Technology
Android 15's new Private Space feature puts an end to app snooping
Get ready to level up your privacy game with Android 15’s latest feature, Private Space.
This nifty addition is about to change the way you keep your sensitive apps and data under wraps.
Let’s dive into what Private Space is all about and how you can make the most of it. (iPhone users, learn how to hide apps on your device here.)
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What is Private Space?
Private Space is Android 15’s answer to keeping your personal or sensitive apps away from prying eyes. Think of it as a secret vault within your phone where you can stash away apps you’d rather keep private, whether they’re work-related, financial, or just your guilty pleasure games.
Unlike hiding apps — typically done by moving them to a folder or using a third-party launcher, which still leaves them accessible from the app drawer — Private Space creates a separate, secure area within your phone that is completely isolated. Only you can access it using a unique passcode or biometric authentication, ensuring your private content remains truly private.
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What you need
You can use Private Space when:
- Your device is running on Android 15 or higher.
- Your device has more than 6 GB of RAM.
- Your device isn’t managed by an organization.
- There’s no supervised account signed in on the main space.
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You can’t use Private Space when:
- It is disabled by the device manufacturer or Enterprise Admin.
- It is within a secondary user profile.
- Your device has more than four user profiles.
Note: You can only use Private Space as the main user of the device, not as a guest or secondary user. Consider creating a dedicated Google account for your Private Space. This helps prevent private data like notifications and files from appearing outside Private Space.
Which devices can use Private Space?
Private Space is available on devices running Android 15. As of now, this includes:
- Google Pixel devices (Pixel 6 and newer)
- Select devices from Samsung, Lenovo, Motorola, Nothing, OnePlus, and more (coming in the following months)
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How to get Android 15 on your device
Ready to upgrade? Here’s how to get Android 15:
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.
- Back up your device data (just in case).
- Go to Settings.
- Click System.
- Tap Software updates.
- Then, click System Updates.
- If available, tap “Download and install.”
- Wait for the download to complete and your device to restart.
Disclaimer: The availability of the Android 15 update may vary by device and region. If the update is not yet available for your Android device, please check with your manufacturer or carrier for more information on the release schedule.
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Setting up Private Space
Now that you’ve got Android 15, let’s set up your Private Space:
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll to “Security & privacy.”
- Tap on “Private Space.”
- Verify your identity using your device’s unlock method.
- Tap the “Set up” button.
- Enter your Google account credentials.
- Agree to the terms and conditions.
Now, your Private Space is ready to use.
Using Private Space
Here’s how to move apps from your home screen into Private Space or install apps directly into Private Space from Google Play.
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.
How to move your apps from your home screen into Private Space
- Access Private Space by scrolling to the bottom of your app drawer.
- Tap the lock icon to unlock it.
- You’ll be asked to enter your passcode or use biometric authentication.
- To move apps to Private Space, long-press an app in your main drawer.
- Tap Install in private.
- Confirm your decision by clicking Install.
How to install apps directly into Private Space from Google Play
- You can also click Install, where you will see the plus sign in the black circle, to install apps directly from Google Play into Private Space.
- Just click on the app you want to install into Private Space.
- Then click Install again.
- Head back to Private Space, and you will see the app installed there.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Space is a game-changer for anyone looking to enhance their digital privacy. This feature provides a secure, dedicated area for your sensitive apps and data, ensuring that only you have access. With just a few simple steps, you can create your own digital vault and enjoy peace of mind knowing your private information is well-protected.
What role should the government play in protecting your privacy and data, and how should it react to growing public concerns? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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Technology
The SwitchBot S10, one of our favorite robovac / mop hybrids, is $500 off
If you’re somebody who likes to clean and declutter in preparation for a new year, one way to speed it up is by investing in a good robot vacuum. The SwitchBot S10 is one of our favorite vacuums that also happens to be a terrific mop, too, and is currently down to its all-time low price of $699.99 ($500 off) when you clip the on-page coupon at Amazon. It’s also available for the same price directly from SwitchBot when you apply the promo code BFCM500A.
Of all the robot vacuums we’ve ever tested, the SwitchBot S10 offers the most hands-free experience, so you really can set it and forget it. The self-cleaning roller mop does an excellent job of polishing up your floors, and is even capable of lifting itself up to keep carpets dry. What’s more, the Switch S10 comes with an auto-empty dock as well as a separate battery-powered dock water station, which means the bot can empty and refill its own water tank. Just bear in mind you’ll have to hook it into your water supply.
Aside from offering a fantastic mopping and hands-free experience, the SwitchBot S10 is also a good vacuum with 6,500Pa suction power and decent AI-powered obstacle avoidance, although it admittedly can’t rival specs from competitors like Roborock, Dreame, and Ecovacs. That said, the SwitchBot S10 costs about $1,000 less, and for the price it does a great job of leaving the floor mostly spotless.
Technology
Sign PDFs easily in Preview on Apple devices
Did you know that, in the U.S., electronic signatures are just as valid as your good old handwritten ones? Pretty cool, right?
But if you’re scratching your head wondering how to get your digital John Hancock on those online documents, you’re not alone.
Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
Below, you’ll find an easy step-by-step guide to help you add your digital signature to documents on your Apple devices without the hassle of printing, signing, and scanning. Let’s dive in. (Windows users, follow these steps.)
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How to sign PDFs on your iPhone
One of the many advantages of owning an iPhone is the ability to sign documents electronically, even when you’re away from your laptop or desktop. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to sign any PDF you receive.
- After verifying that the sender is legitimate, open the PDF if it isn’t already viewable in the email.
- Hold and press the PDF if it is viewable in the body of the email, or click to open the PDF.
- In the pop-up window, select Markup and Reply
- On the bottom right of the Markup toolbar, tap the ‘+’ icon
- Select Add Signature
- Select Add or Remove Signature
- Use your finger, stylus or Apple Pencil to sign your name
- Once you’re satisfied with your signature, select Done.
- To resize the signature, drag the blue dots around it.
- To position the signature correctly, select and drag it to the correct position in the document.
- Then select Done
- A drop-down menu will give you the option to Reply to the original email you opened the PDF in or Save to Files if you want to save the PDF with your signature to your iPhone to email later.
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How to add your signature to a PDF or document using a Mac
A program called Preview comes standard on every Mac computer. It is a great and free tool to view or edit photos and PDFs. In addition to being able to crop and rotate pictures using Preview, you can annotate your PDF and easily add a signature right on your Apple laptop or desktop computer.
- Open the PDF document in Preview; if your PDF doesn’t open in Preview, right-click it, hover over Open with and select Preview.
- Once your document is open, tap Tools on the top of your toolbar.
- Scroll to Annotate, hover and then scroll to Signature and tap Manage Signatures…
- You can add your signature in three different ways: using the trackpad, camera or iPhone.
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Using your trackpad to create a signature
To use your trackpad or mouse to digitally create your signature:
- Press where it says Trackpad.
- Then tap Click Here to Begin and start signing with your mouse or trackpad. While a mouse might be more accurate, this option is a little sensitive and makes it a little trickier to recreate your signature as cleanly as you might want.
- Once you’ve created your signature, press any key, then click Done.
- Then click on your signature and hold it down while you use your trackpad to place it wherever you want on your document.
- If you want to resize it, drag the blue dots around the signature.
- When finished, click outside of the box surrounding your signature and save your document by clicking File in the upper left-hand corner of your screen and then scrolling down and clicking Save.
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Using your camera to create a signature
For this option, you will have to pull out a piece of paper and a pen and sign your name on the piece of paper, or if you have a hard copy of the document with your signature already on it.
- First, press where it says Camera.
- Then tap Click Here to Begin
- Sign your name onto a white piece of paper, and then hold it up facing the camera so that your signature is level with the blue line in the window.
- When your signature appears in the window, click Done.
- Then click on your signature and hold it down while you use your trackpad to place it wherever you want on your document.
- If you want to resize it, drag the blue dots around the signature.
- When finished, click outside of the box surrounding your signature and save your document by clicking File in the upper left-hand corner of your screen and then scrolling down and clicking Save.
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Using your iPhone or iPad to create a signature
If you have both a Mac and an iPhone or iPad, this might be the easiest option:
- If your devices are connected, when you select the iPhone or iPad option in Preview’s signature manager, your phone will display a box for you to sign with your finger. Go ahead and sign.
- Once you’ve signed your signature, then tap Done, and it will appear back on your Mac in Preview.
- Then click on your signature and hold it down while you use your trackpad to place it wherever you want on your document.
- If you want to resize it, drag the blue dots around the signature.
- When finished click outside of the box surrounding your signature and save your document by clicking File in the upper left-hand corner of your screen and then scrolling down and clicking Save.
Once you’ve created your signature on your iPhone, iPad or Mac, your new digital signature should be available across any of those devices that share the same Apple ID.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Gone are the days when signing your documents and getting them to the necessary parties was time-consuming and expensive. Because digital signatures are just as binding as handwritten signatures in most circumstances, using any of the methods to create an electronic signature helps get your important documents signed and emailed.
Do you have an electronic signature ready to go? If not, how will you create one? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.
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Technology
Meta’s ‘software update issue’ has been breaking Quest headsets for weeks
Meta updated a note on the top of its Quest support site to say that a “software update issue” has been bricking Quest 2, Quest 3, and Quest 3S headsets. The company writes that while “most” people can now use their headsets normally, it’s “actively working on resolving the issue for all users.”
That Meta is now saying it’s working on a fix “for all users” may be good news for Quest 2 and 3 owners who’ve reported that Meta wouldn’t fix or replace their headsets because they were out of warranty. Some Reddit users say the company has emailed a confirmation that they were getting out-of-warranty service for the issue, and a Meta support forum community manager wrote in an update yesterday that Meta’s customer support “should have new directions on how to support users now.”
Meta posted on December 6th that there were software update issues affecting “some new Quest 3S devices,” but didn’t mention Quest 2 or 3 headsets or what software version was involved, either then or in an earlier version of the new support site message that UploadVR reported this week. The company announced on December 9th that it was rolling out its most recent update, Meta Quest v71, adding features like a revamped virtual desktop display connection method and keyboard passthrough support in virtual environments.
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