airport Archives

AppWizard

April 25, 2025

Feds say Ashland man had child porn on Telegram Messenger app. What’s next

Brent Vreeland, a 36-year-old resident of Ashland, has agreed to voluntary detention after a federal hearing on April 24, facing charges related to the distribution of child pornography via the Telegram Messenger app. He has been charged with one count of transportation of child pornography following an investigation that began last October. Vreeland was apprehended at his home after arriving at Logan International Airport in Boston from Reykjavik, Iceland. During a secondary screening, security personnel found suspected child pornography on his phone, leading to an alert for federal investigators. The investigation revealed that Vreeland had conversations on Telegram soliciting content involving minors and sent a video featuring a child as young as four years old to another user, with authorities discovering 30 media files depicting children in his direct messages. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of five to 20 years in federal prison, a 0,000 fine, and lifetime supervised release. He was ordered to be held without bail during his initial hearing.

AppWizard

March 23, 2025

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov allowed to leave France amid investigation

Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, has been allowed to return to Dubai after a French investigating judge modified the conditions of his supervision due to an ongoing investigation into alleged criminal activities associated with the messaging platform. Durov was previously arrested in August 2024 at Le Bourget Airport and held in police custody for four days before being released on bail. The Paris criminal court is investigating allegations that Telegram facilitated organized fraud, illegal transactions, and the distribution of child sexual abuse material. In response, Telegram has improved its moderation policies, allowing users to report private chats and removing millions of groups and channels to comply with legal standards. Durov has expressed gratitude towards the French authorities and emphasized the company's commitment to responsible platform management.

AppWizard

March 16, 2025

New messaging app hopes to get travellers to fill idle time on flights by talking to others

Wingle is a mobile application that enables passengers to communicate with each other during flights without needing an internet connection, utilizing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The app allows users to send messages and book airport lounge services, and it was launched in Europe in July 2024, with a global rollout planned for January 2025. It has attracted over 20,000 active users, primarily from Europe. Users create profiles that include personal information and a personality diagram, and conversations are temporary, disappearing after the flight. Wingle generates revenue through commissions from booking services, and its reception has been mixed, with some users appreciating the opportunity for social interaction, while others express concerns about privacy and potential misuse.

TrendTechie

March 15, 2025

Сооснователь крупнейшего торрент-трекера трагически погиб

Karl Lundström, co-founder of Pirate Bay, died in an aviation accident in Slovenia on March 10 at the age of 64. He was flying from Zagreb to Zurich in a private Mooney M-20 aircraft when it collided with a wooden structure on a mountain. Recovery efforts for his body were delayed due to bad weather until March 11. Authorities confirmed the discovery of the pilot's remains, but his name has not been publicly disclosed.

AppWizard

March 9, 2025

Messaging app Telegram blocked in Russia’s Dagestan and Chechnya regions

The messaging app Telegram has been blocked in Russia's Dagestan and Chechnya regions due to security concerns, as announced by Dagestan's digital development minister, Yuri Gamzatov. The decision followed recommendations from law enforcement agencies, particularly in response to unrest at Makhachkala airport earlier this year. Since early 2024, users in parts of the North Caucasus have faced service disruptions on Telegram, and Gamzatov suggested considering the VK messenger as an alternative. The unrest at Makhachkala airport on October 29, 2023, was caused by a flight arrival from Israel, leading to mass riots that resulted in over 24 million rubles in damages and injuries to 23 officials.

AppWizard

March 9, 2025

Dagestan, Chechnya block Telegram messaging app

Authorities in Russia's Dagestan and Chechnya have banned the messaging app Telegram, citing concerns over its content moderation policies and the proliferation of extremist content. This decision is part of a broader trend of increasing governmental control over online communications in the region. Anton Nemkin from the State Duma expressed that Telegram's lax moderation poses a threat to public safety, and local official Gamzatov indicated there may be potential for the app's reinstatement in the future. The Russian government has previously blocked other messaging services like Signal and is considering actions against WhatsApp, while access to platforms like YouTube has also been restricted. Additionally, Telegram has faced scrutiny outside Russia, including a ban for officials in Ukraine due to national security concerns linked to its founder Pavel Durov.

AppWizard

March 8, 2025

Telegram messaging app blocked in Russia’s Dagestan and Chechnya

The Telegram messaging app has been restricted in Dagestan and Chechnya due to concerns over its use by individuals considered "enemies" of the state. Dagestan's Minister of Digitalisation, Yuri Gamzatov, linked the app to incidents of unrest, such as at Makhachkala airport, and called for improved content moderation. Anton Nemkin, a member of the State Duma's Committee on Information Policy, supported the blocking to prevent coordination of civil disturbances, citing its role in recent unrest. Authorities in Dagestan suggested that the ban on Telegram could be lifted in the future.

AppWizard

March 8, 2025

Two Russian regions block Telegram app over security fears

Authorities in Dagestan and Chechnya have blocked the Telegram messenger service due to concerns about its misuse by adversarial elements. This decision was announced by Yuri Gamzatov, Dagestan's digital development minister, following riots at Makhachkala airport linked to an anti-Israel demonstration in October 2023, which was fueled by information spread on Telegram. The unrest led to multiple prosecutions, but no injuries were reported. Telegram has condemned the violence and plans to block channels that promoted antisemitic content. Founded by Pavel Durov, Telegram has nearly 1 billion users and has faced previous challenges, including a failed ban in 2018. Gamzatov suggested that the ban could be lifted in the future, advising users to consider alternative messaging platforms during the restriction.

AppWizard

December 12, 2024

Google Wallet rolling out adding passport IDs on Android

Google Wallet is rolling out the ability to add a passport as a form of ID within its Android app, following a successful testing phase in October. This feature is now available for users, particularly benefiting those in states without a digital ID, and is accessible through the “Add to Wallet” option in the app. Users can add their passport by taking a picture of the information page, scanning the security chip inside the back cover, and recording a video of their face for identity verification. This feature is available with version 24.47.35 of Google Play services for Android devices running version 9 and above. At airport security, travelers can use their digital passport by scanning a QR code or tapping their phone near an NFC reader. The digital passport is not a government-issued ID and should not replace physical identification, especially for international travel. Users can remove their ID pass if their phone is lost by visiting myaccount.google.com.

Winsage

December 9, 2024

Windows 11 for Arm can run natively on specific Android smartphones — the test device heats up very fast, and battery life substantially decreases

User anh0l demonstrated running Windows 11 on Arm from a Xiaomi Poco X3 smartphone, which retains a split partition for Android and has a functioning UEFI. Users reported touchscreen control issues, particularly with inverted functionality on the right side, and temperature spikes reaching approximately 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) during testing. Other Android smartphones have also experienced similar temperature levels. The Xiaomi Poco X3 can run Valve's retired Source engine at 30 FPS but struggles with Source 2-based Counter-Strike 2. Compatibility is better with Snapdragon 800 Series or newer CPUs, while older models are less effective. The shared architecture between Snapdragon CPUs in Windows Arm laptops and Android devices allows for this crossover, though driver support is incomplete. Despite high temperatures, anh0l claims the experience "runs flawlessly," with web browsing and basic Blender animations functioning smoothly at 120 Hz, impacting battery life and device temperature.