WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature – Instant Video Messages!
Here is what you need to know about WhatsApp Instant Video Messages!
WhatsApp Introduces Instant Video Messages!
On 27 July 2023, WhatsApp announced that it is rolling out a new feature – Instant Video Messages!
Instant Video Messages allows you to record and share short videos of up to 60 seconds directly into any WhatsApp chat.
WhatsApp envisions this as a way for people to share personal moments or events, like wishing someone happy birthday, or sharing good news with family and friends.
Think of Instant Video Messages as the video version of the Voice Message feature many people have been using for years to send short voice messages.
All WhatsApp Instant Video Messages are protected with end-to-end encryption to ensure that they can only be viewed by people you send them to.
How To Record + Send WhatsApp Instant Video Messages
If you have used Voice Messages on WhatsApp, then you will be familiar with the method.
Tap on the voice recorder to switch it into video mode.
Tap and hold on the video recorder to record your video message.
You can also Tap and Swipe Up to record your video message in hands-free mode.
The Instant Video Messages that you send will play automatically with audio muted when the recipient views it in the chat. To listen to the audio, the recipient only needs to tap on the video.
When Will WhatsApp Instant Video Messages Appear?
According to WhatsApp, the Instant Video Messages feature have already started rolling out, and will be available to everyone in the coming weeks.
From what we can determine, you should be able to use Instant Video Messages if you are using:
version 23.15.0 (17 July 2023) for Apple iOS
version 2.23.14.79 (17 July 2023) for Android
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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
You can now use edit your WhatsApp message for up to 15 minutes!
You Can Now Edit Your WhatsApp Messages!
On Monday, May 22, 2023, Mark Zuckerberg announced that you will now be able to edit your WhatsApp messages up to 15 minutes after they’re sent!
This is, arguably, one of the most requested features to be added to WhatsApp, since many of us suffer from “fat fingers syndrome”, while others are forced to suffer through our typos!
Before this feature was introduced, the only way to “fix” a typo, was to post the corrected message, and delete the previous message with the typo(s). The only problem is you end up with a ton of “message deleted” remnants.
Here is how you can edit your WhatsApp messages:
Long-press on a sent message, and a menu will drop down.
Select the Edit option from the drop-down menu.
After editing your message, simply press Enter to save the edit.
Do note that the edited message will display “Edited” next to it, so your recipients know that it has been edited.
Also, this Edit option is limited to 15 minutes after you send a WhatsApp message. You cannot edit a message if you wait longer than 15 minutes after sending that message!
You Can Edit Your WhatsApp Messages… In Coming Weeks!
You can give it a try, but this feature likely isn’t available yet in your WhatsApp. Mark Zuckerberg and WhatsApp was just announcing a new feature.
You will have the ability to edit your WhatsApp messages for 15 minutes in coming weeks, as the update is rolled out globally.
For the moments when you make a mistake, or simply change your mind, you can now edit your sent messages.
From correcting a simple misspelling to adding extra context to a message, we’re excited to bring you more control over your chats. All you need to do is long-press on a sent message and choose ‘Edit’ from the menu for up to fifteen minutes after.
Edited messages will display ‘edited’ alongside them, so those you’re messaging are aware of the correction without showing edit history. As with all personal messages, media and calls, your messages and the edits you make are protected by end-to-end encryption.
This feature has started rolling out to users globally and will be available to everyone in the coming weeks.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
You can now use the same WhatsApp account on different phones at the same time!
Find out what this means, and how you can link multiple phones on WhatsApp!
You Can Now Use WhatsApp On Multiple Phones!
On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, WhatsApp announced that you can now use the same WhatsApp account on multiple phones! This is a further evolution of the multi-device capability that WhatsApp introduced last year.
The earlier WhatsApp multi-device capability allows us to use WhatsApp on four other non-phone devices (like a computer or a tablet), without using our smartphone. While that was really useful, it still limited users to using the same WhatsApp account on a single phone.
That changes with the introduction of the ability to use the same WhatsApp account on multiple phones.
Going forward, you will have the same ability to link your WhatsApp account on your primary phone, as well as four other devices. However, they do not need to be non-phone devices – you can now link other phones to the same WhatsApp account.
Previously : You can link one phone + four non-phone devices to one WhatsApp account
Now : You can link one phone + four other phones / other devices to one WhatsApp account
Please note that this new feature is being rolled out globally in the next update, which will be available in the coming weeks. It may not be readily available for your WhatsApp account.
Once you link other phones to the same WhatsApp account, you will be able to switch between different phones without signing out, and continue messaging where you left off your other devices.
This unified messaging system will also be useful to businesses – multiple employees can now respond to customers directly from their phones using the same WhatsApp Business account.
Each linked phone will connect to WhatsApp independently, and will ensure that your messages, media and calls are end-to-end encrypted.
Your primary phone does not need to stay connected to the Internet to use WhatsApp on your linked devices. However, your linked companion devices will be automatically logged out:
if your primary phone is inactive for 14 days, or
if the linked device is inactive for more than 30 days.
To remain connected, you need to log into your primary phone at least once every 14 days, and your companion devices must be active at least once every 30 days.
You should also know that these features are NOT currently supported on linked companion devices:
WhatsApp will be introducing a new and easier way to link multiple phones. In coming weeks, you ill be able to enter your phone number into WhatsApp Web to receive a one-time code, which you can use on your other phones to enable device linking.
But until that rolls out, here are the steps to link multiple phones on WhatsApp:
Android Smartphone
Step 1 : Download and install WhatsApp on your Android companion phone that you wish to link.
Step 2 : Open WhatsApp and tap AGREE AND CONTINUE.
Step 3 : Tap More Options, and select Link to existing account. WhatsApp will display a QR code.
Step 4 : Open WhatsApp on your primary phone to scan the QR code:
Android : Tap More options > Linked devices > Link a device.
iPhone : Go to WhatsApp Settings > Linked devices > Link a device
Step 5 : Scan the WhatsApp QR code on the Android companion phone with your primary phone.
That’s it! The WhatsApp account on your primary phone will now link with the WhatsApp on your Android companion phone. It should now show “This is a linked device. Learn more” in Settings.
Apple iPhone
Step 1 : Download and install WhatsApp on your Android companion phone that you wish to link.
Step 2 : Open WhatsApp and tap AGREE AND CONTINUE.
Step 3 : Tap Link this device to an existing account. WhatsApp will display a QR code.
Step 4 : Open WhatsApp on your primary phone to scan the QR code:
Android : Tap More options > Linked devices > Link a device.
iPhone : Go to WhatsApp Settings > Linked devices > Link a device
Step 5 : Scan the WhatsApp QR code on the iPhone companion phone with your primary phone.
That’s it! The WhatsApp account on your primary phone will now link with the WhatsApp on your iPhone companion phone. It should now show “This is a linked device. Learn more” in Settings.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Apple may be planning to limit data transfer and charging speed on USB-C ports used in its devices, by introducing MFI certification!
Earlier : Apple Forced To Adopt USB-C Port!
Apple has been hesitant about moving to the superior USB-C port for years, limiting it to Mac computers and iPad tablets.
The 12-inch MacBook was the first Mac computer to get USB-C in 2015, while the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro tablets made the switch from Lighting to USB-C in 2018. However, Apple stubbornly refused to migrate its iPhones to USB-C.
The choice to stick with their proprietary Lightning port was taken out of their hands on October 4, 2022, when the European Parliament voted decisively to adopt the USB-C (USB Type C) port as the new standard for all portable devices.
By the end of 2024, all portable devices sold in the EU must come with a USB-C charging port. This directive is more or less directed at Apple, which is the only brand that continues to use its own proprietary Lighting connector.
Apple MFI plan to limit speed, power on USB-C leaked!
Now that the EU is firmly forcing everyone to use USB-C, Apple will start using the USB Type C port in its upcoming iPhone 15 models.
However, Apple apparently isn’t going to give up its lucrative side gig of selling its users MFI (Made for iPhone) cables and accessories at exorbitant prices.
According to ShrimpApplePro, who accurately leaked on the iPhone 14, Apple will introduce MFI for its USB-C cables and accessories.
And even worse – cables that lack MFI certification will have their data and charging speeds limited.
Yeah usb-c with MFI is happening
Foxconn already in mass production accessories like EarPods and cables
Cables w no MFI will be software limited in data and charging speed
MFI-certified cables have a small authenticator chip to verify that they are “certified” to work with Apple devices. If you use cables that lack this authenticator chip, you will get the “This accessory is not supported” warning on your Apple device.
Apple gets paid for every authenticator chip, so MFI cables and accessories are priced at a premium, even if they work just as well as non-MFI cables and accessories.
Apple is already expected to limit the iPhone 15 base model, and iPhone 15 Plus, to USB 2.0 data transfer speeds of up to 480 Mbps (60 MB/s), while Pro models will get the much higher transfer rates of 20 Gbps (USB-C 3.2) or even 40 Gbps (Thunderbolt 3).
People may not bat an eye at Apple limiting data transfer speeds to differentiate their Pro models from the non-Pro models, but limiting battery recharging speeds for non-MFI cables should ruffle some feathers. After all, there is technically no good reason why Apple cannot allow their devices to benefit from faster charging using non-MFI cables.
Naturally, Apple benefits financially from introducing MFI for USB-C. It will force Apple users to pay the notorious “Apple tax” on top of the “Apple premium” they paid for their Apple devices.
Imagine if Apple introduces MFI for USB-C and phases that in for future Mac computers and iPad tablets, as well as the upcoming iPhone 15 smartphones. Even those who have been happily using regular, non-MFI USB-C cables will have to switch them to MFI cables, and for what?
There is really no discernible benefit for Apple users to use MFI-certified cables over regular USB-C cables. It’s not like they will give your Apple devices magical powers. If there is any reduction in transfer rate or charging speed, it will only happen because Apple intentionally chose to make it so.
Of course, this leak may turn out to be true, and Apple may not be quite so evil as to foist the MFI tax on its loyal users. But I fear that Apple believes its users are more loyal than discerning, and will yet again, quietly pay for MFI cables just because Apple said so.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
KartRider: Drift is the only free-to-play, cross-platform kart racer with arcade thrills, and the fastest drift fueled skilled competition. With deep kart and character customization in stunning high-definition, fun and chaos awaits you on the track.
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KartRider Drift : How To Get Free Lucci Coupon Code!
The KartRider Drift team is giving away a free coupon code for 5,000 Lucci, which can be redeemed in-game on any platform – PlayStation, Xbox, Android, PC (Windows) and iOS.
Make sure you follow these steps to get the 5,000 Lucci for FREE before May 11, 2023 at 12:00 AM UTC.
Install KartRider Drift (Steam), which is a free-to-play game.
On non-iOS devices, go to Settings > Manage Account > Apply Coupon.
On iOS devices, go to Web Coupon Page.
Key in this coupon code : F481NKBRIYS5
That’s it! You now have 5,000 Lucci in your KartRider Drift account!
Note : You can only redeem t his coupon code once per account.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Two thieves made off with $35,000 worth of Apple products at an Apple Store in broad daylight… in just 60 seconds!
Take a look at the viral video, and find out what happened!
Gone In 60 Seconds : Apple Store Robbed Of $35K!
At around 4:17 PM on Friday, November 25, 2022, a pair of thieves brazenly stole $35,000 worth of Apple products in front of shocked customers and store workers at the Apple Store in Palo Alto, California!
The Black Friday heist showed the two masked men yanking multiple iPhones and MacBook laptops from the display tables to stuff in their bags, while pushing past customers and store workers.
A customer can be heard on the video asking, “Should we stop them?”, and an Apple Store worker responded, “Let them go”.
The minute-long video showed just how quickly the two thieves were able to “work the room”, to steal all those Apple devices!
Even though they were unchallenged by the customers and store workers, one of the thieves “made a general statement to the crowd of physical violence” if they attempted to stop the robbery.
That escalated the crime from merely “shoplifting” to a robbery, according to the police, who confirmed that about $35,000 worth of Apple phones and laptops were taken.
One of the suspects was wearing a beige hoodie with blue jeans, white shoes and a red backpack, while the other was wearing a blue camouflage hoodie with black Adidas pants, red shoes and a black Adidas backpack.
The police are currently looking for both men, described as black males in their late teens or early 20s, who fled in a red Mazda hatchback and were last seen by a security guard driving north on Highway 101 at around 4:30 PM.
The Palo Alto Apple Store has been robbed three times in recent years. In 2018, it was robbed twice within 24 hours, with thieves taking over $100,000 worth of merchandise, while in 2016, robbers smashed a rental car through its store front and made off with thousands of dollars worth of Apple products.
As its products are considered high-value, Apple has seen its store in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Portland and Washington, D.C. targeted in large heists.
As a result, Apple has initiated several measures to make it difficult for thieves to sell their loot of stolen Apple devices.
For example, demo devices like the ones just stolen from the Palo Alto Apple Store would have been registered with an Apple ID, and can therefore be easily tracked using the Find My iPhone service.
These demo devices also have proximity software installed since 2016, which automatically disables them once they are taken outside of their assigned Apple Store.
Apple also has the ability to disable and track stolen devices, even those that are brand-new, in-the-box. Those who purchased them will find that their devices can’t be turned off, and their location would be sent to local authorities.
The stolen iPhones will also display a warning to the user, informing them that the device has been disabled and being tracked, and that the local authorities has been alerted. The user is advised to return the iPhone to the Apple Store where it was stolen from.
Please return to Apple Walnut Street
This device has been disabled and is being tracked. Local authorities will be alerted.
This pretty much makes these stolen devices useless, if the thieves intend to sell them to other people. They may, however, find some use as spare parts for far less profit, of course
Apple is also blocking access to repairs for lost or stolen devices. For starters – Apple will refuse to repair iPhones if its Find My iPhone feature cannot be disabled (to prove ownership).
In addition, Apple repair technicians can now see if an iPhone has been reported lost or stolen in the internal MobileGenius or GXS system. If the device was reported lost or stolen, they will decline to repair the device.
All these measures will mean that the viral $35,000 heist at the Palo Alto Apple Store will not amount to much for the thieves.
In fact, Apple is the winner in this robbery – its demo devices would have certainly been insured. In a way, Apple “sold” the stolen $35,000 inventory in this robbery to their insurance company!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Apple has accelerated its plans to leave Zhengzhou in China, where the massive iPhone City manufacturing zone is located!
Apple To Move MORE iPhone Production Out Of China!
As anti-government protests continue across China, Apple is accelerating its plans to leave Zhengzhou – where the massive iPhone City manufacturing zone is located!
Apple CEO Tim Cook is now eyeing Vietnam and India as new manufacturing hubs to replace Zhengzhou, where Foxconn workers earlier fled amidst repeated protests.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple now plans to move to 45% of iPhone production to factories in India, and ramp up production of its MacBooks, Apple Watches and AirPods in Vietnam.
Those moves come with serious challenges as Apple faces having to deal with different regional government bureaucracies in India.
Meanwhile, Vietnam only has 10% of China’s population, and can only handle a 60,000 person factory – far smaller than the 300,000 person “iPhone City” in Zhengzhou.
So Apple is still considering switching to other suppliers in China – Luxshare Precision Industry Co. and Wingtech Technology Co., although these alternate plans may be jeopardised by the Chinese government’s persistence with its Zero COVID policy.
Apple Earlier Planned To Move iPhone Production Out Of China!
While Apple had been planning the move for months due to the Chinese government’s insistence on Zero COVID policy, the recent uprisings at its Zhengzhou manufacturing hub has accelerated those plans.
In November, iPhone City in Zhengzhou erupted in violent protests by Foxconn employees over strict Zero COVID policies and pay disputes, prompting a lockdown.
This forced Foxconn to offer $1,400 to quit their jobs, and later, a $1,800 bonus to stay. Even so, manufacturing at Zhengzhou is down to about 20% of its capacity.
Foxconn has tried to shift some of its production to its Shenzhen factory, but it cannot make up the shortfall, which is reported to be as much as 6 million iPhone Pro smartphones.
Things got so bad the Chinese government even called on military veterans and CCP members to work at the iPhone City factories as volunteers!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Find out how Apple has quietly limited AirDrop to help China prevent anti-government protests!
Protestors In China Use AirDrop To Organise + Bypass Censors!
China has been rocked by anti-government protests, that started at the in Zhengzhou, but later spread to at least seven cities.
Despite efforts by the CCP government to censor and block efforts to organise demonstrations, Chinese protestors were able to bypass the “Great Firewall” using the Apple AirDrop feature.
AirDrop is a proprietary feature that allows for the wireless transfers of files between Apple mobile devices and computers. It was used to great effect in 2019, when protestors in Hong Kong used it to bypass the China’s “Great Firewall” and organise their demonstrations.
Now, Chinese citizens are using the AirDrop feature of their iPhones to circulate information about planned demonstrations, or memes and messages opposing Chinese President Xi Jinping, or the Chinese government.
Since AirDrop communicates directly between Apple devices, it works even when the authorities shut down mobile communications and Internet connectivity.
How Apple Helps China Limit Protests Using AirDrop!
Unfortunately, Apple quietly introduced an update on November 9, 2022 to severely restrict the AirDrop feature on iPhones sold in China.
In the past, iPhone users in China could set AirDrop to accept files from Everyone without any time limit, allowing them to discreetly send and receive files from strangers.
The iOS 16.1.1 update introduced a 10 minute limit for AirDrop, making it impossible to receive files from strangers.
While it is still possible to receive files from strangers, users will have to repeatedly reset the setting to Everyone for 10 Minutes, which is not practical.
On top of that, the new time restriction on AirDrop affects all iPhones sold in China, regardless of which country your App Store account is based in. So foreigners who purchased their iPhones in China will be similarly affected.
It is not surprising that Apple would bend the knee to the CCP government. After all, China accounts for almost a fifth of Apple’s total sales!
In 2021, it was even reported that Apple CEO Tim Cook signed a secret $275 billion deal with China in 2016 to “solve” regulatory problems.
The relationship between Apple and the CCP government in China appears to be so strong that when Foxconn employees fled the massive iPhone factory in Zhengzhou, Beijing ordered military veterans and Communist Party members to fill in for the labour shortage!
It will now be up to the Chinese protestors to figure another way to bypass the Great Firewall. Jia you!
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Will your phone get hacked while you are voting in GE15?!
Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!
Claim : Your Phone Will Get Hacked While You Vote In GE15!
This warning has gone viral on WhatsApp and social media, claiming that your phone will get hacked while you are voting in GE15!
The post is long, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!
For first time voters, it might be tempting to bring your phone along with you to document and record your experience voting for the first time.
However, the Election Commission (EC) has announced that the use of mobile phones inside polling stations will not be allowed.
As such, you may use your phone to kill time while standing in line, but you’d have to surrender your phone once you collect your ballot paper.
But, according to a Malaysian self-taught ethical hacker, this might not be the wisest move.
In a Twitter post that has gone viral, Twitter user @BeardtimusPrime shared that leaving your phone unattended and in the hands of volunteers at polling stations raises many security bells.
In a response to an infographic about the on-the-day process, he said that you should never leave your smartphone unattended and if you had to, you should at least put security tape over the USB/Lightning port before handing it over.
How could that be possible?
In an interview with WORLD OF BUZZ, the Twitter user explained that the issue lies in the fact that you’d be handing over your phone to volunteers, with close to zero vetting and background checks.
“Physically handing over your device is the worst thing to do when it comes to security. It’s similar to sharing passwords.”
He then explained that there are various ways hackers could access your data with your device in their hands and that simply turning off a smartphone doesn’t truly turn it off unless you were to take the battery out which requires special tools.
“Malware injection is still possible as the device will be in a ‘soft-off’ state,” he explained.
He then shared an explainer video on how hackers could easily access your data simply by plugging in what appears to be a standard cable which would allow them to remotely control and access your phone.
The video showed how people who have managed to access your phone would be able to read your messages, send messages from your phone and other worrisome things.
If you’d like to find out more on how exactly this can happen, checkout the video below (tap link to view video).
We hope that this will serve as a reminder to never leave your phone unattended. Are you still planning to bring your phone to the voting stations?
Truth : Your Phone Won’t Get Hacked While You Vote In GE15!
This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media, and here are the reasons why…
Fact #1 : Phones Are Left On KTM Table In Individual Boxes
First, let us establish some basic facts about how phones are “surrendered” before voting in GE15:
Each polling station (Saluran) will have two voting booths, allowing two voters to mark their ballots at the same time.
The KTM (Ketua Tempat Mengundi – Head of Polling Station) will have two cardboard boxes – one for each phone.
On the way to the voting booth, each voter will place his/her phone into one of the two cardboard boxes on the KTM’s table.
After casting the ballots, the voter will retrieve his/her phone from the cardboard box.
The polling clerks and the head of the polling station (KTM) will NOT touch any phone. Voters must place and retrieve their phones by themselves.
Fact #2 : There Are Many Witnesses In Each Polling Station
Each polling station has at least one police officer, three polling clerks and a KTM (Head of the Polling Station), as well as two or more observers.
That’s seven or more people arranged along three sides of the room, which means the phones placed on the KTM’s table are visible to all of them. Any attempt by anyone but the voters to handle the phones would be instantly noticed.
Fact #3 : KTM Is Usually A Teacher Working In That School
In Malaysian elections, schools are generally used as voting centres, with classrooms converted into polling stations.
Usually, the Malaysia Election Commission (SPR) appoints teachers of the same school as the KTM – head of each polling station.
While this does not mean some of these teachers are not secretly awesome hackers in their spare time, it means that your phones are generally being watched by teachers.
If you can trust school teachers with your kids, you can certainly trust them to WATCH OVER your precious phone.
Fact #4 : Marking Your Ballots Take Less Than A Minute
The only time your phone is out of your view is when you are marking your ballots in the voting booth.
How long do you reckon it takes to mark X on one or two ballots, and fold them? Maybe 10 seconds? 20 seconds if you are slow. No matter what – your mobile phone will only be out of sight for less than a minute.
Do you actually believe any hacker would have the time to hook up your phone to any cable, never mind hack it, in less than one minute?
Fact #5 : Juice Jacking Requires Cable To Be Plugged Into Phone
What this “ethical hacker” is referring to is called juice jacking. Juice jacking requires a cable to be plugged into your phone. It cannot happen wirelessly, because it relies on USB vulnerabilities.
As noted in Fact #1, you will place your phone into a large cardboard box. You will be able to see that there are no cables present.
While you are marking your vote, the box containing your phone will be fully visible to at least six other people in the room, if you discount the “nefarious KTM who is secretly an evil hacker”.
Even a “nefarious KTM who is secretly an evil hacker” will have trouble taking your phone out of the box, without any of the other people in the room noticing, never mind actually plugging in a cable.
That’s why the real risk of juice jacking isn’t that 20-30 seconds you spend voting in GE15, but when you plug your phone into a free USB power socket.
If you are paranoid, just cover your phone’s USB or Lightning port with tape, before you place it in the designated box.
Fact #6 : Juice Jacking Vulnerabilities Have Been Mitigated
As ethical hackers reveal security risks like juice jacking, Google and Apple have taken measures to mitigate the risks.
Both Android and iOS, for example, no longer allow the phone to be mounted as a drive when plugged in over USB. You will get a prompt asking you to confirm the step, which is not possible for the hacker to do without first unlocking the phone.
There have also been many Android and iOS security updates that patch vulnerabilities that could potentially lead to juice jacking attacks. That’s why it’s so important to keep your phone operating system updated.
Please WATCH OUT about such FAKE NEWS on WhatsApp and social media.
Remember – democracy does not guarantee us a good government. Democracy only guarantees us the right to vote out a bad government!
Happy voting on 19 November 2022!
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The massive iPhone factory in Zhengzhou is now under another COVID-19 lockdown, after thousands of employees fled!
iPhone Factory Now Under COVID-19 Lockdown!
On Wednesday, 2 November 2022, China placed the Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone under a new COVID-19 lockdown. This is where Foxconn has its largest iPhone factory, employing about 200,000 workers
The Zhengzhou industrial zone, located in the Henan province, was placed under “silent management” measures with immediate effect, and last for one week – until November 9, 2022.
all residents are barred from going out
only approved vehicles are allowed on the road
Foxconn said in a statement that its campus will continue operating under a “closed loop” management system, in which employees sleep, live and work in a bubble, isolated from the rest of Zhengzhou and the world.
A source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that such a lockdown could cut production of Apple iPhones by as much as 30%, and that Foxconn was working to boost production at their Shenzhen factory to make up for the shortfall.
Employees Have Been Fleeing iPhone Factory For Days!
For several days now, Foxconn employees have been fleeing the Zhengzhou factory, after some workers were placed under quarantine following a COVID-19 outbreak.
The Foxconn employees also complained of poor food quality, and a lack of medical care for those who tested positive.
On Sunday, 30 October, Foxconn said that it would not stop them from leaving, and many workers chose to walk back to their hometowns.
Videos of those employees climbing over fences, and walking away from the factory went viral. So did photos and videos of those Foxconn workers trekking across fields in the day, and long roads at night.
Some people were walking amid wheat fields with their luggage, blankets and quilt. I couldn’t help but feel sad.
Those videos galvanised volunteers from nearby villages to put out food and drinks for the workers. Foxconn and several local governments finally arranged transportation for them.
Workers who were transported back to their hometowns were quarantined on arrival. A belated measure that should have been initiated earlier.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Apple just froze its original plan to use China’s YMTC NAND flash memory chips in their iPhones!
Apple Freezes Use Of China’s YMTC NAND Chips!
On Monday, October 17, 2022, Nikkei Asia (paywall) reported that Apple just froze its original plan to use NAND flash memory chips from Yangtze Memory Technologies Corporation (YMTC)!
Apple had originally planned to start using NAND flash memory chips manufactured by YMTC in iPhones manufactured for the Chinese market, eventually purchasing up to 40% of its chip requirements from the Chinese state-funded company.
Those plans had to be put on hold after the US government announced stricter technology export controls designed to block China’s access to advanced semiconductor technologies.
The United States added YMTC – China’s top memory chipmaker – and 30 other Chinese companies to its “Unverified List” of companies that its official are unable to inspect to ensure compliance with its export controls.
The United States also initiated a new 60-day deadline for entities under the “Unverified List” to allow for complete end-to-end inspections, or risk even tougher penalties if added to the infamous “Entity List“.
YMTC is also being investigated by the US Commerce Department over allegations it violated earlier United States export controls by selling chips to HUAWEI, which was blacklisted under the Trump Administration.
Apple Decision Stymies Earlier Preparations By YMTC
Apple’s decision to freeze its purchase of YMTC flash memory chips stymies earlier preparations by the Wuhan-based memory chipmaker to mitigate looming US export controls.
According to four employees who spoke to Financial Times, YMTC had been stockpiling foreign equipment for months after US lawmakers started urging the Biden Administration to punish it for helping the Chinese military and violating trade restrictions by supply HUAWEI with chips.
YMTC has also come under scrutiny over concerns that massive Chinese government subsidies allow it to sells its chips below market price, even at a loss, just to gain market share at the expense of other companies.
We’ve been doing everything possible beforehand to support existing production lines, such as stockpiling all kinds of equipment.
– Senior YMTC engineer
All that preparation was for naught, because Apple’s decision to freeze its massive purchase of YMTC flash memory chips is only the tip of the iceberg.
Other companies will similarly be forced to freeze or cancel their purchase of YMTC chips unless YMTC acquiesces to comply with audit requirements by US officials – a step the Chinese chipmaker is (politically) incapable of taking.
YMTC is, after all, China’s largest memory chipmaker, and a national champion in the country’s drive to build a domestic chip industry. It received 220 billion yuan (over $30.5 billion) in funding from both the Hubei province, and a national fund.
After the Biden Administration announced new chip export restrictions, the top three US chip toolmakers – KLA Corporation, Lam Research and Applied Materials immediately stopped sales and services to YMTC.
Despite its earlier stockpiling efforts, one YMTC employee revealed that the company only had enough wafers and parts for equipment repairs to last a year, but that’s assuming it won’t need technical support from foreign companies.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
It’s official – the EU has ordered all brands to standardise on the USB-C connector for all mobile chargers, including Apple!
EU Orders All Brands To Use USB-C, Including Apple!
On Tuesday, October 4, 2022, the European Parliament voted decisively in favour of adopting the USB-C (USB Type C) port as the new standard for all portable devices.
The directive passed with an overwhelming vote of 602 MEPs in favour, and just 13 against (with 8 abstentions), and now heads to the EU Council for the formality of a final approval.
Once the Council signs off on the directive, it will enter into force 20 days after publication in the EU’s Official Journal. Member states will then have 12 months to transpose the new directive, and another 12 months after that transposition period, to apply the new rules.
Once these new rules are enforced, consumers will be able to use and share chargers since all portable devices use the same charging port.
The EU expects the directive to greatly reduce e-waste, and help consumers save up to €250 million a year on purchasing chargers of different standards.
In the EU, chargers alone account for about 11,000 tonnes of e-waste every year. So this directive will help to cut down on the environmental impact of disposing of so many old or unused chargers.
Details Of EU Directive On USB-C Standardisation
Here is my quick round-up of the new EU directive on standardising portable devices and laptops on the USB Type C charging port.
All Devices Must Come With USB-C Charging Port
What this means is that by the end of 2024, all portable devices sold in the EU must come with a USB Type C charging port.
Regardless of their manufacturer, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds and laptops that are rechargeable via a wired cable, operating with a power delivery of up to 100 Watts, will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port.
Small devices like smartwatches and health trackers that cannot fit a USB-C port are exempted from this requirement.
This directive is more or less directed at Apple which persists in using its own proprietary Lighting connector for its devices – everything from iPhone, iPad, AirPods and even its wireless keyboard and mouse.
The only way for Apple to get around this is to switch their new devices to wireless charging before the end of 2024.
All Devices Must Support USB-C Fast Charging Standards
Also important is the fact that the EU is going to force all brands to adopt USB-C fast charging standards.
While the legislation won’t stop manufacturers from implementing special fast charging capabilities, it will ensure that their chargers and devices support USB-C fast charging standards as a minimum.
All devices that support fast charging will now have the same charging speed, allowing users to charge their devices at the same speed with any compatible charger.
USB-C Mandate To Extend To Laptops In 2026
On top of that, the directive also requires laptops to standardise on the USB Type C charging port by spring 2026.
This new directive will not please Apple MacBook users who just celebrated the return of the MagSafe connector, but it will be a great advantage for consumers.
Once enforced, everyone will be able to use their laptop’s USB-C charger to also recharge their other devices, because they all have the same USB Type port!
Dedicated Labels
The directive also requires brands to use dedicated labels to help consumers decide if their existing chargers will support their new devices, or if they need to purchase a new charger.
This will hopefully prevent consumers from being hoodwinked into purchasing a new charger with every new device, when their existing chargers will work just as well.
Dedicated labels will inform consumers about the charging characteristics of new devices, making it easier for them to see whether their existing chargers are compatible.
Buyers will also be able to make an informed choice about whether or not to purchase a new charging device with a new product.
Wireless Charging To Be Standardised Too
The directive also commanded the European Commission to tackle wireless charging interoperability by the end of 2024.
It highlighted the risk of brands using proprietary wireless charging technologies to “lock in” users, replicating what Apple did with its Lightning connector for wired charging.
Like with wired charging, the EU wants wireless charging to be interoperable as well.
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Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Now that Apple Pay is available in Malaysia, here is my guide on how to set it up with your debit / credit card!
Apple Pay Is Now Available In Malaysia!
Apple Pay was first launched way back in September 2014, together with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. However, its global availability was slow and some would say, tortuous.
For years, Apple fans in Malaysia have requested for Apple Pay to be introduced in Malaysia, and could only look at Singapore in envy, when Apple Pay was introduced there more than six years ago in April 2016!
But the wait is over! The steady drip of leaks has finally culminated in actual confirmation that yes, Apple Pay is now available in Malaysia!
While this guide is based on credit cards in Malaysia, it will work in other countries too, as long as Apple Pay is supported.
Not All Banks Support Apple Pay
First of all, you must understand that not all banks support Apple Pay. Here in Malaysia, only three banks support Apple Pay at the moment.
Banks In Malaysia That Support Apple Pay
You will be able to register debit and credit cards issued by these banks :
AmBank
Maybank
Standard Chartered Bank
Banks In Malaysia That Do Not Support Apple Pay
You won’t be able to add debit or credit cards from these banks :
CIMB
Citibank
UOB
OCBC
I will update this article as and when I find out what other banks in Malaysia support, or don’t support, Apple Pay.
To help you register your debit / credit card with Apple Pay, here is my step-by-step guide :
Step 1 : Open the Wallet app in your iPhone.
Step 2 : Tap on the Add button to “Add a credit or debit card to get started using Apple Pay”.
Step 3 : In the next screen, tap on the Continue button.
Step 4 : You will now be asked to “scan” your debit / credit card using your iPhone camera, positioning it within the frame.
Step 5 : The Wallet app will try to pick up important details of your credit card like :
Name
Credit card number
Expiry date
If nothing happens, that means it cannot read the details off the card. Then you will need to tap on the Enter Card Details Manually option at the bottom.
Step 6 : Whether your card details are detected or not, verify the key card details required by Apple Pay :
Name
Card Number
Expiry Date
Security Code
If the detected details are wrong, edit them to make sure they match your debit / credit card.
Step 7 : You will need to key in the Security Code, which is a 3-digit or 4-digit CSC (Card Security Code) / CVV (Card Verification Value) / CVC (Card Verification Code) usually printed on the back of your debit / credit card.
Step 8 : If your credit card is not supported, you will get a pop-up message saying :
Your Issuer Does Not Yet Offer Support for This Card
Ask your issuer if they offer cards that support Apple Pay.
If your card is supported, you will see a list of Terms and Conditions. You will need to tap on Agree to continue.
Step 9 : The screen show details of your credit card while the Wallet app sets it up for Apple Pay. Just wait for a few seconds.
Step 10 : You will now be asked to verify your card for Apple Pay, usually through Text Message. Tap Next to continue with the verification process.
Step 11 : You will receive an SMS with a 6-digit One Time Password (OTP). You need to key that in within 2 minutes :
Card enrolment OTP for your digital wallet is XXXXXX. It will expire after 2 mins. If you have not performed this, please contact the bank.
Step 12 : Tap Next after keying in the OTP, and you should see the Card Activated notice.
That’s it! Your credit card is now ready for Apple Pay. When you open your Wallet, you should see that debit / credit card listed.
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Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Apple did not announce anything official, but Apple Pay is now available in Malaysia!
Here is what you need to know, and how you can start using Apple Pay in Malaysia!
Apple Pay Is Now Available In Malaysia!
Apple Pay was first launched way back in September 2014, together with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. However, its global availability was slow and some would say, tortuous.
For years, Apple fans in Malaysia have requested for Apple Pay to be introduced in Malaysia, and could only look at Singapore in envy, when Apple Pay was introduced there more than six years ago in April 2016!
But the wait is over! The steady drip of leaks has finally culminated in actual confirmation that yes, Apple Pay is now available in Malaysia!
Apple did not announce anything, but you can now add your debit / credit cards to Apple Pay and start using it in Malaysia!
This makes Malaysia only the second country in Southeast Asia to support Apple Pay. The first was Singapore in April 2016.
Malaysia is also only the 10th territory in Asia to support Apple Pay, after Australia, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, Kazakhstan, New Zealand and Singapore.
What Banks Currently Support Apple Pay In Malaysia?
Right off the bat, I have to warn you that support for Apple Pay is still pretty limited in Malaysia, to just three banks as far as I can tell.
Banks In Malaysia That Support Apple Pay
You will be able to register debit and credit cards issued by these banks :
AmBank
Maybank
Standard Chartered Bank
Banks In Malaysia That Do Not Support Apple Pay
You won’t be able to add debit or credit cards from these banks :
CIMB
Citibank
UOB
OCBC
I will update this article as and when I find out what other banks in Malaysia support, or don’t support, Apple Pay.
To help you register your debit / credit card with Apple Pay, here is my step-by-step guide :
Step 1 : Open the Wallet app in your iPhone.
Step 2 : Tap on the Add button to “Add a credit or debit card to get started using Apple Pay”.
Step 3 : In the next screen, tap on the Continue button.
Step 4 : You will now be asked to “scan” your debit / credit card using your iPhone camera, positioning it within the frame.
Step 5 : The Wallet app will try to pick up important details of your credit card like :
Name
Credit card number
Expiry date
If nothing happens, that means it cannot read the details off the card. Then you will need to tap on the Enter Card Details Manually option at the bottom.
Step 6 : Whether your card details are detected or not, verify the key card details required by Apple Pay :
Name
Card Number
Expiry Date
Security Code
If the detected details are wrong, edit them to make sure they match your debit / credit card.
Step 7 : You will need to key in the Security Code, which is a 3-digit or 4-digit CSC (Card Security Code) / CVV (Card Verification Value) / CVC (Card Verification Code) usually printed on the back of your debit / credit card.
Step 8 : If your credit card is not supported, you will get a pop-up message saying :
Your Issuer Does Not Yet Offer Support for This Card
Ask your issuer if they offer cards that support Apple Pay.
If your card is supported, you will see a list of Terms and Conditions. You will need to tap on Agree to continue.
Step 9 : The screen show details of your credit card while the Wallet app sets it up for Apple Pay. Just wait for a few seconds.
Step 10 : You will now be asked to verify your card for Apple Pay, usually through Text Message. Tap Next to continue with the verification process.
Step 11 : You will receive an SMS with a 6-digit One Time Password (OTP). You need to key that in within 2 minutes :
Card enrolment OTP for your digital wallet is XXXXXX. It will expire after 2 mins. If you have not performed this, please contact the bank.
Step 12 : Tap Next after keying in the OTP, and you should see the Card Activated notice.
That’s it! Your credit card is now ready for Apple Pay. When you open your Wallet, you should see that debit / credit card listed.
Please Support My Work!
Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Multiple leaks confirm that Apple Pay is launching soon in Malaysia! Here is what you need to know…
Leaks Confirm Apple Pay Is Launching Soon In Malaysia!
Multiple leaks have more or less let the cat out of the bag – that Apple Pay is launching soon in Malaysia!
This would make Malaysia the second country in Southeast Asia to support Apple Pay, and the 10th territory in Asia, after Australia, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, Kazakhstan, New Zealand and Singapore.
AmBank Sent Apple Pay SMS
The first to leak was AmBank, when they sent out an SMS to their customers in July 2022, prematurely telling them that they can now use Apple Pay.
It appeared to have been a test run that ran awry, as their Apple Pay website was not yet ready. But it alerted everyone to the fact that Apple Pay is coming to Malaysia.
Shopee Added Apple Pay As Payment Option
The second to leak was Shopee, which released an Apple Pay option in version 2.91.28 of their app on 2 August 2022.
If you tap on it, you will simply be asked to “ensure there’s an active card in your Apple Pay wallet to proceed“.
Of course, you can’t actually add any credit / debit card to your Apple Pay wallet yet, but you can see that it is listed as a payment option.
Maxis Accidentally Promotes Apple Pay As Payment Option
On 5 August 2022, a Maxis Centre accidentally put out a cardboard sign announcing “Apple Pay accepted here“.
The tweet was deleted by its poster, but the cardboard sign was traced to the Sri Muda Maxis Centre in Shah Alam.
sorry guys had to delete the tweets atas permintaan pihak tertentu. but don’t worry cuz apple pay is coming soon to Malaysia!
AmBank Released Their Apple Pay Portal!
On 8 August 2022, AmBank (accidentally?) released their Apple Pay portal, confirming that the contactless payment system is ready to launch in Malaysia!
The AmBank Apple Pay portal has now been removed, but here are some of the details it revealed :
There is no transaction limit for Apple Pay, as opposed to a transaction limit of RM250 per purchase, with a RM750 daily limit, for other contactless payment platforms.
There is also no transaction limit for online purchases using Apple Pay through your iPhone, iPad or Mac computer.
AmBank also offered some promotions, including cash back for the first purchase using Apple Pay.
There were two unlisted YouTube videos (now removed) showing how to pay for your purchases using Apple Pay. Basically:
a) Look for the Apple Pay and EMV contactless payment logos at the retailer
b) Simply tap your iPhone or Apple Watch on the credit card terminal to pay
c) Use either Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode to verify the payment
Apple Pay Is Now Available In Malaysia!
You would have thought that AmBank would have learned from their July 2022 SMS mistake, but no… they didn’t.
Then again, they may have “accidentally” leaked the Apple Pay website to drum up some hype ahead of the official launch.
Most likely, Apple will roll it out in Malaysia with the next iOS update – probably iOS 15.6.1.
Currently iOS 15.6 does not support Apple Pay in Malaysia. When you try to add a debit / credit card to the Wallet app, you get this pop-up :
To add cards, keys, tickets and passes to Wallet, look for the Add to Wallet button in apps, emails and websites.
Until Apple adds this functionality through an iOS update for Malaysia, there is simply no way to add any card to the Wallet app.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The Touch ‘n Go eWallet app was quietly restored to the Apple App Store, as quietly as it was removed earlier!
Here is what we know so far…
Touch ‘n Go eWallet Is Now Back On Apple App Store!
Apple quietly removed the Touch ‘n Go eWallet (TNG eWallet) from the App Store in the first week of May 2022.
The TNG eWallet download page earlier stated “App Not Available – The app is currently not available in your country or region“.
It was also removed from the App Store search listing. The Boost eWallet now appears, instead of the TNG eWallet.
Even though the Touch ‘n Go eWallet app is no longer available in the Apple App Store, you can continue to use it if you had already installed it earlier.
The TNG Digital team stated that they are working to resolve the issue with Apple, and confirmed that the app that is installed in your iPhone will continue to work with all features fully-functioning.
Fortunately, the Touch ‘n Go eWallet (TNG eWallet) app was quietly restored to the Apple App Store on 11 May 2022.
Was Touch ‘n Go eWallet NFC Feature Removed For Apple Users?
Neither Apple nor Touch ‘n Go eWallet stated why the TNG eWallet app was removed from the App Store.
At that time, believed Apple removed it because of the recently-added NFC top-up feature for physical Touch ‘n Go cards.
That’s because Apple Pay is the only mobile wallet / eWallet allowed to use the iPhone and iPad’s NFC capabilities for contactless payments.
That limitation has resulted in an antitrust charge by the European Union :
The European Commission has informed Apple of its preliminary view that it abused its dominant position in markets for mobile wallets on iOS devices. By limiting access to a standard technology used for contactless payments with mobile devices in stores (‘Near-Field Communication (NFC)’ or ‘tap and go’), Apple restricts competition in the mobile wallets market on iOS.
The Commission takes issue with the decision by Apple to prevent mobile wallets app developers, from accessing the necessary hardware and software (‘NFC input’) on its devices, to the benefit of its own solution, Apple Pay.
However, the newly-approved Touch ‘n Go eWallet version 1.7.73 continued to feature the NFC reload option.
Therefore, it seems more likely that Apple removed the app earlier due to the Face Verification feature in the Touch ‘n Go eWallet app.
In fact, the new Touch ‘n Go eWallet version 1.7.73 now lacks the Face Verification feature. Their FAQ also stated that :
Face verification is being upgraded for iOS users, this feature will be temporarily disabled. Kindly use your PIN as alternate authentication.
The previous version of Touch ‘n Go eWallet could have contravened this App Store Review Guidelines rule :
2.5.13 Apps using facial recognition for account authentication must use LocalAuthentication (and not ARKit or other facial recognition technology) where possible, and must use an alternate authentication method for users under 13 years old.
But at least Apple iPhone users can rest assured that they will continue to get the latest Touch ‘n Go eWallet app. They just have to live without the Face Verification feature for now…
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
The Touch ‘n Go eWallet app was just removed from the Apple App Store!
Here is what we know so far…
Touch ‘n Go eWallet Removed From Apple App Store!
Apple quietly removed the Touch ‘n Go eWallet (TNG eWallet) from the App Store a few days ago.
The TNG eWallet download page now states “App Not Available – The app is currently not available in your country or region“.
It was also removed from the App Store search listing. The Boost eWallet now appears, instead of the TNG eWallet.
Interestingly, the download page in the official Touch ‘n Go eWallet website is also not functioning, with a 404 error – Page not found.
It is however still available in the Google Play Store, so Android users can still download it just fine.
Even though the Touch ‘n Go eWallet app is no longer available in the Apple App Store, you can continue to use it if you had already installed it earlier.
The TNG Digital team stated that they are working to resolve the issue with Apple, and confirmed that the app that is installed in your iPhone will continue to work with all features fully-functioning.
This does not mean the removal is to be taken lightly. Until the app is restored to the App Store, you will no longer be able to update the app.
Over time, you may lose out on new features. But more importantly, you will no longer receive security and fixes.
Why Was Touch ‘n Go eWallet Removed From App Store?!
Neither Apple nor Touch ‘n Go eWallet stated why the TNG eWallet app was removed from the App Store.
However, I believe Apple removed it because of the recently-added NFC top-up feature for physical Touch ‘n Go cards.
That’s because Apple Pay is the only mobile wallet / eWallet allowed to use the iPhone and iPad’s NFC capabilities for contactless payments.
That limitation has resulted in an antitrust charge by the European Union :
The European Commission has informed Apple of its preliminary view that it abused its dominant position in markets for mobile wallets on iOS devices. By limiting access to a standard technology used for contactless payments with mobile devices in stores (‘Near-Field Communication (NFC)’ or ‘tap and go’), Apple restricts competition in the mobile wallets market on iOS.
The Commission takes issue with the decision by Apple to prevent mobile wallets app developers, from accessing the necessary hardware and software (‘NFC input’) on its devices, to the benefit of its own solution, Apple Pay.
If this was the reason for the TNG eWallet app’s removal, it will be yet another example of Apple’s egregious anti-competitive nature, and yet another strike against their walled garden.
If they continue to lock down the NFC feature on the iPhone / iPad to force the use of Apple Pay, they will invite more anti-trust actions, and possibly turn people to the Android platform.
Unfortunately, there’s really nothing much Apple users can do.
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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!
Name : Adrian Wong Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
This time, Realme is claiming that the video was pre-recorded due to “local pandemic control policy” and the A1 team sent them the wrong file.
They removed the livestream video, and will republish it after “the re-production is complete“.
Respecting and abiding by the local pandemic control policy, the narzo 30A launch video was planned to be recorded in advance. Additionally, the launch video involved a narzo 30A hands-on gaming video.
To ensure a better quality video output, the gaming part was recorded by our partner A1 Esports team and sent to the producer, post-recording.
Although the A1 team did use the narzo 30A smartphone for the recording of the gaming part, a wrong file was accidentally sent to the producer, which led to the appearance of a non-realme smartphone in the video.
In response to this issue, we have immediately contacted our A1 team partner to rectify the accident. We shall republish the video after the re-production is complete.
We sincerely apologize for any unanticipated impacts the incident may have caused. Your kind support to the brand is very much appreciated. Please stay tuned with realme for future updates.
We Examine The Realme narzo 30A – iPhone Claims
Going through Realme’s statement, we can’t help but feel troubled by a few “logical inconsistencies”…
Issue #1 : Local Pandemic Control Policy?
What local pandemic control policy? They arranged for three gamers to play PUBG Mobile side-by-side, and without face masks too!
Issue #2 : Pre-Recorded For Better Quality?
If the video was pre-recorded, why was there a need for the A1 team members to stand up there and “pretend play”?
If they were concerned about video quality, they should have just streamed the pre-recorded clip directly, instead of displaying it behind the A1 team members, as a large but pixelated video that lacked contrast.
Issue #3 : They Didn’t Check The Pre-Recorded Video?
What makes even less sense is the claim that the A1 esports team recorded their gameplay using the narzo 30A, but sent them the wrong file.
Why would the A1 esports team record their gameplay on an iPhone, as well as the narzo 30A? Didn’t Realme check the video they received, to make sure it was from their narzo 30A smartphone?
Which is more likely?
a) they accidentally triggered Guided Access during the livestream, or
b) the A1 team recorded the gameplay on an iPhone and narzo 30A, and accidentally sent Realme the wrong file, and Realme didn’t check their gameplay before streaming it onto the big screen?
You may recall that the Realme team blamed a bug for their fantastical AnTuTu benchmark score. They have yet to adequately explain that either…
narzo 30A – iPhone Scandal : Another Hit To Realme’s Rep
We have been a fan of Realme since they first started with their Realme 2 Pro, Realme 2 and Realme C1, because they offered really great value for our money.
So we were not surprised by how fast their devices improved, and how fast they grew. Heck, we even took the realme 3 on a photographic trip to the US West Coast, and Las Vegas!
However, a new team apparently took over in the middle of 2019, and it looks like they are willing to risk everything just to gain market share. Perhaps that’s why they coined the tagline, Dare To Leap!.
Since then, they have been hit by revelations that their 90 Hz display only works in certain situations, the recent AnTuTu cheating scandal and now this iPhone streaming scandal.
It’s a real shame, because Realme was doing so well, and building a great reputation for offering great features at a low, low price.
Reputation, as they say, takes a lifetime to build, but can be lost in a second.
We should point out that the Realme narzo 30A is powered by the MediaTek helio G85, which is not affected by the MediaTek benchmark cheating scandal.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
You can now register for COVID-19 vaccination on MySejahtera, and here is our guide on how to do just that!
Updated @ 2021-03-22 : Added a new video, and instructions on registering your dependents. Updated various parts of the article.
Updated @ 2021-03-03 : Added instructions on how to confirm that your registration was successful. Updated @ 2021-02-25 : Updated the video and guide with registration confirmation screen. Updated @ 2021-02-24 : Added a video guide, as well as more details
Originally posted @ 2021-02-23
Option To Register For COVID-19 Vaccination Now On MySejahtera!
On 22 February 2021, the Malaysia Ministry of Health released MySejahtera 1.0.28 for iOS and Android devices, which adds the option to register for COVID-19 vaccination.
The COVID-19 Vaccine has arrived in Malaysia! With the new vaccination module, verify your name and IC and submit the additional details to complete your registration in the app.
Be sure to enable your app’s push notification to receive the latest updates regarding the vaccination rollout, which will commence in phases:
– PHASE 1 (February – April 2021): Frontliners
– PHASE 2 (April – August 2021): Remaining healthcare workers and high risk group
– PHASE 3 (May 2021 – February 2022): Adult population >18 years
MySejahtera 1.0.29 was released on 24 February 2021, with bug fixes.
MySejahtera 1.0.30 was released on 19 March 2021, introducing the ability to register your dependents as well.
How To Register For COVID-19 Vaccination On MySejahtera!
Here is our video guide on how to register yourself and/or your family for COVID-19 vaccination using the MySejahtera app.
It’s the same process, whether you are using an Apple iPhone, or an Android smartphone.
Don’t worry about making mistakes. You can redo the registration, to correct for mistakes.
For those who prefer pictures and text, here is our step-by-step pictorial guides.
Registering Yourself For COVID-19 Vaccination
Make sure you update to MySejahtera 1.0.28 or laterbefore you proceed.
Open MySejahtera.
Tap on the Close button on the upper right corner of the default Check-in screen.
You should see the MySejahtera main screen, and it should show you a new COVID-19 Vaccination option.
Tap on the COVID-19 Vaccination option and it will show you this information display.
Tap on the first option – Vaccine for [your name here] – to start with the registration process.
You will be asked to verify your name and IC (MyKad) or passport number, as well as your MySJ ID (your telephone number). Click Submit if they are correct, or Edit if they are wrong.
After verifying your details, you will be informed that the COVID-19 Vaccination Program is currently in Phase 1 – for frontliners only.
You will be asked to answer three simple questions, to determine whether you should be classed under Phase 2 or Phase 3 of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program, as well as your location.
The address search option may not work. If that happens, tap on the Location finder (circled in red) to let MySejahtera use your GPS location.
Please BE HONEST in this assessment. It will, after all, be verified by the Ministry of Health.
When it comes to Question no. 2 – Do you have any comorbities? – that refers to any medical condition you have that may put you at greater risk of dying from COVID-19.
For your reference, this includes :
Diabetes mellitus
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Heart disease
Asthma
Cancer
Chronic lung disease
Kidney disease
Liver disease
Stroke
Low Immunity (Immunocompromised)
Obesity
Others
Once you are satisfied with your answers, hit Submit and you are done!You should see this screen pop-up (for version 1.0.29 onwards).
Then all you have to do is wait for the Malaysia Ministry of Health to contact you when it is your turn to be vaccinated against COVID-19!
Registering Your Family For COVID-19 Vaccination
Make sure you update to MySejahtera 1.0.30 or laterbefore you proceed.
Open MySejahtera.
Tap on the Close button on the upper right corner of the default Check-in screen.
You should see the MySejahtera main screen, and it should show you a new COVID-19 Vaccination option.
Tap on the COVID-19 Vaccination option and it will show you this information display.
Tap on the second option – Add Vaccine Dependent.
You will be shown a screen with your registered dependents.
If you did not add any dependents yet, you can do so by tapping on the Add Vaccination Dependent option at the bottom.
Otherwise, skip to Step 12.
Key in your dependent’s details – Full name, Relationship with you, NRIC / Passport number, Age, Gender, Current Address and Post Code, and State.
Check the details and tap Save when you are done.
Your newly-added dependent will now appear in the list of dependents.
Tap on the Add as vaccine dependent option of the dependent you wish to register.
You will be asked to confirm that you have the authority to manage the vaccination process for your dependent.
You are also asked to note that once this dependent is registered to your MySejahtera account, he/she cannot be registered for the COVID-19 vaccine programme with a different MySejahtera account.
Tap on Yes, Proceed to proceed with the registration.
You will be asked to verify your dependent’s name and MyKad / Passport number; as well as confirm that he/she is over 18 years old.
Technically, it should state 18 years old and older, because the COVID-19 vaccine programme is open to those who are 18 years of age too.
If you notice any mistake, tap Edit to change the name and IC / Passport number.
Otherwise, tap the I confirm that my dependent is over 18 years old check box, and tap Submit.
You will be asked to answer four simple questions, to determine whether you should be classed under Phase 2 or Phase 3 of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program, as well as your location.
The address search option may not work. If that happens, tap on the Location finder to let MySejahtera use your GPS location.
Please BE HONEST in this assessment. It will, after all, be verified by the Ministry of Health.When it comes to Question no. 2 – Do you have any comorbities? – that refers to any medical condition you have that may put you at greater risk of dying from COVID-19.For your reference, this includes :
Diabetes mellitus
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Heart disease
Asthma
Cancer
Chronic lung disease
Kidney disease
Liver disease
Stroke
Low Immunity (Immunocompromised)
Obesity
Others
Once you are done, tap Submit, and your dependent will have a green checkmark next to it.
If you made any mistake, you can tap on Remove vaccine dependent, and begin the process all over again, from Step 12.
Then all you have to do is wait for the Malaysia Ministry of Health to contact you when it is your dependent’s turn to be vaccinated against COVID-19!
Confirm Your COVID-19 Vaccination Registration
Don’t leave just yet. Make sure your registration was completed properly using these steps :
Go back to the MySejahtera main screen, and tap on the COVID-19 Vaccination option again.
In this screen, tap on the first option – Vaccine for [your name here] again.
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Apple just rushed out macOS Big Sur 11.2.3, iOS 14.4.1, iPadOS 14.4.1 and Safari 14.0.3 to patch a critical security bug.
Find out what they fix, and why you need to update your MacBook, iPhone and iPad right away!
Apple Rushes Out macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Safari Critical Bug Fixes!
Released on 8 March 2021, macOS Big Sur 11.2.3 patches only one bug, which may mislead users into thinking that it’s not very important.
WebKit
Available for: macOS Big Sur
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution
Description: A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved validation.
CVE-2021-1844: Clément Lecigne of Google’s Threat Analysis Group, Alison Huffman of Microsoft Browser Vulnerability Research
On the same day, Apple also released iOS 14.4.1 and iPadOS 14.4.1 – both patching the same CVE-2021-1844 vulnerability.
WebKit
Available for: iPhone 6s and later, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod touch (7th generation)
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution
Description: A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved validation.
CVE-2021-1844: Clément Lecigne of Google’s Threat Analysis Group, Alison Huffman of Microsoft Browser Vulnerability Research
Apple also released Safari 14.0.3, which patches the same vulnerability for macOS Catalina and macOS Mojave :
WebKit
Available for: macOS Catalina and macOS Mojave
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution
Description: A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved validation.
CVE-2021-1844: Clément Lecigne of Google’s Threat Analysis Group, Alison Huffman of Microsoft Browser Vulnerability Research
Why Install These macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Safari Bug Fixes ASAP?
While they appear to only patch WebKit in macOS Big Sur, iOS, iPadOS and Safari, they are CRITICAL bug fixes that you need to install right away.
They patch the new CVE-2021-1844 vulnerability, which was discovered by Clément Lecigne of Google’s Threat Analysis Group and Alison Huffman of Microsoft Browser Vulnerability Research.
This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to trigger a buffer overflow when the victim opens a specially-crafted web page, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.
It is not known if this vulnerability has been exploited yet, but it is critical to install the new updates to prevent that from happening.
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
If you own an Apple iPhone or use an Apple MagSafe charger, please make sure you keep them away from medical devices!
Find out why you need to be careful about putting them in close proximity with medical devices!
iPhone 12 + MagSafe : As Safe As Older iPhone Models
On 23 January 2021, Apple updated their safety guidance on the magnets in their iPhones and MagSafe chargers.
It addressed the concerns about the radios and larger number of magnets used in their latest devices :
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
MagSafe Charger
MagSafe Duo
Apple claims even though they contain more magnets than prior iPhone models, they are “not expected to pose a greater risk of magnetic interference to medical devices than prior iPhone models“.
Keep Your iPhone + MagSafe Away From Medical Devices!
While Apple does not believe that the risk is higher in these newer iPhone 12 models and MagSafe chargers, they also noted that the magnets and radios could pose a risk to medical devices in close proximity.
Medical devices such as implanted pacemakers and defibrillators might contain sensors that respond to magnets and radios when in close contact.
These magnets and electromagnetic fields might interfere with medical devices.
Therefore, Apple recommends that you keep ALL iPhone models and MagSafe chargers away from medical devices, like pacemakers and defibrillators.
more than 6 inches or 15 cm apart, or
more than 12 inches or 30 cm apart if wirelessly charging
They also advised all users to stop using their iPhone or MagSafe accessories, if they suspect that they may be interfering with medical devices.
Note : This does NOT mean that the magnetic fields or wireless emissions of your iPhone or MagSafe accessories are dangerous to your health. They only pose a risk to medical devices.
Safety Guidance On iPhone + MagSafe Magnets + Radios
Here is Apple’s latest safety guidance on iPhone and MagSafe magnets and radios :
iPhone contains magnets as well as components and radios that emit electromagnetic fields. All MagSafe accessories (each sold separately) also contain magnets—and MagSafe Charger and MagSafe Duo Charger contain radios. These magnets and electromagnetic fields might interfere with medical devices.
Though all iPhone 12 models contain more magnets than prior iPhone models, they’re not expected to pose a greater risk of magnetic interference to medical devices than prior iPhone models.
Medical devices such as implanted pacemakers and defibrillators might contain sensors that respond to magnets and radios when in close contact. To avoid any potential interactions with these devices, keep your iPhone and MagSafe accessories a safe distance away from your device (more than 6 inches / 15 cm apart or more than 12 inches / 30 cm apart if wirelessly charging). But consult with your physician and your device manufacturer for specific guidelines.
Consult your physician and medical device manufacturer for information specific to your medical device and whether you need to maintain a safe distance of separation between your medical device and iPhone or any MagSafe accessories. Manufacturers often provide recommendations on the safe use of their devices around wireless or magnetic products to prevent possible interference. If you suspect iPhone or any MagSafe accessories are interfering with your medical device, stop using your iPhone or MagSafe accessories.
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Xiaomi CEO just announced that the Mi 11 will NOT come with a charger. Instead, he hints at something better.
Is that a good decision, or a bad one for Xiaomi? What do YOU think?
Confirmed : Xiaomi Mi 11 Will Ship Without In-Box Charger
Not everything Apple does should be copied, but Xiaomi appears to be following their lead in dropping the in-box charger.
The upcoming Mi 11 smartphone will be the first Xiaomi smartphone to ship without a charger in the box. As the picture below shows, the Mi 11 box is very thin.
Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun announced this, citing “environmental protection”, and saying that they are well aware that this decision may not be popular with their customers.
The picture of the box also gives sharp-eyed Xiaomi fans a preview of the Mi 11’s key features :
108 MP AI Super Camera
Super AMOLED Display with HDR10+ support
Sound by Harman / Kardon
Xiaomi Mi 11 : Good Or Bad To Ship Without Charger?
Echoing Apple’s words, he said that everyone has a lot of idle charges which is both a hassle for users to keep track of, and a burden to the environment.
Apple may be correct in that assessment since they have been using the same, piddling slow 5 watt charger for umpteen years until they introduced the 18 watt fast charger for the iPhone 11.
So iPhone users can use their old chargers from years ago without any change in charging experience.
But Android smartphones, including those from Xiaomi, have long provided much faster charging :
All those fast charging capabilities require new in-box chargers that support their higher charging speeds.
While you can use the old 5 watt or 10 watt chargers from years ago, they will not deliver the charging performance Xiaomi is quoting for their smartphones.
Xiaomi Mi 11 : A Better Solution Than In-Box Charger?
Lei Jun cryptically suggested that there may be a better solution for both the industry and the environment, which he will reveal at the Mi 11 press conference on 28 December 2020.
This is quite possibly some form of fast wireless charging technology, of which Xiaomi recently demonstrated an 80 watt prototype.
But it will doubtless be offered as a separate upgrade, although it is possible that Xiaomi may bundle a fast wireless charger with the Mi 11 as a sweetener during these difficult times.
If Xiaomi ends up doing that, the talk won’t be about how they screwed their fans out of an in-box charger, but how they generously ushered in a new world of wireless charging.
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
A WhatsApp message about heavy gadget use KILLING kids with radiation has gone viral.
Find out what’s going on, and what the FACTS really are! 🤔
Claim : Heavy Gadget Use Is Killing Kids With Radiation!
This is the WhatsApp message that has gone viral, and is being furiously shared by alarmed parents.
🙏✍️
A very IMPORTANT & SERIOUS message.
Please kindly read till the end with out skipping.
Most of your kids will be attending online classes and addicted to gadgets, please be very careful. I am writing about the current happening.
My very close, best friend’s younger sister son is studying
12th standard a very bright student from his childhood,and only son to my friend’s sister.
His online classes starts daily at 10am so laptop is on by 9am. Due to peer school pressure with the online classes going on, he used to either be on laptop or mobile atleast till 10pm daily, No physical activity at all, no one to play due to COVID-19 fear and being single child,in their family.
On Tuesday 27/10/2020, morning, he was saying he was not feeling well, 2 days prior to that he had mild pain on his left hand. No one took that seriously. On Tuesday, he was saying he doesn’t want to attend on line classes and wanted to be with parents’. Parents were surprised and asked him to take rest. He tried to sleep but was not able to, he asked his father not to go to office. His father asked if we should go to hospital, child said everywhere there is corona which hospital to go, I will be alright after a good sleep. He asked his father to go to work. He said he was very hungry and asked his mother to feed him dosa. He again tried to sleep but could not, then around afternoon, he called his father to come home immediately and take him to hospital. His father came home within 15 min and the son came and hugged him and said take me to hospital.
By the time he started the car, child collapsed. They rushed to a hospital 4 km away and doctor checked for pulse it was not there. They tried CPR and the heart started to function. They took all scans and found the child was brain dead.They tried all medication till Saturday31/10/2020 morning ,and finally decided to remove the ventilator.
He is now no more.
‼️A case of BRAIN DEAD‼️
Pathetic thing is that hospital has handed over the body to police since the child was unconscious when brought to hospital and in his teens. They will hand over the body only after postmortem and corona test. So not sure if they would get it today 31/10/2020, or tomorrow,01/11/2020.
Doctor said this is 05th such case during
The past 20days, Heavy usage of gadgets, radiation has affected the brain and stopped the supply of oxygen.
Use GADGETS sparingly, Avoid earphone/headset to the maximum extent possible.
🙏 Humble request to all parents, guardians, please take care of your kids, teenage boys, girls,Ask them to read only hard copy books and no gadgets except for attending classes
I felt this is very useful important message, so Iam forwarding to all my what’s app contacts, relations,well wishers,all near and dear.
🙏A very humble request to all, kindly forward this message to all your
Contacts and there by save Precious “LIFE”
✍️🙏🙏🏼🙏🏻
Forwarded as Received
Heavy Gadget Use Killing Kids With Radiation : The FACTS!
NO, heavy gadget use is NOT, repeat… NOT killing kids with radiation!
Here are the reasons why this is yet another fake story being circulated on the Internet to spread FUD (Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt).
Reason #1 : No Evidence The Case Even Exists
The story appears to originate in India, and is quite specific that the student died on 31 October 2020.
However, we could not find any reference to any Standard 12 student in India, being taken off the ventilator after being pronounced brain dead in October 2020.
While that does not mean that the case does not exist (India is a HUGE country), there is currentlyno evidence that this case actually exists.
Photo Credit : Idrees Abbas / SOPA Images / Sipa USA
Reason #2 : No Evidence Gadget Radiation Is Killing Kids
The claim that the doctor said that it was the 5th case during the past 20 cases is preposterous.
If that was true, it would have been major news, and would have been discussed in hospital mortality and morbidity conferences, and certainly covered by the mainstream media.
Yet, there is no mention of gadget radiation killing kids anywhere in the world.
Reason #3 : Radiation Cannot Stop Supply Of Oxygen
When brain death occurs as a result of ischaemia – the lack of oxygen supply to the brain, that is often due to :
bleeding in the brain from an AVM, or insult to the brain
blood clots blocking blood vessels in the brain
cardiac failure reducing blood flow to the brain
While high doses of radiation can cause brain damage, radiation per se cannot stop the supply of oxygen to the brain.
As the student was said to have no pulse on admission to the hospital, his brain death was likely due to a complete lack of blood supply to the brain after heart stopped beating.
Reason #4 : Electronics Have Low Radiation
All electrical devices produce small amounts of electromagnetic radiation. That means everything from your microwave oven to your television, not just laptops and mobile devices.
They all have to comply with the laws regarding electromagnetic radiation. Not because it’s dangerous to us, but because it would interfere with other electronics in your house.
Reason #5 : Electronics Have To Comply With SAR Limits
The US FCC limit for RF radiation from a mobile phone is 1.6 watts per kilogram, while the EU sets a higher limit of 2.0 watts per kilogram. Practically all smartphones have much lower SAR values (head) :
With smartphones emitting significantly lower RF radiation, it is unlikely for them to have any effect, much less kill kids or turn their brains into mush.
Reason #6 : RF Radiation Is Non-Ionising
The type of radiation emitted by electrical devices is radio frequency (RF) radiation, which is a type of non-ionising radiation.
Non-ionising radiation do not have enough energy to knock electrons from an atom, which means it cannot create free radicals that can damage our cells.
In fact, RF radiation has lower energy than visible light and infrared (heat) radiation!
So it would be quite impossible for RF radiation to kill anyone by destroying their brains.
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After TikTok was exposed for spying on what we type, it got banned by India together with 58 other Chinese apps, for cybersecurity reasons.
Here is everything you need to know about this new ban, including the full list of banned apps!
India Bans 59 Chinese Apps, Including TikTok and WeChat!
Just two days ago, we showed how TikTok was caught spying on what we type in other apps, not once but TWICE.
The very next day, TikTok joined WeChat as part of a ban by India on 59 Chinese apps identified as malicious or posing data and privacy risks to their users.
The Ministry of Information Technology has received many complaints from various sources including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India.
The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures.
Based on input from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) and representatives from both inside and outside the Indian Parliament, the Indian government announced the ban of 59 Chinese apps.
No doubt, the recent high altitude fatal brawl between Chinese and Indian troops in the Himalayas played some part in this decision.
This ban by India means that Apple App Store, Google Play Store and even the HUAWEI AppGallery must stop providing access to those 59 banned apps in India.
If you already have them installed, then they will still work. You just cannot install them from official app stores within India.
If you still wish to download and install them, Android users can download and install their APK (Android Application Package) installation files from their official websites and APK repositories.
Apple iOS users, as usual, are out of luck, unless they are using jailbroken devices.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
TikTok was caught spying on what we type in other apps, not once, but TWICE… so far.
Find out what’s going on, and what you should do about it!
TikTok : What Is It?
TikTok is a Chinese social networking service built around short video clips. Developed and owned by ByteDance which is based in Beijing, it is very popular amongst young people and even children.
This has led to numerous controversies as TikTok proved slow or reluctant to remove dangerous or racist videos :
TikTok Caught Spying What We Type In Other Apps… TWICE!
Beyond their obvious desire to grow their service at the expense of the danger to real people, there have been cybersecurity and privacy concerns about TikTok.
In a space of just four months, TikTok has been caught spying on what we type in OTHER APPS… not once, but TWICE. Take a look at this video expose…
TikTok Caught Spying On What We Type : First Time
Let’s start in March 2020, when Talal Has Bakry and Tommy Mysk exposed how they found that TikTok was spying on what we typed in other apps through the pasteboard / clipboard.
In the video above, you can see how TikTok immediately asked to read all text stored in the pasteboard, whenever it is launched.
The pasteboard contains everything you copied earlier – messages from other people, quotes from an article, or far more sensitive stuff like your password or account number.
And because of Apple’s universal clipboard feature, this means everything you copy on your Mac or iPad will be available on your iPhone, and therefore TikTok.
To be clear, TikTok was just one of the many apps that they found to be spying on what we type. Here were the apps they confirmed were spying on the pasteboard / clipboard.
News
Games
Social
Other
ABC News
Al Jazeera English
CBS News
CNBC
Fox News
News Break
New York Times
NPR
itv Nachrichten
Reuters
Russia Today
Stern Nachrichten
The Economist
The Huffington Post
The Wall Street Journal
VICE News
8 Ball Pool
AMAZE!!!
Bejeweled
Block Puzzle
Classic Bejeweled
Classic Bejeweled HD
Flip The Gun
Fruit Ninja
Golfmasters
Letter Soup
Love Nikki
My Emma
Plants vs. Zombies Heroes
Pooking – Billiards City
PUBG Mobile
Tomb of the Mask
Tomb of the Mask: Color
Total Party Kill
Watermarbling
TikTok
ToTalk
Tok
Truecaller
Viber
Weibo
Zoosk
10% Happier: Meditation
5-0 Radio Police Scanner
Accuweather
AliExpress Shopping
Bed Bath & Beyond
Dazn
Hotels.com
Hotel Tonight
Overstock
Pigment – Adult Coloring Book
Recolor Coloring Book to Color
Sky Ticket
The Weather Network
At that time, TikTok told Zak Doffman that it was Google Ads that was snooping into the pasteboard / clipboard.
“The clipboard access issues showed up due to third-party SDKs, in our case an older version Google Ads SDK. We are in the processes of updating so that the third-party SDK will no longer have access.“
They claimed it was because TikTok was using an older Google Ads SDK, which they have since replaced with a newer version.
TikTok Caught Spying On What We Type : Second Time
BFast forward to June, and the release of iOS 14 beta. The new clipboard warning feature in iOS 14 appears to have caught TikTok spying on the pasteboard / clipboard once again.
In the dramatic video shared by Jeremy Burge – the 1:35 point in our video above – he shows TikTok grabbing the contents of his iPhone’s clipboard every 1-3 keystrokes, as he typed in Instagram!
Okay so TikTok is grabbing the contents of my clipboard every 1-3 keystrokes. iOS 14 is snitching on it with the new paste notification
— Jeremy Burge (@jeremyburge) June 24, 2020
Okay so TikTok is grabbing the contents of my clipboard every 1-3 keystrokes. iOS 14 is snitching on it with the new paste notification pic.twitter.com/OSXP43t5SZ
This is even more egregious than the first time they spied on the pasteboard / clipboard! Instead of just looking at what you copied into the clipboard earlier, TikTok is literally reading what you are typing in a different app!
TikTok claimed that this issue was “triggered by a feature designed to identify repetitive, spammy behaviour“, and that they have already submitted an updated app without this “anti-spam feature“.
TikTok Caught Spying : What Should YOU Do?
If you are not a frequent TikTok user, the answer is simple – UNINSTALL TikTok.
If you really like TikTok, you should immediately update to the latest version, which ByteDance claims will no longer read your clipboard because it has both an updated Google Ads SDK, as well as their anti-spam feature removed.
Either way, if you are concerned about privacy issues with TikTok, you should write to privacy@tiktok.com and express your deep concerns about not letting them read what you are typing, whether it is in their app or other apps.
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.
He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.
Samsung Malaysia just announced a trade-up program for their new Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra smartphones, to reward their loyal fans!
Here are the Galaxy S20 trade-up program details, as well as the list of qualifying Samsung flagship devices and their prices!
Samsung Galaxy S20 Trade-Up Program : What Is It?
The Samsung Galaxy S20 trade-up program rewards existing owners of Samsung flagship devices by offering them a higher overtrade value for their devices.
Now, owners of Samsung flagship devices can trade in their old (working or non-working) smartphones, and trade-up to a new Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra smartphone!
Organised by Samsung Malaysia in partnership with CompAsia, it will run from 3 March until 31 May 2020.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Trade-Up Program : How Does It Work?
The Samsung Galaxy S20 trade-up program is open to working, damaged, or non-working Samsung flagship smartphones, as long as they are unlocked.
The customer must be 18-years or older (as of 4 March 2020), and every customer is only entitled to trade up to one (1) Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Trade-Up Program : Qualifying Device + Price List
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The iPhone steel wool fire hoax has gone viral, and people have already pointed out that it’s fake. But most do not explain WHY it’s fake.
In this article and our video, we will explain why the viral video of the iPhone setting steel wool on fire is fake and cannot possibly happen.
iPhone Steel Wool Fire Hoax : What Is It?
The iPhone steel wool fire hoax is a viral video that was posted by ViralVideoLab, a YouTube channel that seems to do nothing but create fake videos that they hope will go viral and make them money through YouTube ads.
To make it go viral, they gave it a startling title – Mobile Phone vs Steel Wool | How Your iPhone Will Damage Your Brain. They even PLEAD with everyone to share their video, “before it gets deleted”.
ViralVideoLab also wrote a fictional story about not knowing why an incoming call would cause the steel wool to ignite, and invited people to share their opinions in the comments.
Well, we will show you why we know their video is fake, and why it is not possible for the iPhone or any smartphone to set steel wool on fire.
iPhone Steel Wool Fire Hoax Explained + Debunked!
In this video, we will show you the fake video that ViralVideoLab created, and explain what he did and debunk it.
Such Steady Hands!
When he started recording his video, he used a tripod but for no reason at all, the video started swaying just before the incoming call came in.
It may appear that he started holding the camera with his hands, instead of a tripod. But if you look carefully, the swaying was too steady, and moved in a particular pattern.
Such Strong Steel Wool!
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And this is important – despite burning for 11 seconds, the steel wool does not disintegrate.
As The King of Random demonstrated in his clip on steel wool, once it catches fire, steel wool burns up very quickly and disintegrates.
Yet, in the fake video, his steel wool remains intact even after burning for 11 seconds.
No Current Flow?
Also, it’s not possible for EM radiation to create electrical current flow in steel wool. The 9V battery only ignited the steel wool because it formed a short circuit between its positive and negative terminals!
Outer Side Catches Fire First?
Even if it was possible for EM radiation to generate current in the steel wool, the inner side would catch fire first. Yet in this video, it’s the opposite – the outer side catches fire first.
Smartphones Radiate ALL THE TIME
Smartphones like the iPhone 6 are constantly in contact with nearby cell towers, and therefore “radiate” at all times.
If that EM radiation can set steel wool on fire, it would have done so even without an incoming call.
iPhone Steel Wool Fire Hoax : How It Was Done
Some people have said that the hoaxer could have hidden batteries under the steel wool.
But based on the steady swaying motion of his camera, and the fact his steel wool was literally fireproof, we have to chalk it up to simple video editing.
Here is a great explanation by Recursosgraficos, which we edited for clarity :
It is a special effect created with a video editor.
You record the first video with the camera attached to a tripod and add a movement effect.
Then remove the phone and set fire to different parts of the steel wool and record the second video.
You can now morph the second video of the steel wool on fire with the first video.
It’s a shame that ViralVideoLab is using his video editing skills to create fake videos that exploit people’s fear for money.
Now that you know he’s just a hoaxer, stop sharing his videos. And definitely DO NOT SUBSCRIBE to his YouTube channel.
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Apple fans will soon be able to download the iOS version of Dell Mobile Connect for FREE!
This will give Apple users the same capabilities that Android users have enjoyed since 2018!
FREE Dell Mobile Connect for iOS Coming Soon!
Dell Mobile Connect was introduced in CES 2018 for Android devices, giving them the ability to make calls, send texts, get notifications and even mirror their displays on their Dell laptops and PCs!
Since it was released two years ago, Dell reported that over a million Mobile Connect users have sent or received over 150 MILLION phone calls and texts sing their free app.
Stay Focused
Dell Mobile Connect allows you to avoid splitting your attention between your PC and smartphone. You will be notified about phone calls, texts, instant messages and other app notifications right on your PC.
You can then decide to respond, or ignore. You can also decide which apps you would like to receive notifications from.
Stay Connected
You will never miss a single call or notification from SMS, WhatsApp, Uber, PayPal, Instagram, and other mobile apps.
Your larger PC keyboard, display and speakers will also allow for more enjoyable communications via text or calls.
Bring Your Mobile Apps To The Big Screen!
Dell Mobile Connect lets you have direct access to your mobile apps through its advanced mirroring feature.
You can directly view and access your mobile apps on your PC display, and control them with your keyboard, mouse and touch display!
Secure Wireless Connectivity
Dell Mobile Connect uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct technologies to keep your PC connected to your phone, so feel free to leave your phone in your bag or pocket!
The wireless connection is also secured and does not go through the Internet. All your phone’s data can only be accessed by the paired PC, and only when you are in wireless range.
Dell Mobile Connect for iOS Availability
It has taken Dell two years to do this, but finally, the iOS version of Mobile Connect is coming in March 2020!
Starting mid-March 2020, it will be available to download for free from the Microsoft Store.
Starting end-March 2020, it will come pre-installed in all Dell consumer PC systems.
Dell Mobile Connect, and all updates, are available for free on all Dell consumer PC systems that run on Windows 10 – XPS, Inspiron, Vostro and Alienware – as long as they come equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, and were purchased after January 2018.
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Alienware demonstrated their Second Screen concept at CES 2020, as a showcase of what they are dreaming up for the future of PC gaming.
What is the Alienware Second Screen, and how useful can it be? Check it out and tell us what you think!
Alienware Second Screen Concept : First Look!
Alienware Second Screen is not a product or device, but a smartphone app. It is designed to offer you the ability to monitor your gaming laptop or PC using your smartphone as the “second screen”.
Competitive gamers who want the very best from their systems need to keep track on performance stats, just like how runners keep track of their heart rates, and race car drivers keep track of their RPM and oil temperature.
These are available through a separate PC application, which requires a switch to check stats. Even if it offers overlays with live data, that takes up space on the display and detracts from the game.
The Alienware Second Screen app would let you monitor those stats directly on your smartphone.
The Alienware Second Screen concept app currently supports :
Speed monitoring for CPU, GPU and RAM
Temperature monitoring for CPU and GPU
The team plans to add these features in the future :
Lighting controls
Overclocking, thermals, and other quick performance settings
Frames per second monitoring
In-game integrations (e.g. team kill count, maps, inventory)
Alienware Second Screen Concept : Price + Availability
The Alienware and Dell gaming teams are still working on the Second Screen app, so there is no word on both price and availability. Yes, it’s possible that Second Screen won’t be a free app.
That may be surprising because when it’s launched, Alienware Second Screen will support only Alienware and Dell G-Series gaming laptops and desktop PCs.
So tell us what you think about the Alienware Second Screen concept! Useful or meh?
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