Steve is indisposed this afternoon, so the AWT News Update is on a one-day hiatus. In its place, I’ll offer a text-only (no podcast) summary of breaking stories with a tip o’ my hat to my former website, Apple Daily Report.
There’s a new malicious text message making the rounds that can crash your Messages app. The message, known as Black Dot, first showed up on Android smart phones and on the iPhone leaves the Messages app unresponsive. Here’s how to fix it.
Apple is reportedly cracking down on apps that share user location data with third parties by suspending them from the App Store. The company is informing developers if their apps violate terms within the App Store Review Guidelines, according to 9to5Mac.
The e-commerce site Jet.com is now an authorized Apple reseller. The site now carries the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV, as well as the HomePod, AirPods, Beats headphones and various cases and covers.
Two free new apps — the Steam Link app and the Steam Video app — are preparing for launch in the coming weeks, both designed to extend Steam’s suite of services and accessibility. The Steam Link app, slated to launch the week of May 21st, allows gamers to experience their Steam library of games on their Android (phone, tablet, TV) and iOS-based (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV) devices while connected via 5Ghz network or wired Ethernet to a host system (Mac or PC), with Android access initially offered in beta. The Steam Link App will feature support for the Steam Controller, MFI controllers, and more across both platforms.
Netgear has released a stopgap firmware update for its Orbi mesh Wi-Fi routers that deals with an issue stopping folks from using HomeKit accessories. The new software must be manually installed, and should only be used if HomeKit problems are surfacing. Netgear says a more permanent fix is in the works.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s dream to kill net neutrality could come to an end because the U.S. Senate is forcing a vote to restore the protections. Lawmakers are using the Congressional Review Act to make the vote happen, and right now it looks like the Senate is just one vote short of bringing net neutrality back to life.
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