Tag: tech

With iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 now available, iPhone and iPad users have access to a slew of new features that make use of Apple Intelligence. That includes Genmoji, a new type of AI-generated emoji that was first introduced at WWDC 2024.

What are Genmoji?

Genmoji are custom emojis you can create if you’ve installed the iOS 18.2 or iPadOS 18.2 update. They are the emojis of your imagination, made real with help from Apple Intelligence — you describe what emoji you want to see, like a sad cowboy or an octopus DJ, and Apple’s AI will do its best to generate it. You can even create custom emojis of people you know if you have a photo of them in your library. Once you’ve made Genmoji, they’ll be stored in your keyboard so you can use them in Apple apps that support emojis. They can be sent as part of messages, as standalone stickers or as Tapback reactions.

How to create Genmoji

To create a Genmoji, you’ll need a device that is up to date with iOS 18.2/iPadOS 18.2 or later and compatible with Apple Intelligence. That includes every iPhone 16 model, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, as well as iPad models with the M1 chip or later, and iPad mini (A17 Pro). At the moment, you can only create Genmoji on iPhone and iPad, though Apple says the feature will be coming to Mac down the line. The steps to create a Genmoji are the same for iPhone and iPad. 

Apple

First, open a conversation and tap the text field to bring up the keyboard. Then tap either the smiley icon or the globe icon, depending on which you have. After doing that, you should now see a multicolored smiley icon with a plus sign on it at the top right of the keyboard. Tap that and a text bar will appear prompting you to describe the emoji you’d like to create. Enter the description, then tap “Done.” 

If you’re making a Genmoji of a specific person, make sure you’ve already labeled them in your Photos app. Then, enter your description and tap the “Choose a Person” option above the text field. You’ll be shown who it has identified from your photos, and a few style options as a starting point. Click the one you like, and it’ll create the Genmoji using that character.

Apple

The results might not be to your liking the first try, and if that’s the case, just try tweaking your description until you get better results. Once you’ve made Genmoji, you’ll be able to find them in your keyboard either by swiping right through all the emoji options or by tapping the sticker icon. You can also add them to Tapback by pressing and holding a message, and clicking the smiley with a plus sign icon to search the emoji keyboard.

How to delete Genmoji

If you made a Genmoji and later decide you aren’t into it anymore, you can always delete it after the fact. To do this, head back into the emoji keyboard and either swipe right through all the pages or just tap the sticker icon. From there, find the Genmoji you want to get rid of, press and hold it, then tap Remove once the option pops up.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/how-to-use-genmoji-to-make-your-own-custom-emojis-225907928.html?src=rss

Hackers behind a cyberattack that targeted Rhode Island’s public benefits system were able to get the sensitive data — including Social Security numbers and some banking information — of hundreds of thousands of people, and they have threatened to release it as soon as this week if they aren’t paid a ransom, Rhode Island governor Dan McKee said in a press conference on Saturday night. The Rhode Island government opened a toll-free hotline on Sunday (833-918-6603) to provide information on the breach and how residents can protect themselves, but you won’t be able to find out for sure if your data was stolen by calling in. People who may have been affected will be notified by mail.

The attack targeted the RIBridges system, maintained by Deloitte, which is used to apply for Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), HealthSource RI healthcare coverage and other public benefits available to Rhode Islanders. A press release from McKee’s office notes that “any individual who has received or applied for health coverage and/or health and human services programs or benefits could be impacted by this leak.”

It’s thought the hackers were able to get information including names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and “certain banking information.” Deloitte first detected the breach and notified state officials on December 5, and determined on the 11th that there was “a high probability that the implicated folders contain personal identifiable data from RIBridges.” It confirmed the presence of malicious code on December 13 and subsequently shut the system down, before officials announced the attack to the public the same day.

The system is now offline while Deloitte works to secure it, which means that anyone who needs to apply for one of the affected programs will have to do so by mail, and people who are currently enrolled won’t be able to access the online portal or app. The state said it so far hasn’t detected any identity theft or fraud relating to the attack, but it will be offering free credit monitoring to anyone affected by the breach. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/hackers-may-have-accessed-hundreds-of-thousands-of-rhode-islanders-sensitive-info-in-ribridges-cyberattack-194621262.html?src=rss

The Magic Mouse has gone a long time without any major changes to its design beyond things like dropping the AA batteries and gaining a USB-C port, but Apple is now reportedly planning an overhaul. In the Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman reports that Apple has started working on prototypes for a more modern version of the Magic Mouse, which was first released way back in 2009.

While some users have loved the Magic Mouse for its gesture controls, other aspects like its nonergonomic design and its underside charging port have been the subject of complaints for years. We don’t know what exactly the redesign will bring, but it’d be great to see those things finally addressed. And it sounds like we will. According to Gurman, “Apple is looking to create something that’s more relevant, while also fixing longstanding complaints — yes, including the charging port issue.” It could still be a while before we see the new Magic Mouse, though. Gurman notes that it could take another year to 18 months to get it ready for market.

The newsletter also gives us a bit more info on the rumored new AirTag that Apple reportedly has in the works for release next year. Building on his previous reports about a next-gen AirTag with a better chip and more tamperproof design, Gurman now reports that the new tracker will have “a new ultrawide band chip on par with the one introduced in the iPhone 15,” which he says could triple its detectable range with Precision Finding.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/apples-magic-mouse-may-be-getting-a-big-makeover-in-the-next-year-or-so-174255032.html?src=rss