Technology - Google News

Apple says a ‘small portion’ of iPhones recorded interactions with Siri even if you opted out - The Verge

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 03:29 PM PST

Apple's release of iOS 15.4 beta 2 fixes a bug that may have recorded interactions with Siri on some devices, regardless of whether you opted out, according to a report from ZDNet. The bug, which was first introduced in iOS 15, automatically enabled the Improve Siri & Dictation setting that gives Apple permission to record, store, and review your conversations with Siri.

Apple told ZDNet that it has since deleted any recordings collected in connection with the bug. After discovering the bug, the company reportedly turned off the feature for "many" users when it released iOS 15.2, but fully fixed the bug in the second beta of iOS 15.4. As ZDNet points out, this is the reason why you might get a prompt asking for your permission to enable the Improve Siri & Dictation feature once you install the new 15.4 beta.

"With iOS 15.2, we turned off the Improve Siri & Dictation setting for many Siri users while we fixed a bug introduced with iOS 15," Apple said in a statement to ZDNet. "This bug inadvertently enabled the setting for a small portion of devices. Since identifying the bug, we stopped reviewing and are deleting audio received from all affected devices."

This seems like the kind of bug that Apple should explicitly warn all of its users about, and urge them to ensure their iPhones are up-to-date while notifying anyone affected. Instead, the company has left us in the dark about how many phones were affected, or when. Without transparency, there's no way to tell who may have had their conversations recorded and listened to by Apple employees despite asking to avoid exactly that outcome. If you have an iPhone, now might be a good time to update to iOS 15.2 or later (if you haven't already).

The Verge reached out to Apple with a request for comment but didn't immediately hear back.

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Chrome rolling out new Android widgets & ‘Journeys’ that auto-group your history by topic - 9to5Google

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 09:00 AM PST

Google is rolling out a pair of new Android widgets for Chrome today, while making official the previously experimental "Journeys" feature that lets you "revisit past explorations grouped by topic."

Like other apps updated for Android 12, Chrome is getting new widgets. "Chrome Shortcuts" is the highlight with two main layouts. The 4×1 configuration offers a pill-shaped "Search" field that immediately opens the Chrome Omnibox to quickly enter a URL or query. This is followed by a microphone that lets you start a voice search, open an Incognito tab, Google Lens, and even the offline Dino game.

If you increase the widget's height, the Search box takes the top line and the shortcuts row moves to the bottom. This widget either takes a light or dark background rather than adopting Material You Dynamic Color. The shortcuts are quite handy, with this widget style first introduced on iOS. Meanwhile, Google has also introduced a fun 2×2 homescreen object that lets you quickly play "Chromium Dino." It's whimsical and immediately opens a new tab.

The widgets are in the process of rolling out with Chrome 98, but you can enable them immediately with these flags:

chrome://flags/#enable-quick-action-search-widget-android

chrome://flags/#enable-quick-action-search-widget-android-dino-variant

More Chrome Actions

Meanwhile, there are several new Chrome Actions that can be entered in the address bar to quickly open settings and access other parts of the desktop browser. They will soon support more languages and come to mobile.

"Manage settings"
"Customize Chrome"
"View your Chrome history"
"Manage accessibility settings"
"Share this tab"
"Play Chrome Dino game"

Chrome Journeys launch

After debuting as an experiment in October, Chrome Journeys are rolling out now on desktop (English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, and Turkish). This is Google's attempt at auto-grouping visited sites and search queries by topic. The idea is to make it easy for users to return to their previous research.

If you enter a query you previously looked up, the Omnibar will ask if you want to "Resume your research." All topics also appear in the Chrome History Journeys page:

Journeys will even take into account how much you've interacted with a site to put the most relevant information front and center, while also bringing you helpful suggestions on related searches you may want to try next.

You can delete any grouping, particular items, or turn off Journeys entirely from Chrome settings. Additionally, Google only syncs history on your local device rather than sync Journeys to the cloud. It might add that option in the future based on user feedback.