xAI has released an iOS app in the US for its Grok chatbot, as spotted earlier by TechCrunch. The standalone app version of the chatbot, which xAI calls a beta, can perform the same functions as the one built into X, as it can field real-time information, answer questions, and generate images.
Technology
Easy ways to make calls when vision is a challenge
Technology can be wonderfully convenient and provide a great deal of entertainment, but it can also be a great way to improve your everyday life, too. For those who experience visual challenges, a variety of apps and features can help you. That’s why we love this question about apps and features that can help visually challenged loved ones:
“I am not tech savvy. I need to know if there is an app that I can download on a phone, that will allow my mother to tell the app, without needing internet services, who she wants to make a phone call to? She’s losing her eyesight and can no longer see the numbers on her phone. She’s 88 years old and doesn’t own a computer and has limited income,” writes “Sheryl” of Westminster, Colorado.
It’s great that you are looking out for your mother’s specific needs. Below are several voice dialing apps and features that can help her make calls without having to see the numbers.
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Best apps and features for the visually challenged to make calls
As long as the numbers are already programmed into your phone, you can use some of these apps and features to call out even if you’re visually challenged.
Apps and features for iPhone
For apps and features that work specifically on the iPhone to enhance capabilities for the visually challenged, check out the options below:
1. Siri (iOS): If you have an iPhone, you can use Siri to make phone calls by simply saying, “Hey Siri, call [contact name].” However, if you prefer or if “Hey Siri” isn’t enabled, you can also press and hold the side button (or the Home button on older iPhones) to activate Siri manually. Siri can work offline for basic tasks like making phone calls. You’ll also want to check out how to get your phone to read articles aloud.
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2. Point and Speak feature: With iPhones that have a Lidar sensor and run iOS 17 or later, you can use the “Point and Speak” feature using the steps below:
- Open the Magnifier app on your iPhone. You can find it in the Utilities folder by searching for it in Spotlight or swiping down from the top right of your screen.
- Tap the Detect mode icon in the bottom right corner. It looks like a square with a circle inside it.
- Tap the Point and Speak icon in the bottom left corner. It looks like a hand pointing to three lines.
- Hold your iPhone about 12 inches away from the text you want to read and point the camera at it.
- Use your other hand to point at the text you want your iPhone to speak. Your iPhone will highlight the text in yellow and read it aloud.
- If you don’t hear the speech feedback, click the circular gear icon on the upper left of the screen. Then click Point and Speak and make sure Speech is toggled on. Then click the left arrow Back buttons in the upper left and tap Done.
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3. VoiceOver (iOS): This is an accessibility feature built into iPhones that provides spoken feedback to help users navigate their devices. It can be used in conjunction with Siri to make phone calls. Here are the steps:
- Open Settings: Tap on the Settings app on the home screen.
- Go to Accessibility: Scroll down and tap on Accessibility.
- Enable VoiceOver: Under the Vision section, tap on VoiceOver and then toggle the switch to turn it on.
- Once VoiceOver is enabled, you can use it to navigate your iPhone with spoken feedback. To make a phone call using Siri with VoiceOver enabled, you can follow these steps: 1) Activate Siri: You can either say “Hey Siri” or press and hold the Home button (or the Side button on newer iPhones) until Siri activates; 2) Give the Command: You can then say, “Call [contact name].”
- VoiceOver will provide spoken feedback throughout the process, making it easier for you to navigate and confirm actions.
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Apps and features for Android
For apps and features that work specifically for an Android to enhance capabilities for the visually challenged, check out the options below:
1. Google Assistant (Android): Similar to Siri, Google Assistant can be used on Android phones to make calls. You can do this by saying “Hey Google” or by holding down the home button on your phone. Once Google Assistant is activated, you can say commands like:
- “Call [contact name]” to call someone in your contacts
- “Call [business name]” to call a business
- “Call [phone number]” to dial a specific number
Additionally, Google Assistant can perform various tasks offline, such as setting reminders, playing music or sending texts. Just give it a try and see how it can make your daily tasks easier.
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2. Voice Access (Android): This app lets you control your phone using voice commands. It can be particularly helpful for those with visual impairments. Once set up, you can use voice commands to make calls.
- Unlock your Android device, then open your device’s Settings app.
- Select Accessibility
- Select Voice Access
- Select Use Voice Access
- Start Voice Access in one of these ways: 1) If “Hey Google” detection is on, you can say, “Hey Google, Voice Access”; 2) Open your notification shade and select Touch to start; 3) On your Home screen, tap the Voice Access app; 4) Select the Voice Access activation button. (Need to set up the activation button? Go to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Access > Settings > Activation button.)
- Say a command, such as “Open Gmail”
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Kurt’s key takeaways
The technological advancements in modern mobile phones can really improve the ability of those with visual impairments to utilize technology to the fullest. After all, if you can’t utilize the standard features to call out on your mobile device, it fails to achieve its most basic function. Between the ability of Siri, Google Assistant or other voice-activated apps to respond to verbal commands (with a simple click of a button or verbal request) to the accessibility features’ ability to help verbally navigate your phone, even those experiencing visual challenges can optimize the power of their phones and stay in touch with their loved ones.
Most people have heard of Siri or Google Assistant, but have you taken advantage of the Voice Access app or VoiceOver features? What accessibility features have come in both handy and absolutely necessary for staying in touch with your loved ones? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Technology
This wildfire evacuation alert accidentally went out to everyone in LA
After two days of dealing with wildfires that have burned thousands of acres, residents across Los Angeles County received a wildfire evacuation alert on Thursday afternoon that was a mistake. Shortly after, officials sent a follow-up alert saying that the notice was intended only for people near the Kenneth Fire in Woodland Hills.
Los Angeles County shared a message on X explaining what happened: “An evacuation order for residents near the Kenneth Fire currently burning in West Hills was mistakenly issued Countywide. This alert was only intended for residents of Calabasas and Agoura Hills.”
CBS News quotes a local official who said that the alert, which included a broken URL, was sent “due to a technical error.”
Many wildfires are burning in the LA area, and officials have confirmed at least six deaths, CNN reports. LA County has a population of nearly 10 million people, which is the “largest population of any county in the nation,” according to the county’s website.
Technology
Solar device transforms used tires to help purify water so that it's drinkable
Imagine a world where clean drinking water is readily available even in the most remote areas.
This vision is becoming a reality thanks to innovative research from scientists in Canada.
A team of scientists at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, has developed a groundbreaking device that could revolutionize water desalination, offering hope to millions facing water scarcity worldwide.
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The power of plasmonic solar stills
At the heart of this innovation is a floating solar still, a device that harnesses the sun’s energy to purify seawater.
Dr. Mita Dasog, an associate professor of chemistry and Killam Memorial chair at Dalhousie, explains the science behind it: “Refractory plasmonic nanomaterials are very good at capturing light and converting that light into heat.”
This principle forms the foundation of their ingenious design. The solar still, conceptualized by Dr. Matthew Margeson during his Ph.D. studies, addresses challenges that have long plagued similar devices. It minimizes thermal losses, prevents salt buildup and can withstand harsh maritime conditions.
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How it works
The floating solar still operates through an elegantly simple yet highly effective process. First, ocean water is drawn up to the device’s foam surface through a wicking system. Once the water reaches the surface, it is evaporated by solar-heated plasmonic materials. As the water vapor rises, the salt is left behind, ensuring that only purified water is collected. The vapor then recondenses on a clear plastic dome situated above the device. Finally, the purified water is funneled down the sides of the dome and collected in a sealed bag for easy access.
The results of this process are impressive. In real-world tests conducted in Halifax Harbour, the device produced up to 0.97 gallons of clean water daily, which was a record-breaking yield for passive floating solar stills.
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Upcycling for sustainability
What sets this device apart is its use of unconventional materials. Instead of relying on expensive precious metals, the team turned to an unlikely source: used tires. Through a process called pyrolysis, carbon waste from tires is transformed into a crucial component of the desalination unit.
Dr. Dasog emphasizes the importance of accessibility: “We shouldn’t be making an expensive or very complicated device. It has to be easy to manufacture, last for a long time and be easy to take apart and move.” This approach not only makes the technology more affordable but also addresses the environmental issue of tire waste.
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Affordable water purification and energy generation in one device
The device’s capabilities extend beyond water purification. It can simultaneously desalinate, disinfect and decontaminate water at a remarkably low cost: less than one cent per liter. It can also generate a small amount of thermoelectricity, potentially powering onboard water quality sensors.
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Looking ahead
The team’s next step is to conduct further testing in South Asia, with the ultimate goal of making the device available worldwide. Dasog, nominated for the Emerging Leader award at the Water Canada Summit, envisions the device as a lifeline for communities displaced by war or climate change.
Kurt’s key takeaways
As we tackle the growing challenges of water security, innovations like the plasmonic solar still shine a light of hope. By blending cutting-edge science with sustainable materials, the researchers at Dalhousie University are doing more than just purifying water; they’re paving the way for a future that is both equitable and resourceful. This device not only makes clean drinking water accessible but also highlights how we can use renewable energy sources to address pressing global issues.
If the sun could power one solution to improve human life, what would you want it to be? 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.
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Technology
X launches Grok’s iPhone app in the US
xAI started testing Grok’s standalone iOS app in December in a handful of countries. There’s no word on when it may come to Android.
Though Grok was initially only available to X Premium subscribers, the platform started letting all users access the chatbot last month, bringing it in line with other free-to-use chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot.
As pointed out by TechCrunch, it seems xAI is also working on a dedicated Grok.com website that currently has a “coming soon” message on it. After raising $6 billion in June, xAI reported another $6 billion funding round, including from “strategic investors” like Nvidia and AMD.
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