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Apple Seeds iOS 14 / iPadOS 14 Beta 4 & macOS Big Sur First Beta

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iOS 14 beta

There are several new operating systems in the works over at Apple, which are set to release later this year. However, those willing to take the plunge with early versions of them can do so now, as Apple has seeded the iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 beta 4 and the first beta for macOS Big Sur.

iOS 14 & iPadOS 14 Beta 4

If you’re interested in downloading the fourth beta of iOS 14 and already have the third beta running, you can simply update to the latest build via the over-the-air feature. It is recommended that you don’t install the beta on your primary device at this point, because it is currently loaded with bugs. If you’re feeling gutsy, proceed with caution.

It’s understandable if you want to take that risk, however, because iOS 14 is set to be a major update bringing lots of new things to the table. One of the biggest new features is widgets for the home screen, which can be placed wherever you want and can be resized in three different sizes. This is a huge change considering widgets were previously limited to one dedicated screen outside of where apps are located.

The App Library is also featured in the new update, which will allow you to see a full list of your apps easily. Siri will also receive some improvements, as it takes up less screen real estate and the incoming call interface will also be smaller. The Health app will also now support Sleep Tracking and easier management of other important health and safety features.

macOS Big Sur Beta

Apple has also seeded macOS Big Sur’s first beta, which can be downloaded from Apple’s beta testing website. This new OS is also set to bring some big changes to the table, including a redesign for the OS that is now similar to iOS thanks to changes to the color palette, window design, app icons, system sounds, menu bars, and more.

Control Center is also set to come to the Mac for the first time with this update, which will allow you to control several aspects of the device like volume, brightness, and more. The Notification Center is also more interactive and features redesigned widgets similar to that of iOS 14.

An official release date for the full release of these operating systems is currently unknown, but we’ll bring you more information as soon as it becomes available.

As part of the editorial team here at Geekreply, John spends a lot of his time making sure each article is up to snuff. That said, he also occasionally pens articles on the latest in Geek culture. From Gaming to Science, expect the latest news fast from John and team.

Android

Airchat, developed by Naval Ravikant, is a social application that focuses on conversation rather than written messages

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Airchat is a recently developed social media application that promotes and encourages users to engage in open and spontaneous conversations.

Last year, a previous iteration of Airchat was released. However, yesterday the team, which included Naval Ravikant, the founder of AngelList, and Brian Norgard, a former product executive for Tinder, rebuilt the application and reintroduced it on both iOS and Android platforms. At present, Airchat is exclusively accessible via invitation. However, it has already achieved a ranking of #27 in the social networking category on Apple’s App Store.

Airchat has a user interface that is visually familiar and easy to understand. Users can follow other users, navigate through a feed of posts, and interact with those posts by replying, liking, and sharing them. The distinction comes from the fact that the content consists of audio recordings for both posts and replies, which are subsequently converted into written form by the application.

Airchat automatically starts sending messages, which you can quickly navigate through by vertically swiping up and down. If you have the desire, you have the option to pause the audio and only read the text. Additionally, users have the capability to exchange photographs and videos. However, it appears that audio is the main point of interest for everyone, and Ravikant explains that it has the potential to significantly change the way social apps function, especially when contrasted to text-based platforms.

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Upon my recent enrollment in Airchat, the majority of the messages I encountered pertained to the application itself. Notably, Ravikant and Norgard actively engaged in responding to inquiries and seeking input from users.

“All humans are inherently capable of harmonious interactions with one another; it simply necessitates the use of our innate communication abilities,” Ravikant stated. “The prevalence of online text-only media has created the false belief that people are unable to get along, when in reality, everyone is capable of getting along.”

Past instances have seen digital entrepreneurs placing their bets on speech as the upcoming significant trend in social media. However, Airchat’s utilization of asynchronous, threaded messages provides a distinct experience compared to the transient live chat rooms that briefly gained popularity on Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces. Norgard claimed that this method eliminates the obstacle of stage fright when it comes to participation, as individuals have the freedom to make multiple attempts at producing a message without anybody being aware.

Indeed, he stated that during discussions with the first users, the team discovered that the majority of individuals currently utilizing AirChat exhibit introverted and timid characteristics.

Personally, I have not yet persuaded myself to publish anything. I was primarily intrigued by observing how other individuals were utilizing the application. Additionally, I had a complex emotional connection with the auditory perception of my own speech.

However, there is value in listening to Ravikant and Norgard articulate their perspective instead of solely relying on written transcriptions, as the latter may overlook subtle aspects such as excitement and tone. I am particularly interested in observing how deadpan humor and shitposting are conveyed, or not, in audio format.

I also encountered some difficulty with the velocity. The application automatically sets the audio playing to double the normal speed, which I found to be artificial, especially considering that the main purpose is to promote human interaction. To reset the speed, simply press and hold the pause button. However, when the speed is set to 1x, I observed that I would begin to skim through longer postings while listening, and I would often jump forward before listening to the entire audio. However, perhaps that is acceptable.

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However, Ravikant’s conviction in the efficacy of speech to reduce hostility does not always obviate the requirement for content-filtering functionalities. According to him, the feed operates based on intricate regulations that aim to conceal spam, trolls, and those that either you or they may prefer not to receive messages from. However, at the time of publication, he had not yet replied to a subsequent user inquiry regarding content moderation.

When questioned about monetization, namely the introduction of advertisements, whether in audio format or otherwise, Ravikant stated that the company is currently not under any obligation to generate revenue. (He characterized himself as “not the exclusive investor” but rather as a significant stakeholder in the company.)

“Monetization is of little importance to me,” he stated. “We will operate this project with minimal financial resources if necessary.”

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iOS

Apple News is now doing a trial of a game that bears some resemblance to NYT Connections

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Apple News is now conducting a trial of a new game called Quartiles for iOS 17.5. The objective of the game is for players to arrange a grid of 20 syllables into 5 words, each consisting of four syllables. The New York Times’ most recent successful release, Connections, has a striking resemblance to the UI of Quartiles, as Gadget Hacks has noted. Did Apple News plagiarize or copy the New York Times?

Quartiles differ from connections in that they do not involve the organization of 16 words into four contiguous groups of four. It can be compared to Boggle, as it evaluates your skill in constructing words from their constituent parts. However, the act of discovering sets of four has become particularly captivating to us lately. Currently, Connections has surpassed all other games and is currently the second most popular game in the Times, following Wordle.

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Apple introduced crossword puzzles and small crossword puzzles as a new feature exclusively for Apple News+ subscribers last year. Despite the unconventional nature of a news aggregator investing in gaming, the New York Times has found success in doing so. In 2022, the newspaper acquired the game Wordle for an undisclosed amount in the range of seven figures. This acquisition resulted in the addition of “tens of millions” of new users within a single quarter. According to recent data from the Times, consumers have been dedicating a greater amount of time to playing the newspaper’s games compared to reading the news.

Apple is currently conducting beta testing for Quartiles; however, this does not guarantee its inclusion in iOS 17.5. Considering the fact that the New York Times is discreetly operating a gaming studio at present, it would be advantageous for Apple to provide a selection of fresh, preferably square-shaped games.

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Apps

Apple notifies people in 92 countries about targeted espionage attempts conducted by mercenaries

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On Wednesday, Apple sent threat notices to iPhone owners in 92 different countries, warning them that mercenary spyware may have been using them as targets for espionage operations.

The corporation issued notifications to individuals in 92 countries at 12pm Pacific Time on Wednesday. The disclosure does not reveal the identity of the attackers or the countries in which users received notifications.

Apple has identified that you are the target of a mercenary malware attack aimed at remotely compromising the iPhone linked to your Apple ID. This information was conveyed in the warning sent to impacted customers.

It is probable that this attack is especially directed at you due to your identity or occupation. Apple expressed a strong belief in the warning, stating that while it is not feasible to attain complete certainty in detecting such assaults, they have a high level of confidence. Accordingly, you should heed this warning carefully.

According to an updated Apple support page, the company sends these types of notifications several times a year and has informed users about such dangers in more than 150 countries since 2021.

In October of last year, it also issued an identical warning to several journalists and lawmakers in India. Following that, the nonprofit advocacy group Amnesty International revealed the discovery of the intrusive spyware Pegasus on the iPhones of well-known journalists in India. According to sources familiar with the situation, people in India are among the recipients of Apple’s most recent warning messages.

The notifications regarding spyware are being received at a moment when numerous countries are making preparations for their upcoming elections. Lately, numerous technology companies have issued warnings over the increasing attempts by governments to influence certain election results. Apple’s notifications, however, did not comment on their timing.

The business informed affected clients that they cannot disclose further details regarding the cause of the notification, as doing so may enable mercenary spyware attackers to modify their tactics and avoid detection in the future.

The prior description of the attackers as “state-sponsored” has been substituted with the term “mercenary spyware attacks.”

The advisory to clients states that mercenary spyware attacks, such as those employing Pegasus from the NSO Group, are extremely uncommon and significantly more advanced than typical cybercriminal activities or consumer malware.

Apple stated that it depends exclusively on internal threat intelligence information and investigations to identify such threats. “While our investigations cannot guarantee complete certainty, Apple threat notifications are highly reliable alerts indicating that a user has been specifically targeted by a professional spyware attack and should be treated with the utmost seriousness,” the statement stated.

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