keyword: App

corona-warning-app:-google-fixes-bugs-in-the-exposure-notification-framework

Corona warning app: Google fixes bugs in the Exposure Notification Framework

Google has eliminated the error in the technical interface of the Corona warning app for Android smartphones. Google announced on Thursday. The error had led to a number of users of the Corona warning app not having received the current result of the risk assessment since Tuesday evening. Several users reported on Twitter and the developer platform Github that the app did not update the risk status. The error did not appear on Apple’s iPhone.

Error in exposure Notification Network Google stated that they had it late on the evening of 12. January 2021 discovered a problem with the Exposure Notification Framework on Android. “We released a bug fix. It can take a few hours to get the devices up to date.” In some cases, Google will also work directly with the developers of the corona warning apps to help with the recovery. The problem did not result in the loss of data or information on potential hazards.

The error in the Google interface affected not only the federal corona warning app, but all comparable systems worldwide that on the Exposure Notification Framework for the Google Android operating system.

The interfaces from Google for Android and from Apple for the iPhone ensure that the Risk determination via Bluetooth radio can work at all without the battery life being dramatically reduced. The Corona-Warn-App uses Bluetooth technology to measure the distance and the duration of encounter between people who have installed the app. The mobile devices “remember” encounters if the criteria set by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), in particular with regard to distance and time, are met. Other data such as the place of encounter are not recorded.

According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the Corona Warning app has so far recorded over 25 millions Downloads and, according to expert estimates, is actively used by around 23 million people.

(olb)

Mobile phone users will spend 125 billion euros on apps in 2020

During the coronavirus pandemic, people not only spend more time at home but also on their smartphones. They download more new apps than ever before and spend more money on them. This comes from statistics from the market analysis company App Annie.

According to this, users last year 218 Billions of new mobile apps downloaded, seven percent more than 2019. Mobile phone users in the app stores from Apple, Google and the Android derivatives in China have a total of 143 billion US Dollars (about 125 million euros after the annual mean exchange rate), an increase of 20 percent. The average mobile phone time around the world is 4 hours by the same percentage and 10 Minutes increased daily.

Mobile phone usage in Europe below average Users in Europe spend less time on Cell phone than the global average. In Germany, for example, it was only a little over two and a half hours a day. But that’s ten minutes more than 2019.

According to the Statistics last year 2.2 billion new apps downloaded and in the app stores of Apple and Google 3, 12 billion dollars (2, 45 billion euros) spent. In Austria it was 400 millions of new apps and 230 million dollars (202 Million Euros). Although Switzerland has fewer inhabitants, users there 610 downloaded millions of new apps and 240 million dollars (210 million euros) spent. German users were on average significantly more generous than Austrians for new apps, and much more generous than Swiss.

Mobile phone usage is not only increasing among younger users in Germany. Generation Z at the age of 16 to 24 recorded a year-on-year increase of 11 Percent increased usage time, the greatest increase. Generation X 45 also spent seven percent more time on the smartphone than in the previous year. Millenials aged 25 to 44 years have only increased their cell phone usage time by three percent.

Social networks, video streaming and delivery services Mobile phone users spend a lot of their time on social networks. TikTok is the big winner. The video portal with its short amateur clips was 2019 behind WhatsApp and Facebook in terms of usage times in Germany. 2020 TikTok was able to reduce its usage times to an average of 19 more than double hours per month. That is significantly more than WhatsApp (less than 11 hours per month) or Facebook (eleven and a half hours per month).

Video streaming on smartphones stopped last year at 40 percent increased. However, the use of YouTube has decreased in Germany, from almost 13 hours to around 12, 5 hours a month. It looks similar with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Users who are more at home can use larger screens such as TV, PC or laptop more often. Apps like the game streaming service Twitch and the Joyn Mediathek from ProSiebenSat.1 were able to grow last year.

Delivery services for food or recipe information were further winners for the most popular mobile apps in times of the pandemic. The usage times of delivery services in Germany have increased by more than half over the last year. According to the market researchers from App Annie, the coronavirus pandemic and the exit restrictions have led to cell phone use rising as much within one year as it did in three years.

(fds)

Caught: rule app reveals pregnancies, photo service builds face recognition

The US FTC has caught two companies improperly using consumer data. You can get away with a settlement with no penalty. The US app Flo, which calculates menstruation and ovulation dates, had promised to protect all data entered. The operating company Flo Health is said to have secretly passed the data on to Facebook, Google, AppsFlyer and Flurry – for advertising and analysis purposes, says the FTC.

The company Everalbum offered the storage of private photos and videos in the cloud under the name Ever. In February 2017 Ever activated face recognition. At that time, Ever introduced a “Friends” feature, with which it automatically compiles photos into image collections based on facial recognition. From September of the same year, Everalbum used photos saved by its customers to develop their own face recognition algorithms.

Secretly exploited private recordings The affected customers knew nothing about it. On the contrary, from July 2018 to April 2019 Ever even claimed that no facial recognition would run on customer images without explicit consent. In fact, however, face recognition should have run automatically over all files. From May 2018 customers in the EU and three US states had the option to switch off face recognition.

The algorithms trained on the basis of customer data formed the basis for Everalbum’s face recognition service “Paravision”. E is now marketed as “Number 1 in the US; UK and Europe” (sic), particularly to large corporations. Everalbum admits to having used the data without consent, but does not want to have revealed any pictures or customer names to its Paravision customers. Everalbum discontinued its cloud storage service Ever last summer.

To make matters worse, Ever allegedly claimed to delete all photos and videos when customers delete their accounts. The FTC accuses the company of keeping all photos and videos of former customers at least until October 2018.

Flo Disclosed Pregnancies Flo has disclosed sensitive personal information, including the fact of pregnancies, according to the FTC. At the same time, Flo is said to have refrained from imposing conditions on the recipients of this data about their further use. Because users in the EU and Switzerland are also affected, Flo has also violated the Privacy Shield, which has now been repealed, and the Swiss-US Privacy Shield.

Knowledge about pregnancy is valuable for advertisers. You can offer pregnant women and their partners a variety of products and services with hefty margins. Above all, however, pregnancies and the following baby phase are one of the few occasions when consumers are particularly receptive to switching to high-margin branded products.

Comparison with the FTC Both companies have negotiated a settlement with the FTC. Flo should undertake not to lie to his customers about data protection and to inform those already affected about the data protection breach. In addition, Flo should instruct his business partners to delete all health data of Flo users.

Everalbum should delete the facial data extracted from the customer data and also all algorithms trained with it. At the same time, Everalbum should now really delete the files uploaded by former customers. The company also undertakes not to lie to customers about the use of their data. And should Everalbum ever be active in the consumer market again, it must obtain express consent before it collects biometric data.

Should the comparisons become final, violations could result in fines of up to 43. 280 US dollars per violation (approximately 35, 500 Euro). The FTC cannot impose penalties under US law for initial violations. First of all, the FTC will give everyone days to comment on the draft settlement.

Draft settlement with Flo Health, Inc., Az. 1923133 Draft comparison with Everalbum, Inc. , Az. 1923172 (ds)

#heiseshow:-inadequate-learning-platforms-–-what's-the-problem?

#heiseshow: Inadequate learning platforms – what's the problem?

The second wave of the corona pandemic in Germany is never ending, and in order to contain the spread of the virus, schoolchildren are now back in distance learning or homeschooling. However, after almost a year of pandemic, expectations of this form of teaching are much greater than in the spring 2020 than all those responsible for the pandemic

Now the individual learning platforms of the countries have to prove what they can do – as well as the commercial solutions such as Microsoft 365, for which Baden-Württemberg has chosen. Unfortunately, the past few days have shown that the countries’ learning platforms are overwhelmed by the onslaught, crash, are presumed to be harassed by hackers or only allow limited use at times. Successful distance learning looks different – at least on a technical level.

Time and again it was pointed out from various sides that commercial providers do not have to struggle with such problems, but because of data protection concerns no real chance in the Schools received. They are used in some schools, but at the same time severely criticized by IT associations or banned by state data protection authorities.

How should digitization be implemented in our schools? How has it gone so far? This is what our series of articles would like to illuminate.

So what are the problems? Is data protection the real problem that prohibits good solutions, or is there another issue? How should a good learning platform be designed? How user- and data protection-friendly are the federal states’ solutions?

Martin Holland (@fingolas) and Kristina Beer (@bee_k_bee) discuss these and many other questions – including those of the audience – with Dorothee Wiegand from c ‘t in a new episode of #heiseshow, live from 12 o’clock.

#heiseshow: Inadequate learning platforms – what’s the problem? Thursdays. 12 Clock. Live. heise online speaks to guests about current technical developments and network policy. Tweets with the hashtag #heiseshow can be used to join the discussion before, during and after the broadcast. The #heiseshow is there …

Alternatively, the stream is also sent on Twitch.tv/heiseonline.

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Questions to the moderators and guests can be asked during the broadcast on YouTube Chat, in our Twitch channel (twitch.tv/heiseonline), by email, in the heise forum, on Facebook or on Twitter (hashtag #heiseshow).

Questions and comments that are not sent to us during the live broadcast, we make a note of it. We try to include this in the current program. Suggestions for topics for the next issue between the shows are always welcome.

Live every week The #heiseshow is every Thursday at 12 Watch streamed live on heise online. The moderator team consisting of Kristina Beer (@bee_k_bee), Martin Holland (@fingolas) and Jürgen Kuri (@jkuri) alternately leads the on around 30 Minutes talk show in which current developments are discussed with colleagues and connected guests.

After the live broadcast, the program can also be viewed and – listen available.

The episodes can be listened to or looked up in SD (360 p) respectively HD (720 p) ready. The links to the RSS feeds can also be found in the dossier box on the right.

(kbe)

Best electric toothbrush for kids 2021: Keep their pearly whites clean

(Pocket-lint) – Dental hygiene might not be the most glamourous of things, but it’s absolutely key to the development of most children, ensuring that they can go through later life without having to worry too much about cavities and other more ghastly issues. 

  • Want a brush of your own? The best electric toothbrushes: Get your teeth cleaner than they’ve ever been

Getting your kids, almost regardless of their age, to take toothbrushing seriously can be a bit of a challenge, but getting them an electric toothbrush can be a great step to take. They make it easier to brush thoroughly, and some of them make it a bit more fun, too. We’ve gathered some of the very best available right here for you to check out. 

Philips

Philips Sonicare For Kids

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This is a great toothbrush bearing Philips’ trademark sonic care technology to ensure a thorough clean around the entire mouth, but it’s the touches aimed at kids that make it even better.

You get swappable faceplates so they can make it their own, plus a smart companion app that you can connect to by Bluetooth that helps the two-minute timer slip by quickly. It makes the whole process easier, which is saying something. 

Oral-B

Oral-B Stages Power Rechargeable

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Oral-B, meanwhile, has a huge range of options for kids of different ages, and we’re starting out with one aimed more broadly for those above the age of three. 

This Frozen-themed brush has a nice rubbery grip so they won’t accidentally drop it too often, and comes with heads that are extra soft to make sure their little teeth aren’t brushed too hard. 

Oral-B

Oral-B Stages Power Battery

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If you’re looking for a brush for the very youngest sort of brusher, a kid under the age of three, this could be perfect. While it’s not rechargeable, everything else about it is great, including the super-low cost. 

It’s a smart little handle to make it easier for small hands to hold, and should last for a few months before you have to replace it. 

Oral-B

Oral-B Junior

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For a slightly older kid, this is a great toothbrush to give them if they no longer want one that looks like it was built for children. It’ll also last way longer, and is aimed for kids between six and twelve years old. 

It has handy timer modes built-in to make it easier for them to get into a routine that doesn’t end too quickly. Plus, since it’s compatible with all Oral-B heads, so you don’t have to stock up on different types.

Oral-B

Oral-B Pro 650

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Finally, we move on to what is basically a full electric toothbrush, which is perfect for teenagers who don’t want to be patronised at all. This is a full-sized brush that works great but doesn’t cost too much at all.

It doesn’t have too many bells and whistles, but you don’t really need those. Instead, a simple two-minute timer will make sure they stick to their regimen, and solid battery life will mean they don’t have to charge it daily. 

Writing by Max Freeman-Mills.

asus-zenbeam-latte:-the-coffee-cup-sized-portable-projector-with-built-in-bluetooth-speaker

Asus ZenBeam Latte: the coffee cup-sized portable projector with built-in Bluetooth speaker

(Image credit: Asus)

Not all projectors are huge, hulking beasts that threaten to put your back out when picked up. Asus has just unveiled this cute little number, the ZenBeam Latte. Why latte? It’s not much bigger than a coffee cup.

It handily doubles as a 10W Bluetooth speaker, with audio from Harman Kardon. And like many Bluetooth speakers, its body is covered in fabric, making it look more in keeping with home interiors.

With its screen size ranging from 40 to 120 inches, it’s not going to rival a proper home cinema model, but then it’s a different beast altogether, built to be portable and for taking from room to room or even to someone else’s house. 

Battery life is a healthy three hours for video, though you’ll want to plug it in if you’re settling in for a long session. And for audio, it’ll last 12 hours before needing a recharge.

There’s an app store built-in for getting your favourite streaming apps, and you can wirelessly mirror your phone’s screen to play videos from social media or elsewhere on the web.

Asus is keeping quiet on price at present, but it should launch in the US in the second half of this year. Now, what will you watch on it? Mr. Bean, perhaps? Or Americano Gods?

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