Tag: ios

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Mobile Syrup

Apple’s child safety-focused ‘Communication Safety in Messages’ features are coming to Canada soon

MobileSyrup can confirm that Apple’s child safety-focused ‘Communication Safety in Messages’ iOS features are coming to Canada in its next suite of updates, including iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2 and macOS 12.2.

The previously U.S.-exclusive tool scans incoming photos on a child’s device for nudity and other potentially harmful images and flags them.

Once harmful content has been identified, it’s blurred and the child is presented with “helpful resources.” It’s unclear what Canadian organizations Apple has partnered with for these resources.

Apple says the tool also offers protection if a child attempts to send photos that contain nudity, stating that children are “given the option to message someone they trust for help if they choose” after the images have been flagged.

“Messages analyzes image attachments and determines if a photo contains nudity, while maintaining the end-to-end encryption of the messages. The feature is designed so that no indication of the detection of nudity ever leaves the device. Apple does not get access to the messages, and no notifications are sent to the parent or anyone else,” reads Apple’s support page about the feature.

Apple’s support document says the protection features also work with Siri, Search and Spotlight.

It’s important to note that Communication Safety in Messages requires user accounts to be set up as a family in iCloud.

Image credit: Apple 

Source: Apple 

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Mobile Syrup

Google’s Switch to Android app is now rolling out on iOS

Google’s ‘Switch to Android’ app has started rolling out to the public, according to TechCrunch.

The app reportedly is expected to reach 10 percent of users by end of day on April 19th, and 100 percent over the next couple weeks.

Previously, the best way to switch to iOS was to back up contacts, calendars, photos and videos to the iPhone Google Drive app. Now, the Switch to Android app offers a more streamlined experience, but on the developer side, it uses the same data types as Google Drive.

The Switch to Android app also offers instructions about the transfer process, such as how to disconnect from iMessage so that you’re able to get texts on your Android device.

Currently, the app only works with Google Pixel handsets on the receiving end, but Google will add more devices later.

TechCrunch spotted the Switch to Android app on the App Store before Google’s official announcement. Following that, The Verge noted that the app was removed from the App Store. And now the app is back.

Via: TechCrunch

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Mobile Syrup

WhatsApp testing ability to hide ‘Last Seen’ status from specific contacts on iOS

WhatsApp is starting to test its new hide ‘Last Seen’ status option. Beta testers are now able to hide their status from specific contacts as a part of the company’s new privacy setting.

Those with access to beta version 22.9.0.70 on iOS will be the first to try out the feature. Reports indicate that the feature is live. Once accessible, users can navigate to the ‘Privacy’ setting. In the ‘Last Seen’ option, users can select between ‘Everyone,’ ‘My Contacts,’ ‘Nobody,’ and the newly implemented ‘My Contacts Except…’

As the report clarifies, users do not have to set the status to ‘Nobody’ if the status is disabled due to certain contacts. Additionally, when you block contacts from seeing your ‘Last Seen’ status on WhatsApp, you won’t be able to see theirs. WhatsApp is reportedly aiming to implement the same option for a user’s “profile picture” and “about” information.

This same feature was introduced on Android a few weeks ago. Beta testers on iOS now have access to the same privacy settings. Though, of course, access to beta version 22.9.0.70 through TestFlight is required.

It’s worth noting that more beta testers will gain access to the feature as time goes on. WhatsApp will likely increase the number of testers throughout the next few days.

The introduction of the ‘Last Seen’ privacy setting is the latest new feature from WhatsApp. Recently, WhatsApp added the ability to react to messages with emojis. Currently, the feature is limited in scope with only a handful of emojis available. However, future updates in the pipeline aim to implement Communities and support 2GB file sharing. However, it’s still unclear when these features will be accessible.

Image credit: WABetaInfo

Source: WABetaInfo

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Mobile Syrup

Picture-in-picture support for all iOS users not coming ‘in a matter of days’ [Update]

Update 04/11/2022 2:18pm ET: It turns out that @TeamYouTube‘s tweet was in reference to YouTube TV and not the standalone YouTube app. Picture-in-picture support for all iOS 15+ devices using the YouTube TV app is rolling out now. As for the YouTube app, picture-in-picture support is still limited to premium subscribers on Android.

Original story below:

All iPhone users running iOS 15 or later would soon be able to enjoy YouTube in picture-in-picture mode, according to a Tweet from @TeamYouTube. The feature will allow you to continue watching videos in a floating window while you use your device for other activities.

While picture-in-picture has been available as a feature on iOS and iPadOS since the launch of iOS 14, enabled in apps like Netflix, Disney + and Apple TV, the feature was never implemented on YouTube.

Back in June 2021, YouTube said that it will add the feature for all premium users, and that it has plans to enable the feature for all users in the future. Now, according to @TeamYouTube‘s tweet, the feature will be available to all iOS 15+ devices “in a matter of days.”

Picture-in-picture availability has been spotty for iOS users recently. Some resorted to using the service on their web browser, while others have enjoyed picture-in-picture on their Android devices since 2017. Knowing that the feature will soon be enabled for all iOS 15+ users is a sigh of relief for everyone who has been waiting for the feature to drop since last year.

This comes soon after YouTube revamped the full-screen viewing experience on its iOS and Android apps.

Source: @TeamYouTube

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Mobile Syrup

Spotify testing TikTok-like ‘Discover’ feed in Canada

Spotify officially launched a new TikTok-like music discovery feed in its app.

Dubbed ‘Discover,’ the feed rolled out in a limited beta test to Android and iOS users in Canada and other regions, including Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the U.K. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, I didn’t have access to the new ‘Discover’ feature on either platform.

Users in the test can access the tool by tapping the new ‘Discover’ icon in the navigation bar (look for a new, fourth icon between the ‘Home’ and ‘Search’ buttons). Discover then shows a customized feed using Spotify’s ‘Canvas’ visual loops and plays a corresponding tune.

Those who like what they hear can follow the artist, add the song to a playlist, or share it on socials. The feed scrolls vertically, like TikTok — users can quickly move on to the next song if they don’t like what they hear.

Interestingly, Spotify will only offer up to 15 new recommendations per day, so those who use the feature won’t find themselves scrolling for long.

You can learn more about the Discover beta on Spotify’s blog here.

Image credit: Spotify

Source: Spotify Via: Engadget

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Mobile Syrup

Google Maps now features ‘eco-friendly routing’ on mobile

Google has launched a new Maps mobile app feature in Canada that aims to help drivers make more sustainable choices.

Called “eco-friendly driving,” the feature uses AI to analyze carbon emissions of your planned route and suggests alternative directions that would consume less fuel. The app takes into account traffic, road steepness and other variables.

As Google notes, nearly 20 percent of global CO2 emissions come from ground transportation, which was a key reason why this feature has been introduced.

Google Maps can be downloaded for free on Android and iOS.

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Mobile Syrup

Apple’s Craig Federighi explains why automatic iOS updates take so long

If you want fast updates on iOS, you should probably do them yourself instead of relying on automatic updates.

At least, that’s the word from Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering. A Reddit user shared in a post that they emailed Federighi asking about how the auto-update system works after seeing posts online about how it worked slowly.

Federighi responded, writing:

“We incrementally rollout new iOS updates by first making them available for those that explicitly seek them out in Settings, and then 1-4 weeks later (after we’ve received feedback on the update) ramp up to rolling out to devices with auto-update enabled.
Hope that helps!”

In other words, Apple delays rolling out automatic updates to devices until it’s certain there are no major issues with the update to users who manually request it from their device. It’s actually a pretty smart way to go about updates since the people who manually trigger an update might be more knowledgeable and equipped to deal with any issues if something goes wrong.

As some others have pointed out in the Reddit thread, delaying automatic updates helps relieve pressure on Apple’s servers as well.

So, if you want to make sure your iPhone or iPad is up to date as soon as possible, make sure you head into the Settings app and manually start the update process next time Apple releases a version of iOS or iPadOS. Otherwise, you could be waiting a little while.

That said, Federighi’s email doesn’t address the App Store’s automatic app updates, which, frankly, don’t work. A few Redditors mentioned this, but I’ve experienced this too — almost every time I check for updates in the App Store, I have dozens of weeks old updates waiting to be downloaded, despite having automatic app updates turned on.

Source: Reddit Via: 9to5Mac

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Mobile Syrup

Netflix is getting three new mobile games in March, including an FPS

Netflix has revealed three new games that are coming to its platform on Android and iOS in March.

Notably, one of these titles is PikPok’s Into The Dead 2: Unleashed, a first-person shooter (FPS) sequel that comes 10 years after the original mobile game. In Unleashed, players must save their family during a zombie apocalypse using guns, melee weapons, explosives and more. A specific release date has not yet been confirmed; Netflix simply says “coming soon.”

In the meantime, there are two other games that are available as of March 22nd.

The first, This is a True Story, is a puzzle game that was developed by Frosty Pop in collaboration with Charity: Water, a non-profit that brings clean and safe drinking water to developing nations. With that in mind, the game follows a Sub-Saharan African woman on her daily excursions to get water for her family.

Finally, there’s PikPok’s Shatter Remastered, an updated version of the 2009 brick-breaking PS3 game.  Shatter Remastered features a bunch of power-ups, boss battles and special attacks that players can use to achieve high scores.

These three titles are part of the Netflix Games catalogue, which is available at no additional cost to Netflix users on Android and iOS.

Source: Netflix

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Mobile Syrup

Crave app on iOS now supports spatial audio

Bell’s Crave app on iOS now includes support for spatial audio.

As first spotted by iPhone in Canada, the app was updated last week to add this functionality, which is ostensibly surround sound.

Per the patch notes, spatial audio is offered for “available content” on Crave. Also included in the latest update are described video (on “some content”) and improved VoiceOver support for video playback.

The Crave app can be downloaded from the App Store here.

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Mobile Syrup

Native Instagram app for iPad not coming anytime soon, company head tweets

Instagram won’t optimize its app for the iPad anytime soon, said the social media platform’s head Adam Mosseri in a tweet over the weekend.

The message was in response to a tweet made by tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) who pointed out the absence of the app even in 2022.

Mosseri said it’s something Instagram hears a lot but the number of iPad users wanting the app isn’t large enough to justify developing it.

Brownlee further states this group could increase if “an excellent app” existed. Mosseri agrees but says the company is “leaner than you think” and is already supporting the app on four platforms: iOS, the web, Instagram Lite, and its’s largest, Android.

Mosseri said Instagram views a dedicated app for iPad as a part of the “finally features” list. It’s a want but isn’t prioritized to be completed at this time.