Why you should trust usTo research this guide, I interviewed Megan Moreno, MD, a pediatrician and lead author of the American Academy of Pediatrics's policy statement on kids and media use; Anya Kamenetz, author of The Art of Screen Time: How Your Family Can Balance Digital Media and Real Life; and Christine Elgersma, a senior editor at Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that focuses on kids, media, and technology. I also combed through research and reviews of parental-control applications. I surveyed dozens of parents of kids aged 8 to 16 in person and via social media.As a longtime technology journalist, I have reported on smartphones, parenting apps, and other tech trends for the San Francisco Chronicle, CNBC.com, and other publications. As a parent of a 10-year-old whose friends already own smartwatches and smartphones, the question of whether I should give her a phone—and which one—is a personal one that I am deeply invested in.Who this is forThis guide is for parents who … [Read more...] about The best apps for managing your kid’s phone
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Android Q might let you turn back time by reversing app updates
Android currently supports uninstalling updates to a certain app, but only for system applications. Also, it's usually only a temporary measure, as the Play Store will eventually check for updates once again and restore the latest version. Android Q might allow users to revert any app to an earlier version, if deconstructed code from a leaked Android Q build is to be believed. XDA Developers found a few strings and new features in Android Q that point to support for downgrading applications. Two new permissions for system-level applications, "PACKAGE_ROLLBACK_AGENT" and "MANAGE_ROLLBACKS," would presumably allow the Play Store to rollback an app to a previous version. There are also two new broadcast events, "PACKAGE_ENABLE_ROLLBACK" and "PACKAGE_ROLLBACK EXECUTED," which could allow apps to figure out if they have been reverted to an older version and behave accordingly. <protected-broadcast android:name="android.intent.action.PACKAGE_ENABLE_ROLLBACK"/> Finally, a new … [Read more...] about Android Q might let you turn back time by reversing app updates
Android Q may prevent background apps from reading your clipboard
Did you know that any Android app can read the contents of your clipboard, even when running in the background? Windows Phone (RIP) didn't give clipboard access to background apps, and some Android ROMs like Copperhead OS block access, but the behavior is still allowed on regular Android. That might finally change, according to a permission change discovered by XDA Developers. XDA found a new permission in a leaked build of Android Q, named "android.permission.READ_CLIPBOARD_IN_BACKGROUND." The name implies that only applications given this permission — not all apps — can read clipboard data while running in the background. The protection level is "signature," meaning only system-level apps can use it. This likely means that third-party Android apps will no longer be able to read clipboard data while inactive, at least on Android Q and higher. While this might end up breaking a few apps, it seems like an overall win for user security and privacy. Source: XDA … [Read more...] about Android Q may prevent background apps from reading your clipboard
Twitter App Update Adds More Crop Options, Reminders To Tag Your Friends, And Featured Tweets On Refresh
If you use the official Twitter app for Android... dear God, why are you using the official Twitter app for Android? Stop reading this story and go download a better client. If you simply can't be torn away from mediocrity, you'll find a few new options the next time you update Twitter in the Play Store. Chief among them is a new crop tool, with easy shortcuts to Square ("Instagram mode"), Wide, and Original. According to Twitter's blog post on the update, you should see reminders to @reply friends before you post, which didn't happen for me (maybe you need photos of people). Twitter also says that if you do the standard "pull to refresh" move and there's nothing new in your main Twitter feed, you'll be given recommendations on who to follow, trending topics, or recommended tweets. Again, I didn't see this when I tried out the new version of the app. Other changes in this update appear to be minimal. You can download Twitter in the widget below. Or, you know, go find something … [Read more...] about Twitter App Update Adds More Crop Options, Reminders To Tag Your Friends, And Featured Tweets On Refresh
Control this app-enabled Ecovacs Deebot 601 robot vacuum on sale for $160
The Ecovacs Deebot 601 robot vacuum cleaner drops to $159.98 at Amazon when you clip the coupon on its product page and enter code ECOVACSD601 during checkout. That brings it to the best price we've ever seen it reach, and one of the better prices we've seen for similar products too. It sells for around $240 on average these days. The Deebot 601 uses an S-Shape cleaning path and works particularly well with hard surfaces. It has a three-stage cleaning system along with sensors to prevent collisions and drops. The battery life lasts for up to two hours, and the vacuum will return to its charging station on its own to refuel. It is compatible with the free Ecovacs apps for your phone or you can connect it to Amazon or Google's smart home systems and control it with your voice. You'll be able to schedule and track cleaning sessions, monitor accessories, and receive error alerts. It comes with a main brush, two side brushes, and a docking station. See at AmazonThis post may contain … [Read more...] about Control this app-enabled Ecovacs Deebot 601 robot vacuum on sale for $160