Innehållsförteckning för #668 från AppleMagazine

In the name of consumer protection, a slew of U.S. federal agencies are working to make it easier for Americans to click the unsubscribe button for unwanted memberships and recurring payment services. A broad new government initiative, dubbed “Time Is Money,” includes a rollout of new regulations and the promise of more for industries spanning from healthcare and fitness memberships to media subscriptions. “The administration is cracking down on all the ways that companies, through paperwork, hold times and general aggravation waste people’s money and waste people’s time and really hold onto their money,” Neera Tanden, White House domestic policy adviser, told reporters in advance of the announcement. “Essentially in all of these practices, companies are delaying services to you or really trying to make it so difficult for you…

The students — most with gray hair, some with canes, all at least in their 60s — couldn’t believe what they were hearing. “Oh, my God,” whispered a retired college professor. “Does it come with viruses?” wondered a bewildered woman scribbling notes in the second row. A 79-year-old in a black-and-white floral shirt then asked the question on many minds: “How do you know if it is fake or not?” This is how older adults — many of whom lived through the advent of refrigeration, the transition from radio to television and the invention of the internet — are grappling with artificial intelligence: taking a class. Sitting in a classroom in an airy senior center in a Chicago suburb, the dozen students were learning about the latest — and possibly…

TELL ALL: NO LIMITS PART 3 90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER? TELL ALL: NO LIMITS PART 2 90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER? AN OFF THE RAILS REUNION THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY TELL ALL: NO LIMITS, PT. 1 90 DAY FIANCE: HAPPILY EVER AFTER? DINNER PARTY DISASTER THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ORANGE COUNTY THE QUEEN WHO EVER WAS HOUSE OF THE DRAGON FIRST TIMES & SECOND CHANCES LOVE AFTER LOCKUP HAD IT COMING TYLER PERRY’S SISTAS MY PAST IS WHOOPING MY ASS TEEN MOM: THE NEXT CHAPTER THE HEIRS OF THE DRAGON HOUSE OF THE DRAGON…

It was a tantalizing vision: autonomous flying taxis zipping spectators around the Paris Olympics, their electric engines humming softly over the cityscape, ushering in a new era in public transport. Certification delays dashed that dream. But the backers of the Volocopter aircraft that was meant to ferry Olympic fans aren’t giving up. They carried out a test flight Sunday, marking the last day of the 2024 Olympics with a sunrise demonstration over the resplendent grounds of the Versailles palace. The craft carried baggage, but no people, when it took off from the gardens of Versailles, from where the first hot-air balloon took flight in 1783. The Paris region had planned for a small fleet of pilot-less air taxis for the Olympics, operated by Germany’s Volocopter and the Paris airport authority…

Password managers and the recent emergence of Passkeys represent two critical stages in online security. With iOS 18, Apple plans to make it easier for users with the launch of a dedicated Passwords app. Let’s delve into digital authentication’s history, improvements, and future, focusing on Apple’s efforts to enhance user security and simplify the process. THE RISE OF PASSWORD MANAGERS For decades, passwords have been the cornerstone of digital security. Initially, the concept was simple: a unique combination of characters that only the user knew, which could be used to gain access to protected resources. However, as the internet expanded and users had to manage an increasing number of accounts, the limitations of traditional passwords became glaringly apparent. The average internet user now has dozens, if not hundreds, of online…

Current and former Cash App users could be eligible for a hefty piece of a proposed class-action settlement from the popular online payment service. Earlier this year, Cash App Investing and its parent company Block Inc. agreed to pay $15 million to settle a lawsuit that alleged a “failure to exercise reasonable care” in protecting user information leading up to and after recent data breaches. The class-action complaint cited two incidents where access to some account data was compromised, saying this resulted in numerous unauthorized charges impacting Cash App customers. Now, those consumers can submit a claim for a settlement payment — which could include reimbursement of up to $2,500 in out-of-pocket losses — ahead of final approval. Here’s what you need to know. WHY WAS CASH APP SUED? Cash…

Elliott Investment Management is launching a proxy fight with Southwest Airlines and plans to nominate 10 candidates for the 15-member board of an the airline where performance has lagged behind competitors. The hedge fund said late Tuesday that naming a slate of director candidates marks “a key step toward implementing the urgent changes needed at Southwest.” Southwest said that it has repeatedly sought to engage Elliott to address its concerns, but those attempts have been rebuffed. “After Elliott recently agreed to a meeting with Southwest Airlines in early September to discuss a collaborative resolution, including continuing significant Board refreshment and other governance enhancements, Elliott unilaterally decided instead to publicly announce its intention to replace a majority of Southwest Airlines’ Board,” Southwest said in a prepared statement. Shares of Southwest Airlines…

Google on Tuesday unveiled its next generation of Pixel phones, providing the maker of Android software a head start on the next iPhone in the race to bring more artificial-intelligence services to devices that have become people’s constant companions. The showcase held near Google’s Mountain View, California, headquarters took place two months earlier than when the company typically rolls out the next models in its Pixel phone lineup, which made its debut eight years ago. Although Pixel phones still represent a sliver of worldwide smartphone sales, they are still closely watched because they serve as Google’s platform for demonstrating the latest advances in the Android operating system that powers virtually every phone not made by Apple. And Google left little doubt that the Pixel 9 phones are meant to be…

If you’re ready to move on from a purely gasoline-fueled vehicle but you’re not ready to go fully electric, you have two choices. You can get a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. But which one is best? Experts can help you decide. HYBRID PROS & CONS A hybrid electric vehicle has a gasoline engine, a small electric motor, and a small battery pack that work together to improve fuel economy, enhance performance, or both. The best-known hybrid is the Toyota Prius, but they come in all shapes and sizes. From compact cars to full-size pickup trucks, there is a hybrid for just about anyone. PROS Improves fuel economy while reducing emissions Sometimes improves acceleration and overall performance Often provides electric-only driving at low speeds for short distances Usually doesn’t…

California and South Carolina could become the next states to limit cellphone use in schools, with state officials taking up the issue this week. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is sending letters to school districts, urging them to restrict students’ use of smartphones on campus. South Carolina’s State Board of Education took up guidelines to tell local districts to ban cellphone use during class time, but postponed a final vote until next month to take more time to craft the proposal. The efforts mark a broader push by officials in Utah, Florida, Louisiana and elsewhere to try to limit cellphone use in schools in order to reduce distractions in the classroom — and address the impacts of social media on the mental health of children and teens. But progress can be…