<p dir="ltr">OEMs are working hard to secure users' phones by pre-installing security apps. It becomes a matter of safety when it is because of these apps that users are exposed to cyberattack. Check Point research has claimed that it has found a vulnerability in the Guard Provider app, which comes pre-installed in Xiaomi phones with MIUI OS. The firm claims that this app can help an attacker to inject a rogue code to steal or track data, or even implant malware in the device.</p> <p>The Israel-based company says that because of the “unsecured nature of the network traffic to and from Guard Provider,” a threat actor could connect to the same Wi-Fi network as the victim and carry out a Man-in-the-Middle (MiTM) attack - a type of eavesdropping attack that is carried out by disabling malware protections and typing in a code to steal data or insert ransomware. It says that when the firm disclosed the vulnerability to Xiaomi, “it released a patch shortly after.”</p> <p dir="ltr">What is the vulnerability?</p> <p>The Guard Provider app uses several third-party Software Development Kits (SDKs) as part of the security service it offers. The app includes three different antivirus built-in: Avast, AVL and Tencent. Users have the freedom of selecting any one of three providers as the default Anti-Virus engine to scan the device. When that anti-virus downloads the update, the hacker intercepts the network traffic via an MiTM attack and inject rogue code as part of a third-party SDK update.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"></p> <p>Not only does the attacker target the chosen app to secure the device, it also infects the other two providers as well. This is due to the hidden disadvantages in using several SDKs within the same app. A problem in one SDK compromises the protection of all others, and the private storage data of one SDK cannot be isolated and can therefore be accessed by another SDK. “While minor bugs in each individual SDK can be often be a standalone issue, when multiple SDKs are implemented within the same app it is likely that even more critical vulnerabilities will not be far off,” Check Point said.</p> <p>With a 14.5 percent year-on-year (YoY) growth as compared to 2017, the Indian smartphone market saw 142.3 million units shipped in the Calendar Year 2018, International Data Corporation’s (IDC) Asia/Pacific Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker said earlier this year. According to the firm, Xiaomi topped the list by capturing 28.9 percent market share and shipping a total of 41.1 million devices last year.</p> <p>Xiaomi also grew 28.6 percent YoY in the fourth quarter of 2018 because of its affordable Redmi series devices and offline expansion with opening of rural stores. Xiaomi’s Redmi 5A and Redmi Note 5/Pro series emerged as the fastest selling devices of 2018 with 10 million shipments each in the full year. The brand also led in the online channel with a share of 47.2 percent.</p> <p>Related Read:</p> <p>Global smartphone shipments expected to drop for third consecutive year in 2019: IDC</p> 
from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2FQrK57
<p>Highlights</p> Oppo's patent application at WIPO reveals two new dual display smartphone designs One design incorporates a pop-up display Second design shows a sideways sliding display <p> </p> <p>Oppo has apparently filed for a patent for new smartphone designs that show some very unique approaches to secondary displays. The patent that was filed with the World Intellectual Property Organisation and first sighted by LetsGoDigital shows various designs, which include one with a pop-up display and another one with a side-sliding display.</p> <p>The images shared by LetsGoDigital show two Oppo devices. The first one features a display that pops out the top of the main display. Oppo has already shown that they have the technology to integrate a mechanism into components to enable movement with the pop-up selfie camera on the Oppo Find X. So it wouldn’t be too far fetched to imagine that the company could do the same for a display, albeit a smaller one.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Image Courtesy: LetsGoDigital</p> <p>The second design references a display that slides out the side of the phone, very similar to phones from back in the day with slide-out keyboards. Oppo, in its patent, shows a secondary display sliding out of the side of the primary one, extending the overall width of the phone to what we assume would be similar to a tablet-like form-factor.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Image Courtesy: LetsGoDigital</p> The way things stand, Oppo had applied for the patent on 17 April 2018, and it was subsequently published by WIPO on 29 January 2019. As of now, the only rumours going around about Oppo devices is for the Oppo Reno, which is a smartphone that is said to sport a 10x optical zoom lens thanks to a periscope design. This is the same design that Huawei used to achieve a 5x optical zoom on the Huawei P30 Pro. There seem to be no leaks or rumours about Oppo working on a phone with these unique display arrangements, but since the patent has come to light only now, we think it would be a few months before the company actually gets into producing something along these lines. Would a secondary, sliding display be something that you would look forward to? <p>Related Reads: Oppo Poseidon powered by Snapdragon 855 SoC spotted on Geekbench</p> 
<p>Xiaomi has rolled out a new ‘Mi Recycle’ program within its MIUI Security app, which is aimed at helping users easily sell their old handsets. The new option checks the health of a user's phone by performing series of hardware tests, and get a resale value from Cashify. As mentioned, the new option is available within the MIUI Security app, which we spotted on a tried out. You can see where it is and its different windows in the embedded screenshot below. As per Cashify, the evaluations are based on three parameters: Physical condition of the phone, its hardware quality and the current market value of the handset. To assess what is the resale value of their handset, one can perform the hardware test on their device by heading over to the ‘Diagnose your phone’ option. </p> <p>The MIUI Security app will then perform a series of tests to evaluate the phone’s hardware like its sensors, Wi-Fi and cameras. Do note that the app asks for location permission while commencing the test. The test summary is displayed once the evaluation process is completed and users can go ahead to either buy insurance for their phone or exchange it for the estimated price, for which a quote is generated. Payment options to pay for the service includes Paytm cash, bank transfer, or vouchers and a Cashify representative will provide order details to the user and the device will be picked up. One can choose the date and time to get their device picked up, as per their convenience. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"></p> <p>Xiaomi is also hosting the Mi Fan Fest 2019 in India, as it celebrates its anniversary in the country. It is offering many of its products at a discounted price during the sale. Xiaomi is also hosting special sales, games and events where users can win coupons and gifts. There’s also a Rs 1 sale, under which the company promises to offer some of its devices like TVs and phones at Rs 1. </p> <p>Related Reads:</p> <p>Xiaomi Mi Fan Fest 2019 announced with deals, discounts, Re 1 Flash Sales and more</p> <p>Mi Fan Festival: Xiaomi Redmi Go is now available in open sale on Flipkart, Mi.com</p> 
<p>Following the launch of Spotify and YouTube Music in India, the competition in the online music streaming services is heating up. As the two companies entered India, they announced free services to entice users and paid services at competitive prices. JioSaavn and Gaana recently discounted yearly subscription prices and now, Apple has quietly slashed the pricing of its music streaming service. Apple Music is now available for Rs 99 per month per individual, down from the previous pricing of Rs 120/month. </p> <p>The company has also lowered the pricing of its music streaming service for both student and family subscription plans. They are now priced at Rs 49 and Rs 149 respectively, down from Rs 60 and Rs 190 respectively. Those who subscribe to Apple Music on a yearly basis will need to pay Rs 999, down from the previous price of Rs 1,200. As mentioned above, the price refresh comes after Spotify and YouTube Music entered the online music streaming space in India. Spotify’s monthly subscription costs Rs 119, while YouTube Music has priced its monthly subscription even lower at Rs 99.</p> <p>Recently JioSaavn and Gaana also lowered the price of their annual subscription plans. JioSaavn and Gaana users can now get yearly subscription to the services for Rs 299. Before the price cut, JioSaavn’s annual subscription was priced at Rs 999, while the same for Gaana costed Rs 1,098. Additionally, Gaana also has a discounted annual plan for students, which is priced at Rs 149. Do note that all of the music streaming services mentioned here, except Apple, are free to use. Purchasing a subscription enables ad-free streaming, offline downloads and more premium services.</p> <p>YouTube Music and Spotify offer a month of free trial to their service and the former lets you stream YouTube original content for three months for free as well. However one won’t get background play during the trial period without paying for the service. </p> <p>Related Reads:</p> <p>JioSaavn and Gaana slash annual subscription rates to take on Spotify, YouTube Music</p> <p>Spotify India Free vs Premium: Comparing the two tiers</p> 
<p dir="ltr">Samsung will launch three phones next week and speculation has it that one of the three phones will be the Galaxy A90. The device is speculated to be the company’s first phone to come without any notch or chin, and have a pop-up camera mechanism that has already been seen in a couple of Vivo and Oppo phones. Now, just five days ahead of the launch, a Weibo user has revealed the detailed specs of the phone.</p> <p>The user, who goes by the name Martian-V claims that the Galaxy A90 will sport a 6.7-inch AMOLED display offering a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. Samsung introduced a 6.7-inch display in the recently-launched Galaxy A70. Further, the leakster has also confirmed that the phone will have sound-on-display technology akin to the LG G8 thinQ. This means that the phone will be pumping out the sound from the display.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"></p> <p>Under the hood, Samsung is said to have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7150 processor, an octa-core chipset with two cores clocked at 2.2GHz and six cores clocked at 1.7GHz. Generally, Samsung fits the indigenously developed Exynos chipsets in phones in Asian countries, and the inclusion of the Snapdragon processor hints that the company may be launching the phone in the US as well. The leakster, however, does not give any info on the RAM and storage variants of the phone.</p> <p>In the camera department, the phone is claimed to come with three rear cameras: a 48MP primary sensor with the lens having an aperture of f/2.0, an 8MP sensor with lens having f/2.4 aperture and a ToF camera. The user claims that this camera will be in the pop-up rotating mechanism that will allow the same set of cameras to click photos from the back and selfies. </p> <p>Related Read:</p> <p>Samsung Galaxy A90, Galaxy A40 and Galaxy A20e listed on official UK website</p> 
