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  • VMware Fusion Brings Support for Apple’s Native Silicon

    VMware Fusion Brings Support for Apple’s Native Silicon

    VMware has released VMware Fusion 13, bringing native support for Apple Silicon Macs.

    VMware is one of the leading virtualization platforms, with the company’s Fusion program popular on macOS. The latest version brings native support for machines supporting Apple’s custom silicon, making it possible to run the Arm variant of Windows 11 on Apple’s computers.

    The company is offering Fusion 13 as a universal binary that can run on Intel chips and Apple Silicon.

    “On both Intel and Apple Silicon, Fusion 13 brings support for Windows 11 virtual machines,” writes Michael Roy, Product Line Manager for Desktop Hypervisor products. “In order to achieve support for Windows 11 System Requirements while still providing performant virtual machines, we had to innovate. We’ve delivered a new Virtual Trusted Platform Module (2.0) device that is recognized as a valid TPM, and new encryption method to support that TPM.”

    Interested parties can download the trial here: https://vmware.com/go/tryfusion

  • Bending Spoons Is Acquiring Evernote

    Popular note-taking app Evernote is being acquired by Bending Spoons, a leading mobile app developer.

    Evernote rose to popularity by being “an extension of your brain,” a central place to store notes, receipts, and various types of media. CEO Ian Small announced the acquisition in a blog post, saying the move will enable it to “take the next strategic step” in its journey:

    For Evernote, this decision is the next strategic step forward on our journey to be an extension of your brain. The path we’ve taken in recent years—rebuilding our apps in order to expand Evernote’s utility and deepen its appeal—has made possible new features, deep focus on our customers, and ultimately, an #everbetter productivity solution on the cusp of the next stage of innovation and growth. Teaming up with Bending Spoons will speed that journey, accelerating the delivery of improvements across our Teams, Professional, Personal, and Free offerings.

    Small assures users that their data will remain secure and private, and touts the benefits of becoming part of Bending Spoons’ ecosystem:

    While ownership is changing hands, our commitment to keeping your data safe and secure remains as steadfast as ever, and the Evernote you know and love will continue to thrive. Joining Bending Spoons allows us to take advantage of their proven app expertise and wide range of proprietary technologies. Even a small glimpse into their vibrant suite of apps, including Splice for video editing and Remini for AI-assisted photo editing, demonstrates why about 100 million people rely on Bending Spoons products every month. Bending Spoons has built a remarkable business with strong financials and has the ability and resources to propel Evernote forward.

    The deal is expected to be completed in early 2023.

  • DuckDuckGo Android App Now Offers Some of the Best Privacy Protection

    DuckDuckGo Android App Now Offers Some of the Best Privacy Protection

    DuckDuckGo (DDG) has opened its App Tracking Protection beta to all Android users, providing some of the most capable privacy protection.

    App Tracking Protection acts as a local VPN on an Android device. Rather than creating a network connection, like a typical VPN, the feature acts as a VPN only in the sense that it forces all apps to route their network requests through it. This allows App Tracking Protection to block tracking attempts, even giving users a report of how many times an app has tried tracking them.

    DDG is quick to point out, however, that no data is sent to the company:

    App Tracking Protection uses a local “VPN connection,” which means that it works its magic right on your smartphone and without sending app data to DuckDuckGo or other remote servers. That is, App Tracking Protection does not route your app data through external companies (including ours).

    The need for App Tracking Protection quickly becomes apparent when considering the sheer volume of tracking users are subjected to:

    The average Android user has 35 apps on their phone. Through our testing, we’ve found that a phone with 35 apps can experience between 1,000-2,000 tracking attempts every day and contact 70+ different tracking companies.

    At WPN, we have been using DDG’s App Tracking Protection since it was in closed beta and have been consistently impressed with the results. In fact, this writer will not run an Android-based phone without App Tracking Protection installed.

    Many, including DDG, will compare App Tracking Protection to Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) iOS feature. In some ways, however, DDG’s solution is superior. Some of the largest app makers, and some of the most egregious privacy abusers, have been bypassing ATT. It seems that Apple may even be turning a blind eye to their activity because of how big they are.

    In contrast, DDG’s solution gives the users true control. There are some apps for which App Tracking Protection is disabled by default since there are known issues. However, the user has the option to enable protection for those apps anyway and deal with any compatibility issues.

    In short, we can’t recommend App Tracking Protection enough. ALL Android users should immediately download the DuckDuckGo app and enable the feature in Settings.

  • VLC Is Available in India Once Again

    The VLC media player is once again available in India following a ban that prohibited downloads of the popular software.

    VLC is one of the most popular and powerful media players, capable of handling almost any video or audio format. Inexplicably, India ordered all telecom’s to block downloads of the app and access to its website more than nine months ago, without giving any indication as to the reason.

    According to TechCrunch, the country has now lifted the ban.

    “This ban was put into place without any prior notice and without giving VideoLAN the opportunity of a hearing, which went against the 2009 Blocking Rules and the law laid down by the Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India. This was strange because VLC Media Player is an open-source software which is used by nearly 80 million Indians,” the New Delhi-based Internet Freedom Foundation said in a statement.

    As TechCrunch points out, some have speculated that the ban may have been in response to a Symantec report that hackers with ties to Beijing were exploiting popular apps, including VLC, to gain access to users’ computers. By banning the official VLC, however, many users were driven to less secure alternatives, including versions of the open source program that were maliciously hacked.

  • Microsoft Teams Available on Linux as a Progressive Web App

    Microsoft Teams Available on Linux as a Progressive Web App

    Microsoft has made a major change to its Linux Teams client, making it available as a progressive web app (PWA).

    Microsoft Teams is one of the most popular corporate communication platforms and competes with Slack and Zoom. Despite offering a Linux client, Microsoft is throwing its weight behind a PWA version of Teams.

    The new version offers significant benefits over the old app, including a more up-to-date experience on distros that may not update their software repositories as often. The PWA also does not require users to rely on Flatpaks or Snaps, which some users do not like.

    “Linux customers who rely on Microsoft Teams for collaboration and communication needs told us they want the full richness of Teams features available for their users in a secure way,” writes Anupam Pattnaik in a Microsoft blog post. “This can now be achieved using the Teams PWA.

    “Additionally, the PWA enables us to ship the latest Microsoft Teams features faster to our Linux customers and helps us bridge the gaps between the Teams desktop client on Linux and Windows. The PWA experience is available for both Edge and Chrome browsers running on Linux.”

    Microsoft Teams Linux PWA – Credit Microsoft

    The new app is supported via Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome.

    “The PWA offers access to more capabilities, including custom backgrounds, gallery view, reactions, the raise-a-hand feature in meetings, as well as large gallery and Together mode views,” Pattnaik adds. “The PWA also provides desktop-like app features, such as system notifications for chat and channel, a dock icon with respective controls, application auto-start, and easy access to system app permissions.

    “The Microsoft Teams PWA for Linux can be used with Conditional Access configuration, applied through Endpoint Manager, to enable Linux users to access the Teams web application while securely using Edge. This helps organizations use an industry-leading, unified endpoint management solution for Teams from Linux endpoints with security and quality built in.”

    Users can go to https://teams.microsoft.com to get started. In the meantime, the old Linux Teams client will be retired in December 2022.

  • Google Is Launching One VPN on macOS and Windows

    Google Is Launching One VPN on macOS and Windows

    Google is launching its One VPN service on macOS and Windows, expanding beyond the initial iOS and Android offering.

    VPN services are a popular way to protect privacy online, access geo-restricted content, and circumvent censorship. Google’s One VPN service is already available for iOS and Android, but the company is now bringing the service to macOS and Windows. The VPN is available for free on Google One accounts with a 2TB or higher account.

    Of course, a major concern that some people may have is the company running this particular VPN. A VPN service works by routing all of a user’s traffic through a trusted server, thereby masking that traffic from outsiders. In order to be effective, however, the company running the VPN servers must be trusted implicitly, since it’s the one entity privy to ALL the user’s internet traffic.

    At its core, Google is a company that makes money off of user data. Even now, the company is facing a lawsuit tracking users when Chrome’s Incognito Mode was active, despite leading users to believe their browsing activity was private.

    So the real question is: Should users trust a company that profits from data, not to mention a company with a history of privacy abuses, with ALL of their most sensitive internet traffic?

    Our answer is no. Users would be far better off using Mullvad, or another reputable service.

  • No More Standalone Google Street View App

    No More Standalone Google Street View App

    Google is retiring its standalone Street View app, with plans to kill it effective March 2023.

    First spotted by 9to5Google, the latest version of Street View contains hidden notices that point to the app’s impending demise.

    Street View App is going away

    The app is going away and support will end March 21, 2023.

    To publish your own 360 video, switch to Street View Studio. To view Street View and add Photo Spheres, use Google Maps.

    Users will still be able to access the Street View feature in the Google Maps app.

  • RIP Google Hangouts: Google Puts the Nail in the Coffin

    RIP Google Hangouts: Google Puts the Nail in the Coffin

    Google has officially shut down Google Hangouts in its push to replace it with Google Chat.

    Google announced it was shutting down Hangouts, effective November 2022, and that date is finally here. The company outlined Hangouts’ fate in a support document:

    Starting November 1, 2022, Hangouts on the web will no longer be available. If you wish to keep your Hangouts data, we strongly encourage you to use Google Takeout and download a copy before January 1, 2023, when Hangouts data will be deleted.

    Google has a long history of troubles with messaging. The company has never had a unified vision for its messaging, leading Ars Technica to call out the company for “a decade and a half of instability.”

    It remains to be seen if Google’s latest venture fairs any better than its previous ones.

  • Preview App in macOS Ventura Loses PostScript Support

    Preview App in macOS Ventura Loses PostScript Support

    The latest version of macOS’ Preview app is losing a major feature, especially for Apple’s target audience.

    Preview is the macOS image and PDF viewer. According to a support document, the Preview app is losing support for PostScript files.

    The Preview app included with your Mac supports PostScript (.ps) and Encapsulated PostScript (.eps) files in macOS Monterey or earlier. Starting with macOS Ventura, Preview no longer supports these files. Other apps that can view or convert .ps and .eps files are available from the App Store and elsewhere.

    According to Apple, users can still print .ps and .eps files by dragging them to the printer queue.

    Given that Apple’s target audience includes graphics professionals, the feature removal is an odd choice for the company.

  • Google Is Turning the Tables on Apple’s iMessage

    Google Is Turning the Tables on Apple’s iMessage

    Google is working to improve texting compatibility, even if Apple isn’t interested in doing its part.

    Google has been increasingly calling Apple out for its failure to adopt RCS messaging. RCS is the successor to basic SMS and includes the features iMessage has become known for. Google wants Apple to adopt RCS for cross-platform communication rather than falling back to the more primitive SMS, a move that would have no negative impact on communication between Apple devices. Absent Apple’s participation, Google is taking matters into its own hands.

    Google is improving Messages in 10 specific ways, including making it easier to respond to a specific message, adding Voice Message Transcription to voice messages, adding reminders directly in Messages, as well as making it possible to watch YouTube videos in Messages.

    The company is also adding some extremely useful features, such as Messages automatically suggesting that certain messages be starred, such as those that include addresses, phone numbers, door codes, and other information that a user may want to quickly find later.

    Interestingly, Google looks to be turning the tables on Apple with how it handles reactions. Inline reactions were first introduced in Messages in March 2022 and addressed one of the biggest pain points of cross-platform messaging. Prior to that update, when an iPhone user tapped the laughing reaction, the Android user would see “John Doe laughed at…” Following the March update, Message now translates iOS reactions to RCS emojis.

    Google is now going a step further, giving Android users the ability to add their own reactions to the SMS messages iOS sends to Android.

    Earlier this year, we started displaying emoji reactions from iPhone users on your Android phone. Now we’re taking a step further by letting you react to SMS texts from iPhone users with emoji as well. While RCS is the ultimate solution, we’re doing what we can to help Android users have a way to consistently react to messages.

    Google’s Jan Jedrzejowicz, Group Product Manager, makes it quite clear that the company is looking to ramp up pressure on Apple:

    As RCS adoption accelerates, we’re doing what’s possible to improve messaging between Android and iOS, like adding support for reactions. This builds on a suite of features that you already love, like an organized inbox that separates personal and business messages, the ability to share sharper videos and scheduled messages. And we’re doing even more.

    The move is actually quite brilliant. Android users sick of receiving the “John Doe laughed at…” messages forced Google to translate those reactions and display them natively. The company is clearly hoping that doing the same thing in reverse will put pressure on Apple to adopt RCS. Tim Cook has made it clear he doesn’t believe Apple users have any interest in RCS, but that may change when millions of iPhone users start complaining about what Android users have experienced for years.

  • The iPad is Getting DaVinci Resolve

    The iPad is Getting DaVinci Resolve

    Popular video editing software DaVinci Resolve is coming to the iPad, tapping into the power of Apple’s silicon.

    DaVinci Resolve is a popular video editing platform used by millions. The software has been used in the production of some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters in history. Blackmagic Design, the company behind the program, announced it is bringing it to the iPad:

    Blackmagic Design today announced DaVinci Resolve for iPad, so creators can extend video workflows in new ways and new places. Optimized for MultiTouch technology and Apple Pencil, DaVinci Resolve for iPad features support for cut and color pages providing access to DaVinci’s award winning image technology, color finishing tools and latest HDR workflows. And Blackmagic Cloud support allows creators to collaborate with multiple users around the world. DaVinci Resolve for iPad will be available in Q4 2022 from the Apple App Store as a free download, with an upgrade to DaVinci Resolve Studio for iPad also available as an in-app purchase.

    The announcement is good news for DaVinci Resolve fans, not to mention for Apple and the iPad. Apple has consistently tried to position the iPad as a true computer alternative. The iPad, especially the Pro model, certainly has the power to challenge even high-end computers, but software has always been its Achilles heel, with professional options hampered by the limits of iPadOS. With recent improvements to the OS, however, the way is open for more apps like DaVinci Resolve to make their way to the platform.

  • DuckDuckGo’s macOS Web Browser Now in Open Beta

    DuckDuckGo’s macOS Web Browser Now in Open Beta

    DuckDuckGo for Mac has entered public beta, available to anyone who wants a more private web browsing experience.

    DuckDuckGo has long provided a search app and browser on mobile platforms and browser extensions on the desktop. The company as been working to expand its offerings, building a full-fledged web browser for macOS and Windows. The company first announced its plans in December 2021, followed by an invite-only beta.

    The company’s web browser is now available in open beta for macOS, bringing new features and the ability to import settings and data from other browsers.

    Forget going “incognito” with other browsers that don’t actually deliver substantive web tracking protection; you deserve privacy all the time, with built-in protections that make the Internet less creepy and less cluttered. Equipped with new and improved features for everyday use, DuckDuckGo for Mac is here to clean up the web as you browse. (And yes, you can import all your passwords and bookmarks from other browsers and password managers – so switching is quick and easy!)‌‌‌‌

    DuckDuckGo says its browser uses 60% less data than Chrome. It also includes features designed to reduce ads and tracking. For example, its new Duck Player feature limits tracking and ads while watching YouTube videos and implements YouTube’s strictest privacy settings.

    “We built DuckDuckGo for Mac with privacy, security, and simplicity in mind,” reads the blog post. “Our default privacy settings are stronger than what most other browsers offer, and you don’t need to sift through obscure menus to turn them on. DuckDuckGo for Mac is not a “fork” of Chromium, or any other browser code. All the app code – tab and bookmark management, our new tab page, our password manager, etc. – is written by our own engineers. For rendering, it uses a public macOS API, making it super compatible with Mac devices. DuckDuckGo believes in open sourcing our apps and extensions whenever possible, and we plan to do so for DuckDuckGo for Mac before it moves out of beta.‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌”

    The announcement is good news for privacy-conscious users from a company that is one of the few working to protect users’ privacy online. Windows users will have to wait a bit longer, but a Windows version is on its way in the coming months.

  • No It’s Not You…Slack Is Experiencing Problems Today

    No It’s Not You…Slack Is Experiencing Problems Today

    Slack has been experiencing issues for much of the day, impacting workplace communication for countless workers.

    Users began noticing issues shortly before 10:00AM ET, and the issues appeared to impact a variety of the platform’s services and features. Slack has been working on the issue and has made progress, with services restored, according to the company’s status page:

    We’ve released a fix and all impacted features are up and running once again. If you’re still encountering any trouble, please reload Slack using Command + Shift + R (Mac) or Ctrl + Shift + R (Windows/Linux). We appreciate your patience while we sorted this out.

  • Signal Plans to Remove SMS Messaging From Android App

    Signal Plans to Remove SMS Messaging From Android App

    Signal has announced plans to remove SMS messaging from its Android app in a move that’s sure to disappoint users.

    Signal is one of the most popular secure messaging apps, competing with iMessage and WhatsApp while offering better security and privacy than either. On Android, the app can also handle traditional SMS and MMS messaging for communicating with users who aren’t on Signal. While SMS and MMS messages don’t offer the same level of security, it’s still a convenient way to keep all messaging in a single app.

    Unfortunately, Signal plans to remove SMS and MMS support, narrowing its focus to encrypted messaging. The company explained its decision in a blog post:

    In order to enable a more streamlined Signal experience, we are starting to phase out SMS support from the Android app. You will have several months to transition away from SMS in Signal, to export your SMS messages to another app, and to let the people you talk to know that they might want to switch to Signal, or find another channel if not.

    The company says users will need to export their SMS messages and select a new client to handle non-Signal messages. A future version of the app, one currently in beta, will provide the built-in export functionality:

    If you do use Signal as your default SMS app on Android, you will need to select a new default SMS app on your phone. If you want to keep them, you’ll also need to export your SMS messages from Signal into that new app.

    Signal says the reason for the change was primarily over security concerns and to free up resources to focus on core features:

    The most important reason for us to remove SMS support from Android is that plaintext SMS messages are inherently insecure. They leak sensitive metadata and place your data in the hands of telecommunications companies. With privacy and security at the heart of what we do, letting a deeply insecure messaging protocol have a place in the Signal interface is inconsistent with our values and with what people expect when they open Signal.

    We are focused on building secure, intuitive, reliable, and pleasant ways to connect with each other without surveillance, tracking, or targeting. Dropping support for SMS messaging also frees up our capacity to build new features (yes, like usernames) that will ensure Signal is fresh and relevant into the future. After much discussion, we determined that we can no longer continue to invest in accommodating SMS in the Android app while also dedicating the resources we need to make Signal the best messenger out there.

  • Cisco and Microsoft Partner to Bring Teams to Cisco Hardware

    Cisco and Microsoft Partner to Bring Teams to Cisco Hardware

    Cisco and Microsoft have entered an unlikely partnership, paving the way for Microsoft Teams to run as the default on Cisco hardware.

    Cisco and Microsoft both make video conferencing software, WebEx and Teams respectively. Given the two companies compete in the same space, a partnership is somewhat surprising, although it’s likely more an acknowledgment of Teams’ dominant position in the market.

    The partnership will see Microsoft Teams run natively on select Certified for Microsoft Teams devices in the Cisco Room and Desk lineup and can even be set as the default option.

    “Interoperability has always been at the forefront of our hybrid work strategy, understanding that customers want collaboration to happen on their terms — regardless of device or meeting platform,” said Jeetu Patel, EVP and GM, Security & Collaboration, Cisco. “Our partnership with Microsoft brings together two collaboration leaders to completely reimagine the hybrid work experience.”

    “Our vision to make Teams the best collaboration experience for physical spaces is brought to life by our incredible ecosystem of hardware partners,” said Jeff Teper, president, collaborative apps and platforms at Microsoft. “By welcoming Cisco as our newest partner building devices Certified for Microsoft Teams, we are excited to bring leading collaboration hardware and software to market together for our joint customers.”

    Few programs or platforms have seen such a meteoric rise as Teams. Prior to the pandemic, Slack, Zoom, and WebEx were major contenders in the corporate messaging and videoconferencing markets. Thanks in no small part to its being bundled as part of Microsoft 365, Teams quickly surpassed Slack and has carved out a major presence in the video conferencing market.

    The deal with Cisco is sure to help further Microsoft’s reach even more.

  • Top 5 Investment Apps in 2022

    Top 5 Investment Apps in 2022

    As smartphones become more and more of a part of our everyday lives, we find ourselves doing pretty much anything on them. Today smartphones are used for much more than just calling or texting. In fact, you could argue that out of all the things that we now do on our smartphones, calling and texting are the least significant.

    One of the biggest things that smartphones have made easier for us is our ability to invest. Thanks to investing apps, trading stocks and keeping up with the market in real-time have never been easier. 

    If you are considering starting an investment portfolio or looking for an app to make it easier to manage your current portfolio, keep reading to learn about some of the best investment apps available in 2022.

    Betterment

    Betterment is one of the largest and most popular robo-investing apps currently available. Don’t just take our word for it though. It has been named the best overall investing app by some of the top investment publications, including CNBC and Forbes. 

    Betterment provides its clients with professionally managed portfolios consisting mostly of lost-cost, diversified ETFs. For their digital service, there is no minimum balance required. For those interested in their premium service, they do require a $100,000 minimum.

    Invstr

    If you are someone who is new to investing or looking to learn more about the market, then Invstr is a great app. Named the best app for education by Bankrate, Invstr provides helpful tools to teach you more about investing. It even offers a “fantasy” stock game where you can pick real stocks to invest in. This allows you to learn more about investing without having to risk any real money while learning. 

    For those looking to invest real money, Invstr+ is the company’s investing service and is free for adults to invest. Invstr+ allows you to trade stocks, ETFs, and even crypto commission-free. All that’s required is a $5 minimum investment.

    The company also recently launched Invstr Jr, a trust account to help kids learn how to bank, manage their allowance, and invest. The new service is available for $6.25 a month.

    Robinhood

    Robinhood completely changed the game by offering 0 commission for buying and selling stocks. By doing this, it allows investors to build their portfolios exactly how they want them. Investors can easily buy, sell, and trade not just stocks but options, ETFs, and cryptocurrency as well. Robinhood is ideal for the person who has done their own research, knows what they want, and doesn’t want to spend money on commission fees.

    Binance.US

    Cryptocurrency has become one of the hottest new things to invest in, especially amongst millennials and younger investors. Binance.US is an app specifically for buying and selling crypto. It was recently named the best cryptocurrency exchange by Forbes because it provides its clients with access to countless crypto options including Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as dozens of lesser-known cryptocurrencies.

    Ellevest

    Many people are looking for ways to help businesses and people who are looking to make our world a better place. While charitable contributions are always a way to give back, you can also invest in socially responsible companies as well.

    Ellevest has made finding and investing in these companies easier. While they specialize in working with women investors, anyone interested in socially responsible investing can start an account. 

    Those investing with Ellevest can allocate up to 53% of their portfolios in ESG or social impact funds. These funds invest in companies that have women leaders, support affordable housing and community services, and have higher standards for sustainability. 

    FAQs

    Are Investing Apps Safe?

    While there is a risk when it comes to investing, using an investing app is as safe as using a traditional brokerage firm. Your money is insured by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation for up to $500,000.

    How Do I Pick The Right App For Me?

    The right investing app for you is the one that provides services for whatever it is you are looking for. Before selecting an investment app, think about what it is you want to do and what you want the app to do. From there, you can narrow your search down based on any fees or commissions the app may take and select the right one for you.

    How Much Money Do I Need To Open An Account?

    Most investment apps these days have no minimum requirements. Even the ones that do typically offer tiers that require a very minimal balance. Before selecting an app it’s important to read all the rules and make sure if they do require a minimum balance that you can meet that requirement. 

    Want To Know More About the Best Investment Apps of 2022?

    At the end of the day, the best investment app is the one that best fits you and your needs. That app could be one of the ones listed above, or it could be one that we didn’t even discuss. Before choosing an investment app it is important to do your homework and make sure that the company has the services you are looking for and can match your needs. 

  • Dark Sky Weather App Reaches End-of-Life December 31

    Dark Sky Weather App Reaches End-of-Life December 31

    The popular Dark Sky weather app will stop working December 31, 2022, after Apple bought it and incorporated it into its own weather app.

    Apple bought Dark Sky in March 2020 with the goal of integrating its hyperlocal weather features into its own weather apps and services. The Android and Google Wear versions were shut down almost immediately, with the iOS version sticking around for a while.

    Dark Sky posted a blog this summer to remind users that the App will cease to be available, and purchased versions will no longer work, beginning December 31.

    As previously announced, the Dark Sky iOS app will no longer be available beginning on December 31st, 2022 and, as of this date, already purchased versions of the app will no longer provide weather data. The Dark Sky API and website will continue to function until March 31st, 2023.

    Dark Sky’s forecast technology is now enhanced and integrated into the all-new Apple Weather forecast, powering Apple’s updated Weather app. Click here to learn more.

    Fortunately, Dark Sky’s features have been well-integrated into the iOS Weather app, but Android users are still out in the cold.

  • Google Adding Direct Reply Feature to RCS Messages

    Google Adding Direct Reply Feature to RCS Messages

    Google is prepping a major upgrade to its RCS messages, adding the ability to directly reply to individual texts.

    Direct replies are a common feature of Apple’s iMessage, as well as Signal and WhatsApp. Traditional SMS messaging does not support the feature, and Google’s RCS successor has lacked it as well. Google is working to address this, according to 9to5Google.

    The outlet runs a regular “APK Insight” series, where it decompiles Android applications to gain insights into upcoming features. In the latest APK Insight, 9to5Google decompiled Google Messages and found evidence of a direct reply feature in the making.

    According to the findings, long pressing on a message displays a reply arrow that can be used to directly reply to a single message. Similarly, swiping a message to the side activates the feature as well. A reply includes a preview quote, much like iMessage, Signal, and other platforms. Some users are already reporting the feature is live for them.

    This new feature is the latest in a long series of improvements Google is adding to its RCS implementation that helps bring feature parity with Apple’s iMessage. iMessage is largely considered one of Apple’s biggest advantages in the battle between iOS and Android, with Apple execs reluctant to do anything that would bring iMessage’s advantages to Android, for fear users would opt for a cheaper Android phone if they could still have the “blue bubble” experience.

    Google has repeatedly called out Apple for its refusal to support RCS, saying its choices lower the overall security and privacy of all iOS > Android communication since iOS defaults to sending cross-platform texts via SMS. Unlike iMessage or RCS, SMS has virtually no modern security features, such as encryption, nor does it support group administration, file sharing, read receipts, or the like.

    Google has made the case that Apple could continue to use iMessage for iOS to iOS communication and only fall back to RCS for cross-platform texts. Only time will tell if Apple will do so, but it’s highly unlikely without regulatory intervention.

  • Zoom May Be Planning Email and Calendar Tools to Take On Office and Google

    Zoom May Be Planning Email and Calendar Tools to Take On Office and Google

    Zoom may be ready to move beyond video calling and collaboration, with possible plans to introduce email and calendar tools.

    Zoom is one of the leading communication platforms. Adoption of the company’s service expanded dramatically during the pandemic, and Zoom has been looking for ways to keep that momentum going and build on its existing base. According to The Information, via The Verge, the company may be planning to introduce email and calendar tools to better compete with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.

    In many ways, the move makes sense. Slack was once the undisputed king of corporate messaging but has seen its user base eclipsed by Microsoft Teams. Much of that is due to the integration Teams offers with the rest of the Office suite. Zoom is no doubt keen to build out its own ecosystem, which would go a long way toward fending off defections to Teams or Google Meet.

    According to the report, the new features could launch as early as later this year. Needless to say, Zoom’s battle will just be getting started with the launch of those features, as neither Microsoft nor Google will take a challenge to their business lying down.

    Despite the difficulty in going up against Microsoft and Google, however, it be exactly what Zoom needs to do in order to evolve and stay relevant.

  • Zoom Is Taking on Slack and Teams With Zoom Team Chat

    Zoom Is Taking on Slack and Teams With Zoom Team Chat

    Zoom is looking to take on the top dogs in the corporate messaging space with a rebranding of its own messaging platform.

    Zoom became a household name as a result of the pandemic, expanding far beyond its enterprise roots. As the pandemic has waned, the company has been looking to build on its success and use that to gain a bigger share of the business communication market. Part of that plan is positioning itself as a video communications platform rather than just a video app.

    The latest step in that direction is renaming its separate collaboration platform from Zoom Chat to Zoom Teams Chat. The name better reflects the company’s ambitions, as well as distinguishes the platform’s chat and collaboration features compared to the chat features available in the standard Zoom app.

    Read more: Zoom Debuts Zoom Contact Center

    “We used to call it Zoom Chat,” explains Janine Pelosi, Chief Marketing Officer. “As of today, we are officially renaming it Zoom Team Chat, to usher in the future of persistent messaging and further enhance teamwork and collaboration. We’ve already made significant investments in Zoom Team Chat’s capabilities, and we’ll unveil even more enhancements later this month.

    “Chat is the backbone of collaboration in today’s hybrid and flexible work environments. It’s where teams track projects, build culture, and instantly and asynchronously collaborate. It’s where teams begin and end their workdays. And it’s more ingrained in our day-to-day than ever.”

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    It’s clear from the description of the service that Zoom is targeting Slack and Microsoft Teams, hoping to leverage the success it has had over the past two years.

    “Team Chat brings together messaging, file sharing, third-party integrations, video, voice, and whiteboard in one place to simplify how you collaborate,” Pelosi adds. “When you need to elevate a chat conversation to a phone or video call or share an idea via whiteboard, you can do so at the touch of a button right in Zoom Team Chat.

    “Additionally, Team Chat is a valuable external communication tool. It provides a seamless and secure communication experience for external contacts, including consultants, vendors, clients, and more. A notice in the chat or channel “compose” message box even identifies when an external user is present.”

    Only time will tell if Zoom is able to compete successfully against Slack and Microsoft, but the company certainly has momentum and branding on its side.