Google redesigns Family Link and introduces child-friendly Google TV recommendations

Google has made Family Link’s most used tools easier to find and use in the new interface it designed for the parental controls application. The new experience’s Controls tab contains the tools parents can use to set screen time for each device and app, set content restrictions and to manage app data permissions. Google has also added a “Today Only” option, which lets parents set a screen time limit for one day without having to change the general setting. That way, they can easily allow kids to spend more time online if they’re still doing their homework or are just a few minutes away from finishing the show they’re watching. 

In the Location tab, they’ll see their children’s linked devices on a map and those devices’ battery life. They can ring their kids’ phones from there, as well, in case they get misplaced. And as a new feature, the app will now notify guardians when their kids arrive at or leave a specific location, such as their school, sports field or swimming pool. If they want to know how their kids have been using their apps and to see their current screen time usage or their latest app downloads, parents only need to navigate to the Highlights tab. 

Finally, tapping on the notification bell at the top of the app will show parents not just the latest updates, but also all the requests they get from their kids for app downloads and purchases. That’s also where they can find their kids’ request for access to websites they’d previously blocked. And to make Family Link more accessible, Google has made it available on the web, allowing guardians to use all those features even if they don’t have their phone with them.

Google
Google

The tech giant has also rolled out parent-managed watchlists for kid profiles on Google TV, which guardians can use to create a list for their kids right from their own profiles. Young viewers will now also get Google-powered recommendations when they’re done with what they’re watching. Parents worried that Google’s algorithm would recommend titles they don’t approve of can use the new “hide” button to hide anything they want in the Popular movies or TV shows lists. They simply have to hold the Select button on their remote and choose “hide.” As for families with older kids, Google TV now has a supervised experience on the YouTube app that offers content settings for pre-teens and older children. All these features are coming to Chromecast with Google TV and Google TV-powered devices over the coming weeks.

Microsoft Office will be replaced by Microsoft 365 as part of its ongoing refresh

Back in 2020, Microsoft announced that it would be changing the name of its Office 365 subscription to Microsoft 365, acknowledging that it had become more than just a work app. Now, it’s removing most of the remaining Office branding, according to new updates spotted by The Verge. “In the coming months, Office.com, the Office mobile app, and the Office app for Windows will become the Microsoft 365 app, with a new icon, a new look, and even more features,” a FAQ states.

Currently, you can access Microsoft’s Word, Excel and other apps online at Office.com, but that will soon be switched to Microsoft365.com — with a new six-sided logo replacing the current square one. The changes will happen next month, and the Office app for Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android will be rebranded in January. 

The app names themselves won’t change, as you’ll still be using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, Clipchamp, Stream and Designer. There will also be a Microsoft 365 app on mobile and desktop that will act as a centralized hub for information, showing meetings, files, documents and more. 

The Office name will remain for one-time purchases through Office 2021 and Office LTSC that offers apps through volume licensing. However, it’s now considered a legacy brand, so any new features will be for Microsoft 365 and not Office, according to The Verge. Microsoft added that “there are no changes to Office 365 subscription plans.”

Valve releases redesigned Steam mobile app with QR code login

You can finally say goodbye to your dated and clunky Steam mobile app. Valve has rolled out the redesigned version of its Steam mobile app for Android and iOS, which it’s been testing since at least August this year. When it was looking for beta testers for the application, the game developer said it rebuilt the app “on a new framework and modernized the design.” It has also bundled the app with new features, including the ability to log in using QR codes. 

The new sign-in method gives you a way to access your Steam account without having to type in your username and password. It uses the two-factor authentication credentials stored in your phone to verify your identity. If you do use Steam’s QR sign-in method, the app will show you a confirmation page with details, such as a map with the approximate location of the device you’re signing into, after you scan the code with your phone. That way, you can be sure that you’re approving your own login attempt

If you’d rather use your username and password to log in, the app will still ask if you’d like to accept or deny the sign-in attempt. And if you want to make sure there’s no device linked to your account that shouldn’t be, you can now review and revoke access if needed in the Authorized Devices page.

The new Steam mobile app now also displays all your games in the Library. When you click on a game’s cover image in the list, you’ll find an option that lets you download the game remotely to your PC, and another that gives you the power to uninstall it. Other new features include an improved store browsing experience for mobile displays and customizable Steam notifications for sales, trades, friend requests and other categories. Based on its announcement post, Valve is also working on bringing QR sign-in to the Steam Deck and on adding the Authorized Devices page to the Steam Client and browser.

Microsoft’s Seeing AI app can scan the boxes of Centrum, Emergen-C and more to read out details

Microsoft has been gradually updating its Seeing AI app since its launch in 2017, expanding language support and general functionality over the years. Today, the company is announcing a new feature that would let Seeing AI read out detailed information when users scan the barcodes of products by healthcare company Haleon. The feature is rolling out today for US and UK users on the free app, which is only available on iOS. The company says an Android version will be available “in the future.”

In a press release, Microsoft and Haleon said “With today’s launch in honor of World Sight Day, people can now hear packaging information through the Microsoft Seeing AI app by scanning the barcode of Haleon products.” Users who are blind, have trouble reading or have low literacy can use the app to scan more than 1,500 Haleon products like Emergen-C, Sensodyne, Centrum and more, and their device will read out product information, instructions, ingredients “and other crucial details.” 

The press release also noted that “The Seeing AI collaboration with Microsoft is one of Haleon’s first new initiatives to champion health inclusivity.” We may be seeing more from the healthcare company in future, but for now, it’s nice to see that people with visual impairments or low literacy can more easily and independently learn about the drugs they are considering or consuming. That is, at least, if they use iOS. 

Update (on Oct 13th 2022 at 12:38pm ET): Microsoft reached out after this article was published to say that due to some last-minute changes, not all Haleon products will be able to be scanned at launch, including Advil, Excedrin and Theraflu. This article and its headline previously referred to those products and has since been edited to reflect products that will be supported.

Apple TV and Music apps are coming to Windows next year

During its Surface event, Microsoft said Apple TV and Apple Music apps are coming to the operating system next year. You’ll be able to check out previews of them in the Microsoft Store before the year is out. As such, those who use Apple’s services soon won’t need to use a web app or creaky old iTunes to access Apple Music or Apple TV on a Windows system.

Xbox users, meanwhile, can download an Apple Music app starting today, a year after the service landed on PS5. Apple TV has been available on Xbox consoles since late 2020.

In addition, you’ll be able to access iCloud photo libraries in Windows without relying on a browser. These will be available to everyone through the Windows Photos app next month. Folks in the Windows Insider program can try the integration today by installing the latest version of the iCloud Windows app.

Apple’s standalone Windows media apps have been a long time coming. The company was recruiting engineers to build them as far back as 2019, the same year Apple announced separate Music, TV and Podcast apps for Mac.

EA starts rolling out a new PC app to replace Origin

It has been two years since EA announced it was working on a replacement for its Origin PC client, and it’s now starting to roll out the new app to Windows users. The publisher claims that the EA app, which has just concluded its open beta phase, is its fastest and lightest PC client to date.

EA is promising a streamlined design and suggests navigation will be easier. It seems the app has improved social features as well, since you’ll be able to connect your EA account to platforms including Steam, Xbox and PlayStation — which could come in handy for games with cross-play support, such as Apex Legends and FIFA 23. You’ll have a custom EA ID that should make it easy for your pals to recognize you.

The publisher says that it will soon invite Origin users to switch over to the new app. As you might imagine, all your stuff will be present, including your games, save data and friends list. It’s worth noting that the new client will only be available on Windows PC for now. If you’re a macOS user, you’ll continue to use the Origin for Mac app for the foreseeable future. However, EA noted that it will have more to share on that front in the coming months.

Meta warns 1 million Facebook users who installed password-stealing apps

Meta is warning 1 million Facebook users that their account information may have been compromised by third-party apps from Apple or Google’s stores. In a new report, the company’s security researchers say that in the last year they’ve identified more t…

Meta sues several app developers for allegedly stealing 1 million WhatsApp accounts

Meta has sued companies doing business as “HeyMods,” “Highlight Mobi” and “HeyWhatsApp” for stealing over a million accounts using unofficial WhatsApp Android apps, Bleeping Computer has reported. The malware-infested apps were available on several APK sites and even the Google Play Store, according to the complaint. 

“After victims installed the Malicious Applications, they were prompted to enter their WhatsApp user credentials,” according to the suit filed in the US District Court in San Francisco. “The Defendants programmed the Malicious Applications to communicate the user’s credentials to WhatsApp’s computers and obtain the users’ account keys and authentication information.”

The apps in question are called “Theme Store for Zap” and “AppUpdater for WhatsPlus 2021 GB Yo FM HeyMods” among others. The latter app was installed more than a million times for the Google Play Store, according to Bleeping Computer. 

WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart warned users not to download the fake apps, saying they “were just a scam to steal personal information stored on people’s phones.” He added that Meta’s findings were shared with Google, and in July, Google Play Protect was updated to detect and disable the fake apps. “We’re also taking enforcement action against HeyMods… and will explore legal options to hold HeyMods and others like them accountable,” he said. 

Meta said the developers effectively breached their agreements, though jurisdiction isn’t clear as the complaint indicates that the companies are organized under the laws of three different regions (Hong Kong, Beijing and Taiwan). In any case, Cathcart gave some advice that applies universally to any app: “If you see friends or family using a different form of WhatsApp please encourage them to only use WhatsApp from a trusted app store or our official website directly at http://WhatsApp.com/dl.”

Google is revamping its Home app with a focus on customization

With the launch of new Nest devices, Google has updated its Home app with a raft of new features. The main takeaways are faster and easier pairing of smart devices with Matter, new customization and personalization options, improve interoperability between devices and a better Nest camera experience.

The updated Home app takes advantage of Google’s Matter smart home standard (launching later this year), particularly the Fast Pair feature. On an Android phone, it’ll automatically detect a Matter device and let you set it up quickly, avoiding the current process that’s often slow and clunky. Google is also updating its Nest speakers, displays and routers to control Matter devices.

Google's latest Home app makes it easier to control Nest cameras and find footage
Google

It’s prioritizing customization and personalization as well. Users will be able to create personalized views of devices, actions and automations, letting you see live Nest streams and confirm that doors are locked as soon as you open the app, for example. It’s also porting over the Nest app’s “Spaces” view that lets you group devices by categories like lights, cameras, thermostats and network devices in one view. Later, it’ll add even more customization that lets you group together, say, pet cams, cat feeders and robovacs. 

Another feature coming from the Nest app is the ability to see all your Nest wired and battery cameras (including Nest Doorbells) together in a single view. The new camera controller has a scrubbing option to help you find important moments in security footage, aided by machine learning. You can then label and organize them by type, person, package, vehicle, activity or animal. 

Google's latest Home app makes it easier to control Nest cameras and find footage
Google

Automation is also front and center in the Home app via a new tab. You can see and control automated activities like a routine that turns lights off, locks doors and lowers the thermostat. It’s also expanding Routines to more smart home devices so those can be automated too. And for users who want more granular control, Google is launching a new script editor early next year with over a 100 new features and capabilities.

Finally, Google plans to launch the Home app on Wear OS and the web. That’ll let you see what’s going on with a glance to your wrist, or view all your Nest camera and doorbell feeds on a web page, home.google.com. The new Google Home app will first appear in a public preview, while Google Home on Wear OS 3 will arrive next week. The Google Home website, meanwhile, will roll out “in a few weeks,” the company said.