Month: August 2024
Credit Card Debt Relief Programs: Should You Trust Them?
Credit card debt relief could help you manage debt, but you’ll need to be careful when choosing a program.
Credit card debt relief could help you manage debt, but you’ll need to be careful when choosing a program.
Apple to Let EU Users Set New Defaults for Multiple Apps, Delete App Store, Photos, Messages and More
Apple is making additional changes to its app ecosystem in the European Union to comply with the terms of the Digital Markets Act. The default browser selection experience that’s already in place will be updated, Apple will allow EU users to set defaults for more types of apps, and core iOS apps like Messages and the App Store will also be deletable.
iPhone owners in the EU can already set different defaults for the browser, mail app, app marketplace, and contactless payments, but Apple is going to allow users to select new defaults for phone calls, messaging, password managers, keyboards, call spam filters, navigation, and translation. That means, for example, that EU users will be able to choose an app like WhatsApp instead of Messages to be their default texting app, or a mapping app like Waze to be the default instead of Apple Maps.
Apple has not yet provided insight into just how setting a new default will work for messaging apps, navigation, password managers, and more, and the company plans to provide more information as the launch date for these features approaches. New defaults for phone calls, messaging, password managers, spam call filters, and keyboards will be able to be set starting with an update to iOS 18 coming later this year, while the option to set different navigation and translation defaults will be implemented in spring 2025.
To handle the multitude of new default apps that can be set, Apple is adding a Default Apps section to the Settings app. It will list all of the defaults available to each user for easy management.
Along with setting new apps as defaults, Apple will let users delete core apps. The App Store, Messages, Camera, Photos, and Safari apps will be able to be deleted, so it’s essentially just the Settings and Phone apps that will not be able to be removed in the EU. If a user deletes the App Store app, it will be able to be reinstalled from the Settings app if desired, while the other apps can be reinstalled from the App Store.
With iOS 17.4, EU users were able to select a default browser from a randomized list of the top 12 browsers in their country. In a future update to iOS 18, the browser choice window will pop up again if a user has Safari set as their default. The new browser selection experience will include a descriptive line about the browser, as well as the option to set a default browser right from the choice window. If a user selects a browser that is already installed on their device, it will open automatically, otherwise there will be a downloading icon and the browser will open after it’s downloaded. Users will also need to scroll through the full list of available browser options before being able to make a selection.
Note that the option to set a default browser will only show up again for users who have Safari as the default, so if an EU user has already selected Chrome, the choice window will not pop up again with the iOS 18 update coming later in the year. Users will also see the selection interface on all of their devices rather than just one, and it will show up when Safari is opened for the first time after updating. Setting a new default when Safari is on the user’s Home Screen or Dock will see the new default browser replace the Safari icon.
The browser default popup will also be displayed when migrating to a new device if the user previously had Safari set as the default.
The changes that Apple is making are applicable for iPhone and iPad users in the European Union with updates to iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, and will not be available in other countries like the United States.
More information on the changes can be found on Apple’s developer site.Tags: App Store, European UnionThis article, “Apple to Let EU Users Set New Defaults for Multiple Apps, Delete App Store, Photos, Messages and More” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple is making additional changes to its app ecosystem in the European Union to comply with the terms of the Digital Markets Act. The default browser selection experience that’s already in place will be updated, Apple will allow EU users to set defaults for more types of apps, and core iOS apps like Messages and the App Store will also be deletable.
iPhone owners in the EU can already set different defaults for the browser, mail app, app marketplace, and contactless payments, but Apple is going to allow users to select new defaults for phone calls, messaging, password managers, keyboards, call spam filters, navigation, and translation. That means, for example, that EU users will be able to choose an app like WhatsApp instead of Messages to be their default texting app, or a mapping app like Waze to be the default instead of Apple Maps.
Apple has not yet provided insight into just how setting a new default will work for messaging apps, navigation, password managers, and more, and the company plans to provide more information as the launch date for these features approaches. New defaults for phone calls, messaging, password managers, spam call filters, and keyboards will be able to be set starting with an update to iOS 18 coming later this year, while the option to set different navigation and translation defaults will be implemented in spring 2025.
To handle the multitude of new default apps that can be set, Apple is adding a Default Apps section to the Settings app. It will list all of the defaults available to each user for easy management.
Along with setting new apps as defaults, Apple will let users delete core apps. The App Store, Messages, Camera, Photos, and Safari apps will be able to be deleted, so it’s essentially just the Settings and Phone apps that will not be able to be removed in the EU. If a user deletes the App Store app, it will be able to be reinstalled from the Settings app if desired, while the other apps can be reinstalled from the App Store.
With iOS 17.4, EU users were able to select a default browser from a randomized list of the top 12 browsers in their country. In a future update to iOS 18, the browser choice window will pop up again if a user has Safari set as their default. The new browser selection experience will include a descriptive line about the browser, as well as the option to set a default browser right from the choice window. If a user selects a browser that is already installed on their device, it will open automatically, otherwise there will be a downloading icon and the browser will open after it’s downloaded. Users will also need to scroll through the full list of available browser options before being able to make a selection.
Note that the option to set a default browser will only show up again for users who have Safari as the default, so if an EU user has already selected Chrome, the choice window will not pop up again with the iOS 18 update coming later in the year. Users will also see the selection interface on all of their devices rather than just one, and it will show up when Safari is opened for the first time after updating. Setting a new default when Safari is on the user’s Home Screen or Dock will see the new default browser replace the Safari icon.
The browser default popup will also be displayed when migrating to a new device if the user previously had Safari set as the default.
The changes that Apple is making are applicable for iPhone and iPad users in the European Union with updates to iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, and will not be available in other countries like the United States.
More information on the changes can be found on Apple’s developer site.
This article, “Apple to Let EU Users Set New Defaults for Multiple Apps, Delete App Store, Photos, Messages and More” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
TechCrunch Minute: AI could help design and test F1 cars faster
Formula One teams are looking at a startup called BeyondMath to bring their car construction to the next level. BeyondMath is working in the field of computational fluid dynamics, which attempts to digitally model how an object moves through water or air. But that’s a lot easier said than done – even with excessive computing
© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Formula One teams are looking at a startup called BeyondMath to bring their car construction to the next level. BeyondMath is working in the field of computational fluid dynamics, which attempts to digitally model how an object moves through water or air. But that’s a lot easier said than done – even with excessive computing […]
© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Peloton to ruin the secondhand market by charging a $95 ‘used equipment activation fee’
Peloton is in something of a financial rut lately, and we all know what companies do when that happens. They take it out on consumers. To that end, the exercise machine maker just announced it will be charging a $95 “used equipment activation fee” to anyone who buys one of its machines on the secondhand market, according to a report by CNBC.
The company made this announcement in its Q4 2024 shareholder letter. The fairly exorbitant fee will apply to any machine bought directly from a previous owner, meaning anything purchased via Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or, heck, even a neighbor down the street. Without tithing $95 to the church of Peloton, the machine won’t have access to any of the classes or features the company has become known for.
The company says this activation fee is just to ensure that new members “receive the same high-quality onboarding experience Peloton is known for.” In a recent earnings call, however, a company representative was more transparent, calling the fee a “source of incremental revenue and gross profit,” according to The Verge.
Users who pay this fee will be treated to a “virtual custom fitting,” in the case of the Peloton Bike and Bike Plus. They will also receive a summary of the hardware which will illustrate exactly how much the machine was used by the original owner, just in case the seller tries that whole “I only used it once” thing. Peloton also says that these second hand buyers will get discounts on accessories like shoes, mats and spare parts. So it’s not all bad.
Also, the $95 fee doesn’t apply to those who buy refurbished machines directly from the company or from any of its third-party distribution partners. It’s only those who sell or buy via traditional used equipment channels who gotta pay the troll toll.
Buying a preowned Peloton machine was one of the great joys of being a consumer. The standard Bike, for instance, sells new for nearly $1,500, but you can pick up a used one online for $300 to $500. Now, that price goes up to $400 to $600. Peloton also requires a monthly membership fee to access content, which is around $44.
This isn’t the only move that Peloton has recently made that could be seen, through a cynical lens, as nickel and diming consumers. It upped subscription prices for those who use the company’s app with third-party machines. There’s still a free tier, but it doesn’t offer access to any live classes.
However, the recent earnings call did offer a bit of good news for Pelo-heads (I just made that up). Shares have risen 15 percent this quarter and losses have been narrowed to $30 million, down from $241 million year over year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/peloton-to-ruin-the-secondhand-market-by-charging-a-95-used-equipment-activation-fee-155230509.html?src=rss
Peloton is in something of a financial rut lately, and we all know what companies do when that happens. They take it out on consumers. To that end, the exercise machine maker just announced it will be charging a $95 “used equipment activation fee” to anyone who buys one of its machines on the secondhand market, according to a report by CNBC.
The company made this announcement in its Q4 2024 shareholder letter. The fairly exorbitant fee will apply to any machine bought directly from a previous owner, meaning anything purchased via Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or, heck, even a neighbor down the street. Without tithing $95 to the church of Peloton, the machine won’t have access to any of the classes or features the company has become known for.
The company says this activation fee is just to ensure that new members “receive the same high-quality onboarding experience Peloton is known for.” In a recent earnings call, however, a company representative was more transparent, calling the fee a “source of incremental revenue and gross profit,” according to The Verge.
Users who pay this fee will be treated to a “virtual custom fitting,” in the case of the Peloton Bike and Bike Plus. They will also receive a summary of the hardware which will illustrate exactly how much the machine was used by the original owner, just in case the seller tries that whole “I only used it once” thing. Peloton also says that these second hand buyers will get discounts on accessories like shoes, mats and spare parts. So it’s not all bad.
Also, the $95 fee doesn’t apply to those who buy refurbished machines directly from the company or from any of its third-party distribution partners. It’s only those who sell or buy via traditional used equipment channels who gotta pay the troll toll.
Buying a preowned Peloton machine was one of the great joys of being a consumer. The standard Bike, for instance, sells new for nearly $1,500, but you can pick up a used one online for $300 to $500. Now, that price goes up to $400 to $600. Peloton also requires a monthly membership fee to access content, which is around $44.
This isn’t the only move that Peloton has recently made that could be seen, through a cynical lens, as nickel and diming consumers. It upped subscription prices for those who use the company’s app with third-party machines. There’s still a free tier, but it doesn’t offer access to any live classes.
However, the recent earnings call did offer a bit of good news for Pelo-heads (I just made that up). Shares have risen 15 percent this quarter and losses have been narrowed to $30 million, down from $241 million year over year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/peloton-to-ruin-the-secondhand-market-by-charging-a-95-used-equipment-activation-fee-155230509.html?src=rss
Chat, who thinks I should be president?
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge; Getty Images
Kamala Harris’ strategy to reach young voters will see her debut on Twitch tonight, where she’ll be streaming her Democratic nomination acceptance speech. The new kamalaharris Twitch channel features a similar bio to the Vice President’s accounts on X, Tiktok, YouTube, and other platforms: “Wife, Momala, Auntie. She/her. Fighting for the people. When we fight, we win” — and I don’t think she means Tekken.
“Our job as the campaign is to break through a historically personalized media landscape,” Harris spokesperson Seth Schuster said to Wired, adding that the Twitch account was created to broadcast her vision ”directly to the hardest to reach voters and those who will decide this election.” (Several other services will also be streaming the address.) It’s one of many pushes the Harris-Walz campaign has made to engage with online audiences, alongside the KamalaHQ TikTok’s viral branding and allowing independent content creators like Hasan Piker to access the Democratic National Convention for the first time.
Other politicians have attracted sizable audiences on Twitch. Donald Trump’s account, having recently been reinstated following a three-year ban, is currently sitting at 172,000 followers, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez peaked at 435,000 viewers on her debut — one of the platform’s biggest streams to date. Unlike AOC, Harris may not be broadcasting any games on her new account, unless Tim Walz can tempt her to play Crazy Taxi.
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge; Getty Images
Kamala Harris’ strategy to reach young voters will see her debut on Twitch tonight, where she’ll be streaming her Democratic nomination acceptance speech. The new kamalaharris Twitch channel features a similar bio to the Vice President’s accounts on X, Tiktok, YouTube, and other platforms: “Wife, Momala, Auntie. She/her. Fighting for the people. When we fight, we win” — and I don’t think she means Tekken.
“Our job as the campaign is to break through a historically personalized media landscape,” Harris spokesperson Seth Schuster said to Wired, adding that the Twitch account was created to broadcast her vision ”directly to the hardest to reach voters and those who will decide this election.” (Several other services will also be streaming the address.) It’s one of many pushes the Harris-Walz campaign has made to engage with online audiences, alongside the KamalaHQ TikTok’s viral branding and allowing independent content creators like Hasan Piker to access the Democratic National Convention for the first time.
Other politicians have attracted sizable audiences on Twitch. Donald Trump’s account, having recently been reinstated following a three-year ban, is currently sitting at 172,000 followers, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez peaked at 435,000 viewers on her debut — one of the platform’s biggest streams to date. Unlike AOC, Harris may not be broadcasting any games on her new account, unless Tim Walz can tempt her to play Crazy Taxi.
Halliburton hit by cyberattack disrupting operations
Halliburton hit by a suspected cyberattack as IT issues plague the oil giant.
Oil giant Halliburton is grappling with a significant computer system issue reportedly linked to a cyberattack.
The firm has acknowledged the problem, but so far has failed to confirm whether a cyberattack was responsible. Business operations at the company’s Houston campus and certain global networks have been impacted, according to a person familiar with the matter (via Reuters).
A Halliburton spokesperson confirmed: “We are aware of an issue affecting certain company systems and are working diligently to assess the cause and potential impact.”
Halliburton hit with a suspected cyberattack
The company also noted that it has activated its pre-planned response protocol and is collaborating with leading external cybersecurity experts to address the situation.
Although further details are yet to be revealed, the incident highlights the growing threat of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, particularly in the energy sector.
Earlier this year, a ransomware attack on CDK Global disrupted operations at thousands of car dealerships across the US. Similarly, a 2021 ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline led to widespread panic along the East Coast.
Eric Noonan, CEO of IT security firm CyberSheath, noted (via CNN): “Critical infrastructure operators in the United States get to decide how well they do or do not employ cybersecurity controls.”
The situation at Halliburton continues to develop, and the full extent of the disruption as well as the potential long-term consequences remain to be seen. At the same time, the energy industry, government agencies and cybersecurity experts will continue to watch closely as the threat of cyberattacks rises in order to increase protection against similar future attacks.
Halliburton confirmed a revenue of $5.8 billion for its most recent quarter, representing a 0.7% quarterly increase and a 0.8% year-over-year increase.
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There’s a big firmware update coming for your Philips Hue smart home setup
Hue Secure cameras are getting a bundle of new features and fixes, including improved package detection.
If you use Philips Hue security cameras to monitor your home, there’s good news – you can expect a hefty package of new features and bug fixes to arrive very soon, which should make it easier to keep tabs on what’s happening indoors and out.
One of the biggest changes is improved package detection if you have a Hue Secure subscription plan. This feature lets you set a zone for detailed alerts that will tell you if a package has been left outside, so you can collect it before a porch pirate beats you to it. Now, notifications should be more accurate, giving you a better chance of grabbing your delivery before a thief does.
Person detection has been improved too, and you should receive fewer false positive notifications as a result of rainfall or trees moving in the wind. You should no longer receive notifications for events triggered outside the activity zones you’ve defined within the app, either.
Exterior Hue cameras should now detect packages more accurately if you have a Hue Secure subscription (Image credit: Philips Hue)
Squishing bugs
As Hueblog.com explains, other bugs squished with this update include a problem where live footage from your camera would appear mostly black or mostly white, and an issue that could let the camera go into sleep mode without turning off Bluetooth.
Future updates should be quicker and more stable, and Hue has improved failure reporting so it can resolve errors more effectively.
There is, however, one change that you might not be so pleased to see. After the firmware update, you’ll see a Hue watermark on live view footage. Hopefully it won’t be too much of a distraction.
If you’re thinking about investing in a home security setup but aren’t sure where to start, our guide to the best home security cameras will give you lots of suggestions to help you choose the right devices that will work with the rest of your tech, offer the features you need, and fit within your budget.
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