Tag: App

SmartThings app update brings new features but breaks themed icon support

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 15, 2024
No Comments on SmartThings app update brings new features but breaks themed icon support

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Last updated: March 15th, 2024 at 03:50 UTC+01:00

Samsung has released an update to the SmartThings app for Android. It bumps the app’s version to 1.8.13.22 and brings three new features: A new app icon, a 3D map of your house showing all your smart home devices on it, and an indicator on your smart home products if there’s a firmware update available for them. Below is the official changelog for your reference.

The SmartThings brand logo has changed
The 3D Map View makes it easier to see your home’s status
A Smart Home device update badge has been added

New SmarThings app icon lacks themed icon support

The icon you got with the older version of the SmartThings app had a white background with a figure painted in a blue gradient representing two smart home devices connected directly to a hub and two smart home products connected indirectly to the hub. The icon you get with the latest version of the app has a blue background and a figure painted completely in white representing five smart home devices connected directly to a hub.

Old SmartThings App Icon

New SmartThings App Icon

While the new app icon looks more sophisticated, there’s an issue with it, and that is, it isn’t adaptive or doesn’t support theming. That’s right. This version of the SmartThings app doesn’t have support for themed icon. The older version of the app did. As a result, it will not adapt to the system color or theme. Instead, it will retain the blue background no matter which color or theme you apply, standing out like a sore thumb.

Version 1.8.12.21 – Themed Icon Support

Version 1.8.13.22 – No themed Icon Support

I’m assuming that Samsung hasn’t made the icon adaptive as the company has just updated it, and I expect the brand to fix this issue with the next update to the app.

See your smart home devices on a 3D map of your house

Moving on to the 3D map view, the latest version of the SmartThings app allows you to create a 3D map of your house and place smart home devices in it, which gives you a better overview of your smart home products and makes it easier for you to control them.

The new feature can be accessed by clicking on the 3D-looking home icon at the top-right corner of the screen. The app gives you three options to create a 3D map: ‘Take a picture of your floor plan,’ ‘Freehand draw,’ and ‘Arrange rooms and walls.’

Easier to know if a software updates is available

Coming to the last feature, the latest version of the SmartThings app for Android shows an indicator on a smart home device if there’s a software update available for it. At least that’s what I’m assuming the new feature does going by the changelog. However, I wasn’t able to check out this feature as I don’t have any smart home devices at my home.

It is worth pointing out that the latest update for the SmartThings app for Android is available only through Google Play Store and not Galaxy Store, which is kind of weird because anyone would expect a new update for an app from Samsung to first become available on the company’s app marketplace rather than on a third-party app marketplace.

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Tags App, breaks, brings, features, Icon, SmartThings, Support, themed, update

Entertainment

Proton’s Windows and macOS mail app is out of beta and available now

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date March 15, 2024
No Comments on Proton’s Windows and macOS mail app is out of beta and available now

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Proton, the privacy-focused company that offers a variety of internet tools like mail, calendars, online storage and a password manager, continues to built out its portfolio. As of today, Proton’s desktop mail app for Windows and macOS is out of beta and now available to all its paid users. At the same time, Proton is also releasing its app for Linux users in beta.

If you’ve used Proton Mail before (or any recent / modern mail client), the app won’t be a surprise —it’s the standard three-pane view, with different folders on the left, a list of message in the middle and a preview of the message contents on the right. Like in Gmail, there’s a right-hand rail that has icons for your contacts and calendar that’ll expand to show the selected item if you click them. But for more calendar details, there’s a button to switch the whole window view from mail to calendar and back. Proton Drive and Proton Pass already have a desktop app, but for now Proton is keeping it separate from mail and calendar, which makes sense. Those two tools go hand-in-hand, but storage is kind of its own thing.

While the new mail app doesn’t improve on or change the design of Proton’s web tools in any major way, I can say that the beta app felt quite responsive in a little testing I did. And while I wouldn’t mind more than a slightly tweaked web wrapper (being able to draft an email in its own window would be nice), I do prefer keeping my email out of my browser window. I’m sure there are other Proton users who feel the same way and will find this app pretty handy for that.

If you’re not currently paying for Proton Mail, you can give the new app a try for two weeks, but after that you’ll need to upgrade your account to keep using it. The Mail Plus plan costs $4/month if you sign up for a year, or you can get Proton Unlimited for $10 per month with a year plan that includes 500GB of storage (instead of 15GB for Mail Plus) and Proton Drive, Pass and VPN.

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Tags App, Beta, macOS, Mail, Protons, Windows

News

Proton Encrypted Mail Desktop App Now Available for Mac

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 14, 2024
No Comments on Proton Encrypted Mail Desktop App Now Available for Mac

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Swiss-based privacy startup Proton today announced the availability of its end-to-end encrypted desktop mail app for macOS and Windows, with a Linux version in beta.

According to the company, the Proton Mail desktop app has been optimized to integrate with Macs, which means it can sync themes with the desktop’s light or dark mode, display notifications natively, and offer instant switching between mail and calendar.

The new Proton Mail desktop app inherits from a decade of security enhancements we built for our web application. That means Proton Mail for Windows and macOS maintains our commitment to security and privacy with several key features: zero-access encryption and end-to-end encryption, protection against trackers and phishing attempts, and our high-security account protection program, Proton Sentinel.

Proton says the ability to use a separate app from a browser for accessing email and calendar also offers additional security benefits, such as protecting emails or events from rogue browser extensions and allowing automatic updates without relying on a browser.

The app also includes an Easy Switch tool that enables users to import messages from Outlook or Gmail, forward new messages from Gmail, and more.

Besides these additions, the desktop app should be familiar to Proton users. “Anyone who has used our web app before will instantly feel at home,” says the company.

Paying Proton account holders can download the Proton Mail app from the Proton website, and the company is offering a 14-day trial for anyone on a free Proton plan.

Watch free soccer on Apple TV app

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 14, 2024
No Comments on Watch free soccer on Apple TV app

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All the games? No blackouts? Yes, please. Watch free soccer on Apple TV. — All the games? No blackouts? Yes, please.
*Photo: Apple*

This weekend, March 16 and 17, everyone can watch all Major League Soccer matches for free on the Apple TV app. So that’s not just the typical one or two free games.

In other words, you won’t need MLS Season Pass to watch Lionel Messi do his thing with Inter Miami CF against D.C. United — or any of the other 13 matches.

This is the kind of promotion designed to get you hooked so you subscribe to MLS Season Pass, in this second year of 10 in the deal between MLS and Apple.

All MLS matches are free to watch on Apple TV app March 16 and 17

Saturday, March 16, and Sunday, March 17, are special this year. And we’re not talking about St. Patrick’s Day taking up a whole weekend. We’re talking about watching every MLS soccer match for free (green beer optional).

So this weekend’s slate includes 14 scheduled matches in English and Spanish, plus the usual extra coverage. That includes the MLS 360 whip-round show covering all the action (available in English and Spanish).

And as you may know, usually you’d need MLS Season Pass to watch every match without blackouts or restrictions by area. It’s available for $99 per season, or $79 for anyone who already subscribes to the Apple TV+ streaming service.

In addition to all the matches, MLS Season Pass includes much more content. You can enjoy analysis and events like the Leagues Cup, MLS All-Star and Audi MLS Cup Playoff games. Get MLS Season Pass here.

So how do you watch free soccer on Apple TV? Get it on platforms like Apple devices or other places you stream content. Those could include an Amazon Fire Stick, Roku devices, a Comcast Xfinity set-top box, or gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox. And you can always watch it in a web browser at tv.apple.com.

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Tags App, Apple, free, Soccer, Watch

Bisnis Industri

Apple Sports iPhone app update gets it ready for March Madness

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 14, 2024
No Comments on Apple Sports iPhone app update gets it ready for March Madness

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New Apple Sports app — The new Apple Sports app for iPhone got an update for basketball and baseball fans.
*Image: Apple/Cult of Mac*

The new Apple Sports iPhone application just recieved its first big update. It’s now ready for basketball’s March Madness and baseball’s Opening Day.

The free app that debuted in February gives fans access to real-time scores, stats and more for their favorite teams across a wide range of sports leagues.

Apple Sports 1.1 update focuses on basketball and baseball

“We created Apple Sports to give sports fans what they want — an app that delivers incredibly fast access to scores and stats,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s SVP of services, in a statement.

An update released Thursday morning by Apple promises:

Ready for March Madness? Follow the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournaments for real-time updates.

Starting with Opening Day, go deep this MLB season with play-by-play updates, betting odds, box scores, and more for all of your favorite teams.

Final scores are now sorted by league.

More about the app

Users of the recently released Apple Sports application can follow their favorite teams, tournaments and leagues. Fans also can get play-by-play information, team stats, lineup details and live betting odds.

Currently, fans can follow teams and leagues that are now in season. Others, including the NFL, will be added as their seasons get closer.

The updated software is available now in the App Store. It’s free to install and use.

Be sure to read Cult of Mac‘s guide on how to download, set up and use the new Apple Sports app for iPhone.

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Tags App, Apple, iPhone, Madness, March, Ready, sports, update

News

Apple Sports App Updated for MLB and NCAA’s March Madness

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 14, 2024
No Comments on Apple Sports App Updated for MLB and NCAA’s March Madness

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The new Apple Sports app for the iPhone received its first update today with optimizations for the MLB and NCAA’s March Madness.

Apple Sports App Preview Feature
The full release notes for Apple Sports version 1.1:

• Ready for March Madness? Follow the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournaments for real-time updates.

• Starting with Opening Day, go deep this MLB season with play-by-play updates, betting odds, box scores, and more for all of your favorite teams.

• Final scores are now sorted by league.

Released last month, Apple Sports shows scores, stats, standings, upcoming games, betting odds, and more for a variety of leagues, such as the MLB, MLS, NBA, NHL, and Premier League. The app also displays real-time play-by-play information for ongoing games.

Apple Sports is available for free on the App Store, and it is compatible with the iPhone only.

Microsoft is planning to make Copilot behave like a ‘normal’ app in Windows 11

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date March 14, 2024
No Comments on Microsoft is planning to make Copilot behave like a ‘normal’ app in Windows 11

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Windows 11 is set for a major change to the Copilot interface, or at least this is something that’s being tried out in testing.

With Windows 11’s preview build 26080 (in both Canary and Dev channels), Microsoft is adding a choice to free Copilot from the shackles that bind the AI assistant to the right-hand side of the screen.

Normally, the Copilot panel appears on the right, and you can’t do anything about that (although Microsoft has been experimenting with the ability to resize it, and other bits and bobs besides).

With this change, you can now undock Copilot, so the AI is in a normal app window, which can be moved wherever you want on the desktop, and resized appropriately. In other words, you’re getting a lot more versatility regarding where you want Copilot to appear.

Also in this preview build, more users are getting Copilot’s new abilities to alter Windows 11 settings. That functionality was already introduced to Canary testers, but is now rolling out to more of those folks, and Windows Insiders in the Dev channel too.

The extra capabilities include getting the AI assistant to empty the Recycle Bin, or turn on Live Captions, or Voice Access (there are a fair few new options on the accessibility front, in fact).

Analysis: Under the hood tinkering, too

Not all testers in the mentioned channels will see the ability to fully free Copilot and let the AI roam the desktop for a while yet, mind. Microsoft says it’s just starting the rollout – and it’ll only be for those in the Canary channel initially. A broader rollout will follow, with Microsoft asking for feedback as it goes, and adjusting things based on what it hears from Windows 11 testers, no doubt.

There are also some ‘under-the-hood improvements’ coming for Copilot as well, as mentioned in the blog post, but mysteriously, Microsoft doesn’t say what. We can only guess that this might be performance related, as that seems the most obvious way that tinkering in the background could improve things with Copilot. (Perhaps it’s to do with ensuring the smooth movement of the undocked panel for the AI, even).

All-New ‘TikTok Photos’ App Spotted, Likely to Be Instagram Rival

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 12, 2024
No Comments on All-New ‘TikTok Photos’ App Spotted, Likely to Be Instagram Rival

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TikTok appears to be planning to expand into photo sharing via the launch of a new “TikTok Photos” app, according to TheSpAndroid blog.

A large number of references to the app were discovered in the latest version of TikTok, revealing some of its functionality, integrations, and even its app icon. Among these, phrases like “Open TikTok Photos,” “Get TikTok Photos,” and “Share this post to TikTok Photos” suggest direct connections between the existing video platform and the new photo-sharing app.

TikTok has allowed users to post photo-based content in a video or carousel format for some time, but the app currently has no real alternative to dedicated photo-sharing social media platforms. TikTok Photos likely seeks to directly challenge Instagram’s dominance in the photo-sharing space. Instagram has increasingly focused on video content, including Reels, in an effort to compete with TikTok’s video dominance.

The official launch date and regional availability of “TikTok Photos” is unknown, but the presence of extensive references to it within TikTok’s code suggests that an announcement could be imminent.

Apple is finally going to allow iOS app downloads from the web – but only in the EU

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date March 12, 2024
No Comments on Apple is finally going to allow iOS app downloads from the web – but only in the EU

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Apple‘s walled garden is being further dismantled – in EU member states at least. Apple has announced that iPhone (and iPad) users in the EU will soon be able download apps directly from websites, just as you can on Windows or macOS.

The new options for app distribution (via MacRumors) also give developers more control over how in-app transactions are handled outside of the official App Store, as well as allowing third-party app stores to offer apps or games from a sole developer.

It’s the web downloads that are the biggest change here though, and they’ll be enabled via a software “later this spring” according to Apple – so probably March or April. The most recent iOS 17.4 update landed last week, enabling third-party app stores to run on the iPhone in the EU for the first time.

This is all in response to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the EU, which is forcing Apple to make it easier for other developers to distribute apps on the iPhone. None of these changes are coming to the US, Australia, or the UK – though the UK has its own version of the DMA in the pipeline.

Caveats attached

App Store Awards 2022

Apps are now available outside the App Store (Image credit: Apple)

The enabling of web app downloads on iOS (and iPadOS) doesn’t mean anyone will be able to stick an app online ready to download: developers must have been in the official developer program for at least two years, and have an app with more than a million installs in the EU in the year prior.

There will be ongoing requirements that need fulfilling too, such as being transparent about data collection policies and having a web domain registered with the App Store. Apple is still going to be able to exercise some control over the apps you can and can’t download through a web browser.

Apple’s line, as it has always been, is that opening up app access in this way threatens the privacy and security of users because it gives Apple less control over third-party apps. The company is complying with the DMA, but very grudgingly.

The EU has also just whacked Apple with a huge fine of €1.8 billion – about $1.96 billion / £1.54 billion / AU$2.98 billion – for preventing other music streaming services (like Spotify) from offering cheaper deals on iOS. That decision is currently being appealed.

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Tags App, Apple, downloads, finally, iOS, Web

News

iOS 18 and macOS 15 to Include Updated Freeform App With ‘Scenes’ Feature

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date March 11, 2024
No Comments on iOS 18 and macOS 15 to Include Updated Freeform App With ‘Scenes’ Feature

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With iOS 18 and macOS 15, Apple intends to introduce a plethora of new features and enhancements affecting system applications and settings. Through industry sources, MacRumors has received details about the updated version of the Freeform app, which is set to include an interesting addition.

Known as “Freeform Scenes,” the new feature will give users the option to select specific sections or “Scenes” within their boards for easier navigation. Once selected and named, users will have the ability to easily return to them after viewing other areas of the board. Users will have the option to edit scenes after the fact as well, and will even be able to collaborate with others in doing so. Our sources claim that Freeform Scenes will be compatible with iCloud, allowing for easier sharing and editing.

The controls for the Freeform Scenes UI will be located near the zoom controls, towards the bottom left area within the app. Users will see a new sandwich-bar type icon with three vertical lines, and tapping or clicking the icon will show the Scenes UI. The Scenes UI includes a bar with individual arrow icons for easier navigation between Scenes, along with a square icon between the two arrows. Clicking or tapping the square icon will present the user with additional options to select or navigate between scenes.

Apple has also developed the following keyboard shortcuts for Freeform Scenes:

Save – Shift + Command + S
Next Scene – Option + Command + ]
Previous Scene – Option + Command + [

Although this feature is in testing, it is worth noting that not all features make it to release, and Apple also sometimes delays new additions until a later version of iOS. While Freeform Scenes is in development for ‌iOS 18‌ and macOS 18, it could be pulled or introduced at a later date.

For more details on what to expect with Apple’s upcoming operating systems, check out our rumor roundup page for iOS 18.

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New SmarThings app icon lacks themed icon support

See your smart home devices on a 3D map of your house

Easier to know if a software updates is available

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