Crashing on PUBG Mobile, Spotify, traced to Facebook

iOS users were in for a rude shock today when some of their apps, including PUBG Mobile, Spotify and more refused to start, leading to some confusion among users. PUBG Mobile players, for example, started flooding the company’s Twitter page with angry complaints stating that their game crashed as soon as the game started to load. Some players tried a complete reinstall of the game but to no avail. To its credit, the guys over at PUBG Mobile were quick to notice a problem and started work on resolving it. 

Dear players, we are aware of the current problem encountered by iOS users. This issue is happening to multiple apps and games on the iOS platform and we are actively looking into solving it. Thank you for your patience!

— PUBG MOBILE (@PUBGMOBILE) July 10, 2020

However, as mentioned earlier, PUBG Mobile wasn’t the only app to be affected by such a problem. Spotify, Pinterest, Tinder and other users on iOS also reported the same issue around the game time. It turns out that apparently the issue wasn’t with these apps or their individual developers, but rather with Facebook. More specifically, with Facebook’s SDK. 

Crashing on PUBG Mobile, Spotify, traced to Facebook

Facebook’s software development kit (SDK) is used by many apps to manage their user logins. Facebook acknowledged the problem on its developer platform. The company noted that a code change led to crashes for certain apps that were using the Facebook SDK. “Earlier today, a code change triggered crashes for some iOS apps using the Facebook SDK. We identified the issue quickly and resolved it. We apologize for any inconvenience,” the company noted in its platform. 

The problem really does seem to be resolved. PUBG Mobile also tweeted that the problem was rectified. 

Dear players, we are glad to inform the previous crashing problem encountered by iOS users has been solved. Thank you for your patience and support in PUBG MOBILE! https://t.co/FEi2waBS4S

— PUBG MOBILE (@PUBGMOBILE) July 10, 2020

 

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OnePlus TWS earbuds teased by the company on Twitter, listing spotted on Amazon India

OnePlus could soon launch its much-rumoured TWS earphones that could soon debut as OnePlus Pods. This comes after the company launched three new TVs in India and is now preparing to announce its affordable OnePlus Nord smartphone on July 21. The official twitter handle of OnePlus posted a picture of the OnePlus Bullets lineup just hours ago with the caption “What’s next in line?”, hinting that it’s going to launch the next generation in the Bullets lineup soon.

What's next in line? pic.twitter.com/emwmhr9A0H

— OnePlus (@oneplus) July 10, 2020

Elsewhere, the name OnePlus TWS was spotted on the subscription listing of OnePlus on Amazon India which indicates that the company is indeed planning to announce the OnePlus TWS earphones in India soon. How soon? Well, there’s no official word on it yet but the chatter is that the company could unveil the OnePlus Pods TWS earbuds alongside the OnePlus Nord.

So the OnePlus TWS are already listed in the Amazon India subscription portal.#oneplus #OnePlusNord #newbeginnings #omepluspods #oneplustws pic.twitter.com/SBSYoLjZxi

— Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) July 10, 2020

While that would be a surprise announcement, all the marketing hype is currently directed towards the launch of the OnePlus Nord as it marks the company’s re-entry into the affordable segment of the smartphone market in India. Then again, we have previously seen OnePlus launch the Bullets Wireless Z alongside the OnePlus 8 series, so maybe the company might introduce its next generation of Bullets Wireless earphones on July 21 alongside its new affordable smartphone.

OnePlus TWS earbuds teased by the company on Twitter

Recently, OnePlus TWS was spotted on a Finnish certification website going by the name OnePlus Buds, though no leaks have revealed the features or specifications of the truly wireless earbuds. There have been reports stating that the OnePlus TWS earbuds will be sold in two colours and design render shared by a tipster on Twitter shows TWS earbuds in black with red accents and likely a metallic finish. The charging case as depicted in the picture is rounded off at the bottom.

We’ll know more about the launch of OnePlus’ true wireless earbuds soon and it may make a surprise appearance during the AR launch of OnePlus Nord.

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Malicious Joker malware for Android apps makes a comeback on PlayStore, is Google not doing enough

The Joker malware, which stole money from people’s account by signing them up for premium subscriptions, is back on the Google Playstore, just months after Google said it won against the malware after a three-year-long fight. It’s one of the most persistent threats plaguing the popular app store, according to Google, and now it’s back.

A report from cybersecurity firm Check Point claims new variants of the malware, termed Joker Dropper and Premium Dialer Spyware was spotted in Google Play. The spyware made a comeback, by following old techniques used by PC malware to avoid detection.

Joker malware is back on PlayStore 

The updated version of the Joker malware was reportedly able to download additional malware to the device after the infected apps were installed. The threat is the same as before — The malware subscribes you to premium services without the user’s knowledge.

The firm claims they have found 11 such seemingly legitimate apps that house the virus. The virus reportedly hides in the ‘essential information’ file every Android app compulsorily needs to have.

The report also attacked the Google PlayStore for not doing enough. “We were able to detect numerous cases of Joker uploads on a weekly basis to Google Play, all of which were downloaded by unsuspecting users. The Joker malware is tricky to detect, despite Google’s investment in adding Play Store protections,” a spokesperson for Check Point told TOI.

Google has rolled out Google Play Protect to devices that run on Google services to offer real-time protection against threats from apps downloaded from Google Playstore.

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OnePlus Nord AR launch invites to go on sale from July 11 on Amazon India

OnePlus Nord launch invitations will go on sale from July 11 on Amazon India with the “world’s first AR smartphone launch” being held on July 21. The company has been preparing the launch of its affordable smartphone from a while now and has been teasing key features of the Nord. The phone has been leaked previously, revealing design renders of the OnePlus Nord along with a preliminary specification sheet that gives us a closer look at the phone.

OnePlus’ AR launch event invite is designed to provide a virtual experience to fans who are waiting for the OnePlus Nord. Here’s how to buy the launch invite when it goes on sale from July 11.

How to buy OnePlus Nord AR launch invite?

OnePlus is hosting an AR launch of its much anticipated affordable smartphone and there are special launch invites that will go on sale for interested people to attend the online event. The launch invite for OnePlus Nord is priced at Rs 99 and will be available to purchase from July 11 at 12 noon IST.

Moreover, if you purchase the launch invite, you are also eligible to participate in a lottery on Amazon on the day of the launch.

How to watch OnePlus Nord AR launch event?

Once you received the launch invite, you are required to download the OnePlus Nord AR app, either from the Play Store or the Apple App Store. After downloading and installing the app, scan the QR code on the invite to get access to the AR launch event.

OnePlus recommends a good internet connection to have a jitter-free AR viewing experience.

How to pre-order OnePlus Nord?

OnePlus Nord will be up for pre-orders starting July 15 on Amazon India. Interested buyers will have to pay Rs 499 upfront to book the phone. Everyone who pre-books the phone will receive a gift box with merchandise and those who pay and purchase the phone will receive a second gift box with OnePlus Bullets Wireless and a phone case.

OnePlus Nord leaked specifications

OnePlus Nord is rumoured to feature a 6.55-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) AMOLED screen with a 90Hz high-refresh-rate. The leaks have indicated that the phone could have a dual punch-hole cutout in the corner for the selfie camera.

The phone is confirmed to be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset with an octa-core processor and Adreno 620 GPU. This is paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage and there could be more variants as well.

The OnePlus Nord could come with a triple camera setup on the back that consists of a primary 64MP camera, a 16MP ultra-wide-camera, a 2MP macro lens and a depth sensor. On the front, there is a 32MP primary camera supported by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera for selfies.

It is rumoured to be fitted with a 4,300mAh battery with support for 30W fast charging out-of-the-box.

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Realme X50 Pro 5G price increased by Rs 2,000, to go on sale from July 13 in India

Realme X50 Pro 5G will go on sale from July 13 after being out-of-stock during the entirety of the Coronavirus lockdown. However, now it seems that Realme’s production line is back on track and the X50 Pro will be available to purchase in India. The last sale of the phone was held on March 5 with the X50 Pro starting at Rs 37,999 at the time of launch.

Now, Realme has revised the prices of the X50 Pro citing GST hike and the phone now starts at Rs 39,999 which is an increase of Rs 2,000 in the price. Even with this, the iQOO 3 remains the most affordable smartphone to come with Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset.

Realme X50 Pro price hike

Realme X50 Pro now starts at Rs 39,999 for the base variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, Rs 41,999 for the variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage and Rs 47,999 for the maxed-out version with 12GB RAM and 256GB.

Previously, the prices of the X50 Pro for the three variants were Rs 37,999, Rs 39,999 and Rs 44,999 respectively.

The X50 Pro goes on sale from July 13 on Flipkart and Realme India store. It comes in two colours-- Moss Green and Rust Red.

Realme X50 Pro specifications

The Realme X50 Pro 5G features a 6.44-inch Super AMOLED Full-HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, an in-display fingerprint sensor and is HDR10 certified as well.

It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset with an octa-core CPU. It is paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.0 internal storage. The Realme X50 Pro supports Wi-Fi 6 and runs on Android 10-based Realme UI out-of-the-box.

The phone sports a quad rear camera setup, a 64MP main sensor, a 12MP telephoto lens, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle shooter that doubles as a macro lens and a portrait lens. On the front lies a dual selfie shooter combo of 32MP + 8MP. This smartphone supports up to 20x hybrid zoom on this device.

The X50 Pro packs a 4200mAh battery that supports 65W fast charging. The 65W charging adapter can charge the battery from 0 to 100 per cent in under 35 minutes.

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Garena Free Fire roadmap for July: New character, challenges and more

Garena Free Fire has announced its roadmap for the next month and it looks like players have a lot to look forward to over the coming weeks. The game is just winding down its Rampage War event and will be adding a brunch This includes the addition of a new character as well as new challenges and events.  

Garena Free Fire New character: Clu (July 8 to July 14)

Clu will be the newest character to join Garena Free Fire and her backstory is that she skilled detective that uses her skills to track missing people. In-game, this translates to locating standing enemies located within 30 meters of the player. Not only that but once she levels up, she will get the ability to share that information with her teammates.

This skill should make Clu skilled at finding camped enemies. This should also make her a very formidable opponent towards the late game where players tend to camp in cover in an attempt to ambush players. However, Clu’s skill should allow the player to turn the tables on these opponents. Her levelled up ability should allow teams to plan a counter to any ambushes planned by the other team.  

Arcane Seeker Diamond Challenge (July 12 to July 29)

The Arcane Seeker touted as a ‘comrade’ to the Mystic Seeker. In-game, she is described as having armour that “blend away with her surroundings. She moves swiftly around and takes her enemy from the dark.”

Summer Challenge (July 13 to July 19)

This event challenges players to collect 10, 20, and 30 kills to get free Royale vouchers in each tier. However, players can also claim up to three tagger weapon loot crates per day by simply playing a match each day. 

Apocalyptic M1014 Incubator (July 13 to August 15)

This is a new incubator for the Apocalyptic M1014. Each of the weapons in the incubator comes with their own unique abilities. So players can find something that suits their playstyle. 

Besides this, players will also see a return of Big Head Mode. However, this mode will only be available until June 12. So players will have to hurry if they want to try it out.

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Android 10 is the fastest adopted version ever: Heres how Google did it

Android versus iOS updates have been a debate in favour of Apple for so long that the very debate is now moot. But it’s not like Google has been sitting still letting Apple get all the praises. While it’s relatively easier for Apple to keep devices as old as the iPhone 6S updated with the latest iOS builds, for Android, it means negotiating a minefield of OEMs, Android skins and markets where Google apps are non-existent. Naturally, the uptake of the latest Android update will be significantly slower. But the latest data, revealed by Google in the Android Developers Blog shows things are improving fast.

Google revealed that Android 10 was the fastest adopted Android version in its history. According to the blog post, Android 10 was running on 100 million devices within 5 months of its launch. That’s 28% faster than the adoption of Android 9 Pie.

The speed wasn’t achieved overnight.

How has Google’s Android update strategy improved over the years?

Google has been making significant, behind-the-scenes improvements in the way the Android OS is installed in a device.

Android 8 Oreo

It started with Project Treble in Android 8 Oreo. Project Treble created a split between parts which is handled by Google (the core, underlying system) and the part which is handled with the OEMs (skins, design, etc.)  resulting in a cleaner code separation of the core OS, from the rest of the code. From this point, every device that comes with the Google Playstore preloaded are automatically compliant with Project Treble. This resulted in 2.5X faster adoption of Android 9 Pie.

Android 9 Pie

In Android 9 Pie, Google started an OEM developer preview program which gave early previews to users of specific models beyond the usual Pixel and Nexus devices which is Google’s test-bed for beta updates. OEMs like OnePlus, Nokia, Oppo, Realme and more were able to release early previews of Android 10 for developers to test their apps for compatibility.

Google also started publishing Generic System Images (GSI) to help developers test for app compatibility on real hardware instead of virtualised machines. Via Project Treble, every device was made GSI compatible, even though they didn’t ship with the generic image.

Google said this further led to a 1.5X increase in adoption speed of Android 10.

Android 10

The current Android version saw Google updating the main components of the OS directly via the Google Play system updates under Project Mainline. This helps Google push out privacy and security updates to devices like it updates apps on the Playstore (read: Automatically). This is primarily how Google was able to update every Android device with the exposure notification settings to help contact trace COVID-19 patients. Google pushed the feature to over 2 billion devices in a span of 4 weeks.

How will Android 11 make updates better?

For one, the OEM developer previews will continue. The Oppo Find X2 is already one device outside of the Pixel family to receive the Android 11 beta update. Google also made 21 OS components updatable that focus on privacy, security and developer consistency across devices.

Google is also further isolating common code in the Android Linux kernel and creating a Generic Kernel Image (GKI) that will be supported by all Android device. This is will help fasten up the security updates and is an extension of the work done with the Generic System Image in Android 9 Pie.

Android 10 also brought virtual A/B partition. Google tried a physical A/B partition to make updating an Android device as seamless as updating an app in the background. But a physical A/B partition required extra space in the storage. Making it virtual removes that space barrier and makes the update process so much more seamless.

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