Technologies

Neon, the Viral Call-Recording App, Makes Stealth Return With One Key Change

A controversial app that claims to pay people for recordings of their phone calls, which are then used to train AI models, is back for another go.

In September, the controversial Neon app soared to the top five of app download charts by promising to pay users for recording and sharing their phone calls. Then it abruptly went offline. It has now quietly returned to the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store with a new version that makes it functional again.

Alex Kiam, the founder of Neon, was under scrutiny after the news site TechCrunch discovered a security flaw that allowed people to access calls from other users, including transcripts and metadata about the calls. After the app went dark, Klam said the issue would be addressed and that the app would return with a bonus for users.

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Since then, the app has resumed functioning on both Android and iOS. The company is offering users a 30-cent-per-minute rate up to $30 through 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 6. The regular rate outside that window is unclear.

The company also compensates for referrals to the service, but has not specified what that payment will be. Previously, it said it was offering $30 for referrals.

Neon sells the recordings to companies training AI models, which are hungry for real-world input. The company says it anonymizes call information.

According to the updated terms of service from Nov. 3, those who sign up for the app agree that Neon can «sell and offer for sale» call recordings «for the purpose of developing, training, testing, and improving machine learning models, artificial intelligence tools and systems, and related technologies.»

There is still concerning language regarding Neon’s rights and licenses that grant the company the authority to publicly display, reproduce, and distribute call recordings «in any media formats and through any media channels.»

What’s changed with Neon?

Privacy experts CNET spoke to had warned against using the app in its previous incarnation due to concerns over call consent laws, and also noted that AI could infer user information or identities even if call data is anonymized.

The biggest change with the recent relaunch of the app is that Neon now only records and pays for calls to other Neon app users, essentially making it an automatic opt-in service. Previously, there were questions about whether recording calls in some states would require notification and consent from those receiving calls from someone who has the Neon app installed.

By shifting to an app-to-app business model, Neon may be able to ease those legal concerns.

In an interview with CNET in early October, Kiam said his New York-based company was overwhelmed by the sudden popularity of Neon, but not completely surprised.

«I expected things to grow pretty quickly because, you know, we’re giving people free money,» Kiam said. «And I think we’re getting people money for something that they would do anyway. … We felt confident that there was real demand for something like this.»

Technologies

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Might Come in 5G and 4G Cellular Models

If the rumor proves true, the 5G Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 that debuted last fall.

Samsung’s next high-end Galaxy Watch could support faster 5G speeds, but if this leak is true, it will depend on where you live. The rumored Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 might come in 5G and 4G cellular models, with availability for each smartwatch depending on the country.

According to the Dutch website Galaxy Club (and spotted by SamMobile), Samsung’s servers may have revealed a series of model numbers that point to 5G, 4G and Wi-Fi-enabled editions of the next Galaxy Watch Ultra, which would succeed the original model that debuted in 2024.

A representative for Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Galaxy Club website speculates that the 5G edition would be sold in the US and Korean markets, while the 4G edition would sell in the rest of the world. In the US, a 5G version of the Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3, which debuted last fall. The 4G edition would have broader compatibility worldwide, since the earlier network is far more established.

It will likely be a few months until we hear anything official about the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. Samsung typically unveils its new watches in the summer alongside its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip foldable phones. Last year, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, but otherwise left the prior 2024 Ultra in the lineup for those looking for a larger 47mm smartwatch.

Technologies

2 Cases Show Supreme Court Isn’t Holding ISPs Responsible for Piracy

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for April 8, #1032

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for April 8, No. 1032.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is kind of tough. The purple category is a fun one, once you see the connection. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: In the group.

Green group hint: Appearance details.

Blue group hint: Often found in gyms.

Purple group hint: They help you see.