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Google's 'Switch to Android' app helps iOS users do just that
Google has finally countered Apple's "Move to iOS" app by releasing "Switch to Android" for iOS on the App Store, confirming earlier rumors.
WhatsApp may let you block your 'last seen' status contact by contact
WhatsApp has come under fire of late for its privacy policies, but an upcoming update will actually give you a bit more control over your privacy settings.
WhatsApp lets you add new contacts with QR codes
WhatsApp rolls out new features like the ability to add contacts with a QR code.
Apple vows to fix its easily defeated iPhone parental controls
iOS 13.3 just arrived recently with new parental controls, particularly a feature called Communication Limits. It's designed to block children from communicating with people not in their contacts unless their parents let them by entering a code. However, the system can be easily defeated by a simple text message, according to a report from CNBC.
TrickBot malware may have hacked 250 million email accounts
TrickBot malware may have stolen as many as 250 million email accounts, including some belonging to governments in the US, UK and Canada. The malware isn't new. In fact, it's been circulating since 2016. But according to cybersecurity firm Deep Instinct, it has started harvesting email credentials and contacts. The researchers are calling this new approach TrickBooster, and they say it first hijacks accounts to send malicious spam emails and then deletes the sent messages from both the outbox and trash folders.
New York AG is investigating Facebook over email contact scraping
The New York attorney general's office will investigate Facebook's "unauthorized collection of 1.5M of their users' email contact databases." Earlier this month, it emerged the company had been scraping the contact lists of some users who joined the service after 2016.
Facebook 'unintentionally' saved contacts of 1.5 million new users
Remember the weird revelation that Facebook was asking some new users for the password to their email account? Tonight Business Insider reports that since May 2016, if users entered their email password then Facebook used it to access their contact list and upload the contents to its servers without asking for permission. In a statement, a Facebook spokesperson said: "...we found that in some cases people's email contacts were also unintentionally uploaded to Facebook when they created their account. We estimate that up to 1.5 million people's email contacts may have been uploaded. These contacts were not shared with anyone and we're deleting them." It is contacting people who had their contacts uploaded, but it's yet another privacy issue for a company that has had long string of them over the last couple of years. It still doesn't explain why the "email password verification" for non OAuth-linked providers was ever implemented before it stopped using the method last month, and provides even more justification for those skeptical of the company's practices and promises.
Helm's personal email server helps you avoid data breaches
Are you uncomfortable with the thought that some of your sensitive data is sitting on a remote server that represents a big, juicy target for hackers? Helm thinks it has a solution: put that data inside your home. It's launching a namesake personal server that handles email, calendars and contacts without the setup headaches of conventional methods. You just have to pick a domain name (if you don't already have one) and walk through a setup process that should only take a few minutes -- after that, you have 120GB of expandable data space under your control.
Google's redesigned Voice app is better at juggling your calls
Google recently added Voice to its enterprise G Suite, and the revamped app has now arrived for iOS users. As suggested by the redesigned icon (which strongly resembles the Hangouts Dialer icon), its main job is to give users calling features via standard telephony over and above what you'd expect on regular apps. As such, it can do things like email you about missed calls, transcribe messages, enable "do not disturb" based on your working hours and access contacts stored elsewhere in G Suite.
Import your Instagram contacts to Facebook Messenger
Facebook started testing a way to cross-post Instagram Stories to your Facebook timeline this past September, and finally released the feature to everyone in early October. You can also launch Instagram directly from the Facebook app, making for an even more integrated experience across the two apps. As initially reported by TechCrunch, Facebook is now testing a feature to import and sync your Instagram contacts with Messenger.
Get Google's own contacts app on any Android phone
Until now, the only normal way to get Google's official, dedicated Android contacts app was to pick up a Pixel, Nexus or Android One phone. Many third-party apps could fill in the gaps, but it wasn't what Google had planned. However, you no longer have to turn to alternatives. Google has released Contacts on the Play Store for any device running Android 5.0 Lollipop or newer. If you're no fan of the contacts interface on your Galaxy S8, you can see how Google handles it instead.
Amazon allows Echo call-blocking a month after it should have
Last month, Amazon introduced Alexa calling and messaging, features tailor-made for the Echo and its all-hearing microphone, letting you do busywork while chatting with friends. However, it neglected to add call-blocking for specific contacts, making it equally convenient for unwanted callers to invade your space. Luckily, the company has finally righted that wrong by introducing call-blocking with the latest version of its iOS app.
Microsoft's Outlook mobile apps help you edit your contacts
Believe it or not, Microsoft's Outlook app for Android and iOS hasn't let you add or edit contacts -- you've had to turn to your PC or the web for that. At last, though, common sense prevails. As of now, you can add and edit your Outlook.com and Office 365 contacts through the iOS app (Android and Google contacts are "coming soon"). You can go to the People section to add details yourself, or add people from events, messages and your company directory. Also, Outlook lets you save those contacts to your phone's native list so that you won't be surprised when they give you a call.
Outlook 2016 for Mac now supports Google Calendar and Contacts
Users have been clamoring for Office 2016 for Mac to add Google Calendar and Contacts support, two features that have been available on both the iOS and Android versions for a while now. But the wait is nearly over. Microsoft announced on Thursday that it is beginning to roll out that support. Office Insider Fast community members will have first crack at the new functionality before it gradually extends to the entire user base by the end of the year.
Blu smartphones secretly harvested texts and contacts
Blu Products, the leading seller of unlocked smartphones in the US, has revealed a serious security problem with a bunch of its products. It says a third-party app called "Wireless Update" has been "collecting unauthorized personal data in the form of text messages, call logs and contacts from customers" on some devices. While the app has been "self-updated" and is no longer siphoning data, Blu advises users to check their phones and call customer service if an older version of the app is still installed.
Microsoft and Mercedes bring your office calendar to your car
You can't always escape work when you're in your car, but Microsoft and Mercedes-Benz think they can at least make those corporate invasions more tolerable. They're working together on an In Car Office project that, to start with, will integrate your Microsoft Exchange info with your car's infotainment system. It'll auto-populate your car's navigation unit with driving directions for that upcoming meeting, for example, or offer to make a hands-free call to get in touch with your client when you're on your way.
IBM unlocks the secret to carbon nanotube transistors
Following Moore's law is getting harder and harder, especially as existing components reach their physical size limitations. Parts like silicon transistor contacts -- the "valves" within a transistor that allow electrons to flow -- simply can't be shrunken any further. However, IBM announced a major engineering achievement on Thursday that could revolutionize how computers operate: they've figured out how to swap out the silicon transistor contacts for smaller, more efficient, carbon nanotubes.
Apple fixes lock screen issue in latest iOS 9 update
Remember that iOS 9 security issue that allows someone to bypass the iPhone lock screen using Siri and access your contacts and photos? And how some folks thought that it wasn't real? Well, Apple sure did, as the latest iOS 9.0.2 update includes a fix for the problem. Apple said that because of the security hole, "a person with physical access to an iOS device may be able to access photos and contacts from the lock screen." It addressed the issue by "restricting options on a locked device," meaning users will no longer be able to exploit Siri to access those areas.
LinkedIn brings back contact export feature after user backlash
LinkedIn has discovered that folks really don't like waiting for their contact info. A couple of days ago, the company removed its CSV and VCF file export tool, supposedly to discourage third-parties from "scraping" user data. You could still get the data by requesting an archive from the company, but that process took up to 72 hours. LinkedIn's business-oriented community was not thrilled, so the company quickly backpedaled, saying "we've heard you loud and clear... effective immediately, we have turned the CSV download link back on." However, once it gets the wait time for archival requests down to "within minutes," the feature will be turned off again.
Microsoft tests cloud-based clipboard app that syncs across platforms
This turned out to be quite the week for unannounced Microsoft apps. News of a "light-weight" email solution broke cover a few days ago, and today another pair of productivity apps were tipped. Thanks to @h0x0d on Twitter -- the source of the Flow email news -- we now know Microsoft is testing a cloud-based (thanks to OneDrive) clipboard tool that syncs across devices and platforms. The app is called OneClip, and though it's reportedly in internal beta. While it's available for download in the Windows Store, it'll only work for employees with the proper accounts. This means that you can copy a phone number on the desktop and have it immediately available on your Windows, iOS or Android phone.
