Apple fixes two zero-day bugs in iOS, iPadOS and macOS

Image: Apple

Apple released software updates for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS today to fix two critical security vulnerabilities. The company said the bugs were being exploited in the wild. “Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.1,” the company said about both flaws in its security reports. The updates are available for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) researcher Clément Lecigne discovered and reported both exploits. Bleeping Computer reported that Google TAG often finds and reveals zero-day bugs targeting high-risk people, such as politicians, journalists, and dissidents. Apple did not share any details about the attacks using the flaws.

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Apple is moving the End Call button on the iPhone

Screenshot: Gizmodo

Prepare to retrain your thumb in the coming month. Apple is introducing a minor but noticeable change to the iPhone’s software that will affect muscle memory. The prominent red “end call” button is relocating. The iPhone’s phone app will receive a series of updates in iOS 17, including a redesigned interface that moves the hang-up button to the bottom right corner of the screen, adjacent to other functions.

The button currently occupies a separate space at the bottom center of the phone app. It used to be below the buttons for mute, keypad, or add a call. The new call screen is already accessible for download in a beta version for developers. The change is likely intended to simplify the appearance of the phone app and consolidate all functions in one area. 

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Apple introduces bilingual Siri, full-page screenshots and more in iOS 17 beta

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Apple has launched the first public beta versions of iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and macOS Sonoma, bringing new features that enhance the user experience. Some features include bilingual Siri, full-page screenshots, and better SMS sorting for dual-SIM users.

Bilingual support for Sir allows users to ask questions in a mix of English and one of the selected Indic languages. For example, users can speak to Siri in both English and Hindi or English and Telugu, Punjabi, Kannada, or Marathi. This feature is helpful for India-based users who often use more than one language in their daily conversations. Apple is catching up with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, which introduced multilingual support in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

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iOS 17 brings new stickers features to Messages

GIF: Apple

Apple also announced another major update to its Messages app in iOS 17. This time, the focus is on stickers. Stickers are now integrated into the emoji keyboard, making them easier to use in any app that supports them. You can also create your stickers from photos with a simple tap-and-hold gesture that lets them cut out any subject from an image. These custom stickers can be enhanced with effects and animations. You can even turn Live Photos into Live Stickers. 

Live Stickers are a new way to express yourself with moving images that capture the mood and personality of your friends and family. You can access all your stickers from a new drawer on the keyboard. 

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