CarPlay Available in Acura ILX Starting With 2019 Model

Acura today debuted its all-new 2019 ILX compact sedan, complete with availability of CarPlay and Android Auto.

This is the first model year of the ILX available with factory installed CarPlay in the U.S., following in the footsteps of the 2017 and newer NSX, 2018 and newer MDX, 2018 and newer TLX, and 2019 RDX.

While the 2019 ILX is available with a stacked dual-screen setup, including a seven-inch capacitive touchscreen on the bottom, CarPlay is displayed on the top screen, which is controlled by in-car knobs only.

Like most automakers, Acura is using wired CarPlay, so an iPhone must be connected to the system with a Lightning to USB cable.

Acura provides a brief demo of CarPlay in the 2019 ILX in its teaser video for the vehicle, starting at the 25 second mark. Fine print in the video confirms that CarPlay is available on the Premium trim and above.

CarPlay enables iPhone users to access a range of apps from the dashboard, such as Messages, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Pandora, and WhatsApp. Google Maps and Waze are also supported as of iOS 12.

The 2019 Acura ILX will begin arriving at Acura dealerships across the U.S. in October. Pricing has not been disclosed.

Related Roundup: CarPlayTag: Acura
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MacPaw Launches CleanMyMac X With Smarter, Faster Mac Scanning and Cleaning

MacPaw today announced the launch of CleanMyMac X, an updated version of the CleanMyMac software that’s designed to help users get rid of unwanted files and clean up space on their Macs.

According to MacPaw, CleanMyMac X offers up a new Malware Removal option along with 14 tools for optimizing macOS. It also offers a Menu app for quick access to CleanMyMac X options, an extended Safety Database, and personalized cleanup tips.

A Smart Scan feature offers up a quick, complete scan of the Mac with options for Cleanup, Protection, and Speed to remove unnecessary system junk and malware while also offering performance optimization tips.

Scanning with CleanMyMac X is up to three times faster than the previous CleanMyMac 3 software, while the newly implemented Malware Removal tool will check for vulnerabilities and get rid of suspicious files.

An optimization module provides tools for managing login items, launch agents, and apps that are absorbing too many system resources, and a built-in assistant will provide explanations, reminders for regular checkups, and additional optimization steps that are meant to improve performance.

All of these tools are run when using the Smart Scan option, but there are also individual controls for cleaning up system junk, photo junk, mail attachments, trash bins, and iTunes junk.

Malware scans can also be conducted individually, as can optimization scans, and there is a built-in uninstaller and updater for application management.

MacPaw is charging $39.95 per year for a subscription to CleanMyMac X, or $89.95 for a one-time purchase, but the new software is also included in Setapp, MacPaw’s Mac software subscription service priced at $9.99 per month.

Setapp offers more than 100 apps for the $9.99 per month price tag, including titles like iStat Menus, Bartender, Ulysses, Canary Mail, and more.

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Germany Says ‘No Decision Made Yet’ Regarding Taxation of Digital Service Companies Including Apple

Germany today denied a report that claimed the finance ministry had given up on plans to introduce more taxes on certain “internet giants,” like Apple, Amazon, and Google. The taxes are related to a new proposal from the European Commission, which aims to make companies with “significant digital revenues” in Europe pay a three percent tax on such services in the EU (via Reuters).

While Germany “has long been cool” on the plans, a report from Bild recently claimed that Finance Minister Olaf Scholz had “abandoned plans” to implement the taxes on digital companies. Citing confidential finance ministry documents, the report said this was because a “demonization” of these companies was seen as “not productive.”

Denying the report, the German finance ministry says there has simply been “no decision made yet” on whether or not Germany will implement the digital tax. Speaking to Reuters, a finance ministry spokesperson explained that Germany is ultimately aiming for “fair taxation of internet companies.” A final decision is expected by January 2019.

“There has been no decision made yet by the minister or the ministry on one or more instruments,” a finance ministry spokesman said when asked to comment on the Bild report.

“The debate is still ongoing, also among the finance ministers of Europe and the G7/G20 countries. The Federal Government still aims to ensure a fair taxation of internet companies,” the spokesman added.

For Apple, such a tax would affect the company’s services segment, which remains to be an important revenue driver for the company. These include services like iTunes, the App Store, Mac App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, Apple Pay, and AppleCare.

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.

Tags: Germany, tax
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Vivo V11 preview: In-display fingerprint sensor meets the ‘waterdrop’ notch

Vivo’s latest phone comes with an in-display fingerprint sensor and a less frustrating notch experience.

Vivo was the first to roll out a phone with an in-display fingerprint, and the Chinese manufacturer is now bringing the feature to its mid-range V series. The V11 is now official in Thailand and India, and will be heading to other Asian markets shortly. The phone offers considerable upgrades over the V9, which made its debut just six few months ago. Key among them is the Snapdragon 660 and a 25MP front shooter.

The biggest change on the design front is a new “waterdrop” cutout at the top of the display. The narrow notch makes it a much more palatable option, and it doesn’t take away a lot of room for icons in the status bar. With the notch now housing just the front camera module, the earpiece has moved to a tiny grille located above the screen.

The V11’s raison d’être is the in-display fingerprint sensor. It works just as reliably as it did on the X21 and the NEX, but it isn’t quite as fast as regular fingerprint readers. It takes just under a second to authenticate using the in-display sensor, and Vivo also offers a facial unlock feature. Face unlock is considerably faster, but the caveat is that it isn’t as secure as the fingerprint reader.

Vivo introduced several interesting designs in 2018, with the NEX featuring a geometric pattern at the back that changed color based on light reflecting off its surface. The V11 features a speckled design underneath the glass that’s meant to evoke images of distant galaxies. The blue on black color option I’m using is called Starry Night, and the V11 also comes in a blue and purple hue called Nebula. The color shifts between various hues of blue, and the design is right up there as one of the most evocative of 2018.

There’s a 3.5mm jack as well, and the audio output is particularly great for a device in this category. That said, Vivo is one of the few manufacturers that is yet to switch to USB-C. This was the case on the X21 as well, and although the NEX charged over USB-C, it looks like Vivo isn’t willing to make the switch for its mid-range models. Thankfully, Vivo’s fast charging tech is one of the best out there, and you’ll be able to fully charge the 3400mAh battery in just under two hours.

The 6.41-inch Super AMOLED 19.5:9 display is one of the best panels you’ll find in this segment, with vibrant colors and excellent contrast levels. With competition intensifying in this category, manufacturers are introducing phones with more robust hardware. Vivo was particularly notorious for rolling out devices with underpowered hardware in the past, and while it did a great job optimizing the software, its phones didn’t hold up to the likes of Xiaomi, Huawei, or even Samsung in terms of value for money.

That’s changing with the V11. The phone features the Snapdragon 660, a stalwart in this category. To give you a context of how just big a change this is for Vivo, the V9 — which was unveiled in March 2018 — was powered by the Snapdragon 626. As you’d imagine, the Snapdragon 660 offers a significant boost in performance, and the V11 also comes with 6GB of RAM as standard and 128GB of internal storage.

On the camera side of things, the Vivo V11 features a 12MP + 5MP configuration at the back and a 25MP camera up front. Like most other manufacturers, Vivo is betting on AI-assisted features to differentiate the cameras on the V11. The AI automatically analyzes a scene and selects the ideal shooting mode, and Google Lens integration is baked into the camera.

There’s an AI Face Beauty mode that lets you tweak several parameters when taking selfies, ranging from removing blemishes to more extreme effects that include changing the contours of your nose, jaw, mouth, and more.

On the software side of things, the V11 comes with Funtouch OS 4.5 based on Android 8.1 Oreo. The interface borrows several elements from iOS, including a Control Center that’s accessible with a swipe up from the bottom of the screen. There’s no app drawer either, but you do get navigation gestures.

Overall, the Vivo V11 is a step in the right direction. The upgraded hardware allows it to go up against the Nokia 7 Plus, and unlike the V9, the phone doesn’t look like an iPhone clone. There’s considerable work to be done on the software side of things, but as the V11 is aimed primarily in Asian markets, it doesn’t look like we’ll see a lot of changes on this front anytime soon.

How to set up priority notifications for your home security system

When your home security system needs to tell you something, chances are you’ll want to listen. Here’s how to make sure you get those critical notifications you need.

Products Used In This Guide

• Best Buy: Nest Secure ($399)
• Amazon: Ring Alarm ($199)

Setting priority notifications

We’re using the Nest app and the Nest Secure for demonstration purposes, but the process is the same for the Ring Alarm. too. There may be slight variations in the settings menu names, depending on your model of Android, but the overall process is the same. And to be clear — you might not need to do this at all. For obvious reason, an app of this sort should properly prioritize alarm notifications. But if you’ve messed in the settings, or something seems off, this is where to start:

Open the Applications settings from the general settings menu on your phone.

• On newer versions of Android, you may need to look for Apps & Notifications in the list.
• If you see a list of Recently opened apps scroll down and open the link to See all of your apps.

Find the Nest (or Ring) app in the list and tap it to open its settings.

In the next window, tap the section labeled Notifications to enter the app’s notifications settings.
These instructions apply to all the notification categories you see listed, but we’re interested in the Alarms section. Tap it to open the Alarms notifications category settings.
Make sure the Show Notifications switch is enabled and tap the field labeled Behavior.
Select Make sound and pop on screen from the choices presented. the window will close once you’ve made a selection.
Tap the field labeled Advanced and the page will expand.

Choose the options that will best alert you. We recommend you enable Override Do Not Disturb so that notifications will always sound and be displayed.

Whenever your Nest system (or Ring Alarm) sends a notification from the Alarm category your new setting will apply and you’ll be better able to see it and respond.

Our top equipment picks

Smart alarm systems work great with your Android phone and can provide essential information through their app no matter where you are. We think these are the best systems you can buy.

Top pick

Nest Secure

$399 at Best Buy

The Nest Secure system integrates into any smart home.

The Nest Secure system offers complete adoption into the Google Assistant ecosystem. Control and monitor your security solution anywhere through the Nest app while you’re away or through your Google Home while you’re at home.

The Works With Nest program and tight Google Assistant integration make the Nest Secure the best smart alarm system you can buy if you want complete control through your smart home automation system. You not only can get these critical notifications, but you can chain events to trigger other products like cameras or outdoor alarms through Assistant Actions.

Also Great

Ring Alarm

$199 at Amazon

Affordable home protection without all the smarts.

The Ring Alarm doesn’t have the smart home integration of our top pick but can still notify you through the Ring app whenever there is a problem.

The Ring Alarm is the best value when it comes to a great basic home security system and the Ring app will let you know anytime there is a problem. Amazon says Alexa integration is coming for the Ring Alarm and once it arrives you’ll be able to enjoy the same smart home functions that the Nest Secure has.

UK Deal: Amazon’s Fire HD 8 Kids Edition tablet drops to £90 for today only

Money off the kid-proof Fire HD 8 — but only until the end of the day!

For today only, you can pick up Amazon’s Fire HD 8 Kids Edition tablet for just £89.99 — that’s down from its usually asking price of £129.99 and matching its previous low price on Prime Day.

Available in Blue, Pink or Yellow, the Kids Edition is a fully-featured Fire HD 8 tablet wrapped in a vibrant, child-friendly and rugged case to prevent the tablet from being damaged. In fact, Amazon is so confident in its ability to protect the device inside that they offer a 2-year ‘worry-free guarantee’ that allows you to return a damaged tablet and have it replaced for free.

It features an 8-inch HD display, quad-core processor, 12-hour battery life and 32GB of on-board storage. You’ll probably want to pick up a microSD card to add extra space for movies, games and more — with the money you save on this deal, you could pick up this £29 128GB SanDisk Ultra microSD card and still have cash to spare.

For those not needing the ruggedised Kids Edition, there’s also a promotion running on the regular Fire HD 8 tablet which is down to £79.99 from its usual £99.99 price tag.

For more UK deals coverage, be sure to keep an eye on Thrifter UK, sign up for the UK newsletter and follow the team on Twitter.

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3 Important Questions to Ask when Buying a Smart Thermostat

If you want to save a few bucks from your HVAC system, then it’s time you consider shifting from the regular thermostat to the new Smart Thermostat. But why should you spend on a new thermostat yet your current thermostat is just working fine?

Well, the truth of the matter is that Smart thermostats can save you 20-25% of your monthly energy bills. This is not a marketing hype anymore; it’s something that has been proven beyond doubt. But hey, not every Smart thermostat will yield these results, so you need to be very selective when shopping.

Today, we want to discuss three critical questions that should be lingering on your mind when looking for the best Smart Thermostat.

1. What are the installation and wiring requirements?
2. Is it really efficient?
3. How’s the programmability?

What are the installation and wiring requirements?

Smart thermostats may not be easy to use because they are wired to work with the HVAC system. There are two installation options available.

If you don’t have any wiring skills, or you are not sure of what’s supposed to be done, I suggest you get a professional installer. I’m sure you don’t want to gamble with your HVAC wiring system. If you are planning to have a professional install it, there is no need to be very selective when shopping. This is because the installer knows how to get the job done.

However, for handymen and DIY enthusiasts, you can choose to do the installation and wiring. Here, you need to be very careful with the system you go with. The best thing to do is to look out for a system compatible with C-Wire. This is an adaptation kit that lets you bypass the modification of the wiring system. Actually, with a C-Wire connection, installation is a snap!

Is it really efficient?

After you have ascertained the installation process and wiring requirements, the next important thing is the efficiency. Remember, the reason you want to upgrade to a Smart thermostat is to cut down energy bills by improving the efficiency of your HVAC system

The Smart thermostats market is flooded with authentic products as well as imitations and cheap knockoffs that don’t meet the efficiency standards expected. Like mentioned above, Smart thermostats can save you 20 – 25% of your monthly energy costs. But this is not always the case with all Smart thermostats. Some cheap knockoffs won’t even make a difference in terms of energy bills. They may just be convenient but will not meet the primary reason of having a Smart thermostat; energy savings.

But how do you spot a genuinely efficient Smart thermostat? Every brand will hype their thermostat, so this is not information you can rely on. I recommend reading reviews of customers who have used the Smart thermostat to know if it is truly efficient. Another thing that could help is sticking to these trusted brands. Ecobee3 and Ecobee4 is among the models that have really excelled as far as efficiency is concerned.

How’s the programmability?

The other important aspect you want to focus on is the programmability of the Smart Thermostat. Just like all other Smart devices, thermostats are programmable, but it’s the degree of intelligence that matters. Some models can be programmed to perform only the essential functions whereas some can be very intelligent.

But here’s one thing you need to note; the more programmability possibilities, the higher the price tag.

There have been a lot of divergent opinions regarding the necessity of programmability in Smart Thermostat. Here’s the thing, A Smart thermostat relies on the intelligence of its system to adjust accordingly with your environment. The more accurate it programs itself, the higher the energy savings. That said, you want to invest in a highly programmable Smart Thermostat.

In fact, there are some select models like Nest Learning that go further and adapt to your way of life. It knows when you are about to come home from work and adjusts to the setting that you have always been manually adjusting.

These are the most important factors to consider when buying a Smart Thermostat. But that’s not all.

You should also consider the brand you are buying. Make sure you go for the household names; the likes of Nest, Ecobee, Honeywell, and the rest. Also, consider its compatibility with Smart hubs like Wink, SmartThings, and Vera. This is another reason for choosing the top brands; they are compatible with many Smart integrations. Lastly, consider getting a Smart thermostat that allows for remote access. Here, there are several options; Smartphone App, Web App, e.t.c.

Final words

A Smart thermostat is quite an investment and nothing can be worse than ending up with the wrong thermostat. Make sure you ascertain its installation requirements, efficiency, and programmability. If you have been worried about the high energy bills because of your HVAC, a Smart thermostat is a worthy purchase.

Basically, you get to recoup the cost of the Smart thermostat from a year’s savings! For me, I’ve managed to save $145 in my first year. Considering I bought my Ecobee3 Lite for $150, I’m $5 short from getting my investment back.

Save big on networking and storage gear from SanDisk, TP-Link and more

A little bit of something for everyone.

Amazon is back today with another killer one-day sale featuring a ton of networking and storage hardware and accessories from various big brands. These sales are some of our favorites since they contain so many different products and have a little bit of something for everyone. You’ll find discounted microSD cards, flash drives, and external hard drives, along with wireless routers, mesh Wi-Fi systems, network extenders, and more here, all at prices you won’t want to miss.

These items are from popular brands, like SanDisk, ASUS, Linksys, WD, TP-Link, and more. It’s trusted hardware at a big discount, how can you go wrong? Some of our favorites from the sale include:

Storage

• Kingston 32GB microSD card – $7.49 (Was $20)
• SanDisk 256GB microSD card – $62.99 (Was $80)
• SanDisk Ultra Fit 128GB Flash Drive – $21.99 (Was $31)
• WD 4TB Elements External Hard Drive – $79.99 (Was $130)
• Kingston 240GB NVMe SSD – $44.99 (Was $70)

Networking

• TP-Link AC750 Wi-Fi Range Extender – $18.99 (Was $30)
• ASUS Dual-Band Gigabit Router – $44.99 (Was $70)
• Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 Wi-Fi Router – $108.99 (Was $160)
• TP-Link Deco Whole Home Mesh WiFi System (3-pack) – $159.99 (Was $230)
• Netgear Orbi Mesh WiFi System (2-pack) – $399.99 (Was $500)

There are a bunch of other great deals as well that you’ll want to check out before this sale comes to an end tonight. Stock up at these prices, because they won’t be around for long.

See at Amazon

Rock out with the best headphones for your Galaxy Note 9

Samsung includes a pair of AKG earbuds with every Galaxy Note 9, but if you’re looking for headphones that offer more depth and clarity, or are interested in going wireless, there are plenty of options available. The Sony WH1000XM2 in particular stands out for its excellent sound quality and comfort.

Top pick

Sony WH1000XM2

The WH1000XM2 is one of the best headphones you can buy today. The noise cancellation is on par with the Bose QC35 II, but what makes Sony’s option stand out is the sound quality. The WH1000XM2 also provides a 30-hour battery life from a full charge, and it’s lightweight enough that you can wear it for extended periods without any discomfort.

$298 at Amazon

Truly wireless

Jabra Elite 65t

Jabra’s Elite 65t is a great option if you’re looking to go the truly wireless route. The sound quality is great, you get a decent amount of noise isolation, and the earbuds provide a snug fit that ensures they don’t fall out even when you’re on the move. The Elite 65t is water resistant as well, and you get a 5-hour battery life.

$129 at Amazon

Best for workouts

Jaybird X4

Jaybird built its name by offering great workout earbuds, and the X4 reinforce that belief. The X4 is waterproof with an IPX7 rating, and offers an 8-hour battery life. The bundled Comply tips conform to the contours of your ears, providing a secure fit. You also have the option to tailor the sound profile via custom EQ settings.

$129 at Amazon

Great wired option

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

The ATH-M50x is a stalwart in this category. The headphones come with detachable cables and a collapsible design that makes them portable, and the large earpads ensure they’re comfortable to wear throughout the day. But if there’s one thing that defines the M50x, it’s the sound quality — the soundstage is expansive for a closed-back headphone, with powerful bass and bright highs.

$149 at Amazon

Best budget pick

Ghostek soDrop 2

For under $100, the soDrop 2 comes with a lot of features. It has AptX connectivity, and the noise isolation works surprisingly well. The headset is also lightweight at 9oz (or 225g), and its design sets it apart from other options in this category. The soDrop 2 is a solid choice if you’re looking for a sub-$100 wireless headset with decent noise reduction and great sound quality.

$69 at Amazon

That’s a quick look at some of the headphone options available for the Galaxy Note 9. I’ve excluded most of the sub-$100 picks as the bundled AKG earbuds offer a similar level of sound quality as most $50 wired earbuds, and if you’re paying over a $1,000 for a phone, you’ll want something more premium.

For most people, that will be the Sony WH1000XM2. Sony has done a masterful job with the headphones, and the noise isolation makes them a particularly great option for everyday commuting or travel. The sound quality is exquisite, you get music playback controls on the right earcup, and the 30-hour battery life is more than adequate for even the lengthiest of plane rides.

Security Researcher Shows How Remote macOS Exploit Hoodwinks Safari Users With Custom URL Schemes

A security researcher has demonstrated how macOS users are vulnerable to remote infection through a malicious exploit involving the “Do you want to allow…” popup that can be encountered when visiting websites in Safari.

In a lengthy breakdown, Patrick Wardle explains how the exploit utilizes document handlers, which request permission to open a link or a file in another app – like a PDF in Preview, for example – and URL handlers, which work similarly in the way they notify macOS that they can accept certain file formats.

The exploit occurs when a user visits a malicious website and a ZIP file is downloaded and automatically unzipped by Safari, whereby the custom URL scheme is initially registered on the user’s filesystem.

Once the target visits our malicious website, we trigger the download of an archive (.zip) file that contains our malicious application. If the Mac user is using Safari, the archive will be automatically unzipped, as Apple thinks it’s wise to automatically open “safe” files. This fact is paramount, as it means the malicious application (vs. just a compressed zip archive) will now be on the user’s filesystem, which will trigger the registration of any custom URL scheme handlers! Thanks Apple!

In the next stage, the malicious web page runs code that can load or “browse” to the custom URL scheme, which causes macOS to activate the URL handler and launch the malicious application.

This action is enabled through the Safari user prompt that includes options to “Allow” or “Cancel” the process, however the popup text and available options are controlled by the attacker, and are therefore easily changed to trick or deceive the user.

The standard defenses built into macOS – Gatekeeper, for example – are said to be ineffective when it comes to the attack described above, and while Apple could always revoke the malicious app’s signature, that course of action would obviously be too late for anyone who had already gone ahead and launched it.

Until then, turning off automatic unzipping of “safe” files should be enough to prevent the malicious procedure from ever occurring. Concerned users can do so by clicking the Safari menu bar, selecting Preferences…, and under the General tab, unchecking Open “safe” files after downloading.

Tags: security, malware
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