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Comprehending the Black Dot on Your iPhone Display and How to Turn It Off

Staying updated with your phone’s software is one of the top methods to guarantee that your device performs at its best. Occasionally, an update can bring features and settings you’ve never encountered before, similar to those seen on iPhones with the launch of iOS 18.4 earlier this year. Alongside the standard bug fixes and system enhancements, this iOS version also introduced a new UI feature: a black dot located to the right of the Dynamic Island.

Surprisingly, the black dot is simply a visual upgrade for two privacy indicators that debuted with iOS 14, namely the orange and green dots. A green dot signifies that an iPhone app is accessing your camera, while an orange dot indicates that an app is utilizing your phone’s internal microphone. In iOS 18.4, developers relocated the indicators from the Dynamic Island and added a black background to both, improving their visibility.

To remove the green or orange dots with a black background, you just need to close the app that is accessing your iPhone’s camera or microphone. If you’re uncertain which software is causing these indicators to appear, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to access Control Center. Here, you will find usage details for active apps, including which software is using the camera or microphone.

You cannot turn off the dots, but you can manage your privacy.

When looking for privacy indicators on phones, such as the green dot on Android devices, it is wise also to monitor which apps your phone is operating. Regardless of whether you’re using an iPhone or Android, a privacy indicator might be your sole warning of potential malware running in the background, especially if you are confident that your apps are not causing it.

How might it have appeared initially? There are numerous ways, one of which is through a compromised connection. This is why it’s advisable to steer clear of public USB charging stations, or at the very least, use a protective accessory like JSAUX’s USB Data Blocker if you absolutely need to charge your device and lack a portable charger.

Regrettably, if the green or orange dot bothers your iOS experience, there’s no universal off switch for the indicators. However, you can individually grant and revoke camera and microphone access. To do this, go to Settings, tap Privacy & Security, and select Camera or Microphone. Once you revoke an app’s access to the camera or microphone from the list, the indicator dots should no longer show up when you use that software, and they will remain off for any apps you have not authorized.

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Signs That It’s Time to Upgrade Your Phone

recycle your old device when acquiring a new one. The indicators that it’s time to take that step are evident across various phone platforms and manufacturers, so whether you’re using an iPhone or a device powered by Android, let’s examine some signs that suggest it’s time to phase out that aging phone and invest in something new to create fresh memories with.

It operates slowly

Expert Opinions on the Longevity of OLED TVs

other kinds of displays like LCD.

There are additional aspects that impact your television’s lifespan that go beyond the screen itself. To make your TV endure longer, it’s wise to select a brand renowned for reliability, along with a model that isn’t infamous for breakdowns. While this doesn’t ensure longevity, certain TV models have anecdotal indications of elevated failure rates. It’s also crucial to be cautious of the burn-in issue with OLED screens, which can be activated by leaving them displaying the same image for extended durations. By taking these two factors into account, you can gauge how long your particular TV may last.

OLED displays and burn-in

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Effects of Nuclear Radiation on the Human Body

dogs in the vicinity of Chernobyl mutating and advancing more rapidly. Nuclear radiation doesn’t simply manifest itself with fire or a loud explosion. It operates quietly and imperceptibly from the inside.

After years of diligent research and trials, scientists have discovered a substantial amount about radiation. We now comprehend its movement through food, which organs it primarily targets, and why children might be more susceptible. Although advancements in medicine have been made, emergency response systems have enhanced, and treatments have become more intelligent, our knowledge regarding the impact of nuclear radiation on human beings remains incomplete. However, here is what we currently understand.

How nuclear radiation harms the human body

Moss Thrives on the Surface of the ISS for Several Months: Research Findings

Researchers recently attached moss spores to the outer surface of the International Space Station during the Tanpopo 4 mission for 283 days (approximately nine months). The aim was to determine if life from Earth could endure the extreme conditions of space, and the survival of “Physcomitrium patens” indicates that it certainly can.

Moss experiences various transformations throughout its life cycle, but the researchers specifically selected moss that was still within their sporophyte structures, as these were the most durable in this phase. These enclosed spores were up to 1,000 times more resistant to UV radiation than the moss’ brood cells. In laboratory simulations, the spores exhibited an 80% germination rate after 30 days at -80 degrees Celsius (-112 degrees Fahrenheit), and a 36% rate after 30 days at 55 degrees Celsius (131 degrees Fahrenheit).

The outer layers of the sporophyte serve as a protective shield against desiccation, radiation, and extreme temperatures. Mosses are recognized as among the earliest land plants, but transitioning from a water-saturated environment to terrestrial life entails adjustments to the scarcity of available water. This adaptation illustrates the evolutionary advancements that enabled bryophytes to inhabit land environments.

The little moss that could

Following a nine-month period attached to the ISS, the moss spores demonstrated an 86% germination rate (in contrast to 97% for the control moss cultivated on Earth). These outcomes highlighted the moss’s resilience, withstanding the most extreme conditions encountered in space.

Among various factors that could harm the moss, researchers identified UV radiation as the primary threat. Surprisingly, extreme temperatures and the vacuum of space had minimal impact on germination rates. However, UV radiation resulted in an 11% decrease compared to the control specimens. All samples, regardless of UV exposure, exhibited approximately 20% chlorophyll degradation.

Even the samples shielded by UV filters showed comparable degradation, implying that the intense visible and infrared light of space (not filtered by any atmosphere) was responsible. The findings emphasize the photosensitivity of these plants in non-terrestrial settings. Furthermore, this experiment represents the first occasion that scientists have verified bryophyte survival following actual space exposure and subsequent return to Earth.

Space agriculture may be possible

By utilizing the nine-month observation period and extrapolating, researchers constructed a model suggesting that the moss could potentially endure for around 5,600 days in space, but this model has its limitations. It relies on just two data points (pre-exposure and nine months post-exposure), indicating that further investigations are necessary for a more accurate estimate.

The results carry practical implications for prospective Moon and Mars missions. Mosses serve as “pioneer” species, meaning they are the initial organisms that aid in soil development for later, more complex lifeforms, much like peat moss functions on Earth. Scientists have pointed out that bryophytes like these are promising candidates for bio-regenerative life support systems on space stations or planetary bases. Mosses provide numerous advantages over traditional crops or simpler plants such as algae. Their capacity to survive and even flourish in low-light settings makes them suitable for space stations or colonies located far from sunlight. Their ability to generate oxygen while sequestering carbon dioxide addresses two environmental issues simultaneously.

The experiment transitions space agriculture from merely a theoretical concept to something that may realistically occur. Tackling food security beyond Earth, one of the critical challenges in long-term space habitation, has become a little more feasible.

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The risks of sleeping with headphones for the entire night

“Budget-Friendly Gadget Allows Offline Film Watching on Roku TV”

Amazon Basics 256GB should function adequately. Just load it with films you’ve extracted from your physical library or obtained from other sources, then connect it to your Roku TV. This is among the top methods to enhance your device via the TV’s USB port. Moreover, it’s straightforward and won’t break the bank. We’ll guide you through the precise steps to view movies offline on your Roku TV using your affordable USB drive.

Utilizing a USB drive for offline movie viewing on your Roku TV

To watch movies offline on your Roku TV using your USB stick, you only require one hidden feature of Roku: the Roku Media Player. This built-in app allows you to play media files such as movies, music, and images from an external drive like your thumb drive. It may not be pre-installed on every Roku device, so ensure you download it from the Roku Streaming Store beforehand. After that, follow the steps listed below to utilize the Roku Media Player for viewing movies from your USB drive:

  1. Connect your USB stick to the back of the TV.
  2. Select Allow.
  3. Choose Launch.
  4. Open Roku Media Player.
  5. Navigate to Video.
  6. Select your flash drive.
  7. Locate the movie you wish to watch.
  8. Press OK on your Roku remote.
  9. Select Play, or press the Star button on the remote for playback options.

While enjoying your movie, use the Roku remote to manage playback as you typically would. Keep in mind that only video files in MP4, MKV, MOV, and WEBM formats are recognized. Other formats won’t show up in the list.

You can add subtitles when watching an MKV video file, as it is the only format that supports them. Just ensure your USB stick contains a folder with both the MKV and the subtitle file in SRT or VTT format. The subtitle file must share the same name as the MKV. To enable subtitles on your Roku, press the Star button on your remote during video playback. If moving through the menus is too sluggish, you can adjust your Roku TV settings to increase speed.

Steps to take if your Roku TV fails to detect your USB stick

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Benefits and Drawbacks of Acquiring a New Phone from Costco

Costco’s savings on consumer technology, were you aware that you can purchase your new phone at Costco?

If you’ve spent any amount of time looking around in Costco, chances are you’ve been approached by a lively sales representative at a wireless kiosk at some point. While this can be somewhat irritating, it might be advantageous for you to hear out the sales pitch and evaluate what you’re currently using for a wireless plan.

Costco does provide the newest devices through these plans, and you can frequently discover Costco-exclusive pricing on the devices themselves, along with line and activation charges. Additionally, there are usually Costco shopping cards available, commonly for adding lines, devices, initiating plans, and more.

Costco provides great pricing and additional incentives with their phones