Tag: iphone 13

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6 apps to help you better understand your financial health

Let’s be honest — personal finance can be scary. Personal finance experts say parents should talk to their children about managing their money.

Meanwhile, the simple truth is most adults don’t know how to do that for themselves. There’s no high school class on money management, investing or taxes. My only “formal” money management lesson was the last week of math class in tenth grade. Sadly, that’s more than what most Canadians can say. 

FinTech or Financial Technology has become a big business. Even though our wallets don’t always feel that deep, many companies want to help us spend, track, and invest what we do have. It wasn’t long ago that most consumers felt that financial products were out of their reach. Today, FitTech products give Canadians access to several excellent apps and services that will help them better manage and invest their money.

Here are six apps to help you better understand your financial health:

Credit Karma

Credit scores are numbers that most Canadians don’t understand. They’re mysterious and not incredibly easy to get your hands on. Yet, they have severe influence when taking out a loan or even financing a cellphone. Credit Karma is an app that aims to provide everyone free and easy access to their credit score.

Once you sign up for Credit Karma, the app will provide your credit score and update it weekly. In addition, a secondary tab gives you a breakdown of all of the balances currently attached to your credit report and the last time your credit was checked.

Using Credit Karma does not impact your credit score. Additionally, the app is free because Credit Karma serves you non-invasive credit card offers within the app. Credit Karma has a 4.7 in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. You can learn more about Credit Karma on their website or download the app the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Mint

Mint is perhaps one of the most popular expense tracking and budgeting apps available. That’s not surprising given how well-designed and straightforward to use the app is. Mint allows you to connect accounts from nearly every financial institution to automatically track your income and expenses. 

You can use the app to track income and spending from your bank account, credit cards, investments, and loans. Within Mint, you can customize the budget categories and make manual edits to incorrectly categorized expenses. 

Mint will even notify you when subscriptions increase. In addition, Mint can help monitor your credit score and allows you to set bill payment reminders. You can learn more about the Mint app on its website or download the app for free on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

TD Easy Trade

TD Easy Trade is perhaps the newest app on this list. Many financial products are available to Americans that Canadians can only envy. Robinhood is a popular US stock trading app for DIY investors.

TD released the Easy Trade app in January, which offers wannabe investors a cheap and user-friendly way to get started. TD Easy Trade doesn’t charge any account fees or require any account minimus. Additionally, every year you receive 50 commission-free stock trades. Compared to the $9.99 per trade set by a traditional trading account offered by TD.

TD Easy Trade offers “how-to” videos, live classes, webinars, FAQs, and a contact centre with licensed investment representatives to help early investors. You can learn more about the TD Easy Trade app on its website or download the app for free on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

Acasa

If you have roommates, you may find it awkward or annoying to get their share of the rent or bills. Acasa is an app that aims to reduce that pain. Upon setting up Acasa, you create a “house” and profiles for everyone who lives there. 

Roommates then accept emailed invites to the house. Once they’ve joined the app, they can get notifications and make payments within the app. Anyone within the household can add an expense, whether groceries, rent or a utility bill. That cost can then be divided equally or custom percentages for different people. 

Acasa will easily show who owes how much on the Home Screen. This app helps you ensure that everyone is paid up fairly and quickly. You can learn more about Acasa on their website and download their app for free on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

Wealthsimple Tax

Formerly SimpleTax, the service was bought by Wealthsimple in 2019 and rebranded into Wealthsimple Tax. The service has kept its defining characteristics: a simple user interface and costs nothing to use. Wealthsimple Tax has been a popular alternative to tax software like TurboTax. 

Wealthsimple Tax feels user-friendly and attempts to make doing your own taxes less daunting. Personally, I’ve been using the service for years and have always had a really great experience. Using a search engine-like box, you can search for the forms you need. The Wealthsimple Tax then guides you to fill out the boxes required. Wealthsimple Tax will let you print off the documents or Netfile them with the CRA for you. 

Wealthsimple Tax is a free service that you can opt to pay any amount at the end if you so choose to. You can learn more about Wealthsimple Tax on its website or download the Wealthsimple Tax app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

Moka

Many of us have trouble with saving money. Perhaps we want to save for a trip, pay down some debt, or start investing. In any case, it can be hard to save money at the end of the month. Moka is an app that works to help us save more of our money. 

Moka’s premise is pretty simple—connect your bank accounts and credit cards, and every transaction you make will be rounded up. Then, Moka will take that rounded-up difference and put it towards debt repayment, savings, or investments. 

Moka can also help you set up a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), make donations with your space change, and give you access to a financial coach. Moka is a free app but does have a paid service for $3.99 or $15 per month. You can learn more about Moka on their website and download the app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

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Mobile Syrup

Apple added more users with iPhone 13 than previous launches

Apple has added more users with the release of the iPhone 13 than its previous five smartphone launches.

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook made revealed the detail at the Apple Event.

“We’re continuing to add new users to iPhone at a faster pace. In fact, this past fall, we’ve added more new users to the iPhone 13 lineup than in each of the previous five launches,” Cook said.

Apple did not offer specific sales details regarding the iPhone during its March keynote.

More to come…

Image credit: Apple

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Mobile Syrup

Apple could release a 30W GaN charger for the iPhone 14

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s new Twitter account is at it again.

According to Kuo, Apple could have plans to release a new gallium nitride (GaN) charger that’s smaller than the company’s current 30W charger.

GaN construction allows chargers to produce less heat and offer a higher charging wattage in a smaller form factor. Apple’s first GaN charger is the 140W brick that comes with the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2022). A 30W version could be used with devices like Apple’s iPhone, iPad and possibly even the MacBook Air.

According to The Verge, Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro Max can hit a max charging speed of 27W when used with the correct charger. There’s a possibility this new 30W GaN brick could be used with either the iPhone 13 or the upcoming iPhone 14 series. Apple’s current 30W charger is relatively large, so it would be great to see its size cut down a bit alongside the performance improvements GaN technology offers.

Mobile accessory makers like Anker are also working on GaN charger accessories.

In a way, this would be yet another example of Apple playing catch-up with Android manufacturers. Samsung’s S22+ and S22 Ultra are capable of 45W fast charging, and outside of the Canadian market, speeds are even faster. For example, OnePlus’ Nord CE 2 supports 65W charging.

With all of this in mind, it’s likely that if Apple does plan to offer a 30W GaN charger, it won’t be sold in the iPhone 14’s box and will be available separately. Apple hasn’t included a power brick inside its smartphone or smartwatch box for several years now.

It’s unclear if we’ll see this charger at Apple’s event later today. For more on Apple’s big spring keynote, check out this roundup of rumours.

Source: @mingchikuo Via: The Verge 

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Mobile Syrup

Apple could reveal a green iPhone 13 at its March 8th event

Though Apple’s iPhone SE (2022) event is just around the corner, rumours surrounding what might be revealed during the keynote are still appearing.

Now, it looks like there’s a possibility we might see a green version of the iPhone 13 at the event.

According to YouTuber Luke Miani, Apple has plans to reveal a green iPhone 13 colour during the keynote similar to how it showed off a purple iPhone 12 during its ‘Spring Loaded’ event last year.

The rumoured iPhone 13 colour looks reminiscent of the iPhone 11 Pro/Pro Max’s excellent ‘Midnight Green’ hue, which is a good move by Apple as far as I’m concerned. Miani says that the report comes from his own sources.

That said, I’m not familiar with Miani’s track record as a leaker, so I can’t vouch for how accurate this leak is. However, 9to5Mac deemed the news reliable enough to cover it, so that’s something. Miani also details a rumoured high-end version of the Mac mini in his video called the Mac Studio.

For more on what to expect from Apple’s ‘Peek Performance’ event, follow this link.

Image credit: Luke Miani

Source: Luke Miani Via: 9to5Mac

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Mobile Syrup

New iPhone 13 MagSafe case colours leak ahead of Apple’s spring event

If you follow my work, you’ll know that I like smartphone cases — especially Apple’s official iPhone cases. They’re undeniably pricey, but in a sense, you get what you pay for.

According to a new leak, we could see new iPhone 13 MagSafe case colours arrive alongside Apple’s reported iPhone SE and iPad Air at the tech giant’s rumoured March 9th event.

The leaked photo shows off what looks like a yellow, red, blue and green MagSafe case. It’s likely that alongside the new case colours, we’ll also see new Apple Watch bands at the event.

That said, this leak does come from a relatively unknown Apple leaker, Majin Bu, though the image does look legitimate.

Apple is expected to reveal a new iPhone SE, iPad Air and Mac mini at its upcoming March event. MobileSyrup will have more on Apple’s upcoming March hardware event in the coming days.

Image credit: @MajinBuOfficial

Source: @MajinBuOfficial Via: Apple Insider

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Mobile Syrup

Your iPhone won’t suggest 2FA autofill if you’re on a phishing site

Apple is urging companies to send two-factor messages in a new, more secure format in a bid to curb phishing attacks, as first reported by 9to5mac.

Apple’s code-AutoFill feature makes it so that if a website or an app sends a two-factor authentication code via message, it will appear automatically as an AutoFill suggestion, something that scammers have reportedly started taking advantage of.

According to 9to5mac, when scammers trick people into clicking on fraudulent links, they take the login credentials and use them on the actual website that sends two-factor codes to the user, seeing the code displayed in the AutoFill suggestion gives the user a psychological feeling that the code is legitimate. This is where a new and more secure format of sending codes comes in.

With the new format, your iPhone will only offer AutoFill suggestions if the domain in the message and the domain of the website you’re on match. For example, let’s say you’re trying to log into a website that claims to be Twitter.com, but in reality, it’s a phishing link that reads Twitter.login.info.com, your device won’t offer you an autofill suggestion.

The new format, in comparison to the old one, looks something like this:

Image credit: Macworld

While this isn’t a foolproof method to deter scammers and phishing attacks, as it relies on the user noticing that the authentication code isn’t auto-filling like it normally would on legitimate websites, it is still a good step forward. Though dedicated authentication apps, like Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator and Authy should serve you better.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: 9to5Mac

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Mobile Syrup

Your iPhone won’t suggest 2FA autofill if you’re on a phishing site

Apple is urging companies to send two-factor messages in a new, more secure format in a bid to curb phishing attacks, as first reported by 9to5mac.

Apple’s code-AutoFill feature makes it so that if a website or an app sends a two-factor authentication code via message, it will appear automatically as an AutoFill suggestion, something that scammers have reportedly started taking advantage of.

According to 9to5mac, when scammers trick people into clicking on fraudulent links, they take the login credentials and use them on the actual website that sends two-factor codes to the user, seeing the code displayed in the AutoFill suggestion gives the user a psychological feeling that the code is legitimate. This is where a new and more secure format of sending codes comes in.

With the new format, your iPhone will only offer AutoFill suggestions if the domain in the message and the domain of the website you’re on match. For example, let’s say you’re trying to log into a website that claims to be Twitter.com, but in reality, it’s a phishing link that reads Twitter.login.info.com, your device won’t offer you an autofill suggestion.

The new format, in comparison to the old one, looks something like this:

Image credit: Macworld

While this isn’t a foolproof method to deter scammers and phishing attacks, as it relies on the user noticing that the authentication code isn’t auto-filling like it normally would on legitimate websites, it is still a good step forward. Though dedicated authentication apps, like Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator and Authy should serve you better.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: 9to5Mac

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Mobile Syrup

iOS’ latest beta lets iPhone Face ID work while wearing a mask

iOS 15.4’s latest beta indicates that it will soon be possible to use the iPhone’s Face ID unlocking functionality while wearing a face mask.

According to MacRumors, there’s a new ‘Use Face ID with a Mask’ toggle within the Settings app alongside an ‘Add Glasses’ option. The feature can “recognize the unique features around the eye” to authenticate the user.

Apple says that its Face ID is the “most accurate” when it’s set to full-face recognition and that the feature requires an iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 device. It looks like iPhone 11 users are out of luck.

As someone who sometimes wears glasses, I often find my iPhone 13 can’t authenticate my face when I’m wearing them, so this feature appeals to me. It would also be great to bypass the Apple Watch authentication feature and return to using Face ID again when I’m wearing a face mask (which is nearly every time I exit my home).

With all of this in mind, a feature appearing in a beta build doesn’t mean it will necessarily get a public release. However, considering Apple’s past update history, we’ll likely see this feature included in the next public release of iOS 15.

Via: MacRumors, Axios

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Mobile Syrup

Apple’s Q1 2022 earnings indicate tech giant is moving past supply chain issues

Apple has posted record Q1 2022 sales that surpass Wall Street’s estimates surrounding the tech giant, indicating that it has worked through the supply-chain issues it suffered earlier this year.

The company’s overall sales grew 11 percent to $123.9 billion USD (roughly $157 billion CAD) in the first quarter. This number is well above the $119.1 billion USD analysts predicted.

Last year, Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that the worldwide chip shortage would cost the company $6 billion in sales leading into the important holiday shopping season. However, it seems the company was able to successfully navigate those issues as it launched the Apple Watch Series 7, the new MacBook Pro (2021) and the iPhone 13 series.

“This quarter’s record results were made possible by our most innovative lineup of products and services ever,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, in a press release. “We are gratified to see the response from customers around the world at a time when staying connected has never been more important. We are doing all we can to help build a better world — making progress toward our goal of becoming carbon neutral across our supply chain and products by 2030, and pushing forward with our work in education and racial equity and justice.”

Apple earned 71.6 billion USD (about $91 billion CAD) in revenue from the iPhone 13, an increase of 9.2 percent year-over-year despite being a relatively expected update over the iPhone 12 series. The iPad earned $7.25 billion (roughly $9.2 billion CAD), a 14 percent downturn year-over-year even though the sleek-looking iPad mini (2021) launched this quarter.

On the other hand, the company’s accessories division that includes the Apple Watch, Apple TV, AirPods, Beats and more, earned $15.7 billion (approximately $19.9 billion CAD), an increase of 13 percent year-over-year. This growth was led by the introduction of the Apple Watch Series 7 and the long-awaited 3rd-gen AirPods.

Services — a division Apple shifted its focus on for the last few years — experienced significant 24 percent year-over-year growth tied to App Store, Apple Arcade, Apple Music, Apple TV and iCloud subscriptions. Earlier this month the company revealed that over the course of 2021, the App Store generated $60 billion (roughly $76 billion CAD).

Finally, Apple’s Mac division earned $10.9 billion (about $13 billion CAD) in sales, 24 percent year-over-year growth. This increase was likely spurred by the launch of the well-received MacBook Pro (2021), a laptop that many (including myself) view as a return to form for the tech giant in the laptop space.

Source: Apple 

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Mobile Syrup

iPhone 13 doesn’t support long-time ‘Phone Noise Cancellation’ feature

A growing number of iPhone 13 users have complained about the disappearance of the ‘Phone Noise Cancellation’ accessibility feature, which reduced ambient noise on phone calls when users help the receiver to their ear.

9to5Mac reported on the missing feature in December. Up till the iPhone 12, users could find and enable/disable the feature in Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual. On the iPhone 13, however, the feature wasn’t listed at all. Initially thought to be a bug, an Apple Support rep has now confirmed that the iPhone 13 models don’t support Phone Noise Cancellation:

“We have an update on this. Phone Noise Cancellation is not available on iPhone 13 models, which is why you do not see this option in Settings.”

The response came from a direct message thread between a 9to5Mac reader and Apple Support on Twitter. The reader told 9to5 that he’d worked with Apple and a senior advisor “for months,” eventually culminating with that message, confirmation that there’s no bug or software issue involved, and directions on how to file feedback about the feature.

It remains unclear why Apple decided to remove the feature. There’s a growing Reddit thread about the problem, but overall I haven’t seen a lot of discussion about it beyond that thread and the 9to5 article. Those who have issued complaints say that the removal of Phone Noise Cancellation has significantly reduced the quality of phone calls.

While I didn’t have an iPhone 13 to check, I do have an iPhone XS running iOS 15.2.1 and it still has Phone Noise Cancellation (as seen in the header photo). For iPhone 13 users, however, the only workaround so far seems to be using Control Center to activate ‘Voice Isolation’ when in a call.

Source: 9to5Mac