Showing posts with label iOS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iOS. Show all posts

Zoom is the best video call app to use while you're social distancing


Video-conferencing app Zoom becomes the most preferred app for Android users amid lockdown





While many companies are already using the video conferencing app Zoom for business meetings, interviews, and other purposes, individuals who are facing long days without contact with friends and family are moving to Zoom for face-to-face and group get-togethers.








However, for meetings and professional interactions, Zoom is currently one of the best video conferencing platforms. The free version of Zoom allows up to 50 people in a video-conference call which is making it the preferred app for educational institution and organizations with larger teams.

Zoom has the ability to replace the space behind you with an image of your choice, no green screen required. It works for Zoom desktop users and iOS users, but Android users are out of luck. The hardware requirements are a bit high, but those who don't meet them can still use virtual backgrounds, though performance will vary.
This is a great feature for those working from home who don't have dedicated office space or, like me, tend to let their workspace get a bit cluttered. It's easy to toggle it on or off and adding a personal background is as easy as making a couple clicks.



Just like video calling apps including Google Duo, FaceTime and Skype, the Zoom app is fairly easy to use. The app is available on various platforms including Android, iOS, Windows and Mac.


On your smartphone, head over to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and search for Zoom. Mac users can open the App Store and search for the Zoom Meetings app.


Go to Zoom’s sign up page. You’ll be presented with a few options for creating an account.
You can also create an account by clicking the “Sign in with Google” or “Sign in with Facebook” buttons, after which you just download the Zoom desktop app and move on.
After you’ve installed the Zoom app, you’ll see buttons to “Join a Meeting” or “Sign In.” To start your test meeting, click “Sign In.”


Zoom claims to be end-to-end encrypted but this doesn't seem to be the case. According to a report by The Intercept, Zoom has access to your files and messages shared during meetings which the company can use for ad-targeting. Since the company came under scrutiny, it has updated its privacy policy. With that said, as long as you make sure everyone in a Zoom meeting connects using computer audio instead of calling in on a phone, the meeting is secured with end-to-end encryption, at least according to Zoom.

Microsoft Launches New Edge Browser Base On Chromium


The New Chromium Based Edge  Browser Looks Promising

Download The New Edition Edge Browser
On January 15, Microsoft is set to release a new, Chromium-based Edge browser, an offering the company claims will bolster compatibility with web-based applications and enhance privacy. Experts said the browser might appeal to IT professionals through its integrated management tools and focus on enterprise software.



Microsoft’s aim was to create better web compatibility for our customers, and less fragmentation of the web for web developers. As of today, Edge is an optional program you can choose to download and install, just like any other alternative browser like Chrome or Firefox. What will give Microsoft’s new browser some stopping power is when the new Edge becomes the default built-in browser for Windows 10.


Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and macOS users will all be able to download and install the new version of Edge today. Microsoft will be rolling this out via Windows Update to Windows 10 users in the coming weeks.










This Chromium browser works with your favorite Chrome extensions

Edge for Mac was designed to be similar to the Edge experience on Windows, but Microsoft has added optimizations to make it more similar to the Mac. Extensions can be added from the Microsoft Addons store or other Chromium-based web stores such as the Chrome Web. Store.

  • Once you’ve opened Edge, click the ellipses on the right side of the browser window next to the profile picture

  • With the drop-down menu extended, select “Extensions,” which is located about halfway down the list of options


The browser includes tracking prevention (enabled by default), customization options, search features integrated with Bing, an Internet Explorer mode for viewing older Web pages and a new wave-style logo that replaces the traditional one.
Microsoft Edge is now available on all your devices, and automatically syncs your passwords, favorites, and settings. The new Microsoft Edge provides world class performance with more privacy, more productivity and more value while you browse. Our new browser also comes with our Privacy Promise and we can’t wait for you to try new features like tracking prevention, which is on by default, and provides three levels of control while you browse.


How to  Download Updated Microsoft Edge Browser


For Mac users who plan to use Edge, the browser is available on multiple platforms and can be downloaded to Mac, Windows and iOS devices with the Edge app for iOS .

The new Microsoft Edge is now available to download on all supported versions of Windows and macOS in more than 90 languages. Microsoft Edge is also available on iOS and Android, providing a true cross-platform experience. The new Microsoft Edge provides world class performance with more privacy, more productivity and more value while you browse.










Microsoft Edge and Bing give you the tools to protect your privacy online. With brand new features like Collections, and the most comprehensive set of built-in learning and accessibility tools on the web, the new Microsoft Edge was designed to help you get things done. The new Edge also gets a customisation option for the new tab page. Users can choose to start browsing with a page that’s either ‘Focussed’, ‘Inspirational’, or ‘Informational’.  





Apple iOS 12 Updates and Features


Apple new iOS 12 features and updates

After beta version Apple rolls out the new iOS 12 version in Phones. Its an update fixed many issues and become smoothening. It's an update fixed with little tweaks, minor improvements, subtle changes.


blog/Apple


iOS 12, the latest version of the most advanced mobile operating system, is designed to make everyday tasks on iPhone and iPad faster and more responsive. Available today as a free software update, iOS 12 introduces new AR experiences, fun new features like Memoji, Siri Shortcuts that open up a world of apps to work with Siri and new tools to help people reduce interruptions and manage screen time for themselves and their families, wrote in a blog post. The goal of iOS 12 was to make iPhone and iPad faster and more responsive not just on current generation, 2017 hardware, but on up to five generations going back to 2013.







              Update Options                           go to Settings > General > Software Update.

Apple put performance and stability first, and not just for its most recent hardware. The update, which is compatible back to the iPhone 5S, has also been optimized to run faster and more efficiently on older phones.
FaceTime updates make video chat far more fun than it has ever been, and the augmented reality tools provide Apple's perfect and trademark combination of joy and utility.

Improvements in Camera

The latest version of Apple's iPhone and iPad operating system, iOS 12, arrived on Monday, which means devices as old as the iPhone 5S can get a free upgrade. The new OS includes notable additions like a standalone Measure app that's like a virtual tape measure, tools to combat smartphone addiction, grouped notifications, and more.


One of the improvements in iOS 12 will be to portrait lighting, a camera feature for iPhone 8 Plus and above.

But some of the most exciting changes are to the Photos and Camera apps. Apple made some upgrades that will not only make using the Photos app easier and more intuitive, it will improve your phone's camera.

Photos

An all-new For You tab surfaces favorite moments in one place, combining Memories and iCloud Shared Albums, and introduces sharing suggestions to makes it easier to share photos with friends. Friends who receive photos are prompted to share back any photos and videos they have from the same trip or event. Search suggestions in Photos surface the most relevant Events, People, Places, Groups, Categories and recent searches, and new search functionality lets users combine multiple search terms to find just the right photos.

Screen Timing  - Do Not Disturb Modes

iOS 12 includes a comprehensive set of built-in features that are designed to help you focus, limit distraction, monitor your iOS device usage, and better understand how you are using your time throughout the day.

New tools built into iOS 12 help customers understand and take control of the time they spend interacting with their iOS devices. Screen Time provides users with detailed information and tools to help them manage the time they spend with apps and websites, and better understand and control where their child spends timeScreen Time also gives parents access to their child’s Activity Report right from their own iOS devices using Family Sharing in iCloud, and allows them to schedule times to limit when a child’s iOS device can be used, such as during bedtime.  Avoid disruptions with new Do Not Disturb modes based on time, location or action.
New modes in Do Not Disturb automatically end based on a specified time, location or action, and Do Not Disturb during Bedtime helps people get a better night’s sleep by dimming the display and hiding all notifications on the lock screen until prompted in the morning.
To help reduce interruptions, iOS 12 gives users more options for controlling how notifications are delivered. They can instantly manage notifications to be delivered quietly or turned off completely. Grouped notifications make it easier to view and manage multiple notifications at once.

Group FaceTime

That’s a nice professional upgrade and it’s good for families too, but the feature wasn’t actually ready for the release of iOS 12. 

If you still have been using FaceTime to connect with friends and family, there’s some good news for you! Apple has finally introduced Group FaceTime with a cool new interface that lets users of the group chat know who is in control of the conversation. Participants can be added or removed at any time during the call, and those cool Memoji and Camera Effects can be used in here as well.

 Face ID

Two Faced - finally Face ID can support more than one face (two to be exact). Just navigate to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Set Up an Alternate Appearance.
Ignore Passcode - after several failed Face ID unlocks you no longer have to enter your passcode, instead swipe up from the bottom of the screen and you can try Face ID again.

Dynamic AR Experiences



iOS is the world’s largest AR platform and with iOS 12, Apple continues its rapid pace of delivering major advancements with new shared AR experiences, persistent AR and more dynamic object detection and image tracking. With shared AR experiences, multiple people can play the same game or collaborate on projects like home renovations or schoolwork. Persistent AR changes the way people interact with AR apps by creating opportunities to leave virtual objects in the real world to which users can return. AR in iOS 12 is an even more realistic mix of the virtual and real world with support for image detection and tracking, making it possible to detect 3D objects and automatically apply reflections. AR files can now be viewed nearly anywhere in iOS, including apps like Messages, Safari, Mail, Files and News.










Apple’s Siri Shortcuts app now available

Apple is making Siri a lot more powerful in both iOS 12 and watchOS 5. Siri’s new Shortcuts feature is now available to download for iOS 12 users, and it allows iPhone and Apple Watch users to use Siri to step through multistep routines.
Siri takes a major step forward with the introduction of Siri Shortcuts, allowing any app to now work with Siri. With powerful on-device intelligence, Siri learns user routines and provides suggestions at just the right time. Users can also use their voice to run any Shortcut, making it even easier to use their favorite apps. The new Shortcuts app goes even further, allowing users to create custom Shortcuts to streamline frequent tasks. Popular apps like Instacart, Kayak, Hotels.com, Tile and Lose it! support Siri Shortcuts and are available in the App Store started.

Memoji and Animoji Camera Effect


The most whimsical new feature in the new version of iOS is called "Memoji." You'll need an iPhone X or one of the forthcoming iPhone XS or XR phones. That's because Memoji uses Apple's 3D front-facing camera. To find Memoji, fire up Messages. The Animoji and Memoji app is inside the app strip at the top of the keyboard. You create it by tapping on the same icon above the keyboard, then picking the face you just made. You'll need to keep your head fairly close to your phone.
 People can create Memoji right within Messages by choosing from a set of inclusive and diverse characteristics to form a unique personality. The existing set of Animoji also expands with ghost, koala, tiger and T. rex.
Animoji and Memoji now feature winks and tongue detection to capture more expressions. New camera effects bring Animoji, Filters, Text and Stickers to Messages and FaceTime. Filters like comic book and watercolor add personality to photos and videos, new labels and shapes let people add captions and titles to highlight parts of an image, and stickers can be placed using iMessage sticker packs. Memoji are customizable and fun to create right within Messages.

AutoFill gives password manager apps on your iPhone 

After years of steadily absorbing features like suggesting strong passwords and remembering the ones you've got, iOS 12 now gives back to password manager developers. The new AutoFill lets your third-party password manager be on tap in more places and much more easily. Apple's latest iPhone and iPad operating system includes an AutoFill setting that, if you choose to accept it, will let your password manager of choice be on tap everywhere. As long as you have all of your passwords securely in a manager, then you can always refer to it. You can always go first to a website or click on a shopping basket icon and then switch over to your password manager to copy out the username, password, security codes or anything else.
On your iOS device, go to Settings and scroll down to Passwords & Accounts.
Now tap on AutoFill Passwords, turn on the AutoFill toggle.
It doesn't work. Not with every website. It's going to take time for sites and developers to work in AutoFill but already it's on major sites. Go to a website that you need to log into. Tap into the username field and as soon as you do that, if it can be AutoFilled then Safari will offer to fill in the password. Once you've set this up, though, that offer is not from Apple's own iCloud Keychain system, it's from your choice of LastPass, 1Password or Dashlane. Password managers are just secure databases, buttoned-down lists of information, they're not executing code that can interfere with each other. Yet Apple has set a limitation: only one password manager at a time can be trusted with AutoFill.
You can always come back later and switch to the other one but it would've been handy to see how each handles AutoFill side by side.

Tracking and Privacy




Apple’s fight with ads and tracking software continues with iOS 12, with enhanced Intelligent Tracking Prevention that helps block social media “Like” or “Share” buttons and comment widgets from tracking users without permission. Safari now also automatically creates, autofills and stores strong passwords when users create new online accounts and flags reused passwords so users can change them.
This section is basically the old Restrictions section, and you can control everything you could before: music, TV shows, apps, movies, web content, multiplayer games, and more. The iOS default is Allow All, Unrestricted, and Explicit (for music), so if content is a concern, you'll want to change those settings. In this section, you can also turn off in-app purchases and location services, and prevent your kids from changing your settings by locking them with a passcode.

Notification Control

There’s also a feature called “Instant Tuning,” which lets you adjust notification settings directly from the notification itself. You can change the app’s settings to “deliver quietly,” which allows the notification to surface in Notification Center, but nowhere else, or turn them off altogether.

 

Apple News now comes with a redesign. It has been made more suitable for iPad use. You will now see a new Browse tab, which according to Apple, will make it easier to jump to favourites. Also, there is a new sidebar option.


With iOS 12 notifications are no longer displayed in chronological order, but are grouped by app or by multiple groups the app sets.
iOS 12 uses Grouped Notifications to condense the display of an app’s notifications on the lockscreen and notification center — and they can be dismissed as a group. Maintain your on-screen visibility and offer better user experiences by setting up different groups for major sections (business news, sports, celebrity) or for major developing stories (the royal wedding, McCain, Russia investigation). It allows users to easily swipe through each group to get all caught up or easily dismiss notifications on a topic, leaving your other grouped notifications to consume.

Apple Books is a new app that makes discovering and enjoying books and audiobooks effortless, thanks to the new Reading Now tab, the Book Store tab that makes it fun to browse all that Apple Books has to offer, the Library tab to easily organize one’s full collection, and a dedicated Audiobooks tab.
Apple is introducing a new USDZ file format developed alongside Pixar, which will allow AR assets to be used across the system, in Safari, Messages, Mail, and more. USDZ will let you place 3D AR objects into the real world within these apps. Apple is working with many companies like Adobe to implement support for USDZ in unique ways.

iOS 12 is available as a free software update for iPhone 5s and later, all iPad Air and iPad Pro models, iPad 5th generation, iPad 6th generation, iPad mini 2 and later and iPod touch 6th generation. For more information, visit apple.com/ios/ios-12. Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all regions or all languages.



Apple music has more paid users than Spotify in the US

APPLE MUSIC JUST BEAT SPOTIFY WITH THE MOST US SUBSCRIBERS




Apple Music has more paying subscribers in the United States than Spotify, according to confidential details shared with Digital Music News. Overall, Apple Music is said to have over 45 million subscribers globally with about 5-10 users on free trials. But now also Spotify  leads outside of the US, tallying 75 million subscribers as part of its first earnings report in May.


Overall, Apple Music now has more than 45 million subscribers globally, with an additional 5-10 million estimated free trial users.  Apple’s free trials typically last three months, with some exceptions (for example, in UAE). Spotify still leads outside of the US, tallying 75 million subscribers as part of its first earnings report in May.  Spotify boasts more than 70 million paying subscribers worldwide, with roughly 160 million overall users.





 

image Google
According to The Digital News , "The source, a US-based, major distributor, shared a report detailing the subscriber tallies of several streaming music services, including Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, and Sirius XM. That report now ranks Apple Music as first in the US, at least among primarily on-demand music streaming services”. Trial users were not added in this category.  Digital Music News showed the subscriber figures for a number of music streaming services including Apple Music, Spotify and Tidal. Back in February, the publication reported Apple Music would surpass Spotify in US paid subscriptions if it maintained a growth rate of 5 percent. Both streaming platforms now have around 20 million paying users in the states; however, Apple Music recently pulled ahead of Spotify by "a hair". This makes Apple the most popular on-demand streaming service in America by a hair.



The data for 2018 also shows that Apple is experiencing a
far stronger rate of growth in the US, suggesting a wider lead over the coming months.  Apple Music does not offer a free streaming tier, so it seems likely the former beating Spotify. On Apple Music, customers are typically using the free three-month trial or paid subscription. Apple offers a personal plan at $9.99, a family at $14.99, and verified students can get the service for $4.99 a month. Spotify, on the other hand, offers a free plan, in addition to several paid tiers made up by personal, family, and student plans.

image Google





Sources guess the results are from Apple having minimal discount opportunities compared to Spotify. Spotify allows a free option for users and student discounts as well.
On a global scale, Apple is behind with only 45 million paid subscribers versus Spotify’s 70 million. However, in the U.S. it seems that even though Spotify offers more discounts and plan tiers, Apple’s strategy is paying off. The disparity strongly suggests that Apple is achieving far better user engagement, especially given Spotify’s extreme promotional push for the release.

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