Tag: Privacy Controls

  • Beeper Launches Plus Subscription with AI Transcription & Privacy

    Beeper Launches Plus Subscription with AI Transcription & Privacy

    Key Takeaways

    1. Beeper is focusing on user security with enhanced privacy options following its acquisition by Automattic.
    2. Users can now manage connections directly on their devices, enhancing end-to-end encryption and removing reliance on Beeper Cloud.
    3. The “Beeper Plus” subscription offers features like “Send Later,” “Reminders,” “Incognito Mode,” and “AI Voice Note Transcriptions.”
    4. The subscription allows multiple accounts from the same network, with up to three accounts per network and a total of ten.
    5. Pricing for Beeper Plus is $9.99 monthly or $99.99 annually, with a “Plus Plus” plan at $49.99 monthly or $499.99 annually for unlimited accounts and priority support.


    Beeper, the messaging application that momentarily brought iMessage to Android devices, is rolling out a major update that adds enhanced privacy options and a new subscription service named “Beeper Plus.”

    Focus on User Security

    After being acquired by Automattic, the company has reintroduced the app with a stronger emphasis on user safety and premium features. The basic features of the app will still be available for free to all users.

    New Privacy Controls

    One of the key updates is the ability for users to manage their connections directly on their own devices, eliminating the need for the Beeper Cloud system. This method ensures that end-to-end encryption is maintained for supported messaging applications.

    Choosing to use on-device connections means that some services, like Slack and Discord, will not work within the app, but most other networks will still be compatible.

    Subscription Features

    The “Beeper Plus” subscription brings a variety of new features to the platform. It includes a “Send Later” option that allows users to schedule messages for any connected service and “Reminders” to prompt you to check a conversation at a later time.

    There’s also an “Incognito Mode” which lets you view messages without alerting the sender that you’ve read them. Moreover, the service offers “AI Voice Note Transcriptions,” converting voice messages into text even if the original chat app doesn’t provide that option.

    Additionally, the subscription permits the use of multiple accounts from the same network—up to three accounts for each network, with a total cap of ten—and unlocks custom app icons.

    Pricing Options

    The standard Beeper Plus plan is priced at $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually. There’s also a “Plus Plus” plan, aimed at frequent users, costing $49.99 monthly or $499.99 per year, which allows unlimited accounts and provides priority support.

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  • Samsung Galaxy Watches May Soon Feature Family Health Tracking

    Samsung Galaxy Watches May Soon Feature Family Health Tracking

    Samsung Health, a well-known fitness and health tracking application for Galaxy devices, is cautiously venturing into family health monitoring.

    According to Android Authority, Samsung is preparing a feature that enables users to share their health data with others, such as parents or caregivers who need to monitor children or elderly family members.

    Privacy Considerations and Control

    Although this raises privacy concerns, Samsung appears to be adopting a careful approach. Users will reportedly have detailed control over what information is shared, with the option to halt sharing entirely whenever they wish. Additionally, safeguards are in place to ensure only authorized individuals can access the data.

    Screenshots indicate that children (or elderly users) will need a Galaxy phone to share data from their Galaxy Watch. This requirement likely aims to tie users into Samsung’s ecosystem, necessitating full investment in the brand’s hardware for this specific feature.

    Regarding children’s health data, explicit consent from a parent or guardian’s account is reportedly required. There’s also an inactivity clause stipulating that if either party remains inactive for 90 days, the data sharing will automatically stop, and the shared data will be deleted.

    Future Implementation

    The report suggests this feature might not be exclusive to the upcoming Galaxy Ring or Watch. Samsung may initially limit it to newer smartwatches before extending it to older Galaxy Watches.

    This new capability positions Samsung Health as a more inclusive health management platform. It remains to be seen how effectively the data sharing will be executed and how users will receive alerts or insights based on the shared information. Nevertheless, this move highlights Samsung’s increasing emphasis on health and wellness within its ecosystem.


    Samsung Galaxy Watches May Soon Feature Family Health Tracking