Apps

Earlier this year, Apple was put on the hot seat for a bug in its new Group FaceTime feature that practically allowed anyone to spy on an iPhone or iPad user by simply making and then dropping a covert call. Now it seems that the Android world has something that may be more sinister and more inconspicuous. Thanks to a bug found in Google's, Samsung's, and other OEM's camera apps, an almost inconspicuous app can secretly spy on the owner using their own phone's cameras. And all the malicious app needs is to be granted data storage permissions.

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Live streaming television service Sling TV has arrived on Google's Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max smart displays, the company has announced. The arrival brings a number of new capabilities for subscribers, the most obvious being that the Sling TV service can be directly watched on one of the displays. The feature is available for all Sling TV customers.

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Vizio is rolling out software updates for its SmartCast HDTVs that'll make it possible for Disney Plus subscribers to access the new streaming service. Rather than making the Disney Plus app available on its smart TVs, Vizio is using something like a workaround solution involving casting (for now). Select models have already received new Apple AirPlay support and Chromecast built-in will arrive next month.

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Next to Search, Google Maps is one of those services that's easy to take for granted these days but has had a world-changing impact in how we get around. It's far from perfect, of course, but Google hasn't yet stopped making the experience as effortless and as pleasant as possible. In fact, a few major features have come or are still coming to Maps' Android app that's geared to make life easier, especially for drivers of electric cars.

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Once upon a time, app launchers were the pride and joy of Android users, showing off the freedom and customization iOS users could only dream of. That has mostly died down by now, save for a few notable names, perhaps pointing to a shift in user behavior and expectations. Only a few big and trustworthy names remain in that section of the Android market and Apex Launcher is no longer one of them, thanks to some rather brain-dead decisions by its developers.

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Google is making it easier for Google Maps users to find interesting places by allowing them to follow popular Local Guides, the company has announced. The new feature is described as a pilot that will take place in a number of major cities around the world, including Osaka, Mexico City, New York City, Bangkok, London, and more.

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If you're looking to sign up for Deezer's HiFi lossless audio plan but you don't want to be shackled to your computer or forced to use a compatible speaker, the company has good news: support for mobile devices has arrived. As of now, Deezer HiFi customers can access the lossless audio library on their Android or iOS device; there's also new support on Web browsers.

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At this moment and for the foreseeable future, it's a good idea to avoid opening MP4 files in WhatsApp. There's a bug in WhatsApp for both iOS and Android where a malicious person can send a specially-crafted MP4 file to ultimately control a users' phone. This bug was patched, but not all people in the world have said patch right this minute.

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Facebook is testing a new feature called Popular Photos that mimics the image scrolling feed found on Instagram. The test was recently spied within the company's main mobile app, where users are presented with Popular Photos after they open an image posted by another user. The feature hints at another Instagram-like feature that Facebook may plan to bring to its main social media platform.

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Microsoft plans to stop supporting the Cortana mobile app in select markets starting in early 2020, the company quietly revealed on its support website. It's unclear how broadly the app will be removed -- based on Microsoft's message, it will happen in at least three countries. Microsoft's personal assistant will remain available on Windows 10, of course.

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In mid-September, Google introduced Chromecast support in its Files app, but only for beta users. That same feature has finally gone live for everyone, making it possible for users to directly cast their local files to Chromecast and other devices that support casting. The new casting feature can be used with audio, video, and images stored on the user's smartphone or tablet.

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Spotify has launched a new feature that makes it easy for users to generate playlists for their upcoming road trips. Called 'Soundtrack your Ride,' the new tool taps Google Maps to power a route-based music playlist long enough to cover the entire distance. Spotify pairs the map tool with a small quiz that'll help ensure the user gets the type of music they'll enjoy.

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