Hacker Breaks into Prison Cameras and Live-Streams on YouTube https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Hacker-Breaks-into-Prison-Cameras-and-Live-Streams-on-YouTube.jpg

A YouTube channel named “BigBrother’s Gaze” reportedly live-streamed surveillance footage of Thailand prison. The incident took place earlier this week right before Christmas and was spotted by a reporter who then alerted the government officials.

The live-stream showed the activities of prisoners from different security cameras. Authorities at Thailand’s Department of Corrections confirmed that the security cameras at Lang Suan Prison in the southern province of Chumphon were compromised by someone whose location was outside Thailand.

The report states that Corrections Department Director-General Police Col. Narat Sawettanan took immediate actions and ordered the prison to turn off the camera and investigate the incident.

According to the report, the video was incorrectly described as Bangkok prison, while it actually took place in Lang Suan. The video no longer exists on the channel. Apparently, the channel owner must have taken it down fearing legal actions.

“Dear friends! I want to apologize to those who may have been offended by my broadcasts. In fact, there was no break-in. All cameras are in the public domain. P.S. I want to disappoint you, such content is unlikely to appear again on the channel. P. S. S. when installing video surveillance change the standard passwords :)”, reads the channel’s description.

From this description, it is clear that the alleged hacker just got lucky to access the surveillance camera, which explains why he/she misinterpreted the prison’s location. However, a complaint has been registered and the police department is currently investigating the case.

This is not the first time a security camera break-in has happened. Several surveillance cameras get compromised and go undetected until the hacker decides to interact. In a recent incident, a Ring camera was compromised putting the privacy of an 8-year old girl to risk.

As the FBI recommends, changing the default password and using a strong password could help prevent such incidents from happening to an extent.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/hacker-breaks-into-prison-cameras-livestreams-youtube/

Volkswagen’s Charging Robot Will Autonomously Charge Electric Cars https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Volkswagen-robot.jpg

As an attempt to solve charging issues faced by electric car owners in parking areas, Volkswagen is working on a charging robot that will automatically drive to electric cars and charge them.

Yes, you read that right. According to Volkswagen, the mobile robot goes to the vehicle, opens the charging socket, connects and disconnects the charging plug with no human interaction.

The robot is equipped with cameras, laser scanners and ultrasonic sensors to make this possible. These sensors help the robot to move around the parking area without hitting obstacles.

The best part of this robot is that it brings a mobile energy storage device – “battery wagon“. The robot attaches the battery wagon to a vehicle and goes forward to charge other electric vehicles. This battery wagon is capable of supplying around 25kWh of energy and offers 50kW DC quick charging.

When the charging is complete, the robot will collect the energy storage device and takes it back to the charging station. Doesn’t that sound impressive?

“The mobile charging robot will spark a revolution when it comes to charging in different parking facilities because we bring the charging infrastructure to the car and not the other way around. With this, we are making almost every car park electric, without any complex individual infrastructural measures”, says Mark Möller, Head of Development at Volkswagen Group Components.

If these robots are implemented properly, they could solve charging issues in many parking areas that lack a proper infrastructure to accommodate electric cars. “Even the well-known problem of a charging station being blocked by another vehicle will no longer exist with our concept. You simply choose any parking space as usual. You can leave the rest to our electronic helper.”, Möller added.

We will have to wait to see these robots as the company has not disclosed the launch timeline of these robots. For now, the charging robot exists as a prototype.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/volkswagens-charging-robot-for-electric-cars/

Caviar’s Overphone Concept Envisions the Smartphone of the Future https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/caviar-overphone.jpg

Caviar, the Russian luxury iPhone maker has created a concept it calls “Overphone” illustrating the smartphone of the future. The company calls the concept “an ideal smartphone for the upcoming decade”.

From the renders, we are looking at a smartphone with two separate displays. These displays, according to Caviar, can be attached to make it a single unit or detached to function individually.

For instance, a render depicts an ideal use-case for this concept – sending a text message while watching a video. With current technology, we reply from notifications to keep the conversation going without missing out on the video content. Caviar wants to take this one step further by using a display to watch the video while texting on another display.

Caviar imagines a future where users can simply convert their smartphones into a netbook by magnetically attaching displays, as you can see in the below image. Users could also attach multiple displays together to form a huge display unit.

By 2022, Caviar anticipates a flexible battery structure in smartphones allowing users to change the shape of smartphones. The company believes that smartphones of the future will make use of AI and nanotechnologies to change the color based on your preferences by 2025.

Apart from these, smartphones that fit comfortably in your hand could come by 2027. The final highlight of the concept is solar charging, which the company envisions to happen by 2029.

Speaking of solar-powered smartphones, Samsung did attempt to build a smartphone powered by solar energy called Blue Earth back in 2009. The project, however, failed miserably due to the inefficiency of the technology.

So, what are your thoughts on Caviar’s OverPhone? Does it sound too ambitious or feasible? Tell us in the comments.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/caviars-overphone-concept-smartphone/

Snapchat Teases Bitmoji TV, Coming Early in 2020 https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Snapchat-Teases-Bitmoji-TV-Comes-Early-Next-Year.jpg

Snapchat is preparing to roll-out Bitmoji TV, a new addition to the numerous functions Bitmoji performs in the platform. The feature is more or less like Bitmoji Stories in video format. It will start rolling out early next year.

Bitmoji TV will feature you and your friends’ Bitmoji avatars going on regular adventure trips. More details like the duration of episodes and the frequency are not known yet. However, a Snap spokesperson told Techcrunch that “Bitmoji TV isn’t available in your network yet, but stay tuned for the global premiere soon!”

You can subscribe to Bitmoji TV right now from here. You may also turn on notifications by hitting the bell icon to get notified for Bitmoji TV updates. I saw a 34-second clip titled to be the first episode in the first season of Bitmoji TV. The landing page mentions that the feature is going live in February 2020.

In other news, Snapchat announced ‘Snapchat Cameo’, a feature that lets you take a selfie and insert your face to create short funny videos. Also, the company recently allowed users to mix and match tops and bottoms to suit your style.

There is no denying that Bitmoji has become a noteworthy characteristic of Snapchat after it acquired the Canadian company Bitstrips in 2016. Snapchat has been introducing new features all these years to stand out from the crowd and Bitmoji TV is yet another take on its attempt. With Bitmoji TV, Snapchat would finally have a feature that can’t be easily replicated by its competitors.

I personally am a fan of Bitmoji Stories and can’t wait to see how the company implements Bitmoji TV. What about you? Are you excited about Bitmoji TV? Let us know in the comments.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/snapchat-teases-bitmoji-tv-2020/

BaldPhone is an Open-Source Launcher for Elderly People https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Baldphone-Is-an-Open-Source-Launcher-for-Elderly-People.jpg

You must have seen elderly people complaining or finding it difficult to get used to the modern user interface offered by Android and iOS. Today, we stumbled upon BaldPhone, an Android app that presents users with a straightforward interface.

The app essentially replaces your smartphone’s interface with big icons that can be viewed easily by elderly people. BaldPhone was primarily developed to help people with motoric problems and people who need a visual aid to use their phones.

Installing the app will provide users with a launcher, keyboard, contacts and phone apps, voice assistant, alarms, a media viewer, SOS button, and even a reminder to take pills. Below is how the phone’s home screen would look like after installing BaldPhone.

You can download the app from GitHub and F-Droid. For those wondering why the app is not available to download on the Google Play Store, the developer says that it used to be present on Google Play but it had to be removed due to the recent permission requirements that would lead to split APKs.

It is worth mentioning that you can download the app for free and it doesn’t have ads. The app is open-source and you may go through the source-code or contribute to the project here.

The next time you come across your grandparents or anyone in their old age finding it difficult to use smartphones, you know what to do. Check out the app from the link below and let us know if you found this helpful in the comments.

Download BaldPhone | Download BaldPhone from F-Droid

from Beebom https://beebom.com/baldphone-open-source-launcher-elderly/

JioMart Grocery Delivery Service Launched to Take on BigBasket, Amazon https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/reliance-jiomart-launched.jpg

Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, first disrupted India’s telecom sector with Reliance Jio back in 2016 and has since continued to expand the company’s reach to new avenues. We have already seen the launch of Jio Gigafiber, AJIO e-commerce store, Jio Gate apartment security app, and a lot more. However, Ambani is looking to slap the well-known Jio brand to even more services and that has led to the birth of JioMart.

Yes, JioMart is Reliance Industries’ (RIL) take on hyperlocal grocery delivery services and will be operated by Reliance Retail. It was initially launched as a pilot for Jio users in Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Kalyan in Maharashtra earlier this year. But today, the company has quietly made JioMart official and plans to expand its service across India in 2020. The service will take on well-known grocery delivery services, including the likes of BigBasket, Grofers, Amazon Prime Now, and others.

Reliance has already set up a dedicated JioMart website and is marketing the platform as “Desh ki Nayi Dukan,” where it will enable you to buy over 50,000 grocery products. This will include everything from daily staples and veggies to skincare and household items. It doesn’t let you place orders at the moment and is instead a landing page to register your interest in JioMart.

JioMart is looking to entice users by offering benefits worth Rs. 3,000 to those who pre-register on the website. The website further reveals that the service will bring free home delivery (with no minimum order value and an express delivery option) and a no-questions-asked return policy. We will have to see about the ‘never seen before savings’ claim that the company makes on the website.

As per previous reports, JioMart is looking to connect over three crore offline retailers to over 20 crore households in the country. It has adopted an approach similar to Amazon Prime Now and Grofers – building an online-to-offline (O2O) marketplace. This means it would be sourcing grocery and household items for delivery from nearby offline retailers, especially its own Reliance Fresh outlets – but we will have to wait for an official word on the same.

JioMart’s website currently doesn’t let you place orders but it does mention that Reliance will bring both Android and iOS apps for the grocery delivery service very soon. We have pre-registered for the service (you should too) and will update you once the service goes live for us.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/jiomart-grocery-delivery-service-launched/

Microsoft Edge Beta on Android Gets Revamped ‘Control Center’ https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/microsoft-edge-control-center-redesign.jpg

Having been originally envisaged as a Internet Explorer replacement in Windows, Microsoft Edge has become a fairly popular web-browser on not only desktops, but also on mobile platforms with more than 10 million downloads on Android alone. The app has also gained a plethora of new features like the dark mode support, and ad blocking, since it was originally released on the platform, and the latest beta release (version 44.11.24.4109) now brings a new Control Center that simplifies the process of customising the browser by combining multiple settings options under one roof.

As noted by OnMSFT, the new UI is turned on by default in the latest beta for all users after being extensively soak-tested over the past few weeks. The first thing you’ll notice is the redesigned navigation bar (at the bottom) that now has the ‘Control Center’ button at the middle replacing the ‘Continue on PC‘ button, which has been banished from the panel altogether. Instead, there’s now a ‘Share’ button on the far right to fill up the vacant place.

As for the new Control Center interface, it can be accessed by tapping on the ellipsis menu (…) at the center of the revamped navigation bar at the bottom. Tapping on that will bring up the new shortcut panel that can then be pulled up using gesture navigation much the same way as the Quick Settings panel needs to be pulled down from the top edge of the screen on Android devices.

What you’ll find is that you can drag and drop various shortcuts to create your own customized UI on the panel, so that the options you use the most can be placed on the top row(s) for easy access. While the original row including Favorites, History etc. cannot be customized, users will be able to add any number of other options in the subsequent rows.

In addition, there are a few relatively minor changes as well, including slightly rounded corners of the search box on the default home page, while the profile icon is now front and center on the top-left rather than being buried under a menu. While the changes seem relatively minor, they will likely make the browser more convenient for regular users.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/edge-beta-android-control-center-redesign/

Top 15 Apps Like Tinder for Android and iOS https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Top-15-Apps-Like-Tinder.jpg

When you think of dating apps, Tinder is probably the first name that comes to mind. The app is insanely popular all across the world. As per the latest statistics (late 2017), Tinder boasts of over 57 million users across the world, and registers over 1.6 billion swipes everyday. Using independent research we assume that it has crossed 74 million active users mark by now. It also helps that the app is available in 190 countries across the world, and is available in 40 languages. However, Tinder isn’t the only dating app out there. In fact, depending on your preferences, you might find that a different app is more suited to your needs. So, if you’re looking for alternative online dating apps that can help you find that special someone, or even if you’re just looking to meet new people and make new connections, here are 15 apps like Tinder for Android and iOS that you can use in 2020.

15 Apps Like Tinder for Android and iOS in 2020

1. OkCupid Dating

OkCupid markets itself as a dating platform which doesn’t only focus on your looks. In fact, when you visit the service’s official website, it reads, “You are more than just a photo”. OkCupid’s idea is to give you more refined dates based on your interests and passions. So, you can weed out prospective matches based on the things you dislike. OkCupid takes most of the guessing out of the dating process before you are matched. One thing that might not sit right with people when it comes to using OkCupid is that most of its features are hidden behind a paywall. That said, if you want your dates to be selected based on your preferences and not just looks, OkCupid is certainly the app to use.

Install: Android / iOS (Free with in app purchases)

2. Coffee Meets Bagel

Coffee Meets Bagel is dating service which has come up with one of the most fresh dating ideas in the world of online dating that I have seen in a while. The dating service gives more power to the woman by taking away the guessing game which comes with Tinder. Women only receive suggestions from those guys who have already shown an interest in them. How it works is that every noon guys will receive up to 21 quality matches known as “Bagels”.

The guys have the option to like or pass on the matches. Then the service takes all the guys who have expressed their interest and curate the best potential matches for women. Thus, women are receiving high-quality matches from men who are already interested in them. The best part about using this service is that you are receiving highly-curated suggestions for you once in a day, so you don’t waste time swiping away like on Tinder.

Install: Android / iOS (Free with in-app purchases)

3. Happn – Local Dating App

Happn happens to take a unique approach to dating. The service’s tagline reads, “Find the people you have crossed path with” and it literally lets you do that. Happn combines the power of social media with your location to show people who are around you. Every time you cross paths with another Happn member in real life, their profile shows up on your timeline. The app evens shows you the number of times you have crossed path with the same person which might not be that useful but certainly is interesting to see.

Once people show up on your Happn’s app, you can either like or dislike them just as you do on Tinder. If the same person likes you back, you get connected and can chat with each other. Happn also has a feature called Crush which is similar to Superlike on Tinder and lets the other person know that you like them. However, Charms are based on your credits which can be earned either by buying or inviting friends to the app. Functionality wise, Happn is very similar to Tinder, however, its unique feature of showing people whom you have just crossed path with is certainly interesting, intriguing, and worth giving a try.

Install: Android / iOS (Free with in-app purchases)

4. Hinge

Back when Hinge was released, its main aim was to match you with friends of your friends. However, the app has since changed its stance on online dating and has now taken a smarter approach to matching two people. The app now has a timeline-esque profile page with like buttons on every separate element on a user’s profile.

This allows people to like exactly what they, well, like about the other person. Not only does this give the other person enough information about what you like about their profile, it also leads up to a more natural and fluid first conversation. Try out Hinge if you’re sick of Tinder’s ambiguous nature and want a dating app that gives you more control over your likes.

Install: Android / iOS (Free with in-app purchases)

5. Plenty Of Fish

Plenty of Fish is for people who like Tinder but want to use it for free. The app provides of most of its features for free allowing users to send unlimited messages, check unlimited profiles, and more. It also hosts one of the largest dating communities in the world with its member’s list reaching more than 150 million. That is more than double of what you can find on Tinder.

That said, with quality, quantity suffers. There are a lot of fake profiles and frustrated men on this service which makes it harder for a woman to find a good match. Also, the app is currently available only in select countries that include Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain, France, Germany and Italy among others.

Install: Android / iOS (Free, with in-app purchases)

6. Bumble

If you are a lady and tired of receiving obscene messages on all the dating apps that you have tried, Bumble is for you. Bumble is much like Tinder with one basic difference. The difference being the fact that the service only allows a woman to start a conversation. The first step is similar to Tinder as in the app shows you the profile of your prospective matches and you can like or dislike them. Once both people like each other they can start the conversation.

But wait, if you are a guy, you are not in luck as only the women have the power to start the conversation. This approach has benefits for both men and women. First, women don’t have to go through terrible pickup lines every-time there’s a match, and for men, well if a woman starts the conversation, it means she is really into you and all you need to do is not ruin this up. Additionally, the app has dedicated sections for people looking to date, make friends and network, which is a nice touch.

Install: Android / iOS (Free with in-app purchases)

7. eHarmony

eHarmony prides itself to be the first service within the online dating industry to use a scientific approach to matching highly compatible singles. According to their webpage, the service uses its propriety Compatibility Matching System technology to match single women and men based on 29 dimensions of compatibility for lasting and fulfilling relationships.

What this means for you as a user is that you can be sure that the matches shown by the service consists only those people who are highly compatible with you so you have a higher chance of making the date work. eHarmony is for people who are tired of going on dates and finding that the other person is nothing like them. If you are looking for successful dates and long and fulfilling relationships, do give this service a try.

Install: Android / iOS (Free with in-app purchases)

8. Skout

Skout is an app which focuses on both dating and friendship. You can select to date people who are near you and connect with them or you can connect with people who reside in other countries or even continents to talk to them and make friends. The app basically functions as Tinder allowing you to like and dislike people. Once both persons like each other they are matched and can chat with each other. The only major difference between Skout and Tinder is that the app wants you to focus more on value-filled relationships than an endless parade of dates.

Recently, Skout has also added a new Live Broadcasting feature so you can broadcast yourself live, or join in on a live stream hosted by another person to share experiences with the wider community on Skout. It’s a pretty interesting feature for an app focused on dating and making new connections.

Install: Android / iOS (Free with in-app purchases)

9. Truly Madly

While apps like Tinder and Happn are globally available and work perfectly fine in India, if you want the best dating experience in the country TrulyMadly is the service to use. The app is made especially for India and hosts one of the largest dating communities in the country. The service uses your preferences and its matching algorithms to provide you the best possible matches. Truly Madly also brings some cool features you’d not find on Tinder. For one, you can use a feature called ‘Spark’ to send someone you like a personalised message, even before they have liked you back, allowing you to stand out from the crowd when you’re trying to get their attention.

Plus, to combat the issue of fake profiles (of which there are a lot on apps like Tinder), Truly Madly uses trust scores to indicate how trustworthy a particular profile is; you can increase your trust score by verifying your Facebook profile, LinkedIn profile, phone number, and more which makes it easier to weed out fake profiles from your list of potential matches. One of the most difficult things on Tinder is actually getting to know a person you’ve matched with. Truly Madly offers ‘Quizzes’ that you can both take and get to know each other better. Cool right?

The service also allows users to create and upload a video profile allowing users to better express themselves. Also, all the photos and videos that you upload are screenshot proof so you know that your pictures will not be misused on the internet. If you live in India and looking for a date, TrulyMadly is one of the best ways to do that.

Install: Android / iOS (Free with in-app purchases)

10. Match

Match.com has long been a trusted dating app and therefore, it deserves to have a special mention on this list. Since before the days of Tinder, Match.com has been acting as a bridge for couples to meet online. The best part of this app is its strong filters that lets you filter out people based on your preferences. That allows you to match with people with like-minded personality. Match.com prides itself in providing an experience which results in real relationship and if that’s what you are looking for, there is no better place to find your soulmate online.

Install: Android and iOS (Free with in-app purchases)

11. Grindr

Grindr is a dating service which is exactly like Tinder but for gay, bi, trans, and queer people. Since launching in 2009, Grindr has quickly grown into the world’s largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people. Dating is harsh as it is, but it’s especially hard for people who are not straight as there is no way to know that the people they fancy have the same sexual preferences or not. Grindr takes out the guessing part from the world of gay, bi, trans, and queer dating allowing them to find like-minded people.

Install: Android / iOS (Free with in-app purchases)

12. Zoe

Zoe is Grindr for women. It is a cutting-edge dating and social networking app for lesbian, bisexual and queer women worldwide. Zoe solves all those problems for women that Grindr solves for men. Plus, Zoe also focuses on meaningful relationships and not just random dates. Once you join the platform you have to go through a personality test which is used to find matches for you. Your matches come with a match percentage. The more you have in common the higher is the percentage rate. So, the percentage score is a good way to know, if you want to go on a date with a person or not. If you are lesbian, bisexual or a queer woman who is looking for meaningful relationships, try Zoe.

Install: Android / iOS (Free with in-app purchases)

13. JUAMO Flirt Chat & Dating

Unlike most popular dating apps that hide all their useful features behind a paywall, JUAMO prides itself for offering most of its features for free. The app allows users to log onto the platform with a single tap and start swiping without paying a penny. As soon as you match with someone, you can start chatting with them for free. Much like Tinder, the app also has a superlike feature which will notify the other person that you’ve liked their profile.

The app has a fairly large user base, so you won’t have any troubles finding your special someone on the platform, but you have to be wary of the fake profiles because there are an absolute ton on those on here. However, Tinder also has its fair share of fake profiles, so we can’t really blame the platform for this issue. The app also has a paid subscription which brings in a couple of handy features and the app also has the provision to try out these features for a week before going ahead with the purchase.

Install: Android/iOS (Free with in-app purchases)

14. Raya

If you want a dating experience that’s a bit more exclusive and doesn’t make you go through the issues commonly found in other dating apps, then you should definitely check out Raya. Raya is a private, membership-based networking app that allows you to connect with new people to date, network or make friends with. On the downside, however, you need to go through a vetting process to even get a chance to land on the app. Because of this, the app is known to host a number of celebrity accounts, which is something you’d not find on Tinder. So, if you think you have what it takes to be a part of an exclusive crowd, then you should definitely check out Raya. However, the app is only available for iOS devices, so if you’re on Android, you’re sadly out of luck.

Install: iOS (Paid subscription starting at $7.99 per month)

15. The League

As the name itself makes it crystal clear, “The League” is designed for the people who are not ready to settle for a mediocre professional life in the name of maintaining a relationship. If you want to meet successful people who respect your way-too-restrictive work schedule, then this is the app you should use. As it is evident, the app comes with some exclusivity. The app vets people so that you don’t have to. You can also set up your personal criteria like education or job-stature that you are looking for in a date and you will only find those suggestion that match with your desire. This is a good dating app for professional app for dating for people who don’t want to go through all the hassle and shenanigans that come with online dating.

Install: Android and iOS (Free with in-app purchases)

SEE ALSO: How to Cancel Tinder Gold Subscription

Strengthen Your Dating Game with These Tinder Alternatives

While Tinder is good for many people, it’s not the app for every one of us out there. Thankfully, there are a ton of other dating apps out there. In the list, we have tried to cover every good dating app and we hope there’s one for everyone here. That said, if you are already using a dating app which is not on the list, do let us know by dropping its name down in the comments section.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/alternative-apps-like-tinder-on-android-ios/

How to Access Your Top 25 Most Played Songs in Apple Music https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/shot-new.jpg

As barely a few hours of 2019 are left, I felt a tad nostalgic remembering all the amazing moments that graced my life. Songs being an integral part of my life, I felt to turn the clock back and see what tracks were able to mesmerize me the most. While Apple has offered a pretty nice way to get the top 100 songs of the year for Apple Music users, I wanted the list to be a bit more precise – somewhere around 20-25. And much to my bliss, there is a straightforward way to access the top 25 most played songs in Apple Music on iPhone and iPad. If you also have the same craving, this short piece is for you.

View Your Top Most Played Songs in Apple Music on iPhone and iPad

Aren’t subscribed to Apple Music? Well, probably the best part about it is that even if you aren’t using Apple’s streaming service, you can view your most played music in the stock music app on your iOS and iPadOS device. What’s more, this short assortment will also include your local music files which you had imported to the Music app. Considering not everyone is a fan of Apple Music, it’s a well-thought-out move to keep everyone pleased. That all being said, let’s get started!

1. Launch Music app on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Now, tap on the Library tab at the bottom.

3. Under the Library section, choose Playlists.

4. Next up, scroll down a bit to get the “Top 25 Most Played” playlist. Now, tap on the playlist and then take all of your favorite songs for a long drive.

There you go!

Enjoy Your 25 Most Played Apple Music Songs

So, that’s the way you can see your top 25 songs even if you aren’t subscribed to Apple Music. From a user’s perspective, I find this feature quite helpful. And I think it’s certainly going to please a lot of iPhone users. On the competition front, Apple Music has already dethroned Spotify as the most popular music-streaming service in the USA. However, it’s still nowhere near Spotify (over 248 million overall users) globally. Which is your favorite music app and what are the features you like in it? Toss up your thoughts in the comments below.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/how-access-top-25-most-played-songs-apple-music/

Next iPhone Could Launch with a Fullscreen Display, Patent Reveals https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Apple-patent-shows-off-2020-iphone-with-fullscreen-display-no-notch.jpg

Apple expects to ship over 100 million iPhones next year. It’s a massive number to throw down, especially when the smartphone sales have slowed down. But, a new patent today surfaced online and it could be the reason for the company’s confidence in shipments for next year.

The patent application, first spotted by LetsGoDigital, showcases a new Apple device that appears to be the iPhone but could be the next-gen iPod Touch as well. We are skeptical about this being an iPhone patent for one reason. The sketches in the patent application (attached below) do not boast a notch up-top as is the case with current-gen iPhones.

The sketches showcase a device with a fullscreen display, no notch and well, bezels on the front and a vertical camera setup on the rear. The strange thing, however, is that the renders have a power button, mute switch, and volume rockers but skip on the selfie camera. Also, we cannot see any reference to Face ID hardware that currently sits inside the notch and makes for the only unlocking mechanism available aboard the iPhone.

The report further suggests that what you see above could be a rough design sketch for next year’s iPhone. It says that Apple will not only introduce an in-display selfie camera, but would also nix Face ID in favor of an in-display fingerprint sensor. This seems highly unlikely as Apple’s Face ID is superior to other facial recognition technologies in play. It would also not ditch the notch abruptly and bring back Touch ID in a new avatar.

The patent application, as reported by GSMArena, declares that it’s a partial patent. The device may be registered as a ‘computer with communication function’ but Apple is only filing the patent for the display and the broken line outer shell of the device is there for reference. The report doesn’t go into the details about the display itself, so we sure are short on details on that front.

So, if we were to speculate, the patent could most likely be for the new iPod Touch that arrives next year. We saw an iPod refresh earlier this year but it sported the same older Touch ID-laden design as opposed to the addition of Face ID in the mix. Another guess could be that Apple is looking to introduce a new iPhone lineup and it will house a new display. It’s only a patent application though and there’s no guarantee that the display technology will find its way into any product down the road.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/apple-patent-2020-iphone-fullscreen-display-notchless/

AirDrop Not Working Between iOS 13 and macOS Catalina? Here is a Fix https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/AirDrop.jpg

AirDrop and file-sharing between iDevices go hand in hand. Just select your files, choose the nearby targeted device when it popups and then let Apple’s beloved file-sharing protocol do the rest. That’s dead simple, isn’t it? But then again, the file-sharing system is not flawless and has faced its own share of issues for several years. As you might have already guessed, the ghost of the past has already traveled to the latest iteration of macOS and iOS as well. So, if AirDrop is not working on your iOS 13 and macOS Catalina devices and you are running out of ideas to fix the problem, this troubleshooting guide can rescue you.

Fix AirDrop Not Working Issue on iOS 13 and macOS Catalina 

Since there could be a variety of reasons why AirDrop may not be working properly on your iPhone/iPad and Mac, you might have to try out several solutions. Therefore, getting a look into the workaround up front would be the right way to go.

So, What’s the Workaround?

First things first, we are going to reboot everything that’s connected to AirDrop to get rid of random glitches that tend to creep into the system once in a while. Besides, we will also turn off all the villains that are always at variance with the file-sharing system. And if the basic tricks don’t yield the desired result, we would even embrace radical but trusted troubleshooters like Terminal commands. Now that you know what’s coming up, let’s get down to business right away!

Fixing AirDrop Not Working Issues on iPhone and iPad

Turn Off/On Wi/Bluetooth and Force Restart Device

The first trick that I often try whenever I find AirDrop not working on my device is to give it a fresh start. And with a fresh start, I mean turning off/on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Also, giving a hard reset to the device. Guess what? I’m going to stick to this age-old hack this time around as well.

• Head into the Settings app on your device > Wi-Fi/Bluetooth and then turn it off.

• Now, on iPhone and iPad with Face ID, press and release the volume up button, press and release the volume down button. Then, press and hold the side button.
• On iPhone/iPad with Touch ID, press and hold the Home button and sleep/wake button at once for up to 10 seconds until the Apple logo pops up on the screen.

Keep Your iOS/iPadOS Device Visible

One of the common problems that have been associated with AirDrop for years is “Visibility”. Many a time, it fails to discover nearby devices. So, make sure to keep your device visible.

Bring up the control center (swipe down from the top right corner on iPhone/iPad with Face ID or swipe up from the bottom of the screen on iPhone/iPad with Touch ID to access CC). Now, press and hold the panel featuring Airplane mode. Then, tap on AirDrop and be sure to choose Everyone.

Note: Given how prevalent the visibility issue is, I would recommend you avoid selecting Contacts Only option.

Be Sure to Receive Different File Types Separately

Especially when sharing different file types, I make sure to share each one of them separately. It is just to ensure the receiving process remains smooth sailing. While iOS is smart enough to receive specific file types in the relevant app, sometimes it causes problems. So, follow this little but helpful tip.

Disable Personal Hotspot

When Personal Hotspot is enabled, AirDrop won’t work. So, be sure you have turned it off on your iPhone or iPad. To do so, bring up the Control Center on your device. Then, touch and hold the panel that consists of Airplane mode. After that, turn off Personal Hotspot.

Make Sure Do Not Disturb is Turned Off

Maybe you had enabled “Do Not Disturb” on your iOS device and forgot to turn it off. When DND is turned on, your device won’t receive AirDrop requests. So, better keep it disabled. To turn it off, head into Settings > Do Not Disturb and then turn off the toggle. Alternately, you can disable it from Control Center as well.

Reset Network Settings

More often than not resetting networking settings has sorted out the AirDrop problems on my devices. Therefore, I’m going to count on my experience and suggest you try it out as well. Keep in mind that it will clean up all the saved network settings. To do it, open Settings app > General > Reset > Reset All Settings. 

Update Your iPhone and iPad

AirDrop issues tend to crop up when your devices are not updated. If you haven’t upgraded your devices to the latest iOS 13 version, chances are the devil could very well be inside the old iOS version. Launch Settings app > General > Software Update.

Fixing AirDrop Not Working Issues on macOS

Turn off/on Wi-Fi/Bluetooth and Restart Your Mac

This is my basic and probably the go-to troubleshooter for resolving AirDrop issues on macOS. Based on my experience, I can say that it may get rid of the problem right away. So, try it out. Simply click on the Wi-Fi icon in the status bar and choose Turn Wi-Fi Off. Then, click on the Bluetooth icon in the status bar and select Turn Bluetooth Off. After that, restart your Mac.

Note:

• If the Bluetooth icon doesn’t appear in the status bar, go to System Preferences > Bluetooth. Then, check the box for Show Bluetooth in the menu bar. 
• Even though Apple says that your devices don’t need to be on the same Wi-Fi for AirDrop to work, the file-sharing protocol does work a bit more smoothly when the devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. So, connect both your iPhone/iPad and Mac to the same network before sharing files.

Make Sure to Choose Your Mac’s Visibility to “Everyone”

As visibility is one of the main problems with AirDrop, it’s better to keep Mac’s discoverability to “Everyone”. If you had selected Contacts Only earlier, it might be preventing the file-sharing technology from working properly. Open Finder > Go menu > AirDrop. Click on the drop-down menu next to “Allow me to be discovered by” and choose Everyone. 

Make Sure to Receive Different File Types Separately

If you want to share files without any trouble, always receive different file types separately. While it may not sound to be a troubleshooter per se, it can go a long way in resolving the AirDrop problems. Even though macOS (just like its iOS counterpart) receives each file type in the most relevant apps, it’s always better to keep things simple to avoid hiccups.

Disable Do Not Disturb

It’s no secret that “Do Not Disturb” plays a spoilsport with AirDrop and even prevents Macs from being visible to nearby devices. So, it’s better to turn off DND to avoid facing the problem. To do so, click on the Today tab and then turn off Do Not Disturb switch.

Turn off “Block All Incoming Connections”

macOS firewall doesn’t always play nicely with AirDrop. If you have enabled it on your Mac, it might be the reason why you are facing this problem as it tends to block incoming connections. Well, the good thing is you don’t have to disable firewall to turn off this setting.

Open System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall tab. If the Firewall is on, click on the lock and then enter your admin password. After that, click on Firewall options and then uncheck the box next to “Block All Incoming Connection”. In the end, make sure to click on OK to finish.

Use Terminal Command to Kill Bluetooth

Yet another hack that has always proved very reliable to me in fixing the AirDrop issues on macOS. What it primarily does is to force the Bluetooth service to restart which often proves quite handy in getting rid of transfer and visibility issues.

To get it done, launch the Terminal window and paste the below-given command. Then, enter your admin password (you can also use Touch ID or Apple Watch to authorize it). After that, press Enter.

sudo pkill blued

Now, the service will restart, eliminating all the Bluetooth connections that are open. Try sharing files using AirDrop to see if the problem is finally behind your back.

Reset All Bluetooth Connections

Even though it sounds a bit radical and I know that not many folks may want to go through the grind, it has a pretty high success ratio when it comes to troubleshooting AirDrop problems on macOS. So, overlooking this trick may not be a wise move.

Mac keeps all the known Bluetooth connections in a separate file. And when it’s wiped out, macOS has no other option but make new connections. And that often results in resolving issues with Bluetooth devices.

Click on the Bluetooth icon in the status bar > Turn Bluetooth Off. Now, open a Finder window > Go menu > Go to Folder. Now, paste the below-given path and hit Enter.

/Library/Preferences/

Next, locate the “com.apple.Bluetooth.plist” and delete it. Next up, enable Bluetooth and try using AirDrop.

Update macOS

Not just AirDrop, many macOS features (i.e Approved and Messages in iCloud) don’t seem to work when the devices aren’t updated. So, it would be wise to give this well-known problem solver a chance as well. Open System Preferences and click on Software Update pane. Then, go through the usual process to update your Mac.

Troubleshoot AirDrop Issues on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Hopefully, you have eventually found the right answer to the AirDrop problems. But before you get lost into your usual chores, do not forget to share your two cents and also let us know the hack that worked in fixing the file-sharing system. Also, share some thoughts about AirDrop alternatives and whether or not SHAREit can be termed as the real challenger to the crown of Apple’s seamless file-sharing protocol.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/airdrop-not-working-ios-13-macos-catalina-fix/

ProtonMail Launches Its Encrypted Calendar in Open Beta https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ProtonCalendar-launched-in-beta-e1577783375680.jpg

One of the best encrypted email services, ProtonMail is giving privacy enthusiasts another reason to switch to their encrypted platform. It already safeguards your mails from prying eyes (unlike other technology giants) and you can now also keep your calendar events to yourself. Proton had been talking up its calendar product for quite some time and it’s finally here.

ProtonCalendar, as it’s called, made its official debut on Monday to offer users an end-to-end encrypted alternative to Google Calendar. It essentially comes as a replacement for all calendar apps since it’s the first fully encrypted one – which makes it appealing to a lot of privacy-conscious users.

The calendar feature is currently in beta and accessible only to paid ProtonMail users. The company intends to test out the calendar and iron out the kinks before making it available to all next year. Also, the feature is only available on the web version of the platform. You will have to wait until 2020 to be able to use the feature on iOS and Android.

If you are a paid user, you should see a new “ProtonCalendar” icon in the sidebar – below your address book. ProtonMail didn’t set out to reinvent your calendar and it hasn’t. The ProtonCalendar is solely meant to be more secure and keep your data private – even the company cannot see the events you create because the calendar is now encrypted. It’s using the same end-to-end encryption that ProtonMail does to ensure no one can access the details except you.

The day has arrived! ProtonCalendar is now in open beta. Stay organized and stop corporations from spying on your schedule. Paid users can begin testing it today. Full details here: https://t.co/mImiTEax1m pic.twitter.com/CilqwOOYkv

— ProtonCalendar (@ProtonCalendar) December 30, 2019

As you can see in the tweet above, ProtonCalendar looks like any other calendar app that you may have used in the past. It boasts a clean interface with a day, week, and months view and enables you to add color-coded events. I haven’t tested out the service myself, however, the event addition/editing pane looks familiar and users can switch without any hassles.

ProtonCalendar differentiates itself but putting privacy ahead of its features set, which it can continue to perk up in the months before an official public release. In its official blog post, ProtonMail mentions, “Our calendar stops private companies from spying on your schedule. For our users with heightened security needs, ProtonCalendar will prevent authoritarian regimes from seeing who you are meeting with and what you are doing.”

So, if you are a ProtonMail user with a paid plan, you should go ahead and test out the ProtonCalendar feature right away.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/protonmail-encrypted-calendar-privacy-google/

CES 2020: Samsung to Unveil World’s First True Bezel-Less TV https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Samsung-Wall-website.jpg

Samsung will be one of the many big-name tech companies at the CES 2020 in Las Vegas next week, where brands like LG and TCL are expected to showcase their products, and the President and CEO of the company’s Consumer Electronics Division, H.S. Kim, will deliver a keynote address at the Venetian Hotel on January 6. According to an official press release, the keynote address will focus on the role of AI-enabled connected devices, cutting-edge semi-conductor chipsets and the new opportunities that 5G networks are expected to offer.

While Samsung hasn’t revealed any more details, a new report out of South Korea suggests that the company might show off the world’s first “true Zero Bezel TV” that is said to have received the whole-hearted approval of Kim Hyun-seok, the leader of its consumer electronics operations. The report from The Elec further states that the technology is almost ready for primetime and is expected to enter mass production in February.

According to a developer who is said to have ‘worked closely with the project’, the device will be the first true bezel-less television that will eliminate all bezels in their entirety unlike other supposedly bezel-less offerings (such as the Huawei Vision TVs) that have only managed to reduce bezels rather than eliminate them completely. “Unlike other so-called ‘zero-bezel’ products that actually still had bezels, this product really doesn’t have a bezel. Samsung has become the first in the world to realize such an extreme design”.

The report further notes that the at least some people within the company have expressed their concerns about the structural integrity of the ‘true’ bezel-less TVs, so it will be interesting to see if Samsung engineers will sort any structural issues before rolling out the new product so as to avoid a repeat of the Galaxy Fold episode.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/samsung-true-bezel-less-tv-ces-2020/