Apple Adds New ‘Search Ads Basic’ Ad Option for Developers

Apple last year started displaying ads in the App Store when a user searches for a particular app as a way to provide developers with a way to improve app discovery via keyword search.

Searching for a term like “to-do” or “calendar” or even something specific like “Tweetbot” surfaces ads that are purchased by developers.

Starting today, Apple is expanding search ads with a new ad product called “Search Ads Basic,” while also renaming the existing search ad feature to “Search Ads Advanced,” reports TechCrunch.

Search Ads Advanced, like the initial Search Ads option, requires developers to pay whenever an ad is tapped. Search Ads Basic allows developers to pay for actual app installations received from the ad, rather than taps.

With Search Ads Advanced, developers are able to select specific keywords and demographics when delivering ads, while Search Ads Basic simply allows developers to choose a monthly budget and a maximum cost-per-install, with far less customization.

Search Ads Basic includes suggestions on how much a developer should pay based on historical data pulled from the App Store based on the type of app being marketed, and it uses App Store trends to target the ideal audience.

There’s a maximum monthly budget of $5,000 for Search Ads Basic, but there are no limitations on which apps or companies can use the feature, so it’s available to both independent developers and larger companies.

At launch, Search Ads Basic will be limited to the United States, rolling out to additional markets next year.

Tag: Apple ads
Discuss this article in our forums

Want to reduce your electric bill? Here’s how to go solar-powered in your home

As recently as the 2000s, solar-powered homes were a rare thing to see. But with tax incentives motivating homeowners and increasing fears about climate change, more people have gone solar, and solar panels have become a common sight on the tops of homes around the country. Installing solar panels is a great way to live a little greener, as they can decrease the carbon footprint of your household by about 35,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. In addition to going green, there are also many other benefits of solar panels, such as reducing your energy bill and earning tax credits. But the prospect can be a little daunting, what with all the technical jargon, the installation process, and the different panel types to choose from. But once you break the whole thing down into steps, it will feel a lot more manageable. Here’s a guide on how to go solar-powered in your home.

Oregon Department of Transportation/Flickr

Understand how it works

The first thing to do before you go through the process of going solar is to understand just exactly what a solar-powered home entails. Solar panels are photovoltaic cells that harness the power of sunlight and transform it into energy. The panels then send the energy into an inverter, which converts the sunlight into electricity which can power your house. And yes, even those who live in cloudy areas can benefit from solar panels, as these panels will continue drawing energy from indirect sunlight even when the skies are cloudy. Do additional research on your own to understand solar power more deeply, and talk to friends and neighbors who have gone solar.

mjmonty/Flickr

Hire a professional

Installing solar panels isn’t generally something people do for themselves, as the process isn’t quite as simple as slapping some cells on the rooftop. You need additional wiring and accurate panel placement in order to create the most efficient system. There are a few factors you want to keep in mind when deciding who to hire. Be sure to choose a professional who offers a strong warranty; ideally, the inverter should be covered for a decade, and the panels should be covered for 20 to 25 years. It is also important that the panels are made by a U.S. manufacturer, so your warranty will still cover you even if the manufacturer goes out of business. Lastly, check that the solar pro is licensed and bonded, and hasn’t received any significant complaints with the Better Business Bureau. As a bonus, it never hurts to check out customer references to be sure you are hiring the right person.

Jeremy Levine/Flickr

Evaluate costs

Going solar often comes with its share of financial incentives, including tax credits and reduced energy bills. But you also want to be sure you can afford the upfront costs of the solar panels. Since the beginning of 2011, the price of solar panels has dropped significantly, by about 60 percent. Today, the national average up-front cost of solar panels is about $17,000 — taking into account federal and local tax incentives. Keep in mind that local tax incentives vary by location, so do your due diligence to ensure you’re utilizing all the subsidies that are at your disposal.

Corey Templeton/Flickr

Come up with a financial plan

When it comes to funding your solar panels, there are a few ways you can go about it. Solar leases are a popular option for those looking to dilute the upfront costs a bit. Leasing companies also frequently take care of the costs of repairs and maintenance. If you decide to go with the leasing option, try to get your loan payment lower than your usual electricity bill, to ensure you’re still saving some money every month. On the other hand, a permanent installation comes with tax credits and can also increase the value of your home.

Oregon Department of Transportation/Flickr

Installing the panels

This may go without saying, but to have the most efficient system, it’s important to ensure that your roof receives direct sunlight during the time of day when the light is strongest. This time period is usually between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Factors like trees, tall neighboring buildings, and a rooftop chimney can all affect the light exposure your home receives. Your installer will discuss with you to find the optimal panel placement and panel number.

It will also help for you to determine your household’s energy usage before meeting with the installer. Take a look at your recent energy bills to determine how many kilowatts are used up on an average day.

Once you’ve determined the size and placement of your solar-powered system, the process of wiring and installing the panels usually takes just a few days. But the time between signing the contract and going through with the installation can take as long as a few months. That is largely because you need to get a permit before you can go solar. The costs and types of permits vary by location and the installer will usually help you obtain them.

And before you know it, you will be running on solar! You can watch your energy bill and your carbon footprint go down, and you can proudly say that you’re playing your small part in helping fix climate change.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Keep the lights on and your phone charged off the grid with the SolarHome 620
• Your home could be powered by solar-powered batteries in the near future
• A power outage won’t shut down your Lynx Solar security camera
• This portable power station and solar generator keeps your gadgets charged
• Amazon Cloud Cam: A window into your home from just about anywhere

Asus NovaGo, the first gigabit LTE-capable laptop, promises fast download speeds

The NovaGo, which Asus is billing as the world’s first gigabit LTE-capable laptop, was unveiled by CEO Jerry Shen at this week’s second annual Snapdragon Technology Summit in Maui, Hawaii.

In recent years, the rise of the smartphone has raised our expectations when it comes to the availability of internet access. There was once a time when it was assumed that mobile connectivity would be slower and less stable than a home Wi-Fi connection – but a new wave of always on, always connected hardware is attempting to change things.

The Asus NovaGo boasts a gigabit Qualcomm Snapdragon X16 LTE modem. The company claims that this allows the device to deliver download speeds that are better than typical home Wi-Fi can manage – a two-hour movie can reportedly be downloaded in as little as 10 seconds.

The laptop is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 mobile PC processor. It can operate for up to 22 hours on a single charge, and last for 30 days in its modern standby mode. It also features a built-in eSIM to ensure users aren’t caught short when traveling internationally.

“Today marks the beginning of a new era of personal computing, and ASUS is very proud to be paving the way with Qualcomm Technologies and other partners to develop this new landscape for ‘always connected’ Windows on Snapdragon PCs,” said Shen at the event. “The Asus NovaGo reinvents the concept of laptop connectivity and productivity — it’s the world’s first laptop that is connected anywhere, at any time, with the new gigabit LTE network.”

The NovaGo is part of what’s being described as a new category of computers that are always on and always connected. While improving upon what might be expected of mobile internet connectivity, these systems also aim to imitate the convenience of a smartphone.

Users can wake the NovaGo from sleep mode at the touch of a button, and the laptop will be ready for action in the same way a smartphone would be. While it’s asleep, it will wake up intermittently to check for emails and notifications, and perform other similar tasks.

The introduction of touch interfaces and 2-in-1 form factors has had a huge impact on the Windows laptop market. Now, we’re seeing manufacturers take further inspiration from smartphones in terms of connectivity and sophisticated sleep modes – and the results could help us be more productive.

Asus is offering two configurations, starting with the $599 version which comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The second configuration starts at $799 and comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Qualcomm unveils a new chipset and 5G reference design at an event in Hong Kong
• Forget Wi-Fi hotspots, the Surface Pro with LTE Advanced can get online anywhere
• Tune in here for Qualcomm’s December 5 Snapdragon Technology Summit keynote
• Google Pixel vs. Pixel 2: What difference does a year make?
• HTC U11 Life vs. Moto X4: Who rules the midrange smartphone market?

HP’s Envy x2 claims longest battery life of any detachable Windows PC

The newly announced HP Envy x2 is designed to be the most portable, connected device yet released by the company. Packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4G LTE connectivity, and up to 20 hours of battery life, HP is offering reliable internet access wherever you go and for as long as you want.

As impressed as we were with the Surface Book 2’s 15+ hour battery life, HP’s Envy x2 heads to new heights with its claimed 20-hour rating. In fact HP goes so far as to claim that it’s the world’s longest battery life in a detachable Windows PC. There may be others who would contend that — especially in ideal scenarios — but it’s certainly an impressive keystone feature of the new HP convertible tablet.

A big part of that efficiency is the use of a mobile processor in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835. The HP Envy x2, along with the Asus NovaGo, is one of the first laptops announced to use that chip. Other specifications include a 12.3-inch diagonal 1,920 x 1,200 display, 8GB of LPDDR4X memory, and up to 256GB of solid-state storage.

As a “detachable PC,” you can break off the keyboard to put the device into tablet mode, as well as sit in laptop mode at 110 to 150 degrees for different typing configurations. The keyboard is backlit to aid typing in darkened environments and has a short, 1.3mm travel distance to facilitate faster input.

Another major component of HP’s sales pitch for the Envy x2 is its connectivity. Along with support for the latest Wi-Fi standards, it can also connect to wireless data without that local connection. With 4G LTE-Advanced support, it can get high-speed broadband internet just about wherever you want to go, with support for slower speeds when in less well-connected parts of the world.

The operating system the convertible tablet ships with is Windows 10 S, which is more streamlined than other versions of the operating system. That does mean however, that it only supports Windows Store applications, among other restrictions.

The entire physical footprint of the HP Envy x2 is a small one, as you might expect for a device aimed at portability. Weighing in at just 1.54 pounds, the aluminum frame measures in at just shy of 7mm at its thinnest point when in tablet mode. The keyboard itself weighs 1.12 pounds, so the entire device is still under 3 pounds with keyboard attached.

The HP Envy x2 is slated to go on sale in the spring of 2018, with pricing and other information set to be announced closer to that time.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Battle of the beautiful: How does the Pixelbook stack up to the MacBook Pro?
• Japan focusing on a curious demographic with driverless cars — senior citizens
• 8K Flexwarm heated jackets are completely controlled with your smartphone
• How to turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in iOS 11
• Pioneer’s ClipWear Active earbuds are designed to withstand any workout

Super-efficient Windows laptops powered by Qualcomm phone chips are here

More details about the upcoming Snapdragon-powered laptops have emerged at the Qualcomm Snapdragon Technology Summit hosted in Maui, Hawaii. This includes the details about two specific models that will soon be on store shelves – the Asus NovaGo and HP Envy x2.

The laptops are the result of a collaboration between Qualcomm and Microsoft that was first announced in December of 2016. At the time, Microsoft teased a build of Windows 10 running on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 processor. The launch platform has since been upgraded to the newer, more advanced Snapdragon 835.

Always Connected

While the hardware has changed, Qualcomm’s talking points haven’t. The company has given Windows laptops with Snapdragon hardware the name “Always Connected PCs” for a simple and obvious reason – they have built-in LTE. While laptops with AMD and Intel hardware can have use LTE, it’s available only through an optional adapter that often adds $100 (or more) to the final price. Laptops with Snapdragon 835, meanwhile, will offer LTE by default. Though it is possible to leave the store without a mobile contract, representatives from Qualcomm say that the carrier deals will be so “juicy” that they expect most people will want to sign up.

Qualcomm is also using battery life to champion its chip. The company says Always Connected PCs will manage up to 25 hours of battery life. That figure is reached through some creative use case scenarios that include standby time, so continual real-world use many not reach that lofty figure. Still, there’s no doubt that Snapdragon, which is primarily targeted at smartphones, sips power. It seems likely to give Intel real competition in marathon sessions away from a socket.

The real test for the new Always Connected PCs, though, will be performance. Digital Trends has not been able to benchmark them yet, but leaked tests of Windows 10 running on Qualcomm hardware sparked concern.

Whatever the final results may be, even Qualcomm admits that it can’t go toe-to-toe with AMD and Intel hardware. Its own performance metrics show that certain tasks, like opening a PDF or installing Skype, can take up to twice as long as on a “competitor” 2-in-1. Yet the company’s figures show that other tasks, like launching a browser or using Cortana, take no more time on Snapdragon hardware.

The argument, unsurprisingly, is that Qualcomm-powered laptops will be quick enough for most users. Always Connected PCs will be fanless, too, yet can manage lower external temperatures than most laptops. We don’t think that’s a selling point for most people, but it’s certainly a bonus.

Performance might also be helped by Windows 10 S. Both the laptops unveiled today come with it installed, rather than Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Home. First introduced on the Surface Laptop, Windows 10 S is a version of the operating system that only runs Windows Store applications. That means it can’t run legacy programs which might not be well optimized for the new Qualcomm hardware. Like the Surface Laptop, representatives say that the devices can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro or Home, though it’s not clear if the upgrade will be free.

Asus NovaGo

The first Always Connected PC from Asus will be its NovaGo, which is essentially a Zenbook Flip sold under another name. The 13-inch device includes a 360-degree hinge and a 1080p touchscreen, so it can be used as either tablet or laptop. It’s as thin and light as you’d expect at 0.58 inches thick and just a hair over three pounds. Battery life is quoted at an impressive 22 hours.

Asus has joined the Snapdragon 835 processor with impressive hardware including 8GB of memory and 256GB of solid state storage, which will cost $799. Asus also offers a $599 model with 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage. Wireless connectivity is provided by a Qualcomm’s X16 LTE mode, but 802.11ac Wi-Fi is also supported.

Connection options include two USB-A ports (3.1), HDMI, a MicroSD card, and a headphone jack. No USB-C port here, but a stylus does comes with the system.

HP Envy x2

HP’s option is a slightly smaller device with a 12.3-inch touchscreen covered by Corning Gorilla Glass 4. It boasts 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, a slight improvement over the Asus that reflects the HP’s 16:10 aspect ratio.

Also unlike the Asus, HP’s Envy x2 is a detachable, which means the display separates entirely from the keyboard to become a standalone tablet – and that later half seems to be what HP wants to focus on. The company says it’s just 0.27 inches thick and weighs only 1.54 pounds, which is both lighter and thinner than the Surface Pro. The keyboard itself weighs an additional 1.12 pounds.

HP is eager to point to the keyboard’s benefits, however. Wrapped in oxford blue leather, it offers a touch of class to the look of the device. The company promises 1.3mm of key travel, which is comparable to many laptops. A kickstand on the back of the case holds the HP Envy x2 in place for laptop use. A stylus is included, too.

Despite the internal differences, HP Envy x2’s innards almost identical to the Asus NovaGo. It includes 8GB of memory, 256GB of solid state storage, and a Qualcomm X16 LTE mode alongside 802.11ac Wi-Fi. Port selection does seem more limited, though – we spotted just one USB-C port and a headphone jack. Battery life is also a tad shorter, quoted at 20 hours of 1080p video.

Partnership with AMD

In a bit of a surprise, an executive from AMD took the stage to announce a partnership with Qualcomm. He talked through AMD’s year of Ryzen CPU launches and the company’s “return” to the high-end desktop market.

Now AMD is bringing high-performance CPUs to the notebook PC market and joining in on the always-connected LTE line from Qualcomm. The exact products weren’t named, but AMD is talking about a technical collaboration that combines its high-performance CPUs and Qualcomm’s always-connected modems. AMD says it’s been testing this combination and is working with manufacturers to produce these LTE, high-performance PCs.

Clearly, Qualcomm has established partnerships across the board to create a line that includes both entry-level and high-performance laptops.

How much do they cost, and when can you get one?

Asus’ NovaGo starts at just $599, while the HP Envy X2 hasn’t announced pricing just quite yet.

The only laptops that have processors somewhat like Snapdragon are entry-level Chromebooks, and clearly some manufacturers are shooting for that lower price point. On the other hand, the HP Envy x2 looks positioned as a luxury device rather than an entry-level computer.

We know a little more about availability, as these systems are expected in Spring of 2018. That’s still a few months off and, importantly, well after CES 2018, which happens in the second week of January. Qualcomm mentioned that Lenovo, in particular, will be producing laptops in the Always Connected PC line and showing them off at CES. We expect to see more precise details, including pricing, at that show, and we’d be shocked if a few other manufacturers don’t jump on-board Qualcomm’s bandwagon in Vegas.

Editors’ Recommendations

• HP’s Envy x2 claims longest battery life of any detachable Windows PC
• Asus NovaGo, the first gigabit LTE-capable laptop, promises fast download speeds
• Tune in here for Qualcomm’s December 5 Snapdragon Technology Summit keynote
• Leaked benchmarks for new Windows 10 laptops show meager performance
• Microsoft job listing hints at Surface device with a Snapdragon 845 chip

Scientists can now track shark migration just by analyzing DNA in the water

Right off the top of our head, we could give you a list of 500 things we would rather do than catching and tagging a live shark. That is probably just as well since the current methods of baiting, hooking and monitoring sharks and other large fish is invasive and often prohibitively expensive. Fortunately, it may no longer be the only way of monitoring shark populations around the world.

According to research coming out of the U.K.’s University of Salford, an alternative approach involves nothing more than taking a water sample in a particular area and then checking it for shark presence. That is because these samples regularly contain environmental DNA (eDNA), providing identifiable “tracks” for numerous species of shark — via tiny skin fragments, excretions, blood, and more.

“It’s very similar to when a forensics team with the police tries to analyze DNA on a crime scene,” Stefano Mariani, professor of conservation genetics at the University of Salford, told Digital Trends. “They are trying to match that DNA to potential suspects. It’s the same idea. We are looking for traces of shark DNA that we can sequence and match to known species. This can be done to all different species, but it is particularly useful in the case of sharks because they are big, they are rare, they move a lot, and they are difficult to handle. The idea of filtering the water to determine their presence was, therefore, an attractive one.”

The team which carried out the study took water samples in four sites in the Caribbean, and three in the Pacific Ocean’s Coral Sea. Using its method of “metabarcoding,” it was able to demonstrate a proof of concept for the breakthrough — including identifying 11 different species of shark in the heavily populated Bahamas.

At present, Mariani said that the water samples have to be analyzed on mainland labs, although the idea of mobile labs that could carry this out on-site is not out of the question in the future. He also noted that the technique is not a perfect replacement for current monitoring methods, although it is a lot cheaper and could be a good source of data collection in its own right.

“There are still questions that you cannot hope to address with this technique — such as whether the sharks are male or female, adult or juvenile, local or just passing along a migration route,” he said. “But if you want a quick level giving information about shark presence over a wide area, in a way that is repeatable over time, this is the most suitable method.”

A paper describing the work was recently published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Innovative suction robot is designed to hitchhike on the side of a shark
• An Apple Watch helps a kitesurfer escape great white-infested waters
• Robotics startup could fight Zika by dumping mosquitoes from a drone
• Keychain device warns of dangerous allergens in your food before you eat it
• Tweet-analyzing algorithm can detect depression sooner than a human doctor

The XLuMee iPhone cases are thin enough to work with wireless charging

For iPhone X owners who want to step up their selfie game, LuMee’s latest release might be your solution. The company behind a line of illuminated smartphone cases has officially debuted two new cases made specifically for Apple’s flagship device.

This time around, the LuMee Duo X and LuMee Selfie cases for the iPhone X both have a 15-percent thinner design — specifically for wireless charging. With most wireless charging pads, your case can’t be thicker than 3 millimeters. A new button placement on the back of the case allows for the wireless charging to pass through, which means you’ll no longer have to take the case off.

For some, not having to struggle to take the LuMee case off your phone every time you want to wirelessly charge it may come as a relief. The common issue has even been addressed via a how-to video released by the company, demonstrating two different ways to properly take it off. Thankfully, the new iPhone X cases also come with softer rails for easier removal.

As with the original LuMee Duo, the iPhone X version comes with front and back-facing LED lights on both sides of the case. With four LEDs on the back, your photos taken using the rear-facing camera will always be well-lit. If you don’t need as much light, the LuMee Selfie for iPhone X has two rows of LED lighting on the front case.

The LuMee Duo case is available for pre-order on the company’s site in four different color variants — Rose Matte, Black Matte, Pearl White, and White Marble, for $70. It will ship the last week of December and arrive by January 1. The LuMee Selfie case will be available for pre-order later this month in Black Marble and Pink Quartz for $50.

Along with the new iPhone X cases, LuMee is also releasing the LuMee Power Light — a power charger with an LED lighting panel and USB-C charging port. The Power Light is especially useful for those who need additional light, since it features strobe light effects and dimming capabilities. But it won’t be available for purchase until December 15, for $50 in both Rose and Black.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Grovemade unveils a beautiful new Wireless Charging Pad
• Apple iPhone X vs. LG V30: Battle of the bezel-less beauties
• The all-screen Apple iPhone X is here, and it’s the new iPhone you’ll want
• Bose enters the world of fully wireless earbuds with the SoundSport Free
• Want to look awesome while live-streaming? The Asus ZenFone V Live can help

IBM’s new A.I. predicts chemical reactions, could revolutionize drug development

From building the Deep Blue computer that beat Garry Kasparov at chess to the Watson artificial intelligence (A.I.) that won Jeopardy, IBM has been responsible for some high-profile public demonstrations of A.I. in action. Its latest showcase is less high concept, but potentially far more transformative — applying machine learning technology to the subject of organic chemistry.

As described in a new research paper, the A.I. chemist is able to predict chemical reactions in a way that could be incredibly important for fields like drug discovery. To do this, it uses a highly detailed data set of knowledge on 395,496 different reactions taken from thousands of research papers published over the years.

Teo Laino, one of the researchers on the project from IBM Research in Zurich, told Digital Trends that it is a great example of how A.I. can draw upon large quantities of knowledge that would be astonishingly difficult for a human to master — particularly when it needs to be updated all the time.

“When I was a student, it was still possible to spend one afternoon a week in the library, and to have an overview of all the articles that were being officially published in journals,” he said. “Nowadays that is nearly impossible — even if you use filters to make sure that every article is relevant to me, there is just not enough time. A system that can leverage a big mass of information in organic chemistry is therefore incredibly useful. That was the motivation from an inspirational point of view.”

The IBM project approaches the subject of organic chemistry in a slightly unusual way — by modelling reaction predictions on algorithms more commonly used for carrying out Google Translate-style machine translation. By learning the “syntax” of reactions, it is able to predict the correct outcome 80 percent of the time. While that’s not perfect, it’s nonetheless an incredibly useful tool for cutting down on the amount of time required to research the millions of chemical reactions that have not previously been documented.

“Whenever you talk about AI systems, people have fears about being replaced,” Laino said. “That’s not the case here. The way we envisage this being used, whether it’s academic or commercial application, is by augmenting the abilities of human beings.”

At present, the tool is not publicly available, although that will change in the early part of the new year. For now, you can register your interest online, which will ensure you receive a notification as soon as the service goes live. “The plan is to make it available in three months time, and definitely before the end of the first quarter next year,” said Laino.

Editors’ Recommendations

• From CERN to the ISS, here are 9 big tech projects that changed the world
• IBM and MIT are working together to make sure A.I. isn’t our downfall
• This is what happens when A.I. tries to reimagine Stanley Kubrick’s films
• Tweet-analyzing algorithm can detect depression sooner than a human doctor
• Unleashing hungry bacteria on our landfills could produce tons of natural gas

AI.type virtual keyboard leaks personal data for 31 million Android users

Yeah, this isn’t good.

Third-party keyboards on Android have been tremendously popular for years, and one of the biggest ones – AI.type – recently had personal data leaked online for 31 million people that have downloaded it according to Kromtech Security Center. Seeing as how that’s 77.5% of AI.type’s 40 million global users, there’s a good chance your data is at stake if you use or have used the app in the past.

How in the world did this happen?

AI.type’s main server is owned and run by Co-Founder Eitan Fitusi, and despite having over 577GB worth of user data on it, the server wasn’t protected by any sort of password. Only personal data for Android users is apparently stored, and while Fitusi has since secured the server, it clearly wasn’t done fast enough.

According to ZDNet, personal data that’s been leaked includes the following:

• Full name of users
• Email addresses
• Phone numbers
• Cell phone service provider name
• IP address
• ISP name
• Info from Google accounts (DOB, photos, gender)
• City and country of residency
• IMSI and IMEI numbers
• Make/model of device(s) app was installed on

Users of the free version of AI.type appear to have more data collected than those that opted for the paid version, and this is something that AI.type consciously does per its privacy policy as a way to make money with more personalized ads.

Users of the free version of AI.type are at a greater risk.

Along with the leak, we also get to see that AI.type might not have been so truthful with claims of its users’ privacy being its “main concern.”

Text entered using AI.type is recorded and then saved for an undisclosed amount of time and emails, passwords, and other sensitive information are saved by those using the keyboard despite AI.type claiming to “never share your data or learn from password fields.”

Speaking to ZDNet, Head of Communications at Kromtech Security Center, Bob Diachenko, said:

Theoretically, it is logical that anyone who has downloaded and installed the Ai.Type virtual keyboard on their phone has had all of their phone data exposed publicly online. This presents a real danger for cyber criminals who could commit fraud or scams using such detailed information about the user.

In other words, if you’ve ever used AI.type, you have reason to be concerned right now.

YouTube won’t be available on Fire TV or Echo Show starting January 1

Google and Amazon’s war rages on.

When the Echo Show first launched, one of its biggest draws was the ability to watch YouTube on it. Google pulled the YouTube app from the Show in September claiming that it didn’t follow the company’s terms of service, but in late November, YouTube made an appearance on the Show once again in the form of a web browser. Now, Google is striking back even harder.

A spokeswoman for Google recently talked with CNET and announced that YouTube would be disappearing from not only the Echo Show on January 1, but also all of Amazon’s Fire TV devices.

Per the spokeswoman:

We’ve been trying to reach agreement with Amazon to give consumers access to each other’s products and services, but Amazon doesn’t carry Google products like Chromecast and Google Home, doesn’t make Prime Video available for Google Cast users, and last month stopped selling some of Nest’s latest products.

Followed up by:

Given this lack of reciprocity, we are no longer supporting YouTube on Echo Show and FireTV. We hope we can reach an agreement to resolve these issues soon.

The removal of YouTube from the Echo Show was already a big enough pain when it first happened, but eliminating YouTube from Amazon’s much more popular Fire TV products will likely hurt the company quite a bit more. I don’t know about you, but if I had a Fire TV, this would be reason enough for me to jump ship to something like Roku or Android TV.

If you’re heavily invested in Amazon’s digital video services and the removal of YouTube is a deal-breaker, you have other options out there. All Roku devices can access the Amazon Video app, and on the Android TV side of things, the NVIDIA Shield TV is still your only way for consuming Amazon content.

It’s unclear how long YouTube will remain absent from the Echo Show and Fire TV, but in any case, this is not good news for Amazon fans.

Amazon Fire TV

• What’s new on Amazon Prime Video
• Read our full review!
• Get the latest news
• Join the discussion

Buy at Amazon