Mozilla today announced that Firefox will soon block web trackers by default. In conjunction, Firefox will also let users control what information they share with sites.

Web trackers are used mainly for targeted advertising and broad user data collection. Mozilla wants to protect users from websites using abusive trackers, improving both performance and privacy.

Mozilla shared details on three tracker-blocking features it is building into Firefox:

• Blocking trackers that slow down page loads. This feature, aimed at improving page load performance, will be tested in September. If it performs well, Firefox 63 (slated for October 2018) will start blocking slow-loading trackers by default.
• Removing cross-site tracking that follow users around the web. This feature, which strips cookies and blocks storage access from third-party tracking content, will be tested with some Firefox beta users in September. Mozilla plans to bring this protection to all users in Firefox 65 (slated for January 2019).
• Mitigating harmful practices such as trackers that fingerprint users (to identify users by their device properties) and cryptomining scripts. Mozilla didn’t share when future versions of Firefox will stop these practices, but it did say they will also be blocked by default.

Just like how Google sees Chrome blocking some ads by default, Mozilla views Firefox blocking trackers as an extension of the pop-up blocker. Here is the company’s reasoning for the decision:

Some sites will continue to want user data in exchange for content, but now they will have to ask for it, a positive change for people who up until now had no idea of the value exchange they were asked to make. Blocking pop-up ads in the original Firefox release was the right move in 2004, because it didn’t just make Firefox users happier, it gave the advertising platforms of the time a reason to care about their users’ experience. In 2018, we hope that our efforts to empower our users will have the same effect.

Mozilla wants to make it clear these features are aimed at users, and websites will have to adjust accordingly.

Try it now in Firefox Nightly

Firefox development starts with Firefox Nightly, which consists of the latest code packaged up every night for bleeding-edge testers. The first two protections are already available in Nightly — you can control both features from the Control Center menu (left-hand side of the address bar) where you’ll see a new “Content Blocking” section.

In that section you can enable the blocking of slow-loading trackers or cross-site tracking through third-party cookies by clicking “Add Blocking…” next to the respective option. Check Slow-Loading Trackers to improve page load performance and/or check Third-Party Cookies and select “Trackers (recommended)” to block cross-site tracking cookies. Even in Nightly, these features still need to be enabled, but eventually they’ll be on by default.

Tracking Protection

If all of this sounds familiar to you, you’re right. Mozilla added a Tracking Protection feature to Firefox 42’s private browsing mode in November 2015. With the release of Firefox 57 (Firefox Quantum) in November 2017, Mozilla added an option to enable tracking protection outside of private browsing. But Tracking Protection isn’t on by default.

Tracking protection in Firefox blocks website elements (ads, analytics trackers, and social share buttons) that could track you while you’re surfing the web. It’s almost like a built-in ad blocker, though it’s really closer to browser add-ons like Ghostery and Privacy Badger because ads that don’t track you are allowed through. The feature’s blocking list, which is based on the tracking protection rules laid out by the anti-tracking startup Disconnect, is published under the General Public License and available on GitHub.

It’s great for not just privacy, but performance as well:

Mozilla’s Tracking Protection technology is also available on other platforms, whether it’s called Turbo Mode on Fire TV, a separate privacy-based mobile browser called Firefox Focus, or simply a feature on Android and iOS. In fact, Firefox for iOS turned on tracking protection by default in April.

At the time, Firefox Product Lead Jeff Griffiths told VentureBeat that Mozilla had no plans to turn on Tracking Protection by default on the desktop. That’s apparently still true, but Firefox is finally going to block trackers by default — it will just give users more controls and options when it does.

Open-source mapping software Mapbox said that the person responsible for an antisemitic label added to its maps on Thursday morning also “attempted several other hateful edits,” and that its security team is still working to determine the exact origin of the vandalism.

“Mapbox has a zero tolerance policy against hate speech and any malicious edits to our maps. This morning, the label of ‘New York City’ on our maps was vandalized. Within an hour, our team deleted and removed that information,” according to a Mapbox spokesperson. Mapbox did not say specifically what other edits the person attempted.

Starting around 5 am ET, users of apps that rely on Mapbox’s software, including Snapchat, CitiBike, and Zillow, saw that New York City had been relabeled ‘Jewtropolis’ on these maps.

Whatever mapping service that Snapchat, CitiBike, StreetEasy, (perhaps others) use — it seems — is showing New York City as "Jewtropolis" this morning. pic.twitter.com/nsVe8goLyo

— Micah Grimes (@MicahGrimes) August 30, 2018

On Snapchat’s Snap Map, New York City appears as “Jewtropolis.” A screenshot I just took: pic.twitter.com/rAlPXjjLOd

— Hamza Shaban (@hshaban) August 30, 2018

It appears that the vandalism was visible from about 5 am ET to 9 am ET. Snap was one of the first companies to comment on the issue, tweeting around 7 am ET that it was working with Mapbox to get the issue fixed.

According to its website, the apps that use Mapbox’s software account for more than 420 million monthly users.

Mapbox CEO and founder Eric Gundersen told TechCrunch that the company uses more than 130 sources of data to build its maps, and uses a combination of AI and humans to check for incorrect labels.

“We’re constantly scanning for this [vandalism], and it’s an error on our part [to have missed it],” Gundersen told TechCrunch.

In its press statement, Mapbox said that its detection system “flags more than 70,000 map changes a day for human review.” Mapbox said that the vandalism was properly flagged by its detection systems and put into quarantine for human review. However, Mapbox it was an error on the part of the human reviewer that led to the Jewtropolis label going live.

We’ll update this story if Mapbox shares any further details.

Apple has officially sent out invitations to its latest media event, ‘Gather Round,’ which will be held on September 12, 2018 — a year to the day after the iPhone 8 and iPhone X were officially revealed. Following recent tradition, the event will start at 10:00 a.m. Pacific, and will be held in the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California.

In addition to featuring finished versions of iOS 12 and watchOS 5, the event is expected to include the launch of three new iPhones — possibly named the iPhone Xs (5.8-inch/6.5-inch) and iPhone Xc — and the new Apple Watch Series 4 with larger screens. A small software update to the Apple TV, tvOS 12, is also likely to arrive at the September event, as are Apple’s long-awaited AirPower wireless charging pad and a wireless charging case for AirPods earphones.

It is currently unclear whether Apple will also use this event to launch new iPads, Macs, and the latest Mac operating system, macOS Mojave. Apple notably delayed a tentpole iOS 12 feature, Group FaceTime, for a release “later this fall,” which may have been intentional to spotlight the full screen-demanding feature at an event with larger displays.

Rumors have suggested that Apple will debut the first iPad Pro models with Face ID — and thus, support for Animojis — this fall, as well as a new entry-level MacBook and professionally-focused Mac mini desktop. Collectively, these new iPad and Mac designs could justify a separate computer-focused event.

September events have become predictable parts of Apple’s annual refresh cycle. This will be the seventh September iPhone event since 2012’s introduction of the iPhone 5, with preorders likely starting several days later, and initial availability of announced products typically commencing within 7-10 days of the event. If history is an appropriate guide, early iPhone preorders would start on September 14, with deliveries commencing on the 21st.

ZTE has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons, lately. The Chinese electronics company was the target of a U.S. Congressional bill that sought to ban government agencies from purchasing its networking equipment, and it suffered another blow when the Senate voted to reinstate a (since suspended) export ban on its consumer device lineup. But those setbacks didn’t stop it from debuting its latest flagship at IFA 2018 in Berlin: the Axon 9.

The Axon 9, the latest in ZTE’s flagship Axon series, isn’t the flashiest handset on the block. It’s crafted from glass and aluminum, and sports a 6.21-inch, 2,248 x 1,080 screen with a 18.7:9 aspect ratio and a sizeable cutout top-center. But there’s good reason for the notch: it packs an RGB color sensor and a front-facing camera that shoots up to 20MP.

The color sensor, working in tandem with a dedicated display coprocessor, adjusts the panel’s hues to account for ambient light. And together, they power the Axon 9’s Motion Video Optimization feature, which interpolates video data and normalizes the frame rate to 60 frames per second. ZTE claims it helps to eliminate shutter roll and other artifacts.

The Axon 9’s rear camera setup largely mirrors the front: there’s a 12MP optically stabilized sensor paired with a 20MP wide-angle shooter with a 130-degree field of view. Switching between the two is a one-tap affair in the Axon 9’s camera app.

The camera app, speaking of, won’t leave you wanting. Headlining features include an iPhone-like depth-of-field mode that blurs the background in photos while narrowing in on subjects, and a Sport mode that locks focus on moving objects in-frame.

What might perturb you is ZTE’s decision to omit a 3.5mm headphone jack and the Axon 9’s Android 8.1 Oreo-based firmware. (Inexplicably, the company won’t ship the Axon 9 with the latest version of Android, 9.0 Pie.)

But to be sure, there’s a lot to like about the Axon 9. It packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 4,000mAh battery that supports Qi wireless charging. Also on tap are stereo speakers with dual amplifiers and Dolby Atmos tech, and a machine learning-powered translation feature that can interpret 29 languages.

Given ZTE’s stateside regulatory woes, it’s not exactly surprising that the Axon 9 pro isn’t launching in the U.S. — it’s heading to territories in Europe, where it’ll cost about $755.68 when it retails in September. If it does make its way to North America anytime soon, here’s hoping the price tag doesn’t budge.

Classroom walls and refrigerators are home to so many kids’ hand-drawn works of art, and now those drawings can come to life with Osmo Super Studio featuring Disney’s Mickey Mouse & Friends.

Augmented reality kids app maker Osmo has teamed up with Disney for the first time to combine its reflective artificial intelligence system with hand-drawn art. You simply attach the Osmo mirror to an iPad and start the Osmo Super Studio app. The app shows an image of Mickey Mouse that the child can physically draw on a paper notepad in front of the iPad. The app digitizes that drawing and animates the child’s image, putting into motion the static picture in a seamless way.

Drawing is a critical childhood activity linked to social and emotional development, according to research from the National Endowment for Arts. It’s also a way to ignite the imagination and create new worlds with beloved friends, said Pramod Sharma, CEO of Palo Alto, California-based Osmo, in an interview with GamesBeat.

Osmo is collaborating with Disney to bring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and all their pals to life in a magical new way.

“Kids really love it as it tests their imagination,” Sharma said. “For them, it’s so empowering because the characters they watch become their own. They can draw a hat for Donald Duck and make it as crazy as they can. We let the child start from a blank page” in contrast to children’s coloring books.

He added, “The idea was to use the Disney brand but not lose the playful learning of Osmo.”

Above: Osmo Super Studio featuring Disney’s Mickey Mouse & Friends.

Image Credit: Osmo

Kids guide the story in Osmo Super Studio by supplying Mickey Mouse and Friends with real-world drawings that are “pulled” into the story’s digital world and by answering yes or no questions. It boosts kids’ creativity as they help to shape the storyline with whatever they imagine belongs in the tale. As the story progresses, characters ask for tools, toys, scenery and snacks to bring into their world. When kids are asked to draw Daisy they have the freedom to draw her as they see her – or how they’d like to see her – with a bow or an astronaut helmet.

“The power of computer vision and AI can bring a child’s imagination to life in new and innovative ways,” said Pramod Sharma, CEO and co-founder of Osmo. “This first-of-its-kind Reflective Animation experience bridges the world populated by the characters beloved by children of all ages with the creativity and artistic expression.”

Osmo’s proprietary Reflective AI technology allows the iPad’s camera to “see” physical objects in front of it. It’s at the heart of the Reflective Animation experience that gives kids a blank canvas to express themselves through story and by drawing their favorite Disney characters how they see them: any color, any size, any shape.

In a demo, Sharma showed how the whole thing works. The app gives kids instructions, saying things like “Now draw Donald’s bottom” while showing what the tailfeathers look like on screen. The camera can translate what the child draws on the dry erase paper to the screen.

Osmo Super Studio combines Disney characters and storytelling with the power of art and self-expression so kids can bring Mickey Mouse to life as they see him in their imaginations. The paper pad is five inches by seven inches, about the same as the iPad screen.

The project took about three years to complete.

Above: Osmo Super Studio lets kids start with a blank page.

Image Credit: Osmo

“From the get go, we decided to focus on not just one intellectual property, but something that applies to many,” Sharma said. “The whole point here is that you already know the story or the brand, and you’re excited to draw it.”

Osmo Super Studio is targeted at kids ages 5 and up and is available as an add-on to existing Osmo sets for $19. Apple Retail Stores will carry an exclusive Super Studio Kit that includes an Osmo iPad Base for $59. The costs are lower than Osmo’s previous apps, allowing it to hit a wider demographic, Sharma said.

You can get Osmo Super Studio today at PlayOsmo.com and Amazon.com, and in Target and Best Buy stores starting Sept. 4. Osmo will also have Disney Princess and The Incredibles versions of the Osmo Super Studio as well.

Super Studio is the eleventh innovative experience to come to Osmo’s universe, which has surpassed a million users. Sharma started the company with Jerome Scholler. As parents, they were worried about how much time kids were spending on screens such as TVs and mobile phones. Their products are aimed at adapting to this modern environment and helping kids learn in a social way with real-world toys. Thousands of schools and educators now use their products. The traction has enabled the company to raise multiple rounds of funding (totaling $38.5 million) and expand to the iPhone.

‘Tis the season for speakers. Case in point? The music maestros at Marshall today announced new additions to their product lineup — the Kilburn II, Action II Voice, and Stanmore II Voice — which will go on sale later this year. The latter two are Marshall’s first smart speakers: Both tap Amazon’s Alexa Voice service (and soon the Google Assistant) for voice controls and access to tens of thousands of third-party apps.

They’re also the first to fill Marshall Voice, Marshall’s new umbrella brand for premium smart speakers and services. As such, the Action II Voice and Stanmore II Voice feature appropriately high-end components, like class D amplifiers, a “bass reflex” cabinet system, and custom-tuned drivers.

“Marshall Voice combines the legendary sound of Marshall with the power of voice,” the company wrote in a press release. “Play music, schedule reminders, control your smart home, and more — all with your voice.”

Both the Action II Voice and Stanmore II Voice go on sale from October 2, with preorders beginning today. They start at $299 and $399, respectively.

The Kilburn II might lack the smarts of its Marshal Voice brethren, but it makes up for that with a stylish metal speaker grill, a nifty carrying strap, and a suite of technologies designed to enhance dynamic range. The 5.5-pound portable, water-resistant Bluetooth speaker, which the company says lasts more than 20 hours on a single charge, packs a multi-directional driver system that “[separates] out the spatial content” of stereo recordings and “reassembles [it] in a way that can be projected [outward],” resulting in what Marshall calls “true 360-degree sound.”

Under the hood are a Bluetooth 5.0 chip (with a range of 30 feet) that supports Qualcomm’s aptX codec, 3.5mm and RCA inputs, and a multi-host feature that lets multiple people pair to it simultaneously.

It’s available starting today at a suggested retail price of $299.

Marshall’s first foray into the smart speaker market comes just days after the unveiling of Bose’s Home Speaker 500, a $400 Alexa-powered speaker intended to take on Apple’s HomePod, the Google Home, Amazon’s Echo series, the Sonos Beam, and Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Home.

Luckily for Marshall, demand for smart speakers isn’t showing signs of slowing. Canalys reports that demand grew 187 percent in the second quarter of 2018, and that collectively Apple, Google, Xiaomi, Amazon, and others shipped 16.8 million units, up from 9 million in Q1 2018.

The sector is forecast to reach $19 billion in revenue by 2023, according to ResearchAndMarkets.com, as the number of smart speaker users in the U.S. inches toward a whopping 90 million.

Olloclip has announced a Multi-Device Clip designed to easily enhance the cameras on most smartphones with more powerful lenses, such as fisheye lenses or zoom lenses.

This could widen the market for attachable smartphone lenses. I’ve used Olloclip attachments for iPhones for years. But with the variation in phone sizes and cases, it’s not easy to use them from generation to generation or across a variety of smartphones.

The Multi-Device Clip features an expanding clip design that provides a flush alignment of the camera and lens, and compatibility with screen protectors and smartphone cases up to 12 millimeters in combined thickness.

“The Multi-Device Clip is unlike any product on the market,” said Todd Williams, global sales director at Olloclip, in a statement. “It remains our goal at olloclip to continually enhance consumer’s mobile photography experience through the most compact, accurate and easy-to-use products. We designed the Multi-Device Clip to serve the greatest range of smartphones, including those with a screen protector or thin case, for ultimate versatility.”

Above: Olloclip’s Multi-Device Clip will widen the market for attachable lenses.

Image Credit: Olloclip

The Multi-Device Clip can be switched quickly from front to rear-facing camera. Paired with Olloclip’s recently launched Connect X interchangeable lenses, users can quickly attach the right lens and capture the exact angle and field-of-view desired.

The Connect X lenses were created first for use with the iPhone X. The new Olloclip Multi-Device Clip works with these lenses:

• Super-Wide: Four-element lens with more than 120-degree visibility.
• Ultra-Wide: A 155-degree action camera field-of-view.
• Telephoto: 2X optical zoom to get twice as close to the action.
• Fisheye and Macro: Unique 180-degree wide-angle spherical effect and microscope-like magnification.
• Macro 7X +14X: Get detail oriented and see beyond the naked eye.
• Macro 21X: Turn your phone into a microscope.

The Olloclip Multi-Device Clip will be available on olloclip.com in mid-September with any of the Connect X lenses, starting at $60. Additional Connect X lenses may also be purchased separately, with prices starting at $45.

Foothill Ranch, California-based Olloclip was founded in 2011, and it has more than 100 patents on its lens accessories.