controls Archives

AppWizard

April 9, 2025

Google launches Gemini in Android Studio for Businesses, making it easier for devs to design work apps

Apple is the leading smartphone manufacturer in the U.S., while 60% of corporate-owned devices are powered by Android, according to a survey by Stratix. Google announced Gemini in Android Studio for businesses at the Google Cloud Next 2025 conference, a subscription-based service aimed at enhancing the Android ecosystem for enterprise app developers. Gemini focuses on secure, privacy-oriented AI solutions, with a strict data governance policy ensuring confidentiality and ownership of company code. It includes enterprise-grade management features and extends Google's generative AI indemnification policy to protect against copyright infringement claims related to AI-generated code. The enterprise edition allows customization using internal repositories, improving code acceptance rates by 70%. Gemini is compliant with various industry certifications, including SOC 1, 2, and 3, and ISO/IEC 27001, among others. A free version of Gemini remains available for independent developers, while organizations can acquire a Code Assist Enterprise license through the Google Cloud Console.

AppWizard

April 9, 2025

Apple TV Plus Android app just got these great features

The Apple TV Plus Android app received its first major update, version 1.1, on April 7. This update includes a more intuitive interface for browsing content, automatic subtitle controls with options for "Show when Muted" and "Show on Skip Back," and an Auto-Play feature called "Play a Recommendation." Additionally, Apple TV Plus is offering a promotional deal for new and returning subscribers, allowing access to shows and movies at 70% off, with subscriptions available for .99 per month for the first three months.

AppWizard

April 8, 2025

Meta brings Teen accounts to Facebook and Messenger

Meta is expanding its “Teen Accounts” initiative to include Facebook and Messenger, which were initially introduced on Instagram. This feature automatically implements privacy settings, content restrictions, and parental controls for users under 18. The initial rollout targets users in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, with plans for global availability. Teen Accounts aim to reduce exposure to harmful content and enhance parental oversight by limiting interactions to friends or previously contacted users. Meta reports that 54 million teens worldwide have adopted Teen Accounts on Instagram, with 97% of teens aged 13-15 opting to retain their built-in protections. A study showed that 94% of parents found Teen Accounts helpful, and 85% believed they fostered a positive online experience. Additional protections for teens under 16 on Instagram include requiring parental approval for live broadcasts and disabling nudity protection. Meta has also introduced features to encourage breaks from device usage, such as daily reminders and the activation of “Quiet Mode” at night.

AppWizard

April 8, 2025

Meta expands Instagram parental controls and brings them to Facebook

Individuals under the age of 16 will no longer have access to Instagram's live-streaming feature without obtaining parental consent. Users under 16 will also need parental permission to disable a feature that automatically blurs images suspected of containing nudity in direct messages. Teen Accounts, which are set to private and have limited messaging capabilities, were introduced last September, and approximately 54 million teenagers worldwide have transitioned to these accounts. Similar Teen Account features are being rolled out to Facebook and Facebook Messenger.

AppWizard

April 8, 2025

Teen Accounts Are Coming to Facebook—Parents May Actually Approve

Teens Accounts are being introduced on Facebook and Messenger, allowing users aged 13 to 15 to reconnect with safety features similar to those launched on Instagram. These accounts include parental controls, restrictions on interactions, and content access. Young users can only communicate with contacts they have already engaged with, and parents can monitor usage and settings. Features like reminders for breaks and Quiet Mode are included to promote healthy habits. Restrictions on Instagram Live for users under 16 will also require parental permission. The rollout will begin in select regions, including the USA and Canada, with plans for a broader global expansion.

Tech Optimizer

April 8, 2025

Pools across the sea: how Hyperdrive speeds up access to databases and why we’re making it free

Cloudflare has made Hyperdrive available on the free plan of Cloudflare Workers, allowing developers to create high-performance global applications that connect to SQL databases. Hyperdrive simplifies database connectivity by using existing drivers and connection strings, reducing the need for extensive refactoring. It has been adopted by Cloudflare's engineering teams for various functions, demonstrating its effectiveness in addressing common challenges in application development. Hyperdrive significantly improves performance, with a benchmark showing latency reduction from 1200 ms to 500 ms when using Hyperdrive instead of a direct connection, and further to 320 ms with caching enabled. It employs transaction-mode connection pooling to efficiently manage database connections, minimizing overhead and ensuring optimal performance for serverless applications. Hyperdrive's architecture includes a split connection approach that reduces latency by conducting necessary round trips over shorter distances. It also features a regional pool strategy for selecting data centers based on the inferred location of the Worker, optimizing connection latency. The system includes a dual-layer caching strategy to enhance query performance and reduce load on the origin database. Developers can easily start using Hyperdrive by executing a simple command or using a dashboard to set up a sample Worker application with their existing Postgres database.

AppWizard

April 8, 2025

We’re Introducing New Built-In Restrictions for Instagram Teen Accounts, and Expanding to Facebook and Messenger

Last year, Instagram introduced Teen Accounts with built-in protections for users under 16, requiring parental consent for any changes to default strict settings. A survey indicated that 97% of teens aged 13-15 chose to keep these protective measures. New safeguards for Instagram Live and direct messages will require parental approval for teens under 16. Teen Accounts will also be expanded to Facebook and Messenger, initially targeting users in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. Since their launch, over 54 million teens have used Teen Accounts, which include features like automatic private settings, content controls, and reminder notifications. A survey showed that 94% of parents found Teen Accounts beneficial, with over 90% supporting the default protections.

AppWizard

April 8, 2025

Teen restrictions expand on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger

Meta is expanding its Teen Accounts initiative to Facebook and Messenger, following the initial rollout on Instagram. This expansion aims to create a safer online environment for users under 18 by automatically setting accounts to private and limiting access to certain features. The rollout begins in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, with similar protections anticipated for other regions. Current protections for Teen Accounts include restrictions on messaging with strangers, tighter controls over sensitive content, reminders to limit screen time after 60 minutes, and a sleep mode that mutes notifications overnight. Older teens can disable some protections, but users under 16 need parental permission to make changes. Meta also plans to introduce additional protections on Instagram, including restrictions on live broadcasts for minors and a feature that blurs nudity in direct messages, which also requires parental permission for users under 16.

Tech Optimizer

April 7, 2025

Sakura RAT Released on GitHub Can Bypass Antivirus and EDR Tools

Sakura RAT is a newly developed remote administration tool available on GitHub, designed for use by malware analysts and security researchers. It features capabilities such as hidden browsing, hidden virtual network computing (HVNC), fileless execution, multi-session control, and anti-detection mechanisms to evade antivirus and endpoint detection systems. While marketed for research purposes, its open availability raises concerns about potential misuse by cybercriminals for activities like data exfiltration and ransomware deployment. Cybersecurity experts are advocating for the removal of the repository from GitHub and calling for improved detection systems to combat the risks posed by such advanced tools.

BetaBeacon

April 7, 2025

My seven most anticipated Meta Quest games from the 2025 Ruff Talk VR showcase

- Vestiges: Fallen Tribes is a new interactive board game set in a unique sci-fi universe blending tribal desert style with card-battling minifigure concepts. - The game is playable in VR and on desktop PC via Steam, allowing for a wide range of players and styles. - It features several units controlled at a time with powers given by cards, supports PvP and PvE modes, and offers a solo campaign with diverse objectives and playable tribes. - The game is set to launch on April 24 on the Meta Quest platform.