FT Tech News 06: Donald Trump back on Facebook and Instagram | Android 14 to block the installation of older version apps | Apple rolls out update for iPhone 5s | Biometric lock for Chrome incognito tabs | iPhone 15 to come with Wi-Fi 6E
Today’s hot tech news is on its way.
Donald Trump is back on Instagram and Facebook
We are all aware of the Capitol Hill riot on January 6, 2021, after which Donald Trump’s account from both Facebook and Instagram was suspended for two years. According to Reuters, Meta Platforms Inc said it would reinstate his account on Facebook and Instagram in the coming weeks. For your information, the former US President also was suspended from Twitter but the account was restored in November. Though, he has not posted anything on Twitter yet.
This restoration of Donald Trump’s account came with a warning from Nick Clegg, Meta’s President of Global Affairs. He said if any violations are made again then the post will be deleted first and then depending upon the severity of the violation one month to two-year ban will be imposed. The reactivation of Trump’s account was very important from his point of view though, he might not accept it publicly. He has significant followers on Facebook and Instagram which will help him reach audiences and also play a big role in fundraising. Because he is going to make another run for President in 2024. Also Read: FT Tech News 05: WhatsApp new feature for photos and videos | Netflix password sharing rule | Google to launch ChatGPT like product | Google planning to fire 12,000 employees
Android 14 to block the installation of older version apps from the Play Store or any other third-party app store
It is assumed that Google is going to announce its Android 14 in the upcoming Google I/O which will be held this spring. Though Android 13 is still to reach a larger audience, Google's plans seem to be more focused on Android 14. Early news on Android has started to come. According to 9to5google, Android 14 will block the installation of apps that were designed for previous or older versions of Android. That means to say that if an app was designed for Android 10 or older version, it will not be installed on a device running on Android 14. Let’s take another condition to understand properly. If one app was built 2 or 3 years back, it is obvious that it was not made considering today’s android version. It was made for the android version that was running at that time. If the app developer keeps updating the app and makes necessary changes to it over time. There will be no problem for it to run on Android 14 as long as it is complying with Android 14 terms, conditions, and requirements. But if the developer does update the app then it will not be installed on Android 14 devices. Another interesting condition of this problem is that you will not be able to install these older version apps from Play Store but also will not be even installed from third-party app stores. So is this the end of old apps? Definitely not. Google has given the freedom to phone manufacturers to decide on the minimum version of apps to work on their phones. So the manufacturers will choose up to which version the apps will support in the phone with Android 14. What was the necessity to introduce this feature? Google has discovered malware in older versions of apps. Implementing malware is possible in older versions because new Android versions come with strong security and timely updates. Also Read: FT Tech News 04: Google lost against CCI | Samsung bans import of displays | Tesla’s Scandal | AT&T 5G in Stillwater | No more Twitter third-party apps | Google Android distribution number revealed
Apple rolls out update for iPhone 5s which is 9 years old
Believe me, I am as surprised as you are. Yes, it is official and legit news…no rumors. Apple is giving an update to its 9-year-old iPhone. We all know Apple is the best at giving updates but what made it to provide an update for the iPhone 5s? iPhone 5s got its last update in 2018 with the release of iOS 12. Now Apple has released an update to iOS 12.5.7 to 5s. It was mainly provided to close a security loophole in which maliciously crafted web content was leading to security and data compromises. This shows Apple is very much serious about its brand and reputation, especially in phone security. That’s why it gave an update for a 9-year-old iPhone. One more thing, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are also eligible for this update. Also Read: FT Tech News 03: WhatsApp status to include voice notes | ChatGPT API with Microsoft Azure | Google removed embedded podcasts | iOS 16.3 features and release date
New biometric lock feature for Google Chrome incognito tab
This biometric lock for incognito tabs in Google Chrome is already there for iOS for quite a while now. Soon this feature is coming to Android as well. Well, the date is not announced yet about its release but it is will come soon. This feature will be a life savior for those who use incognito mode a lot. This will provide an additional layer of security to their private tabs which will prevent others to look into the tabs directly. It is said that Chrome will use the biometric data registered to your phone so that means you won't have to re-register your biometrics in the Chrome app. As soon as you close the Chrome app or minimize the app or incognito tabs, you need to open it by re-authenticating with your fingerprint. You might find the setting to turn on this feature in the privacy and security section of the Chrome app. Let me remind you again, this feature is still not out.
iPhone 15 to come with Wi-Fi 6E
Currently, no iPhones have Wi-Fi 6E. iPhone 14 series have wifi 6. Though some other Apple products have Wi-Fi 6E such as on the M2 iPad Pro versions from last year, as well as new MacBook Pro and Mac mini variants. If you do not know about Wi-Fi 6E and 6. Let me clarify. Wi-Fi 6E supports bands over 6GHz while 6 is limited to 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. The change will enable higher wireless speeds with better latency and fewer signal interferences. Read the full article