Apple’s version of Tile trackers will utilize augmented reality

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With less than two weeks until Apple’s big iPhone launch, we’re still finding out new details about what the company might show off. 

One rumored product sounds very useful: a new Bluetooth tracking accessory meant to help you keep track of lost items. The gadget, essentially Apple’s version of the popular Tile trackers, has been rumored since last spring when it was reported the gadget would be incorporated into the new “Find My” app in iOS 13.

Now, MacRumors reports that the gadget will also use augmented reality to help you locate lost items. When you need to find something you’ve lost, the Find My app will prompt you to hold up your phone and look for an AR balloon, which could help lead you to the lost item, according to information reportedly uncovered in an “internal build” of iOS 13.  Read more…

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YouTube Kids relies on poor math skills to keep children safe

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YouTube Kids is here to protect all the children who can’t do basic math. 

The current version of the kids app comes with a set of parental controls meant to ensure adults can both track what their children watch and set boundaries for age-appropriate content. The only problem is that the parental-control lock is easily bypassed. And yes, it’s so easy even a kid could do it. 

YouTube has been accused of allowing disturbing content on its platform for years. Earlier this week, Google announced a new standalone YouTube Kids website and additional parental controls in an attempt to make its app more kid appropriate. Which, again, would be good if they weren’t so easily defeated.  Read more…

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Here’s what reviewers really think of the T-fal ActiFry air fryer

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Air fryers — they’re the more health-conscious way to enjoy those crunchy, normally oil-covered snacks that we often turn to for comfort in times of peril, or what others just call “Tuesday.”

While scarfing down potatoes that have been dipped in hot fat is the dream, it’s not sustainable for long. (Think of your poor heart.) That’s why air fryers, one of the most recent kitchen appliance crazes, are a worthy alternative — they use substantially less oil to get your ingredients coated and crispy, and produce similarly tasty results. (Let’s be real: it’s not the same, but you have to make sacrifices sometimes to lead a healthier life).  Read more…

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Amazon.com burns for the Amazon that ‘really matters’ with this Chrome Extension

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While the Amazon rainforest burned, Amazon dot com inadvertently capitalized on related search traffic.

Now, two developers are calling attention to the devastating fires in the Amazon with a new Chrome extension. As spotted by Vice, the “Amazon Is Burning” extension superimposes pixelated flames onto Amazon dot com, showing the site’s daily deals engulfed in a digital inferno. 

After the fire conquers the site, users are prompted to donate to the conservation nonprofit Rainforest Trust. The developers write that they created the extension to help users “Turn your attention to the Amazon that really matters.” Read more…

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What reviewers have to say about the Breville Smart Oven Air

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Deciding to buy an air fryer is a no-brainer — they give you deliciously crunchy fried food with less of the crap that makes fried food bad for you. Actually selecting the air fryer you want is a different story because there are so many to choose from and so many with different types of features.

The Ninja Foodi is great if you want an air fryer/pressure cooker combo, but what about if you want an air fryer/toaster oven combo? (Because having a single-use appliance is old news.) The Cuisinart AirFryer Toaster Oven is a relatively affordable option, but if you feel like splurging on a bigger, more advanced model, there’s the Breville Smart Oven Air. (All three made it onto our list of the best air fryers, FWIW.) Read more…

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7 of the best robocall blocking apps and tools for avoiding phone spam

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If there’s one thing people with iPhones and Android phones can agree on, it’s this: Robocalls suck. 

Personally speaking, robots call me more than my own mother does. A very concerned “Cynthia Arnold” gets in touch every week or so “in reference to your federal student loan,” claiming she needs to discuss “repayment options with some new changes that have taken effect.” (I don’t have any federal student loans.) And then there’s “Rich,” a huffy gentleman who says he’s calling me back regarding “the information that we spoke about, about bringing in $10,000 or more every 10 to 14 days.” I wonder if I should introduce him to that down-and-out Nigerian prince in my inbox. Read more…

More about Tech, Apps And Software, Robocalls, Mashable Shopping, and Tech

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BEST FREE APP

Hiya: Caller ID & Spam Blocker

An easy-to-use app with all the features you’d expect from a premium robocall blocking service, minus the fees.

  • Price: Free for basic service; $2.99/month or $14.99/year for Hiya Premium
  • App Store rating: 4.6/5 stars
  • Google Play Store rating: 4.4/5 stars
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BEST PAID APP

Nomorobo Robocall Blocking

A low-cost premium robocall blocking app that’s effective, flexible, and fast, stopping scammers in their tracks after a single ring.

  • Price: $1.99/month; free for VoIP landlines
  • App Store rating: 4.6/5 stars
  • Google Play Store rating: 2.1/5 stars
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BEST FOR GETTING REVENGE ON SCAMMERS

RoboKiller: Spam Call Blocker

If nothing else, you should install this clever robocall blocker for the sheer entertainment value.

  • Price: $2.99/month or $24.99/year for Android devices; $3.99/month or $29.99/year for iOS
  • App Store rating: 4.6/5 stars
  • Google Play Store rating: 3.6/5 stars
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IMAGE: Mashable



BEST FOR BUSINESSES

YouMail Voicemail and Spam Block

YouMail’s Professional plan is an excellent phone service for businesses that we recommend even if you don’t have a problem with robocalls.

  • Price: Basic service is free; $5.99/month for YouMail Plus and $10.99/month for YouMail Professional
  • App Store rating: 4.6/5 stars
  • Google Play Store rating: 4.3/5 stars
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BEST BLOCKER FOR LANDLINES

Call Control Home

This itsy-bitsy device identifies and protects your landline from robocallers and telemarketers with the help of a companion smartphone app.

  • Price: $159.99 for call blocker device; smartphone app is free
  • App Store rating (app): 4.5/5 stars
  • Google Play Store rating (app): 4.4/5 stars
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BEST FOR NUMBER LOOKUPS

Truecaller

This premium app is the next best thing to downloading a whole phone book on your smartphone.

  • App Store rating: 4.6/5 stars
  • Google Play Store rating: 4.6/5 stars
  • Price: Basic service is free; $2.99/month or $26.99/year for Truecaller Premium and $249/year for Truecaller Premium Gold
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BEST FOR UNMASKING CALLS

TrapCall: Reveal No Caller ID

You know how Mystery Inc. forced villians to identify themselves at the end of every “Scooby-Doo” episode? TrapCall is the smartphone app version of that for spam, scam, and anonymous callers.

  • Price: $5.99/month or $59.40/year for Basic subscription; $9.99/month or $95.40/year for Premium subscription; and $24.99/month or $239.40/year for Ultimate subscription
  • App Store rating: 4.3/5 stars
  • Google Play Store rating: 3.7/5 stars

Hacked sites attacked thousands of iPhones every week for years using undiscovered exploits

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In what’s being touted as potentially one of the biggest attacks on iPhone users ever, Google has revealed that a collection of websites were hacked to deliver malware onto iPhones, with the iOS vulnerabilities involved going unchecked and undiscovered for years — as well as subsequent attacks.

The hacks installed zero-interaction malware into unnamed sites that received thousands of visitors every week. Simply visiting the sites, without clicking or scrolling at all, could deliver a monitoring implant onto users’ iPhones.

Google demonstrated that the implant could “steal private data like iMessages, photos and GPS location in real-time”; it also had access to users’ keychains and password data, as well as database files containing plaintext of messages sent and received in messaging apps such as Google Hangouts, and even end-to-end encrypted apps including WhatsApp, iMessage, and Telegram. Read more…

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