Submitted by Frank Macey on
The second update to iOS 13 within three weeks is here. iOS 13.7 is a minor update, with undisclosed bug fixes and one significant change to the COVID-19 Exposure Notifications system. While the iOS 13.6.1 update brought iPhone users a fix to the green tint issue on some displays, iOS 13.7 mostly works behind the scenes.
Submitted by Jon Reed on
In early April Apple and Google announced a joint effort to "enable the use of Bluetooth technology to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the virus, with user privacy and security central to the design." The two part plan began rollout in May with phase one; phase two is currently underway.
Submitted by Frank Macey on
Another way to track and view cases of COVID-19 in your local area has arrived free on the App Store. COVID Nearby can be launched on the iPhone or iPad to log coronavirus symptoms and test results. Privacy is guaranteed thanks to differential privacy, a method which keeps users anonymous and reports secure. The project has been developed at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey with support from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.
Submitted by Fred Straker on
Memoji on the iPhone and iPad continue to gain new options for personalization. Due to the ongoing global pandemic, Apple has added face coverings to the mix with iOS 14. Now your Memoji can sport a unique face mask to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Once a face covering is added, all of the Memoji expressions are masked automatically.
Submitted by Jon Reed on
Contact tracing is an important tool for slowing the spread of COVID-19 infection and has been employed by a number of countries that have had success in curtailing the pandemic. Due to the sheer logistics involved in contact tracing as well as privacy concerns, the concept of app-based contact tracing has recently been gaining favor with research groups. Singapore's health ministry developed and deployed the first such app, TraceTogether, in March.
