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Hopscom Technology, London (2026)

01/07/2022

Google Analytics is losing track of millions of users as regulators ban the service.

The European Union has been after Google for abuse of its monopoly power in mobile search engines and applications. Now, a growing number of countries in the union are going after the use of Google Analytics for violations against the General Data Protection Regulation.

Italy is the third and latest country to prohibit the service which lets webmasters track and analyze their site traffic. The government stated in its decision that rafts of information, including IP addresses, are collected via cookies and transmitted to the United States and could potentially be seen by third parties and the government there, violating the GDPR as users aren't ensured due process for redress. Italy's competition authority has cited domestic web services provider Caffeina Media, giving the firm 90 days to transfer its account away from Google Analytics.

In a blog post, Google Analytics competitor Simple Analytics notes two other member states taking similar action. France's national commission on the freedom of liberation or CNIL announced a ban for the same reason back in February while Austria's Data Protection Authority put down its block in January (via noyb).

Google's appeals and defenses in response to these rulings are generally being dismissed. The company would not be able to satisfactorily demonstrate that it could anonymize user data from Europe before transmitting it to the U.S. Encryption in this process also doesn't matter if Google holds onto the keys.

Google is set to shut down the Universal Analytics platform — which leaned heavily on trackers to collect detailed information about site visitors — most Google Analytics clients are currently on by October 2023. Google Analytics 4, which loosens up on using trackers, but still looks to get a lot of the same data with other methods, is available now, but likely won't earn favors from the E.U. Google has also struggled to develop new, privacy-minded web trackers over the last several years.

A lot of the justifications for banning Google Analytics are coming from something called the 'Schrems II' decision from the Court of Justice of the European Union from 2020. This invalidated earlier principles in a framework dubbed Privacy Shield which protected safeguarded data transfers to the United States. You can see the full verdict here.

01/07/2022

Gmail offline introduced, here’s how to send emails without the internet

HIGHLIGHTS

Gmail has introduced an offline mode for everyone.
The new offline feature eliminates the need for the internet to read, respond, and search for Gmail messages.
If your Gmail is linked with your school or work account, the admin will need to change the settings.

Gmail has introduced an offline mode for everyone. The new offline feature eliminates the need for the internet to read or respond to and also search Gmail messages. This offline feature will prove to be helpful, especially for people living in areas with a patchy internet connection.

As per the Google Support page, the offline feature will let users read, respond to, and search for Gmail messages even when their device isn’t connected to the internet. To use this mode, users will need to visit mail.google.com. The tech giant recommends bookmarking the Google link to start with.

Notably, if your Gmail is linked with your school or work account, the admin will need to change the settings. The rest can simply follow the steps mentioned below.

Before getting into the steps, it should be noted that Google says Gmail offline will work on Google Chrome and will work only if you are browsing in normal mode, not incognito. Now, here’s how to turn on Gmail offline mode as Google explained:

-Head over to mail.google.com.

-In the inbox, click on Settings or the Cogwheel button.

01/07/2022

Google will pay small US app developers a total of $90 million following settlement

While Google allows other app stores on its Google-powered flavor of Android, it’s clear that the Play Store is the place to be for developers if they want to reach a remotely significant number of people. App developers have long alleged that Google is misusing its power over this significant market, and a class action lawsuit followed in 2021. Now, a settlement has been reached, with Google establishing a $90 million fund to support smaller developers in the US and bringing major changes to the Play Store.

The class action lawsuit was started in 2021 by nearly 48,000 plaintiffs represented by Hagens Berman, a law firm that has achieved a number of victories against Big Tech companies already. Hagens Berman reports that its plaintiffs are bound to receive monetary compensation in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, all the way up to $200,000 for some bigger developers (spotted by Mishaal Rahman). The money will be paid out from Google’s $90 million fund, and almost all developers in the US are eligible. Google says it is paying out the money to developers who “earned two million dollars or less in annual revenue through Google Play during each year from 2016-2021,” which appear to be about 99% of developers on the store.

In addition to the monetary dimension, Google has agreed to some major changes to the Play Store to better accommodate smaller developers:

The company has committed to continue providing developers who make their first $1 million of annual revenue on the Play Store with a reduced 15% commission rate until at least May 25, 2025. This is the 50% cut on the regular 30% fee that the company first introduced in 2021.
Google will also build an “Indie Apps Corner” to “showcase independent and small startup developers building unique high-quality apps” right in the apps tab of the US Play Store.
A new developer distribution agreement will make it clear that developers can use contact data obtained via the Play Store to tell users about other offers, including “subscription offers or lower-cost offerings on a rival app store or the developer’s website.”
Additionally, the company has pledged to maintain changes made to Android 12 that make it easier to use alternative app stores on Android for at least three years.
The company will also publish an annual transparency report that will detail how developers operate under the settlement agreement. It will also contain “statistics such as apps removed from Google Play, account terminations, and other data regarding how users interact with Google Play.”

Of course, Google maintains that it hasn’t done anything wrong in the court, but says that this settlement “will avoid protracted and unnecessary litigation with developers, whom we see as vital partners in the Android ecosystem.”

Hagens Berman previously successfully represented a number of developers in a case against Apple’s App Store. It managed to secure a $100 million settlement for iOS developers that made similar claims against Apple. Given its track record, we might see many more similar cases coming to the courts.

01/07/2022

Samsung gets the ball rolling on July 2022 security patch, starting with the Galaxy A32......

Samsung has raised the bar for all Android manufacturers with its speedy software update policy. It has been consistently beating Google in rolling out monthly security patches for its devices. It is the same story this month as well—the Korean giant has released the July security patch for the Galaxy A32 in its home market. Starting the rollout with a mid-range device from 2021 is an odd choice, but going by the company's track record, the latest security update for its flagship devices should land in the next few days.

The 4G-only Galaxy A32 is getting a nearly 1GB update in South Korea carrying the build number A325NKSU1BVF2 (via XDA). Samsung's release note only mentions security fixes and stability improvements, with some built-in Samsung apps like Health, Notes, and SmartThings also being updated to a newer version. The firmware is rolling out in batches, so it might not show up immediately on your phone. A wider international release of the patch should commence in the next few days.

The June 2022 update introduced several new features for the Galaxy S22 series and Samsung's foldables from last year. So, the July patch is unlikely to bring any notable changes except for bug fixes and under-the-hood improvements for these devices. The next major release in terms of features should be One UI 5. Samsung is hard at work on its Android 13-based skin that's expected to come with smoother and optimized animations to speed up UI navigation.

Rumors indicate the Galaxy S22's One UI 5 beta program could start as early as the third week of July, with the public release scheduled for October.

We'll be keeping this post updated as Samsung releases the July 2022 patch for other Galaxy phones.

20/02/2022

MTN Rebrands as a Tech Company and Debuts a New Logo

MTN, the mobile telecoms firm, has begun a rebranding effort.

The telco unveiled a new logo as part of the rebranding effort ahead of an official event set for February 2022.

Additionally, the company stated that it is transforming from a telecommunications to a technology company.

The new logo, which will replace MTN’s corporate yellow, blue, and white emblem with a new black design, has been submitted for vetting and approval by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission.

The old slogan “Everywhere you go” has been changed to “Y’ello.”

According to the company, “MTN Group’s Ambition 2025, focused at “Leading digital platforms for Africa’s progress,” has ushered in a new appearance that is consistent with our evolution from a telecoms company to a technology company supported by a single basic, consistent, yet attractive identity.

“As part of our commitment and focus on Africa’s progress, MTN will unveil a redesigned brand identity and campaign on 27 February. The campaign is motivated by the concept that doing serves as a bridge between can and done, as all development begins with action.”

According to Nompilo Morafo, MTN’s chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer, the new appearance reflects the business’s growth from a telecommunications to a technology company.

“As part of our commitment and focus on Africa’s progress, MTN will unveil a revamped brand identity and campaign,” Morafo added

18/02/2022

Google Cautions Businesses About Anti-Tech Legislation

With access to millions of emails and business profiles, Google’s using its vast resources to inform businesses about tech legislation via email and numerous websites.

People with Google Business Profiles, or who use other Google properties, may have noticed an email warning them of upcoming legislation that could impact their businesses.

In addition to emails, Google has written blogs and set up websites with the goal of educating people about the potential consequences of these bills.

Anti-tech bills, such as the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, work to keep companies like Google from using their online platforms for discriminatory behavior.

Google and other major tech companies are rallying to torpedo the recent bill.
Grassroots Efforts by Google

According to BillHartzer.com, the email states the bill has “unintended consequences” for businesses that use digital tools like Google Ads, Gmail, Google Analytics, and Docs. It also states it would impact listings on Google Search and Maps.

The email goes on to say the bill would make it harder for people to find your business, damage productivity, and cost you both time and money.

Google doesn’t include the name of the bill in its email, information about where people can read it, or any other identifiable characteristics readers could use to find it on their own.

This is indicative of Google trying to craft its own narrative around the proposed bill, rather than encouraging businesses to come to their own conclusions by seeking information elsewhere.
What Is the American Innovation and Choice Online Act?

The bill is a bipartisan effort designed to clip the wings of major online platforms for antitrust and consumer choice violations.

Some of the biggest companies hit by the bill include Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Google.

They’re all targets because they have more than 50 million active monthly users (or 100,000 business users), have an annual market capitalization (or U.S. net sales exceeding $550 billion), and serve as a critical trading partner for its business users, according to the bill’s language.

Consumer choice and privacy have long been an issue as companies like Google use consumer data and information for their own purposes.

The bill would allow federal antitrust agencies the ability to issue civil penalties and injunctions for the following behaviors:

Unfair preferences for the products of the online platform over other businesses.
Limiting products by companies that compete against the platform.
Using discriminatory practices in the enforcement of terms of service that may harm competition.
Use of non-public data obtained or generated by the platform’s business users to preference the platform’s products over the business’.
Restricting or impeding software applications preinstalled on the platform or changing default settings on the platform that steers people to its own products.
Retaliating against users who report concerns.

The bill’s language is vague, much like the initial language of the UK’s Data Protection Act 2018 that left many businesses scratching their heads on how to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Proponents of the bill say it eliminates discriminatory practices. Detractors say it negatively impacts consumers and businesses.
Google Website Details Opposition

Efforts by Google to derail the bill include a website that details the issues and allows people to send letters to their congressperson with a pre-written message opposing the bill.

The website goes into detail about how the bill impacts business including:

Eliminating phone number, address, and business hours from Google Search and Maps.
Disconnecting Google ad products from each other and Google Analytics.
Splitting up Gmail, Docs, and Calendar so they no longer work together.

The website also features an extensive FAQ section detailing specific issues such as Internet safety and listings groups that have concerns about the bill including:

U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Connected Commerce Council
U.S. Black Chambers
Latino Coalition
Chamber of Progress
Asia/ Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship

The website also includes a link to Google’s blog where Kent Walker, President, Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer, Google and Alphabet, goes into detail about the concerns Google has for the bill as well as recent amendments to it.
Do Google’s Efforts Prove the Need for the Bill?

Google used its own platform and information to send emails to consumers and businesses to decry opposition to the bill by showing how anti-tech bills can impact them. The one-sided email is as vague as the bill itself.

By providing a one-sided proposition to their consumers that furthers the company’s agenda, does Google prove the need for such a bill?

The legislation is designed to protect businesses from the iron-like grip of massive companies like Google and Amazon. Google says it does more harm than good.

Ultimately, the decision to pass the bill as well as its language is up to Congress. It’s obvious Google and other companies impacted by the bill will continue their own efforts to change or eliminate anti-tech bills.

18/02/2022

So Your iPhone Has Stopped Receiving Updates, Now What?

Your iPhone Will Eventually Stop Receiving Updates

By current estimations, Apple provides around seven years of support for the iPhone. The iPhone 6s and iPhone SE launched in 2015 and 2016 respectively, running iOS 9. Both of these models were able to upgrade to iOS 15 in 2021, which means they’ve received seven iOS upgrades and at the time of writing are still receiving ongoing support.

The iPhone 5s launched in 2013 with iOS 7 and eventually ceased receiving updates after iOS 12 released in 2018, which equates to a support period of six major versions. Earlier iPhones like the iPhone 5 only saw five major revisions of iOS. So, as time has gone on, Apple has been supporting its smartphones for longer periods of time.

But age comes for us all eventually, and your iPhone is no different. Eventually, Apple will stop supporting your device with major iOS updates. This means you won’t be able to upgrade to the shiny new version each fall. It’s difficult to predict when this will be even with current estimates, since only Apple can tell.

It’s possible that newer devices will last even longer than older ones, especially as the hardware that powers the iPhone becomes more efficient and capable.
Unsupported Devices May Receive Security Updates

The good news is that even devices that are no longer receiving major iOS upgrades receive over-the-air updates from time to time. You can take a look at Apple’s security updates log to see evidence of this.

For example, iOS 12.5.5 was released in September 2021, targeting the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 (plus some older iPad and iPod Touch models), around the same time that iOS 15 was rolling out. This update addressed known security issues in Safari and other areas of the operating system.

Unfortunately, these updates only target the most critical problems. Smaller bugs and lower priority security issues will go unaddressed since Apple focuses development on the latest version of iOS. For that reason running an older device still presents a security risk, particularly if the device is stuck on a much older version of iOS.
The Problem With Outdated Versions of iOS

Security risks are by far the biggest concern with outdated software of any kind. These could allow attackers to run unsigned code on your device through a web browser which could lead to personal information becoming compromised. An attack could even cause your device to stop working altogether (as was the case with an iMessage exploit that was patched in 2019).

In addition to exposing yourself to security problems, you’ll also miss out on new features that Apple rolls out each fall. This can range from simple tweaks and enhancements to the iOS formula to major new versions of in-built apps like Notes and Safari

Some Apple features might stop working altogether or behave erratically. For example, Continuity features allow you to pick up where you left off on a Mac or an iPad, or copy something on your iPhone and paste it on your Mac (and vice versa). The best way to ensure these features remain functional is to use the latest software on all of your devices.

Some third-party apps may also stop working since they will rely on newer versions of iOS. Apps list the minimum version of iOS required under the “Compatibility” section at the bottom of their App Store listing. This varies from app to app. For example at the time of writing Minecraft works on iOS 10 or later, while Among Us requires iOS 13 at a minimum.

The problems may even extend to peripherals like the Apple Watch. Since the Watch depends on iOS to function, it must be updated wirelessly using the Watch app that lives on your iPhone. You may be missing out on Watch features and updates if your iPhone is stuck on a previous version since newer versions of watchOS must be applied after the latest version of iOS has been installed.
Support Ended? Consider Upgrading Your iPhone

There’s not a lot you can do about an iPhone that is no longer receiving major updates. On a Mac, you can throw caution to the wind and use a patcher to install unsupported versions of macOS anyway, even if it tanks your performance considerably.

On a Mac, you could install a lightweight Linux distribution to regain some performance, or install Windows if your hardware allows. The iPhone doesn’t have this luxury since Apple locks the bootloader to only accept Apple firmware. You could jailbreak your iPhone if there’s an exploit available, but you probably shouldn’t jailbreak unless you have good reason to.
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The only real option that allows you to use the latest version of iOS is to buy a new or used iPhone that’s still receiving support. Being stuck on an older version of iOS is one of the best reasons to replace your iPhone. If your device is old enough that software support has lapsed then you’ll likely see some big improvements in performance, features, camera quality, and more when you upgrade.

18/02/2022

Three reasons why I like Stuffcool's Ecolo sustainable USB-C cables

That's always a good thing in my book, and the durability of the Ecolo cables combined with the fact that they work with the 65W USB PD standard makes these charging cables an easy recommendation.
Three reasons why I like Stuffcool's Ecolo sustainable USB-C cables

We have a lot of recommendations if you're looking for the best USB-C cables for your phones and accessories. And while you'll find plenty of great options if you want durable charges that deliver up to a 100W charge consistently, the one area where we haven't seen much progress is sustainable cables.

That's why I was intrigued when Indian accessory maker Stuffcool announced that it was launching eco-friendly USB-C cables made out of recycled plastic. These cables are designed for data transfer and charging phones and notebooks, and go up to 65W over USB PD. I've had the cables plugged into the Stuffcool Centurion for the last month, and in that time I used them to charge phones, wireless earbuds, power banks, and other accessories. Here are three reasons why the Stuffcool Ecolo cables are a great choice for Indian users.
Stuffcool Ecolo cables work with the 65W USB PD charging protocol

Like most charging cables designed to work with the USB PD protocol, the Ecolo cables have auto-detect IC that intelligently assigns power based on the source device. So if you're charging a phone or notebook that charges over 65W, it will send the requisite power to the device. But if you're charging earbuds, it will throttle the charge accordingly.

These cables are ideally suited for phones and notebooks. In the month I used the Ecolo series, I connected the cables to the Galaxy S21 FE, OnePlus 9 Pro, and OnePlus 9RT, and they worked without any issues.

I was able to get 25W over the Centurion, and I switched over to OnePlus's wall charger to test the efficacy of these cables with the 65W Warp Charge standard, and they held a steady charge. They don't charge quite as fast as the bundled cable you get with the 9RT as they're limited to 3A — OnePlus's charging tech goes up to 6A initially — but there isn't too much of a differential.

Ecolo cables are sold in two variants: USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to Micro-USB, so if you're using an older phone that connects over Micro-USB, you can pick up the latter option. As for data transfer, they're able to deliver up to 480Mbps.
Stuffcool Ecolo cables are good for the environment

The marquee feature with these cables is that they're made out of 96% post consumer recycled plastic, with the other 4% made up of polyester. The packaging is 100% plastic free as well, and the net result is that these cables have a negative carbon footprint.

And although these cables are designed to be eco-friendly, I didn't notice any difference in durability. They seem just as durable as nylon-braided cables I've used in the past, and after a month of use, I don't see any wear on these cables.
Stuffcool Ecolo costs just as much as standard USB-C cables

The best part about the Ecolo cables is the cost: the 1.5 meter USB-C to USB-C cable costs just ($6.6), and the USB-C to Micro-USB variant is available for ($7). That's on par with standard USB-C cables in the market, so you're not paying a premium for the sustainable design.

18/02/2022

Finally: Google wants to make Gmail notifications only pop up on one device

We’ve all been there: you’re working in Gmail on your laptop and a new message comes in. In stereo, you hear and see the notification pop up on both your laptop and smartphone. So annoying.

Related: How to encrypt email in Gmail like a secret agent

Google has finally noticed how much of a nuisance this is and is working on a potential solution. As first spotted by 9to5Google, the company appears to be doing a limited test for a way to stop mobile Gmail notifications while you’re working in the browser version of the app.
Be gone, mobile Gmail notifications!

As we said, this is a limited test for now, so things are still in the early stages. However, the way it would work is fairly straightforward. When you open up Gmail in a browser, you’d see a message like this:

The alert makes it clear that this system involves you allowing your browser to track your activity. The trade-off here, though, is that you would only need to make this approval once. After hitting “Continue” and giving the appropriate permissions, your browser would automatically shut off mobile Gmail notifications while you’re working and then turn them back on when you either exit the app or your browser identifies that you’re no longer active.

Popular workspace app Slack already has a system like this. If you are active in the Slack desktop app, notifications don’t pop up on your phone. If you close Slack on your desktop (or the app simply notices you haven’t done anything there in a while), it will start pushing notifications to your phone again. It’s possible Google is trying to mimic Slack here.

Regardless, this would be a most welcome addition to Gmail. Notification overload is real, so anything to help mitigate that is a good thing!

18/02/2022

Google Drive just got a huge upgrade — and it will save you a ton of timeGoogle Drive is one of many Google services, that's receiving upgrades, and this lot promises to make it a lot easier to search for files, folders and more within the cloud-based storage service.

Dubbed "search chips," Google Drive for users of the Workspace services will now have the option to search for documents and files based on the files' location, type, the people with whom they’ve been shared, when the files were last modified and more. These options come in the form of an additional suite of small drop-down menus nested below the scratch bar in Google Drive.

This might sound like a trivially simple upgrade, but as a user of Drive for work, I can’t begin to tell you how frustrating it’s been to try and track down various documents in my own segment of Workspace-grade Drive, let alone try and find various files shared across the Tom’s Guide team and our publisher Future.

Unsurprisingly, I write a lot on a daily basis. Trying to distinguish one iPhone 14 or Samsung Galaxy S22 story draft from another in search results can be a minor nightmare, with documents served up from mere hours ago to nearly two years ago with seemingly little or no logic.

Google itself recognised that searching for a few keywords the user believes might be relevant to a desired file or document can be too broad and leads to inefficient searching and inaccurate results.

It’s hoped that by offering an extra degree of filtering, finding files will become a lot easier. I for one welcome this change with open arms.

Other Drive improvements have also been added, such as serving up spelling suggestions along with search chips, allowing search chips to work on their own or together, and offering additional date options to the “last modified” chip.

Rollout of this upgrade has already started, though it could take some 15 days from Feb. 15 for the search chips to be added to your version of Drive on the Google Workspace.

As this improvement has been designed for enterprise users, don’t expect to see it on the personal version of Google Drive just yet. I’m hoping Google extends the update to all users of Drive before too long.

Alongside a redesign of Gmail, it’s good to see Google is looking at refining some of its widely used tools, as good as they are. Tweaks that streamline things and make life easier for users are definitely appreciated.

18/02/2022

Google has announced plans to strengthen user privacy on Android with a new initiative that will put an end to cross-app tracking on Android over the next two years, making it more difficult for advertisers to track users across other apps.

In a blog post, Google announced a multi-year project named "Privacy Sandbox" that introduces "more private advertising solutions" for mobile apps. The cornerstone of Privacy Sandbox will limit data shared with other third-party apps, making it more difficult for advertisers to build a profile of users for targeted advertising purposes.

Today, we're announcing a multi-year initiative to build the Privacy Sandbox on Android, with the goal of introducing new, more private advertising solutions. Specifically, these solutions will limit sharing of user data with third parties and operate without cross-app identifiers, including advertising ID.

The new initiative will draw similarities with Apple's App Tracking Transparency framework (ATT) that launched with iOS 14.5 last year. Unlike Apple's ATT, which requires all apps to ask for user consent before tracking them across other apps and websites, however, Google's Privacy Sandbox will limit app ability as default while also looking for new privacy-preserving ways to enable mobile advertising.

Announcing Privacy Sandbox today, Google seemingly took aim at Apple's ATT framework, saying "blunt approaches are proving ineffective" and that "other platforms have taken a different approach to ads privacy, bluntly restricting existing technologies used by developers and advertisers." The goal with Privacy Sandbox is for "users [to] know their information is protected, and developers and businesses have the tools to succeed on mobile," according to Google.

Soon after Apple previewed ATT and following its launch with iOS 14.5 last year, Facebook, now renamed to Meta, became vocal about its displeasure with the new requirement amid fears it would significantly impact its advertising business. Its fears seemingly became true, with the social media giant saying ATT will cost it $10 billion in lost revenue this year.

Google's approach is striking a different tone, with Snapchat, who had previously said ATT presented a "risk" to its business, saying in a statement that it is "excited to collaborate with Google to develop new privacy-preserving standards for Android." Google said it would receive input across the industry as it builds Privacy Sandbox over the next two years.

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