Leading smart home security brand Arlo has introduced Arlo Secure 5 – a suite of AI-powered industry-first features that enable Arlo cameras to recognise people and vehicles and to learn what other notifications customers want to receive.

Arlo Secure 5 builds on Arlo’s already robust system which can detect people, parcels, vehicles and animals but it takes that to the next level with recognition powered by AI and machine learning.

Now users can train the system to recognise friends and family members along with their vehicles and choose to be notified when those people and cars are seen by the cameras.

For example, a parent can privately teach the system what their son or daughter looks like and choose to receive a notification when they get home from school.

Users will also be able to do the same with vehicles that come into their driveway with the added ability of personalising alerts for vehicles they know.

The system shows detection and recognition are two different things and the customer can choose which of those notifications to receive.

Arlo Secure 5 also includes custom detection which allows customers to train the Arlo AI to deliver notifications about personalised events.

One use case could be wanting to know if the garage door has been left open, if lights are left on or if a pet is sitting on the couch.

Users would upload an image to train the system and teach it about what to look out for.

Then, when that event occurs, users will receive a notification so they can take action.

“Arlo continues to lead the industry with our advanced AI and Computer Vision capabilities, including custom detections, vehicle recognition and person recognition, that deliver even more peace of mind to Arlo users,” said Matthew McRae, Chief Executive Officer at Arlo.

“Our relentless focus on smart home security backed by our commitment to also protect our customers’ data and privacy will continue to drive more industry-first innovations that customers can trust to safeguard their loved ones.”

The new Arlo Secure subscription plans start at $7.99 a month with new Plus plans starting at $17.99 a month.

These offer 30 days of video cloud storage and events which you can view, save and share.

Customers are also able to create personalised notifications to filter unwanted notifications and choose the zones which they want to be monitored.

Having these meaningful notifications alert customers to what’s happening without the need for them to open the Arlo app.

This way they can take the appropriate action or respond to the rich notifications or view an animated video preview on the device’s lock screen.

Arlo Secure also brings advanced detection so users can be alerted if packages, animals and known people and known vehicles are detected by Arlo Intelligence.

For more information on the range of Arlo smart home security products and Arlo Secure visit www.arlo.com.

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LinkedIn is the most powerful website for career-minded professionals who want to connect, engage in discussions, and share their success stories. People who use this platform find job opportunities to develop and strengthen their professional relationships. It’s also a place where you can find mentors to teach you the skills you need to grow in your career, no matter the industry.

But even though LinkedIn can help many professionals grow their careers, it’s especially useful for tech and IT – provided, you use this tool right.  Below, we will explain how you could use LinkedIn as your main propulsor for a thriving career in tech.

Build a Strong Profile

Growing your career in tech starts with building a strong LinkedIn profile. You can do this by uploading a professional photo and writing a compelling headline that highlights your expertise. It’s very important that your profile summary is concise and impactful, mentioning your skills, experience, and career aspirations. In the work history section, mention specific achievements and the results you obtained at work throughout the years. If you want your profile to be even more attractive, add relevant courses, certifications, and technical skills.

A 5-star LinkedIn profile would not be complete if you didn’t engage with the community and share industry insights. Join groups that are relevant to your industry or area of expertise and connect with professionals each time you get the chance to do it. To validate your skills, solicit endorsements and recommendations. An interesting and complete LinkedIn profile doesn’t only attract recruiters, but also establishes you as a credible professional in the tech sector.

Expand and Strengthen Your Network

Once you fill out a complete LinkedIn profile, start connecting and interacting with colleagues, industry peers, and thought leaders. If you want to build genuine relationships that last, personalize connection requests – send a custom message with every request you make. To find people you could connect with, join relevant groups where other professionals think like you and actively participate in discussions.

Also, keep in mind that you won’t gain visibility unless you share insightful content. Commenting on other people’s posts is also very important for enhancing visibility. Keep in mind that the more proof of mutual support your profile displays, the more people will want to connect. Whenever you achieve a milestone in your career, get a certification, or an award, mention it to your network. A robust and engaged network not only opens new opportunities but also fosters future professional development and collaborations.

Showcase Your Expertise

Leveraging LinkedIn for career growth in tech means showcasing your expertise, too. Share your knowledge by publishing posts or articles on industry trends, best practices you have learned about, and innovative technologies. Your accomplishments should be highlighted through case studies and detailed project descriptions. The “Featured” section can help you display your most impressive work. Here, other professionals can read about your presentations, reports, or discover your most interesting blog posts.

Know that if you don’t regularly update your profile with new skills, certifications, or accomplishments, no one will know that you have already grown in your career to the present point in time. The tech community is very active on LinkedIn, so if you don’t engage with content from other tech experts, you can’t demonstrate that you are actively involved in the professional tech community. In other words, it’s essential to position yourself as a thought leader by consistently showcasing your expertise.

Use the Contact and Job Search Features

The platform’s contact search and networking features can significantly boost your career growth in tech. For example, recruiters will know you’re seeking new opportunities if you use the “Open to Work” feature. Fortunately, LinkedIn offers a job search feature to help you find openings that match your skills and interests. You could also set up job alerts to remain informed about new opportunities. When applying, use the “Easy Apply” feature to speed things up.

But a built-in job search is not the only way to boost your employment chances with LinkedIn. Sometimes, the best strategy for active job seekers is to take the initiative and contact potential employers first. The platform’s networking feature can also be very helpful if you follow tech companies and join relevant groups where you could come across potential employers.

From there, you could use SignalHire’s tool to search for contacts on Linkedin – this Chrome/Firefox plugin can give you access to verified emails of potential employers, even if a user’s LinkedIn profile keeps this information private. After all, sending a direct email shows your genuine interest in collaboration and portrays you as a determined person – and many employers are actively looking for such candidates.

Or, you could use the SignalHire contact database to search for potential employers in bulk – this feature is available on the main website. The reason to consider this service for active job search is that the database is designed specifically for recruiters, but it works equally well in reverse – that is, when applicants are actively looking for employers’ contact data.

Monitor Your Strategy and Adjust It

If you want your career in tech to grow sustainably, you must regularly monitor and adjust your LinkedIn strategy. This involves tracking the performance of your posts and interactions to see what resonates with your audience. Using LinkedIn’s analytics, you can evaluate profile views, engagement rates, and connection growth. Regularly assess the effectiveness of your job search and networking. If some of the strategies you have implemented didn’t bring you any results, be prepared to change them.

The changes could involve updating your profile, refining your content, or expanding your network. It’s very important to be adaptable and responsive to changes as a tech professional with a presence on LinkedIn. This way, you can ensure that your interaction on the platform is effective. When you refine your LinkedIn networking strategy based on factual results, you get a chance to maximize career opportunities. On the other hand, make sure you don’t obsess over changing your strategy either. Be moderate and update your profile whenever the industry dictates.

Seek Guidance and Mentorship

Don’t think for a moment that if you are in tech, you don’t need guidance or a mentor who can share some career growth experience with you. On the contrary, you need both just like any other professional, in any of the expert fields. When leveraging LinkedIn for career growth in tech, identify like-minded professionals and thought leaders in your niche. Send them thoughtful messages expressing your admiration for their work or ask for their advice.

Once again, join relevant industry groups and participate in discussions to discover potential mentors. Experienced professionals who organize or attend webinars and virtual events can fascinate you with their stories, and you will eventually want to interact with them for more. There’s nothing more valuable than personalized guidance, so don’t hesitate to take advantage of it when leveraging LinkedIn for career growth in tech.

Final Word: Have Patience

Remember that patience and persistence are key when leveraging LinkedIn for career growth in tech. It takes time to build a strong network, gain visibility, and land new opportunities. Besides, your LinkedIn level of engagement depends on your work experience and the contacts in your list. Career growth, no matter if it’s in tech or another field of expertise, is a marathon and not a sprint. Don’t rush it and never despair even if you see that others have made it in multinationals, and you haven’t (yet). Keep in mind that your small victories are as important as theirs.

The post How to Leverage LinkedIn for Career Growth in Tech appeared first on Tech Guide.

Uniden has updated its entire App Cam Solo X wirefree range which provide a simple security solution to keep an eye of your home inside and out.

The line-up includes solar-powered easy-to-install 2K cameras which can be scaled to suit any size property along with the video doorbell so you can answer your door from anywhere.

Each new device has been redesigned with a sleek and fresh new look and has been competitively priced to suit anyone’s budget.

The range includes the App Cam Solo X2K, App Cam Solo X2K Bullet Kit, App Cam Solo X2K Wirefree Video Doorbell, App Cam Solo X2K PT Kit, App Cam Solo X2K 4K Kit and the Uniden App Cam X25T tracking camera.

All the new products are accessible from the MyUniden+ app and include free 7-day rolling cloud coverage with the ability for local backups on an SD card for the life of the product.

Customers can monitor their home while they are at work or on holidays and receive notifications when it detects movement around your property.

“This new range of wire-free security cameras provides an innovative and functional way for people to monitor their homes, capturing every detail and storing footage for peace of mind and deterring a crime before it happens,” says Brad Hales, National Marketing Communications Manager for Uniden.

“We’ve taken all kinds of consumers into consideration when developing this range, knowing that people seek out trusted brands with a local presence, and most importantly create products that are reliable with no hidden fees after the product purchase.”

UNIDEN APP CAM SOLO X2K – $149.95, $289.95 (TWIN PACK), $569.95 (QUAD PACK)

The Uniden App Cam Solo X2K can be used to build a system to cover your entire home with each camera including an integrated spotlight, ThermoSense technology for heat and movement detection which reduces multiple nuisance notifications along with two-way audio, a 120-degree wide viewing angle and a siren alert trigger.

The camera can also be paired with the Uniden solar panel accessory to keep the cameras charged.

APP CAM SOLO X2K BULLET KIT (INCLUDES SOLAR PANEL) – $199.95

The Uniden App Cam Solo X2K Bullet kit is a spotlight and camera which includes colour night vision so you can get clear views and excellent clarity day and night.

Also included is a solar panel and mount so it can be easily installed in an ideal position and ensure continuous charge.

The camera which provides sharp footage which can clearly show faces, number plates and other details even after the sun goes down.

APP CAM SOLO X2K WIREFREE VIDEO DOORBELL – $159.95

The latest addition to the Uniden portfolio of security cameras is the new App Cam Solo X2K wirefree video doorbell which allows you to see who is at the door thanks to a 135-degree viewing angle and 2K resolution which includes colour night vision.

It has two-way audio so you can easily communicate with whoever is at your door and see when kids are coming home.

Included in the package are wireless chime alerts so people inside your household can also hear the doorbell without solely relying on notifications via the app.

APP CAM SOLO X2K PT KIT (INCLUDES SOLAR PANEL) – $249

This camera has a pan and tilt function which allows you to have a 355-degree view of the area so your security has no blind spots.

It also includes a solar panel and can be controlled remotely using the MyUniden+ App to scan your property.

The App Cam Solo X2K PT camera can also be paired with other Uniden cameras across the Solo X range.

APP CAM SOLO X2K 4G KIT (INCLUDES SOLAR PANEL) – $429.95

This is the only 4G cellular security camera in the Uniden range which means it can be located in remote areas where there is no wi-fi including building sites, caravans, holiday homes, sheds, farms and marinas.

The camera offers a 355° viewing angle including pan and tilt and allows users to view and control the camera remotely through the companion app.

UNIDEN APP CAM X25PT – $69.95

The Uniden App Cam X25PT Super HD motion tracking camera is ideal for indoor security and packs in essential features into a small easy-to-use device that can blend into your home’s décor.

It includes a motion detection camera with a 350-degree pan and 95-degree tilt and can track movement whether it’s your kids doing their homework or your pets roaming around the house.

The device also has clear two-way talk to help check in and connect with loved ones through the Uniden app.

Stay tuned to Tech Guide for a full review of the new Uniden security range.

The post Uniden launches its new affordable range of wireless security solutions for your home appeared first on Tech Guide.

Arlo Technologies, the company behind the market-leading wireless home security cameras, doorbells and floodlights, has exceeded four million subscriptions globally which demonstrates the appreciation for the added value that the plans provide.

Subscribers to Arlo’s AI-powered paid plans grew steadily in 2024 as more customers discovered the benefits which make the products even more useful and valuable in creating added security and peace of mind.

The plans extend the security experience offer complete protection.

Subscriptions include 30-days of secure cloud storage of all video recordings and offer smart notifications and advanced object recognition with AI, setting smart zones and more.

Plans starts from $7.99 a month.

Features of Arlo Secure, and Secure Plus subscriptions include:

– 4K Cloud-based Video Recording (Secure Plus plan): View 30 days of recordings securely stored on Arlo’s SmartCloud platform for ultimate peace of mind and protection even if the device is damaged or stolen in a break-in, storm, or other physical incident.

– Smart Interactive Notifications (All plans): Users can take quicker action by responding to rich notifications or viewing an animated preview of a video through the lock screen on their smartphone or other smart device.

– Advanced Object Detection with AI (All plans): Arlo processes and filters 50 million events each day through advanced object detection backed by visual artificial intelligence, allowing for better recognition of people, packages, vehicles, and animals to add key context to notifications and reduce unwanted alerts.

– Smart Activity Zones (All plans): Users can reduce unwanted notifications by highlighting specific areas on their property where they want motion to be detected, eliminating notifications from irrelevant movement such as tree branches or vehicle traffic on the street.

– Priority Care & Support (All plans): Subscribers get priority technical support through the in-app Help Centre with omnichannel access to phone, chat, community, or self-help articles.

And Arlo will roll out even more features later this year.

www.arlo.com

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The Co-parenting Institute has unveiled its groundbreaking new app, CoOperate, set to transform the landscape of co-parenting in Australia. Developed by an Australian family expert and family mediator, this co parenting app brings all essential co-parenting tools into one user-friendly interface, designed specifically to adhere to Australian laws and regulations.

CoOperate addresses the unique challenges faced by separated parents, offering a comprehensive suite of features aimed at streamlining communication, reducing conflict, and ensuring the best outcomes for children caught in the middle of complex family dynamics.

Key features of the CoOperate app include:

1. Advanced Shared Calendar:
   • Track custody schedules effortlessly

   • Exchange days drama-free

   • Add special events to children’s schedules

   • Negotiate time changes and propose holidays quickly and easily

2. Expense Tracker:
   • Add, categorise, and oversee shared expenses

   • Enhance clarity with notes, images, and receipts

   • Easy record-keeping and financial transparency

3. GPS Check-ins:
   • Confirm presence at designated locations and times

   • Tamper-proof feature ensures accuracy and trust in arrangements

4. Admissible Messaging:
   • Secure, unambiguous communication in one location

   • Permanent, unalterable messages with read receipts

   • Enhanced transparency and accountability

5. Private Journal:
   • Personal space for thoughts, photos, and screenshots

   • Completely private and for your eyes only

6. Legal Document Storage:
   • Securely store and access important documents

“CoOperate is more than just an app; it’s a lifeline for Australian families navigating the choppy waters of co-parenting,” says a representative of the Co-parenting Institute. “We’ve created a tool that not only simplifies the logistical aspects of shared parenting but also creates a more harmonious environment for all involved.”

The app’s modern, intuitive, and convenient interface allows co-parents to effortlessly manage all aspects of their shared parenting responsibilities in one place. By consolidating communications and essential features, CoOperate helps avoid the confusion and frustration often associated with using multiple platforms.

Available on both Apple and Android platforms, CoOperate offers a budget-friendly subscription of just $9.99 per month – less than the cost of two coffees. With no minimum period, parents can easily access this valuable resource without long-term commitments.

As Australia’s first co-parenting app designed with local laws in mind, CoOperate stands poised to make a significant impact on family dynamics nationwide. By providing a secure, organised platform for communication and coordination, it aims to reduce stress, save time, and ultimately create a more positive environment for children of separated parents.

The Co-parenting Institute invites Australian families to download CoOperate today and experience firsthand how it can bring ease and clarity to their co-parenting journey. Experience co-parenting in a different way and be the best parent you can be!

The post The Co-parenting Institute Launches Revolutionary App “CoOperate” appeared first on Tech Guide.

After the announcements of Apple Intelligence and updates to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference we’ve had a lot of questions. Here are all the answers.

Through comments on our posts, emails from readers and our TV and radio interviews we have had plenty of interesting questions.

So we did some digging and found the answers.

Is Apple Intelligence really private?

Yes, it is. Apple has been at the forefront when it comes to customer privacy and Apple Intelligence is no different. Most of the processing for Apple Intelligence happens on the device so your data is protected. But for those times when more complex calculation is required your device will ask, with your permission if it can send the query to ChatGPT. To maintain privacy Apple has developed Private Cloud Compute to certify that any server used meets the privacy requirements and that no data is retained, the data is shared anonymously and that ChatGPT can’t learn from your data or query.

What devices will work with Apple Intelligence?

Apple Intelligence will work with iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max and any iPad or Mac or MacBook with an M series chip. The entire list is:

– Phone 15 Pro Max – A17 Pro chip

– iPhone 15 Pro A17 Pro chip

– iPad Pro M1 chip and later

– iPad Air M1 chip and later

– MacBook Air M1 chip and later

– MacBook Pro M1 chip and later

– iMac M1 chip and later

– Mac mini M1 chip and later

– Mac Studio M1 Max chip and later

– Mac Pro M2 Ultra chip

What about older iPhones?

Apple Intelligence won’t work because on older iPhones, Macs and iPads without the above chips because they don’t have the power for on-device processing that Apple Intelligence requires.

But these older devices can run ChatGPT. When Siri accesses ChatGPT that will only work on a device that can run Apple Intelligence.

Who owns the rights to images created with Apple Intelligence?

You do. There is no copyright or usage issues because you generated the images so it will be considered your work. If we created an image to illustrate an article with Apple Intelligence and published it on Tech Guide – we own the rights to that image and are free to use it as we please.

How will RCS improve the messaging experience?

RCS (rich communication services) will offer the most benefit when messaging between iPhone and Android users. Now you will be able to see read receipts and when the other person is typing. RCS will also allow Android users to be included in a group text initiated from iMessage.

How does the Passwords app work?

The new Passwords app puts all account passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and two-factor authentication codes that are already stored securely in Keychain in one place. The app also allows users import information from other passwords managers like Dashlane and LastPass. Information can also be exported from the Passwords app to these other password manager apps.  The app will also warn you if a password has appeared in a leak or if it has been used multiple times.

Why would I want to hide an app?

Our phones carry a lot of sensitive information that you don’t want others to see. If you hand off your phone to someone it’s possible that might come across an app or a notification you didn’t want them to see. We were asked in some of our interviews if this was so cheating partners can hide the Tinder or Ashley Madison and other dating apps. Sure, they could do that but what Apple had in mind when it introduced this was so customers could hide things like medical information and related apps and other sensitive health and security information. The hidden apps are kept in a hidden apps folder that will be on everyone’s phone so there is no telling what apps anyone is hiding. When the user unlocks the folder the hidden apps appear.

The iPad never had a calculator till now?

Yes – we think Apple assumed you would use the calculator on the iPhone. Apple has finally added the basic and scientific calculator to the iPad to make it easy to make calculations and unit conversions.

Was there any hardware announced at WWDC 2024?

No – it is the first time since 2021 when no new products or updates have been announced and other years have just had chip announcements. Last year’s WWDC introduced the Vision Pro.

When is the Vision Pro coming to Australia?

Apple’s Vision Pro will go on sale in Australia on July 12 with pre-order starting on June 28 at 10pm.

How much will the Vision Pro and accessories cost in Australia?

Vision Pro is priced from $5,999 (256GB), $6,349 (512GB) and $6,699 (1TB).

ZEISS Optical Inserts for readers will be available for $169 and ZEISS Optical Inserts for Prescription will be available for $249.

The Apple Vision Pro Travel Case will be available for $349 and AppleCare+ for Apple Vision Pro will be $849.

* Stephen Fenech travelled to Cupertino for the Worldwide Developers Conference as a guest of Apple

The post All your questions from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2024 answered appeared first on Tech Guide.

Apple has revealed its own version of AI – Apple Intelligence – which will be available in the coming months as part if iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia. But how can you use it?

Here are some examples:

FIND FILES EASIER

Apple Intelligence knows where everything is on our devices and who has shared content with us as well. You can ask to see the files a person sent you or the podcast someone recommended. No more digging around trying to find it.

BETTER ACCESS TO YOUR PHOTOS

Can you remember how hard it is to find a specific set of images in your photo library. Yes, you could sort through the years and months – if you can remember – or search by the people in it. During the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote there were a couple of powerful examples. One identified a woman in a location wearing a pink jacket and they were instantly recognised. There was another example – a set of images of a child with stickers on her face – and that’s exactly what they asked for and exactly what Apple Intelligence found.

SUMMARISE

One of the more popular skills of Apple Intelligence is being too quickly provide summaries whether it’s an article or a document or a transcription. Now you can see a quick summary to see whether it’s worth your time to read a lengthy article or you want the minutes of your meeting rejigged into bullet points. This is a tool that everyone will use.

BETTER PLANNING

Apple Intelligence can help us plan and be organised with our time. It knows how our contacts are, it sees our calendar and it knows about all the flights, tickets and bookings we’ve made. A couple of examples from the WWDC keynote include one person asking what time her mother’s flight lands. Apple Intelligence knew of the booking in her email and checked online with a flight tracker. The other example was juggling a late meeting with their child’s play performance. From the email Apple Intelligence worked out that the meeting would be close to the time he needed to get to his daughter’s play performance and even worked out the fastest way to get their based on traffic for that time of the day.

PRIORTY NOTIFICATIONS

Apple Intelligence can also look at your notifications and, judging by the time and your location, bring the more urgent notifications to the top of your list so you are more aware of it and can take action.

WRITING TOOLS

One of the biggest new features of Apple Intelligence is Writing Tools which can help anywhere on your Apple device wherever you enter text. Users can rewrite, summarise and even change the mood and tone of what they’ve just written to make it suit the situation. It can even check for grammar and spelling errors.

SMART REPLY

Smart Reply makes answering an email even easier. It can look at the questions and information in the message and provide a shortcut so you can make selections before the reply is composed for you.

SORT YOUR EMAIL INBOX

Our email inboxes are getting harder to manage but Apple Intelligence can help you get a handle on it. It will look through your inbox and see dates, invitations and bookings and prioritise the message that need your attention and then you need to be reminded about.

CREATE IMAGES AND GENMOJIS

Generative AI is also part of Apple Intelligence and it gives you the ability to create original images and your own emojis which are called Genmojis. You can start with a basic sketch and with Image Wand it can turn a crude drawing into an amazing illustration so you can add it to your projects and presentations.

CREATE MEMORIES

We have lots of videos and images in our Photo gallery and Apple Intelligence can take the images taken from event or trip and turn them into a memory. It will take the video clips and images and put them together and even set them to an appropriate song from your Apple Music library.

WHICH DEVICES WILL WORK WITH APPLE INTELLIGENCE

Here is the list:

– Phone 15 Pro Max A17 Pro

– iPhone 15 Pro A17 Pro

– iPad Pro M1 and later

– iPad Air M1 and later

– MacBook Air M1 and later

– MacBook Pro M1 and later

– iMac M1 and later

– Mac mini M1 and later

– Mac Studio M1 Max and later

– Mac Pro M2 Ultra

* Stephen Fenech travelled to the Worldwide Developers Conference in Cupertino as a guest of Apple

The post Here are 10 ways you can use Apple Intelligence – and which devices can use it appeared first on Tech Guide.

Apple has announced software updates for iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro, Mac and Apple Watch which include new features to customise your home screen, mirror your iPhone on your Mac, lock individual apps and send text messages via satellite.

These features were announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference as part of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, Apple Watch 11 and VisionOS 2.

Here are the new features:

iOS 18

Customisation: Users will have new options to customise the home screen and lock screen including arranging apps and widgets in any open space on the home screen to make it easier to see your wallpaper. It will also be possible to change the colour of your app icons and widgets.

Control Centre: Control Centre will have a new look to offer easier access and offer a new level of customization. You can add controls from third party apps and do things like unlock a vehicle or capture content from the Control Centre.

Lock and hide apps: A new feature allows users to lock or hide individual apps for additional privacy. And when an app is locked or hidden, content from within that app is hidden from search, notifications and other places across the system.

Messages: There are new text effects for your conversations with the ability to amplify letters, words and phrases or emojis with animated appearances. Text can also now be formatted with bold, underline and italics. The number of choices for Tapbacks has also been extended to include any emoji or sticker. It will also be possible to schedule a message to send later.

Messages via satellite: If cellular and Wi-Fi connections are not available, iOS 18 will use the same technology as existing iPhone satellite capabilities and allow users to send messages via satellite from the messages app.

RCS support: Apple also mentioned RCS (Rich Communication Services) will also be supported to offer improved media sharing and more reliable group messaging between iPhone and Android users.

Mail: There will be new ways to manage your inbox and stay up to date with the updated Mail app which can categorise and organised incoming email so users can see the most important messages. You can sort your inbox into different types of messages including marketing emails, promotions, social notifications and news.

Photos: The Photos app has received its biggest ever update and redesign and now offers a simplified single view display as well as the familiar grid. A new carousel view can show you highlights that update each day and include favourite people places pets and more.

Passwords app: iOS 18 will include a dedicated Passwords app to make it easy to access passwords, pass keys, Wi-Fi passwords and verification codes and builds on the foundation of keychain which was introduced more than a quarter of a century ago.

iPADOS 18

iPadOS 18 contains many of the features available in iOS 18 along with a few others that can only be used on the iPad

Calculator: Apple has finally added the basic and scientific calculator to the iPad to make it easy to make calculations and unit conversions.

Maths Notes: Maths Notes utilises the calculator in a different way. Instead of typing in the letters on the calculator, users can type or write out maths problems and see them instantly solved in their own handwriting. This also includes a new graphing feature so you can write or type an equation and insert a graph with a single tap.

Better handwriting: iPadOS 18 can tidy up your handwriting to make it easier to read while maintaining the same look and style of your personal handwriting with the new Smart Script feature.

New tab bar: Apple has redesigned the tab bar to float above the iPad apps content so users can stay focused on what they’re doing or watching. Users can reorder or add other tabs from the sidebar for your own personal customization.

Safari: The Safari browser now has a new feature called Highlights that utilises machine learning to bring key information about a web page to the surface. With this tool, a user could read a summary of a long article or quickly find the location of a hotel or restaurant from their website.

Screen share: SharePlay has seen an interesting update which gives users the ability to tap and draw on their screen to point out what needs to be done and provide instructions. This feature also makes it possible to remotely control a device with permission.

MACOS SEQUOIA

iPhone mirroring: Continuity now offers iPhone mirroring to access and use your iPhone on your Mac as if you’re holding it in your hand. Users will see their iPhone on their Mac screen and will be able to browse and launch apps and drag and drop content seamlessly between devices.

Safari: Safari gets an update and gives users an easy way to discover information on particular websites including directions, summaries and external links. There is also a redesigned Reader so you can read content without distractions as well as accessing a table of contents for longer articles and summaries. And if there’s a video on the page, a viewer can help bring it forward while still offering access to playback controls.

Window tiling: You can organise the desktop even better with macOS Sequoia able to suggest a new way to arrange open windows into tiled position side by side or placed in corners to make it easier to view multiple apps at the same time.

Improved video conferencing: if you are working with apps like FaceTime and Zoom for your video calls it would now be easier to present with a new presenter preview so you can see what you’re about to share before you share it. It’s also easier to apply backgrounds with existing wallpapers or your own photos. These can be applied in FaceTime and on third party apps including Webex.

WATCHOS 11

Vitals app: Apple Watch will capture important metrics during your sleep including heart rate, respiratory rate, risk temperature, sleep duration and blood oxygen. The Vitals app will take these metrics and view them in context to offer a real daily health status to ensure they are within the typical range.

Training Load: Training Load will allow users to understand the impact of their workouts on their body over the last week compared to the last month. This feature will use a new algorithm to check if you’re on track or overdoing it with your workouts and make informed decisions if you’re preparing for an event.

Pregnancy support: Expectant mothers can log any changes in their physical or mental health in the health app on the iPhone or iPad. The cycle tracking app on Apple Watch will also track their progress and give them the ability to log symptoms they experienced during pregnancy. They will be asked to review things like high heart rate notifications since heart rates tend to increase during pregnancy.

Smart Stack: there will be new widgets for the Smart Stack including Shazam, Photos, Distance and more with the Smart Stack also now able to suggest widgets based on time, date, location and daily routines. There will also be new interactive widgets to allow users two interact with the app right from their wrist.

Translate app: The Translate app is now available for Apple Watch with support for 20 languages which can be accessed directly from their wrist.

VISIONOS 2

Spatial memories: Users can revisit memories and create spatial images directly from their library in the Photos app using machine learning that would transform a 2D image into a spatial photo for Vision Pro. Users with an iPhone 15 Pro can create spatial videos so they can be enjoyed and brought to life on the Vision Pro. Later this year Canon will release a brand new spatial lens for its popular EOS R7 digital camera to capture spatial video.

New hand gestures: visionOS2 makes navigating and accessing features on the Vision Pro even easier. New gestures will bring users back to home view in the control centre even faster as well as being able to access important information like the current time and battery levels.

Multiview: The Apple TV app brings Multiview to Vision Pro to allow fans to watch up to five simultaneous streams to keep track of all their favourite sports and teams.

* Stephen Fenech travelled to Cupertino for the Worldwide Developers Conference as a guest of Apple

The post All the new features for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11 and visionOS 2 from WWDC appeared first on Tech Guide.

Apple has entered a new era with the introduction of Apple Intelligence – the company’s very own version if AI – that will work across iPhone, iPad and Mac and offer personalised and useful results.

Apple called it “AI for the rest of us”.

 Announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple Intelligence will incorporate generative models and combine them with your device’s knowledge of you and work across apps to deliver results and accelerate tasks while still respecting your privacy.

In fact, privacy was one of the main pillars of Apple Intelligence with most things happening on the device.

And if Apple Intelligence does need to use the cloud for more complex tasks it will be through a platform called Private Cloud Compute to ensure none of your data is stored.

The pillars Apple outlined for the requirements for Apple Intelligence were: Powerful, Intuitive, Integrated, Personal, Private.

Apple Intelligence will be part of iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia with devices powered by A17 Pro and the M family of chips.

“We’re thrilled to introduce a new chapter in Apple innovation. Apple Intelligence will transform what users can do with our products — and what our products can do for our users,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.

“Our unique approach combines generative AI with a user’s personal context to deliver truly helpful intelligence. And it can access that information in a completely private and secure way to help users do the things that matter most to them. This is AI as only Apple can deliver it, and we can’t wait for users to experience what it can do.”

Apple Intelligence will include large language models to make tasks faster and easier along with new a new writing tool called Rewrite to suggest different versions of the text, proofread and condense ideas across the most used apps including Mail, Notes, Keynote, Pages and Safari.

Rewrite will look at sentence structure and grammar and suggest improvements and help users write to suit the occasion whether it’s a job application or a thank you note.

Apple Intelligence will also come into play in Mail with not only Rewrite features but also Priority Messages to sort email to down to the most urgent.

And instead of seeing a preview of an email in your inbox it will now be replaced with a summary so you can understand what’s in the message at a glance.

Notifications will also be sorted according to priority with the most important, as judged by Apple Intelligence, placed at the very top.

In Phone and Notes, it will now be possible to record, transcribe and summarise audio.

Users will also be able to create images, emojis and gifs using Apple Intelligence.

A new feature called Image Playground is a generative AI tool that takes categories like themes, costumes, accessories, and to help you define an image.

It’s also possible to choose someone from their personal photo library to include in the image.

Each image can be styles as a picture, drawing or animation.

And you’re no longer limited to the emojis you already have. Apple Intelligence makes it possible to create a genmoji – an emoji to match the moment or create a genmoji of a friend based on images of them in your camera roll.

Apple Intelligence can also comb through your images and videos when looking for specific memories such as “Maya skateboarding in a tie-dye shirt” or “Katie with stickers on her face”.

It will also pick out specific videos and images based on an event and create a Memories reel and match it with a song from Apple Music.

Siri has also become even more powerful and even more deeply integrated so it can offer more contextual responses based on what’s on the screen and information from other apps.

It can provide responses based on information that’s already on the device so users can ask questions like: “Play that podcast that Jamie recommended,” and Siri will locate and play the episode, without you having to remember where it was mentioned.

You could ask, “When is Mum’s flight landing?” and Siri will find the flight details and cross-reference them with real-time flight tracking to give an arrival time.

Apple Intelligence will also be integrated with ChatGPT to access its capabilities, and this will include image generation and document understanding capabilities.

In its response, Siri will say it is consulting ChatGPT to provide your answer.

Apple Intelligence will be free for users with iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia which will be released in September.

* Stephen Fenech travelled to Cupertino for the Worldwide Developers Conference as a guest of Apple 

The post Apple enters a new era with its own version of AI called Apple Intelligence appeared first on Tech Guide.

Stan is the latest streaming service to become available on the new Hubbl platform to offer viewers hours of entertainment including Stan originals and exclusive TV series, movies and sport.

Stan now joins a line-up of 16 global and local apps that are available on Hubbl to offer viewers a centralised platform that brings all the best content to the surface rather than having to dive into individual apps.

With Stan now integrated, viewers can discover content and what to watch next as well as create personalised watch lists without the need to go in and out of the app.

“We’re thrilled to be adding Stan to the stellar line up of premium apps available on Hubbl, providing users with even more choice and convenience through a simplified entertainment experience,” says Dani Simpson, Executive Director of Hubbl.

Hubbl, which launched a few months ago, integrates paid and free streaming entertainment in one easy to navigate interface.

Another that has been integrated into Hubbl will be welcome news for UFC, boxing and wrestling fans – Pay-Per-View is now available on Hubbl.

Customers can now purchase PPV with one clock for easy access to the world’s biggest fights.

Apple TV+ has now been integrated into Continue Watching on Hubbl so it is easier to keep track of what you’re watching.

Hubbl is available as either a standalone device that plugs into any compatible smart TV or Hubbl Glass – a 4K TV with Hubbl built-in that’s available in 55 inch and 65 inch sizes with an integrated soundbar.

Hubbl Glass, like the Hubbl standalone unit, only requires an internet connection and power and can provide free to air channels without an antenna through the catch up apps.

The post Stan is the latest streaming app to join the Hubbl platform appeared first on Tech Guide.

Apple has announced a range of new accessibility features coming to iPad and iPhone – including Eye Tracking, Music Haptics and Vocal Shortcuts – which allows users with physical disabilities to still enjoy the best possible experience with their device.

Other new features include Vehicle Motion Cues and more accessibility features for CarPlay.

Apple has brought together the strength of its hardware and software and utilised the power of Apple’s silicon, artificial intelligence and machine learning to make these features possible.

“We believe deeply in the transformative power of innovation to enrich lives,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.

“That’s why for nearly 40 years, Apple has championed inclusive design by embedding accessibility at the core of our hardware and software.

“We’re continuously pushing the boundaries of technology, and these new features reflect our long-standing commitment to delivering the best possible experience to all of our users.”

Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives said: “Each year, we break new ground when it comes to accessibility.

“These new features will make an impact in the lives of a wide range of users, providing new ways to communicate, control their devices and move through the world.”

EYE TRACKING

Eye Tracking allows users to navigate IPad and iPhone using just their eyes.

The feature is designed for users with physical disabilities and is powered by artificial intelligence.

Eye Tracking uses the front facing camera to set up and calibrate the feature which works across iPad OS and iOS apps without the need for any additional hardware or accessories.

With Eye Tracking, a user can navigate the elements of an app and use Dwell Control to activate each element.

Dwell Control observes the amount of time your eye rests on a particular element and is the equivalent of a button click.

It can also access additional functionality including swipes and other gestures which could be made just with their eyes.

MUSIC HAPTICS

Everyone loves music and a new feature called Music Haptics will be a brand new way for users who are deaf or hard of hearing to experience music on their iPhone.

This feature uses the Taptic Engine on the iPhone which can relay taps, textures and refined vibrations based on the audio of the music.

Music Haptics will work across millions of songs in the Apple Music library and will also be made available as an API for developers to make music accessible in the same way in their own apps.

VOCAL SHORTCUTS

Vocal Shortcuts makes it possible to assign customised utterances which Siri can understand on the iPhone and iPad to launch tasks and shortcuts.

Another feature called Listen for Atypical Speech allows users to enjoy a wider range of speech recognition that can recognise each specific user’s speech patterns.

It is designed for users who have conditions that affect their speech or that may have suffered a stroke so they can still control their device using their voice in their own way.

VEHICLE MOTION CUES

If you suffer from motion sickness a new feature called Vehicle Motion Cues may be able to help.

Motion sickness is caused by a sensory conflict between what a person sees and what they’re feeling which can prevent users from comfortably using their iPad or iPhone in a moving vehicle.

What Vehicle Motion Cues does is provide animated dots on the edges of the screen which coincides with the changes in the vehicle’s motion to reduce that sensory conflict without interrupting the main content on the screen.

This feature takes advantage of the sensors built into the iPhone and iPad so it can recognise when a new user is in a moving vehicle and respond accordingly.

CARPLAY VOICE CONTROL

CarPlay now has new accessibility features including voice control, colour filters and sound recognition.

Voice Control allows users to navigate CarPlay and control apps using just their voice while sound recognition makes it possible for deaf or hard hearing users to be notified when sounds like car horns and sirens are heard.

And for colour blind users, Colour Filters can adapt the CarPlay interface to make it easier to see and use along with visual accessibility features including bold text and larger text.

The post Apple’s new accessibility features for iPhone and iPad includes Eye Tracking and Music Haptics appeared first on Tech Guide.

The App Store has prevented more than $10 billion ($US7 billion) worth of potentially fraudulent transactions and blocked 14 million stolen credit cards between 2020 and 2023 using industry leading technologies.

Apple revealed in its fourth annual Fraud Prevention Analysis Report that he had rejected more than 1.7 million app submissions which failed to meet the App Store’s high standards for privacy security and content.

Apple’s investment in anti-fraud technologies since the store opened in 2008 was to ensure a safe and secure experience for customers downloading apps.

In recent years, the company has expanded its security initiatives to address the growing number of scams and fraudulent activity.

Teams across Apple investigate this illegal activity on the App Store to find and weed out these people and strengthen the App Store ecosystem.

Apple’s determination to reduce fraud on the App Store saw nearly 374 million developer and customer accounts terminated along with the removal of around 152 million ratings and reviews over fraud concerns.

Apps are now used for everything from purchasing food and entertainment services to household goods and Apple has doubled down on its mission to protect users financial information using secure payment technologies like Apple Pay and Store Kit.

As a result, Apple has helped prevent more than $US1.8 billion in potentially fraudulent transactions in 2023 alone.

Apple also uses a combination of technology and human review to identify when a stolen credit card is being used.

In 2023, Apple prevented more than 3.5 million stolen credit cards from being used to make fraudulent purchases and banned more than 1.1 million accounts from making purchases again.

Apple has also been diligent at the account level to prevent fraudulent developers scamming users.

Last year, Apple terminated more than 118,000 developer accounts which is actually a drop from the 428,000 terminations in 2022 thanks to the improvements in fraud prevention.

Apple has also taken measures at the consumer account level with these accounts which are usually bots created to spam or manipulate ratings and reviews.

Apple has a team of more than 500 experts who evaluate every single app submitted to the App Store from developers around the world.

The team reviews about 132,000 apps on average per week and in 2023 reviewed nearly 6.9 million app submissions while helping 192,000 developers publish their very first app onto the App Store.

Malicious developers have been known to design apps whose sole purpose is to trick and scam users.

Last year, more than 248,000 app submissions were rejected from the App Store because they went against Apple’s policies on spam, copying other apps and misleading users.

And this is on top of the more than 38,000 app submissions rejected because they had hidden or undocumented features.

The post Apple blocks more than $10 billion worth of potentially fraudulent transactions on the App Store appeared first on Tech Guide.

Fetch TV will be adding free to air IP channels to its TV Guide which means customers without an antenna or poor reception can still enjoy one click access to free to air programmes.

The free to air IP channels can be viewed already on the Fetch platform through the various catch up apps for the commercial networks.

But to view the free to air live stream users had to locate the app, open it and scroll to find the live IP feed.

With this new update Fetch will separate that stream and make it available in the EPG (Electronic Programme Guide).

“Households with no or poor FTA reception represent a large and growing segment, and include homes in digital terrestrial black spots, multi-dwelling units with no FTA access, new estates where antennas are not permitted, homes with no or broken aerials, and even rooms where no aerial socket is present,” says Scott Lorson, CEO of Fetch TV.

“Australian families without FTA reception are looking for solutions.”

“Fetch recognises the importance of access to FTA channels and apps, with FTA viewing continuing to represent the majority of all TV viewing.

“We also know that the EPG remains at the centre of content discovery and channel navigation, and we are keen to extend this convenience to all customers.”

Fetch says the FTA IP feeds are not the same as the terrestrial feeds with some subject to sport and programming blackouts because they are considered part of the digital rights packages.
There also discrepancies when it comes to regional programming with the IP stream usually a state feed while terrestrial broadcasts are more localised

 “We continue to advocate for the anti-siphoning legislation to include the FTA IP feeds or “digital twin”, given the critical role that FTA IP feeds will play in preserving access to FTA channels and sport into the future,” Lorson continues.

“We also welcome efforts to extend access to regional news and preserve logical channel numbering (1-99) for the FTA channels.”

Hubbl also already offers FTA access without an aerial and currently integrates all of the FTA’s (7, 9, 10, ABC, SBS) into its EPG.

The post Fetch TV brings free-to-air IP channels its TV guide – no antenna, no worries appeared first on Tech Guide.

As we move into 2024, the mobile app market continues to grow exponentially, making the competition fierce and the stakes high. Creating a successful mobile app now requires more than just innovative ideas; it demands a strategic approach to design and functionality that ensures smooth user flow and standout features.

This article delves into the essential strategies for developing a mobile app that not only captivates but retains user interest in a saturated market.

From understanding your target audience and refining your app’s core purpose to implementing cutting-edge design principles and technology, we will guide you through the process of building an app that is both efficient and effective. Join us as we explore how to craft mobile applications that are poised for success in 2024, focusing on user-centric design and operational excellence.

Understand Your Audience and Market

The first step in creating a successful mobile app is to thoroughly understand who your users are and what they need. This involves conducting market research to gather insights into user preferences, behaviors, and the competitive landscape. Identify gaps in the current market offerings and tailor your app to fill those needs. Knowing your audience allows you to design features and interfaces that resonate well with them, ensuring your app adds real value to their lives.

Define Your App’s Purpose and Goals

Clear definition of your app’s purpose and goals is crucial. What problem does your app solve? How does it improve upon existing solutions? Being specific about what your app aims to achieve helps in maintaining focus throughout the development process. It also aids in creating a marketing message that communicates the benefits clearly to potential users.

Utilizing an App Wireframe

An app wireframe is a crucial tool in the app development process. Think of it as the blueprint for your app’s design and user experience. A wireframe outlines the skeletal structure of your app, including the layout of each screen and the interactions between them, without detailed design elements like colors or images. This simplicity allows developers and designers to focus purely on user experience and flow.

Creating a wireframe, by utilizing a wireframe maker, helps in visualizing the navigation and structure of your app, ensuring that the user interface is intuitive and user-friendly. It allows for the identification of potential usability issues early in the development process, saving time and resources that might otherwise be spent revising complex designs later. Furthermore, wireframes can be used to facilitate discussions with stakeholders and gather feedback that can refine the app’s design before any heavy coding begins.

Invest in High-Quality UI/UX Design

In 2024, the quality of your mobile app’s user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design is more critical than ever. A high-quality UI/UX not only attracts users but also significantly enhances their engagement and retention. Investing in professional, intuitive design means prioritizing simplicity and usability while incorporating the latest design trends that resonate with your target audience. Key elements such as easy navigation, coherent color schemes, and responsive design elements are essential.

Additionally, UX should be focused on creating a seamless journey for the user, reducing friction points, and ensuring that the user can achieve their goals with minimal effort. Engaging a skilled UI/UX designer can help tailor the aesthetic and functional aspects of your app to meet user expectations effectively, thereby increasing the app’s success rate in a competitive market.

Focus on Core Functionality

While it might be tempting to include a wide range of features, focusing on your app’s core functionality is essential. Spread too thin, your app could end up complicated and clunky, negatively impacting user experience. Prioritize features that align directly with your app’s goals. It’s often more effective to do a few things excellently than to do many things poorly.

Ensure Responsiveness and Speed

In the fast-paced world of mobile applications, responsiveness and speed are non-negotiable qualities for success. Users in 2024 expect apps to load quickly and operate smoothly, regardless of the device or operating system. To meet these expectations, developers must prioritize optimizing their app’s performance from the outset.

This involves choosing the right frameworks and tools that support fast loading times and seamless interaction. Additionally, optimizing images, leveraging caching, and minimizing the use of heavy animations can significantly improve speed. It’s also crucial to regularly test the app across various devices and network conditions to ensure consistent performance. By focusing on these elements, developers can enhance user satisfaction, reduce bounce rates, and increase the overall appeal of the app, ensuring it performs well even under the highest demands.

Implement Effective Onboarding

Introducing users to your app with an effective onboarding process is critical for retention. Your onboarding should be quick, easy, and helpful, providing users with a clear understanding of how to use the app and its benefits. Avoid overwhelming users with too much information; focus on essential functions and offer additional tutorials for more complex features.

Test Thoroughly

Before launch, test your app extensively to iron out any bugs and improve overall usability. This includes functional testing, usability testing, and performance testing. Consider conducting beta tests with real users to gather practical feedback and insights that could be overlooked internally.

Plan Your Launch and Marketing Strategy

A successful launch requires careful planning and an effective marketing strategy. Develop a launch plan that includes targeted advertising, social media promotions, and perhaps events or collaborations. It’s important to generate buzz around your app before its release to ensure a strong start on launch day.

Collect and Act on User Feedback

After launch, actively collect user feedback and monitor app performance. User reviews and analytics can provide valuable insights into what users like and dislike about your app. Regular updates based on this feedback can help improve the app and keep your users engaged.

Creating a successful mobile app in 2024 involves much more than just a good idea. From deeply understanding your market to focusing on core functionality, and from utilizing tools like app wireframes to planning an effective launch, every step in the app development process counts. By following these guidelines, you can ensure your mobile app not only flows well but also meets the high expectations of modern users, leading to better engagement and success in the competitive app marketplace.

The post How to Create a Successful Mobile App That Flows Well in 2024 appeared first on Tech Guide.

Whoever said student life would be all fun and games was truly delusional as there is nothing else but the pressure of completing assignments and passing the semesters. Amidst all this, students also have to ensure that they don’t miss out on important online lectures and seminars but what happens when they are distributed by a poor network connection that they didn’t ask for?

Enter an effective all-in-one solution, Capto. Capto provides an effective one-stop solution for screen capturing and recording and is exclusively designed for MacOS. Developed by Global Delight Technologies, Capto ensembles a comprehensive set of tools ideal for capturing, screen recording, editing, and screen sharing your content. The platform is an ideal choice for working professionals such as students, professors, and more. Whether it is a lecture you want to record or an important lesson you are preparing to deliver, Capto lets you do it all.

What Are The Key Features of Capto Screen Capture?

We already know that Capto is a comprehensive tool developed to create content that is not just informative but also provides an immersive and creative experience. Capto is not just your basic screen recording tool; it’s simply more than that. Here are some key features of Capto that make it different from the rest.

Screen Capture

Are you tired of capturing all the unnecessary details in your screenshot and then cropping them out of the picture? Well with Capto’s exclusive screen capture feature, you can easily just capture a specific part of your screen. It does not matter if you’re trying to capture a specific region, window, your entire screen or just a really small detail, you can do it all. Heck, with Capto’s innovative feature, you can also capture web pages and long documents.

Screen Recording

You may wonder what special you can really get with Capto’s screen recording feature. That’s what is different. Capto not only offers you regular screen recording features but also lets users record the screen according to their preferences. What does this mean? It simply means that with Capto you not only get to record your entire screen but some specific areas as well. You can also record your system’s audio or the input from your microphone and record from both audio sources simultaneously.

Editing Tools

Being a comprehensive platform means you have pretty much all things, and that means you excel in the editing department, too. And that’s exactly what Capto does. The platform does an excellent job of helping you edit your content. With the platform’s editing capabilities, you can achieve the following –

• Recording with annotation
• Text overlays
• Shapes
• Arrows
• Trimming and cutting
• Merging videos
• Adjust playback speed
• Add background music/voice-over

How to Use Capto For Screen Recording & Screen Capturing?

Are you confused about how you can use this efficient platform to screen record and capture videos on your Mac? Don’t worry; we have an easy-to-follow tutorial that you can easily bookmark to help iron out your queries –

Downloading and Installing Capto

Go to the App Store or visit Capto’s official website to download the app on your system.

Launch Capto

Once you have downloaded the app on your Mac, open the app from your Applications folder or the Launchpad.

Select the Screen Recording Mode

Once you launch the app, you will find a list of options on the toolbar at the top of your screen. To start screen recording, you can click on the rectangular icon with a small circle inside to enter the screen recording mode.

Adjust Recording Settings

Before you start recording, you can make changes to the screen recording settings as per your preferences. You can make changes to the audio input, frame rate, screen recording area, etc. You can make these changes by tapping on the gear icon present within the recording toolbar.

Start Recording

Once you make the necessary changes, you simply have to click on the red button to start recording your screen. Whenever you wish to stop the recording, you can simply hit the stop button or follow the keyboard shortcut – Command + Shift + 2.

Save the Recording

Lastly, you can save the recording on your Mac’s in-built storage or export the recording in various formats like MP4, MOV, or GIF. One click on the “Export” button and you can easily transfer your videos across different platforms.

Wrapping Up

Ultimately, it all boils down to Capto’s powerful screen capture and recording capabilities to meet your different requirements. Whether you are looking for an efficient screen capturing tool or a creative editing tool, the platform will do it all!

The post Enjoy Easy Screen Recording On Mac With Capto appeared first on Tech Guide.

If you’re planning to have a movie night at home with your friends or family, what is the first thing that would come to your mind? Obviously, having the right setup for your movie night and testing if it is working fine or not.

Movie nights are all about having fun, creating memories, eating your favorite food, and spending time with the people you love. However, to make the night memorable, two things are important – the perfect movie and an immersive sound experience to stream the night away!

There are a few things that you can do to make your system sound better, like changing the audio settings, checking the sound settings for individual apps, switching audio between different output sources, and updating your audio drivers. However, if you have done all this and still aren’t satisfied with your system’s sound, you can use third-party apps as well. There are plenty of third-party apps like Boom 3D that you can install on your laptop for a realistic and immersive sound experience.

How Can You Make Your Laptop Sound 10x Better?

Boom 3D is an award-winning sound enhancement audio app designed to make your laptop or desktop sound 10x better. Using this app, you can not only boost your laptop’s audio but also add 3D effects to your headphones (connected to the laptop), it works on sound coming from any media player or a streaming service as well. Gone are the days of buying expensive headphones or loud speakers to make your movie nights more immersive and magical.

Impressive Features Offered by Boom 3D

Boom 3D is compatible with both MacOS (OS 10.14 or later) and Windows (10 and 11). The diverse audio enhancement app offers world-class features that will help tweak your system audio in a minute. Here are some of the diverse features offered by Boom 3D-

3D Surround Sound

We bet you didn’t know that Boom 3D comes packed with a patented 3D surround sound technology that will instantly boost your laptop sound and provide a virtually immersive surround sound on any headphones or speakers. The surround sound technology will instantly add more volume to the audio with its 3D technological innovations and let you enjoy the experience of a lifetime.

Equalizer Presets

All thanks to the technological advancements these days, Boom 3D is outfitted with an advanced equalizer, allowing users to explore different audio frequency outputs. Users can experiment with different equalizer presets, or they also have the option to adjust the equalizer frequencies as per their preference manually. Boom 3D also has a library full of carefully crafted presets to suit your different audio moods.

Boom Volume Booster

The Boom volume booster feature from Boom 3D audio enhancer is only available for MacOS. It will enhance your system’s volume beyond traditional limits and deliver an intense audio-rich experience without compromising quality. The volume booster is a system-wide audio enhancer that changes the audio settings of your system rather than an app or a media player.

Apps Volume Controller

Do you prefer some apps to be muted when you are trying to enjoy a peaceful movie night? With Boom 3D’s inbuilt Apps Volume Controller, you can certainly to so. With the volumizer’s application level volume control, you can easily mute one app on your MacOS and keep the other on high volume. Honestly, an app that lets you control the volume without opening applications individually? What more could you ask for, if not this!

Advanced Audio Player

Are you tired of keeping track of multiple music players on your system? If you want a dedicated audio player that will easily manage all your favorite songs and albums under one roof, Boom 3D’s advanced audio player will easily come to your rescue. You can move all your favorite tracks into different playlists and dance to the amazing beats with sensational studio-quality sound!

Wrapping Up

In the comprehensive guide, we discussed the versatile features of Boom 3D in detail and discussed how the app can be helpful in making your system sound better. Besides what we discussed today, Boom 3D also has several other interesting features like multichannel audio support, 20K+ radio stations, Intensity sliders, wireless control, etc., that you can access within the audio enhancer.

The post How To Make Your Desktop or Laptop Sound 10x Better? appeared first on Tech Guide.

Australians are turning to AI as a valuable tool to help them navigate online dating to increase their chances of finding a match and protect them from becoming the victim of a scam, according to leading cyber safety brand Norton.

Norton has released a new global consumer survey which shows more than half (58 per cent) of Australian online daters are considering taking on AI to be their coach in the dating game.

The 2024 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report Special Release: Online Dating reveals our online behaviours when it comes to meeting and swapping information online with potential partners and romantic interests.

The report showed Australians on average spend 9 hours a week and $170 in their lifetime on dating apps and services.

They are now looking to turn that investment into AI to steer them through online dating and help them come up with a favourable match.

The survey showed that 64 per cent of people are interested in using AI to write pick up lines and conversation starters while 59 per cent would use AI to improve their dating profile with 59 per cent employing AI for photo enhancement.

But Norton has also uncovered a dark side to dating which shows nearly a third of Australians (27 per cent) have been targeted by a dating scam and two in 5 (39 per cent) of that 27 per cent become victims.

On top of that one quarter (25 per cent) of Australians who have used a dating app have admitted to being catfished.

“Online dating is notoriously difficult to navigate and using AI as a dating coach seems innocuous when you’re on the receiving end of a bad pickup line or trying to draft a thoughtful breakup text,” said Mark Gorrie, Managing Director APAC for Norton.

“However, AI technology can also make online dating riskier and more complicated when it’s utilised in more nefarious ways.

“Romance scams aren’t new, but AI is changing the game and making these types of scams more common and much harder to spot.

“People need to stay vigilant for signs of romance scams such as individuals who avoid video or phone calls, have very few images on their dating profiles or attempt to progress the relationship quickly.”

The Norton Report also uncovered:

– 1 in 5 (20 per cent) Australians who have used a dating app have given a false age on their dating profile.

– Current online dating users ranked Tinder (63 per cent) and Bumble (62 per cent) as the safest dating apps while Telegram is rated the least safe, with only 42 per cent of Australians agreeing it is safe.

– Over half (56 per cent) of Australians have used an online dating app while travelling or on vacation.

AI is only going to increase in popularity when it comes to online dating which could result in even more scams targeting online daters.

Norton says there is a critical need for education and awareness around cyber safety.

Norton already has a tool that can navigate online dating safely called Norton Genie.

It is a free AI-powered scam detection app that can review suspicious texts, emails or web links including those that direct people to fake dating sites or website links from prospective matches.

The post How Australians are using AI to navigate the online dating world appeared first on Tech Guide.

Uber has launched a new service for teens so they can ride on their own to give busy parents added flexibility while keeping their child’s safety at the same time.

This service launched in Canada, the US and Latin America and is now coming to Australia with a view to launch in the ACT, Tasmania and South Australia.

The idea behind Uber for teens is to provide another safe transport option for younger teens who need to ride on their own.

The service is open to teens aged between 13 and 17 who can create their own Uber account under their family profile which would give the teen the ability to request rides with their parents’ supervision.

Drivers who have completed hundreds of trips with the highest ratings would be eligible to offer rides for teens.

These drivers would also have passed background checks and must also hold a valid Working With Children Check or Working With Vulnerable Person Registration depending on the state.

Uber for teens was created to help working parents who are facing the same time challenges as other modern families and looking for safe and convenient ways to transport their children.

Ubers research shows that 58 per cent of parents say their work schedule prevents them from driving their teens where they need to go with one in five asking their teens to miss out on those activities because they can’t get them there.

And a lot of parents are feeling the burden with 60 per cent of parents saying they feel pressured to be available to drive their teens to avoid them missing out on those activities.

Uber for teens has been designed naturally with safety in mind.

Uber for teen’s key safety features:

– Screened and experienced drivers: Only experienced, highly rated drivers with consistently positive feedback and a valid Working with Children Check or Working with Vulnerable Person Registration (depending on the state) will be eligible to complete trips with teens. Every driver-partner can opt-out.

– Live trip tracking: Parents/guardians will be automatically notified when their teen requests a trip to reassure them about where their teen is going and who is driving them. The trip can be followed via GPS tracking in real-time, so they can follow along their child’s trip from start to finish.

– PIN Verification: A 4-digit PIN Verification will be required for every teen’s trip to ensure they’re getting into the right vehicle with the right driver-partner.

– Expanded communication: During the trip, parents/guardians can call the driver-partner at any time and contact Uber support.

– Ride Check: Sensors and GPS data are used to detect if the ride goes off course, stops unexpectedly, or ends early. If something like this happens, the Uber app will message the teen and the driver-partner to make sure they’re okay, parents will also receive a notification. RideCheck will be adjusted to be more sensitive during teen trips.

– Audio recording: Once the teen has registered for audio recording through the safety toolkit, audio recording will be automatically enabled for the entire teen trip while keeping privacy protected. To ensure both privacy and safety are protected, the recording will be encrypted and stored on the user’s device and can only be accessed by Uber’s support team if the teen rider or driver-partner reports an incident to Uber and chooses to attach the audio file to the report.

“We’re excited to be introducing young riders to our rideshare services, giving them more independence to make the most out of their favourite activities and avoid missing out on what they enjoy the most,” says Emma Foley, Director of Mobility Operations at Uber ANZ.

“Many of us at Uber are busy parents ourselves so we know all too well how hard it can be to juggle competing priorities.

“We are pleased to be providing Australian families with a solution that has been tried, tested and trusted by many other families around the world, helping alleviate these common pain points with an alternative transport option built with safety in mind.”

How Uber for teens works

Parents can follow these 3 simple steps to get their teen’s account set up:

1. Tap Account > Family to create a Family profile.
2. Tap Invite Family > Teen > Choose contact and select their name from your contacts. (They must be at least 13 years old.)
3. Make sure your payment information is up to date before your teen requests their first ride. You can also set a transportation budget for your teen.

Teens can follow the below steps to set up their account:

1. Once the above steps are completed by the parent or guardian, the teen will receive an invitation to download the Uber app.
2. Once the teen finishes the setup process, including their safety onboarding, they can begin using their teen account to request their own rides.

The post Uber launches new service in Australia so young teens can ride safely on their own appeared first on Tech Guide.

PDFs are a popular file format for sharing and uploading documents due to their versatility and compatibility across different devices and platforms. However, large PDF files can be slow to upload and share, leading to frustration and wasted time. In this article, we will discuss 10 tips for optimizing PDFs for faster sharing and uploading.

How do I optimize a PDF for a fast Web view?

To optimize a PDF for a fast web view, there are several methods you can use. One of the most effective ways is to use the Optimize for Web tool provided by SodaPDF. While SodaPDF may not have a specific feature for creating linearized PDFs or enabling Fast Web View like some other tools mentioned in the sources, you can still optimize your PDF for fast web view by:

1. Open Your PDF File: Launch SodaPDF and open the PDF document you want to optimize for a fast web view. 
2. Compress Images: One way to optimize a PDF for fast web view is by compressing images within the document. This can help reduce the overall file size and improve loading times. 
3. Reduce File Size: Use SodaPDF’s features to reduce the file size of the PDF. This can involve removing unnecessary elements, compressing the content, and optimizing the document for web viewing.
4. Enable Fast Web View: Check if SodaPDF offers an option to enable Fast Web View for the PDF document. This feature rearranges the PDF for faster loading on the web by allowing page-at-a-time downloading.
5. Save the Optimized PDF: Once you have made the necessary optimizations, save the PDF document. Ensure that the settings are configured to optimize the PDF for fast web view during the saving process.
6. Verify Optimization: Open the saved PDF in a web browser to test the loading speed and navigation. Ensure that the document loads quickly and displays correctly for a seamless user experience. While SodaPDF may not have a specific feature for creating linearized PDFs or enabling Fast Web View like some other tools mentioned in the sources, you can still optimize your PDF for fast web view by compressing images, reducing the file size, and ensuring efficient loading on the web.

Reduce the File Size

The most obvious way to optimize PDFs for faster sharing and uploading is to reduce their file size. You can do this by compressing the images, reducing the resolution, and removing any unnecessary pages or elements. There are several free tools available online that can help you reduce the file size of your PDFs.

Use a Smaller Font

Using a smaller font size can help reduce the file size of your PDFs. While it’s important to ensure that the text is still readable, reducing the font size by a few points can make a significant difference in the overall file size.

Use a Standard Font

Using a standard font that is commonly installed on most software or devices can help reduce the file size of your PDFs. Custom or obscure fonts can increase the file size, so it’s best to stick with a standard font like Arial or Times New Roman.

Convert Images to Grayscale

If your PDF contains images, converting them to grayscale can help reduce the file size. This is because grayscale images have fewer colors than color images, which can result in a smaller file size.

Use a Lower Resolution 

Reducing the resolution of images in your PDF can help reduce the file size. While a higher resolution may look better on high-resolution screens, it can also significantly increase the file size. A resolution of 72 dpi is usually sufficient for most PDFs.

Use a Smaller Page Size

Using a smaller page size can help reduce the file size of your PDFs. While it’s important to ensure that the content is still readable, reducing the page size by a few inches can make a significant difference in the overall file size.

Use Bookmarks

Adding bookmarks to your PDF can help users navigate the document more easily, reducing the need to scroll through large sections of text. This can help speed up the sharing and uploading process.

Use a PDF Optimization Tool

There are several PDF optimization tools available that can help you optimize your PDFs for faster sharing and uploading. These tools can help you compress images, reduce the file size, and optimize the layout of your PDFs.

Use a Cloud Storage Service

Using a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox can help speed up the sharing and uploading process. These services allow you to upload large files quickly and share them with others with just a few clicks.

Optimize Your Internet Connection

Finally, optimizing your internet connection can help speed up the sharing and uploading process. This may involve upgrading your internet plan, using a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi, or closing other programs and applications that may be using up bandwidth.

Conclusion

Optimizing PDFs for faster sharing and uploading is essential for anyone who frequently shares or uploads large documents. By reducing the file size, using a smaller font size, using a standard font, converting images to grayscale, using a lower resolution, using a smaller page size, using bookmarks, using a PDF optimization tool, using a cloud storage service, and optimizing your internet connection, you can ensure that your PDFs are shared and uploaded quickly and efficiently.

The post How to Optimize PDFs for Faster Sharing and Uploading appeared first on Tech Guide.

Meta AI – the free virtual assistant – has been launched in Australia across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger from today so you can find information, get help to compose posts and captions and find suggested content.

Announced by Mark Zuckerberg today, Meta AI can help answer questions, enhance your creativity, create the right image to capture how you’re feeling and organise your next trip.

“We are releasing the new version of Meta AI assistant that you can ask any question across our apps and glasses,” Zuckerberg said.

“Our goal is to build the world’s leading AI and make it available to everyone now.

“We believe that Meta AI is now the most intelligent AI assistant that you can freely use.

“We’re also making Meta AI much easier to use across our apps we built into the search box that’s right at the top of WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Messenger so anytime you have a question you can just ask right there.”

Users can get started by looking for a blue circle icon within the apps or by typing @meta ai within chats.

There are updates for Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp – you will then see “Ask Meta AI anything” in the text box where you compose your post or message.

Now you can ask Meta AI a question right from the search features of the apps and it will provide suggestions to choose from or you can go ahead and just ask a question.

The answers about current affairs, sport and entertainment are provided by Google and Bing.

Here are some prompts to ask Meta AI:

– Get inspired: Houseplant advice, birthday party ideas, bucket list hikes in Australia, best podcasts in pop culture

– Learn something: Yoga tips for beginners, 5 tips to write my CV, how to create a website

– Bust writers block: Draft some hard trivia questions about the Olympics, Design a home workout, write me a love letter

– Watch Reels: Dog videos, thrift fashion reels, workout reels, stand-up comedy reels

You can also use Meta AI in the web through meta.ai so you can get help with your email, research and other tasks you do on the computer.

“We’re excited to bring Meta AI, one of the world’s leading AI assistants to our Australian and New Zealand users across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp,” says William Easton, Managing Director, Meta Australia and New Zealand 

“Built with Meta Llama 3, Meta AI will be available for free, so millions of people can use it to get things done and access real-time information, without having to leave the app they’re using.

“Australia and New Zealand are some of the first countries outside of the US to get access to Meta AI, and we can’t wait to see how it enhances people’s lives.”

The post Meta AI launches in Australia and is accessible on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp appeared first on Tech Guide.