Latest news with #iOS
The Standard
an hour ago
- General
- The Standard
Student, 16, arrested for possessing nicotine vape at Ma On Shan school
Download The Standard app to stay informed with news, updates, and significant events - The upgraded app is now available on both iOS and Android platforms.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
WhatsApp is getting ads - time to delete? Here's what to know
Are there messenger apps that can match WhatsApp in terms of functionality, but don't collect chat metadata or at least maintain a privacy-oriented approach to it? Yes, there are. — Pixabay LOS ANGELES: In what may be the final straw for some users, ads are officially coming to WhatsApp in an upcoming version that will incorporate Meta's biggest source of revenue into one of the world's biggest messenger apps. "Sponsored" brands are set to appear in WhatsApp's Updates tab, where users can see the latest from both channels they follow and status updates from their contacts, Meta announced on June 16. The sister company to Instagram and Facebook said it won't use your personal messages and call logs for advertising purposes. But WhatsApp does use information about you – how you use your phone, which country or city you're in, what channels you follow, what language you speak and what contacts you have – to create a profile of you for Meta's advertisers. But nobody has to tolerate this if they don't like it. There are plenty of easy messenger alternatives widely in use, and switching is easy. Anyone who wants to turn their back on WhatsApp just needs a strategy. And that sounds more difficult than it is. It can be done in just two or three steps: find a messenger alternative, back up WhatsApp chats if necessary, then delete your account. Are there messenger apps that can match WhatsApp in terms of functionality, but don't collect chat metadata or at least maintain a privacy-oriented approach to it? Yes, there are. Signal and Wire are among the most widely recommended in security circles, and both are open source, securely end-to-end encrypted and available as Android, iOS and desktop applications. Telegram is another major alternative, but some security experts believe the company also has a worrying policy on data privacy. If in doubt, you can try out a few new messengers at the same time. Before taking the plunge, you should probably check if many of your contacts are already on your new messenger platform. If you're ditching WhatsApp, you may want to keep your old messages and media (photos, videos and voice messages). No problem. Open the individual or group chat you want to save, tap the three-dot menu at the top right (Android) or Settings (iOS), select "More/Chat export" and specify in the next window that the media should also be saved. Then you choose whether the text document with the chat history and media files should be stored on the device or in your cloud. Since, according to WhatsApp, a maximum of the 10,000 most recent messages can be saved in this way, you should repeat the whole procedure for the respective chat and specify that no media should be saved. This way you get a second text document with up to 40,000 messages. Taking this third step before the second is dangerous. If a WhatsApp account is deleted, all chats and backups are also deleted – irretrievably. So you've backed up everything that should be backed up? Good. To leave WhatsApp, tap on the three-dot menu or settings at the top right and select "Settings/Account/Delete account". Next, enter your mobile phone number in international format (with the +00 country code and without the first zero of the area code) in the corresponding field. With a final tap on the red "Delete my account" button, the job is done and the app can then be removed from your smartphone. – dpa
The Standard
an hour ago
- General
- The Standard
Daylight robbery: Suspect drugs and ties up woman before stealing $3m luxury handbags
Download The Standard app to stay informed with news, updates, and significant events - The upgraded app is now available on both iOS and Android platforms.
Techday NZ
2 hours ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Acron Aviation launches Astra app to boost airline efficiency
Acron Aviation has announced the launch of its new iOS application, Astra, which is designed to provide pilots and management teams with personalised performance data and insights before and after each flight. The app is described as a tool for transforming how flight performance data is accessed and used by pilots and airline operators. Astra incorporates modules that focus on safety and efficiency, making use of advanced data analytics and machine learning algorithms to deliver tailored intelligence to end-users. Designed to be customisable, Astra integrates with both Acron Aviation's own Flight Data Monitoring platform and third-party systems, enabling seamless adoption across fleets. Data-driven flight operations Astra's safety module offers pre- and post-flight insights, prioritising safety and fostering continuous improvement for pilots and operations teams. Key features include the monitoring of fuel consumption, aircraft wear-and-tear, and performance metrics, all available through an intuitive dashboard that provides management teams with comprehensive oversight at fleet level. Mitesh Patel, Vice President and General Manager Flight Data Intelligence at Acron Aviation, commented on the launch: "With Astra, we're closing the gap between Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and actual flight performance." Patel continued, "by leveraging Machine Learning algorithms and our database of 45 million flights, we're delivering personalised, timely, and engaging feedback directly to pilots. Astra represents a significant advancement in how airlines can monitor and optimise fuel consumption and reduce wear-and-tear. This approach not only enhances safety it also improves operational effectiveness and reduces costs." The comprehensive information provided by Astra empowers both pilots and management. For pilots, critical data is consolidated in one application, aiming to reduce the burden of switching between tools while in the cockpit or during pre-flight preparation. Efficiency partnership Astra was developed through a strategic partnership between Acron Aviation and FuelVision, a company with a focus on flight efficiency and data-driven performance. Elena Escrivá de Romaní Pérez, Chief Executive Officer of FuelVision, explained: "Astra increases awareness and engagement with efficiency programs by providing pilots with individual feedback and coaching, as well as providing detailed analytics on fuel consumption patterns, identifies potential savings opportunities, and offers actionable recommendations to optimise flight operations." She continued, "FuelVision was founded by pilots, which means we do things in a fundamentally different way and our starting point is always through the lens of a pilot." The Efficiency module in Astra enables airlines to benchmark performance, track adherence to Standard Operating Procedures, and tailor training programmes based on observed areas for improvement. Customisable parameters also make it possible to inform and adapt fleet-wide pilot training aligned to the latest performance data and trends. Key features Astra processes over 25,000 flights daily, ensuring that debriefs and feedback are delivered to pilots within 15 minutes of landing. Its features include a dashboard for monitoring fuel usage and wear indicators, machine learning-driven analysis of operational effectiveness, unified performance views covering safety and efficiency metrics, and the development of individualised training plans targeted at specific needs. The app can provide pre-flight briefings to pilots with route-specific operational data, enhancing preparation and situational awareness. Following each flight, pilots receive a debrief based on rapid analysis of flight data. Comparative benchmarking allows crew members to measure performance relative to peers within their fleet, reflecting a commitment to continuous improvement and team-based oversight. For management, Astra adds value by highlighting both strong performance and areas that require additional support or intervention. The ability to monitor adherence to company procedures and assess return on investment is designed to support both efficiency and risk management objectives. Industry integration Astra is compatible with Acron Aviation's Flight Data Connect platform, which processes large volumes of flight information in a matter of minutes. This integration supports broader safety and operational initiatives, including contributions to IATA's Flight Data eXchange programme. The application is available for further demonstrations at key industry events, with Acron Aviation continuing to showcase Astra's capabilities to prospective users from the global aviation community.
Time Out
9 hours ago
- Time Out
Don't have a Real ID? The TSA just made your airport experience easier
Apple just gave frequent flyers—and Real ID procrastinators—something to look forward to this fall: a digital passport option in Apple Wallet. The feature, part of the next iOS update, lets users create a digital ID using their U.S. passport. Even better, the Transportation Security Administration just approved it as a Real ID alternative—but only for certain types of travel. ' Digital ID offers a secure and private new way for users to store and present their ID information using their iPhone and Apple Watch,' Apple said in a recent release. 'Users can seamlessly create and add a Digital ID to Apple Wallet using a U.S. passport.' This is surely something iPhone users will get excited about, but here's the fine print: the new feature is not a full passport replacement. It's only approved for domestic travel and only at TSA checkpoints that support it. You'll still need your physical passport to get through customs, immigration or any international border. But for domestic travel? It's officially Real ID compliant. As Real ID enforcement began in May, many travelers found themselves scrambling, either upgrading their licenses or falling back on passports just to fly from one city to another. Apple's digital ID is now a workaround for those who still haven't made the switch, letting users tap through security instead of rifling through their bulging bags to flash a physical document. The TSA confirmed that digital passports in Apple Wallet will be accepted at supported domestic checkpoints—with 250 airports already on board, including LAX, JFK and O'Hare—but they are clear about one thing: bring your real passport if you're going abroad. Period. Alongside the digital ID, Apple's also polishing up boarding passes and adding new travel tools to Wallet to streamline your airport routine. It's a smart step forward, but it's not a replacement yet, so keep that passport handy, at least until international travel catches up.
