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Android Messages Fights Spam With A New Feature

It’s challenging to stay away from spam. We have spammy emails, WhatsApp messages, Facebook spam, and so on. Also, lately, SMS spam is another common issue that annoys everyone. While the majority of the modern Android smartphones come with the option to block spam messages, Google thinks differently and fights spam with a new feature in its Android Messages app.

As reported by Android Police, the new spam-protection feature in Android Messages is server-sided, meaning that users don’t need to update the app to a newer version. However, the so-called Spam Protection function is not yet available to all users of the Android Messages app, and it seems that it rolls out slowly to the devices running the application around the world.

At the moment, some users got the new feature, while others are still waiting to get it. From those who already have the new Spam Protection, we’ve learned that it comes as a popup notification.

Android Messages Fights Spam With A New Feature Called “Spam Protection”

The popup notification users receive when the so-called Spam Protection function hits the devices asks the users to either enable it or keep it off. However, it will always be available for anyone to reach in the Settings section of the Android Messages app, so you can turn it on/off whenever you want.

However, it seems that the feature sends some information back to Google, such as the numbers behind incoming messages, but not the content of the SMS or other data that could identify senders personally.

Since Google did not offer any explanation how Spam Protection feature works, we guess that the giant Internet company is going to use the famous machine-learning algorithms to spot messages that could be suspect. Also, with the addition of this new function, Google proves its commitment to improving Android Messages, the company’s SMS app, and RCS messaging protocol.

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Netflix Discontinued In-App Subscriptions For iOS Users

Following the example of Spotify and other high-profile streaming services and apps, Netflix discontinued in-app subscriptions for iOS users. That means, now, the most popular streaming service at the moment, Netflix, will not anymore support sign-up from either new or returning customers who use iOS devices. iPhone and iPad users can only sign up on Netflix using the service’s website.

“We no longer support iTunes as a method of payment for new members. Existing members who currently use iTunes as a method of payment can continue to do so. From our mobile to TV experience, working with Apple helps us deliver great entertainment to members around the world, and they remain a valued partner,” said Netflix’s representatives for MobileSyrup, via email.

What Netflix was saying is that, from now on, iOS users who use in-app subscriptions but miss a payment won’t be able to return to the platform via the application. Otherwise, nothing is changed for them if they never miss a payment.

Netflix Discontinued In-App Subscriptions For iOS Users

Even though Netflix did not state why it adopted such a change, given the situation of Apple, it might be possible that Netflix, as well as the other streaming services, is not accepting anymore the high cost of using Apple’s in-app subscription program.

Currently, Apple charges Netflix and other apps with 30% out of all in-app subscriptions made on iPhone and iPad devices. However, that cut is reducing by half if an iOS user keeps its membership for at least 12 months. Nonetheless, the high cost of Apple’s in-app subscription program forced Spotify to give up on in-app subscriptions for its iOS apps.

On the other hand, this situation is similar to that of Google Play Store which has been ditched by Fortnite, the renowned Battle Royale title, also due to the high cost of the app taxes.

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Apple iOS 12.1.2: Good Battery Life for iPhone?

We’ve all seen how, after iOS 12.1.1 cut off cellular data for some users, we believed it needed to act quickly. We are very fortunate that the iOS 12.1.2 is ready to meet the light of the day. Also, is it ready to do so? In such a short time, wouldn’t it cause more problems?

In this article, we’re going to tell you everything we know so far.

Who is this upgrade for?

iOS 12.1.2 can work with all iOS 11 devices, which means that the iPhone 5S or later devices, and iPad mini 2 or later devices, and the 6th generation of iPod touch or later devices are good to go.

It’s true, those compatible devices will automatically be prompted to upgrade, but if that does not happen to you, then you can do it manually, from Settings, to General, to Software Update. For beta testers, things run differently, as you might have to unroll your device for the update to appear.

It has about 85MB, but it can differ since different devices get different updates, so it may vary from an iPad to an iPhone.

What’s bad about it?

iOS 12.1.2 has not to be jailbroken yet, not even iOS 12 releases before this one, so you might want to stay away before you update it to the latest version. But as of now, we don’t really see any chances.

Are there any issues?

This new update doesn’t seem to fix the cellular data problem we’ve talked about at the beginning of the article. Others say that it has a problem with the Wi-Fi. If these problems make their way into our lives, Apple has to think fast and fix them as soon as possible.

However, there are no problems regarding the battery life – which is rare, if we are to be honest – and general stability doesn’t seem to cause any problems.

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More and more Android Owners are Willing to Become iPhone XR Users

It’s no secret that Apple smartphones are expensive. It’s true that they put top notch technology in their users’ hands, but a lot of people have given up the idea of buying the latest devices released by the Cupertino-based company because their price is too high.

Even if the demand rate and customers’ interest in buying the newest iPhones is lower than Apple initially expected, the end of this year comes with good news for the company founded by Steve Jobs. It looks like their lower-priced handset, iPhone XR, is convincing more and more Android owners to become Apple customers.

A report recently published by the Consumer Intelligence Research Partners shows that 16% of iPhone XR buyers were people who switched from Android phones. This happened only in October 2018, the month when the handset was launched, but the number increased as time passed. And that’s not all! Around 32% of phones sold in the U.S during that same month were iPhone XRs.

A lower-priced iPhone made a lot of Android users curious to see what it has to offer

The aforementioned report also states that iPhone XR is actually the most popular smartphone from those released by Apple recently. This means that even the company’s regular customers preferred this variant over the more expensive ones. Let’s face it, no tech fan will miss the opportunity of having a phone that combines outstanding technology with a more affordable price.

Apple could turn the launch of iPhone XR into a habit. This means that they might consider releasing a more affordable smartphone with the same top notch features as expensive devices every year. On the other hand, the Cupertino-based company is preparing outstanding releases for next year, so they could be counting on those tech wonders for increasing their number of users.

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OnePlus 5 and 5T Receive First Stable Android Pie Update With OxygenOS 9.0.0

OnePlus is renowned for being the most developer-friendly Android OEMs, and some users even reported that OxygenOS is a much better solution than Android stock version, as it comes out with many more features and performance enhancements. Now, OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T receive first stable Android Pie update with OxygenOS 9.0.0.

Until now, OnePlus launched a couple of open beta Android Pie updates for OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T. However, now, OnePlus launched the first stable Android Pie update covered with OxygenOS 9.0.0. The first impressive change the new Android Pie version boasts is the reimagined user interface which presents a lot of UI refinements.

OnePlus, however, brings even more UI changes over those already implemented by Google in the Android 9 Pie version, and all that thanks to OxygenOS 9.0.0 which added even more changes to the aesthetic side of the system. Besides, the OxygenOS 9.0.0 for the OnePlus 5 and 5T brings in the  December security patches and many performance enhancements.

OnePlus 5 and 5T Receive First Stable Android Pie Update With OxygenOS 9.0.0

Here is the full changelog of the first stable Android Pie update with OxygenOS 9.0.0 for OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T:

System

  • Updated system to Android Pie
  • Brand new UI for Android Pie
  • Brand new navigation gestures (Available for OnePlus 5T only)
  • Updated Android security patch to 2018.12
  • Other new features and system improvements

New Gaming mode 3.0

  • Added text notification mode
  • Added notification for 3rd party calls

Do Not Disturb mode

  • New Do Not Disturb (DND) mode with adjustable settings

Camera

  • Integrated Google Lens camera mode

As OnePlus usually does, the new update will be rolled out to a small number of OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T users, at first, to avoid the risk of sending an unstable build. In just a few days, however, the Chinese manufacturer will commence a broader release of the new update.

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