King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) announced Friday the successful launch of the 13th Saudi satellite (Saudi Sat-4) carried by the Russian-Ukrainian rocket named Dnepr.
KACST President Mohammed Al-Suwaiyel said in a press statement that Saudi Sat-4 would be used to conduct experiments using ultraviolet radiation in space. It was developed jointly by KACST and Stanford University.
The research involves photography and the collection of information needed by the Kingdom. It would help to produce lighter and less expensive satellites, he said.
Prince Turki bin Saud, vice president for research at the city, said the satellite was fully built by the city's National Center for Satellite Technology at the Institute of Space and Aeronautical Research, and is equipped with a powerful ultraviolet and light-emitting diode remote sensing device.
Saudi and other engineers worked for three years to build the satellite, the prince said.
The Dnepr rocket blasted off Russia’s Dombarovsky military air base Thursday evening into Earth’s orbit carrying over 33 satellites from 17 countries including the United States.
The Dnepr rocket was developed by the space agencies of Russia and Ukraine in cooperation with the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Saudi satellite put into orbit
Saudi satellite put into orbit
Apple to update EU browser options, make more apps deletable
- iPhone maker came under pressure from regulators to make changes after the EU’s sweeping Digital Markets Act took effect on March 7
- Apple users will be able to select a default browser directly from the choice screen after going through a mandatory list of options
STOCKHOLM: Apple will change how users choose browser options in the European Union, add a dedicated section for changing default apps, and make more apps deletable, the company said on Thursday.
The iPhone maker came under pressure from regulators to make changes after the EU’s sweeping Digital Markets Act took effect on March 7, forcing big tech companies to offer mobile users the ability to select from a list of available web browsers on a “choice screen.”
The new rules require mobile software makers to show the choice screen where users can select a browser, search engine and virtual assistant as they set up their phones, which earlier came with preferred options from Apple and Google.
In an update later this year, Apple users will be able to select a default browser directly from the choice screen after going through a mandatory list of options.
A randomly ordered list of 12 browsers per EU country will be shown to the user with short descriptions, and the chosen one will be automatically downloaded, Apple said. The choice screen will also be available on iPads through an update later this year.
Apple released a previous update in response to the new rules in March, but browser companies criticized the design of its choice screen, and the Commission opened an investigation on March 25 saying it suspected that the measures fell short of effective compliance.
The company said it has been in dialogue with the European Commission and believes the new changes will address regulators’ concerns.
It also plans to introduce a dedicated area for default apps where a user will be able to set defaults for messaging, phone calls, spam filters, password managers and keyboards.
Users will also be able to delete certain Apple-made apps such as App Store, Messages, Camera, Photos and Safari. Only Settings and Phone apps would not be deletable.
