Tech Talk

Russia this week lifted a nearly two-year ban on messenger app Telegram after it failed to prevent the encrypted platform from being widely used, reports Reuters . Some Russian media portrayed the move as a capitulation, but the country's media regulator Roskomnadzor said the company had shown "willingness" to help with counterterrorism efforts. "Roskomnadzor is dropping its demands to restrict access to Telegram messenger in agreement with Russia’s general prosecutor's office," it said in a statement. The Telegram platform allows people to communicate with each other using end-to-end encryption, meaning no-one – not even Telegram – has access to messages sent between users. In April 2018, Roskomnadzor began legal proceedings to block the app in the country, after Dubai-based Telegram refused to comply with requests that it hand over the encryption keys that would allow it to access users' data. But despite blocking IP addresses and VPN service

Apple today sent out a new Apple Pay promo email, offering ‌Apple Pay‌ discounts from merchants that include Burger King, Puma, Cole Haan, HBX, Oakley, 1stdibs, Stadium Goods, and Sunglass Hut. The promotions provide discounts or credits for future purchases when using ‌Apple Pay‌ to check out in an app or on the web, with a list below: Burger King - Get a $1 Whopper in the Burger King app. Cole Haan - 20% off plus free shipping with code APPLEPAY. HBX - 15% off full priced streetwear with code APPLEPAY. Oakley - $25 off next purchase when spending $100+ on sunglasses. Puma - 20% off shoes, apparel, and more with code APPLEPAY. Sunglass Hut - 15% off select styles with code APPLEPAY. 1stdibs - $100 off luxury goods when spending $500+ with code APPLEPAY. Stadium Goods - 10% off street stylus plus free shipping in the Stadium Goods app. Apple also highlights ‌Apple Pay‌ partners who offer free shipping and returns, which includes Calvin Klein, Cole Haan, C

Apple has officially launched its Mac trade-in program across retail stores in the United States and Canada. The new program, which was reported last week, allows customers to exchange a Mac for credit that can be put on a gift card or used to cut the cost of a new computer. Apple has long allowed Mac trade-ins on its website, but previously has not accepted Mac trade-ins in its retail store locations. The new Mac trade-in option joins existing in-store trade-in programs for the iPhone , iPad , and Apple Watch . Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman spotted that Apple has removed the previous wording on its Apple Trade In webpage that said Mac trade-ins were online only. For those interested, looks like this is now official. Macs no longer listed as online only. https://t.co/uHr8VKG9as pic.twitter.com/VAOFadrXJ0 — Mark Gurman (@markgurman) June 17, 2020 With the new trade-in program, customers will no longer need to hassle with doing a trade-in by mail, and can get an immed

Twitch has launched a beta version of its all-in-one streaming software, Twitch Studio, for macOS. The original version of the software only supported Windows PCs, so now Mac users can also get involved. If you're a Mac user who has been eager to give streaming a try but didn't know how to start, Twitch Studio is our all-in-one streaming software designed from the ground up with new creators in mind. Whether you're interested in games, music, art, cooking, or any number of other passions, Twitch Studio provides a fast way to set up and go live on Twitch. Twitch Studio features include guided onboarding, automatic hardware detection, and recommended settings. The software's built-in desktop audio capture capability also lets users stream audio from a web browser or their computer without the need for extra configuration. Twitch integration means Twitch Studio also includes built-in alerts and chat features. Streams can also be customized using different layouts, m

YouTube channel creator EverythingApplePro caused a minor Twitter storm this morning by claiming a CAD image of the so-called " iPhone 12 " suggests some rumors floated by leakers about Apple's upcoming lineup are off base. ‌iPhone 12‌ design will likely not be what we thought. Recent ‌iPhone 12‌ CADs paint a completely different picture. Did Apple pull a fast one on the leak community? pic.twitter.com/bPYoij4V41 — EverythingApplePro (@EveryApplePro) June 18, 2020 The leaked CAD image in question shows the same size of notch and triple-lens camera layout as found on the current iPhone 11 Pro series. Previous rumors have suggested Apple's 2020 iPhones will have a smaller notch and a rear LiDAR 3D camera in addition to the three existing lenses. EverythingApplePro now believes that only the larger 6.7-inch "‌iPhone 12‌ Pro Max" will get LiDAR. The expected 3D camera setup was also absent in molds and designs leaked earlier this week . It's w

Facebook is adding the option for users to turn off all political advertising in the Facebook and Instagram apps from today, the company has announced in a blog post . The option will pop up for users directly on any political ad that appears on the two Facebook-owned platforms. Users will also be able to hide ads by clicking on the advertisement or by accessing a new menu option in either of the app's ad settings. The new ability to disable political ads will apply to political, electoral, and social issue ads from candidates, Super PACs and other organizations that include the "Paid for by" political disclaimer. The option will appear immediately for some U.S. users and roll out more broadly in the coming weeks. Facebook says is also plans to make the setting available outside the U.S. in countries where it has enforcement on ads about social issues, elections and politics. In addition, Facebook says it is ensuring ads are more transparent by making sure the &

Google made its premium Meet videoconferencing service free to use last month , and now the company has announced that it's bringing Meet to the Gmail app for iOS and Android. Google Meet offers many of the features that have made Zoom so popular in recent weeks, including video conferencing for up to 100 participants, the option to schedule meetings, and screen-sharing capabilities. In the coming weeks, integration with the Gmail app will appear in the form of a new Meet tab, which can be used to view upcoming meetings scheduled in Google Calendar and easily join them with a tap. The new tab also includes a "New meeting" button that lets users start a new meeting or generate a meeting link to share or schedule in Calendar. In addition, users can tap the "Join with a code" option if they've received a meeting link. If a Gmail user has no interest in Google Meet, they can disable the Meet tab by entering Settings via the hamgurger menu in the top-le

Apple's head of diversity and inclusion Christie Smith is leaving the company, according to a Bloomberg report today. Unlike her predecessor, who reported directly to CEO Tim Cook , Smith reported to Apple's senior VP of retail and people, Deirdre O'Brien. "Inclusion and diversity are core Apple values and we deeply believe the most diverse teams are the most innovative teams," Apple said in an emailed statement confirming the news. "Christie Smith will be leaving Apple to spend more time with her family and we wish her well. Our Inclusion and Diversity team continues to report directly to Deirdre O’Brien on the Executive Team." Smith's exit was planned two months ago, according to Apple, but Bloomberg 's sources report that Tuesday was her last day at work. Her LinkedIn account has been updated to reflect the change in employment status, but Apple has not yet named a replacement. Smith joined Apple in 2017 and took over the role from De

Apple is facing another European antitrust complaint, this time over its 30 percent cut on ebooks in the App Store . The complaint was made to the European Commission by Rakuten's Kobo subsidiary, which alleges that Apple's commission rate is anti-competitive when it also promotes its own Apple Books service. According to a Financial Times report, Kobo argues that having to pay Apple 30 percent commission on each ebook that it sells through the ‌App Store‌ via the Kobo app makes it next to impossible to turn a profit, whereas Apple's own Bookstore means it doesn't have to take an equivalent revenue cut. The complaint is similar to one that Spotify filed with the EC in March 2019. Spotify specifically took issue with Apple's 30 percent fee collected on ‌‌App Store‌‌ purchases, which has forced Spotify to charge subscribers through the ‌‌App Store‌‌ $12.99 per month for its Premium plan instead of the $9.99 per month fee it normally collects. Spotify argued

Apple and Google have been asked by New York's Attorney General to do more to prevent sensitive health data from being collected by third-party contact tracing apps. According to Business Insider , AG Letitia James sent letters to both companies and urged them to impose tighter restrictions on the apps if they are to be available in their app stores, following concerns that some of the apps have not been properly vetted. "As businesses open back up and Americans venture outdoors, technology can be an invaluable tool in helping us battle the coronavirus," said Attorney General James. "But some companies may seek to take advantage of consumers and use personal information to advertise, mine data, and unethically profit off this pandemic. Both Apple and Google can be invaluable partners in weeding out these bad actors and ensuring consumers are not taken advantage of by those seeking to capitalize on the fear around this public health crisis." James noted tha

Finland-based Swappie has closed a €35.8 million ($40.6M) Series B to expand into new markets in Europe. The ecommerce business refurbishes and resells used iPhones, taking care of the entire process from testing and repairing used handsets, to selling the refurbished devices via its own marketplace, with a 12-month warranty. Local VC and private equity firm TESI is a new investor in the Series B, along with Lifeline Ventures, Reaktor Ventures and Inventure Investors, all of whom participated in Swappie’s 2019 Series A. The total raised to date since the business was founded in 2016 is $48M. Right now Swappie operates in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Italy. The new financing will be used to expand across Europe, beginning with launches in Germany, Ireland, Portugal and the Netherlands this summer. It’s also eyeing expansion beyond Europe — so will be speccing out a broader roadmap for the future. “The main focus of this round is to become the number one player in Europe. But als

The Philips Hue line of lights is gaining several new additions this summer, including a bright white bulb, a Bluetooth version of the Lightstrip Plus, and a revamped Hue Bloom. Priced at $20, the new Philips Hue White A21 bulb is the brightest bulb in the Hue lineup with 1,600 lumen output that's equivalent to a 100W bulb. That's much brighter than the standard Hue White and Color Ambiance bulbs, which are 60W equivalent. The Hue White A21 bulb can fully illuminate a kitchen, garage, or other room, plus it offers wireless dimming. It will launch in late July. Also new is the Bluetooth-enabled Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus, a Bluetooth version of the popular Hue Lightstrip Plus that connects to WiFi. This new Bluetooth model does not require a hub to work, though it is compatible with the Hue hub. Up to eight extensions can be added. A two-meter Bluetooth Lightstrip will be available from Target for $79.99 starting this week, and it will come to other retailers later in

ElevationLab today announced the launch of the ElevationHub, a unique product that combines cable management with an SD card slot and USB-A 3.0 port. The ElevationHub attaches to the power adapter of a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air , adding a rubberized velcro-lined strap that keeps the USB-C cord wound up while also delivering extra ports that MacBook models no longer have. ElevationLab says that the ElevationHub was designed to "perfectly meet the geometry" of USB-C MacBook chargers, turning it into a single unit. It works with the 30W, 61W, 87W, and 96W power adapter options from Apple, though passthrough charging is limited to 61W. The ElevationHub can be purchased standalone or with a six-foot braided USB-C 3.0 cord available for an extra $10. ElevationLab says the cord provides 10x faster data speeds (5Gb/s) than the USB-C cable that ships with the MacBook. The ElevationHub can be pre-ordered from the ElevationLab website for $49.95 with the braided USB-C co