Facebook restricts how you can search for other people

Facebook is attempting to make things right with its users after the Cambridge Analytica scandal. In a blog post, the social network’s CTO Mike Schroepfer admitted the fiasco may have exposed 87 million individuals’ data — and he outlined how that won’t happen again. As part of those security adjustments, Facebook is disabling one feature that could have contributed to the mess: Enabling anyone to search users by phone number.

People used this feature to easily look up their friends, which was handy when in a language that took effort to type out a full name or pick between multiple accounts with the same name, Facebook’s blog post noted. But ‘malicious actors’ have abused it to scrape publicly-available information, usually by dropping in phone numbers or emails into the search box and connecting them to the profile that surfaced, the social media company said.

And this might have had huge implications: “Given the scale and sophistication of the activity we’ve seen, we believe most people on Facebook could have had their public profile scraped in this way,” the post read. The platform shut down this search by phone/email feature and will change how users recover their account to reduce the risk of scraping.

Source: Facebook

Louis Vuitton now sells a pricey tracker for your designer luggage

Earlier this year, an FCC filing suggested Louis Vuitton was working on a luggage tracker that could pair with some of its bags. That device is now available. The Louis Vuitton Echo, as it’s called, pairs with the luxury designer’s Horizon luggage line and when inserted inside a dedicated elastic band, it can detect when the bag is opened. It’s also powered by Sigfox’s Monarch service, which lets devices like the Echo transmit data through a range of radio frequencies in airports around the world, meaning the tracker will work internationally.

The Louis Vuitton Echo is just over four inches long, under an inch wide and just over half an inch deep. You can see a full list of which airports support the Sigfox technology that powers the Echo here, and when luggage is within those airports, users can monitor where their bags are and see if they’ve been opened through the LV Pass app. The device has a six-month battery life and comes with three years of Sigfox service. However, the Louis Vuitton Echo is, naturally, a bit pricey. It costs $370 and is available now.

Source: Sigfox, Louis Vuitton

Apple Releases First Beta of macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 to Public Beta Testers

Apple today released the first beta of an upcoming macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 update to public beta testers, one day after seeding the update to developers and one week after releasing macOS High Sierra 10.13.4.

Beta testers who have signed up for Apple’s beta testing program will be able to download the new macOS High Sierra beta through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.

Those who want to be a part of Apple’s beta testing program can sign up to participate through the beta testing website, which gives users access to iOS, macOS, and tvOS betas.

macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 once again introduces support for Messages on iCloud, a feature that was present in macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 betas but pulled ahead of the release of the updated software.

Messages on iCloud is designed to let you store iMessages in iCloud, keeping your incoming messages synced across devices and allowing you to save valuable storage space on your devices.

No other major outward-facing changes were discovered in the first developer beta, but the update likely includes bug fixes and improvements to address issues discovered in macOS High Sierra 10.13.4.

Related Roundup: macOS High Sierra
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iPhone Slowdown Lawsuits Ordered to Be Centralized in Northern California District Court

Apple’s legal battle against dozens of iPhone slowdown class action lawsuits will take place in a courtroom near its headquarters.

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation today disclosed it has ordered [PDF] all iPhone slowdown lawsuits to be transferred to the U.S. District Court for Northern California and, with the consent of that court, assigned to the Honorable Judge Edward J. Davila for consolidated pretrial proceedings.

More than half of the 61 lawsuits—and counting—were filed in the Northern District of California to begin with, so centralization of the remaining complaints filed in other states should help to streamline the legal process.

An excerpt from the order:

These actions share factual questions arising from allegations that Apple included code in updates to its mobile operating system (iOS) that significantly reduced the performance of older-model iPhones. Plaintiffs also allege that Apple misrepresented the nature of the iOS updates and failed to adequately disclose to iPhone owners the impact the iOS updates would have on the performance of their iPhones.

Discovery regarding the engineering of the iPhone and the iOS updates likely will be technical and complex. Plaintiffs assert similar causes of action for false advertising, alleged unfair business practices, trespass to chattels, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment. Moreover, plaintiffs bring these actions on behalf of overlapping putative classes of iPhone owners.

The first lawsuit was filed in late December, after Apple revealed that it throttles the maximum performance of some older iPhone models with chemically aged batteries when necessary in order to prevent the devices from unexpectedly shutting down. The changes were first introduced in iOS 10.2.1.

Apple didn’t mention the change when iOS 10.2.1 was first released, and in a statement issued a month later, it still only mentioned vague “improvements” resulting in a significant reduction in unexpected shutdowns.

Apple only revealed exactly what the so-called “improvements” were after Primate Labs founder John Poole visualized that some iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 devices suddenly had lower benchmark scores starting with iOS 10.2.1 and iOS 11.2 respectively, despite operating at maximum performance on previous versions.

Apple apologized for its lack of communication in December, and reduced the price of battery replacements to $29 for iPhone 6 and newer through the end of 2018. Apple also released iOS 11.3 earlier this week with a new feature that enables users to track their iPhone battery’s health and performance status.

Moreover, when users first install iOS 11.3, all performance management features that might have been enabled are automatically disabled. If an unexpected shutdown occurs, however, the performance management is turned back on and must be disabled manually thereafter—although Apple doesn’t recommend it.

In addition to the lawsuits, Apple has also faced questions from government officials and consumer protection groups in the United States, Canada, France, South Korea, and a handful of other countries.

We’ve already answered many frequently asked questions about Apple’s power management process, which can be avoided entirely by replacing your iPhone’s battery if necessary. Read our guide on how to get an iPhone’s battery replaced at an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider.

Related Roundups: iPhone 7, iPhone SETag: iPhone SlowdownBuyer’s Guide: iPhone 8 (Neutral), iPhone SE (Don’t Buy), iPhone 8 (Neutral)
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Facebook Details Several Privacy Changes Coming in the Wake of Cambridge Analytica Scandal

Facebook Chief Technology Officer Mike Shroepfer today wrote a blog post outlining several changes that are being made to Facebook APIs to limit the amount of data apps can collect from Facebook users.

Changes are being made to the Events, Groups, and Pages API to cut down on what apps can see. With the Events API, for example, apps will no longer be able to access attendees or posts on the event wall, and the Groups API will no longer provide member lists or names associated with posts or comments.

Facebook will also now need to approve third-party access to both Groups and Pages APIs, and, as mentioned previously, all apps that access information like check-ins, photos, posts, and videos. Apps will no longer be able to see religious or political views, relationship status, education, work history, and tons more, all of which was previously readily available.

It is also no longer possible to search for a person’s phone number or email address to locate them on Facebook. Facebook says “malicious actors” have used this feature to “scrape public profile information” using data pulled from search and account recovery options.

For Android users, Facebook had been collecting call and message logs to enable Messenger features. Facebook says it will delete all logs older than a year and will upload less data to its servers going forward.

Starting next Monday, Facebook will also introduce a link at the top of the News Feed to let all users see what apps are installed and what information has been shared with those apps to make it easy for less technically savvy users to remove apps.

The Facebook privacy changes come in the wake of the ongoing Cambridge Analytica scandal, where Cambridge Analytica used personal data acquired from Facebook in an illicit manner by a third-party app to create targeted political advertisements during the 2016 election.

Originally, Facebook said Cambridge Analytica was able to collect data on 50 million Facebook users, but today, Facebook clarified that it actually had access to the Facebook data from up to 87 million people, with 70 million of those in the United States.

Tag: Facebook
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Fixd review: Your own mobile grease monkey

As automobiles continue to get smarter, we see less of that old stereotypical grease monkey mechanic looking under the hood as he tries to diagnose issues. Today it’s much easier for someone to troubleshoot a car or isolate a problem. What with computers and all, it’s often as simple as plugging into a device and waiting for a readout.

We’re in an era where it’s also easier for car owners to figure out what’s wrong with their automobile. Forget asking Uncle Dave to drive it around and see if he can find the problem. Today we get the luxury of knowing what’s up, even without asking a single person.

For some of us, the sudden presence of a “check engine” light can be quite scary. Are you gonna break down in the middle of your commute? What exactly has gone bad? Will you be dropping hundreds of dollars to fix a problem? Is this because you ignored other warning signs or might it be something brand new? It’s hard to know for certain what’s behind that vague symbol.

Fixd is an interesting solution in that it’s comprised of both hardware and software. Offered by Georgia-based Fixd Automotive, it gives users actionable and often very helpful information about their vehicle. It tells you what you might expect to find at a mechanic or dealer.

In short, the hardware plugs directly into your car’s OBD-II port and the software is handled via a mobile app. The Fixd sensor draws off of the power of the car and does not need to be charged.

Using either the Android or iOS app you will find that your phone pairs to the sensor via Bluetooth. After that you’re off and running and able to pull diagnostics.

The OBD-II port is found under the dashboard or in the glove box in many cars; you must have one from 1996 or newer for the Fixd to work. Interestingly enough, it does work with hybrid vehicles, too.

via: Fixd

Fixd can identify thousands or potential issues across pretty much all cars from the last two decades. Whether it’s a sensor that’s gone bad or engine oil temperature or something else, it can narrow down your problem. Sometimes these issues can resolve themselves or go away with minor adjustments.

Fixd won’t break down every indicator light across your dashboard but it’s more than adequate to point you in the proper direction. It can be used, though, to clear out a few lights in the console.

Considering the cost, it’s cheaper than taking a vehicle in for a once-over at the mechanic. Not only that, but it can be used for scheduled maintenance, too. Fixd can identify the major milestones for vehicles and alert you when it’s time for key preventive treatment.

Instead of giving you a specific code or technical readout, Fixd tells you the severity of the issue and what the potential consequence is if you continuing to drive. On one hand it could just be less efficient gas mileage; on the other it could be something much more serious. The app lists them in a tab and provides descriptions of each.

The Fixd app can work with multiple cars but requires additional sensors. Put one in each of your family’s vehicles and you’ll have one central hub to check on diagnostics and preventative maintenance.

We were sent a Fixd unit for review and, regretfully sat on it too long. Had we known how easy it was to use and how helpful it would be for regular maintenance and checkups we’d have put it weeks back. Instead, we waited until we had a check engine light situation in one of our cars.

Upon running the diagnostics we were alerted to five total issues, a few of which were electrical in nature. The Fixd app told us were looking at a specific bank and that one problem was O2-related.

After spending a day or so at the mechanic we learned that, indeed, these were the problems. The garage was able to dive deeper and help explain things to us, but we were more than happy with what Fixd gave us ahead of time.

For around $60 we definitely recommend picking up a Fixd unit. It’s cheaper than most one-time diagnostics, and it can also be used to help keep your vehicle regularly maintained.

Learn more about Fixd at its website; the device can also be purchased for about $59.99 at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.

Apple’s latest hire should see Siri get seriously smarter

John Giannandrea speaking in 2017. TechCrunch

A day after news broke of John Giannandrea’s departure from Google, it has emerged that the artificial intelligence (A.I.) and search specialist has gone to Apple in what is widely seen as a coup for the tech giant.

The 53-year-old Scot will head up Apple’s “machine learning and A.I. strategy,” according to the NY Times, with efforts expected to focus on improving Siri, its digital assistant. Apple is currently embarked on a hiring spree for software engineers as the company seeks to enhance Siri so it can compete more effectively with rival digital assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant.

At a TechCrunch event in September 2017, Apple’s latest hire described computers as “incredibly powerful” but also “pretty dumb … I think we need to work hard to make them fulfill the potential that they have and so that means teaching them to be smarter.”

Giannandrea continued, “Technology should augment the human intellect, not replace it. It should be a powerful tool to help us think better, and I think that is really the journey we are on.”

Discussing where he believes technology is heading, the executive also described the likelihood of “pervasive computing” that’s personalized, where computing power is built into the infrastructure throughout the environment instead of taken with us in a device like a smartphone. He pointed to the Google Home smart speaker as an early indication of what’s coming, though now that he’s at Apple, his attention will be firmly fixed on advancing Apple’s recently released, Siri-enabled smart speaker, the HomePod.

The NY Times learned of Giannandrea’s move to Apple via an internal email sent by CEO Tim Cook to employees.

“Our technology must be infused with the values we all hold dear,” the CEO wrote, adding, “John shares our commitment to privacy and our thoughtful approach as we make computers even smarter and more personal.”

Giannandrea spent eight years at Google, and was instrumental in incorporating A.I. features into a range of its offerings, among them Search, Gmail, and Google Assistant.

He arrived at the web giant from a San Francisco-based startup called Metaweb where he worked as its chief technology officer. Metaweb described itself as an “open, shared database of the world’s knowledge” and was acquired by Google in 2010, bringing Giannandrea into the company in the process.

Giannandrea will become one of 16 Apple executives reporting directly to Tim Cook.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Alexa, you’re great. But please stay away from my PC
• Google Assistant will soon let you set Routines to help optimize your life
• Bothering the bots: Funny questions and commands to pose to Google Assistant
• Amazon is reportedly designing its own A.I. chips to make Alexa respond faster
• Everything you need to know about Google Assistant

Watch this delivery drone crash into a building on its maiden flight

Ah, so this is why the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proceeding with caution when it comes to regulating commercial drones.

A demonstration in the Russian city of Ulan-Ude this week was supposed to showcase a safe and efficient drone delivery system, but its maiden flight didn’t quite go according to plan, Reuters reported.

A video (below) of the event shows that within seconds of it taking off, the custom-built octocopter appeared to malfunction before careering at speed into the side of an apartment block and crashing to the ground. Fortunately no one was hurt when it came down, though the video shows that it was clearly a close call.

Russia’s first postal drone takes its maiden flight – and crashes straight into a wall. More from @ReutersTV: https://t.co/4WEQdacXFY pic.twitter.com/StcBC1DKJ1

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) April 3, 2018

The plan had been to send the $20,000 drone and its package to an address in the sparsely populated Buryatia region. But after the hefty-looking flying machine hit the building, it was only going to go in one direction. Down.

With the “Russian Post” logo emblazoned on the launchpad and also stuck on the side of the package, you’d be forgiven for thinking the event had been sponsored by that very organization. But according to Reuters, Russian Post appeared keen to disown the demonstration before the dust had even settled, claiming it was simply a guest at the event rather than an active participant.

One of the officials who witnessed the crash claimed that multiple Wi-Fi connections in the area could have disrupted the drone’s flight systems, causing it to lose control.

The official is reported to have said that the team behind the technology will “keep trying,” adding, “Those who don’t risk don’t get a result.”

The disastrous demonstration highlights the kinds of challenges engineers face when it comes to building a reliable, efficient, and safe drone delivery platform.

Amazon, which was one of the first companies to suggest the idea back in 2013, has been working diligently to create a system using autonomous drones, but before it can start flying items from its warehouses to customers, it must first convince the FAA that it can operate without incidents like this.

While the Russian effort clearly came a cropper, let’s not forget there have been plenty of successful drone delivery demonstrations over the past few years, with a range of unmanned flying machines dropping off everything from pizza and donuts to medical supplies. Drone delivery is coming, but it’s not quite ready for prime time.

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• Airbus’ delivery drone takes packages to ‘parcel stations’ run by robots
• DJI creates no-fly zones for Winter Olympics to prevent rogue drone flights
• Lawmakers discussing proposal that would allow cops to take over drones
• Stanford students are trying to design the perfect delivery drone
• Drone pilot gets hefty fine after flying his machine over an Ed Sheeran concert

DARPA is seeking new ideas for how drones can be used in combat

While single-use drones are nothing new to the military, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is getting serious about using groups of drones as a way to complement traditional ground forces. DARPA’s Offensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics has announced the beginning of its second sprint, where it rapidly solicits new ideas based a single idea. This sprint’s theme will focus on autonomy.

The military is seeking ideas on how to improve its drone technology, whether it be in the area of sensors, controls, or propulsion. Currently, DARPA is aiming to create teams of 50 air and ground robots to complement traditional ground troops who are engaging in battle in urban environments. The drones will need to be able to operate within an area of two-square blocks on missions lasting from 15 to 30 minutes.

The specific goals of these drone units will vary from mission to mission, but will be based around the concept of isolating objectives within urban environment. These goals can include information gathering, creating maps of urban environments, and defending against or identifying vulnerabilities.

“As operations in urban environments continue to evolve, our warfighters need advanced capabilities to keep up with the ever-changing complexity of the urban scenario,” said DARPA’s Timothy Chung. “The focus on enhancing autonomy in operational contexts will further advance future swarming capabilities allowing the warfighter to outmaneuver our adversaries in these complex urban environments.”

While the aforementioned guidelines are a bit vague, they should provide a starting point for companies to determine whether or not their technology is going to be of use to the armed forces. The program’s submission guidelines are available on DARPA’s website.

While the military applications are certainly a growing area, drones, in general, have seen a lot of expansion in commercial areas. In Puerto Rico, power companies are making use of drones to help restore the island’s damaged power grid while keeping workers safe.

Walmart recently announced that it would be partnering with drone manufacturers to provide drones to its partner farms to help them better manage their fields. The company hopes this will make their partner farms more productive and ensure low prices for consumers.

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• Underwater swarms and sonar-bombing drones: Meet the deep-sea Xprize finalists
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• Airbus’ delivery drone takes packages to ‘parcel stations’ run by robots
• University of Michigan hopes new drone facility pushes students to great heights

How to clean and disinfect your Android smartphone

Regardless of the Android phone you’re carrying, make sure it’s clean enough for you — and your loved ones, too.

You’ve seen the statistics, but have you seen the evidence? Awhile back, Buzzfeed kept a lively bunch of Petri dishes colonized with the same bacteria found on the smartphones of several colleagues. The unfortunate discovery was that there were actual pathogens found on the phones; essentially, potentially disease-causing strains of bacteria.

Whether you’re a germaphobe, or someone who doesn’t mind a bit of rolling around in the dirt, surely we can all agree that anything that can potentially cause disease is bad news. There are some quick things you can do to keep your Android devices clean and disinfected, however, and free of what could be harmful to your health.

Make a cleaning kit

The necessities for cleaning your Android smartphone are actually quite basic.

You have a kit for all your various USB charging cables and gadgets that plug into your Android device, so why not make a kit for cleaning your smartphone? At home, stock up on 70% or higher rubbing alcohol, finely pointed cotton swabs, and a barrel of toothpicks. You can also grab a pack of microfiber cloths for less than $5 on Amazon, as well as a few cans of compressed air for less than $15.

Why not make a kit for cleaning your smartphone?

You’ll also want some sort of cleaning solution that will disinfect the phone.You can make your own cleaning solution with 8 ounces of rubbing alcohol and 8 ounces of distilled water inside a spray bottle. A 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and distilled water also works if you’re into keeping things relatively organic and don’t mind the intense smell of the vinegar.

If you aren’t about the DIY life, there are lens and screen kits on Amazon for $11 that should last you quite a while. Personally, this is the route I go.

See at Amazon

How to clean your Android phone

Every Android phone is different, but cleaning it is generally the same as cleaning any other mobile phone. There are ports, buttons, a screen, and an entire chassis that could all use a bit of a rubdown with some grime-cleaning solution.

Be careful not to puncture any speakers or wriggle any ports.

Grab a large, clean microfiber cloth or soft towel and lay it out. Or, you can quickly wipe over a substantial bit of table area with a winged out soapy sponge or towel. Just making sure the “operating” area is clean. Then, lay the phone down. Grab the can of compressed air and start blowing out the charging port, ensuring that whatever little particles are in there are flying up and out. (If you have trouble seeing, use the aid of a desk lamp and take off the shade for more light.) You can pump air into the rear speakers to clear them out, as dirt and gross particles also collect there.

If you see that there’s too much grossness to clear out with just the compressed air, grab a fine toothpick and carefully dig out the grime that’s causing you stress. Be careful not to puncture any speakers or wriggle any ports. If you see debris collecting elsewhere on the phone — like in the cracks around the frame, and in the top speaker grill — you can clear those out with a toothpick, too.

Cotton swabs can be helpful on the edges, but don’t use them inside ports or speaker grilles.

Spray your microfiber cloth with cleaning solution and wipe it down — as often as you possibly can.

Now that you’ve primed the device for disinfecting, grab your cleaning solution. Take a cotton swab and dip it inside the bottle of rubbing alcohol. Trace it around the edges, the buttons, and any other crevices of the chassis that require cleaning, but take heed not to use them inside ports or speaker grilles. Wipe it all off with the microfiber cloth when you’re finished. This is very important — do not ever put alcohol or vinegar on the glass parts of your phone. This is especially true of the front glass on your phone. This glass has a special oleophobic layer designed to make fingerprints easier to clean away. These cleaning solutions, while great for the metal or plastic parts of the phone, will cause that special layer to dissolve much faster than it would through normal daily use.

Cleaning on the go

For a quicker cleaning experience, a pre-moistened cleaning cloth is just as apt at cleaning your smartphone as the multi-tool cleaning process. Grab a brand like these Wireless Wipes, which smell nice and clean your device. Sephora also offers a batch of stylishly-packed screen cleansing towelettes for those who like a little flair with their cleaning supplies. Just make sure whatever you are using has a low or zero alcohol percentage to keep your display safe.

A pre-moistened cleaning cloth is just as apt at cleaning your smartphone.

Also, consider using hand sanitizer between meals and before touching your phone. Most of this grime comes from your fingers and pockets, remember! A little can go a long way, and I’ve often found that something as simple as a travel bottle of Purell hand sanitizer can work miracles at removing dirt from the fingers.

See at Amazon

Your methods

What are your methods for keeping your phone and other gadgets clean and germ-free? Let us know!

Updated April 2018: This article has been updated with new and improved tips for keeping your phone clean in every situation!