Apple's New MacBook Disconnects Microphone "Physically" When Lid is Closed

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 October 31, 2018  Mohit Kumar Apple introduces a new privacy feature for all new MacBooks that "at some extent" will prevent hackers and malicious applications from eavesdropping on your conversations. Apple's custom T2 security chip in the latest MacBooks includes a new hardware feature that physically disconnects the MacBook's built-in microphone whenever the user closes the lid, the company revealed yesterday at its event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. Though the new T2 chip is already present in the 2018 MacBook Pro models launched earlier this year, this new feature got unveiled when Apple launched the new Retina MacBook Air and published a full security guide for T2 Chip yesterday. "This disconnect is implemented in hardware alone, and therefore prevents any software, even with root or kernel privileges in macOS, and even the software on the T2 chip, from engaging the microphone when the lid is closed,...

How to access your iPhone's secret emoticon keyboard

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Before emojis took over the world, people who wanted to add some tone or feelings to text messages or emails would use emoticons (or smileys) -- faces made up of punctuation characters.

They’re still in use today, but people prefer to send emojis, or -- if you’re an iPhone user -- you might enjoy using Apple’s new face-tracking Animoji instead. But if you want to go old school, there’s a special emoticon keyboard hidden inside iOS.
You can access a selection of emoticons through the Japanese keyboard. Just follow these instructions:
  • Open Settings, General and select Keyboard.
  • Tap Keyboards, and then tap on Add New Keyboard.
  • Scroll down until you see Japanese. Tap that and select 'Kana' keyboard. Tap Done.
  • When writing a message in the future, press down on the globe icon on the left below the space bar.
  • Select the Kana keyboard, and then tap on the smiley face option in the bottom left corner.
  • You’ll now be able to choose which emoticon you want to add to your message. There are lots to choose from.
  • Switch back to your default keyboard when done.