If you’re not familiar with the mysterious symbols on your cell phone, you’d be forgiven for dismissing them as glitches.
Last week we revealed how little colored dots that appear at the top of your screen are built-in warning signs for when your privacy is being breached.
Now social media users are wondering what the mysterious white dot on the official Apple app means.
The dot indicates where the current temperature falls on the temperature scale for that day. If the altitude is predicted to be 82 degrees and the white dot is at the end, this is the hottest part of the day
The white dot in the sunset time indicates the position of the sun relative to the horizon. For the UV index, the white dot represents the index at the current time
The small white dot is only in the colored bar for the current day. The dot indicates where the current temperature falls on the temperature scale for that day.
If the high is predicted to be 82 degrees and the white dot is at the end, it will be the hottest part of the day.
The same indicator is present in the UV index and sunset time. The white dot in the sunset widget indicates the position of the sun relative to the horizon. It also gives you an estimate of when the sun will set.
For the UV index, the white dot represents the index at the current time. This makes it easier to plan outdoor activities.
You can also swipe left or right on the hourly temperature index to see the weather coming. Now you know it.
The dot had users scratching their heads when it was introduced in 2020 as part of the iOS 15 software update.
It was one of the features imported from the popular Dark Sky weather app, which Apple bought that year.
The move saw Apple’s internal app get a major visual overhaul, making navigating and finding the information you’re looking for easier.
Apple has also added a world map with current temperatures and a 10-day forecast – something most weather apps have had for years.
The changes were well received, but some were a little confusing. Some users noticed colored bars and a seemingly misplaced dot in the 10-day forecast.
The orange ‘dot’, which can also appear yellow, means that your device’s microphone is currently in use
There are three colored ‘dots’, also known as Apple status bar icons, that appear at the top of the phone’s screen. A green dot, the same size and shape as the orange one, means your camera is currently being used by an app
It’s not a visual glitch, but rather one of the secrets the revamped weather app hides. The same dot can be seen in the UV index scale a little further down the app’s main page.
The colored bars in the forecast section represent the temperature scale for that day and serve as a quick visual guide to temperature fluctuations.
Separately, you may have noticed small colored dots appearing on the top of your iPhone – which could have a much more sinister meaning.
Newer iPhone models have built-in warning signs for when your privacy is being violated — and these dots can warn users that their online safety may be at risk.
There are three colored ‘dots’, also known as Apple status bar icons, that appear at the top of the phone’s screen.
The blue dot, which contains a white arrow pointing to the right, is the last thing to look out for. It appears when an app tries to access your location.
The orange ‘dot’, which can also appear yellow, means that your device’s microphone is currently in use.
A green dot, the same size and shape as the orange one, means your camera is currently being used by an app.
That’s not to be confused with a blue dot that can appear next to apps on your phone’s home screen.
It just means that an app has recently been updated and you have nothing to worry about.
There’s only cause for concern with one of these dots appearing if you don’t expect an app to be using your camera, microphone, or location services.
You can check which of your apps are using these features by going to the phone’s Control Center and checking the dots icon at the top.
This should reveal which apps are using your microphone, camera, or location.
You can also go to Settings and enable the App Privacy Report to see a running log of which apps have used your sensitive “permissions” and when.
It’s also important to check your iPhone’s security features, as DailyMail.com recently reported that facial recognition can leave your data and privacy vulnerable.
Hackers can unlock your phone without your knowledge when you sleep by simply holding the device up to allow the facial recognition software to access it. But they fool your iPhone’s facial recognition and give them unrestricted access to your texts, photos, videos, social media accounts, banking, and more.
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