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A disappointed AirTag owner has actually inadvertently discovered the presence of a concealed “designer mode” in the on-screen user interface that Find My display screens when the Precision Finding function is triggered to help find among Apples item trackers.
Precision Finding is a function that offers users with specific on-screen instructions for finding a nearby AirTag. iPhones with a U1 chip, that includes the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 12 models, can benefit from the feature, which integrates camera input, AR, sound, Ultra Wideband radio technology, and haptic feedback to assist find the item tracker.
The hidden modes overlay, which appears after tapping the products name 4 times in the Precision Finding interface, shows real-time diagnostic and technical information about the functions operation, consisting of accelerometer and gyroscope collaborates, haptic feedback, screen resolution, tracking animations, and more.
Reddit user “cyem” came across the covert mode after ending up being disappointed with the efficiency of their AirTag, particularly when Precision Finding is triggered:

Funnily enough, I tapped on my name about 5 times in disappointment, and found what appears to be a surprise designer mode. Even more interesting, the arrow appears to actually be working underneath – simply not in the normal mode.
The surprise mode in iOS 14.5 is unlikely to be especially helpful to the typical user, and the sliders and buttons that it tosses up probably should not be controlled unless you understand what youre doing. Still, the discovery supplies an intriguing peek under the hood at the hardware and calibration included every time an AirTags Precision Finding is made it possible for.
Apple sells individual AirTags for $29, while a pack of 4 AirTags can be purchased for $99. Single AirTags bought directly from Apple presently ship in 5 to 7 days, while inscribed AirTags and multipacks are presently on a five- to six-week lead time.

Popular Apple TELEVISION+ original program “Servant” has actually been chosen for the Best Drama Series classification in the upcoming 2021 TELEVISION Choice Awards.
Apple announced the election today through its authorities “Servant” Twitter account. The TELEVISION Choice Awards is held each year, with winners granted on the basis of a public vote, rather than being selected by critics. “Servant” will take on 62 other competitors in the Best Drama Series classification in the viewer-selected awards, which celebrate their 25th anniversary this year.
“Servant,” a horror thriller produced by M. Night Shyamalan, follows a Philadelphia couple who are in mourning after losing their child. Their child, Jericho, is changed by a reborn doll that Dorothy, the mother, believes is real, and a strange nanny, Leanne, is hired to take care of the doll. After Leannes arrival, strange things start taking place to the household.
“Servant” was one of the first series on Apple TELEVISION+, and it has stayed popular with Apple TV+subscribers, following a strong second season. Apple renewed the show for a 3rd season in December.
The winners will of this years TV Choice Awards will be revealed online in early September.

KEFs wireless speakers are a nearly perfect window into the future of high-fidelity audio.Two to TangoThe British business has been making speakers given that the early 1960s, however the huge bulk of audiophiles know KEF for its more current designs. You can get them in numerous colors, however my evaluation systems came in a sophisticated matte black with copper accents.Unlike the passive LS50 Meta speakers, which need a stereo amp to provide the juice, the LS50 Wireless II speakers are self-powered. Controls for all of the above can be adjusted with the included small black remote, or by managing the backlit touch controls on the top of the ideal speaker.New KEF SoundUnder the hood, the businesss engineers have invested a significant amount of time making sure that the LS50 Wireless II heartily exceed the original KEF cordless model that came out a number of years ago.The brand-new speakers include what the company calls Metamaterial Absorption Technology, which according to KEF, permits the speakers to absorb up to 60 percent of the distortion-causing energy thats generally shown back into the speaker cabinet. Turn on the KEF LS50 Wireless II and you are greeted by the most immersive, distortion-free sound youve probably ever heard from speakers this size.

Audiophiles are a prickly lot, especially when it pertains to wireless speakers. In order to conserve cash, space, or time, audio companies will frequently take the design of a larger, more pricey gadget and dumb it down slightly to make an item thats more available, and probably better for many of us. Naturally, audio enthusiasts show up their noses at such compromises.Until I tried the KEF LS50 Wireless II, I tended to concur with them. Even at the luxury, cord-cutting speakers simply never matched their cabled equivalents. After a month listening to these brand-new KEFs play everything from Sheryl Crow to Stephen Colbert, Ive heard real proof that amps and cable televisions will ultimately go the method of the dodo. KEFs wireless speakers are a nearly ideal window into the future of high-fidelity audio.Two to TangoThe British business has actually been making speakers given that the early 1960s, but the huge bulk of audiophiles understand KEF for its more current styles. The businesss exclusive Uni-Q motorists, which install the tweeters concentrically within the midrange speaker, are its modern-day calling card. These flower-like chauffeurs have propelled the initial LS50 model to near-mythical levels of nerd appeal considering that they introduced in 2012 to celebrate KEFs 50th anniversary.The LS50 Wireless II has the very same concentric driver design as the initial.
Photograph: Kef Never fear, geeks: The brand-new version of the LS50 looks the very same as the old one. Theyre rounded rectangular shapes with a curved front that showcases the beautiful chauffeurs. You can get them in numerous colors, but my evaluation units can be found in an elegant matte black with copper accents.Unlike the passive LS50 Meta speakers, which require a stereo amp to offer the juice, the LS50 Wireless II speakers are self-powered. Plug them into the wall, and to each other, and there are no external amps required.Even without dedicated outboard hardware, the back of the best speaker has an assortment of inputs. Youll discover an optical input, a coaxial cable television jack, a 3.5-mm mini-jack, and even an HDMI ARC port for TV– an uncommon feature that makes them exceptional for placement in a living-room on either side of a screen. For totally wireless operation, you can combine a PC or phone with them utilizing Bluetooth, or add them to your Wi-Fi network for AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, or Roon streaming. Controls for all of the above can be adjusted with the included small black remote, or by handling the backlit touch controls on the top of the ideal speaker.New KEF SoundUnder the hood, the businesss engineers have spent a significant amount of time guaranteeing that the LS50 Wireless II heartily surpass the initial KEF cordless design that came out several years ago.The new speakers include what the company calls Metamaterial Absorption Technology, which according to KEF, enables the speakers to take in up to 60 percent of the distortion-causing energy thats usually shown back into the speaker cabinet. The maze-like structures of this material inside each speaker arent simple to design; it took a two-year research project with a company called Acoustic Metamaterials Group (AMG) for the company to develop.The results are less made complex to understand than the innovation itself. Switch on the KEF LS50 Wireless II and you are welcomed by the most immersive, distortion-free sound youve probably ever heard from speakers this size. They might look the exact same as their predecessors, but they absolutely sound better.The depth and width of the sound phase is significantly improved, thanks to that lower distortion down low. Each element of the music youre listening to inhabits an almost three-dimensional location in the sound, permitting you do easily dart focus between them or to hear more plainly how they integrate into the whole.Ive become consumed with Lucy Dacus new track “Hot & & Heavy,” which builds from synthy pads to full-fledged dance rock over the first minute. On the KEFs, the sluggish addition of instruments and layers pulls me through the song, as though Im able to see each aspect of the music through a sharp, clear lens. I can hear exactly where each of Dacus vocal harmonies is being in the sound, the perfect edge the engineer obtained from the signal ever so slightly misshaping when she sings her loudest.

The Pixel 5 can also shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second, a very first for Pixels. It likewise uses the biggest battery of the Pixel household at 4,080 mAh, which keeps the phone alive about a day and a half between charges.Get the Pixel 5 at Amazon, B&H, and GoogleThis One … Well, Its Big!Photograph: Google The Pixel 4A 5G (9/10, WIRED Recommends) shares numerous features with the Pixel 5, but it also has some similarities with the Pixel 4A. Battery life is likewise a little even worse than on the Pixel 5, only lasting about one complete day.Like the Pixel 4A, the Pixel 4A 5G is made of plastic, theres no cordless charging or water resistance, and the OLED screen does not have a 90-Hz refresh rate.

The Pixel 5 can likewise shoot 4K video at 60 frames per 2nd, a first for Pixels. It likewise uses the greatest battery of the Pixel household at 4,080 mAh, which keeps the phone alive about a day and a half between charges.Get the Pixel 5 at Amazon, B&H, and GoogleThis One … Well, Its Big!Photograph: Google The Pixel 4A 5G (9/10, WIRED Recommends) shares numerous features with the Pixel 5, however it likewise has some similarities with the Pixel 4A. Battery life is also a little worse than on the Pixel 5, only lasting about one full day.Like the Pixel 4A, the Pixel 4A 5G is made of plastic, theres no cordless charging or water resistance, and the OLED screen does not have a 90-Hz refresh rate.

Taking a screenshot on an iPad is as easy as pressing 2 buttons simultaneously on your gadget– or you can utilize an alternative onscreen approach. Heres how to do it.

What Is a Screenshot?
A screenshot is a direct capture of precisely whats on your devices screen. With a screenshot, you can catch what youre seeing, and then conserve it for later or share it with others without having to take a photo of your gadget with a cam.
On an iPad, when you capture a screenshot, its conserved as an image in your Photos library in the “Screenshots” album (unless you pick to wait to Files after modifying, which youll see more about below). As soon as the screenshot remains in Photos, you can share it, similar to any other image or image stored on your gadget.
How to Take a Screenshot Using Buttons

Many people catch a screenshot on their iPad utilizing a mix of hardware buttons. The buttons that you press are different based on the type of iPad that you have. Here are the combinations:

Then tap “Back.” To take a screenshot, just perform a single tap, a double tap, or a long press on the AssistiveTouch button (depending on which one you selected).
The 2nd method for taking screenshots without buttons is by utilizing the AssistiveTouch menu. By default, the “Single-Tap” custom action in Settings > > Touch > > AssistiveTouch is designated to “Open Menu.” You can tap the AssistiveTouch button at any time to see a pop-up menu if thats still the case.
When you see the pop-up menu, choose Device > > More, and then tap “Screenshot” to take a screenshot.

If you tap the thumbnail, youll go into an edit mode where you can add notes to your screenshot, crop it, and more.

After that, youll capture a screenshot exactly as if you d pressed the screenshot button mix on your iPad.
What Happens Next?
A thumbnail image of the screenshot will appear in the lower-left corner of the screen when you record a screenshot on your iPad. If you not do anything, the thumbnail will disappear immediately and the screenshot will be saved in your “Screenshots” album in the Photos app.

iPads without a Home button: Briefly press and hold the Top button and the Volume Up button at the exact same time.
iPads with a Home button: Briefly press and hold the Top button and the Home button at the exact same time.

Most people record a screenshot on their iPad utilizing a mix of hardware buttons. The buttons that you press are various based on the type of iPad that you have. The second method for taking screenshots without buttons is by using the AssistiveTouch menu. When youre done modifying, tap “Done,” and your iPad will ask whether you want to conserve the screenshot to Photos or Files, or if you d prefer to delete it. The only limitation to the number of screenshots that you can take is the size of your iPads storage.

Now that AssistiveTouch is turned on, there are 2 main methods that you can set off a screenshot with it. The very first is by utilizing “Custom Actions” that take place when you tap the AssistiveTouch button.
On the Settings > > Touch > > AssistiveTouch screen, locate the “Custom Actions” section. Tap “Single-Tap,” “Double-Tap,” or “Long Press” depending upon your choice, and then choose “Screenshot” from the list of actions that appear.

Youll see a button that looks like a circle inside a rounded rectangle near the edge of your screen as soon as AssistiveTouch is allowed. This is the AssistiveTouch button. You can drag it with your finger to reposition it, but it always remains on your screen as long as AssistiveTouch is allowed.

How to Take a Screenshot without Buttons
You can also capture screenshots on your iPad without utilizing the hardware buttons utilizing a feature called AssistiveTouch. This is available in useful if you cant physically perform the button mix, or if one of the buttons is broken or harmed.
To allow AssistiveTouch, open Settings and navigate to Accessibility > > Touch > > AssistiveTouch. Flip the switch next to “AssistiveTouch” to the on position.

When youre done modifying, tap “Done,” and your iPad will ask whether you want to save the screenshot to Photos or Files, or if you d choose to delete it. The only limit to the number of screenshots that you can take is the size of your iPads storage.
RELATED: What To Do When Your iPhone or iPad Runs Out of Space

To remove a pin, click the three-dot menu icon again and pick “Unpin” from the menu. The pin icon will be gotten rid of, and the discussion or space will go back to its initial spot in the list.

To unpin a discussion or space in either view, follow the very same steps and choose “Unpin.”.
Pin Conversations in the Google Chat Mobile App.
The procedure for pinning conversations and spaces in the mobile app is simply as basic, and the steps need to work the very same for Google Chat on Android as they do for Google Chat on iPhone and iPad.
Tap and hold a discussion or room and choose “Pin” from the menu.

To remove a pin, tap, hold, and select “Unpin” from the menu.

The discussion or space will relocate to the top of the Chat or Rooms list. It will likewise show a pin icon on the right.

If you have the conversation or room in full view, click the arrow at the leading next to the name( s) and choose “Pin.”.

Pin from within a Conversation or Room Online
Another alternative for pinning a conversation or space is to do it from within the interactions window. If you have a discussion or room open in the little window, click the three-dot menu icon and select “Pin.”.

Pin from within a Conversation or Room on Mobile.
If you have a discussion or room completely view on your screen, tap the arrow at the top beside the name( s) and choose “Pin.”.

Whether you communicate with others a little or a lot in Google Chat, having fast access to your most important conversations is essential. For this, you can pin discussions in Google Chat on the internet, in Gmail online, and in the mobile app.
Pin Conversations in Google Chat or Gmail Online
If you use Google Chat online or have it enabled in the sidebar for your online Gmail account, you can quickly pin a discussion or a space. The alternatives and directions are the exact same in both spots.
RELATED: How to Clean Up the Gmail Sidebar
Click the three-dot menu icon to the right of a conversation or space and select “Pin” from the drop-down menu.

To remove a pin, tap the arrow and choose “Unpin.”.
If you pin a discussion or room in any of the above places, your pin will sync with the others. For instance, you can pin a conversation on the Google Chat website which very same conversation will be pinned in the mobile app. Unpinning conversations or spaces works the same.
You can lastly keep your crucial interactions at the top of the list in Google Chat, simply like you can by pinning texts in Messages on iPhone and iPad.

The discussion or room will transfer to a Pinned section at the top.

Phyns smart water sensor will not take up much room either. When the sensing unit discovers water, it will set off an audio alarm, shine an LED, and notify you through SMS messages and the connected Phyn app. Similar sensing units, like the Flo by Moen water sensing unit, begin at $49.99 and consist of a sensing unit cable television to extend water detection into hard-to-reach corners. Phyns water sensing unit does not include the cable television.

The opening $39.99 rate does require some compromise. Similar sensors, like the Flo by Moen water sensor, start at $49.99 and consist of a sensing unit cable to extend water detection into hard-to-reach corners. Phyns water sensor does not consist of the cable. Youll have to buy an extension node independently for $9.99. However if you dont require it, you can save money. And if you do, its still a fantastic option for anyone that owns a Phyn Plus..
And if you require to reach a lot more remote places, Phyn also provides a longer sensor cable that can extend the node even farther. You can buy the Phyn smart water sensing unit from the companys website today.

Phyn
If youre stressed about possible water leakages, a clever water detector is an excellent service. However you can usually expect to spend in between $50 and $100 for a clever water sensor. Phyns new sensor goes an optional device route to decrease the cost and starts at simply $39.99.
Phyns clever water sensing unit wont take up much space either. At 3.5 inches, its compact and sleek. Its likewise battery-powered, so you wont need to stress over discovering an outlet because cranny youre concerned may have a leakage. Phynn states its smart water sensor will last approximately 2 years before you require to change the battery.
When the sensor detects water, it will trigger an audio alarm, shine an LED, and notify you through SMS messages and the linked Phyn app. And the sensing unit does not just discover water. You can likewise tailor it to find freezing temperature levels and potentially damaging low and high humidity levels and get notifications. You can even look at temperature levels and humidity levels in real-time.
Phyn
If you own a Phyn Plus, a clever water shut-off valve, it will connect to the Phynn water sensing unit. When the sensor identifies liquid, it will turn off your homes water to avoid damage..
” At Phyn, we wish to make it as simple as possible for people to safeguard their houses from the debilitating effects and high cost of water damage,” stated Ryan Kim, CEO of Phyn. “From the Phyn Plus, our professional whole-home monitoring system, to the DIY Phyn Smart Water Assistant, and the newly launched Smart Water Sensor, our broad variety of items makes it accessible for all house owners to begin taking proactive steps to protect their houses.”.

While youre checking out shopping sites, Microsoft Edge may suggest coupons or cost contrasts with a feature called “Shopping in Microsoft Edge” that became allowed by default in December of 2020. Heres how to turn it off.
First, open Edge. In any window, click the menu button (three dots) and select “Settings.”.

Scroll down to the “Services” area and turn the switch next to “Save time and money with Shopping in Microsoft Edge” to turn it “Off.”.

In the Settings tab, click “Privacy, search, and services” in the sidebar.

After that, close the Settings tab. You will no longer see rate rebates, coupons, and ideas appear in Edge while youre shopping. Pleased surfing!
RELATED: What You Need to Know About the New Microsoft Edge Browser.

If increasing the text size does not suffice, try the Zoom function. It will let you zoom in to a small part of the screen using a double-tap gesture.
RELATED: How to Enable and Use Zooming on Your Apple Watch.

Heres how you can increase the text size on your Apple Watch
Dynamic Type lets you reduce the text or increase size throughout the whole operating system, consisting of the default apps. If third-party apps support Dynamic Type (and lots of popular apps do), the text size will update there.
If youre discovering the text on the Apple Watch hard to check out, we recommend that you go with the largest text size.

As youre changing the text size, youll see the preview text change. This will assist you decide which text size to go with.
Merely press the Digital Crown button once youre done.

Now, go to the “Display and Brightness” section and choose the “Text Size” alternative.

Now, youll see the upgraded and increased text size in (nearly) every app set up on your Apple Watch.

Youll see a text size slider at the top. Turn the Digital Crown to reduce the text or increase size. We suggest that you go with the largest text size if youre discovering the text on the Apple Watch hard to check out.

Khamosh Pathak
Some text on your Apple Watchs tiny screen can be hard to check out. Smaller text can be discovered in app menus, alerts, or messaging apps. Heres how you can increase the text size on your Apple Watch
Much like the iPhone and iPad, the Apple Watch supports Dynamic Type. Dynamic Type lets you decrease the text or increase size throughout the whole operating system, consisting of the default apps. The text size will update there as well if third-party apps support Dynamic Type (and many popular apps do).
You can reduce the text or increase size from the Settings menu. From the watch face, press the Digital Crown to open the apps screen.

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When Apple generally problems mid-cycle iOS updates, I dont always upgrade my iPhone right away. Particularly if the brand-new upgrade does not attend to any major security issues or have any engaging brand-new functions, Ive never ever been in a rush to update my phone if things are already running smoothly. The current release of iOS 14.5.1, however, is an exception and an upgrade youll probably wish to download as quickly as possible.
Apple initially launched iOS 14.5 practically a week ago with a host of brand-new functions, including the companys new App Tracking Transparency structure, brand-new Siri voices, a wide variety of new emojis, assistance for AirTags, and more. Just a few days later on, Apple presented an iOS 14.5.1 upgrade that it said addressed a bug related to its App Tracking Transparency function. An Apple assistance file, nevertheless, reveals that the new iOS upgrade also addresses two serious security issues.

While its not uncommon for iOS updates to tackle security concerns or bugs, this upgrade is different insofar that the security concerns at play may have already been made use of in the wild. To put it simply, these arent theoretical security concerns, however rather security concerns with potentially real-world effects.
Dealing with the two security problems, Apple notes that its mindful that both of them “might have been actively made use of.”
Both security concerns involve WebKit and include all iPhone designs going all the way back to the iPhone 6s. A variety of iPad designs are impacted as well:
Apple details the security material of its iOS 14.5.1 and iPadOS 14.5.1 updates as follows:

A life long Mac user and Apple enthusiast, Yoni Heisler has been writing about Apple and the tech industry at large for over 6 years. His writing has appeared in Edible Apple, Network World, MacLife, Macworld UK, and most recently, TUAW. When not discussing and analyzing the current happenings with Apple, Yoni delights in capturing Improv shows in Chicago, playing soccer, and cultivating brand-new TV show addictions, the most recent examples being The Walking Dead and Broad City.

Apple hasnt provided more in-depth information about how the problems above may have been made use of, however youll still wish to update to iOS 14.5.1 as soon as you can.
Security issues aside, there are numerous other reasons to upgrade to 14.5.1 if youre still running iOS 14.4 or an even older model of iOS. To this point, some other iOS 14.5 functions worth pointing out include:.
Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch.
Ability to unlock your iPhone X and later on with Apple Watch Series 3 and later on when you try to utilize Face ID while wearing a face mask.
AirTag and Find My.
Assistance for AirTag to monitor and find your essential products like your secrets, wallet, backpack and more, privately and firmly in the Find My app.
Accuracy Finding utilizes visual, audible, and haptic feedback to direct you straight to your neighboring AirTag utilizing Ultra Wideband offered by the U1 chip on iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 models.
AirTag can be located by playing a sound through the built-in speaker.
The Find My network with numerous countless gadgets can help you discover your AirTag, even when it isnt close by.
Lost Mode alerts you when your AirTag is found, and you can enter a phone number where you can be contacted.
Siri.
Siri now includes more diverse voice choices.
Inbound calls can be announced with Siri, including who is calling, when youre wearing your AirPods or compatible Beats earphones, and you can respond to hands-free.
Group FaceTime calls are supported by asking Siri to FaceTime a list of contacts or a group name from Messages.
Emergency contacts can be called by asking Siri Privacy.
Podcasts.
Podcasts Show Pages are revamped to make it easier to begin listening.
Choice to conserve and download episodes, instantly including them to your Library for quick gain access to.
Download habits and notification settings can be customized on a show-by-show basis.
Leading Charts and popular categories in Search aid you find brand-new programs.
5G Improvements.
Double SIM support makes it possible for 5G connectivity on the line thats utilizing cellular data on iPhone 12 models.
Smart Data Mode improvements further enhance your experience on 5G networks for better battery life and data use on iPhone 12 models.
5G international roaming allowed on supported providers on iPhone 12 modelsNews.
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WebKit
Available for: iPhone sixes and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod touch (7th generation).
Effect: Processing maliciously crafted web content may result in approximate code execution. Apple is mindful of a report that this concern may have been actively made use of.
Description: A memory corruption concern was attended to with better state management.
CVE-2021-30665: yangkang (@dnpushme)&& zerokeeper & bianliang of 360 ATA.
WebKit.
Available for: iPhone sixes and later on, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 2 and later on, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 4 and later on, and iPod touch (7th generation).
Effect: Processing maliciously crafted web content might lead to approximate code execution. Apple understands a report that this problem might have been actively made use of.
Description: An integer overflow was resolved with improved input validation.
CVE-2021-30663: a confidential researcher.

When Apple normally problems mid-cycle iOS updates, I do not constantly upgrade my iPhone right away. Especially if the new upgrade doesnt attend to any severe security problems or have any engaging brand-new functions, Ive never been in a rush to update my phone if things are currently running efficiently. The recent release of iOS 14.5.1, nevertheless, is an exception and an upgrade youll most likely want to download as quickly as possible.
Just a couple of days later on, Apple rolled out an iOS 14.5.1 upgrade that it said resolved a bug associated with its App Tracking Transparency feature. An Apple assistance document, nevertheless, exposes that the new iOS upgrade likewise addresses two serious security concerns.