Samsung’s One UI is chock full of features, which is one reason why many enthusiasts love to use Galaxy phones and tablets. In addition to those features, Samsung hides some from its users, and one such feature has been found in the company’s stock My Files app.
Permanently delete files in one go using the stock My Files app
It has been revealed that the latest version (15.0.04.5) of the My Files app brings the hidden menu called MyFiles Labs. You can find the ‘Permanently Delete Option’ setting in that section. Activating it enables an extra option in the pop-up menu when you delete files using the My Files app. When you select it, the file will be deleted permanently from your phone, and you don’t have to go to the Recycle Bin section to delete it permanently.
To activate the MyFiles Labs section, open the My Files app on your Galaxy device, navigate to Settings » About My Files, and tap on the My Files text multiple times until a dialog appears that says “MyFiles Labs has been enabled.” Once enabled, you can return to Settings » MyFiles Labs and enable the Permanently Delete Option toggle.
Remember, this feature is only available in version 15.0.04.5 of the My Files. It should be available in the Galaxy Store, but if it isn’t, you can download it from APKMirror or other safe sources. If you don’t want to download the APK file from unofficial sources, you have to wait a few days for the new version of the app to appear on the Galaxy Store.
Watch our in-depth video below to know which new features have been released to Galaxy phones and tablets with the One UI 6.1 update.
We’ve all been there. We think we’ve finished vacuuming, put everything away, and then later discover dirt in patches of our carpet that we’ve forgotten to drag our vacuum cleaner over – but what if it didn’t have to be like this? What if you could know exactly where you had and hadn’t cleaned in your home to help you make it spotless every time?
That’s where Dyson’s new creation comes in: the Dyson CleanTrace – which is scheduled to launch in June this year. This AR tool allows your phone – provided it has a LiDAR scanner – to track your vacuum as you clean. Everywhere that your Dyson vacuum has passed over will be mapped in purple, while uncleaned sections of your floor will be left blank.
It takes inspiration from the tech used by Dyson’s 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum cleaner – which recently arrived in the US – and as pointed out by Dyson, this tool will not only help you give more attention to those often forgotten recesses of your living space but should also save you time as you won’t go back over sections that you can see have been vacuumed already.
What’s more, because holding a phone up while you clean would be a challenge Dyson will also be releasing a Dyson CleanTrace phone clamp that’ll hold it in place for you. Unfortunately, Dyson hasn’t yet said how much the clamp or the Dyson CleanTrace service will cost, but with it launching in only a couple of months we shouldn’t have long to wait before we know this vital information.
(Image credit: Dyson)
This AR cleaning tool looks a lot like a demo shared on Reddit by developer u/push_matrix, and when it popped up we and many in the various subreddits where the clip was shared had the same reaction: this look super helpful. So it’s pretty exciting that Dyson has managed to bring a version of it to life in a form that seems more accessible – chiefly by swapping a mixed-reality headset that’s used in the Reddit version for a smartphone.
There is just one fairly big catch: Dyson’s CleanTrace AR cleaning tool only works with a Dyson Gen5detect – one of Dyson’s most expensive models (though as we point out in our Dyson Gen5detect review it is impressive).
This is a shame as we’d love it if it could be used by other Dysons that populate our best cordless vacuum guide like the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute or more affordable options. Right now though it’s unclear when or even if CleanTrace will be expanded to other Dyson vacuums – though we seriously hope it will be.
Get the hottest deals available in your inbox plus news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more from the TechRadar team.
Apple, in its latest update to its App Store developer guidelines for iPhones and iPads, flagged by 9to5Mac, says it will allow game console emulators – and even downloadable games.
Apple warns developers, however, they “are responsible for all such software offered in [their] app, including ensuring that such software complies with these Guidelines and all applicable laws.” So don’t expect to play Super Mario, Spyro, or a third game series that starts with an ‘S’.
Meanwhile, we have a guide to watching (and recording) the total eclipse in North America later today. The best chance of good viewing along the path of eclipse totality is still in northeastern parts of the US (Buffalo, NY, Burlington, VT) and southeast Canada (Niagara Falls and Montreal).
You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!
If so, they violated YouTube creators’ copyrights.
OpenAI and Google trained their AI models using text transcribed from YouTube videos, potentially violating creators’ copyrights, according to a report from The New York Times. The report centers on how OpenAI, Google and Meta have attempted to maximize the data they can feed to their AIs and cites numerous people with knowledge of the companies’ practices.
Not that these companies relied on the auto-generated (hit-and-miss) auto-transcriptions provided by YouTube itself. Reportedly, OpenAI used its Whisper speech recognition tool to transcribe more than a million hours of YouTube videos to train GPT-4. The report, however, claims people at Google knew but did not act — because Google was doing the same to train its own AI models. Google told NYT it only uses video content from creators who have agreed to it.
Hours after Reuters published a report about the automaker scrapping its plans to produce a low-cost EV, Tesla boss Elon Musk took to X to say the company would unveil a robotaxi on August 8. The same report said Musk’s directive was to “go all in” on robotaxis built on the company’s small-vehicle platform.
In response to the report, the Tesla chief tweeted “Reuters is lying (again).” Given he confirmed the robotaxi plans, he could have meant a more affordable Tesla EV was still on the table, at least for now.
Three companies are pitching lunar vehicle designs to support NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions. The space agency announced this week that it’s chosen Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost and Venturi Astrolab to develop their lunar terrain vehicles (LTV) in a feasibility study over the next year. The LTV will need to function as both a crewed and uncrewed vehicle, serving sometimes as a mode of transportation for astronauts and other times as a remotely operated explorer. NASA says it’ll contract the chosen vehicle for lunar services through 2039. Take a look at the options.
Whenever I pick up my smartphone, I’m confronted with the question, “Which app am I going to open?” More often than not, I open up an app that tells me the latest news from around the world or updates me on all the latest sports news. Because I’m a British man, I also have to keep on top of the weather forecast, so I always know when it’s going to rain.
More recently, I’ve been opening a completely different type of app. One that is doing me a lot more good and helping me be healthier and more mentally aware. It’s a brain training app called Impulse. There is no shortage of brain training apps and websites, but in my limited experience, there is isn’t a better one.
Homescreen heroes
This is part of a regular series of articles exploring the apps that we couldn’t live without. Read them all here.
For only £5.99 / $6.99 per week, or a reduced annual rate, Impulse promises to keep your brain sharp, enable you to relax and unwind, and stimulate and strengthen neural connections in your brain. That’s quite a collection of benefits for the price of only a couple of coffees. I can’t verify, scientifically, whether this app delivers on those promises, but I can say that I feel that I’m using my daily screen time more wisely.
Replacing doom scrolling with puzzle games that challenge my attention, memory, and brain processing speed has improved my mental health and removed that feeling associated with just wasting time swiping through endless videos and other types of content.
(Image credit: Future)
The app begins with a short set of personalized questions that help curate the content. It starts by asking how many minutes per day you’d like to target using the app. As a result, Impulse creates a daily set of games and puzzles that, if completed, will enable you to achieve your daily goal. This transforms the app from a random set of enjoyable puzzles to something that engages every competitive bone in my body.
Anyone who has read my piece on the ‘Been’ app will know how competitive I am! If you exit the day’s training, the app will ask you if you’re sure you want to give up. Talk about a red rag to a raging bull.
(Image credit: Future)
The rewards continue throughout the app. You can see your progress alongside streaks that increase each time you hit your daily target. One of my favorite rewards in this app is the ‘Badges’, of which there are around 20. Each badge requires you to play a set number of puzzles and games. Even though the badges don’t mean anything in the grand scheme of life, I still love knowing I’ve achieved something, even if it’s an inanimate app congratulating me.
Get the hottest deals available in your inbox plus news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more from the TechRadar team.
The app is split into three main sections, revolving around games, puzzles, and tests. Games can be picked at random and filtered based on what type of brain training they achieve. These games have a surprising variety, and, thanks to their simplicity, are amazingly addictive.
At the end of each game, your statistics are presented, including how you compare to others. This further provokes the competitive lion inside of me. I don’t like being told that a large percentage of people are better at something than me, so I play the game again and try to outdo not only myself but all these other users that I’ll never have the pleasure of ever meeting.
(Image credit: Future)
Games can be given either a thumbs up or down, depending on your experience with them. I love the ability, at this point, to suggest improvements to each game. This devotion to improvement shows that the app developers want to make the app as engaging as possible.
In the puzzles section are 188 games, but must complete each one to unlock the next. Did I mention that I was competitive? This scratches all those itches and makes me want to solve puzzle after puzzle in pursuit of completing all 188 of them.
Impulse has captured my and the imagination of 50 million other users. It owes its popularity to its simplicity and rewards-based system, which keeps its users coming back for more. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed changing my app habits and certainly feel better for it.
In another move that seems to have been made in response to pressure from regulators in the US and in the EU, Apple has announced that retro game emulators will be allowed in the iOS App Store – though there are some fairly big caveats attached.
The change has been spotted on Apple’s App Review Guidelines (via The Verge), which now state that “retro game console emulator apps can offer to download games”. As you would expect though, there are some strings attached.
Apple says developers are responsible for all the software inside their apps, and says these emulators must comply with “all applicable laws” – and of course the legality of emulators has always been something of a gray area.
Technically speaking, it is against the law to run an emulated version of a game that you’ve not actually paid for (even if you’re paying for the emulator). That might mean it’s only companies such as Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo who will be able to take advantage of the App Store rule changes and offer these emulator apps.
Mini apps and music streaming
Spotify has long complained about Apple’s practices (Image credit: Spotify)
What’s more, the updated guidelines also state that apps can include mini apps and mini games inside them, as long as they’re written in HTML5. This applies to so-called ‘super apps’ such as WeChat, which offer a bunch of different apps in the same package – these apps must now be web-based rather than running natively on the device.
Another edit to the guidelines that’s happened at the same time is allowing music streaming apps to link out to external websites for purchasing products and services, getting around Apple App Store and linked payment systems.
Unlike the retro game emulators change though, this one only applies in European Union countries. Apple was recently fined by the EU for keeping streaming services locked inside its own walled garden, with the associated 30% cut of any fees.
Get the hottest deals available in your inbox plus news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more from the TechRadar team.
Apple hasn’t officially said so, but both these moves are clearly designed to avoid further fines and further legal action: Apple is now under more scrutiny than ever when it comes to the restrictions it puts on third-party apps and developers.
The App Store will soon list game emulators for download. Photo: Apple
Apple is opening its walled garden to game emulators. The company has updated the App Store guidelines to reflect that developers can now list game emulators for download worldwide.
Additionally, the updated guidelines make it easier for music streaming apps to redirect users to an external website. However, this change is only applicable to the EU.
Game emulators cannot list pirated content
For years, Apple has prohibited developers from listing game emulators for download on the App Store. It has actively taken down such apps that have slipped past its review process.
This will no longer be the case, thanks to the revised App Store guidelines. However, developers must ensure all listed games in their emulators adhere to the applicable laws. So, don’t expect pirated games to be available for download.
Apple’s updated App Store guidelines, pt 4.7, state, “Additionally, retro game console emulator apps can offer to download games. You are responsible for all such software offered in your app, including ensuring that such software complies with these Guidelines and all applicable laws.”
A new Music Streaming Services Entitlements section in the App Store guidelines allows music streaming apps to link to an external site. This can be in the form of a “buy” button and contain pricing information. Music streaming apps can use this entitlement to inform users about alternative ways to purchase content or services.
This entitlement is limited to the iOS and iPadOS App Store and is only available in the EU.
Tweaked App Store guidelines come due to intense regulatory pressure on Apple
Apple today updated its App Store guidelines to comply with an anti-steering mandate levied by the European Commission. Music streaming apps like Spotify are now permitted to include a link or buy button that leads to a website with information about alternative music purchasing options, though this is only permitted in the European Economic Area.
Music Streaming Services Entitlements: music streaming apps in specific regions can use Music Streaming Services Entitlements to include a link (which may take the form of a buy button) to the developer’s website that informs users of other ways to purchase digital music content or services. These entitlements also permit music streaming app developers to invite users to provide their email address for the express purpose of sending them a link to the developer’s website to purchase digital music content or services. Learn more about these entitlements.
In accordance with the entitlement agreements, the link may inform users about where and how to purchase those in-app purchase items, and the price of such items. The entitlements are limited to use only in the iOS or iPadOS App Store in specific storefronts. In all other storefronts, streaming music apps and their metadata may not include buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms other than in-app purchase.
The European Commission in March fined Apple $2 billion for anti-competitive conduct against rival music streaming services. The fine also came with a requirement that Apple “remove the anti-steering provisions” from its App Store rules, which Apple has now done. Apple is restricted from repeating the infringement or adopting similar practices in the future, though it is worth noting that Apple plans to appeal the decision.
Apple has accused Spotify of manipulating the European Commission to get the rules of the App Store rewritten in its favor. “They want to use Apple’s tools and technologies, distribute on the App Store, and benefit from the trust we’ve built with users – and pay Apple nothing for it,” Apple complained following the ruling.
In addition to updating its streaming music rules, Apple today also added games from retro game console emulator apps to the list of permitted software allowable under guideline 4.7. Guideline 4.7 permits apps to offer HTML5 mini apps and mini games, streaming games, chatbots, game emulators, and plug-ins.
Apps may offer certain software that is not embedded in the binary, specifically HTML5 mini apps and mini games, streaming games, chatbots, and plug-ins. Additionally, retro game console emulator apps can offer to download games. You are responsible for all such software offered in your app, including ensuring that such software complies with these Guidelines and all applicable laws.
Game emulators have managed to sneak onto the App Store several times over the years by using hidden functionality, but Apple has not explicitly permitted them until now. The rule change that allows for game emulators is worldwide, as is support for apps that offer mini apps and mini games.
A first look at iOS 18’s rumored visionOS-style redesign may have been revealed by a new image of the Camera app. Alleged iOS 18 design resource. MacRumors received the above iPhone frame template from an anonymous source who claims they obtained it from an iOS engineer. It will allegedly be included as part of the Apple Design Resources for iOS 18, which helps developers visually design apps …
While the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are still months away from launching, there are already over a dozen rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped new features and changes expected for the devices so far. These are some of the key changes rumored for the iPhone 16 Pro models as of April 2024:Larger displays: The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be equipped with large…
Nearly one year after it launched in the U.S., the Apple Card’s high-yield savings account will be receiving its first-ever interest rate decrease. Starting on April 3, the Apple Card savings account’s annual percentage yield (APY) will be lowered to 4.4%, according to data on Apple’s backend discovered by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The account currently has a 4.5% APY. 4.4% will …
Apple has yet to release the first beta of iOS 17.5 for the iPhone, but two changes are already expected with the upcoming software update. iOS 17.5 will likely allow iPhone users in the EU to download apps directly from the websites of eligible developers, and the update might include some changes to how Apple ID recovery contacts work. More details about these potential changes follow. W…
Apple today added a handful of devices to its public-facing vintage and obsolete products list, including some older iPhone and iPad models. Apple now considers the iPhone 6 Plus to be “obsolete” worldwide, meaning that Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers no longer offer repairs or other hardware service for the device. Apple says it considers a product “obsolete” once seven…
Best Buy is discounting a large collection of M3 MacBook Pro computers today, including both the 14-inch and 16-inch versions of the laptop. Every deal in this sale requires you to have a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership, although non-members can still get solid second-best prices on these MacBook Pro models. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and…
Apple researchers have developed an artificial intelligence system named ReALM (Reference Resolution as Language Modeling) that aims to radically enhance how voice assistants understand and respond to commands. In a research paper (via VentureBeat), Apple outlines a new system for how large language models tackle reference resolution, which involves deciphering ambiguous references to…
In a recent Reddit AMA, Google revealed it’s working on multiple projects for its smart home platform. Chief among these is the introduction of an offline mode. The way Google Home currently works, as explained by Android Authority, is commands sent to a device are transmitted through company servers first before affecting your network. If your internet ever goes out, commands cannot be sent at all which can be frustrating for homeowners. Offline mode will directly address this by enabling local control.
It may, however, be a while until we see the feature rollout. One of the Google devs told a commenter that the team is focusing more on routing device interaction locally through the Matter standard. They’re doing this first because they want to establish a stable software foundation with low latency before moving forward. “Once…. a significant portion of your traffic [is] running locally,” the company will look into establishing an offline mode for Google Home.
Bringing in the old
Much of the AMA saw people airing out their grievances with Google Home. They point out the many issues affecting the platform using some, shall we say, colorful language. Once you get past all the vitriol, you begin to see what’s coming down the pipeline, including adding support for first-generation Nest cameras.
The old models don’t work with the current iteration of Google Home, leading to an ecosystem filled with hardware that should function as a cohesive unit, but sadly doesn’t. Support is sporadic at the moment According to another developer, updating the firmware for those old gadgets has been a tough challenge. Some of them are ancient by tech standards having launched back in 2015. A few, like the original Nest Cam Indoor, do work with Google Home.
Expanding support
Another area the team is working on is improving integration with third-party brands like Wyze and Eufy. Several commenters asked why the tech giant is so focused on Nest devices instead of expanding support to non-Google hardware. They cite “security and quality controls as reasons for delays”. Efforts like these require closely working with partners to ensure everything runs well.
Considering that Wyze recently suffered (yet another) security breach and service outage in February, perhaps it’s a good idea for the team to take its time filling in the gaps.
And that may be all the projects the Google Home dev team is working on right now. We scoured through the nearly one thousand comments but didn’t see anything else particularly noteworthy apart from promises from the team.
Get the hottest deals available in your inbox plus news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more from the TechRadar team.
Unfortunately, a launch date for any of these features or a roadmap wasn’t given so we don’t know when these updates will arrive. But if and when they do come out, they’ll first be made available through Google Home’s Public Preview. Instructions on how to join the program can be found on the Nest Help website.
The Philips Hue app was today updated to version 5.14, adding support for widgets. Hue widgets can be added to the Home Screen, Lock Screen, or Today View, and can be used for controlling lights and other accessories.
Widgets come in small, medium, and large sizes with the largest widget supporting eight actions or scenes. Widgets can be tailored to the entire Hue bridge or to lights that are located in specific rooms, so you can set up a widget for each of your rooms if desired.
Each of the actions can be customized, and you can choose a scene from the Hue app or opt to turn lights in certain rooms on or off. Dimming lights is not an option, nor is activating automations, but some of that can be done through scenes. Adding a widget is a useful way to control frequently accessed lights or scenes.
Along with widgets, the update also improves Friends of Hue switches like the Lutron Aurora Smart Bulb Dimmer Switch. Switches now support time-based light, the scene cycle mode, the natural light scene, and more.
Apple’s WWDC 2024 dates have been announced, giving us timing for the unveiling of the company’s next round of major operating system updates and likely some other announcements. This week also saw some disappointing news on the iPad front, with update timing for the iPad Pro and iPad Air pushed back from previous rumors. We did hear some new tidbits about what might be coming in iOS 18 and…
Apple will introduce new iPad Pro and iPad Air models in early May, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Gurman previously suggested the new iPads would come out in March, and then April, but the timeline has been pushed back once again. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple is working on updates to both the iPad Pro and iPad Air models. The iPad Pro models will…
A first look at iOS 18’s rumored visionOS-style redesign may have been revealed by a new image of the Camera app. Alleged iOS 18 design resource. MacRumors received the above iPhone frame template from an anonymous source who claims they obtained it from an iOS engineer. It will allegedly be included as part of the Apple Design Resources for iOS 18, which helps developers visually design apps …
Apple has yet to release the first beta of iOS 17.5 for the iPhone, but two changes are already expected with the upcoming software update. iOS 17.5 will likely allow iPhone users in the EU to download apps directly from the websites of eligible developers, and the update might include some changes to how Apple ID recovery contacts work. More details about these potential changes follow. W…
Apple today added a handful of devices to its public-facing vintage and obsolete products list, including some older iPhone and iPad models. Apple now considers the iPhone 6 Plus to be “obsolete” worldwide, meaning that Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers no longer offer repairs or other hardware service for the device. Apple says it considers a product “obsolete” once seven…
Nearly one year after it launched in the U.S., the Apple Card’s high-yield savings account will be receiving its first-ever interest rate decrease. Starting on April 3, the Apple Card savings account’s annual percentage yield (APY) will be lowered to 4.4%, according to data on Apple’s backend discovered by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The account currently has a 4.5% APY. 4.4% will …
Best Buy is discounting a large collection of M3 MacBook Pro computers today, including both the 14-inch and 16-inch versions of the laptop. Every deal in this sale requires you to have a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership, although non-members can still get solid second-best prices on these MacBook Pro models. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and…
