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Samsung Galaxy M40 To On Sale In India For The First Time Today

Samsung launched its latest smartphone, the Galaxy M40 on the 11th of June. It is the newest entrant in the company’s online only, Galaxy M series and takes the mantle of being the most premium handset in the series from the Galaxy M30. It features competitive specifications at a lucrative price tag. The Galaxy M40 is supposed to go on sale for the first time in India starting today.

Pricing & Availability

Also read: Nubia Red Magic 3 Gaming Smartphone Launched In India

The Samsung Galaxy M40 has been launched at a price of Rs. 19,990. The smartphone will go on sale starting on the 18th of June at 12 noon; it will be available exclusively via Amazon India and Samsung’s online store.

Click Here To Buy The Galaxy M40 From Amazon

Samsung Galaxy M40

To recall, the Samsung Galaxy M40 is the latest mid-range offering from the company. The device features a polycarbonate body with an attractive gradient coloured back. It has a 6.3 inch LCD Infinity-O display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. To maximise the screen real estate, the smartphone sports a hole punch cutout to house the front camera on the top left of the display, like the Honor View20; however, unlike that smartphone, the latest device eliminates the earpiece in favour of the company’s “screen sound” technology. This vibrates the entirety of the display to generate sound inside voice calls. For quickly accessing the handset, a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner with support for face unlock is also present on the Galaxy M40.

The Galaxy M40 is kitted with the 10nm Snapdragon 675 SoC under the hood. It is comprised of an Octa-core CPU and the Adreno 612 GPU. The processor is also seen in smartphones from the likes of the Redmi Note 7 Pro and Samsung Galaxy A70. In terms of optics, the device has a triple rear camera setup. It consists of an f/1.7 aperture equipped 32MP primary camera; combined with an f/2.2 aperture equipped 8MP ultra wide angle sensor and an f/2.2 aperture equipped 5MP depth sensor. For selfies, an f/2.0 aperture equipped 16MP camera is expected to be housed in the punch hole cutout on top of the display. The Galaxy M40 has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, which supports memory expansion via microSD.

The Samsung Galaxy M40 is powered by a 3500 mAh battery with support for 15W charging. The smartphone runs on the latest OneUI skin on top of Android 9 Pie. This will make it the first device in the Galaxy M series to feature Android Pie out of the box. The handset is available in two colour options, Midnight Blue and Seawater Blue.

Click Here To Buy The Galaxy M40 From Amazon

June 18, 2019
Nubia Red Magic 3 Unboxing And Hands-On
Chinese smartphone maker Nubia has launched its latest gaming smartphone; the Red Magic 3 in the Indian market on the 17th of June. It is the successor to the Red Magic Mars launched last year and features top tier specifications. Here is our experience with the unboxing and hands-on of the latest flagship gaming device from Nubia for 2019, the Red Magic 3.

What’s In The Box?
- Nubia Red Magic 3
- Power Adapter
- Type-C Cable
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Card
- LOGO Sticker
- Screen Protector (pre-applied)
- SIM Tray Ejector
Design

The design of the Nubia Red Magic 3 is reminiscent of its predecessor. The device measures 171.7 x 78.5 x 9.7 mm and weighs in at a hefty 215 grams. It has a robust build with an aluminium chassis and glass on the front. The front of the smartphone has considerable bezels on the top and bottom which give the display an obstruction free look. The top of the Red Magic 3 has a 3.5mm headphone jack while the bottom has the USB Type C port and the speaker grille.

The Nubia Red Magic 3 houses the power button along with the volume rockers on the right side of the smartphone. In a somewhat peculiar fashion, it has a vent for the air cooling system inside; along with two shoulder buttons which are also present on the right edge of the device. on the left side of the handset, a SIM card tray, along with the magnetic pogo pin connector for proprietary accessories for the Red Magic 3 and the red coloured gaming switch is present. The back of the smartphone has a single camera sensor along with an LED flash; with the RGB LED strip running on the centre of the back panel of the device. The Red Magic branding is present on the bottom of the gamer-esque rear panel of the handset.

Display

The Nubia Red Magic 3 has a 6.65-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. As mentioned above, there are considerable bezels on the top and bottom of the display which houses the dual front-facing stereo speakers and necessary sensors. The display on the smartphone has a refresh rate of 90Hz as found in the OnePlus 7 Pro.

Processor

One of the key highlighting features of the Nubia Red Magic 3 is its chipset. The smartphone is kitted with the Snapdragon 855 SoC which is also present on devices including the OnePlus 7 Pro and the Xiaomi Black Shark 2. The chipset is manufactured using a 7 nm fabrication process which makes it highly power efficient. The Snapdragon 855 consists of an Octa-Core Kryo CPU and the Adreno 640 GPU.

Memory and Storage

The Nubia Red Magic 3 is available in two storage variants, the base model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage; and the top tier variant with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard memory.

Camera

In terms of optics, the Nubia Red Magic 3 has a single rear camera setup consisting of an f/1.7 aperture equipped 48MP sensor. The lens uses the ubiquitous Sony IMX 586 sensor also found in smartphones such as the Redmi Note 7 Pro and the Honor View20. For selfies, the smartphone has an f/2.0 aperture equipped 16 MP sensor housed on top of the display.

In terms of video recording, the Red Magic 3 is the world’s first smartphone to support 8K video recording at 15fps. However, the mode is provided in its beta version currently. Additionally, the device can also record 4K videos at 60fps and 30fps.

Battery and Other Features

The OnePlus 7 is powered by a massive 5000 mAh which supports 27W fast charging via the bundled charger inside the box. The device runs on the company’s homegrown RedMagic UI 2.0 which is based on top of the latest Android 9 Pie.

Connectivity

Connectivity options on the Nubia Red Magic 3 include dual 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac; Bluetooth 5.0, GPS and a bottom mounted USB Type C Port. Unlike most modern flagship smartphones, the device has a 3.5mm headphone jack on top of the handset.

Price and Availability

Also read: Huawei Smartphone Shipments To Drop By Up To 60 % Due To US Ban

The Red Magic 3 will go on sale starting the 27th of June. In terms of pricing, the base variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage has been priced at Rs 35,999; while the variant with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage has been priced at Rs. 46,999.
June 17, 2019
Nubia Red Magic 3 Gaming Smartphone Launched In India

Chinese smartphone maker, Nubia launched its latest gaming smartphone the Red Magic 3 for its domestic market in the month of April. Due to the rise of mobile gaming in India, the company has launched the unique handset in the country. Speaking of uniqueness, it is the world’s first smartphone to pack a physical cooling fan.

Nubia Red Magic 3 Design and Features

The Nubia Red Magic 3 has a distinguishing design with a large screen display on the front and a metal back that houses several unconventional elements. It sports a 6.65 inch AMOLED display that has an FHD+ resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. To take the gaming experience a step further, the device’s display has a 90 Hz refresh rate which is similar to the OnePlus 7 Pro. It also features dual front firing stereo speakers which are placed in the top and bottom bezel. Besides the earpiece cum loudspeaker, the bezel above the display houses the 16 MP selfie camera and a notification LED.

The rear panel of the Nubia Red Magic 3 is occupied an elongated fingerprint sensor, cold air input grille, customisable LED strip and a single camera setup which is comprised of a 48 MP Sony IMX586 sensor. The right side of the device accommodates the power button, volume rockers, hot air output vent and two customisable shoulder buttons. The left side of the device harbours the Game Launcher toggle switch, proprietary magnetic connector, dual SIM card tray and secondary microphone jack.

The top of the Nubia Red Magic 3 is occupied by the 3.5 mm audio jack while the bottom is occupied by the USB Type C port and main microphone pinhole. Under the hood, the device packs the Snapdragon 855 SoC which is manufactured using 7 nm process. The handset is powered by a massive 5,000 mAh battery which supports 27 w fast charging.

The Nubia Red Magic 3 runs on the latest Android 9 Pie operating system which is skinned with RedMagic OS 2.0. Connectivity options on the smartphone include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS and a bottom mounted USB Type C port for charging and data transfer. The smartphone also has a 4D haptic vibration motor which as the name suggest provides haptic feedback while playing games. This feature is similar to game console controllers.

Nubia Red Magic 3 Price, Storage and Availability

Also Read: Huawei Smartphone Shipments To Drop By Up To 60 % Due To US Ban

The Red Magic 3 will go on sale starting the 27th of June. In terms of pricing, the base variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage has been priced at Rs 35,999; while the variant with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage has been priced at Rs. 46,999.

June 17, 2019
Xiaomi MIUI Update Will Introduce An App Drawer To Launcher

Xiaomi is one of the leading smartphone manufacturers in the world with a total market share of about 8 per cent (as of Q1 2019). This implies that there are effectively 100+ million Xiaomi devices running the MIUI. Hence, any update will impact a large number of people. According to reports, Xiaomi is planning on providing the MIUI with an app drawer which will be seen for the first time ever since its launch.

The Chinese company’s UI has always lacked the aforementioned feature, and users looking for one had to turn towards third-party app launchers. However, this may very well change soon. Xiaomi is currently testing an app drawer in its stock MIUI launcher along with app shortcuts. POCO launcher was the first to include app drawers with the POCO F1 when it released in 2018.

The latest alpha build of the Xiaomi MIUI launcher, version 4.10.6.1025-06141703, is testing out the new feature. Users will now be able to tap on the middle button in the app bar found in the bottom of the home screen to open the app drawer. This is unlike any other current gen Android device that requires a swipe from the bottom. Furthermore, this addition to the user interface will probably be very well received as more customizability to consumers is always a good deal.

MIUI in its latest version also receives a new app shortcuts feature. These are programmable commands that pop up when an app icon is long-pressed. This was initially seen with the release of Android Nougat 7.0 and allowed users to launch a specified part of the app directly. The upcoming Xiaomi MIUI launcher is in its early stage of development and testing, meaning there is still time before it will go live.

Also Read: Instagram Testing Easier Recovery Of Hacked Accounts

For those interested, it should be noted that due to it being in the alpha stages it is not likely to be polished or stable. Incidents like crashes during use will be probable, hence, it is not recommended to be downloaded and used by default immediately. The new launcher will be available to all that are devices running MIUI. Xiaomi has listened to its community that had longed for this feature since the POCO F1.

June 17, 2019
Sony Xperia 2 Spotted On EEC Website

An unnamed smartphone from Sony has been spotted on the EEC (Eurasian Economic Commission) certification. The device is yet to be announced or teased in any manner by the company, so finer details are still at large. What can be gathered, however, is the model number J9210 that may relate it to the Xperia 1 which was J9110 and may be its successor dubbed the Sony Xperia 2.

The name of the smartphone may still differ from simply being a successor to the Xperia 1. Due to lack of any information, only speculations can be made regarding Sony Xperia 2’s specifications. The smartphone would most likely host the top of the line current gen hardware specifications. Sony Xperia 1 was released in February 2019 to a mixed reception. The device brought many desirable features to the table but lacked in other fundamental areas at the same time.

The CinemaWide HDR OLED display of Xperia 1 was one of the key features introduced and will also probably see a return with Xperia 2. Likewise, the upcoming flagship similar to its predecessor would sport the latest Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm. Alleged renders of the Sony Xperia 2 showcase a triple camera setup as well, albeit in a different position. Furthermore, this device could be utilized as an opportunity by the company to make up for all the shortcomings of its previous iteration. Xperia 1 was infamous for its dim display and a glitchy fingerprint sensor on the side.

Due to the lack of any form of concrete data, it is still unclear if this unannounced smartphone would be a standalone device or even simply a refreshed variant of the pre-existing versions from Sony. However, regardless of the name, the upcoming device will carry the unique 21:9 display with a similar camera sensor and even storage options in the Sony Xperia 2.

Also Read: Google Accused Of Copying Song Lyrics In Search Results

Sony has publicly withdrawn its production and shipping of its Xperia brand of smartphones in most countries like India and the US. The tech giant has already stated its desires to continue the Xperia brand that is failing in most markets. Now focusing on just the Europe, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong markets. So an Indian release is probably not being taken into account.

June 17, 2019
Huawei Smartphone Shipments To Drop By Up To 60 % Due To US Ban

Last month, the United States government put Chinese telecom giant Huawei on an entity list which barred all American companies from doing business with it. Due to the decision, Huawei lost access to business with companies like Google, Microsoft and Intel. The former was the most important for its smartphone business, as it meant the company will not be able to provide software updates to its devices. It was expected that due to this decision, sales of the company’s handsets will reduce drastically. Now, a report claims Huawei will face a drop in smartphone shipments by up to 60% in 2019 in comparison to last year.

About the report

Huawei Mate 20 Pro

As mentioned above, Huawei is expected to face a dip in its smartphone shipments from 40 percent to 60 percent over last year if the ban continues. This dip in sales is claimed to last until the year 2021 starting when the company is expected to recuperate. The percentage might translate to a drop in shipments volumes ranging between 40 million and 60 million devices. Due to the loss in sales, Huawei may also be planning to stop all shipments of its latest Honor 20 series; which is supposed to go on sale in Europe starting the 21st June and is a flagship smartphone of its subsidiary Honor.

Huawei P30 Pro

Also read: Google Accused Of Copying Song Lyrics In Search Results

To counter the US inflicted ban, Huawei has been reported to be working on its operating system for a while. The new software may be based on Android and arrive without any Google services whatsoever. While the name of the OS is still a mystery; it is believed it will be called the HongMengOS in China and as the OakOS/ArkOS globally. Unfortunately, it is not known when Huawei will announce its latest operating system; but it is expected to be unveiled in the fall, which refers to the fourth quarter of the year.

June 17, 2019
Future Apple Watch Will Be Able To Monitor Blood Sugar Levels

The Apple Watch was first introduced in the year 2015 which incorporates fitness tracking and health oriented capabilities including heart rate monitoring. Over the last four years, the device has seen three iterations with the current generation Apple Watch 4 being unveiled in September 2018. Three months before the expected launch date of Apple Watch 5 (name not official) some details about the future device have surfaced. Reportedly the upcoming Apple Watch will be of great use for Diabetes patient as it will be able to track blood glucose levels on the go with the flick of a wrist.

The piece of information was shared by a senior executive of Dexcom Inc that designs and manufactures continuous glucose monitoring systems for diabetes patients. In the year 2018, the company launched it latest device, called the Dexcom G6 it can function without any fingerstick-based calibration. For readers who are unaware, fingersticks are disposable strips which are used for checking blood sugar with the help of a Glucose meter.

The company is expected to be working on new and improved Dexcom G7 model that will directly transfer the wearer’s blood Glucose levels to the Apple Watch. The whole process will simplify the medication process for any Diabetes patient. However, the Dexcom executive did not reveal whether the G7 sensor will be integrated right into the Apple Watch or work as a separate device. Noteworthy, the current generation Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring system costs about USD 349 (around Rs 25,000). Therefore, integrating such a sensor in the Apple watch will significantly raise its price unless the company is able to develop a similar sensor with an affordable price tag.

Also Read: Google Accused Of Copying Song Lyrics In Search Results

Conclusively, the report seems to be big news for Diabetes patients who will be able to easily track their blood Glucose with such a device. Although Apple is yet to confirm or deny the claims made by the medical equipment company.

June 17, 2019
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Pro Cases Reaffirm Previously Leaked Design

Korean smartphone maker, Samsung will soon launch its Galaxy Note 10 Pro handset which has leaked on several instances (1,2,3). Alleged image’s of its cases have been shared on Twitter which reaffirms the previously leaked design.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Pro Design

According to the alleged images of Galaxy Note 10 Pro’s case, the device will have a quad rear camera setup which will be divided into two separate vertically aligned modules. Unconventional to most modern smartphones, the volume rockers and the power button are placed on the left side of the device.

The bottom of the case has cutouts for the USB Type C charging port, loudspeaker grille, a microphone and a pen stylus. The top of the alleged Galaxy Note 10 Pro has two cutouts which may be for the 3.5 mm audio jack and secondary microphone. Although some reports claim that the upcoming Galaxy Note flagship from Samsung will do away with the headphone jack. All in all, the cases of the device appears real but in order to verify their authenticity, we will have to wait for the official launch.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Pro Specifications

As per past reports, the Galaxy Note 10 Pro will sport a 6.7 inch Super AMOLED display with QHD resolution. Talking more about the display, it is expected to have an in-display fingerprint sensor and a punch hole that houses the selfie camera. Similar to the Galaxy S10 lineup, the device will be kitted with the Snapdragon 855 chipset. While some regions will have the Exynos 9820 SoC.

A previous leak claims that the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Pro will be powered by a 4500 mAh battery. In order to compete with the like of the Huawei P30 Pro, the upcoming flagship handset may support 45 W fast charging.

Also Read: 1.4 Billion Apple iPhones And iPads Are Vulnerable To Hacks

Conclusively, all details and features of the Galaxy flagship will be publicised at it launch event which is expected to take place in the month of August.

June 17, 2019
Google Accused Of Copying Song Lyrics In Search Results

American search engine giant Google has been accused of copying song lyrics from the leading song lyrics website Genius. The latter has claimed in a report that it has been notifying Google about the plagiarism since the year 2017 but no action was taken since then. The lyrics were posted on the search results of the songs without necessary credit being given to the original publisher.

About the accusation

As mentioned above, Genius has claimed Google has lifted song lyrics from its website to display in search results. The evidence submitted by the plaintiff regarding the case was related to how the lyrics were drafted. Genius claims it knowingly used a combination of straight and curved apostrophes as a form of watermarking on its website. Interestingly, in a morse code form, the combination of the apostrophes spell out “Red Handed”; which is a fancy way of catching those who copy from its website, red handed. According to Genius, there are over a hundred cases where Google lyrics have also included the exact apostrophe sequence, confirming the plagiarism charges.

Also read: Huawei Patents Smartphone With Double Folding Display

Google, in a statement, has denied all the aforementioned claims by Genius. It has said that the company takes copyright very seriously and that it sources the lyrics from LyricFind; who is also a known name in song lyrics and major contributor on Google’s search results. While Genius’ case against Google is quite strong, it may not hold up well in court as it does not own the copyright of the lyrics in question. However, the former has claimed that the traffic on its website has decreased substantially ever since the latter started displaying lyrics in the search results. Google has started an investigation regarding the plagiarism claims and more details are awaited when the results of it are announced.

June 17, 2019
Instagram Testing Easier Recovery Of Hacked Accounts

Instagram has steadily been growing to become one of the most prominent social media platform over the last couple of years. With user base numbers easily crossing several hundreds of millions, there will always be “bad company”. Potential hackers that seek to harm or exploit are found in every major website or social platform. However, Instagram in its bid to strengthen its defences against these parties is now making accounts safer and easier than before to recover.

Numerous people had gone online to voice their grievances regarding their accounts that were broken into by hackers in 2018. Instagram now seeks to make the process of recovering users account easier in case of future attacks. The company is testing a new in-app account recovery process that will streamline the process while making it harder it to be hacked into.

Previously, users had to wait for an email or fill out support forms but now a new approach is being taken. The app will now ask for different types of information (like users original email address or even phone numbers). A six-digit code will then be sent on the details provided, and Instagram will thereon prevent hackers from accessing the user’s account using the email or phone number from a different device.

This method seeks to ensure users account recovery even if the thief has changed usernames and contact data. Instagram has also added a small period of time in which the original username cannot be claimed after being changed regardless of whether or not it was intended or unintended. This feature is already accessible to all Android and iOS users, however, the availability of the new in-app recovery system is still not certain.

Also Read: 1.4 Billion Apple iPhones And iPads Are Vulnerable To Hacks

Instagram is planning for a full in-app account recovery feature in the future without ever needing the security team. The social media giant’s security has been reportedly lax, with various exposed passwords and growing attacks on its systems occurring at frequent intervals. This new security feature cannot actually prevent all forms of hacking, but it may make it harder for hackers to take advantages of vulnerabilities in the recovery system that is currently live.

June 17, 2019
US Chipmakers Want TO Remove The Huawei Trade Ban

In the month of March, the US Commerce Department put Chinese tech giant, Huawei in an entity list. This move barred all American companies from having any sort of trade relations with the Chinese corporation which has caused a global stir up. Following the ban, Huawei was left stranded due to the withdrawal of support from American companies for its software and hardware offerings. The major impact of the ban was received by the company’s smartphone division which was once anticipated to take over Samsung in the year 2020.

Huawei is not the only company that is undergoing discomfort after the ban. As US-based chipmakers including Qualcomm and Intel are losing a lot of business. Therefore, in order to curb the losses, American companies are lobbying against Huawei’s trade ban. According to a Reuters report, officials from several US based companies are questioning US Commerce Department about the ban imposed on the Chinese company. Speaking of figures, Huawei spent $70 Billion buying components in the year 2018, out of which $11 billion went to U.S. firms including Qualcomm, Intel and Micron Technology Inc.

Huawei is accused of installing backdoors on its networking equipment which incorporates proprietary components developed in house by the company. Taking this fact into consideration, American Chipmakers want the US government to lift the ban from the Chinese company’s smartphone division. As these devices utilise commonly available components which are unlikely to present the same security concerns as companies networking gear.

Earlier this month, Huawei Chairman, Liang Hua told the Chinese press that Google, which sells hardware, software and technical services to Huawei, has also advocated in favour of lifting the ban so it can keep the trade relation alive.

Also Read: Amazon Sued Over Alexa Recording Children’s Voices

Another senior executive from Huawei’s Mexico division stated that the company has not asked anyone specifically to lobby on its behalf. Following is the statement of the said executive.

“They’re doing it by their own desire because, for many of them, Huawei is one of their major customers,” he said, adding that chipmakers knew that cutting Huawei off could have “catastrophic” consequences for them.

Amidst all the pandemonium, only time will tell what the future beholds for Huawei.

June 17, 2019
Huawei Patents Smartphone With Double Folding Display

Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei announced the Mate X back in the month of February. It was the first foldable smartphone from the company and featured an outward folding mechanism. A few days ago, it was revealed that the device’s launch date of June has been pushed back to September this year owing to the company perfecting the design of the handset. Now, patents of another Huawei foldable smartphone have surfaced online. The images in the patent application reveal the device will have a double folding display.

About the patent

The Huawei patent mentioned above was registered last year by the European Patent Office in the Netherlands. A patent entitled “foldable mobile device” was then granted by the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) on 31st May. Images in the patent reveal a familiar design to the Huawei Mate X. The smartphone has an outward folding display, however, the display can be folded two times as opposed to one on the Mate X. This design is oddly familiar to the Xiaomi foldable smartphone, which was showcased in a video a while ago.

The images reveal three different models Huawei may be planning for the future. In the first variant, a widescreen border is present on the top and bottom of the smartphone. The bezel contains the camera sensors and a home button. The second variant contains a single bezel on the top, which houses the front-facing camera and other necessary sensors. On the other hand, the third model consists of just the display which extends on all sides of the device. Renders based on the third model have been showcased in the report.

Also read: 1.4 Billion Apple iPhones And iPads Are Vulnerable To Hacks

The images in the Huawei patent reveal a single USB Type C port present on the smartphone, and there are no camera sensors in sight. It is possible that Huawei may incorporate an under display selfie camera as Xiaomi and Oppo showcased a few days ago. While the pricing of the handset is not known, because of all the modern technology and components inside the device; it may cost a premium when launched later this year or early next year.

You can check out the patent listing here

June 17, 2019
1.4 Billion Apple iPhones And iPads Are Vulnerable To Hacks

Apple is looking forward to a very successful year overall with the announcement of iOS 13 and the upcoming iPhone 11. However, a company by the name of Cellebrite, notorious for its hacking capabilities regarding smartphones, has announced that it can hack into any and every iPhone device.

The Israeli forensics company has reported that it can break into any iPhone or iPad regardless of what version of the OS they are running. Apple has stated that there are about 1.4 Billion active devices as of 2019. With this news, all of the users of these devices are vulnerable and potentially in danger of being hacked. Cellebrite has also claimed that it can hack Android devices as well.

Cellebrite is planning on selling this hacking tool that can perform complete data extraction from the systems of any iOS handset. Furthermore, claims made by the company carry a lot more weight considering the FBI had collaborated with Cellebrite to crack an iPhone back in 2016. Apple at that time refused to provide a backdoor to the FBI hence, its deal with Cellebrite.

The hacking tool although requires individuals to be in physical possession of the iPhone or iPad that is to be hacked. Breaking in apparently also requires lengthy security checks to determine the entitlement of the person trying to crack the device. Reportedly, Cellebrite’s past kits have sold for $100 (approx. Rs.7,000) on eBay, making it accessible for those that seek to harm or pry into other’s affairs.

Through this announcement, it is clear that a backdoor entry to every iPhone and iPads out there has been discovered. Apple is clearly in the dark regarding the exploit that may end up actually affecting millions of its active users. iOS 13 is going to cut off support for some of the previous generation smartphones, meaning a fix to certain users’ vulnerable devices may not even be provided.

Also Read: Huawei Nova 5i Pro Listed On Chinese E-Commerce Site Before Launch

Apple has been proud of its security features, using it as a weapon against its competitors. The company now has to prove that claim and fix the issue that may soon become a widespread problem. The implications of such tools are terrifying in context to a user’s privacy and sensitive data. If the exploit does go live, it can be used by various agencies and organizations seeking to either extract data or harm people’s lives.

June 17, 2019
Huawei Nova 5i Pro Listed On Chinese E-Commerce Site Before Launch

Huawei is gearing up for the launch of its latest smartphone lineup, dubbed the Nova 5 series. It is set to be unveiled on the 21st of June. Previously, Huawei Nova 5i was listed on the Chinese regulatory website, TENAA that revealed its specifications and design factor. As per latest reports, the pro version of the smartphone has been listed on a Chinese E-commerce website, which showcases the renders of the device.

The renders exhibit that the smartphone will have a standard notch up front to maximize the screen real estate. The device features a large display surrounded by thin bezels on all sides. A narrow yet noticeable chin is also present on the device. The right side of the Nova 5i Pro accommodates the volume rockers and the power button. The rear panel of the smartphone features the fingerprint scanner and the dual camera module, alongside the Huawei branding at the bottom.

A pair of front facing cameras has been included in the notch on top of the display. Unfortunately, specifications of the camera cannot be confirmed at the moment, since no information has been divulged by the company yet. The Huawei Nova 5i Pro features a glass sandwich design, which adds an elegant look to the smartphone. As per the listing, the handset will be available in two colours, Black and Green. However, more colour variants may be available at launch.

Also Read: Adobe Trains AI To Undo Facial Manipulations In Photoshop

The device is expected to be powered by a 3900 mAh battery and in terms of OS, will run on the latest Android 9 Pie with EMUI on top. However, it is also possible that Huawei Nova 5i Pro may be launched with the HongMeng OS which will eventually replace Android OS on future devices. If and when this happens, the Huawei Nova 5i Pro will be the first Huawei device to feature the company’s new operating system.

Conclusively, the price and details about the Nova 5i will be publicized on the upcoming launch date, which is 21 June 2019.

June 15, 2019
Amazon Sued Over Alexa Recording Children’s Voices

In a new report, a Massachusetts woman is apparently suing Amazon over privacy related issues. The woman is seeking class action status to sue the company on the behalf on recording children’s voices on eight different states. The lawsuit was filed in the federal court on Seattle on the 11th of June. Amazon is being accused of illegally recording children via its Alexa voice assistant. Additionally, the illegal recordings were also being held by the company contributing,” a massive database of billions of voice recordings containing the private details of millions of Americans.”

The woman that filed the case stated that she had bought Amazon Echo Dot in August of 2018 and was not aware that her child was being recorded. The lawsuit states that children are not eligible to provide consent to being recorded. Furthermore, children at that age are incapable of understanding the implications of having their voices recorded by a company. Most children’ privacy-related issues are filed by referencing the federal COPPA (Children’s’ Online Privacy and Protecting Act) of 1996. This invokes state law, implying that Illinois, Florida, Michigan, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington all require consent from both parties involved in the case of “the recording of oral communications.”

For example, Apple’s Siri voice assistant abides by these laws by deleting any recordings taken for the tasks at hand. Amazon is being targeted with accusations of forming voiceprints comprising of millions of children. This could imply the company and even the Government being able to track kids’ use of Alexa devices in various locations while cataloguing detailed information on their life. Alexa can essentially record entire communications if the wake word is recognized. The prospect can be daunting considering the device can record private questions and encounters as well.

Amazon is clear in its stance regarding user trust and privacy, however, the company collecting data of children under the age of 13 violates the COPPA regulations. The Echo Dot Kids has a system for getting parental consent, but the argument states that this feature is easily bypassable by a child. Moreover, a report shows that the voice recording on default is saved for an indefinite period of time instead of just retaining it for the given task, as defined by COPPA. These recording cannot be deleted without contacting Amazon’s customer services.

Also Read: OnePlus Leaked User Email Addresses Caused By Security Flaw

The Amazon Echo Dot Kids serves the purpose of educating and entertaining children but the reality of storing data paints a dark picture for the tech company. A home is a place for comfort and letting one’s guard down but products like these seek to potentially invade the sacred sanctity from within.

June 15, 2019