Month: February 2024

FYI: Apple’s iOS 17.4 will deliver a slew of changes, features, and improvements

CompuScoop Staff February 25, 2024 0

iOS 17.4 is currently in beta testing. When released to the public, it will deliver some major changes to the App Store and the iPhone ecosystem in the European Union alongside new emoji, a CarPlay upgrade, Siri improvements, and much more.

One of the biggest changes included in iOS 17.4 is support for alternative app marketplaces for the first time.

iOS 17.4 includes a change for Stolen Device Protection. Now, users can choose to always require a security delay when changing security settings. Previously, the only option was to enact the delay when away from familiar locations.

By far my favorite change in iOS 17.4 is support for transcripts in Apple Podcasts. These transcripts are automatically generated by Apple and are available shortly after an episode is published.

Siri has been upgraded in iOS 17.4 with support for reading messages in additional languages, not just the assigned language used for Siri for all other tasks.

Via: 9to5Mac.com

X now rolling out audio and video calls to non-Premium subscribers

CompuScoop Staff February 24, 2024 0

The social platform X introduced a new feature last year that lets users make and receive audio and video calls, just like apps such as FaceTime and WhatsApp. However, the feature was limited to Premium subscribers – but X is now making it available to more users.

As shared by X engineer Enrique Barragan and also reposted by the company’s CEO Linda Yaccarino, the platform is slowly rolling out audio and video calls to those who don’t subscribe to X Premium.

For those unfamiliar, X Premium (formerly known as Twitter Blue) is a paid subscription that unlocks more features such as the ability to edit posts, upload longer videos, and format text. Subscribers also get a verified badge, have greater reach with their posts, and see fewer ads.

Via: 9to5Mac.com

Small number of Vision Pro units developing cover glass crack

Dan Uff February 23, 2024 0

Various users on social media are reporting that a small number of Apple Vision Pro owners have discovered that their spatial computers developed a hairline crack down the middle of the front cover glass without having been dropped.

A user posted in the VisionPro message boards on MacRumors.com about 18 days ago, and several more have appeared in the last week. All of the images show a distinctly similar vertical hairline crack above the nose bridge, implying that the damage is occurring at a particular point of tension, where the curvature of the laminated glass is most pronounced.

No official word from Apple at the time of this article posting.

Google Pay app is being shut down later in 2024

Dan Uff February 22, 2024 0

Millions of people in over 180 countries use the Google Pay app. However, the US won’t continue to be among them. Google is sunsetting the app for users in the US and directing them to Google Wallet.

Today, Google announced it will simplify its payment apps in the US. To do so, it will end the Google Pay app on June 4, 2024. Instead of Google Pay, the company recommends switching over to Google Wallet, which has similar features.

The Mountain View-based firm lists three changes users should be aware of before the deadline. This includes:

Managing your balance: Users will be able to continue viewing their balance and transferring funds to their bank account after June 4 by going to the Google Pay website.
Offers and deals: Those looking for deals will need to use an alternative option, like the shop deals feature on Search.
Peer-to-peer payments: Users won’t be able to send, request, or receive money through the US version of the app after the deadline.

Google does point out that nothing will change for those in India and Singapore. The company adds that it will “continue to build for the unique needs in those countries.”

This move doesn’t come as a surprise, as Google has been planning to transition to Wallet for a while now. Where Pay is a simple app for making payments, Wallet has become a one-stop destination for making payments and storing cards, passes, tickets, and more.