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Those of you who own a Mac and an iPhone can now say goodbye to unlocking their computer using the old fashioned “password” way thanks to a new app Knock released in the App Store. The app, which made its debut, allows a Mac to be unlocked just by knocking on a paired iPhone. The two devices simply connect via. Bluetooth, allowing a phone to automatically detect when it nears a paired computer. This knocking effect can also be achieved by waving your phone into the air, but the creators of Knock suggest that tapping your phone through your pocket should do just fine, so you never have to pick up your phone.
The app, which uses Bluetooth low energy technology, lets iPhones communicate with their Mac brethren when they are in proximity to one another. The Knock app turns two steady knocks on the front or back of your phone into a secure unlocking tool to let users bypass the Mac password screen.
The iOS app costs $3.99 and works in association with a free Mac counterpart. If you’re looking to buy the app, note that Knock only works on selected devices, all of which are listed below:
iPhone 4S or later
MacBook Airs
2011 Mac Minis or newer
MacBook Pros
2012 iMacs or newer
Mac Pros from this year only.
The app does sometimes fail to work according to those who have already tried it, and it must be running in the background on your iPhone at all times. However, fortunately the phone does not require to be unlocked to register the knocking.
Co-founder William Henderson says on the Knock Web site.
We both locked our computers because our employers made us, but we did just about everything we could to avoid typing our password,
Henderson is a former Square employee who worked on the payment company’s mobile-wallet product.
If you create an unusable system, people will simply work around you. Right now security is annoying, so people are walking around with their data totally unprotected. We want to change that”.
So William Henderson teamed up with Jon Schlossbery, a former user experience designer at e-commerce company Bonobos. They founded Knock, and brought the same kind of smooth functionality Square Wallet employs to the act of password unlocking.
To showcase both the power and humor behind hitting one’s expensive piece of glass to bypass a password, Knock released the following promotional video:
In terms of real-world utility, this isn’t that much useful. Typing a password into a Mac isn’t quite what you’d call a huge chore, although to be fair, I’m not in a setting that necessitates unlocking my machine numerous times a day. Regardless, as it stands, if an malicious individual manages to steal both your iPhone and your Mac, all security is foregone (as the iPhone can unlock the Mac without needing to be unlocked itself).
Knock for iOS can be downloaded from the App Store for $3.99. The accompanying Mac app can be downloaded from the Knock website for free.
Shujaa Imran
Shujaa Imran is MakeTechEasier’s resident Mac tutorial writer. He’s currently training to follow his other passion become a commercial pilot. You can check his content out on Youtube
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You're reading Knock – Unlock Your Mac By Tapping On Your Iphone’s Back
Is Google Now Draining Your Iphone’s Battery?
Google’s take on search AI dubbed Google Now went live Monday via an update to the Internet giant’s native iOS Search app.
Today, a number of users took to the Internet to complain about the application’s excessive power drain due to a possible glitch in how it retrieves your location in the background…
According to a thread on the Google Search forums, a number of people are complaining about the battery drain problem and the iOS Location icon being always on, even when the app has been closed.
“I don’t think Google has figured out a way to balance the battery drain and GPS access,” one guy wrote. “Their previous app, Field Trip, is also triggering the same issue, even after the supposed bug fix.”
Another dude said Google Now enables GPS permanently on his device, killing the battery in a matter of hours. “I can get 2 days use on a charge easily on my iPhone 5,” he wrote. “With Google Now running, it was dead in 6 hours.”
But the fact of the matter is that Google Now on iOS doesn’t use GPS at all.
Why are people surprised Google Now is using battery life? Ever wondered why those Android phones have massive batteries?
— Oliver Haslam (@theiBlog) May 1, 2013
Or, at least so say release notes for the Search app on iTunes:
To provide up-to-the-minute information, Google Now turns on Location Services. Even though the icon stays on, the app has minimal battery impact.
Instead of using GPS, the app receives “passive updates from nearby cell towers and Wi-Fi hot spots,” the search giant explains.
Furthermore, Google Now pauses location updates when it senses that your iPhone’s battery is running low. The software also “stays asleep” unless your device moves a long distance. That said, any excessive power drain must be a glitch, per conventional wisdom.
A Google engineer responded on the support forums by re-iterating that “in order to provide you with just the right information at just the right time, your location is updated periodically throughout the day.”
He also said users affected by the battery drain issue can turn location reporting off.
Just open settings by tapping the gear icon in the upper-right of the Search iOS app, go to the Privacy section and disable Location Reporting. Note that turning off location reporting will disable traffic updates and location based reminders.
If that doesn’t help and the iOS Location icon stays on in the status bar, removing the Search app from your device should be the last resort. Additionally, you could also turn off iOS Location Services system-wide by turning the Location Services setting at the top to OFF.
It would appear Google may have been aware of the problem, or at least moved to pre-empt the outrage, as iTunes release notes contain the following disclaimer:
If you see an impact on your battery life, please tell us about it by tapping feedback in the app settings. You can also turn this feature on and off as you like in the privacy section of the app settings.
Interestingly enough, a Google support document states that Google Now does use GPS:
Along with Location Services, Google Now uses Location Reporting to get precise location information. Since Location Reporting has been optimized to use GPS as infrequently as possible, there should be minimal impact on your battery life.
Note the careful wording here.
Google acknowledges there “should” be “minimal” impact on your battery life.
I haven’t noticed any significant hit on my battery life, but have heard from plenty of affected users not to dismiss the issue as an isolated incident.
What’s your battery life like after updating to Google Now?
How To Unlock The Bootloader Of Your Nexus Device
All the Android devices out there usually ship with a locked bootloader to prevent users from messing up their devices. The intention behind this is to prevent less tech-savvy users from flashing some third-party apps that could brick the device. The good thing is most manufacturers do provide a way to unlock the bootloader in case you are not afraid of taking a risk. Once you have unlocked your bootloader, you can then flash custom recoveries, custom ROMs and do all sorts of tasks you cannot do on a device with a locked bootloader. The unlocking bootloader method varies with devices; the procedure below shows how to unlock Nexus devices’ bootloader.
Things You Should Know:
Unlocking your bootloader voids your warranty, so do it at your own risk.
The procedure below only works on Windows based PCs. It may work on other OSes, but for that you will have to make some modifications in the commands.
It is possible to relock your bootloader in case you ever want to do that.
This procedure will wipe off all the data stored on your device. Make sure to first make a backup before jumping in.
Unlocking the Nexus Devices’ Bootloader:In order to unlock your bootloader, you will need a tool called Fastboot. It helps make interaction between your PC and your device possible. Download it and extract files from it to any folder on your PC, preferably on the root of any drive on your PC.
1. The first step is to enable “Developer options” on your device.
2. Then head back to Settings and tap on “Developer options.” Look for the option that says “USB debugging.” Tap on it and it will be enabled.
3. Connect your Nexus device to your PC using a compatible cable.
5. A command prompt window should appear with your current directory as working directory. Just type the following command into it and press ENTER. It will reboot your device into bootloader mode:
6. When a big Android logo appears on your device’s screen, issue the following command. It is for unlocking the booloader of your device.
7. As soon as you issue the above command, a prompt will appear on your device. Tap on “Yes” and it will erase all the data stored on your device and unlock your bootloader.
Congratulations. Your Nexus device’s booloader is now unlocked. You are now free to root your device, install a custom recovery, flash custom ROMs and so on. The sky is the limit!
Conclusion:The choice to unlock the bootloader given by the manufacturers is awesome as it lets fearless users like us tinker with our devices the way we want. It really helps unveil the true power that lies within the device.
Mahesh Makvana
Mahesh Makvana is a freelance tech writer who’s written thousands of posts about various tech topics on various sites. He specializes in writing about Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android tech posts. He’s been into the field for last eight years and hasn’t spent a single day without tinkering around his devices.
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How To Download And Use Spotify On Your Mac
Whether you’ve recently switched from a Windows machine or want to start listening to your Spotify playlists on your Mac instead of your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, you can install Spotify on a Mac for online and offline listening.
There are a few different ways you can use to listen to podcasts or play your favorite tracks from the Spotify music library. In this quick tutorial, we’ll show you all of the different methods to use Spotify on a macOS device.
Table of Contents
How to Use Spotify Web Player on Your Mac
The easiest way to use Spotify on your MacBook is to use the Spotify Web Player. This option is perfect if you don’t like installing new apps on your computer or don’t have enough storage space for them. After you log in to your Spotify account, you can use Spotify Web as you would use a regular app, i.e., use all of the features of the Spotify app from the browser.
The only downside of this method is that you need an internet connection to use Spotify. If you only use Wi-Fi to listen to Spotify, this method is for you.
Spotify Web Player is available for both free users and those with Spotify Premium accounts. Here’s how to use Spotify Web on your Mac computer:
Open a web browser on your Mac.
In your browser, go to chúng tôi to open Spotify.
Once you’re logged in, you can use Spotify Web Player to play high-quality music from Spotify playlists.
How to Install Spotify Progressive Web App on macOS
If you use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge on a Mac, you can use the option to install websites as apps. This method allows you to install the Spotify Web Player on your computer as a Progressive Web App or PWA. Note that with this app, you’re still limited to online usage only.
To install the Spotify PWA on your Mac, follow the steps below.
Open Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser on your computer.
Go to chúng tôi
In the pop-up window, select
Install
to confirm.
How to Download and Install Spotify App on Mac
For those of you who need offline playback and the ability to download Spotify music, the best way to use Spotify is to install the Spotify desktop app on your Mac.
If you tried looking for the Spotify app on the Mac App Store and failed, don’t worry. The app is free and available to download from the official Spotify website for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS devices.
Here’s how to download and install the Spotify desktop app on your Mac.
Open the official Spotify website in a web browser and select
Download
, or head to chúng tôi
Select the
Download button
. This will download the
Spotify Installer
on your Mac.
Open the extracted
Install Spotify
file. In the pop-up window, select
Open
to confirm.
Wait for the installer to download and install the app on your Mac.
How to Get the Most Out of Spotify
Now that you know how to use Spotify on your Mac, make sure to learn special Spotify tips and tricks to get the most out of it. Including how to adjust audio quality or how to stop Spotify from opening on Mac startup.
Not a fan of Spotify? Try one of the alternative music streaming services, like YouTube Music, Apple Music, Amazon Music, SoundCloud, and others.
How To Download And Install Google Chrome On Your Mac
Google Chrome is a popular web browser known for its fast performance, clean interface, and numerous built-in features. If you’re stuck using Safari, it might be time to consider installing Chrome on your Mac.
It’s not difficult to download and install Chrome on a Mac, but you may need to consider some things before (such as your system requirements) and afterward (such as any extra configuration). To get started, follow the steps below.
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New york, USA – july 26, 2023: Start google chrome application on computer macro close up view in pixel screen
System Requirements for Chrome on a Mac
Before downloading and installing Google Chrome on your Mac, ensure that your system meets the necessary requirements. This will ensure that the browser runs smoothly and efficiently on your device.
The main system requirement for Google Chrome on a Mac is that you’re running macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or later. High Sierra was released back in 2023, so a modern Mac should run Chrome.
If you’re unsure, check what macOS version you’re running first before you download Chrome. If you aren’t running High Sierra, you’ll need to update your Mac to a newer version.
Alternatively, you can try and download an older version of Chrome, but this isn’t recommended. Browser updates come with important security and bug fixes that could leave your Mac exposed to malware, so you should always try to run the latest version of Chrome on your Mac.
Downloading Google Chrome on a Mac
Before you can install Chrome, you’ll need to download the installation file for it first. Before you begin, ensure that you have a stable internet connection and you’re able to access the internet using Safari or another web browser.
One word of warning however. You should always make sure that you download the latest version of Chrome and only download it from the official Google Chrome website. Only the installer from Google itself is one that you can trust—otherwise, you may end up downloading malware instead.
To download Chrome, follow these steps.
Open the official Google Chrome website in Safari or another web browser on your Mac.
You’ll see the option to download Google Chrome on the page—press the
Download Chrome
button
to begin.
Chrome will begin to download the
googlechrome.dmg
file. If it doesn’t, press the
download Chrome manually
link.
Once it’s complete, run the installer file to begin the installation.
Installing Google Chrome on a Mac
To download and install Google Chrome on your Mac, follow these simple steps.
If you haven’t already, download the installation file from the Google Chrome website using the steps above.
A window containing the Chrome icon will appear—drag the Chrome icon into your
Applications
folder, which should also be visible in the same window.
At this point, you’ll have successfully installed Google Chrome on your Mac. Remember to update the browser regularly to enjoy its latest features and security enhancements.
Configuring Google Chrome
Once you’ve successfully downloaded and installed Google Chrome on your Mac, you can configure it according to your preferences.
This includes signing in with your Google account, adjusting various browser settings, and making Chrome the default browser on your Mac.
Sign in with your Google Account
Open Chrome and press the
profile icon
next to the three-dot menu.
In the menu, select
Turn on sync
.
When prompted, enter the email address and password for your Google account and press
Next
.
Once you sign in, your Chrome profile will begin to sync with your Google account. Any changes you make will save to your profile, allowing you to use it across different devices.
Adjust Chrome Browser Settings
You can also customize various elements of your Chrome browser. For instance, you can customize the browser’s appearance, configure privacy settings, choose an alternative search engine, and more. To do this, follow these steps.
Open Chrome and press the
three-dot menu
icon in the top-right.
From the menu, select
Settings
.
Select one of the settings options on the left, which include
appearance
,
search engine
,
privacy and security
, and more.
In the menu, make any changes (as required) to your settings. Any changes you make will be applied immediately.
Make Chrome the Default Browser on Your Mac
If you want to use Google Chrome as your Mac’s default browser, you’ll need to configure macOS first so that any external links automatically open in Chrome.
To do this, press the
Apple menu
on the menu bar and select
System Settings
(or
System Preferences
on older macOS versions).
Next, select
Desktop & Dock
(on Ventura or later) or
General
(on older macOS versions).
In the
Default web browser
drop-down menu, choose
Google Chrome
from the list.
Troubleshooting Google Chrome Installation Issues on macOS
You may face occasional issues while downloading or installing Google Chrome on your Mac. To help you, we’ve listed some common installation problems and their solutions to help you get Chrome up and running on your Mac.
Ensure your macOS version is compatible with Google Chrome
: First, make sure that your Mac’s operating system is compatible with the latest version of Google Chrome. At present, Chrome supports macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) and later versions. If your macOS doesn’t meet this requirement, consider updating your system.
Download the correct version for your Mac
: It might sound obvious, but make sure you’re downloading the appropriate version of Chrome for macOS. The website should auto-detect your device and provide a download link accordingly, but if it doesn’t, scroll to the bottom of the download page and select
Other platforms
, then choose the correct version from the pop-up.
Make sure you have permission to install
: Only system administrators have the permission to install new applications on macOS. If you can’t install, switch to a user account on your Mac that has the necessary permissions.
Perform a clean uninstall and reinstall
: If Chrome isn’t working correctly after installation, you can try uninstalling it completely and then reinstalling it. To do this, drag the Google Chrome icon from Applications to the Trash folder, then empty the Trash. After this, download and install Chrome again using the steps above.
Using Chrome on a Mac
Thanks to the steps above, you can ditch Safari and quickly install Google Chrome on your Mac. Once you’ve installed Chrome, make sure to check that Chrome is automatically updating to get the latest bug fixes. You can also clear your browser cache to reduce any potential slowdowns.
Can’t decide which new browser to go for? If you’re considering Edge over Chrome, for instance, try out the browser’s speed, integration with other services (such as Google or Microsoft), and the usability of the browser interface before you make a decision.
How To See Your Download And Upload Speeds On Mac
At times, you might want to know your internet download and upload speeds on your Mac. This is especially true when you’re trying to stream a video, make a video call, download files, or play online games, and the experience is subpar.
This tutorial shows you how to check your download and upload speeds, what’s considered a good internet speed, and other helpful information.
What is the meaning of “download speed” and “upload speed”?
In simple words, download speed means the speed at which you can get (download) content from the internet. This is useful while streaming (where you’re getting the video file from the servers), updating software, downloading files, and likewise.
Upload speed means the speed at which you can send (upload) data from your device to the internet. This is useful while saving files to Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, sending email, and such.
Factors that impact your internet speeds
Many things affect your internet speed. Some of the prominent ones are:
Your internet plan
How far you’re sitting from the Wi-Fi router
Your device’s capabilities
Number of people connected to the same network, either Wi-Fi or directly connected
Number of simultaneous streams on the device
Using a VPN reduces the speed
What is considered good internet speed?
For an individual user, 25Mbps is very good for everyday browsing and streaming. But if you live in a house with 4 to 5 people, it would be wise to go for a 100Mbps plan. This will ensure that different members can stream and work at the same time and smart devices and appliances that need internet can function properly.
As per the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 25Mbps down and 3Mbps up is considered high-speed internet broadband. However, most service providers start their home plans at 100Mbps or more, which is excellent.
Whatever network speed you have, the more is always better while downloading. For example, if you’re updating your Mac, the macOS file size maybe around 5 GB. In this case, if you have a 100Mbps connection, it will significantly cut down the download time compared to your everyday 25Mbps connection.
Here are some of the minimum recommended internet speeds required for a decent user experience.
For everyday use
1Mbps to 5Mbps connection is good for email, web browsing, and social media.
For video calls
2Mbps to 10Mbps will take care of all your one-to-one and group video calls on almost any platform. That being said, here are the official numbers for some most popular services:
Zoom: 4Mbps (down/up)
Skype: 1.5Mbps (down/up) for HD video calling and 8Mbps/512Kbps (down/up) for group calling with 7+ people.
FaceTime: Apple doesn’t quote an exact requirement speed for FaceTime but just says “fast internet.” I asked Apple Support, and all I got was, “As it turns out, there are no recommended speeds to use FaceTime.” But we can safely assume that it is about the same as Zoom and Skype.
For audio streaming
You will have no problem on any audio streaming app like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, etc., if you have 512Kbps to 1Mbps internet speed. Though, it’s good to have a higher speed so that you can quickly search music, load album arts, and download songs offline.
For video streaming
If your internet speed is between 5-25Mbps, you should face no buffering issues while watching videos on Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, Hulu, etc. However, it’s always great to have higher speeds for multiple streams. Here are the official numbers:
Netflix:
Standard Definition (SD): 1Mbps
720p HD: 3Mbps
1080p HD: 5Mbps
4K/Ultra HD (UHD): 15Mbps
Disney+ and ESPN+:
High Definition: 5Mbps
4K UHD: 25Mbps
Hulu:
Hulu’s streaming library preview: 3Mpbs
Live streams: 8Mbps
4K content: 16Mps
YouTube:
SD 360p: 0.7Mbps
SD 480p: 1.1Mbps
HD 720p: 2.5Mbps
HD 1080p: 5Mbps
4K: 20Mbps
For gaming
Casual gaming: 3 to 6Mbps (with ping less than 20 milliseconds)
Competitive gaming: At least 25Mbps
Competitive gaming and tournaments: 50Mbps/10Mbps (down/up)
Ultimate gaming experience: 300Mbps and above
Summary for good internet speed
200Mbps to 500Mbps: Excellent for 5 or more people.
If you’re uncertain, go to “how much internet speed do I need” and take their basic quiz for home or business.
How to check your internet speed on Mac
Here are some quick ways to see your Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or Personal Hotspot speed on Mac. Make sure you’re connected to the said network you want to test and use any method you like.
1. Google
Go to Google and search for “check internet speed.”
Go to chúng tôi which is a service by Netflix.
3. Speedtest.net
In a moment, you will see your ping, download, and upload speeds.
4. Bandwidth+ app
I have been using the Bandwidth plus app for several years now. It sits in your macOS menu bar and constantly gives a reading. Here’s how to use it:
Get Bandwidth+ network usage tracker for free from Mac’s App Store.
Open the app, and it will show an icon in the menu bar displaying your total upload and download. This is useful if you’re on a limited Wi-Fi plan or have connected your Mac to Personal Hotspot, as it lets you keep track of how much data you have used.
Check the box for Speed (bits/second).
5. Speedy Gonzales
Speedy Gonzales is a tiny paid app that lets you check your internet speed right from the menu bar.
Start by getting Speedy Gonzales from the macOS App Store and open it.
6. Speediness
7. Terminal
Finally, you can use the built-in Terminal app to see your Mac’s internet speed. Make sure you’re on macOS Monterey or later and follow these steps:
Open Terminal.
Type or copy-paste networkQuality and press the enter/return key. You will see the current download capacity and current upload capacity, which is your internet speed.
Related information
If the RSSI reading is closer to zero, that means your Wi-Fi signal is strong. For example, if it’s about -30 to -35 (minus thirty-five), that means you’re close to the Wi-Fi router. This is a great number signifying a strong Wi-Fi signal. If it’s around -50, that’s a good signal, anything in -60s is fairly ok, and if the RSSI number is around -70 or -80, that equates to poor Wi-Fi signal strength. More info.
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