App Store
-
Amazon’s Ring Doorbells Get Fire Alerts and New Features
Read Full Article: Amazon’s Ring Doorbells Get Fire Alerts and New Features
Amazon is enhancing its Ring smart doorbells with new features, including fire alerts, an app store, and advanced Ring Sensors capable of detecting motion, openings, glass breakage, smoke, carbon monoxide, leaks, temperature changes, and air quality. These sensors also allow control of lighting and appliances within a smart home network. The new app store, initially available in the U.S., will support third-party apps focused on small business operations and household needs. In partnership with the fire monitoring app Watch Duty, Ring now offers real-time fire updates and early warnings in its Neighbors section. Additionally, the new AI-based "AI Unusual Event Alerts" feature learns property patterns to notify users of unusual occurrences, and a new Ring Car Alarm with GPS has been introduced for vehicle monitoring. This matters as it enhances home security and safety, especially in areas prone to environmental hazards like fires.
-
Apple Pauses App Store Changes in Texas
Read Full Article: Apple Pauses App Store Changes in Texas
Apple has decided to pause its planned changes to the App Store in Texas following a federal judge's decision to block a new age-verification law, citing First Amendment concerns. The law, known as the App Store Accountability Act, would have required app stores to verify user ages and obtain parental consent for users under 18, while also sharing age data with developers. Apple had announced new requirements for apps in Texas to comply with the law, including the use of Family Sharing groups for minors and updated APIs for developers. Despite the legal setback for Texas lawmakers, Apple continues to offer developer tools for age assurance, emphasizing privacy concerns over the collection of sensitive information. This matters because it highlights the ongoing tension between tech companies and lawmakers over privacy and user data protection.