Google Drive Files Gone Missing Due To a Bug In The Desktop App

Google Drive is one of the best cloud storage options available and is open to the public. However, according to a trending support thread on Google’s support forums, users have reported that some of their files have started to disappear from the service in recent months. Furthermore, since none of these files were deleted manually, they don’t appear in the platform’s recycling bin feature and thus cannot be recovered (so far).

Early on in the investigation, many speculated that the files vanished due to a hacker attack, but this isn’t the case. According to a thorough investigation, it has been concluded that the issue stems from the Google Drive app for desktop, which affects users regardless of whether their system is Windows or Mac. With that said, users on the browser variation of the service can rest easy.

It was also discovered that the bug would eliminate the data from the account, almost reverting the account back to a state before that data was made. Unfortunately, there’s no explanation for it so far, but Google has confirmed that this problem is related to a syncing issue seen in the recently rolled-out v84.0.0.0 through 84.0.4.0 of Drive.

Although this issue affects – as Google puts it – a “limited subset of Drive for desktop users,” it is recommended to backup all important files and documentation. Furthermore, the company has warned users to avoid disconnecting their Google account from the Drive on desktop, and that they should not tamper with the “DriveFS” folder that’s locally found on their machines in any way, shape, or form.

Apple Might Finally Allow App Sideloading On iPhone

Apple is reportedly planning to allow alternative app stores and sideloading on iPhones, a major u-turn from the company’s long-standing policies. This is seen as the tech giant’s compliance with new European Union laws that are set to go into effect soon.

According to Bloomberg, engineers in the company are preparing to make Apple’s platform more open by finally allowing users to bypass the App Store when installing third-party software on their iPhones and iPads. This would allow them to avoid the company’s strict restrictions as well as the infamous 30% commission taken from developers on purchases.

The move is apparently a response to a new EU law titled the Digital Markets Act. The legislation will start being applicable in May 2023 but companies will have until early 2024 to actually comply. Companies that will be subjected to the law are those that have a valuation of at least EUR75 billion (~RM351 billion) and have a minimum of 45 million monthly users in the EU. Failure to comply could result in penalties amounting to 10% of a firm’s worldwide turnover and up to 20% for repeated infringements.

The act mandates that companies that fall under its purview allow the installation of third-party apps and allow users to change default settings with ease. Interestingly, it also requires messaging apps to work together, putting up the possibility of popular messaging services such as WhatsApp, Signal, and others becoming interoperable.

Apple has spent years lobbying against sideloading and third-party apps with senior vice president Craig Federighi calling the practice a floodgate for malware last year and more recently, CEO Tim Cook lamented sideloading’s damage to digital privacy. The firm has apparently not yet decided on whether or not to comply with the EU law’s provision allowing developers to install in-app third-party payment systems, something the Cupertino-based company has famously fought against.

While no country or region outside the EU has yet to enact similar legislation, it is unlikely that the system overhaul would be limited to just Europe. On a related note, another EU legislation will force Apple to use USB-C on iPhones, which the company has confirmed. That being said, it remains to be seen if the shift will apply to Apple devices sold worldwide in the near future.

YouTube Testing Smart Downloads Feature For Its Android App In Europe

YouTube is testing a new Smart Downloads feature on its mobile app on Android in Europe, 9to5Google reports. It functions similarly to its counterpart which is already available on the audio-only YouTube Music app, where it is used to automatically download new content on mobile devices, as long as it is connected to Wi-Fi.

Smart Downloads is intended to help users to save up on mobile data, and will download 20 videos every week based on the user’s watching preferences. These videos can be viewed offline by navigating to the Downloads page under the app’s Library tab. 9to5Google says that YouTube will notify users if their devices are low on storage, and will advise them on what steps to take in order to free up space.

And much like the same function that is available on YouTube Music, the new Smart Downloads tool is only exclusively available to Premium subscribers. Moreover, the Google-owned streaming platform notes that the new feature is rolled out in a limited run, which is – as mentioned earlier – only accessible by Android users in Europe at this time. It is not known whether the Smart Downloads test will be expanded to other regions in the near future – let alone see an iOS version.

But should that be the case, Premium users are usually notified of its availability on their Home feed. To try out new experimental features on YouTube (when they are made available), simply navigate to youtube.com/new, or opt-in via the Try New Features option under Settings in the mobile app.

MY2022 Beijing Winter Olympics App Reportedly Riddled With Security Flaws

Canadian cybersecurity group Citizen Lab has released a report which listed down several security vulnerabilities in the MY2022 app which has been designed for extensive use at the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in Bejing next month.

For context, all participants, journalists, and attendees of the event are required to download the app 14 days prior to their departure to China. Aside from health monitoring, the app also includes features such as messaging, file transfers, Olympic news, and city guide services for Beijing.

According to Citizen Lab, the app fails to validate SSL certificates which means it is not able to properly verify to whom it is sending data. This would allow hackers to spoof trusted servers and display fake instructions to users, as well as access sensitive information in health customs forms.

Not only that, but the Toronto-based researchers also found that MY2022 fails to encrypt sensitive metadata, which includes the names of message senders, receivers, and their user account identifiers. This means that it is possible for a lot of parties including ISPs or even someone that is connected to an unsecured wifi access point, to access the data.

The most worrying part is the group found that the app allows users to report politically-sensitive content and uncovered a censorship keyword list in the Android version in a file named “illegalwords.txt”. The list contains 2,442 keywords, with the majority of them being politically motivated or involving vulgar words, though it appears that the list is inactive.

In response to the report, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said that the MY2022 app has been independently assessed and was found to have no critical vulnerabilities. The Beijing Organising Committee for the games did not respond to the findings, but they released an update to the iOS version which did not fix any of the issues. Instead, a new feature called “Green Health Code” was added to collect travel document information and medical history information and was found to be similarly vulnerable.

Nevertheless, several countries have warned athletes not to bring their personal devices to China over fears of cybersecurity threats. For example, the U.S Olympic & Paralympic Committee have recommended the usage of burner phones as well as rental or disposable computers. On another hand, the Dutch Olympic Committee reportedly will be providing phones and laptops to athletes and staff which will be subsequently disposed once they come back from Beijing.

Tesla App Outage Causes Owners To Lose Access To Car Features

Tesla experienced a server downtime for its mobile phone app earlier today. The outage, which lasted several hours, left owners from across the globe unable to connect to their cars – losing access to certain features offered exclusively via the app.

Motoring website Electrek notes that the downtime coincidentally came shortly after the automaker rolled out an update to its application, although it is undetermined if this was actually the root cause of the problem. Company CEO Elon Musk later revealed in a tweet that the outage may have been caused by an “accidental increase of network traffic verbosity”. Concurrently, he also apologised and noted that the company will take measures to ensure that such problems will not happen again.

Naturally, the app outage also resulted in a flurry of complaints coming from owners worldwide. As mentioned earlier, users are locked away from accessing advanced features such as vehicle summoning, remote unlocking and activation, and interior climate controls.

Some owners even reported to have been left stranded due to their inability to unlock or start their cars via the Tesla app, which is likely an exaggeration. While it does offer the aforementioned abilities, users can still unlock and start their vehicles with their phones through an active Bluetooth connection, provided that they did not log out from the app. Alternatively, this issue can also be bypassed if the owner is carrying the car’s keycard or keyfob along with them.

Thankfully for the owners, their first world-related woes had been resolved by the company, albeit a couple of hours later. Aside from Musk’s reply in Twitter, Tesla itself has yet to issue an official statement regarding the matter.

Samsung App Reveals Galaxy Buds2 Features

We saw press images of the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 getting leaked late last month. More details of the upcoming TWS buds have since been uncovered, but from a more official source, shall we say. The source in question this time is the plugin app, found on the company’s update server. If you think this sounds familiar, it’s because a similar thing happened before with the Galaxy Buds Pro.

According to XDA, the discovery was made by a developer called Tim Schneeberger. While we’ve seen some of these before, new details include the five colour options that the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 will come in. These are the standard black and white, as well as violet, green and yellow.

In terms of features, it appears that the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 will come with the ability to enable active noise cancelling in a single earbud. This suggests that it will indeed have ANC capabilities, contrary to previous reports that suggest that it stops at noise suppression. Though as Schneeberger notes, this may be tied to specific firmware versions. But compared to the Buds Pro, the upcoming TWS buds looks to lack the “high/low” options for it. Other bits of information include batteries, of which each bud is labeled as having 61mAh, and the case with 472mAh.

Naturally, the plugin app here is a pre-release version, so don’t be too surprised if things are different when the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 actually gets released. As for when that is happening, the upcoming August Unpacked event may be the earliest possibility.

Samsung Releases New Walkie-Talkie App For Galaxy Watch4

Already pre-ordered the new Galaxy Watch4? Well, you’ll be glad to know that Samsung has recently released a new Walkie-Talkie app for you to play around with when you receive the new smartwatch. As implied by its name, the app allows you to chat with a friend or two directly via the device a la Dick Tracy or a retro fictional super spy.

Communicating through the Walkie-Talkie app with another person isn’t that straightforward, however. You are first required to search for your recipient’s Galaxy Watch4 via Bluetooth and then pair with it by using a pin code – meaning that both you and your friend need to be in the same room or location in order to establish the connection and to communicate via the app. All new pairings will be added to the app’s contact list for ease of reference.

Once paired, simply hold down the microphone button to transmit your voice over to the other device. Meanwhile, all incoming transmissions on the receiving end will be displayed on the watch, also detailing the sender’s identity. Samsung recommends that your Galaxy Watch4 is connected to your smartphone when running the Walkie-Talkie app for the first time. After that, the feature can be used independently of your handset. There’s also the option to disable the app entirely if you do not wish to be disturbed.

Unfortunately, the new Walkie-Talkie app does have one caveat. At this current time, the feature is only exclusively available for Galaxy Watch4 series, and so far there are no plans of introducing it to older Samsung wearables or other devices running on the new Wear OS platform.

That aside, a walkie-talkie app for short-range communication isn’t particularly new. In fact, the feature itself has been made available for the Apple Watch since 2018, although there were instances where the company mulled on taking it down due to potential privacy concerns. Hopefully such issues won’t be affecting Samsung’s version of the application down the line.

Clubhouse App No Longer Invite-Only Across All Platforms

Clubhouse has announced that it is no longer invite-only across all mobile platforms. As revealed by company co-founders Paul Davison and Rohan Seth via its official blog, this major change is made effective immediately through the latest version of the app that is now available for download on both iOS and Android platforms. 

The decision to remove its invite-only approach is a long time coming, the company revealed. Ever since its launch a year ago, Clubhouse has always been intended to be accessible by anyone in order to have “meaningful conversations” with each other – bypassing limitations such as distance, especially during these trying times.

“The invite system has been an important part of our early history. But we’ve always wanted Clubhouse to be open,” the company said in its latest blog post. “Everyone in the world should have access to meaningful conversations. And the best rooms on Clubhouse are the ones where you meet people from far outside your social circle, with very different views and lived experiences, who change your perspective on the world.”

It added that the invite-only approach was necessary in order to keep things under control during its early stages, especially while the company continues to introduce newer features and improvements to its app. However, this also unintentionally gave Clubhouse a members-only, closed-doors appeal – a similar vibe given by exclusive nightclubs or even secret groups.

Further building up the public’s desire to gain access during this phase are the multitudes of endorsements by public figures and celebrities, who hold exclusive talks or hangout sessions via Clubhouse. This led to a good number of existing members taking advantage of their limited app invites by selling them on various e-commerce platforms, usually at exorbitant prices. Thankfully, this cheeky way of profit-making has become obsolete now that the app finally opened its doors to the public – a move that would definitely anger both scalpers and those who previously paid a premium in order to score an invite.

Along with the announcement, Clubhouse also unveiled its new logo (shown on top) in the same blog post. This will be used to represent the company for general usage such as marketing and so on but will not replace its app icon, it noted. Clubhouse will continue its tradition to update its icon every month, featuring a monochrome image of selected public figures to represent the platform’s community.

With its invite-only element now gone, will Clubhouse retain its appeal? Being a pioneer to the audio-only chat room craze that has spawned numerous clones by competing social media companies, it looks like the app will see no problem by removing the restriction. If anything, it might cause it to flourish even further, especially with the number of well-known names that have been relying on the platform throughout the months since its debut.

This App Tests The Water Resistance Of Android Phones

You may remember the Apple slogan (that the company trademarked) that goes “there’s an app for that”. Now, there is one that can actually test for a phone’s water resistance. Though ironically in the context of this paragraph, the app is only available for Android phones.

The app in question is simply called Water Resistance Tester by Ray W. The test is also pretty simple. All you have to do is run the app, leave it alone for awhile, then press down on two parts of your phone’s screen when prompted.

The way it works is by using the barometer that some phones have, to help track vertical location. If the phone is sealed well enough for water resistance, this will build up pressure inside the phone, which the app will tell you about.

Ray W also has a post on Reddit detailing a number of scenarios where it will be useful. Most notably, if you’ve sent your phone for servicing or repair, you can use the app to check if the people doing that sealed the phone back up properly. If you have an old phone and suspect it’s no longer water resistant, the Water Resistance Tester app will also let you know.

All that being said, because it is a third party app, don’t expect it to be something you can use to get a warranty claim if your supposedly waterproof phone drowns. Even if phone makers these days tout their devices as waterproof, these have generally not been covered by warranty ever since Sony reversed its waterproof stance with the Xperia Z3 back in the day.

Apple iOS 15 To Add UWB Digital Key Support And New Features To Wallet App

Apple first introduced the digital car key feature on its Wallet app last year, which enabled users to unlock their cars wirelessly with just their iPhones. As revealed during its WWDC 2021 keynote that was held earlier today, the company is looking to expand the function even further by adding Ultra-Wideband (UWB) support along with the upcoming iOS 15 update.

The current iteration of digital car keys relies solely on NFC technology. What this means is that users are required to first activate the function on the Wallet app and then place their phone near the door handle of their vehicle in order to unlock it. 

On top of adding support for UWB-based keys to the app, the newly added tech would enable users to unlock and start their car remotely – more or less functioning similarly to existing keyless entry systems featured by most auto brands. In addition, Apple plans to add newer features to the app, such as the ability to set unique key identifiers for each car door and also using an Apple Watch as an extension.

The company noted that the first companies that will offer UWB keys support for its upcoming feature are BMW and Hyatt Hotels. Others that are also onboard include Walt Disney World, Schlage, Proxy, Evergreen, Latch, Assa Abloy and many others. And yes, the upgraded function will add support for compatible digital hotel keys and even smart homes as well.

Other than that, also new is the future inclusion of digital ID functionality. This lets you incorporate a digital version of your country, state and even driver ID on your iPhone, which can be used to verify your identity at checkpoints and so on. But don’t get too excited just yet, as the feature is planned to debut only for certain states in the US for now.

Apple’s ever increasing quality-of-life additions to iPhones is indeed highly appreciated, at least for some. However, this would also result in dire consequences if the user were to lose it, such as losing access to your digital wallet and the ability to unlock your vehicle, home or hotel room. Granted, the company also introduced various precautions to deny strangers from fully utilising these features, but the fact remains: if you are planning to transform your phone into a do-it-all device, always keep it secured on your person at all times.

Google Kills Its AR Measure App Three Years After Project Tango

Google retired Project Tango in 2018 to make way for ARCore. Now, the AR app known as Measure will also be joining the Google Graveyard. For those whom have never downloaded it, it will never be found again. But for those who did download it at least once before, it “is no longer supported and will not be updated”.

Android Police noted the the app is no longer listed in the Google Play Store for accounts that did not previously download it. But for those that did, it should still work normally. And at the time of writing, the internet search giant still has Measure listed in its AR & VR experiences site. Chances are this will be removed soon.

For those who don’t know, Measure was one of the most compelling uses of AR back in the day. We’re talking about when the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro was first announced back in 2016, as the first phone that supported Project Tango. That being said, it’s safe to say that the idea was better than the implementation, as the app wasn’t exactly accurate. So while it was fun, to say that it was practical was probably  stretch.

AR tech on mobile phones are these days more used for location based games instead. You have the likes of Pokemon Go, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, and even one for The Witcher. And they are all battery hogs, much like Measure was back in the day.

There’s A New Face Manipulation App That Transforms You Into A Pixar-Like Character

Meet the Voilà AI Artist Cartoon Photo app, which – as its ridiculously long name suggests – has the ability to transform your beautiful mug into a Pixar-like version of itself, among other things. And much like FaceApp, users are required to upload a photo of themselves (or others) via the software in order to be enhanced by developer Wemagine.AI’s cloud-based artificial intelligence system.

Aside from producing a photo worthy of an audition for the next Disney 3D animated movie, other styles featured on Voilà include hand-drawn caricatures, renaissance-esque portraits, and more. There are some limitations in play, however. As noted by the developer, the app (or its AI system, rather) is unable to process if more than one individual is detected in an image, and it also does not recognise photos of animals either. So if you’re hoping to transform your golden retriever into something similar to Dug from Disney’s Up, then you’re out of luck.

Like most apps out there, Voilà is free for everyone via Google Play Store and Apple App Store – at least, on the exterior. So what’s the catch? Again, much like FaceApp, expect the usual ad pop-ups, watermarked images and certain features locked behind a paywall. According to Wemagine.AI, the app’s “Pro” subscription fee is offered in three different options: US$ 3 for weekly, US$ 6 for monthly, and US$ 30 for yearly. As you’d expect, subscribing will grant you an ad-free experience, as well as removing the other non-premium limitations mentioned earlier.

In terms of privacy, Voilà and its developer noted in its policy that all data collected from the user is intended to provide and improve its service. In greater detail, Wemagine.AI explained that the app will access your device’s camera when activated, only retrieve uploaded photos for enhancements, and would not access your device’s photo albums. It also stated that it may collect certain information such as your IP address, browser type and version, and unique identifiers, device information, and purchase history only for analytical purposes. The developer also notes that it will comply with the user’s Do Not Track request by not collecting Advertising IDs or plant cookies.

Such privacy concerns had previously landed the app’s closest rival FaceApp in hot water. This was due to the fact that it also used cloud-based processing for image enhancements rather than featuring an on-device system. Furthermore, its developer, a Russian-based firm known as Wireless Labs, was alleged by the US government of sharing user information with its country’s authorities – something which the developer continued to deny due to the lack of evidence. That being said, Wemagine.AI told FOX Carolina that it is based in Canada, with small teams that work remotely and is scattered across the globe.

As mentioned earlier, Voilà is now available for both Android and iOS users globally. So if you happen to be looking for something that is currently unique and trendy to pass the time with, then this app may be it.

Google Kills Its AR Measure App Three Years After Project Tango

Google retired Project Tango in 2018 to make way for ARCore. Now, the AR app known as Measure will also be joining the Google Graveyard. For those whom have never downloaded it, it will never be found again. But for those who did download it at least once before, it “is no longer supported and will not be updated”.

Android Police noted the the app is no longer listed in the Google Play Store for accounts that did not previously download it. But for those that did, it should still work normally. And at the time of writing, the internet search giant still has Measure listed in its AR & VR experiences site. Chances are this will be removed soon.

For those who don’t know, Measure was one of the most compelling uses of AR back in the day. We’re talking about when the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro was first announced back in 2016, as the first phone that supported Project Tango. That being said, it’s safe to say that the idea was better than the implementation, as the app wasn’t exactly accurate. So while it was fun, to say that it was practical was probably  stretch.

AR tech on mobile phones are these days more used for location based games instead. You have the likes of Pokemon Go, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, and even one for The Witcher. And they are all battery hogs, much like Measure was back in the day.

Apple’s App Store Rejected 1 Million New Apps, 1 Million App Updates Last Year

Apple announced in a recent blog post that its App Store rejected or removed almost one million “problematic” new apps and almost one million app updates last year. This comes as Apple defends its famously tight control over its App Store in court and elsewhere.

The reasons for the rejections and removals are apparently diverse. According to Apple, many of these apps weren’t finished or functioning properly, or didn’t have a sufficient mechanism to moderate user-generated content.

But the tech giant also said it rejected over 215,000 of them for various kinds of privacy violations; over 150,000 for being spam, copycats, or misleading to users; and over 48,000 for containing hidden or undocumented features. Additionally, the company boasted that it protected users from over US$1.5 billion (~RM6.2 billion) in potentially fraudulent transactions.

It’s quite clear what Apple is attempting to do – publicly making the case that the conditions it imposes and enforces on developers ensure its App Store is a safe and trusted place for consumers. The company’s critics, on the other hand, would describe this as an oppressive monopoly.

Unsurprisingly, the timing of Apple’s blog post coincides with its high-profile court battle with Epic Games, which is suing the former for its anti-competitive practices. Epic wants to pry open Apple’s “walled garden” so it can bypass the 30% commission Apple slaps on in-app purchases.

“Epic wants us to be Android, but we don’t want to be,” said Apple lawyer Karen Dunn, according to CNBC. The company argues its stringent App Store rules are the reason why the Android system has far worse security statistics.