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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER 04 - 09 NOVEMBER, 2024
Hello and Welcome,
Meeting This Week
2024/11/05 — 18:00-20:00 — November, Tue — Main Meeting
SPCTUG Zoom Main Meeting
Time: Tuesday 5th November, 2024, 18:00 Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84608773479
Meeting ID: 846 0877 3479
Passcode: SydPCMain
Meeting Next Week
2024/11/16 — 14:00-16:00 — November, Sat — Web Design
SPCTUG Zoom Web Design Meeting
Time: Saturday, 16th November, 2024, 14:00 Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86141133224
Meeting ID: 861 4113 3224
Passcode: WebDesign
Schedule of Current & Upcoming Meetings
First Tuesday 18:00-20:00 — Main Meeting
Third Tuesday 10:00-12:00 — Tuesday Group
Third Saturday 14:00-16:00 — Web Design
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Go to the official Sydney PC Calendar for this month's meeting details.
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ASCCA News:Tech News:
Android 15 Boosts Security, Theft Detection Lock
See the InfoPackets article by John Lister on October 28, 2024, at 04:10 pm EDT.
Google has announced a range of security and privacy boosts for Android 15. It's also rolling out a key feature called Theft Detection Lock to older handsets.
The new version of Android will be available almost immediately on Google's Pixel handsets and then to other manufacturers. The release date and which handsets it works on depending on the manufacturer.
Theft Detection Lock Explained
Unlike some previous new versions of Android which have often seemed more focused on appearance and style, this time's focus is much more practical. The most high-profile change is the Theft Detection Lock, which will kick in if the phone detects that it has been snatched by somebody who then tries to get away at speed. The phone will then automatically lock.
Google says it uses AI to work out when this has happened rather than, for example, a user taking a phone out of their pocket and replacing it before setting off on a run. The chances are that a false positive won't be a significant issue here, as the legitimate user can simply unlock the phone as usual.
A related feature called Remote Lock allows users to remotely lock their phone from any other device by visiting a dedicated web page, typing in their phone number, and then passing a "simple security check." Both Theft Detection Lock and Remote Lock are also being rolled out as standalone features for phones running Android 10 and later, which should cover the vast majority of handsets still in use.
Privacy Features and Practical Improvements
Other Android 15 features include a Private Space for apps. This section is only accessible by an additional security check (such as a fingerprint). Any apps here will work as usual but won't be visible on the main screen or in the list of apps, and any notifications will be hidden until the Private Space is open. (Source: androidpolice.com).
To illustrate the feature from a generous view of human nature, a user might have used apps to buy flowers and a hotel break for an upcoming wedding anniversary and be awaiting dispatch notifications but not have the apps visible if they lend their handset to a partner or use it in their sight. (Source: blog.google).
Other Android 15 changes include greater control over screen layout on tablets and foldable phones, better camera performance in low light, and the option for some messaging apps to use satellite connectivity (when available) even if neither Wi-Fi nor cellular data are working.
What's Your Opinion?
Would you find these features helpful? Do you think the Theft Detection Feature will correctly detect phone snatching? Does Private Space solve a real problem?
Comments
It's about time for theft — Submitted by repete_14444 on Mon, 28/10/2024 — 22:25.
It's about time for a theft detection lock IF it works. With screen lock enabled, Private Space seems redundant, but if you share your phone with your partner and want to hide some apps, it could be useful. I won't comment on trust or cheating; that's for another forum. The satellite connectivity option could be very useful when Wi-Fi or cellular service is unavailable in a disaster.
Google Now Sells Refurbished Pixel Phones At A Discount
See the How-To-Geek article by Arol Wright | Published Oct 29, 2024.
Pixel Phone 7a
Google Pixel phones are among the best Android phones you can buy, but unless you're buying an A-series phone, the prices can be a bit high. Thankfully, you can now buy cheaper refurbished models straight from Google.
Google now directly sells certified refurbished Pixel phones at up to 40% off their original price. The program is available exclusively through the Google Store and features Pixel phones from the Pixel 6 series onwards, letting you get a "pre-loved" unit at a fraction of the cost of a new phone.
Each refurbished phone undergoes a rigorous inspection process, with any necessary repairs completed using authentic Google parts. All phones are updated to the latest Android software and include a compatible charger. Just in case something does go wrong, these refurbished Pixel phones come with a one-year limited warranty and full customer support, identical to new Pixel phone purchases. In line with Google's sustainability goals, all refurbished phones are packaged in 100% plastic-free materials.
Currently, the Google Store offers refurbished models of the Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6, and Pixel 6a. The selection will be updated regularly with additional models. For one, as the Pixel 8 series is not the latest range anymore, it might be added soon to the refurbished section. It seems to only include discontinued models as of the time of writing (right now Google doesn't sell any 7-series or 6-series phones), so theoretically, the earliest the Pixel 8 would pop up would be as we near the Pixel 10 launch or later. It's a given that no Pixel 9-series phones will be available here at the moment.
Customers who purchase a certified refurbished Pixel phone through the Google Store receive free shipping and returns, and have access to Google Store Financing with 0% APR for up to 36 months.
Source: Google
FTC Vows End to Free Trial and Subscription Scams
See the InfoPackets article by John Lister on October 30, 2024, at 02:10 pm EDT.
American consumers and businesses should soon find it much easier to cancel subscriptions, "free trials," and other ongoing payments. The FTC has added what it's dubbed the "Click to Cancel" rule, which means it must be as easy to cancel such arrangements as it is to start them.
The regulation is known as the "Rule Concerning Recurring Subscriptions and Other Negative Option Programs." In this case, "negative" means the provider will start or continue to take payments unless the user expressly cancels the arrangement.
Free Trials Have Surprise Catch
The FTC has been working on the changes for five years after exploring complaints from customers who felt misled. In some cases, they were unaware that they would be charged automatically, for example, with a free trial automatically converting to a paid subscription.
In other cases, they found it extremely difficult to cancel an arrangement, often requiring a lengthy phone call or even sending registered mail to a specific hard-to-find address.
The updates to the rule mean providers will now have to be truthful and not misleading when setting up such arrangements. This includes making it clear when payments will start and how customers can cancel. This must be "clear, conspicuous and available to your customers before they enrol." Key details will also have to be shown at the precise moment the user signs up, including when they click a button or submit a form online.
No Chatbots Required
Businesses will also need to get explicit proof that the user consented to the arrangement and keep this proof for three years. This could be a signature or a clearly marked checkbox that says the customer has read and understood the agreement.
Finally, customers must be able to cancel like they signed up. For example, if a customer signed up online by clicking a button or submitting a form, they must be able to cancel the same way without having to "talk" to a customer service agent or chatbot. (Source: bbc.co.uk)
Customers can't be forced to cancel by phone unless they sign up that way. A business that offers phone cancellation can't charge extra for doing so (or use a premium rate number) and must take phone calls during regular business hours. (Source: ftc.gov)
What's Your Opinion?
What do you think about the FTC's new rule? Have you ever struggled to cancel a subscription or free trial? How do you think this new rule will impact businesses and consumers?
Comments
I approve of this rule — Submitted by LouisianaJoe on Wed, 30/10/2024 — 16:35.
Several years ago, I accepted a "30-day free trial" that required a credit card. I did not see that I was signing up for a one-year subscription that I could not cancel with auto-renewal at the end of the year. When I determined what was going on, I logged in and blacked out the credit card. I was able to talk to someone, but they would not let me cancel it, and the card was already charged. I then unsubscribed to the newsletter, which tricked me.
Subscription scam — Submitted by ronangel1 on Wed, 30/10/2024 — 17:28.
A few months ago, I signed up for a service with a name similar to the one I intended to sign up for. It was £1:99p the first month after I had paid (via PayPal, as I usually do for anti-money scam reasons and not having to cancel credit cards). This was a reasonable price for service, but as soon as I sent the first payment, it said there would be for the second month and so on until cancelled £11:99p. The first thing I did when I found I had been misled, I cancelled the PayPal payments, then got a message from PayPal about agreements but still cancelled. I did not download any software or extra software for account or use. I emailed the company stating I had been misled and asked them to refund my £1:99p (I never got it back!) I was told that to cancel, I would have to register with a password and log in. Then, it started to put a used car salesperson to shame. I got offered discounts, but I still said cancel as I had been misled about the company name and didn't want the product, as I now have the correct one.
I received offers and discounts from them for two months. I asked them to remove my email, but after three months, I had to block it as spam as they were in the USA and I was in the UK, and so I gave up!
We need this Law! It is always good to use PayPal when paying for things you are not sure about, as the seller does not have your address details — just an email. In this case, a minimal amount of money would have been too much trouble to get PayPal to refund.
HOORAY! When does it take effect? — Submitted by repete_14444 on Wed, 30/10/2024 — 18:26.
HOORAY! When does it take effect? Most e-newspapers and magazines do that trick. One customer service jerk actually berated me several times for taking advantage of the three months for $1. Now I'm getting that e-newspaper free indefinitely! HA!
Fun Facts:
Rename-It! — Windows software to safely rename thousands of files via RegExp.
See the Rename-It! Download page by c95mem and wernight.
Rename-It! can Bulk-Rename one or many files.
I had a simple requirement: "Insert a leading ZERO in the list of file names that contained numbers."
Say I had the files:
file4
file5
file6
file7
And I wanted to rename them as follows:
file04
file05
file06
file07
That's fine. But what if I had 100 or 1,000 files? TEDIOUS!
Rename-It! GUI
First, click "Add filter".
This sets what to search for and what to replace it with.
I'll be using RegExp, so I'll click "Use: Regular expressions". I'll use this to insert a zero in front of numbers in the filenames. That way, if you run out of numbers (say 0-9), you can continue with numbers 010 - 099).
You can see the effect, by trying it with the "Sample_Filename". I just added "123" to the filename and saw the result was "Sample_Filename0123," as expected.
The "Search and Replace" function has this effect because of the "\0" in the output line. In RegExp, "\0" means using the matched field as output. Otherwise, we would have to use ten expressions — one for each digit: find 0, find 1, find 2 etc. Then replace with 00, 01, 02, etc.
This way, [0-9] stands for "any" single digit, so "0\0" means to insert a zero, then add the matched search digit. Thus, the inserted zero is achieved with a single line of code. Of course, you must click the "Replace once" box. Otherwise, we'd see a three-digit number become 0a0b0c instead of 0abc.
You can easily find many YouTube tutorials on RegExp.
Rename-It! GUI Part 2
Next, click: "Add files" to choose files to rename.
You can see the effects of your renaming in the "Before" and "After" columns without risking renaming anything.
When there are some files to rename, the "Rename files" button is no longer greyed out. You can now do the renaming CAREFULLY, since there is no UNDO button.
Maybe have a copy of the folder containing the files to rename as a precaution.
EXPERIMENT with sample renamings, and have some fun.
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Bob Backstrom
~ Newsletter Editor ~
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