This Senator Sent Tinder a Valentine’s Letter to Demand It Finally Make Its Network Secure

While it’s certainly not embarrassing or uncommon to use a dating app, plenty of people don’t want to broadcast it. For Tinder users, though, that’s happening anyway, and it has been for a long time. Despite the fact that the company has known about its app’s security vulnerabilities for almost a year now, Tinder hasn’t yet made the necessary patches to its network to keep its users’ personal information safe.

So on Wednesday, Valentine’s Day, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden wrote a lovely note to Greg Blatt, the CEO of Tinder, asking that his company get its act together. The problem, according to recent research, is that Tinder’s app doesn’t use HTTPS, which is a secure way of sending information online (though its website does). Wyden would like to see this fixed ASAP.

Checkmarx, one of the security companies that pointed out Tinder’s vulnerabilities, reportedly notified the dating app company in November that photos on the app are sent through an unencrypted connection. That means that anyone monitoring the network can pull information, like the user’s gender and sexual preferences. In other words, if someone knows how to monitor Wi-Fi traffic at a café or in at an airport, the type of information you’d prefer a random passerby not know could be traveling in plain sight. Business Insider first reported on Tinder’s security flaws with how the app stores photos in March 2017. And in October, Gizmodo reported that the app is also vulnerable to location tracking.

Wyden has made a habit of sending angry letters on behalf of Americans’ digital privacy to corporations and government agencies. In October 2017, he sent a letter to the country’s top voting machine manufacturers to ask what they’re doing to harden security in advance of upcoming elections. And in August 2017, he requested the Department of Justice provide more details about the agency’s policy on using stingrays, which is a device that pretends to be a cell tower and can intercept mobile phone data.

Tinder told Wired in January that the company is “working towards encrypting images” on the app, but Wyden is asking for results in addressing its security holes, and he put it in a way Tinder might understand, suggesting the company “swipe right on user privacy and security.”

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Samsung’s new Oreo emoji don’t look like trash any more

Samsung can also have a big 12 months in advance of it with the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy observe 9, however we’re more excited about it eventually redesigning its emojis. The employer has began rolling out Samsung enjoy 9.0 and, while there are numerous distinct improvements that come along side the Android Oreo replace, one of the maximum welcome is Samsung conceding that a number of its current emoji designs had been just… wrong.

It changed into a fairly abnormal situation. manifestly there’s a standardized set of emojis available – otherwise one tool wouldn’t know what to show while another tool despatched it a message. however, even as you would possibly anticipate, say, the “eyeroll” emoji to look the same throughout every platform, that’s not truly the case.

instead, it’s been as much as person corporations to select their very own designs for each emoji type. a few come to be looking unsurprisingly comparable – like a smiling face – however others can vary appreciably. At best, that’s a neat difference based totally on platform. At worst, it can be downright difficult.

The Samsung rolling eyes emoji changed into an incredible example of that. quite a good deal other agency illustrated that with a vaguely exasperated or unimpressed face, its eyes rolled back to suggest its frustration. until now, although, Samsung’s model has appeared undoubtedly enthusiastic, complete with a 1/2-smile and a few jaunty eyebrow action.


whilst you won't assume that’s a large deal, it can seriously alternate the interpretation of a message despatched among platforms. An iPhone user texting a Galaxy S9 person, for instance, may intend the rolling eyes emoji as they see it in iOS, as a sign of annoyance. however, the S9 might display it in keeping with Samsung’s photographs, with a very distinct experience.

It’s no longer the handiest big difference, both. In Samsung enjoy 8.5, the “gun” emoji turned into a realistically represented revolver. In Samsung enjoy 9.0, however, it’s being modified to a much greater playful water pistol. Samsung is likewise converting the default pores and skin tone to the intense yellow that Unicode recommends, Emojipedia reviews.

universal, Samsung’s adjustments to its emojis have had the impact of bringing them greater in keeping with what other companies are offering. again, that simply serves to higher harmonize cross-platform chat, and make it much more likely that your contacts gets the subtext you’re looking to express.

As for while you’ll actually get Samsung experience 9.zero, of direction, that’s a question we don’t pretty know the solution to. Samsung began rolling out its Android Oreo update in Germany lately, but hasn’t given a particular roadmap for when it would arrive on different telephones. We have to see it preloaded on the new Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ at mobile international Congress 2018, but, later in February.

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Google Pixel is at the middle of a brand new class motion complaint

Seeing clients release class motion proceedings towards large businesses is a quite not unusual factor, and today, Google is inside the crosshairs. Google has been hit with a class action complaint alleging that it didn’t honor warranties for the original Pixel and Pixel XL when it have become clean that the phones suffered from microphone defects. The criticism was filed by means of Girard Gibbs LLP in San Jose, the same regulation firm that these days handled the class motion lawsuit surrounding the bootloop issue some LG telephones skilled.

Girard Gibbs filed the grievance on behalf of  plaintiffs, Patricia Weeks and Waleed Anbar, along with “all others similarly situated.” Ars Technica made the criticism publicly reachable over on DocumentCloud, and notes that each of those plaintiffs purchased Pixel devices in 2016, best to come across defective microphones some months later.

after they added the problem to Google’s attention, the organization didn’t offer to update or refund the devices, which this complaint alleges was a breach of Google’s personal warranty. In fairness, Anbar wasn’t within his one-year assurance length while he pronounced the trouble to Google, having purchased the cellphone in December 2016 and reporting the difficulty in January of this year. Weeks nevertheless turned into, however, as she pronounced the difficulty simply 3 months after she purchased the smartphone.

It’s really worth declaring that these weren’t exactly remoted instances. A great wide variety of Pixel and Pixel XL users began to report microphone troubles after both phones launched in October 2016. In truth, a prolonged thread over on the Pixel assist forums has more than 800 replies approximately this very trouble, so it seems that it’s as a minimum pretty extensive.

Google, for its element, received’t comment on pending litigation against it, but in a statement to Ars, it directs everybody who is experiencing issues and owns a tool that’s out-of-guarantee to check out its assist middle to discover what they could do. We’ll see how this one turns out for Google, however if it became refusing warranty replacements for faulty telephones, this can become being a reduce and dry case. stay tuned.

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Galaxy S9 dock leak is double the best news

We’re only a few weeks out from the monitor of Galaxy S9, and whilst Samsung in the end unveils the device, it'd have a new accessory coming along side it. Rumor has it that Samsung is planning to redesign its DeX station for the Galaxy S9. those of you who already very own a DeX dock for certainly one of your Samsung devices is nicely familiar with the cause of the accent, as it allows you to essentially placed Android in a laptop surroundings.

We’ve already heard about this incoming DeX redecorate, with Samsung said to be running on a DeX dock that permits the Galaxy S9 to characteristic as a hint pad or maybe a keyboard. at the time those rumors first dropped, we had a tough time imagining how any such dock might appearance. fortunately, famous leaker Evan Blass shared a brand new pair of snap shots on Twitter that show us its layout.

The effects are a touch bizarre, admittedly. As Blass points out in a separate tweet, Samsung doesn’t truely have plenty of options in relation to developing a dock – in this situation called the “DeX Pad” – that still lays your smartphone flat, thereby allowing you to apply it as a touch pad. If anything, it as a minimum looks better than the first DeX dock (in my humble opinion, of route), so it has that going for it.

anyways, layout is ultimately secondary to capability, and it seems like this new DeX Station can boast superiority over preceding iterations in that regard. as it allows you to use your cellphone as an enter tool, the belief is which you gained’t necessarily need a keyboard and mouse even as using Android in a laptop environment.

Of course, some other little bit of properly information that incorporates these leaked pics is they seem to affirm that the Galaxy S9 will certainly be maintaining its headphone jack. With such a lot of manufacturers losing the headphone jack, it’s exceptional to see Samsung breaking that rather annoying fashion. We’ll see if this is indeed the case soon sufficient, as Samsung is anticipated to announce the Galaxy S9 on February 25.

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Designing for iPhone X

iPhone X is already here remodeling the manner the content material is displayed and developing a logo-new experience. It has an facet to part wonderful Retina show with a decision of 1125×2436 px. iPhone X features a special reduce-out on the top of the display screen. for that reason designing apps for this futuristic system brings new challenges in addition to opportunities. let’s discover ways to layout an app or recreation to experience and appearance superb on iPhone X.

Screen Sizes

Source: Apple

Though the screen width remains the same for iPhone X, and it's 145 pt taller than the iPhone 6, 7, and 8. Such screen dimensions result in 20% more vertical space. When working out the app design for iPhone X, try not to make the UI too complex taking advantage of all new features (cut-out, new home indicator, round edges).

The good news is if you have a native app for iOS, you don’t have to make any changes - the app will be automatically adopted for the new iPhone X. All navigation bars, collection views, tables, and tab bars will be automatically positioned. When designing, you must ensure that the layouts fit the screen perfectly. If your app has a custom layout, you may need to update it for the new iPhone X. With the Auto Layout, everything will be easy.

Source: Apple

Specific challenges may occur with full-screen images. If you use them, consider updating the app while they can be cropped and some essential elements may be hidden.

Source: Apple

Center your content

The device features new sensors and particular screen corners so make sure that your UI won’t get clipped. Speaking about the content, it’s preferable to place it in the center with symmetrical insets. Again with the Auto Layout, your content will be automatically adapted to the safe area of iPhone X. Nothing will be hidden behind round corners, home indicator or sensors.

Source: Apple

Note, Apple highly recommend not to hide the cut-out and curved edges. So forget about placing black bars.

Brand-new status bar

Source: Apple

Due to the sensors, the new bar has got 2 parts. It has become nearly 2x taller than on iPhone 6,7, and 8 (previously it was 20 pt, and now it’s 44 pt). So if your app features a fixed status bar and content just below it, consider updating the app in order not lose anything. Again, don’t forget about the safe area while designing a new app or iOS.

Moreover, the status bar should be visible all time. Since the screen is bigger and taller, it would be a good idea to unhide the bar. It is essential to point, that the new status bar doesn’t change its height when the device records voice or tacks the location.

Where to place interactive controls?

Since the physical home button was replaced by the home indicator, the place of interactive controls should be changed. There should be more space for gestures and swiping up around the home indicator. And if there are interactive controls, how will the user go back to the home screen? The users may accidentally use swiping up, and the UI of an app will be difficult to reach since every time they swipe, they will go back to the home screen.

However, you should and have to use the function bars and tab bars but try not to interfere with the home indicator.

Source: Apple

Smart home indicator

iPhone X features a redesigned home indicator. Apple decided to opt out of a physical home button. It’s a small white line on the bottom of the screen. To get back to the homescreen, you can swipe up from any app.

With the new iOS, the users get an adoptive home indicator which hides automatically when the screen is inactive and appears when you relaunch the app. This function comes in handy when listing photos or watching videos. Besides the auto-hide, the home indicator adapts to the color of your app’s background and changes it automatically.

With the new smart home indicator, there is no place for button pressing, everything is controlled by gestures. Moreover, you can use custom gestures in games as well as set own gestures to control the device.

More colors than ever before

iPhone X features the new Super Retina Display with the support of P3 colors. And it means that the colors are richer and more saturated when compared to the older devices.

Improved security with Face ID

Previously, iPhones were fitted with Touch ID. And iPhone X features Face ID for authentication to keep your data secure. Face ID features state-of-the-art algorithms to scan your face and unlock iPhone X. In case your app needs Apple Pay or other identifications, don’t integrate Touch ID for that, take advantage of the new technology brought up by Apple.

Video

The new screen of iPhone X changes the way video is played on the device. The system video player has two viewing modes - full-screen and fit-to-screen. Make sure that all custom video players behave as expected. The video should fill the display when played. If it fails, it may result in too much cropping. Moreover, it would be great if the users will be able to switch between two viewing modes.

Apple advises keeping the original aspect ratio since the iOS won’t be able to scale the video based on the viewing mode correctly.

Source: Apple

Where can I preview my app UI for iPhone X?

The good news is you can use Xcode 9 stimulator to preview your app. And check if something needs to be updated for iPhone X.

In a nutshell

Though the new iPhone X stands out from the crowd providing absolutely new user experience, designing apps for iPhone X is still a smooth sail. Take care of the new display capabilities and its dimensions and make most of them.

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