Technology - Google News

Google Authenticator iOS App Gains New Export Accounts Option - Mac Rumors
Samsung begins rollout of Android 11 and One UI 3.0 to latest phones - The Verge
Amazon pledges to replace 'stolen' PS5 consoles — what to do next - Tom's Guide

Google Authenticator iOS App Gains New Export Accounts Option - Mac Rumors

Posted: 03 Dec 2020 02:03 AM PST

Google has updated its 2FA Authenticator app for iOS with a new account transfer feature that makes it much easier to transfer two-factor authentication codes to a new iPhone.

2FA adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts by requiring a randomly generated six-digit code after you've entered your password. Google's app generates codes for your accounts on the fly, but until now the process of transferring accounts to a new ‌iPhone‌ was time-consuming and involved multiple steps.

Thankfully, that's no longer the case, and you can now select which accounts to export by tapping the three dots in the top-right corner of the app and choosing Export accounts.

After you've chosen which accounts to export (you can export up to 10 accounts at a time), the Authenticator app will generate a QR code. Scan this code using the Authenticator app on your new device, and the chosen accounts will be automatically transferred.

In addition to 2FA export, the latest update to the app also adds a refreshed interface and Dark Mode support, which respects your systemwide settings.

Remember, if you buy a new ‌iPhone‌ to replace your existing one and you use the Google Authenticator app, you should transfer those accounts to your new phone as soon as possible, because without the 2FA codes close at hand, you could find yourself locked out of your online accounts.

Google Authenticator is a free download for ‌‌iPhone‌ available on the App Store.‌ [Direct Link]

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Samsung begins rollout of Android 11 and One UI 3.0 to latest phones - The Verge

Posted: 03 Dec 2020 08:32 AM PST

Samsung is starting to roll out updates to Android 11 and One UI 3.0, its customized interface, to some of its latest phones. The first up are Galaxy S20 series devices in the US, Korea, and most of Europe, which will start receiving updates today. Updates for the Note 20, last year's Note 10 and S10, and the Z Fold, Z Fold 2, and Z Flip are planned to arrive in the "coming weeks." Updates for the Galaxy A series will arrive in the first half of 2021.

The updates come three months after the launch of Android 11. Samsung has historically been slow to deliver Android updates even to its latest phones. Three months isn't a huge wait (it maintains the same pace as last year), but a number of other phone manufacturers, including OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Oppo, managed to deliver Android 11 on day one this year. Samsung's updates take longer in part because it heavily customizes Android with its own interface.

One UI 3.0 mostly brings visual refinements to Samsung's existing interface. Menus and widgets are now presented with a frosty, translucent background, rather than the grayish look they previously had. Samsung has also added some richer lock screen widgets and a redesigned volume menu, and it says animations should be smoother, and camera autofocus should be faster. Android Police has a thorough rundown of the changes.

It's not entirely clear how soon any given phone will get these updates, even though the rollout is starting today. Samsung's software rollouts often start slowly, and they're frequently held up on a carrier-by-carrier basis. To illustrate just how chaotic it can be: Verizon preempted Samsung's announcement and started rolling out this update to the Galaxy S20 5G UW yesterday.

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Amazon pledges to replace 'stolen' PS5 consoles — what to do next - Tom's Guide

Posted: 03 Dec 2020 04:58 AM PST

As if finding where to buy a PS5 wasn't tricky enough with so little stock around, some U.K. buyers of Sony's next-gen console ended up in a situation where their consoles never arrived.

Various Amazon U.K. customers received shipments of random items, including cat food, while others received nothing at all. To compensate them, Amazon has now announced that affected customers can re-order the console by contacting customer service.

Initially, Amazon refunded customers who didn't receive their PS5, or offered them various amounts of credit to make up for it. In normal circumstances that wouldn't be so bad, but given how difficult it's been to get a PS5 a lot of people weren't happy. Obviously, the impacted customers wanted the console without having to rejoin the battle against bots (and other humans) to get one.

Amazon had hinted it would be possible to get a new console from customer service at the time, but that's now been confirmed. That's great news for those who had their PS5 stolen en route to their home, though the best part is they should be able to receive a replacement within 14 days of making the order. Provided the PS5s don't mysteriously vanish again.

While you'd think it would be simpler just to send new consoles out automatically, there are other factors to consider. The first is that refunds have already been processed, and Amazon needs customer permission before charging them again.

Unfortunately U.K. customers aren't the only ones having to deal with lost or stolen PS5s. Various Reddit and Twitter posts confirm that customers in the U.S. and Canada have had consoles fail to materialise after being marked as delivered.

It's not just affected Amazon customers either. There seem to be a suspiciously high number of Reddit posts mentioning that FedEx has lost PS5s in transit while accusing the delivery service of not caring enough to investigate.

FedEx is definitely accountable for these lost/stolen PS5's and Xbox's from r/FedEx

While we can't see any reports of customers receiving air fryers (which have terrible graphics by the way) like the person in the tweet below, the problem of missing PS5 consoles is clearly a widespread one made worse by the extreme demand.

We're here to help make getting a next-gen games console a little easier with our where to buy PS5 article. Check that out as we track retailers that have new PS5 stock coming in sporadically.

Happy #PS5 day everyone. Tried to document our one's unveiling, but Amazon have tricked us with an unsolicited air fryer instead (after giving delivery password). Anyone else had this problem today? pic.twitter.com/99IUSzSJUUNovember 19, 2020

Unfortunately, Amazon U.K. is only honoring this pledge if customers confirm they want a PS5 by end of day December 5. Amazon customers in other regions should also be able to ask the same, since it's all one big company.

As for those who bought from other retailers, your best bet is to keep pestering customer service and hope they get a replacement organised. We'd suggest doing that as soon as you can, and pray that your PS5 actually arrives this time.

Amazon U.K.'s investigation into the incidents is still ongoing.