It started around 3:30 in the morning on the East Coast, reports flooding in about an AT&T service outage. Customers complained across Reddit and X and logged their issues on Downdetector, a site that, well, detects when services go down.

The impact appears to be widespread; AT&T users from New York to Atlanta to Dallas claimed no signal, phones stuck in SOS mode. Multiple police departments, including in San Francisco, reported that some users were unable to contact 911 as a result of the outages. By 9 am ET, Downdetector was showing more than 72,000 AT&T outages across the US; the site’s baseline for AT&T service issues is 42.

“Some of our customers are experiencing wireless service interruptions this morning,” AT&T spokesperson Jim Greer said in a statement. “We are working urgently to restore service to them. We encourage the use of Wi-Fi calling until service is restored.”

It’s not just AT&T’s customers, though. Every cell carrier on Downdetector showed spikes Thursday morning, including behemoths Verizon and T-Mobile. But both companies confirmed that there’s nothing wrong with their networks; the complaints are instead collateral damage, people trying to reach their AT&T contacts and not getting through.

“We did not experience an outage,” a T-Mobile spokesperson told WIRED over email. “Our network is operating normally. Downdetector is likely reflecting challenges our customers were having attempting to connect to users on other networks.”

Similarly, a Verizon spokesperson said over email that “Verizon’s network is operating normally. Some customers experienced issues this morning when calling or texting with customers served by another carrier.”

The news isn’t all bad. AT&T confirmed that FirstNet, the first responder network that AT&T built out, is operating normally. And while it’s an imperfect substitute—or totally unusable, depending on where you are—Wi-Fi calling should suffice as a workaround for now. (To turn on Wi-Fi calling, go to your smartphone’s Settings, then Network & internet, then switch the Wi-Fi Calling toggle to on. Exact wording might vary depending on your phone model and operating system.)

Cell network outages happen with some frequency, and can stem from any number of causes. “Three things come to mind with major network outages,” says Erik Keith, senior research analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence, “cyber attacks, fiber cuts at critical points in the network, and software or system upgrades that don’t go as planned or have unforeseen issues.”

In this case, the latter explanation seems the most likely, says Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Kentik, a network monitoring company. “It's quite unusual,” Madory says, noting that even within the same household some AT&T devices are affected while others aren't. “I'm guessing that they did some sort of intenral software push and it didn't agree with some subset of these devices, and they're having trouble reverting it."

While interruptions of this scale are rare, they do happen globally once or twice a year. Last month, Spanish carrier Orange España lost half of its network for hours due to a cyberattack. T-Mobile had a massive service interruption of this scale a year ago that it ultimately attributed to a “third-party fiber interruption issue.” That issue appeared more self-contained, though, than the ripple effects seemingly caused by AT&T’s problems.

As for when the AT&T outage might be resolved, it’s hard to say without knowing the underlying issue. By 11 am ET, DownDetector incidents had begun to taper off, although over 60,000 people were still reporting issues. Shortly thereafter, AT&T updated that it had made significant progress with the issue. “Our network teams took immediate action and so far three-quarters of our network has been restored,” Greer said in an emailed comment at 11:14 am ET. “We are working as quickly as possible to restore service to remaining customers.”

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Apple is removing the ability to install home screen web apps from iPhones and iPads in Europe when iOS 17.4 comes out, saying it's too hard to keep offering the feature under the European Union's new Digital Markets Act (DMA). Apple is required to comply with the law by March 6.

Apple said the change is necessitated by a requirement to let developers "use alternative browser engines—other than WebKit—for dedicated browser apps and apps providing in-app browsing experiences in the EU." Apple explained its stance in a developer Q&A under the heading, "Why don't users in the EU have access to Home Screen web apps?" It says:

Addressing the complex security and privacy concerns associated with web apps using alternative browser engines would require building an entirely new integration architecture that does not currently exist in iOS and was not practical to undertake given the other demands of the DMA and the very low user adoption of Home Screen web apps. And so, to comply with the DMA's requirements, we had to remove the Home Screen web apps feature in the EU.

It will still be possible to add website bookmarks to iPhone and iPad home screens, but those bookmarks would take the user to the web browser instead of a separate web app. The change was recently rolled out to beta versions of iOS 17.4.

The Digital Markets Act targets "gatekeepers" of certain technologies such as operating systems, browsers, and search engines. It requires gatekeepers to let third parties interoperate with the gatekeepers' own services, and prohibits them from favoring their own services at the expense of competitors. As 9to5Mac notes, allowing home screen web apps with Safari but not third-party browser engines might cause Apple to violate the rules.

Apple warns of “malicious web apps”

As Apple explains, iOS "has traditionally provided support for Home Screen web apps by building directly on WebKit and its security architecture. That integration means Home Screen web apps are managed to align with the security and privacy model for native apps on iOS, including isolation of storage and enforcement of system prompts to access privacy impacting capabilities on a per-site basis."

Apple said it won't be able to guarantee this isolation once alternative browser engines are supported. "Without this type of isolation and enforcement, malicious web apps could read data from other web apps and recapture their permissions to gain access to a user's camera, microphone or location without a user's consent. Browsers also could install web apps on the system without a user's awareness and consent," Apple's FAQ said.

Despite the change, Apple said that "EU users will be able to continue accessing websites directly from their Home Screen through a bookmark with minimal impact to their functionality."

Apple previously announced that its DMA compliance will bring sideloading to Europe, allowing developers to offer iOS apps from stores other than Apple's official App Store.

Browser choice, security requirements

One browser-related change will be immediately obvious to EU users once they install the new iOS version. "When users in the EU first open Safari on iOS 17.4, they'll be prompted to choose their default browser and presented with a list of the main web browsers available in their market to select as their default browser," Apple's developer FAQ said.

Apple said it had to prepare carefully for the requirement to let developers use alternative browser engines because browser engines "are constantly exposed to untrusted and potentially malicious content and have visibility into sensitive user data," making them "one of the most common attack vectors for malicious actors."

Apple said it is requiring developers who use alternative browser engines to meet certain security standards:

To help keep users safe online, Apple will only authorize developers to implement alternative browser engines after meeting specific criteria and committing to a number of ongoing privacy and security requirements, including timely security updates to address emerging threats and vulnerabilities. Apple will provide authorized developers of dedicated browser apps access to security mitigations and capabilities to enable them to build secure browser engines, and access features like passkeys for secure user login, multiprocess system capabilities to improve security and stability, web content sandboxes that combat evolving security threats, and more.

Overall, Apple said its DMA preparations have involved "an enormous amount of engineering work to add new functionality and capabilities for developers and users in the European Union—including more than 600 new APIs and a wide range of developer tools."

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This is not the first Windows Mobile concept the author has presented. About a year ago, they published a Windows 11 Mobile concept, which tried to merge Microsoft's desktop operating system with smartphones. The result turned out to be a weird mix of Android aesthetics, iOS widgets, and multiple Windows 11 UI bits.

Windows 12 does not exist publicly, but we already know where Microsoft wants to steer its desktop operating system and what UI changes it explores. Concept-makers took those ideas to their drawing boards and published a few neat and not-so-much takes on what Microsoft's next-gen Windows could look like, including its mobile adaptation.

While a Windows 11 successor could arrive in the near future in the form of Windows 12 or something else, it is safe to say that we will not see a resurrection of Windows Mobile any time soon. Sadly, a smartphone-sized taskbar with a Start menu button, Copilot, Task View, File Explorer, Microsoft Store, and other parts of Windows 11 is only possible in concept videos like this.

In a world dominated by Android and iOS, even a company that costs $3 trillion cannot compete with Apple and Google. Heck, even the Android-powered Surface Duo failed big time, unable to rival Samsung and other well-established players. Making smartphones is no longer a thing for Microsoft, which is now super-busy with adding AI stuff into every product possible, even into questionable things like Notepad.

With that said, it is probably time to let our failed Windows Mobile dreams go for good. Maybe they should start making concepts with Copilot integrated into the most absurd products and parts of Windows.

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The analyst company Canalys has revealed that Apple took the lead on smartphone shipments in Europe during the final quarter of 2023. It overtook Samsung, which had held the lead over Apple even in the final quarter of 2022, when their shipments were very close.

In third, fourth, and fifth place were Xiaomi, Motorola, and HONOR, with them not swapping places at all over the last several years. In the sixth position was Google, which had been tussling with HONOR but had been beaten for the last three quarters of 2023.

Year-over-year, in the fourth quarter, Apple increased its market share from 31% to 33%, Samsung went from 32% to 28%, Xiaomi fell from 17% to 16%, Motorola grew to 5% from 3%, and HONOR grew to 3% from 1%.

Commenting more on the situation in Europe, Runar Bjørhovde, Analyst at Canalys, said:

“High-end smartphones took a record share of the European market in Q4 2023. Almost 40% of smartphone shipments were priced at US$800 or higher.

 

The dominance of the high-end was mainly fuelled by strong iPhone 15 Pro demand alongside consistent Galaxy S-series volumes and a growing Google Pixel. Looking ahead, Apple will aim to capitalize on the impending refresh cycle.

 

This includes exploring new routes to market to enable consumers to buy iPhones, such as the bank-as-a-channel approach co-piloted with Santander in Spain. In Samsung's case, the premium S-series and foldable devices remain a priority, seeking to test a service-based subscription model.”

Something interesting to observe in the data is that Apple shipments also rose in the fourth quarter in preceding years, as they have done again in the fourth quarter, while Samsung’s shipments fell. However, Samsung tends to recover in the other quarters so the same could happen in 2024, we will have to wait and see.

Source: Canalys

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Apple has been exploring foldable display technology for several years as part of its research into new form factors. Early prototypes included iPhones that folded inward like a clamshell. Samsung, a key supplier for Apple, provided early foldable display samples as part of this testing process.

However, recent rumors suggest that Apple was not satisfied with the durability of Samsung's panels. Sources say that after just a few days of testing under Apple's lab conditions, iPhones with the foldable displays began to exhibit problems such as screen cracking. This fell far short of the best-in-class reliability Apple requires.

As a result, Apple has reportedly paused further development of a foldable iPhone for the foreseeable future. The company will not rush a foldable to market until the display technology can consistently pass its tests.

This is in line with previous reports that a foldable was not planned until 2024 or 2025 at the earliest. According to display firm Display Supply Chain Consultants, Apple "appears to be in no rush to enter the foldable smartphone market, and it may even take longer than [2025]."

Interestingly, the company's broader foldable device ambitions may not be completely stalled. Rumors suggest that Apple remains more interested in a foldable iPad format, which could involve a thicker design better suited to withstand the stresses of folding compared to a pocket-sized phone.

Earlier reports showed that it could be a notebook with a full-size keyboard when folded and an external monitor when unfolded, making it a dual-use product. So Apple seems pretty optimistic about the potential of the whole foldable display technology.

Source: Weibo (Chinese) via 91Mobiles

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Watching pirated movies on your iPhone just got a little harder. After climbing the charts of Apple’s App Store, the trendy Kimi app, with its collection of bootlegged movies, has just disappeared. Pretending to be a spot-the-difference vision-testing game, the widely downloaded app ranked above Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video in Apple’s charts this week for free entertainment apps before it was removed.

Without having to pay for anything or log in to any kind of account, iPhone owners could previously use Kimi to browse a wide selection of bootlegs for popular movies and TV shows. Many of the movies up for Best Picture at this year’s Oscars were on Kimi, at varying levels of quality.

Poor Things was included in a grainy, pixelated state, but a high-quality version of Killers of the Flower Moon was on Kimi to stream, although an intrusive ad for online casinos was splashed across the top. That definitely isn’t the viewing experience Martin Scorsese imagined for audiences. Not just limited to movies, viewers were also able to access episodes of currently airing TV shows, like RuPaul’s Drag Race, through the Kimi app.

Who was behind this piracy app? It remains a mystery. The developer was listed as “Marcus Evans” in the app store before Kimi was taken down, and this was the only app listed under that name, likely a pseudonym. WIRED was unable to reach Evans or anyone involved with the Kimi app prior to publication.

Apple is known for being meticulous and protective of its “walled garden” for safe-to-download apps, so it’s surprising to see a piracy streaming option, like Kimi, climb so high on the charts before being axed. Kimi received more than 100 user reviews in the App Store, many of which blatantly mentioned the free movies hidden within the app, and it had a four-star user rating. A representative for Apple did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

This isn’t the first a piracy app that has garnered tons of downloads in the App Store, though. In 2015, WIRED spoke with the developers behind Popcorn Time, a similar app. Security reporter Andy Greenberg wrote, “With Popcorn Time, the complexity of BitTorrent search engines, trackers, clients, seeds, decompression, playback, and storage is reduced to a single click.” It’s unconfirmed how Kimi was providing the streams, but the process of watching bootlegs was definitely simplified for users—just download the smartphone app and press Play.

The Kimi app’s saga is emblematic of a new resurgence in online piracy. A serious challenge for rights holders and movie and TV studios, piracy is once again on the rise. As streaming services crack down on shared passwords, and budget-conscious users search for cheaper entertainment options, the black market for bootlegs will likely continue to blossom.

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At the State of the Net Conference, FCC chairman said that he wants an investigation into Apple as he believes the company violated its Part 14 rules which talk about the requirements for any “advanced communications service”. The section focuses on the requirements for “access to advanced communications services and equipment by people with disabilities”. Furthermore, the section also talks about not allowing providers to add features that may impede accessibility.

Providers of advanced communications services shall not install network features, functions, or capabilities that impede accessibility or usability.

Carr says Apple violated that by offering green bubble SMS messages which “makes it difficult for people with low vision or difficulty with seeing from picking up those messages”. He further mentioned that Apple's different coloured bubbles are a "part of a broader set of walled garden practices that inhibit competition."

The FCC is yet to comment on the issues raised by Carr or confirm if the authority is looking into Apple. There is also no word on if the authority will officially open an investigation into Apple or if Carr was speaking as an individual and not the chairman of the FCC.

This is not the first time the Apple Beeper debacle has raised eyebrows. Back in mid-December, CBS shared a bi-partisan letter from Senators calling the Department of Justice to investigate if Apple had broken antitrust laws by shutting down Beeper Mini.

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Google shared in its blog post that there had been a rapid increase in fraud cases. The Global State of Scams Report for 2023 by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance revealed that around 78% of the survey respondents had experienced at least one scam in the past year. 45% of respondents highlighted that scams have increased in the last 12 months.

To address this issue, Google is partnering with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) to launch a pilot fraud protection project. Initially, the first pilot will be for Android users in Singapore only.

The pilot project will detect any runtime permissions an app requests in real time when a user downloads it. It will look for requests like RECEIVE_SMS, READ_SMS, BIND_Notifications, and Accessibility.

These are common tactics used by scammers for financial fraud whenever an individual is sideloading applications on the Internet. The blog post notes:

“This enhanced fraud protection will analyze and automatically block the installation of apps that may use sensitive runtime permissions frequently abused for financial fraud when the user attempts to install the app from an Internet-sideloading source (web browsers, messaging apps or file managers). This enhancement will inspect the permissions the app declared in real-time and specifically look for four runtime permission requests: RECEIVE_SMS, READ_SMS, BIND_Notifications, and Accessibility. These permissions are frequently abused by fraudsters to intercept one-time passwords via SMS or notifications, as well as spy on screen content. Based on our analysis of major fraud malware families that exploit these sensitive runtime permissions, we found that over 95 percent of installations came from Internet-sideloading sources.”

 

Simply put, the pilot project aims to block any apps from being installed whenever any of these permission requests are detected. Google Play Protect will also issue a notification to the user informing them about the app.

Google clarified that the Singaporean government has tested out this pilot project against fraud protection. The capability will be rolling out on Android devices supporting Google Play.

The company also highlighted some protocols for app developers. It suggested the developers make sure that the permissions their app requests are aligned with the Mobile Unwanted Software principles.

The apps should only ask for essential permissions needed for it to run smoothly. However, if a developer does face issues, they can refer to Google’s updated guidelines for Play Protect warnings. They can also file an appeal if the issue remains unresolved.

In October 2023, Google introduced a feature that prompted users to scan unknown apps to avoid fraud. The capability scanned the apps on a code level and if it found emerging threats, it would inform the user to take the appropriate action of not installing the application.

In the latest update, the enhanced fraud protection will automatically block malicious apps after scanning them.

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According to the analyst firm IDC, worldwide tablet shipments have declined 17.4% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2023 with total shipments reaching 36.8 million units during that period. For the whole year, shipments reached 128.5 million units marking a decline of 20.5% on the year prior and the lowest annual volume since 2011.

"With no significant improvements to the economy and consumers allocating their money to things beyond consumer electronics, tablets may not be very high on the priority list. Project delays and spending freezes have also led to purchase postponement through much of 2023," said Anuroopa Nataraj, senior research analyst with IDC's Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers. "2024 is expected to show some rebound opportunities, provided the year is more economically sound. However, overall challenges remain in the tablet market, and technological advances around AI will likely focus more on the PC and smartphone for the next two years, but tablets will increasingly become part of that conversation."

Aside from 2023 being bad for the tablet market overall, it was also noticeably bad for Apple which lost around 7% of the market share after its fourth quarter shipments fell from 21.1 million to just 14.9 million. Its main competitors, Samsung, Huawei, Lenovo, and Xiaomi all increased their market share while the Others category also declined but by less than 2%.

The biggest winner of these was Xiaomi which saw 35% year-over-year growth in the fourth quarter and the biggest loser was Apple which saw a 29.3% contraction in shipments. The situation with Apple is pretty interesting because its affluent consumer base are typically the ones who have been able to keep up with purchases but it seems like they’re tightening the purse strings too.

When we look at the whole year as a whole, Apple did alright gaining 0.4% of the market share. Meanwhile, Amazon was hit hard with its market share falling from 9.9% to 4.2%.

Source: IDC

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According to the developer.apple.com website, iOS 17 is installed on 66% of all iPhones that transacted on the App Store as of February 4, 2024. 23% still run iOS 16, and the remaining 11% are on iOS 15 and older.

Apple also has separate stats for all the iPhones introduced in the last four years (iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone 13, iPhone 12, and iPhone SE Series). As expected, iOS 17 is more popular in this segment, with 76% of all devices running the most recent versions. 20% of the recent iPhones are on IOS 16, and 4% on iOS 15 and older.

Judging from the official stats, iPad users are more reluctant to upgrade their tablets to the most recent iPadOS version. Only 53% of registered devices are on iPadOS 17, while iPadOS 16 has 29%, and 18% are on older releases.

As for the most recent iPads (released during the last four years), 61% run iPadOS 17, 29% run iPadOS 16, and 10% are on earlier versions. Interestingly, iOS 17 performs slower than iOS 16 one year ago, while iPadOS 17 outperforms iPadOS 16.

Apple has already released several feature updates for iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. The latest version, 17.3, arrived a couple of weeks ago, bringing iPhone and iPad users a new wallpaper, collaborative playlists in Apple Music, Stolen Device Protection with extra security measures, and more. You can check out what is new in iOS 17.3 in our dedicated coverage.

iOS 17 is available for all iPhones released in 2018 and later.

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As seen in Lance Adams' posts on X, users can access an "Extensions Beta" page. This page features popular Chrome-based extensions like Dark Reader, Global Speed, and uBlock Origin.

This brings Edge for Android in line with the desktop version, which has long supported a wide range of extensions, from ad blockers to productivity tools. It's a big step because it allows Edge users to enhance their mobile browsing with the same customizations they rely on for productivity and blocking distracting ads and trackers.

The new feature is currently hidden in the Edge Canary version 123 beta channel. It is expected to be released to beta testers by the end of February. So, Edge users can get a head start on customizing their mobile browsing by downloading the Canary version from the Google Play Store.

Since Chrome lacks official extension support on mobile, this gives Edge an early advantage if implemented smoothly. Google may feel pressure to respond in kind and open up Chrome to extensions on Android as well. However, there have been no announcements indicating plans to do so.

In addition to extention support, Microsoft Edge for Android and iOS has a new name. The company recently renamed its mobile browser from just "Microsoft Edge" to "Microsoft Edge: AI browser," clearly highlighting where it focuses most of its efforts nowadays.

In the meantime, Microsoft released Edge 122.0.2365.3 yesterday in the Dev Channel. It added a translate icon in the PDF toolbar and a "New" badge to the context menu to indicate recently added features. In addition, there are plenty of fixes and minor improvements across the browser.

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“I’m told that the new operating system is seen within the company as one of the biggest iOS updates–if not the biggest–in the company’s history,” Gurman wrote in his latest Power On newsletter. “With that knowledge, Apple’s developers conference in June should be pretty exciting.”

The news comes a few months after Gurman reported that Apple was hoping for iOS 18 to be its most “ambitious and compelling” update in years.

Although the latest report doesn’t detail any specifics, Gurman has previously reported that Apple is planning to launch a newer version of Siri that leverages a new AI system. Apple is also expected to launch new features that improve how both Siri and the Messages app can auto-complete sentences and field questions. Plus, Apple Music is expected to get auto-generated playlists, which is something that Spotify introduced last year.

Apple is said to be looking at integrating generative AI into development tools like Xcode to allow developers to write new applications faster. In addition, Apple’s productivity apps, like Pages and Keynotes, should also be getting generative AI updates.

iOS 18 could also bring RCS support, as Apple revealed back in November that it plans to add support for the RCS standard on iOS in 2024. At the time, Apple said it believes that “RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS.” The major reversal follows public pressure on Apple to add support for RCS to iPhones. It’s worth noting that although Apple plans to adopt RCS, it has confirmed that messages sent from an Android user to an iPhone will still be displayed in green bubbles.

We’re still four months away from the big iOS 18 reveal, so we may learn more about the software update as we get closer to the official announcement over the next few months.

Source : https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/29/apples-ios-18-may-be-the-biggest-software-update-in-iphone-history/

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Passkeys are a new method of verification when users log in to their WhatsApp accounts. Passkeys remove the need for a password when logging in to devices and instead use technology like fingerprint scans, face IDs, and other methods to aid the login process.

A similar capability is now being developed for iOS users who can log in to WhatsApp through their Touch ID, Face ID, or their device passcode. Passkeys are optional for users, and they can be disabled later in settings.

Additionally, if a user is logging on to a device without the passkey capability, they can still get the 6-digit code for verification.

In the beta version of Android, WhatsApp mentions that the passkeys will be stored in the password manager. However, in the screenshots that are available as of yet, we are unsure what is the case for iOS.

In the previous beta version on iOS(24.2.10.72:), WABetaInfo revealed a new Third-party chat feature. The social media app is likely working on it due to regulations enforced by the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

This capability is under development for both iOS and Android.

With the third-party chat capability, users will be able to get a new section on WhatsApp that displays incoming messages from third-party applications. This functionality will also allow users to text others on WhatsApp while using different third-party apps.

The DMA is a law that will go effective in the EU on March 7, 2024. It is already bringing notable changes to companies like Spotify. WhatsApp is also changing its processes and features to comply with the law.

The DMA labels certain tech giants, such as WhatsApp, as gatekeepers and is enforcing stricter regulations for them. WhatsApp is a part of this as the Meta-owned platform is a key player in the messaging market.

Interoperability between social media apps is an important focus of the DMA. It prevents users from having to download a popular communication platform to avoid giving it an edge over competing platforms. End-to-end encryption will be there to ensure secure conversations between platforms. Additionally, users can manually enable interoperability as mentioned in Article 7 of the DMA regulations.

Source and Image Credits: WABetaInfo

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Quetta is available for Android at this point. Versions for other operating systems are promised, but not yet available. The browser is based on Chromium, the same source as most Android browsers.

Privacy is the foundation of Quetta according to the website. The browser "does not collect, store or share any data". Built in tools, including an ad-blocker and script controls, protect user data by default.

A feature comparison on the website compares Quetta with other browsers on Android. The list is divided into privacy and smart utilities features. It should not come as a surprise that Quetta is the only browser that supports all listed features.

Quetta includes an ad-blocker and tracker blocker, fingerprint protections and HTTPS Everywhere. The company lists data vault and private downloads, which only it supports.

Data vault protects user data, such as bookmarks, the browsing history or download records, through biometric verification. It is disabled by default but users may enable it in the settings. The private downloads feature is not explained on the website or in the browser.

Script control gives users control over JavaScript. The feature may be turned off for all sites or individual sites. You may turn of JavaScript by default and allow it to run on specific sites only.

On the non-privacy side Quetta supports a range of features. Notable are the video downloader, background audio playback, translations, and reader functionality.

Since the browser is offered via Google Play, Quetta's video downloader does not work on Google Play. Google prohibits this for Android apps and also Chrome extensions. It may be used on other video sites, including YouTube front-ends, with a long-tap on the video interface.

Background audio playback does not work on YouTube as well. Quetta displays the play option in the notifications area of the phone. You need to start playback actively when you browse away from the video or audio site to continue listening.

Probably one of the biggest features is not even mentioned by the developers at this time: extensions support. You can visit the Chrome Web Store to install extensions from it.

There is no link to the Extensions management page, but you may load it by typing quetta://extensions. Most Chromium-based browsers do not support extensions on mobile. Quetta is not the first browser, but it is one of the few Chromium-based browsers that does. Whether that is an oversight by the developers or a feature that is not yet ready for public use remains to be seen. The extensions system worked well during limited tests.

The built-in adblocker works well and you get some control when you tap on the shield icon. There you see all available privacy controls and some statistics. You can turn off the ad-blocker or tracking prevention for a specific site here. Other privacy options may also be set to custom values for specific sites using the menu. Granular controls, which extensions like uBlock Origin offer, are not supported.

Quetta criticism

Quetta makes a lot of promises. The browser appears well designed and some of its features are useful.

Some questions remain unanswered at this point. One of the first that always comes to mind is how is the project financed? It is not mentioned and a disclosure on the website might alleviate concern in this regard. It is possible that money is generated through search engine deals or plans to create a "Pro" version. Another red flag, at least for some, is that the browser is not open source.

The feature comparison on Quetta's website is obviously biased. Any browser maker could create a list that only their browser supports 100%.

At least some users may not like that Quetta displays the first few letters of the page title in its address bar and not the URL. The URL is revealed when you tap on the title, but even then it is only shown partially due to a lack of space.

Closing Words

Quetta is a mobile browser that works really well. It is fast and has excellent web compatibility thanks to its Chromium source. It comes with a range of privacy and usability features, including content blocking and video downloading.

The ability to install extensions gives it a leg up in comparison to most Chromium-based browsers, but not against browsers such as Firefox, which also do support extensions on mobile.

All in all, it is a browser to keep an eye on to see how it develops over time. The developers plan to release a version for iOS in 2024 to cover all mobile systems of importance.

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If Google sticks to the usual cadence of device releases, the Google Pixel 9 will come out in around nine months. That's a long way away, but still not so far away that it can't be leaked: the ever-reliable Steve Hemmerstoffer, aka OnLeaks, has a set of Pixel 9 Pro renders up over at MySmartPrice. Usually, these renders are based on the CAD files that accessory designers need before they can begin making products, so while all the major components should be correct down to the millimeter, the materials, colours, and some small details may be speculative.

 

There are a lot of differences in these renders. First, the renders show a flat metal band around the sides, making it look a lot like an iPhone. Samsung also adopted this design for the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus, so everyone seems to want to look just like their biggest rival. This allows the front and back of the phone to be completely flat slabs of glass, instead of the rounded glass back of the Pixel 8. The screen is also completely flat again.

The other major visible difference is the camera bar, which used to stretch from side to side across the back of the phone, but now is a floating bar that isn't connected to the sides. That makes the camera bar closer to the Pixel Fold design. The Pixel Fold camera bar was a rounded rectangle, but this is a full-on pill shape, which, in these renders, follows the shape of the camera glass cover. Besides the camera lenses, the bar has an LED flash and a second mystery sensor circle. On the Pixel 8, the circle under the LED is a temperature sensor. I feel like the temperature sensor has been either panned or forgotten about, so it wouldn't surprise me to see it cut, but the realities of the smartphone development cycle might make it too early for that.

 

The report at MySmartPrice lists a "6.5-inch" display, but I don't think that's accurate. The listed dimensions, 162.7×76.6×8.5 mm, are basically identical to the current phone, 162.6×76.5×8.8 mm, so the screen can't be smaller without a major bezel size increase that isn't in the render. The report likely measures between the rounded corners of the display and gets "6.5 inches," while the industry standard is to create imaginary square corners and measure between those. That measuring style would give you the usual 6.8 inches.

OnLeaks also has a set of renders for the base-model Pixel 9, which is over at 91mobiles. As usual, this is mostly the same as the Pro design in a smaller size with a few expensive items cut. Usually, the cameras get cut down on these cheaper models, either in amount, quality, or both. We don't know about the individual camera components, but this render surprisingly shows three rear cameras, just like the big Pro model. The Pixel 8 base model only has two rear cameras. There's also a mystery sensor below the LED flash, while the Pixel 8 has no extra sensor. The phone is bigger, too, clocking in at 152.8×71.9×8.5mm, while the Pixel 8 is 150.5×70.8×8.9 mm.

 

If we can speculate for a minute, a beefier base-model Pixel 9 would make more sense in Google's device lineup. The mid-range A-series Pixel line was majorly leveled up with the 2023 release of the Pixel 7a, and we wrote that it made the base-model Pixel 8 feel obsolete. Both phones have flagship Google Tensor G2 chips, 90 Hz displays, and similar-sized batteries, but the 7a was $100 cheaper, basically killing any market for the base model Pixel 8. If Google is going to make the A series that good, it would be better to have the Pixel 9 be a "mini-Pro" model, if that makes sense: all the same features and specs as the Pixel 9 Pro, but in a smaller body. Google has to do something to separate the base model from the A series, and the better camera array suggests Google is going down this path. This is how the iPhone works, after all.

 

It feels incredibly early to already be talking about the Pixel 9, but this is the second time rumors of the phone have hit our desk. The first report was of a "Pixie" AI assistant Google is working on, which will supposedly be exclusive to the Pixel line.

 

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Android fans who seek alternatives to Google's Play Store often turn to APKPure. However, the site lacks stringent verification procedures which raises eyebrows about its safety profile. So it's not just about finding that long-lost app or discovering a cool new tool – it's about making sure your device and data stay secure in the process.

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of APKPure's safety measures (or lack thereof), I can't stress enough how crucial it is to have trusted anti-malware software on your device. A good one I'd recommend? Avast Mobile Security & Antivirus for Android—it’s like your trusty shield in this wild world of apps!

Also, it's always good to use a VPN to ensure maximum protection. VPNs like NordVPN offer a malware protection feature called Threat Protection that ultimately protects your Android device from malicious content.

What is APKPure?

Have you ever found yourself in a position where the app you need isn't available on Google's Play Store? That's when third-party app stores like APKPure or Softonic come into play. Founded in 2014, APKPure has been a go-to alternative for many Android users worldwide seeking apps that are otherwise restricted or unavailable in their region.

APKPure is essentially an online repository of different Android applications and games, allowing users to download various APK (Android Package) files directly onto their devices. It's a platform that provides an extensive library of free and paid apps alike, which aren't always accessible through official channels like Google Play Store.

You might be wondering: "Is it safe to get my apps from APKPure?" I'd say, it depends. While all the apps listed on APKPure are checked for authenticity before being published - ensuring they're original and unmodified - there's no guarantee these checks catch every potential risk.

A case in point: In 2021, it was discovered that the APKPure app store was infected by a malicious module downloading Trojans onto Android devices. Although this issue has since been resolved with newer versions (3.17.19 or later), such instances indicate how potential threats can slip through even after initial verifications.

So, if you're contemplating using APKPure for your downloads, make sure to stay updated with the latest version of the app to benefit from any security fixes implemented post-incident. Yet remember – while generally considered safe-ish by many users – there are no additional security check layers at play here beyond verifying originals and modifications.

That said, if safety is your topmost priority when installing new apps (as it should be!), consider sticking with big official players offering built-in protection services like Softonic's Security Check or Google's Play Protect, to provide you some peace of mind knowing they're regularly scanned for harmful behavior.

How to Download and Install Apps from APKPure

Let's dive straight into how you can download and install apps from APKPure. If you've decided to proceed with APKPure, make sure you're running the latest version of the service (3.17.19 or newer) for optimal security measures.

Here's your step-by-step guide:

1. Make sure to have an Antivirus installed on your Android phone (We recommend Avast).
2. Open your web browser and visit the official APKPure website.
3. Use the search bar at the top of the site to find the app you want.
4. Click on the app’s name or icon to view its dedicated page.
5. Look for a big green button that says “Download APK”. This will start downloading your chosen app.
6. Once downloaded, swipe down from the top of your screen to view notifications and tap on the file name ending in ‘APK’
7. A prompt will appear asking if you want to install this application - click ‘Install’
8. After installation is complete, open up your new app!

Remember! Although all apps on APKPure are verified before publishing and are stated as original without any modification, there aren’t additional security checks implemented here like Google’s Play Protect feature.

So let me wrap this up by saying: while using services such as APKPure may give you access to an extensive range of apps not available through traditional channels, one must always tread lightly when straying from those familiar paths laid out by trusted entities like Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

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Instagram is readying a new feature called "Notes Prompts" that will nudge your followers to respond to a Note. The feature currently under development is now under testing, Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced on his broadcast channel.

This week, we started testing Notes prompts, a new way for people to create a note that prompts others to respond. The idea is that by giving people more ways to participate, they might be more comfortable expressing themselves and then connect with friends in notes. If you see this feature, try starting a prompt and let us know what you think.

You can post your response to a particular Notes Prompt and see the responses of other users as well, according to a screenshot of the feature shared by Mosseri. You can share a Note by tapping on your profile picture in the app's inbox. Type a custom message that will appear as a text bubble on top of your profile picture at the top of the screen.

The Meta-owned company launched the Notes feature in December 2022, and since then, it has improved the feature by adding more options such as the ability to add music. The latest addition seems to be one of its efforts to increase collaboration and engagement on the platform.

Instagram previously released Collaborative Collections that let multiple users add posts and reels to a common collection. It is also testing another feature called Collaborative Carousel that will let you co-create carousel posts on the platform. Last month, it released a new sticker that turns Stories into templates others can use.

The social media giant is also working on a stream of new features including, the ability to add reason to your follow request, auto-translated captions, animated emoji for DMs, etc. In recent news, Instagram's parent Meta has allowed EU users to unlink their Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger accounts.

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Collaborative Playlists in Apple Music lets you create playlists and add other people so that they can contribute with with their favorite music, reorder tracks, delete songs, etc. As for Stolen Device Protection, it is a feature that requires FaceID with no option to enter a PIN when changing specific settings.

What is new in iOS 17.3?

Here is the official changelog:

Stolen Device Protection

 

• Stolen Device Protection increases security of iPhone and Apple ID by requiring Face ID or Touch ID with no passcode fallback to perform certain actions.
• Security Delay requires Face ID or Touch ID, an hour wait, and then an additional successful biometric authentication before sensitive operations like changing device passcode or Apple ID password can be performed.

 

Lock Screen

 

• New Unity wallpaper honors Black history and culture in celebration of Black History Month.

 

Music

 

• Collaborate on playlists allows you to invite friends to join your playlist and everyone can add, reorder, and remove songs.
• Emoji reactions can be added to any track in a collaborative playlist.

 

This update also includes the following improvements:

 

• AirPlay hotel support lets you stream content directly to the TV in your room in select hotels.
• AppleCare & Warranty in Settings shows your coverage for all devices signed in with your Apple ID.
• Crash detection optimizations (all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models).

iOS 17.3 is available to all iPhones that support earlier iOS 17 releases. To get the update, you need an iPhone XR/Xs/Xs Max or newer. If you are upgrading from iOS 16 or older, check out what is new in iOS 17.0, 17.1, and 17.2.

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