Ask iPhone users about the creature comforts they like and there's a good chance they'll mention AirDrop -- it's an easy way to share a photo with a nearby Apple device owner. Android users should soon have an equivalent, though. The 9to5Google team has managed to enable an upcoming Fast Share feature on Android that, like AirDrop, would use a combination of Bluetooth and WiFi to send files and even text snippets to nearby people. Turn it on and you can see nearby Fast Share-enabled devices, with transfers taking just a couple of taps (including a confirmation from the recipient).
There are a few key differences. It doesn't appear that you can limit transfers to your contacts, but you can specify "Preferred Visibility" so that favorites see you even when you're not using Fast Share. The sample recipients in the Fast Share screen suggest this might be available on Chromebooks, iOS devices and even Wear OS smartwatches, although we wouldn't count on all of those being available whenever the feature goes public. An iOS version would require a special app.
It's not certain when Fast Share will launch, although it's a Google Play Services feature and likely wouldn't require Android Q. Google might not wait long, though. The company has warned that it's deprecating NFC-based Android Beam transfers in Q. As such, Fast Share could be the only way to quickly send files to local users without resorting to apps (like Files by Google) that your friends won't necessarily have.
Ask iPhone users about the creature comforts they like and there's a good chance they'll mention AirDrop -- it's an easy way to share a photo with a nearby Apple device owner. Android users should soon have an equivalent, though. The 9to5Google team has managed to enable an upcoming Fast Share feature on Android that, like AirDrop, would use a combination of Bluetooth and WiFi to send files and even text snippets to nearby people. Turn it on and you can see nearby Fast Share-enabled devices, with transfers taking just a couple of taps (including a confirmation from the recipient).
There are a few key differences. It doesn't appear that you can limit transfers to your contacts, but you can specify "Preferred Visibility" so that favorites see you even when you're not using Fast Share. The sample recipients in the Fast Share screen suggest this might be available on Chromebooks, iOS devices and even Wear OS smartwatches, although we wouldn't count on all of those being available whenever the feature goes public. An iOS version would require a special app.
It's not certain when Fast Share will launch, although it's a Google Play Services feature and likely wouldn't require Android Q. Google might not wait long, though. The company has warned that it's deprecating NFC-based Android Beam transfers in Q. As such, Fast Share could be the only way to quickly send files to local users without resorting to apps (like Files by Google) that your friends won't necessarily have.
If you're already missing Android Beam and the way it allowed you to share links or files from your device to another easily, there's some good news and bad news all rolled up into one item: Google is planning on rolling out a new "Fast Share" protocol through a Play services updates that will allow Android devices to share assets to other devices, primarily using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct connections.
9to5Google and XDA-Developers have unwrapped the new applet, screenshot by screenshot. Fast Share is essentially the sharing function found in the Files by Google app where users assign themselves a special device name for the purposes of using Fast Share, then scan for surrounding devices with Bluetooth before finally conducting the information transfer through Wi-Fi Direct.
The feature is denoted by the icon for the existing "Nearby" feature, which indicates local points of interest from Bluetooth beacons. Fast Share apparently has a dark theme, as depicted by the screenshots above, and looks to be running in a demo mode. Several preset "nearby devices" include a Chromebook, a Pixel 3, an iPhone, and a "smartwatch." Of course, by resorting to the same standard wireless relationships that Apple's own AirDrop does, moving files across devices of different platforms becomes a possibility — though with this being an unreleased service, it's wise not to assume what will go public.
On the other hand, you're going to face the same problems of anonymity that have led to perverts dropping pics to unsuspecting passengers on the train. There is a "Preferred Visibility" designation you can give to devices you frequently connect with. Then again, one of the big reasons why people miss Android Beam — and, for that matter, Samsung's S Beam, which utilized Wi-Fi Direct instead of Bluetooth for data transfer — is because of the certainty that a device tapping another device and initiating contact through NFC. No risk of device name spoofing, no random visual assaults, none of that.
There's no telling if and when Fast Share will come to fruition and, with it being a Play service feature, what versions of Android it will come to. That said, the awkward nature of having to physically clap together phones did inhibit a lot of people from using Beam, so... swings and roundabouts, right?
At WWDC 2019 earlier this month, Apple unveiled its new Sign In with Apple platform, which gives users a privacy-friendly alternative to sign in platforms from Facebook and Google. This week, however, the OpenID Foundation is questioning some of the decisions Apple made for Sign In with Apple.
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The OpenID Foundation is a non-profit organization with members such as PayPal, Google, Microsoft, and more. The OpenID Foundation controls numerous universal sign-in platforms using its OpenID Connect platform:
OpenID Connect was developed by a large number of companies and industry experts within the OpenID Foundation (OIDF). OpenID Connect is a modern, widely-adopted identity protocol built on OAuth 2.0 that enables third-party login to applications in a standard way.
In a public letter to Craig Federighi, the OpenID Foundation writes that Apple has “largely adopted” OpenID Connect for Sign In with Apple, but that there are some notable differences. The foundation argues that the differences between Sign In with Apple and OpenID Connect limit the places customers can use Sign In with Apple and poses security and privacy risks.
The differences between OpenID Connect and Apple’s platform are being tracked here, where privacy and security risks are also detailed.
The current set of differences between OpenID Connect and Sign In with Apple reduces the places where users can use Sign In with Apple and exposes them to greater security and privacy risks. It also places an unnecessary burden on developers of both OpenID Connect and Sign In with Apple. By closing the current gaps, Apple would be interoperable with widely-available OpenID Connect Relying Party software.
To resolve these issues, the OpenID Foundation is calling on Apple to close the gaps between Sign In with Apple and OpenID Connect, publicly state that Sign In with Apple is interoperable with OpenID Connect, and join the OpenID Foundation.
Synthesizers are mysterious and intimidating boxes to me, but electronic music company Ableton is setting out to explain and demystify the instrument. The company has created an interactive browser game called Learning Synths that teaches users the basics of synthesizers. The friendly tool is thoughtfully designed with fun illustrations and widgets that make it perfect for beginners to tinker around with.
Learning Synths starts out with a lesson on amplitude and pitch, but if you want to skip ahead to synth concepts, you can click on the hamburger menu on the top left corner to learn about envelopes, LFOs, and oscillators. The lessons culminate in the Playground, seen above, where users can play with presets and sequences. The site works in mobile Safari, but you can also connect a MIDI keyboard to your laptop if you’re using Google Chrome.
Drag-and-drop sliders let you adjust to find the sound you want, and there are little surprises as you move through the lessons. It’s a great way to learn about how synths generate certain tones and visually match waveform shapes to their sound.
When you’re finished, you can keep the lessons going by jumping over to the basics of music making through one of Ableton’s earlier browser tools, or take what you’ve learned and move onto Ableton Live.
Apparently, Google has plans to turn the Android Messages app into a veritable Instagram and Snapchat rival. XDA Developers has discovered that the tech giant is testing augmented reality effects with pretty impressive elements within its messaging app -- the publication even managed to activate the feature to test it out. The experimental Effects button lives inside Android Messages' camera, right beside the Photo and Video buttons.
It looks like Google is testing five effects at the moment, including one that shows your face through the window of a cartoon airplane before it flies away. The balloon effect puts flying balloons in front of and behind you, while another puts a fireworks display right in your living room. There's also a confetti effect and an angel filter that gives you a halo and a pair of wings. The halo can follow your head around, just like Snapchat's face filters.
XDA says it was only able to access the effects through the messaging app's camera and that they weren't available through the standalone camera app. While the animated messages could reportedly be sent as SMS or MMS, the feature will go well with Google's RCS rollout, which will give you the ability to send and receive high-quality media and get read receipts in the Messages app, among other things. As with any experimental feature, it may take some time before it becomes available to the public. When it does, we hope you're ready for a barrage of Snapchat-like animations flooding your Messages.
Prices tend to drop around each major US holiday, and with July 4th around the corner, we’re seeing that start to happen. And then there’s Amazon Prime Day 2019, a shopping holiday that will begin on July 15th, though we expect to see a few early bird sales before then.
We’ll be keeping you in the know about any good deals coming up, but these are the best deals that we’ve seen this week.
Phones
Sony’s Xperia 1 is now available for preorder. The price is $949.99, which is admittedly not cheap for a phone, but if you order before July 12th, you’ll receive a free set of Sony’s 1000X M3 wireless noise-canceling headphones with your purchase. Those usually cost around $300 or more, which is a great incentive if you were tossing around the idea of preordering the Xperia 1. You can find this deal at Best Buy (add both the phone and headphones to your cart) and B&H Photo.
If you don’t want the phone, there’s a deal for just the 1000X M3 headphones below.
If that’s a bit too much for your budget, Samsung’s entire line of Galaxy S10 phones are considerably cheaper than usual at B&H Photo. The S10E, which usually starts at $749 for the 128GB model, is $549.99 after you clip the $100 coupon on the product page. The S10 and S10 Plus also offer a total of $200 off when you clip the coupon, bringing down the price for their respective 128GB configurations to $699 and $799.
These phones are unlocked and work with any US carrier, and they each come with a one-year warranty through Samsung.
Headphones and smart speakers
Beats Solo 3 on-ear wireless headphones are $129.99 at Daily Steals if you add the offer code VERGEBEATS at checkout. These are open-box models in new condition. Apple provides a 90-day warranty on the Beats, and if you encounter an issue after that (so long as you’re within a year of purchase), Daily Steals will help you out.
Sony’s 1000X M3 are the cheapest they’ve ever been at Rakuten. Use the offer code PRO15P to get them in either silver or black for $237.96. These headphones usually retail for $349, and they cost $279 without the code. Note that you’ll have to make an account to get the sale price.
The Amazon Echo Dot (third generation) is back down to $24.99, its cheapest price. We’ve seen it sell for this price plenty of times, and it’s likely to sink even lower for Prime Day, but it’s not a bad deal if you need one right now.
Tablets
It might seem peculiar to highlight a deal on Apple’s older iPad Pro instead of the new iPad Air (two nearly identical tablets, inside and out), but there are a few reasons why it might be a better deal for some. The 64GB model, which is currently $474.99 at Walmart, has double the RAM count of the new iPad Air (4GB to 2GB). It also features a ProMotion variable refresh rate display (up to 120Hz) that will make game animations appear smoother, and scrolling around feel more responsive than a 60Hz display. The iPad Air does not have that advantage.
The Logi Crayon doesn’t have pressure sensitivity like the Apple Pencil, but it’s a good stylus at $49.99 at Amazon (usually $69.99). It’s rechargeable via Lightning and it has tilt support.
If you really want to kit out your iPad Pro, the Smart Keyboard is $79.50 at Amazon. It originally sold for $159.99, but has been this lower price for quite some time.
Subscriptions
If you like listening to audiobooks, a year-long subscription to Audible is currently $119, $30 off its usual cost for Prime members (paying month to month costs $180 after 12 months). The subscription will get you a credit for one new audiobook of your choosing per month, and each month of service will let you download two free Audible Original audiobooks. To go along with those savings, Amazon is offering an Echo Dot smart speaker for $1.
Our Amazon Prime Day 2019 coverage has already started, and will be ramping up in the next few weeks. If you want to partake in Amazon’s two-day sale, you’ll need a Prime membership. You can get a one-month trial for free right now, and it will last you through Prime Day. Should you want to keep it running, it will cost $12.99 per month, or $119 per year (around $10 per month).
Gaming
Steam’s summer sale is happening now through July 9th. A few deals of note include Rage 2 for $40.19 and Soulcalibur VI for $19.79. There are so many games on sale, so you should check your wishlist out to see which are discounted.
If you buy Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One games at Target, you’ll save 30 percent on selected titles if you opt to pick up your online order in store. For example, this deal brings Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a $59.99 game, down to $38.10. Games like The Division 2, Team Sonic Racing, Kingdom Hearts III, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and more are also included in the sale.
Welcome to your weekend. If you don't know what SIM swapping is and whether or not it could be used to attack your email or bank account, then we know which article you should read next. Beyond that, we'll recap some highlights from the last week, and further consider the impact of Jony Ive leaving Apple.
Violet Blue explains how SIM-swap attacks have been used to steal online accounts and even as much as $100,000 from a victim's bank account. In these attacks, someone uses pieces of personal information to convince your cell service provider to transfer (port) your number and associated phone account to a device in the attacker's possession.
If you use accounts that verify identity with a text message, then you could be vulnerable to them too. One man who lost $25k, his Gmail and his Twitter got his phone number back only to see T-Mobile give it over to a hacker again.
Now that we've had some time to think about the news that Apple's design chief Jony Ive -- the man behind iconic products like the iPod, iPhone and more -- is leaving, what does it mean? Nicole Lee considers Ive's legacy and how he helped make the company what it is today, noting that "Ive was inextricably tied to Jobs' and Apple's comeback, and therefore to the company's meteoric rise to where it is today."
After using the tablet edition of iOS 13 for a few days, Chris Velazco says he's "already impressed with the changes Apple has made... Apple addressed many of the criticisms that prevented the iPad Pro from being the do-it-all computer it aspires to be. As for everyone else, they'll benefit from subtle performance improvements and some extra polish."
The founder of Microsoft recently admitted in an interview at venture-capital firm Village Global that his biggest mistake was not making what Android came to be. Gates admitted that the company struggled to adjust to mobile, as both the iPhone and Google's Android swept up customers in the smartphone revolution. If you don't remember Windows Mobile, well, let's just say you're not missing out on much.
The newly released Raspberry Pi 4 Model B combines familiar tiny computer-on-a-board design with some major boosts to performance, particularly for media. With a more potent 1.5GHz quad-core Broadcom processor with H.265 decoding, two micro-HDMI ports and up to 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, the Pi 4 can output 4K video at 60 fps. It could well be your next, slightly more future-proofed DIY media hub.
Priced at $1,000, Devindra Hardawar notes that the Valve Index is "not even vaguely affordable" compared to other VR options. Still, this "aspirational" piece of gear impresses, with a comfortable headset, slick finger-tracking controllers and excellent image quality. Take a look and see why the Index "has almost everything we want in a next-generation PC VR headset."
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