In this video livestream of the game, you can see “Capture taken” appearing in the top left of the screen. 

Nintendo has yet to comment on the issue or release an official update to fix the issue, although software version 2.30 has just been released and includes “general system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience”.

• Got the Nintendo Switch dead pixel issue? Here are your consumer rights

It’s the same line the games company uses for a lot of its software updates, so it’s not clear if this will solve the problem, as it may just be coincidental timing. It’s not the first time the Switch has encountered problems, as some users reported dead pixels on the screen.

Philips Hue expands White Ambience range with three new smart lamps

Philips has expanded its Hue range of smart lighting with three new smart lighting fixtures: two table lamps and a ceiling light fixture.

• What Philips Hue smart bulbs are there and which should you buy?

The three new lamps: Wellner and Wellness table lamps, and the Being Flushmount, are part of the White Ambience range. This means you have 50,000 different levels of white light to choose from. Rather than just being a dimmable lamp, Philips says you can change the temperature of the white light to suit different moods. It could be you want bright, intense light in the morning to help wake you up, and relaxing, cool lighting in the evenings when you’re winding down from a day at work.

Philips

You can already buy White Ambience bulbs to fit your existing light fittings, as well as some ceiling-mounted pendants, spotlights and table lamps, but the new smart laps usher in new designs that will ultimately add more style to your room.

The Wellner and Wellness table lamps work with the White Ambience A19 bulb which uses an E27 screw fitting, while the Being Flushmount has an integrated LED strip that can output up to 2,400 lumens.

• Hive takes on Philips Hue with colour changing light bulbs

You can buy the Philips Hue Wellness table lamp from Amazon for £99.99, or the Being Flushmount for £119.99. The Wellner tablet lamp is available from John Lewis for £120.

The Morning After: Tuesday, May 16th 2017

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Squeezable smartphones, perhaps our first look at the glass-backed, iPhone 8 (don’t worry, unrelated), and the death of the graphing calculator? All this, and we’re only on Tuesday morning. Oh, and Toyota is musing on flying cars.

But can it play Drug Wars?Desmos app could kill off the graphing calculator

Overpaying for graphing calculators has been a rite of passage for as long as any millennials can remember, but the reign of the TI-84 may be coming to an end. That’s because of a new online calculator called Desmos that can run on any connected device and provide similar features. There are other internet-based calculators, but this one is embedded in the test itself and has backing from SAT administrator The College Board.

Squeezy phone.HTC’s squeezable U11 is its true 2017 flagship phone

After releasing the U Ultra, HTC is again attempting a top of the line smartphone with the U11. The specs behind its 5.5-inch curved Gorilla Glass display are just on par with other flagship devices, but the standout gimmick here is Edge Sense. Side-mounted pressure sensors can detect varying levels of grip and respond with associated shortcuts or app actions. Also, it can run up to three virtual assistants at once, with support for Google Assistant, Alexa and HTC’s own Sense Assistant. Finally, it loses the headphone jack but includes USB-C connected headphones that handle customized audio, as well as noise-canceling that runs off of the phone’s battery.

It’s the Shazam of foodThe ridiculous Not Hotdog app from ‘Silicon Valley’ is real

These days it’s even more difficult to tell parody apps from the real ones.

Android in autoVolvo and Audi are building Android into their new cars

Ahead of the Google I/O event later this week, Volvo and Audi have announced plans to base their next-generation infotainment systems on Android. There aren’t a lot of details yet, but the partnership promises support for Google Assistant, Google Maps and Android apps like Spotify running directly on the car’s hardware without requiring an Android Auto hand-holding from your phone.

ExclusiveiPhone 8 renders point to glass back and wireless charging

A reliable source in the accessory industry has told us that these renders represent Apple’s iPhone 8. If they hold up, they point to a new vertical orientation for the dual-camera setup, with the microphone and flash integrated into the camera hump. They also suggest that the dual-camera and wireless charging will be a standard feature, but we’ll have to wait until this fall to find out for sure — and to see the rumored tenth anniversary iPhone.

Meet the ‘Skydrive’Toyota wants flying cars in time for the 2020 Olympics

Larry Page isn’t the only one with a thing for flying cars — Toyota is backing a small startup working on a drone-like vehicle. The Skydrive from Cartivator would lift about 33 feet off of the ground and scoot along at up to 62mph. The plan is to have commercial versions ready ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. That seems optimistic, but it could provide one more reason to snag a ticket now instead of waiting.

But wait, there’s more…

• Implanted pancreatic cells could cure diabetes
• Plenty of blame to go around: The ‘WannaCry’ ransomware is a stark reminder of a broken system
• What’s on TV this week: ‘Phantom Dust’ remastered, ‘Twin Peaks,’ ‘Kimmy Schmidt’ and ‘Injustice 2’
• United flight crew inadvertently shares cockpit door codes online
• Engadget Podcast Ep 39: Rip Off
• Motorola’s leaked 2017 phone lineup points to the return of the Moto X

The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you’ll miss if you don’t subscribe.

NHS gave DeepMind patient records on an ‘inappropriate legal basis’

A data-sharing deal between DeepMind and London’s Royal Free Hospital Trust was struck on an “inappropriate legal basis,” a top UK government advisor has said. In April 2016, NewScientist revealed that the company had received 1.6 million patient records to develop an app called “Streams.” While there are strict rules regarding patient data and confidentiality, common law states that consent is “implied” if the information is being used for “direct care.” Google’s AI division used this line of thinking to justify the deal, however Dame Fiona Caldicott, the UK’s National Data Guardian, disagrees because the app was still in testing at the time.

If the app was in development, that means it wasn’t yet ready for medical use. Testing, Caldicott argues, is different from “direct care,” and nullifies the argument that the company had “implied consent” from patients. In a letter to Professor Stephen Powis, medical director at the Royal Free Hospital, Caldicott said: “Given that Streams was going through testing and therefore could not be relied upon for patient care, any role the application might have played in supporting the provision of direct care would have been limited and secondary to the purpose of the data transfer.”

Full copies of National Data Guardian’s letter sent to @SkyNews warning of legal basis re: @DeepMindAI + 1.6 million NHS patients’ data. pic.twitter.com/QjLRDGs1xr

— Alexander J. Martin (@lexanderjmartin) May 15, 2017

The letter, obtained by Sky News, was sent by Caldicott in February. She passed the same conclusions along to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), who is currently investigating the deal. In March, the data protection watchdog said it was “close” to publishing its findings, which could dramatically affect how the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) works with technology companies like DeepMind in the future. As Bloomberg reports, the ICO has the power to fine the hospital and impose other sanctions should it believe the original data transfer was illegal.

Streams is an “instant alert app” that quickly reviews test results and looks for serious problems, such as acute kidney injury. If anything is found, doctors are alerted immediately so that further diagnosis and, potentially, life-saving treatment can be carried out efficiently. Caldicott does not dispute the app’s effectiveness or the use of technology to improve healthcare. The legal basis for mining patient data, however, needs to be done in a “transparent and secure manner,” she says, otherwise public trust and the opportunities for discussion and further development will vanish.

NewScientist’s original article, sourced from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, triggered some public outcry from the academic community. One study concluded that DeepMind and the NHS had made “inexcusable” mistakes, and that the ICO’s case should be treated as a “cautionary tale” for future technology and healthcare partnerships. The backlash caused the AI company to temporarily suspend Streams’ use in hospitals. A new data-sharing agreement was drawn up last November, alongside confirmation that the app had been registered as a medical device with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). It’s now been rolled out widely across Royal Free’s hospitals in London.

DeepMind has so far defended its actions. A spokesperson told The Register: “Nurses and doctors have told us that Streams is already speeding up urgent care at the Royal Free and saving hours every day. The data used to provide the app has always been strictly controlled by the Royal Free and has never been used for commercial purposes or combined with Google products, services or ads – and never will be. Clinicians at the Royal Free put patient safety first by testing Streams with the full set of data before using it to treat patients. Safety testing is essential across the NHS, and no hospital would turn a new service live without testing it first.”

Health data privacy group medConfidential takes a different view, however: “This response by Google shows that DeepMind has learnt nothing. There may well be lawful reasons for third party IT providers to process data for direct care for 1.6 million patients – unfortunately for Google’s AI division, developing an app is not one of them.”

Source: Sky News

Third-Party Apps Will Need App-Specific Passwords for iCloud Access From June 15

App-specific passwords are set to become a mandatory requirement for third-party apps that access iCloud user data, according to an Apple Support email sent out today.

Currently, app-specific passwords are used to allow non-native apps like email clients to sign in to iCloud accounts that are protected by two-factor authentication. The security measure ensures that users can still link up their iCloud account to apps and services not provided by Apple, while also avoiding the need to disclose their Apple ID password to third parties.

However, app-specific passwords will become a basic requirement from June 15, according to Apple. The policy change basically means that users who want to continue using third-party apps with their iCloud account will have to enable two-factor authentication and generate individual passwords for each app.

Beginning on 15 June, app-specific passwords will be required to access your iCloud data using third-party apps such as Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, or other mail, contacts and calendar services not provided by Apple.

If you are already signed in to a third-party app using your primary Apple ID password, you will be signed out automatically when this change takes effect. You will need to generate an app-specific password and sign in again.

Two-factor authentication ensures that you’re the only person who can access your Apple account, even if someone knows your password. To turn it on from any iOS device running iOS 10.3 or later, open the Settings app, tap your name at the top, and then tap Password & Security.

If you’re using iOS 10.2 or earlier, you can enable it from Settings -> iCloud -> Apple ID -> Password & Security. If you’re on a Mac, go to System Preferences -> iCloud -> Account Details, click Security, and enable two-factor authentication from there.

To generate an app-specific password, sign into your Apple ID account page (https://appleid.apple.com), go to App-Specific Passwords under Security, and click Generate Password.

Tags: iCloud, Apple security
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