Google Chrome 76 with Incognito Mode tweaks is now rolling out globally

Google has started rolling out Chrome 76 to Mac, Windows, and Linux devices globally. The latest version will include all the changes that have already been discussed in the recent weeks. Google says that Chrome 76 (version 76.0.3809.89) for Android will become available on Google Play over the next few weeks, and it also includes stability and performance improvements. For those who would like to see a full list of the changes can go to Git log, and can file a bug if they see any issues there.

The major improvements are made in the Incognito Mode. The latest release will now make it harder for publications, which rely on subscriptions, to detect if a user is using the Incognito Mode for browsing their websites. Some publishers have used a loophole in Chrome to deter metered paywall circumvention. These websites use FileSystem API loophole to detect whether a person is browsing in Incognito Mode and once detected, they provide users a different experience, that is, they are still able to limit the “free articles”.

To get more clarity on the subject, let’s take a look at an example. Generally, a subscription-based publication gives a certain number of free articles in a month. If you are browsing a publication like this, it generally mentions the number of ‘free articles’ that you can read in a month. Once you pass that ‘free article’ limit, the publication will ask you to subscribe to read more articles.

In a bid to skip this limit, users generally visit such sites through Incognito Mode. However, these sites have mechanisms (such as access to cookies) in place that can detect the free article count. With the latest modification in Chrome, these sites won't be able to detect if a user is browsing in Incognito Mode.

“Sites that wish to deter meter circumvention have options such as reducing the number of free articles someone can view before logging in, requiring free registration to view any content, or hardening their paywalls. Other sites offer more generous meters as a way to develop affinity among potential subscribers, recognising some people will always look for workarounds.  We suggest publishers monitor the effect of the FileSystem API change before taking reactive measures,” Barb Palser, Partner Development Manager, News and Web Partnerships, had said when she wrote a blog post explaining the changes.

Further, starting with the Chrome 76, the Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) will now check for updates daily instead of every three days before. Additionally, Chrome 76 will block Flash by default in the browser. However, users still have the option to switch back to the current “Ask first” option for a few more releases. Google says that by not using Flash, users would be able to enjoy “faster, safer, and more battery-efficient browsing experience.” Adobe had announced the end of support for Flash in July 2017.

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Android Auto gets new launcher, Google Assistant badges and more

Google has announced a new update for its Android Auto platform. This update will come to all vehicles running the official version of the platform and will roll out over the next few weeks. The update includes a new app launcher, Google Assistant badges, improvements to how media is played and more. Google made the announcement via its official blog. “As you hit the road this summer, Android Auto is sporting a new look with features that make driving more simple, personal and helpful,” the company writes.

The new Android Auto update adds a new app launcher that is aimed at being more streamlined. The bottom left button will bring up the app launcher, with the commonly used apps featured on the top row. Further, several icons will now feature a Google Assistant badge. Tapping that icon will prompt Assistant to read out the information to you. This includes weather reports, news, reminders and more. Android Auto will now also automatically pick up music and podcasts from where you left off. However, the feature is limited to media apps compatible with Auto.  

The new update also introduces updates to navigation. If you already have a route queued on your phone, Android Auto will automatically populate the directions and start navigating to the location. Further, the navigation bar will now sit at the bottom of the display, letting users manage multiple apps more easily. There is also a new notification button that lets users access recent calls, messages, and alerts. Further, Android Auto now supports widescreen displays.

Google notes that this new version will not be reflected in Android Auto on the phone. The phone screen experience will be switched to the Google Assistant’s new driving mode that was showcased at this year’s Google I/O.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab, Watch teased ahead of Note 10 flagship launch in New York

Samsung has released a teaser video previewing two new Galaxy products that will be unveiled ahead of this year’s ‘Unpacked’ event in New York. The devices, which are likely to be called the Galaxy Tab S6 and the Galaxy Watch Active 2, will be launched in a special pre-event in New York. Samsung says that it will unveil the Galaxy Tab on July 31 at 10AM EDT (7.30pm IST) and the Galaxy Watch on August 5 at 10AM EDT (7.30pm IST).

“The new devices cater to the generation that wants the power to create and consume wherever they are. Samsung is allowing for interconnectedness anytime, enabling users to seamlessly merge work and play, and ensuring peace of mind at all times. In a world that belongs to the creators, Samsung’s new innovations will allow users to share their thoughts and ideas freely, empowering their voices and offering the tools for boundless creation,” Samsung said in a note.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

The Samsung tablet, which is likely to be called the Galaxy Tab S6, was leaked in renders earlier this month. The alleged renders of tablet showed a vertically- aligned dual-camera setup on the back. The device will come equipped with an S-Pen. The renders hint that the new tablet may look a lot like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e (review). The device may ship sans a headphone jack and feature a USB Type-C port at the bottom. It was reported that Samsung could introduce a keyboard accessory, which is also teased in the video above. 

According to the information making rounds on the internet, the dual-camera setup on the back could feature a 13MP main camera and a 5MP secondary wide-angle sensor. Just below the camera, there seems to be a groove to magnetically attach the S-Pen, which could come with Bluetooth support. Additionally, the tablet might come equipped with four AKG-tuned speakers, two on both top and bottom. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 could be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset and might feature a 10.5-inch display. The tablet is touted to come equipped with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage that can be upgraded to 256GB. It could launch in Pink, Grey and Blue colours.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

Just like the tablet, the apparent specs of Samsung’s watch were also made public. The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is said to come in 40mm and 42mm sizes, with the display on the watches measuring 1.2 inches and 1.4 inches respectively. It is rumoured to come with a Super AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass DX+ protection. Both watches are expected to use a steel or aluminium case that will be MIL-STD 810G certified. The Watch Active 2 is also rumoured to have a touch-sensitive bezel, and it is expected to employ the same Samsung Exynos 9110 SoC as its predecessor, with 768 MB of RAM on the Bluetooth-only model and 1.5GB on the LTE-capable wearable.

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Galaxy M20s in works, to include 5830mAh battery: Report

It would appear that Samsung is looking to diversify the Galaxy A and Galaxy M series of smartphones as much as possible. Furthermore, the Galaxy M series has received a good response in India. The lineup consists of four devices as of now, namely, M10, M20, M30 and M40. While there is no word on the Galaxy M50, the rumour mill has some new information about another M-series device. Allegedly, the Samsung Galaxy M20s is in works.

A new report from the Dutch website Galaxy Club suggests that the Galaxy M20s might be in the works. The Galaxy M20s is supposed to be based on the Galaxy M20. It could offer slightly updated internals like a bigger battery. According to the report, the device could pack a 5,830mAh battery, which is a massive size for a smartphone. Considering the Galaxy M20 already offers 5,000mAh battery, an update to the battery size could also add to the bulkiness of the phone. Furthermore, the report claims that 5,830mAh is the rated capacity, which means the 'typical' capacity could be 6,000mAh. However, there is no word on the launch date yet. 

The Galaxy M20s is not the only “s” named phone that Samsung plans to launch soon. We have been hearing about Galaxy A20s, A30s and A70s phones that could be variants of the Galaxy A20, A30 and A70 respectively. However, we don’t know any price or launch details about the s-named devices as of now.

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Electronic Arts Posts Strong Q2 Results on Apex Legends, Sims 4, FIFA Ultimate Team

Electronic Arts' live services led by Apex Legends, The Sims 4 and FIFA Ultimate Team spurred growth with net bookings jumping 12% to $504 million from a year ago.

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Poco F1 gets lucrative price cut as part of Poco Days Sale

Poco F1 was launched in India last year at a starting price of Rs 20,999. Now, the phone is selling for as low as Rs 17,999 as part of Poco Days sale that ends today, July 31. The base variant has 6GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The highlight of the phone is that it comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. Furthermore, Xiaomi’s Poco Days sale price is also reflecting on Flipkart with options to avail exchange offers and no-cost EMI options as well.

During the Poco Days sale, both the 128GB and 256GB variants of Poco F1 are up for grabs at a discounted price. However, today, July 31 is the last day of the sale. The 128GB storage variant  is available for Rs 17,999, whereas the 256GB model is available for Rs 22,999 down from Rs 27,999. Additionally, the top-end Poco F1 Armoured Edition is selling at Rs 23,999 during the sale. However, there is no new discount on the 6GB RAM + 64GB storage model, which is selling at Rs 17,999 since June 2019.

During the sale, Xiaomi is also offering an additional exchange discount of up to Rs 2,000, and a no-cost EMI option is also available.

Coming to the specifications of the Poco F1, it features a 5.99-inch full HD+ display with a 1080x2248 pixels resolution, and a 19:9 aspect ratio. The display has a notch as well that houses a camera along with the infrared sensor for the face-unlock feature. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset paired with an Adreno 630 GPU. On the storage front, it has up to 8GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage. In the optics department, the phone sports a dual rear camera setup, which is a combination of 12MP and 5MP cameras. In contrast, there is a 20MP front camera. You can read our review of the Poco F1 to help make your purchase decision.

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Truecaller covertly signed up users for its payments service, calls it a bug

Truecaller, the crowdsourced caller ID service that’s highly popular among Indians covertly signed up an unspecified number of users to its payments service without their explicit consent. Users in India took to social media to complain that they had been registered to the payments service without their consent. However, in a statement, Truecaller said the issue happened because of a bug in the software, and soon rolled out an app update to Android users in India fixing the issue.

The bug made the app covertly send an SMS to the user's bank to verify accounts under the phone number and created UPI address on their behalf. It’s standard procedure to create UPI addresses but usually, the action is initiated by the user and not automatically done by an app.

Truecalled acknowledged the issue and said it will be releasing a new update to fix the issue. Till then, users signed up for payments service will be deregistered automatically.

We have discovered a bug in the latest update of Truecaller that affected the payments feature, which automatically triggered a registration post updating to the version. This was a bug and we have discontinued this version of the app so no other users will be affected. We're sorry about this version not passing our quality standards. We've taken quick steps to fix the issue and already rolled out a fix in a new version. For the users already affected, the new version with the fix will be available shortly, however, in the meanwhile they can choose to manually deregister through the overflow menu in the app," Truecaller said in a statement.

The payments service by Truecaller was added to the app around two years back. Just like Google Pay, Phonepe and the likes, Truecaller also depends on the UPI payments platform to initiate transactions. UPI laws state that signing up users without their consent is illegal.

This is not the first time a company has covertly signed up users to a payments platform. Airtel, when it launched the Airtel Payments Bank, also onboarded users to its payments platform without their consent.

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