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Solv Health partners with providers to offer same-day appointment availability, virtual visits and cost transparency. Sponsored by Solv Health.

SEATTLE Whether youre scheduling a doctors visit for your child or looking for nearby COVID-19 testing, Solv Health puts high-quality healthcare at your fingertips.

The mission, the point of the company, is how do we reduce the stress of everyday healthcare for every American across the United States, said Heather Fernandez, Solv CEO and co-founder.

Solv answers three questions for users: where to go for your specific problem, where you can be seen and how much it will cost. As part of Solvs national network, 100 million Americans are within five miles of a bookable, same-day appointment.

A big part of our investment over time has been empowering the provider side with software that enables them to deliver that experience to you, the consumer, Fernandez said.

With Solv technology, you can see real-time availability, opt in to SMS communication and fill out paperwork digitally. This makes the process easier for patients and improves the quality of service for providers.

Solv has been instrumental in connecting consumers with COVID-19 testing and vaccination appointments. Sixty percent of all COVID tests in Seattle were managed through Solv due to a partnership with the City of Seattle.

What we realized in many ways is that COVID pulled the future forward in American healthcare, Fernandez said.

Many providers shifted to telemedicine, and patients became accustomed to video appointments and same-day availability.

Those consumer shifts in behavior and consumer shifts in expectations, I think, are going to be what we start seeing playing out over the next many years as healthcare continues to evolve, Fernandez said.

Solv provides education to consumers on COVID-19 and preventative measures for children. You can also find availability for testing and vaccines nationwide.

To learn more, get resources or find real-time appointment availability, visit the Solv website.

Sponsored by Solv Health.Segment Producer Rebecca Perry. Watch New Day Northwest 11 AM weekdays onKING 5and streaming live on KING5.com.Contact New Day.

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Hassle-free healthcare: Book same-day appointments with the convenience of an app - KING5.com

Promo Its easy to say you want to deliver frictionless experiences for your customers across multiple channels. But what does that even mean?

This is a particularly pertinent question for software engineers, who like to measure things, and business managers, who are used to managing things that can be measured.

But when it comes to todays modern, multi-channel interactions with customers, the picture is complex and, in parts, fuzzy. Sure, its important to track things like when a customer contacted your support team, how long that interaction took, and whether their issue was resolved. But how do you relate what happens in a mobile app to what happens via your website or call centre?

And you need to factor in softer issues too, because perceptions and emotions are also part of the overall customer experience. A less than great experience on your website might mean the customer never downloads the app, or even picks up their phone.

So, how do you learn to juggle all these factors as you design the multi-channel journey that customers need and expect, particularly in the COVID-19 era and beyond? And how do you manage all of this when you simply dont have enough developers to hand?

You can start with this ebook, courtesy of OutSystems, the modern app development experts, and AWS on how to Use a Modern App Platform and AI to Deliver Frictionless Customer Experiences.

Youll get a breakdown of the key terminology, what it all means, and what it involves, from multi-channel to omni-channel, right through to multi-experience.

Youll also come away knowing the difference between user experience (UX) and customer experience (CX), and how the two are related.

And youll get insight into how companies have overhauled the way they approach CX in general, and app development in particular, revolutionizing their businesses in the process.

At the end of this, youll be ready to begin overhauling your own CX approach and have a clearer idea of what to look for to help you with this.

If you want to know a little more, you can step into this webinar, and if youre ready to take your own great leap forward you can head straight to AWS and try OutSystems for free. What could be warmer and fuzzier than that?

Sponsored by OutSystems

Original post:
Frictionless UX, multi-channel, customer experiences... Break through the jargon with this handy free ebook - The Register

You'll need to connect your iPhone to your computer to check for Pegasus spyware.

Whenever there's a new report about an iPhone or iPad exploit being actively distributed and used, it's unnerving. In July, it was revealed thatsecurity researchers discovered evidence of Pegasus spyware being used on the phones of journalists, politicians and activists.

The spyware can be remotely installed on a target'siPhone or iPad, granting the person or organization who installed it full access to the device and all the data it holds -- without the owner taking any action. That includes text messages, emails and even recording phone calls. Pegasus was originally designed and is marketed by its creator, the NSO Group, to monitor criminals and terrorists.

I think it's only natural to wonder if your devices are infected when reports like this surface, even though there's no reason for a government entity to want to monitor my iPhone use. That is, unless they really want to know how much time I spend on TikTok every day. And in that case, they can just ask. (Spoiler: It's a lot.) For those who are curious, like me, there's a free tool that allows you to check your iPhone or iPad with a few clicks.

To be clear, the odds of your iPhone or iPad being infected by the Pegasus Spyware are low, and various reports claim that the recentiOS 14.7.1update fixed the exploit Pegasus was using, but that hasn't been officially confirmed by Apple. That said, if you want peace of mind -- just in case -- here's what you need to do.

Now playing: Watch this: We go hands-on with Apple's new $99 MagSafe Battery Pack

3:43

iMazing recently updated its desktop app to include Amnesty International's Mobile Verification Toolkit, which was built to detect signs of Pegasus on a device and isn't charging users for access to the feature.

Download iMazing for your computer from the company's website. Don't worry about buying the app: You can run the full spyware test using just the free trial.

Install iMazing and open it. When prompted, select the free trial.

The longest part is waiting for the app to make a back up of your iPhone or iPad.

With iMazing installed and running, connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer. You may have to enter the Lock Screen code on your device to approve the connection before proceeding (something to keep in mind if your iPhone or iPad isn't showing up in iMazing).

Next, scroll down through the action options on the right-hand side of iMazing until you locate Detect Spyware; click it.

A new window will open, guiding you through the process. The tool works by creating a local backup of your device (so you'll need to make sure you have enough storage space for the backup), and then analyzing that backup. It's an automated task, so you don't have to stick around to monitor it once you click start.

iMazing suggests leaving all of the default settings in place as you click through each screen. There are configuration options built into the tool for advanced users, but for most of us (including myself), the default configuration settings will get the job done.

After going through the basic configuration, you'll need to accept a license for the tool and then click the Start Analysis button.

Once the process starts, make sure you leave your iPhone or iPad connected until it's finished. I ran the test on my iPhone 12 Pro and it took around 30 minutes to create the backup and another five minutes for it to be analyzed. After the backup was created, I did have to enter my account password to allow iMazing to begin analyzing the file. Because of that, I recommend starting the tool and checking on it after a while.

Once iMazing begins analyzing your device's backup, it'll show you its progress by displaying each individual app it's checking, starting with iMessage. The app is using a database of known "malicious email addresses, links, process names and file names"

When iMazing finishes, you'll see an alert with the results. In my case, my iPhone 12 Pro showed no signs of infection and had 0 warnings.

The alert also includes two buttons to open or reveal the report. I looked through my report, and it contained a bunch of random links that meant nothing to me.

At the end of the scan, the results are displayed in an easy to read alert.

First of all, don't panic. It could be a false positive. If this happens, iMazing asks that you send the report (click Reveal Report to go directly to the file) to its customer support team for further analysis. The company does suggest, however, that if you or a family member are active in a "politically sensitive context" and have a positive report to immediately remove your SIM card and turn off your iPhone or iPad.

Again, the odds of getting a true positive report are very low, but at least you'll have some peace of mind. For more security tips, double-check these settings. For added privacy, go through these steps.

Read more here:
Check if your iPhone, iPad is infected with Pegasus spyware with this free tool - CNET

A number of international policy groups say Apple's push is misguided.

A coalition of more than 90 US and international organizations sent an open letter to Apple CEO Tim Cookon Thursday, urging him to halt the company's plans to build new child safety features into its iPhones, iPads and Macs. The new capabilities, which Apple plans to release as part of free software updates in the coming months, could be twisted into tools of surveillance, the group warned.

"Though these capabilities are intended to protect children and to reduce the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), we are concerned that they will be used to censor protected speech, threaten the privacy and security of people around the world, and have disastrous consequences for many children," the group said in theletter, whose signatories include the Center for Democracy & Technology, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Privacy International.

Spice up your small talk with the latest tech news, products and reviews. Delivered on weekdays.

Apple declined to respond to the letter directly. Since announcing its plans earlier this month, the company has published research papers and technical breakdowns of its technology in an effort to allay concerns that many privacy and security advocates have raised.

Read more: How Apple's decision to expose more child abusers might affect you

"It's really clear a lot of messages got jumbled pretty badly in terms of how things were understood,"Craig Federighi, Apple's head of software engineering, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published last Friday. "We wish that this would've come out a little more clearly for everyone because we feel very positive and strongly about what we're doing."

The public letter further dramatizes the charged debate Apple ignited when it announced child safety technology being built into its upcoming iOS, iPad OS, WatchOS and Mac software. Apple said it developed the technology with privacy in mind. One of its new features scans images and videos being sent or received by children's accounts set up through its messenger app. Apple plans to obscure the message, and warn that it may be explicit. If the child-user still sends or decides to view the received message, parents can be alerted -- though Apple itself isn't. Privacy advocates say they're worried Apple's system may incorrectly flag health information or educational resources.

A different and more controversial feature that Apple is building bucks typical industry practice of scanning images and videos that are uploaded to the internet for known copies of child exploitation. Instead, Apple said it wants to scan a portion of what's on our devices, and in a privacy protecting way.

Read more: Apple's plan to scan phones for child abuse worries privacy advocates

Many privacy and security experts have come out against those plans too, though. They say that though Apple's intentions may be good, its technology could be twisted into tools of surveillance by totalitarian governments. "We can expect governments will take advantage of the surveillance capability Apple is building into iPhones, iPads and computers,"Sharon Bradford Franklin, co-director of the CDT Security & Surveillance Project, said in a statement. "They will demand that Apple scan for and block images of human rights abuses, political protests, and other content that should be protected as free expression, which forms the backbone of a free and democratic society."

Apple has promised it would refuse any demands to expand its detection system beyond known images of child exploitation, though in the past it's also said it follows local laws in the countries it operates. Apple has said its system is designed so that only specified child advocacy organizations can change what's in its scanning database. The company has also promised to publicly share identifying code for each update to its database as a way to ensure people's devices haven't been tampered with.

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Nearly 100 policy and rights groups push Apple to abandon plans to scan iPhones for child abuse - CNET

Kim Komando| Special to USA TODAY

The average American will pay $32,400 for internet access throughout a lifetime. This number, calculated by researchers at Reviews.org, doesn't even include today's big dogs. I'm talking about your cable, streaming, cellphone, and other subscriptions.

When it comes to tech, there's no shortage of ways to spend your money. Why not use free software that's just as good as the paid versions? Tap or click for free alternatives to Word, Excel, Photoshop and more.

I also like to check every so often for lost or hidden money floating around that's mine. One of my national radio show listeners found $25,000 this way. Maybe you'll be lucky, too! Tap or click for the secret places to check for unclaimed funds.

And then there are all those monthly internet charges. If youre paying full price for everything or you havent scanned your needs in a while, its time.

When it comes to your home internet, speed definitely matters. If you browse the web and play Candy Crush on your phone, youre a lightweight. You can get away with less bandwidth than someones who likes watching 4K movies every night.

Take a look at your monthly recurring charge. Make sure you are getting the speed and bandwidth youre promised. I hear from people all the time who arent. Tap or click for my pro tips for doing a more scientific speed test you can report to your ISP.

When you first signed up for your cable TV, you probably got a great price. The providers like to throw in a bunch of free channels on a package deal. Unless you're paying attention, the free channels become pay channels after a few months or a year. Make sure that the channels you are paying for are ones that you watch.

It may be high time to ditch cable entirely and get a nice antenna to get local channels and more programming for free. You need to get the right antenna, or else you'll be totally frustrated. Tap or click here to see the difference between an indoor and outdoor antenna.

Next, scan your bills for any overage fees or extras. If youre going over your internet data cap, you may save money by stepping up to the next tier of service.

Be sure to compare your most recent bill with one from a year or two ago. Have prices gone up on anything? Are you paying to rent equipment each month? Are there any fees youre not sure of? If so, call your provider and find out why.

Monthly router and modem rental fees may seem small, but those dollars quickly add up. As a nice bonus, you can get better gear than your ISP provides.

When it comes to routers, Netgear, Linksys, ASUS, and TP-Link are all solid options. Make sure to get one with WPA-3 encryption, which is the latest security standard you can get.

If your Wi-Fi is crappy, you may want to consider stepping up to a mesh system for even better coverage. I have one, and it works like a charm to deliver strong Wi-Fi across my home.

It would be best for your internet speed and savings account if you bought your modem too. Just make sure it's DOCSIS 3.0. Here are my recommended modems for any internet provider.

You probably have other internet or cable service options in your area, and your current provider knows it. It pays to shop around. In all likelihood, a competitor will offer you a better deal, faster speeds, or both. Dont be afraid to haggle, and make sure they dont try to downgrade your speed, bandwidth, or options to reduce the price.

Do your homework ahead of time. Know what your provider's competitors offer and write down the intro rates you could get by switching.

Pro Tip: If you're not getting anywhere with a customer service rep, ask to speak with someone in the Retention Department. These folks are generally authorized to give you the best deals.

Bundles can go one of two ways. In some cases, you end up paying for something you otherwise wouldnt because youre swayed by the idea of getting more for less. Dont do that. The better option, of course, is to bundle together services youre already paying for and saving a bit each month.

Check what bundles are available to you by visiting your cable company or ISPs website or giving them a call. Dont get sucked into paying for a landline if you dont need one. Tap or click for my take on why its OK to ditch your landline for good.

You can get streaming bundles, too. Instead of paying for Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu separately, you can grab them all together for $13.99 and save about $5 a month. Not bad.

But why pay for any streaming services once youve already binged whats available? Cancel the streaming services youre not watching. You can always sign up again later.

Heres a streaming money saver. Pay for a year upfront and you will spend less than you would on a monthly subscription. Back to Disney+, you can pay $6.99 for a month-to-month plan or $69.99 for a year. Thats about $14 savings a year. No, its not a ton, but every dollar counts, right?

HBO Max charges $9.99 per month and $99.99 per year. Hey, thats $20 off or two trips to Starbucks.

You can get a federal subsidy toward your internet bill. If you qualify, you can get a discount of up to $50 per month for broadband service and up to $75 if you live on Tribal lands. A one-time discount of $100 for a computer or tablet is also available.

This assistance also includes people on government benefits, but it goes beyond that. If you lost your job or were furloughed during the pandemic and make under $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers, you may also qualify.

Tap or click here for more details on the program, as well as full eligibility requirements.

Check out free trials to see if the latest streaming service is worth the money. Be sure to cancel before you're charged, though. After you sign up for the trial, add a reminder in your calendar with the date you need to cancel. Tap or click here for more money-saving tips on streaming, including info on all those free trials.

Mobile providers often throw in a streaming option or other service free for customers. A perfect example is T-Mobile's "Netflix On Us" program free standard Netflix subscriptions to T-Mobile unlimited data plan subscribers with two or more voice lines. Verizon offers a year of Disney+ for free, too. Tap or click to see what else you can get for no extra charge.

There are also a ton of ways to watch TV and movies for free online. A word of advice: Dont go searching Google for free movies or you will end up on scammy sites full of sketchy popups. We did the work for you. Tap or click for 13 safe sites to find free movies.

Want free TV? Tap or click for free alternatives to Netflix and all the rest.

Bonus Tip: She died. Then he turned her into an artificial intelligence chatbot.

Check out my podcast Kim Komando Explains on Apple, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast player.

When tragedy struck, Joshua Barbeau decided to cope with the loss of his girlfriend by creating a chatbot based on her personality. In this podcast, I sat down with him as well as AI developer Jason Rohrer, who created a program you can use to create your own personalized chatbots for just $5. Its creepy and insanely fascinating at the same time.

Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, Komando.

Learn about all the latest technology on theKim Komando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website atKomando.com.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.

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8 proven ways to lower monthly internet, cable and streaming bills - USA TODAY