Apple responds harshly to Googles iPhone exploit reveal

Last week, Google detailed a list of five iOS vulnerabilities discovered by its security team. The post by Google described the attack as “potentially hitting thousands of people,” triggering sort of a panic amongst iOS users. To assuage concerns, Apple has released an official statement, clarifying a number of things.

Addressing Google’s post directly, Apple clarifies that the attack was a very narrowly focused one, and not something designed to be “en masse.” The exploit was targeting a very specific population in China. The websites where the exploits were hosted only kicked into action after the user visiting the website met a number of conditions. What served to cause concern amongst users was Google’s claim that the attacks had been going on for two years, whereas Apple states that their analysis has shown that the attacks were operational only for a brief period of time, up to 2 months. Lastly, Google revealed the chain of exploits 6 months after Apple had already patched them via a software update.

Apple’s statement seems to imply that Google’s disclosure of the exploits was worded in a way so as to cause concern amongst the iOS user community. Apple’s statement reads that “Google’s post, issued six months after iOS patches were released, creates the false impression of “mass exploitation” to “monitor the private activities of entire populations in real-time,” stoking fear among all iPhone users that their devices had been compromised.” Interestingly, Google’s post does not disclose that the exploits were targeted at the Uighur community, an omission which is likely to have led to the mass panic.

While Apple’s statement seems to downplay the impact of the vulnerabilities in iOS, it does not address the fact that there were 5 exploits which could be used to monitor real-time activities of users. While the highlight issue targeted a small community within China, it could have just as well been used anywhere else in the world, to spy on any number of people. While Apple has claimed that the company takes user privacy very seriously, the presence of such exploits on iOS does leave room for many questions around the degree of Apple’s commitment to user privacy.

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Android 10 update for Redmi K20 Pro, OnePlus 7 Pro and more phones now rolling out

After unveiling its new Android update, which is not named after a dessert to denote inclusivity, Google recently started rolling out its first stable build for its Pixel series of handsets. The new update brings a slew of features to the Android ecosystem like a system-wide dark mode, better security and privacy, in-built support for foldable devices and more. Alongside Pixel handsets, there are some other phones as well, which are now getting the update. Android 10 is being rolled out for ṭhe Redmi K20 Pro, the OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro and some more smartphones. 

Android 10 update for Redmi K20 Pro

The Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro has started receiving the Android 10 update as a part of the MIUI 10 stable beta program for users in India and China. However, one needs to apply for the program, which closed down on September 8. The list of users who got into the program will be announced on September 11. Those who are selected will get a social OTA update access to the update and will be included in a user group called Android 10 Tester. 

Android 10 update for Nokia smartphones

The CPO of HMD Global, Juho Sarvikas, released a timeline for the Android 10 update rollout to Nokia handsets. The update will roll out starting from Q4 2019 and will be first made available for the Nokia 7.1, Nokia 8.1 and Nokia 9 PureView smartphones. In the early first quarter of 2020, Nokia 6.1, Nokia 6.1 Plus and the Nokia 7 Plus will be updated, while the Nokia 2.2, Nokia 3.1 Plus Nokia 3.2 and Nokia 4.2 are slated to get the update sometime in the middle of Q1 next year. 

The Nokia 1 Plus, Nokia 5.1 Plus and Nokia 8 Sirocco should get the Android 10 update by the end of Q1 2020. Finally, the Nokia 2.1, Nokia 3.1, Nokia 5.1 and Nokia 1 phones are bound to receive the update by Q2 2020. Nokia usually sticks to its stated schedule when it comes to software updates and since all of its smartphones are Android One phones, it is not much of a surprise if the company does manage to roll out updates in time. 

Android 10 update for OnePlus 7 smartphones

OnePlus 7 series of smartphones consist of the OnePlus 7 and the OnePlus 7 Pro. The two devices are now receiving the Android 10 update under the Open Beta program. With Android 10, both the phones get full screen gestures, a new UI, upgraded Ambient Display and much more. However, there are a couple of new issues with the update like some app compatibility issues and relatively lower system stability. 

Android 10 update for Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Samsung Galaxy S10 series 

Samsung is yet to officially announce the rollout or testing of Android 10 on its phones. However, some recent images of a Samsung Galaxy S10+ running on Android 10 surfaced online, suggesting that the company is testing the latest Android build on its flagship handsets. It is possible that the smartphone maker is gearing up to roll out One UI 2.0, the next iteration of its UI, which is said to be based on Android 10. Additionally, chances are that the latest Android flavour will be rolled out for the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 smartphones. 

Essential Phone

Essential Phone is known for making the latest Android updates available on the same day as Google releases them. No surprise here that Android 10 is now available to download on Essential phone. However, the company says that it will be available to select Open Market customers. 

Most of the devices listed above are either receiving the Android 10 update or are expected to soon receive it. We will keep updating this list with more devices as they receive the update. 

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iPhone XR is the best-selling smartphone in the first half of 2019: Report

The iPhone XR is the best-selling smartphone of 2019. Who’d have thought that, right? Apple made some changes to its iPhone strategy by launching a seemingly ‘budget’ iPhone, calling it the iPhone XR. It had some expected compromises but surprisingly some much-needed advantages as well, including better battery life and a larger screen. A new report from IHS Markit now claims Apple sold around 26.9 million units of the iPhone XR in the first quarter of 2019, making it most popular smartphone in the world. The iPhone XR was launched in 2018, alongside the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max.

Part of the reason for the iPhone XR’s popularity could be the swift price-cuts Apple undertook within months of the phone launching. In India, the iPhone XR was first launched at Rs 76,900 for the 64GB model while the 128GB variant was priced at Rs 81,900 and the 256GB at Rs 91,900. Certainly exorbitant considering the flagship iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max were equally expensive.

However, within a few months the iPhone XR’s price was slashed as part of a promotional strategy. Effectively, the phone then started from Rs 53,900 for the 64GB variant. A massive drop from the original price. The 128GB model’s price fell to Rs 64,900 while the 256GB retailed at Rs 74,900.

The analyst report claims that Apple managed to sell 13.6 million iPhone XR in the first quarter of 2019 and 13.3 million in the second quarter, thereby arriving at the 26.9 million units by the first half of 2019. The report further claims that the iPhone XR’s pole-position is followed by the Samsung Galaxy A10 (13.4 million units), Samsung Galaxy A50 (12 million units), iPhone 8 (10.3 million units), Redmi Note 6A (10 million units), Redmi Note 7 (10 million units), Galaxy J2 Core (9.9 million units), Oppo A5 (9.7 million units), iPhone XS Max (9.6 million units) and the Samsung Galaxy A30 (9.2 million units).

The iPhone XR is scheduled to get a successor at the Apple event that’s happening on September 10. It will supposedly be called the iPhone 11, indicating that Apple no longer wants to signal a budget phone. Along with that, Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 11 Pro and the iPhone 11 Pro Max.

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Huawei Watch GT 2 to be announced on September 19

We've known for nearly a month now that Huawei plans to launch its Mate 30 series of smartphones on September 19 in Munich, Germany. Through a teaser video posted on Weibo by Huawei a couple of days ago, we learnt that the Chinese telecommunications company also has plans of launching the Watch GT 2 smartwatch on the same day, possibly at the same launch event. The Huawei Watch GT 2 will be powered by the company's proprietary Kirin A1 processor.

The teaser video published by Huawei reveals very little about the company's upcoming smartwatch, save for the fact that it will be powered by Huawei's Kirin A1 processor, which is advertised as the world's first Bluetooth 5.1 and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.1 wearable chip. When it's announced later this month, the Huawei Watch GT 2 will replace the original Watch GT wearable that was launched in India in March earlier this year.

The Huawei Watch GT, which currently sells on Amazon.in in two variants starting at Rs 10,321, is a smart wearable with inbuilt fitness features. Touting a claimed battery life of two weeks on the Huawei India website, the Huawei Watch GT sports a circular 1.39-inch AMOLED display. The Watch GT comes with features such as real-time heart rate reporting, real-time satellite-based positioning, and sleep monitoring with over 200 improvement tips. It can also display notifications received on the smartphone it is connected to over Bluetooth.

From what we gather, the Huawei Watch GT 2 will be announced along with the Huawei Mate 30 series of smartphones. On September 19, Huawei will launch the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro, the company's newest flagship devices. Both devices will be powered by Huawei's Kirin 990 chipset, a new 7-nanometre chip that is said to be more powerful than previous Kirin models. The chipset could be the first to introduce a new neural computing unit. The Mate 30 Pro is expected to feature two custom-developed 40MP camera sensors on its back panel. We expect to learn more about it in the days leading up to its launch.

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Vivo V17 Pro with dual pop-up front cameras, quad rear camera pops up online

The Vivo V17 Pro is expected to launch soon and it looks like all the information about the upcoming smartphone is now online. We have seen some renders of the device in the past but now it looks like some official renders and specs have leaked online. The leak comes from WinFuture which has a good track record of revealing information about devices before launch. 

Kicking things off with the display, the V17 Pro has a 6.44-inch Super AMOLED display with an under-display fingerprint sensor. The display has a tall 21:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1080 x 2440 pixels. The display does not have a notch since the dual front-facing camera is in a pop-up mechanism. The selfie camera on the device is a 32MP wide-angle camera accompanied by a 2MP depth sensor.

Coming to the back of the smartphone it has a quad-camera setup. The primary is a 48MP sensor accompanied by an ultra-wide-angle camera. The other two sensors are 2MP shooters. The smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 675 which was previously found on the V15 Pro. For RAM we get 8GB and storage is 128GB. A 4100mAh battery powers the entire package.

Source

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Nintendo Switch Teased to Get Mysterious New Accessory on September 12

Nintendo has teased the launch of a new Nintendo Switch accessory that will be officially unveiled on September12.

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Google Assistant on Pixel 4 will let AI handle calls on hold

The upcoming Google Pixel 4 might make life easier for people. Google Assistant on the Pixel 4 will reportedly come with the option to take over calls when you’re put on hold. Once there's a human on the other end answering, Assistant will notify the caller.

A 9to5Google report claims you can just a tap a button to ignore the call hold music. That  way, you don’t have to keep listening to the annoying music on the other end and actually get work done while waiting for the customer service representative to answer.

This adds to the Google Assistant’s ability to make reservations on your behalf, reading out your calls and more. The AI smarts behind this is powered by Google Duplex, an AI system that can talk and understand like a human.

These new features however, are initially restricted to Google Pixel phones. However, most of the Google Assistant smartness have been passed on to other devices eventually, so the exclusivity behind the call hold feature might not be longstanding.

The feature, if nothing, gives a peek into how Google is trying to make its Pixel phones stand out from others. The company is relying on its AI prowess to power the Pixel experience.

The Google Pixel 4 will be the first smartphone where the Google Assistant works locally, ensuring near-instant response to your queries.

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