Google Releases Trusted Contacts Location Tracking App, Here’s How It Works

Google has released Trusted Contacts, an app that lets Android users track the location of their trusted contacts in real-time. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

Trusted Contacts isn’t exactly Google’s first flirtation with this concept. Many Android old-timers would be well familiar with Google Latitude, a service that offered most of what Trusted Contacts has to offer, but was pulled by the company back in 2013. Well, bygones, and with this latest offering Android users can get back to such a service, but with even better, and more importantly, refined features.

Trusted Contacts has been made as the perfect tool for emergency moments, and when you want your friends and family to be aware of your safety and the other way around. It is designed to work in moments where a user’s phone is out of battery, data, or network coverage.

The way Google’s latest offering functions is that “Once you install the Android app, you can assign trusted status to your closest friends and family. Your trusted contacts will be able to see your activity status — whether you’ve moved around recently and are online — to quickly know if you’re OK.” So basically if you’re worried about your safety, you can simply share your status (location) with a friend, or alternatively if that friend is worried about you, your location can also be requested.

If a friend has requested your location, you can either choose to deny the request or share your location as requested. However, if you don’t respond within a certain time frame, your location will be automatically shared. Further more, if you have’t responded to that request for reasons such as a dead phone, or one out  of network coverage, Trusted Contacts will share your last known location.

Trusted Contacts is right up there with Find My Friends feature on iOS, and makes sure that you, and your loved ones are always apprised about each other’s safety. Very useful for those with children, and well, an Android using family.

(Download: Trusted Contacts for Android from Google Play)

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Google Releases Trusted Contacts Location Tracking App, Here’s How It Works

Download Pokemon Go 1.19.1 / 0.49.1 For iOS / Android, Changelog Included

Niantic is in the process of rolling out download of Pokemon Go 1.19.1 for iOS and 0.49.1 for Android with the aim of not only progressing the platform, but also introducing new and improved functionality that will hopefully keep Trainers interested in what the title has to offer.

The latest update, which takes Pokemon Go to version 0.49.1 for Android devices, and version 1.19.1 for iPhone, brings a slew of improvements that includes functional enhancements as well as user-interface improvements. Here are full details on what’s new in this update.

First and foremost, the development team at Niantic have made some performance and usability improvements around how duplicate Pokemon are transferred to Professor Willow in exchange for those precious Candies.

Rather than having to scroll through a seemingly endless list of caught critters, transferring one a time in exchange for single Candy, Trainers are now able to press and hold on a Pokemon to invoke the transfer process, and are also now able to transfer multiple creatures at a time to make the whole process a lot more efficient. This will definitely be of great help to those gamers who prefer the method of capturing a heap of low-level Pokemon before transferring out for Candy.

Niantic has also made a number of changes around the recently released Buddy feature that allows a Trainer to pick a specific Pokemon to be assigned as a travel Buddy. This feature initially allowed Candies to be earned by a Buddy Pokemon based on the amount of distance travelled with the app open. The user-interface has now been amended to include the total number of Candy accrued by that particular Buddy Pokemon. This information can be instantly found and interacted with via the Buddy information screen.

The total amount of kilometres walked has also been added to the information screen of each Pokemon that has been added as a Buddy.

In addition to the above, Niantic has taken the opportunity to integrate a number of minor text improvements and overall enhancements as well that should hopefully improve the overall Pokemon Go experience from a usability perspective. Not exactly earth-shattering functionality, but it’s still great to see the platform progress and receiving semi-regular updates.

Full official changelog of the new update is as follows:

As always, the latest updates are in the process of rolling out via Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store. While the update is already live in some regions, it’s not live worldwide as yet. You may have to keep checking the app store of your respective platform to see if it’s available in your region.

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Download Pokemon Go 1.19.1 / 0.49.1 For iOS / Android, Changelog Included

Apple Shares Pro Tips For iPhone 7 Plus Portrait Mode Photography

Apple today shared pro tips for iPhone 7 Plus Portrait mode from some of the world’s top photographers. The company believes this will help people to take better advantage of the capabilities the iPhone 7 Plus dual-lens camera affords.

Both the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus carry cameras that are capable of taking some stunning shots, but the iPhone 7 Plus in particular features the dual-camera configuration, which makes Portrait mode possible. It’s this mode that photographers are most getting to grips with, and Apple is keen to make sure users know just how to take photos that show great depth of field – even if a lot of it is created in software.

According to photo gallery site Flickr, the iPhone 7 is already the sixth most used camera with which its users are taking photos for uploading to the site. To date, over five million images, taken with the iPhone 7 Plus, have been uploaded to Flickr with more being added by the minute. Apple wants to make sure that not only is Portrait mode not forgotten, but that it is being actively used by anyone who has access to it. That means iPhone 7 Plus owners, for now.

Apple is quick to point out the iPhone’s long-standing popularity as a camera, with iPhones in all shapes and sizes combining to become the most popular cumulative camera on the planet.

In a short time, Portrait mode has become a favorite feature for iPhone 7 Plus users, with people capturing a range of subjects with the stunning depth-of-field effect, bringing them closer to the subjects they love. iPhone is the most popular camera in the world.

Throughout the piece, shared via the Newsroom portion of apple.com, Apple highlights various photographers and shares what they think of the iPhone 7 Plus and what it allows people to do.

It’s all very typical Apple, and it could be part of a video shot in an impossibly white room, but no matter how you feel about Apple’s self-congratulatory tone, everyone must surely admit that with the iPhone 7 Plus, Apple got things right.

Just look at some of the photos the professionals create with the thing.

(source: Apple)

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Tech Deals: $600 4K TV, Guitar Hero Live With Controller For $19, Nighthawk X10 Router, More

We are now definitely in the season defined as the time to be jolly, which means that you should be seriously considering your next purchase. That could be either for yourself, or a loved one, but it should definitely be one that saves you money. Check out our daily tech deals below to see if there’s anything that takes your interest.

Today we are looking at the first-gen Apple Watch 42mm with Stainless Steel case going for around $100 off its original price. If you’re looking for a brand new LCD monitor, check out the Dell UltraSharp 27-inch display at half its retail price.

Speaking of displays, there’s a big screen TV from TCL with Roku TV and 4K resolution for under $600. Looking for WiFi router? The NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 is one serious router to consider. Moving on, if you’re looking for a new Lightning cable for your iOS device, check out a 6ft offering for just $9. There is also Guitar Hero Live for iOS and tvOS with added goodies for just $18.99.

As always, grab the product of your choice as quickly as possible as the deals listed here are time sensitive and subject to stock levels. So, if there’s a product in here that you have your heart set on, keep that credit card close by and act fast. Enjoy the savings!

Guitar Hero Live for iOS & tvOS With Guitar Controller ($18.99, usually $99.99)

Gone are the days when you can only play mobile games via the touch interface of a smartphone or tablet. In fact, the days of connected hardware and accompanying gaming accessories are rife, which is where this wonderful, and heavily reduced, Guitar Hero bundle comes into its own. The all-new guitar controller allows users to confidently enter into the two new gameplay modes that have been introduced by FreeStyleGames. If you’ve ever wanted to be a legendary musician, then now is the time to realize that dream.

Compatible to work on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.

Buy: Guitar Hero Live for iOS & tvOS with Guitar Controller from Amazon: $18.99 | Original price: $100

Apple Watch 42mm Stainless Steel Case w/ Black Sport Band ($499.95, usually $599.99)

Apple CEO Tim Cook has already prophesied that the Apple Watch will be one of the most popular holiday gifts this year. If you want to add to that popularity, then why not get your hands on the stunning 42mm stainless steel model with accompanying black sport band for $100 off its original price? It’s the original first-generation version Watch with a 1.5-inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 8GB of internal storage, and 512MB RAM.

Buy: Apple Watch 42mm Stainless Steel Case w/ Black Sport Band from Amazon: $499.95 | Original price: $600

Dell UltraSharp 27-Inch Screen LED-Lit Monitor ($379.99, usually $649.99)

Sometimes you just need a stunning and highly capable monitor that works as hard as you do, and shows off your hard work with stunning clarity. And sometimes you just need to dip into the piggy bank and part with what may seem like a lot of cash in order to own that monitor. Step forward the Dell UltraSharp option with a 27-inch display, an ultra-thin bezel that breeds beauty, and a side and top profile that will make you question if it was designed by magicians.

Buy: Dell UltraSharp 27-Inch Screen LED-Lit Monitor from Amazon: $379.99 | Original price: $650

NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 802.11ac/ad WiFi Router With Quad-Core CPU, Runs Plex Media Server ($374.99, usually $499.99)

We aren’t exactly sure when routers and modems started getting names like “Nighthawk”, or started being designed by individuals who think a router should look like an aggressive invading alien ship, but we aren’t exactly complaining. Integrated support for 802.11ad WiFi brings the faster WiFi technology for instant downloads and backups. There’s also multiple high-performance antenna for better WiFi coverage and faster speeds.

Quad-Core processor and faster wireless performance means that this router should be able to stream 4K videos without issues. Best of all, it can even be used as a Plex Media Server on its own without needing any PC!

Buy: NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 802.11ac/ad WiFi Router from Amazon: $374.99 | Original price: $500

Clever BoostLink 6ft Long MFi Certified Lightning Cable ($9.00 with promo code, usually $25.99)

Apple cables are notoriously poor quality, and will more often than not fall apart well before your iPhone or iPad is taken out of commission. That’s why you sometimes need to bite the bullet and accept that there’s a small additional cost in the form of an MFi certified and extremely well built cable that won’t fall apart and won’t let you down at the last minute.

Grab it for $9 with the following promo code at checkout: ICLEVER0.

Buy: Clever BoostLink 6ft MFi Certified Lightning Cable from Amazon: $9.00 | Original price: $26

TCL 50-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart LED TV ($599.99, usually $799.99)

If you’re sitting on your sofa or couch, and looking directly at your wall thinking there is something missing, then the chances are that you need a 50-inch LED TV mounted on the wall. If you don’t want to part with maximum cash to get that experience, then you will definitely need to take a keen look at this Roku Smart LED TV with 4K UHD quality.

Buy: TCL 50-Inch 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart LED TV from Amazon: $599.99 | Original price: $800

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Tech Deals: $600 4K TV, Guitar Hero Live With Controller For $19, Nighthawk X10 Router, More

Single Sign-On Feature Now Live On iOS And tvOS, Here Are The Details

Following its successful testing via the iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1 beta programs, Apple has today flicked the switch which sent Single Sign-on feature live for TV content apps across its platforms.

With Single Sign-on, or SSO as it is sometimes referred to as, users are able to use multiple apps by signing into their provider’s app just the once from within iOS or tvOS. Third-party apps will be able to ask for, and be granted permission to access those credentials via the SSO process rather than having users enter credentials multiple times.

Currently only available to users within the United States due to the nature of the feature, SSO is currently limited to a handful of content providers. However, new providers are being added all the time, with some being included in the beta program mere hours before SSO went live for everyone running tvOS 10 or iOS 10.

It’s important to note that beta releases of iOS or tvOS are not required in order to take advantage of SSO – the betas were simply a vector for testing to be carried out.

Users who wish to access the SSO support on iOS devices, opening the Settings app and then scrolling down to “TV Providers” should do the trick.

Those wishing to do the same via the Apple TV can do exactly that by opening the Settings app before choosing the TV Provider option and then signing in. Single Sign-on will save plenty of logging in if used properly, especially for those who have multiple apps which need authentication in order to allow the streaming, or downloading of content.

Given the limited number of content providers who support SSO right now, the number of users exposed to it initially is equally limited. As Apple signs more up for SSO, its upcoming TV app and accompanying deals, we expect to see more people also join in with the SSO system Apple is putting into place. If your provider is not one of those live already, that may change soon enough.

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Single Sign-On Feature Now Live On iOS And tvOS, Here Are The Details

Flaw In VISA System Allows Credit Card Details To Be Stolen In Six Seconds

Security researchers at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom have demonstrated the relative ease in which malicious individuals can harvest information from VISA credit and debit cards when used for online payments.

Very few of us actually think twice when opting to make a payment for goods or services online, but it seems that the trust we place in that payment mechanism could be misplaced, especially when using a VISA issued card to transact.

The most terrifying thing here is not that the data can actually be hijacked and accessed by someone with the necessary skills, but the quickness in which that data can be stolen as well as the level of information that can be accessed by a would-be attacker. The UK-based team behind the discovery have found that information such as the debit or credit card number, expiry date, and security code can be accessed in as little as six seconds via a security vulnerability in the company’s online payment system.

One of the biggest issues in the current VISA system, as discovered by the team, is that the system doesn’t automatically limit the number of failed attempts that are allowed before an automatic failsafe kicks in and locks down the account from further unsuccessful attempts.

This essentially means that brute force style attacks are fair game, and entirely unprotected against in the current implementation. This limitation allows computer systems to be set up to try and force payment without fear of being locked out. Mastercard on the other hand imposes a limit of 10 failed attempts before security kicks in.

The second flaw in the system means that it’s actually possible to put in place a Distributed Guessing Attack that allows an overall picture of a credit or debit card to be obtained by making multiple unobstructed attempts at guessing certain information pertaining to the card, such as the CVV number and expiry date of the card. Unfortunately for users there doesn’t appear to be any recommended methods of protection other than vigilance. VSIA on the other hand could do with an internal review of their current system, and at a minimum make changes to ensure that accounts are locked out after a number of failed attempts.

(Source: Newcastle University [YouTube])

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Flaw In VISA System Allows Credit Card Details To Be Stolen In Six Seconds

Apple TV Universal Search Expands, Adds AMC And The Hallmark Channel To The Mix

Apple has just increased the number of apps which can tie into the Apple TV Siri universal search functionality by two, with support for both the AMC and The Hallmark Channel now included for users in the United States.

Fans of the popular TV shows, such as Better Call Saul and The Walking Dead, are now able to search for episodes of the shows via universal search and Siri functionality present on the fourth-generation Apple TV set-top box.

The Apple TV has really taken off with the advent of the Apple TV 4, especially with the evolution of the tvOS platform and the tvOS App Store.

For those unfamiliar with the feature, universal search allows users of Apple TVs to search for media using either Siri or universal search text input. The benefit here is that searching for a movie, for example, need not be a case of launching apps individually and then searching until the content is found. Instead, searching in one area will allow tvOS to search across multiple apps in an attempt to find what is required.

When the fourth-generation Apple TV was launched – the only Apple TV hardware to support universal search – the feature was limited to only a handful of apps. This number however is now steadily growing since this past year, with AMC and The Hallmark Channel joining the list of supported Apple TV apps.

Users in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and the U.K. are all able to take advantage of a huge array of apps with universal search support. In some countries though, like France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden, only iTunes and Netflix are among supported apps for universal search.

Those countries should be thankful though, because some countries don’t even have that with iTunes being the only platform being supported by the set-top-box for searching movies via the so called universal search functionality. For a complete list of apps that support Siri and universal search function in your country, head over to Apple support page here.

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Apple TV Universal Search Expands, Adds AMC And The Hallmark Channel To The Mix