The issue, tracked as CVE-2023-21492 (CVSS score: 4.4), impacts select Samsung devices running Android versions 11, 12, and 13.

The South Korean electronics giant described the issue as an information disclosure flaw that could be exploited by a privileged attacker to bypass address space layout randomization (ASLR) protections.

ASLR is a security technique that's designed to thwart memory corruption and code execution flaws by obscuring the location of an executable in a device's memory.

Samsung, in an advisory released this month, said it was "notified that an exploit for this issue had existed in the wild," adding it was privately disclosed to the company on January 17, 2023.

Other details about how the flaw is being exploited are currently not known, but vulnerabilities in Samsung phones have been weaponized by commercial spyware vendors in the past to deploy malicious software.

Back in August 2020, Google Project Zero also demonstrated a remote zero-click MMS attack that leveraged two buffer overwrite flaws in the Quram qmg library (SVE-2020-16747 and SVE-2020-17675) to defeat ASLR and achieve code execution.

In light of active abuse, CISA has added the shortcoming to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, alongside two Cisco IOS flaws (CVE-2004-1464 and CVE-2016-6415), urging Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies to apply patches by June 9, 2023.

Last week, CISA also added seven vulnerabilities to the KEV catalog, the oldest of which is a 13-year-old bug impacting Linux (CVE-2010-3904) that allows an unprivileged local attacker can escalate their privileges to root.

Source

The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, claims that Samsung has now suspended an internal review that was considering switching from Google to Bing for its smartphones.

When the original NYT story hit, it stated that Samsung was impressed with Microsoft's efforts into adding generative AI into its search program via Bing Chat. As a result of that report, Google's stock price went down by 2.5 percent on that day.

However, it was pointed out after that report was published that Google has what it calls the Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA). It basically stated that any smartphone company that wanted the Google Play Store installed must also set Google Search as the default search engine on their phones.

Having said that, since Samsung is the largest worldwide Android-based smartphone company by a pretty fair margin, it's more than possible that it has a special agreement with Google that is not available for other Android smartphone companies. For example, Samsung has its own Galaxy Store for downloading apps on its smartphones which is something other Android phones with the Google Play Store don't have.

In any case, it would appear that Samsung is sticking to what it knows and will keep Google Search as the default search engine for its smartphones. Microsoft and its Bing search engine will have to find their way into the mobile space in other ways. It's already doing so by adding Bing Chat services to its Bing mobile app, and it's also adding AI chat to other mobile app services like its SwiftKey keyboard, its Edge browser, and its Skype messaging service.

There's are still rumors that Bing could replace Google Search as the default in the Firefox browser, but so far there's been no official indication that might happen.

Report says Samsung has decided not to replace Google with Microsoft's Bing in its phones

What is new in iOS 16.5 and iPadOS 16.5?

• New Pride Celebration Wallpaper for the Lock Screen to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture. The wallpaper is only available on iOS.

  

   

• Sports tab in Apple News with easy access to everything sports-related and your favorite teams or leagues.
• Score and Schedule Cards in Apple News can take you directly to game pages with additional details about specific games.

And here are the bugs iOS and iPadOS 16.5 fix:

• Fixed an issue with unresponsive Spotlight
• Fixed an issue causing problems with loading podcasts in Apple CarPlay (iOS only).
• Fixed an issue with Screen Time setting reset and sync problems across devices.

What iPhones support iOS 16.5?

iOS 16.5 is available to all iPhone models running iOS 16. The list of supported iPhones includes the following:

• iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
• iPhone X
• iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR
• iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE 2020, SE 2022
• iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max

What iPads support iPadOS 16.5?

• iPad Pro (all models)
• iPad Air 3 and newer
• iPad 5th gen and newer
• iPad mini 5 and newer

You can download iOS and iPadOS 16.5 by heading to Settings > General > Software Update.

Apple releases iOS and iPadOS 16.5 with a new wallpaper, Apple News improvements, more

A newly leaked video that appears to show the unannounced Google Pixel 8 Pro concentrates on a feature that few smartphones currently have: a rear temperature sensor.

The video, posted on YouTube by 91Mobiles, shows the sensor beneath the phone's rear photo flash. More importantly, it shows the sensor being used by the owner. She places the Pixel 8 Pro close to her forehead so that the sensor can take a temperature reading.

The user then taps on the phone's main screen and moves the phone across her temple for a few seconds. The Pixel 8 Pro then buzzes so that the user can see her temperature reading.

What's not clear from this clip is what applications will be using the Pixel 8 Pro temperature sensor. It's possible that it could be used in fitness apps such as the Google-owned Fitbit app.

Google is expected to officially announce the Pixel 8 phone series this fall, and it's also expected to have Android 14 installed, which is currently in public beta testing. A new version of the Pixel Watch is rumored to be revealed alongside the Pixel 8 phones.

Update: The video has now been pulled from YouTube, which of course is owned by Google.

Leaked Google Pixel 8 Pro video showed a rear body temperature sensor [Update]

What is new in watchOS 9.5?

• A new Pride Celebration watch face to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture.

What Apple Watch models support watchOS 9.5?

You can download watchOS 9.5 to any Apple Watch running version 9.0 and higher. However, it is worth noting that updating watchOS requires iPhone 8 or newer with iOS 16 or later (check out what is new in the latest iOS update in our dedicated coverage). You cannot update to watchOS 9 if your iPhone runs iOS 15 or older.

• Apple Watch Series 4
• Apple Watch Series 5
• Apple Watch SE
• Apple Watch Series 6
• Apple Watch Series 7
• Apple Watch Series 8
• Apple Watch SE 2nd gen
• Apple Watch Ultra

You can install watchOS 9.5 by launching the Watch app and navigating to General > Software Update. Keep in mind that your watch should be on a charger with a minimum of 50% battery charge.

Apple releases watchOS 9.5 with a new Pride Celebration watch face

As per the report, it's a 4% increase in the count of Android switchers over the previously recorded year ending in March 2022. The firm analyzed the iPhone purchase data for the past nine years, according to which, the highest share of Android to iPhone switches was 21% in the 12 months ending in March 2016.

Furthermore, it was back in 2018 when the number of new Android switchers was 15% as it declined through the years. Other than Android, the remaining 1% to 2% of users made their switch from basic phones or were first-time iPhone owners.

"Switching mobile operating systems is perceived as a challenge by smartphone owners, so loyalty to an operating system remains very high. Still, switching does happen, and we track it in our surveys. In the past year or two, former Android users appear to account for an increased percentage of iPhone buyers," says CIRP in its report.

Apple's iPhone has reserved the top spot even during times when the global smartphone market is on a decline. Recently, the company revealed in its latest earnings call that the iPhone division crunched $51 billion in revenue in the second quarter. With that said, analysts have also attributed the increased iPhone sales to the longevity of Apple's devices and the stickiness of its ecosystem.

Source: CIRP (paywall) via 9to5Mac

Android to iPhone migration is again on the rise, claims new report

A tour of Vivaldi for iOS

Vivaldi's iOS app is fairly similar to the Android version, but for those of you who have never used it, let us a take a look at what you can do with it. The new tab page has the usual "sponsored shortcuts", but you can remove them easily, and replace them with speed dials for your favorite websites.

There are two tab styles to choose from in Vivaldi: a minimal experience without a tab bar, or a Desktop Tab experience. The address bar stays at the top of the page in both styles. Most modern browsers have the URL bar at the bottom because it is easier to reach. That said, the toolbar at the bottom of the iOS app provides access to the bookmarks, back and forward navigation buttons, search button (which triggers the URL bar), and a tab switcher.

The tab switcher lists all your tabs, recently synced tabs, and lets you enable private browsing mode. The trash can icon allows you to access your browsing history. You can switch between the four sections by swiping to the sides. Speaking of which, try swiping on the toolbar, this allows you to switch between tabs quickly. This is likely why the address bar is at the top of the screen, I suppose that's a decent trade-off.

Vivaldi supports pull to refresh, you may want to use that to quickly reload pages. The pull gesture also displays two icons: + and x. Tap the + button to open a new tab, or the x to close the current tab.

The shield icon in the top left corner shows the protection details of the current page, you may use it to turn off the blocker, or adjust the settings. You can manage the blocking level on a per-site basis from the app's settings.  Tap the Vivaldi logo in the top right corner to access the browser's menu. I think the options are fairly self-explanatory.

Even though Vivaldi's set up guide offers an option to set it as your default browser, there is no setting that lets you do it. The Start Page has 4 layouts to choose from: Large, Medium or Small icons, or a list view.

Trackers and Ad blocking

Vivaldi's ad blocker is a little disappointing in its current state. Sometimes it seems to block ads on websites and video services like YouTube, but I found ads creeping in here and there. If you have the free version of the AdGuard app, it may block ads more efficiently. I use that with Safari and found it to be working rather well with Vivaldi.

Fortunately, the browser lets you manage the ad blocking sources, and you can even import a custom source by scrolling down to the bottom of the page.

Note: Vivaldi does allow some ads by default. I recommend disabling the "allow ads from our partners" option for your privacy.

DuckDuckGo Tracker Radar is the primary tracker blocking source in Vivaldi, but you can add a different one if you want to.  As far as privacy and security are concerned, Vivaldi has an "Always use HTTPS" option, though it is disabled by default. The app supports Handoff, so you can use it to pick up where you left on another device.

Yahoo is the default search engine in Vivaldi browser, the other options that you may choose are Bing, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, StartPage, Google, Neeva and Wikipedia. I couldn't find a way to add a third-party search engine, the edit button is not usable.

Vivaldi supports synchronizing your bookmarks, settings, passwords, autofill, and history across your devices. The browser has a built-in password manager that offers to save your logins, payment information, and addresses. I'm not a fan of browser-based password managers. I think you're better off using Keychain, or Bitwarden or an app of your choice, as they allow you to use them across platforms and without having to rely on a browser.

How to join Vivaldi for iOS TestFlight program

Visit the official TestFlight page to participate in the beta test. You will need to have the TestFlight app installed on your iPhone or iPad, to get access to the beta. Once you have enrolled into the beta, you will be able to download Vivaldi for iOS.

The Vivaldi Testflight program is currently full, so you won't be able to join it. But, a redditor shared a workaround to bypass this restriction. All you need to do is search for "Vivaldi beta TestFlight site:testflight.apple.com", (like this) and click on the TestFlight link that appears at the top of the results. It worked for me, so it should allow you to access it too.

Vivaldi for iOS runs on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 or later.

This is a pretty good start for Vivaldi for a beta, although I did experience a couple of crashes when tinkering with the Settings. It remains to be seen what they can do, if and when Apple allows third-party browsers to use custom engines. Vivaldi needs to do a better job of explaining how the gestures work, I was familiar with those because I have used the Android app, but I think new users may not be aware of the options.

Vivaldi for iOS is based on Webkit, which is the engine that powers Apple Safari, and requires all web apps to use. If you don't like the browser, take a look at DuckDuckGo or Brave Browser, as they also offer tracker and ad blocking capabilities.

Vivaldi for iOS is now available in TestFlight

Overnight it has been found that Google launched an internal testing build referred to as a "dogfood" build of its Personal Safety app to the Play Store. Within this new build a new feature has been found which gives Pixel owners the ability to use the device as a dashcam.

The build number of the Personal Safety app, version 2023.04.27.532191641.8-dogfood, contains a feature within the "Be Prepared" section of the home tab of the app labelled "Dashcam." Upon selecting this feature, it goes through setup screens which give options such as enabling or disabling audio, and launching automatically when connecting to vehicle bluetooth.

The key details of the feature are that it allows for recording up to 24 hours per video, or until recording is manually stopped, in the background. The videos that are saved are compressed to save space, and Google lists the average video size as 30 MB per minute. It also has a responsibility section covering usage of devices on the road and what you do with the footage that you have recorded.

The settings also allow for a timeframe to be set for how long the device keeps recorded video saved, with the default setting to delete any footage being "After 3 days". When reviewing any recorded videos, a standard share sheet is presented to the user as well as a delete button.

Overall, the feature appears to be almost complete and ready to launch, however, no timeframe has been provided at present for when this will be made generally available to all.

Source: 9to5Google

Google is adding the ability to use your Pixel as a dashcam

The official Motorola Twitter page posted a brief video, showing outlines of two foldable phones that then blend into the company's well-known logo. The clip ends with the phrase, "Flip the script. June 1, 2023."

While that may be the official date, there have already been leaks about the upcoming Razr phones. Yes, there will apparently be two new Razr models both of which will retain the flip phone design of the previous versions. The cheaper model will reportedly be known as the Moto 40, and it's rumored to have a small outside display cover.

However, the more expensive model, the Razr 40 Ultra, has already been leaked with what look like official renders. They show a big outer display and a large foldable screen that reportedly has a 120H refresh rate. It's also supposed to have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor, up to 12 GB of RAM, and up to 512 GB of onboard storage.

However, there's really no need to speculate since we will get everything about these new foldable phones in 16 days or so.

Motorola teases new Razr foldable smartphones to be revealed on June 1

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is expected to feature a distinct teardrop hinge design, enabling the screen to fold more evenly with fewer wrinkles. While reports differ on the exact phone dimensions, the inner screen is expected to measure 7.6 inches, with the outer screen at 6.2 inches. The device is also rumored to have IP68 water and dust resistance certification.

Camera specifications have generated considerable interest, with conflicting reports suggesting either a 108 MP primary sensor, a 64 MP 2x telephoto lens, and a 12 MP wide-angle lens, or a 50 MP main lens, a 12 MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 10 MP telephoto camera.

On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will feature an upgraded hinge mechanism designed to minimize creases in the middle of the screen. This new teardrop hinge will allow both sides of the folding screen to close tightly without leaving a gap. The external display is also likely larger, potentially measuring 3.8 inches, providing more space for additional features and controls.

A Snapdragon chipset will power the device, probably the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and offer storage options ranging from 128GB to 512 GB. The phone's photographic capabilities are expected to include a dual-lens rear camera system with a 12 MP primary camera and a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle lens.

Source: Chosun (Korean)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and Flip5 will launch on July 26

It’s not just retail stores Apple is opening in India. One of the nation’s biggest industrial giants, Tata Group, has joined the world’s exclusive group of iPhone manufacturers and is expected to begin building iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus series devices in India later this year.

India takes a seat in the iPhone club

Beyond smaller components, this is the first time Apple has begun working with an India-based company on iPhone manufacturing at this level. Existing partners Foxconn Technology Group, Pegatron Corp, and Luxshare Precision Industry are based outside the nation.

The move follows Tata Group’s acquisition of Taiwanese firm Wistron Corp’s factory in India following months of negotiation. The decision to sell up may reflect a difficult event in 2020 when violence broke out at the Wistron factory in India over working conditions.

However, the intensity with which Apple is focusing on diversifying its supply chain extends to all the company’s suppliers, with Foxconn recently announcing plans to invest $500 million in Telengana, India. (Apple and partners are also investing in manufacturing facilities elsewhere in Southern Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam, and elsewhere.)

The aim is to build a multi-point supply chain that becomes more resilient to shocks such as COVID-19 and continued political turmoil.

Citing a claim from TrendForce, the South China Morning Post tells us the new manufacturer will be contracted to build a small number of Apple smartphones initially, with that number set to increase in future years.

Production at a global scale

Shifting a supply chain at this scale has a profound impact. Foxconn’s investment, for example, is expected to create 25,000 jobs at first, a number that will increase as the quantity of Apple devices made in India grows.

JP Morgan has predicted that India may account for as much as 25% of all iPhone production by 2025. At present, India’s iPhone manufacturing sector makes around 7% of iPhones and employs roughly 63,000 workers.

The effort has taken years and even now Apple, India’s government, and local states are negotiating hard to introduce new working rules to enable changes such as women’s on-site factory dormitories and 12-hour workdays. That’s not possible under current regulations, which seek to protect workers against exploitation.

Many of these rules were recently changed in a national Factories Act, but local states including Tamil Nadhu appear to want to withdraw from those amendments under pressure from unions and political parties.

Given the resistance to those rules, it’s possible the Act may be revised to cover only certain sectors, specifically iPhone assembly. Apple vendors employ around a million workers in China, so there’s a plenty of economic motivation to strike that balance between multinational profit and local human need.

India’s economy is growing quickly

India is a growing economic powerhouse that already eclipses the UK as the world’s fifth biggest economy. The analysts at Wedbush recently said Apple could generate an additional $20 billion each year in revenue through its work in India by 2025, anticipating further growth after that.

Speaking to the depth of the relationship between India’s government and Apple, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said, “We are in regular touch with them…. We hand-hold them because in a way, the eyes of the whole world are fixed on Apple.”

“All of these things bode well for India’s future, and we want to be a part of it,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said during his most recent trip to India. “We want to be a part of it for all of ourselves, not not just a part of it, from a marketing point of view.  I can’t stress enough. We are all in…. India over time will be one of Apple’s largest markets…, the scale will be enormous…. India is at a tipping point."

Investment beyond manufacturing

Apple confirmed record results in the nation during its most recent fiscal call.

Supporting this growth, Apple is investing in new office space in India’s Silicon Valley in Bengaluru, and recently changed its global sales structure to help prioritize and accelerate local decision-making there. Apple’s India leadership is now two phone calls away from Cook, and the company has also begun investing in environmental and social projects in the country to help meet its target for a carbon neutral supply chain.

With so much in play, it’s of little surprise that big manufacturing companies such as Tata Group are seeking to take space in Apple’s business.

Source

It wouldn’t be Google I/O if the company didn’t have a new version of its smartphone and tablet operating system waiting in the wings — and while Android 14 got totally upstaged by AI and the company’s first folding phone, we’ve since learned more from the company’s developer sessions.

 

Don’t get too excited: these changes are subtle! But here are a few ways Google’s “Upside Down Cake” might make your life slightly sweeter when it arrives this fall (autumn/Northern hemisphere).

 

Every Android version has a dessert codename — Android 14’s is “Upside Down Cake,” and Android 13’s was “Tiramisu.” The codenames were public until 2019.

Screenshot by Sean Hollister / Video by Google

Ditch passwords

Passkeys are already here — but not evenly distributed. In Android 14, third-party apps will be able to use your Android phone and your fingerprint alone to sign you up and let you in.

 

 

There’s a new Credential Manager in Android 14 to walk you through those steps, and it can save multiple passkeys and passwords per app:

 

 

Realistically, it’ll take a while for apps to adopt passkeys, but many password managers and sign-on services will add them more quickly. Google says 1Password, Dashlane, Keeper, and Okta “will be available when Android 14 launches.”

Stop shady data brokers

Ever had a perfectly good app turn around and sell your data to advertisers, data brokers, or worse? You might have never known — but in Android 14, your phone will send you a monthly notification warning you when apps have changed their data-sharing practices. Assuming Google finds out, anyhow.

 

It’s part of a new data safety initiative, and you can see what it might look like in the images below:

 

 

Also, you’ll get a specific warning when apps ask you for permission to share your location: a button labeled “this app stated it may share location data with third parties” that you can tap for more information.

 

No more “urgent” notification spam clogging your screen

Google has decided that full-screen, “extremely high-priority” notifications are probably not something that just any rando developer should be able to do. Starting with Android 14, they’re just for incoming calls and alarms. Good!

Camera flash notifications and long loud volume alerts

If you’re the kind of person who goes seriously head down, this might get your attention — you’ll be able to flash your phone’s camera flash or your entire screen when you get an incoming notification.

 

 

Android 14 will also warn you when you’ve been listening to loud music for a long time with a nice big notification.

Customize your lock screen with crafted clocks

“Material You” isn’t going away in Android 14 — customization is here to stay:

 

 

Google’s also got some AI-generated wallpaper coming to Pixels ahead of Android 14.

Back to the back to the future

Predictive Back was actually an Android 13 feature, but Android 14 amps it up with animations. Basically, you can see what you’ll get when you swipe to go back a page, before you actually finish swiping.

 

 

Above you can see what it looks like in Spotify — a little sliding preview of the previous screen when you swipe back from an audio playback page.

A one-stop health shop

You might have heard Google launched a new Health Connect app to replace Google Fit — letting your health apps share data with your phone and vice versa — and that it might even come preinstalled on phones. The reality: Android 14 makes it an integrated part of the entire platform.

 

 

“Starting with Android 14, Health Connect is part of the platform and receives updates via Google Play system updates without requiring a separate download,” writes Google. Hey, app developers: the company is only promising to maintain the legacy Google Fit APIs through 2024.

Aid for hearing aids

Hearing devices won’t just be another dumb Bluetooth bud in Android 14 — you can pick which sounds should go to your phone’s speaker and which should go to the listening device and swipe from your homescreen for dedicated controls.

 

Smarter file transfer

With Android 14, Google is recognizing there are long-running foreground processes that should get special treatment — like media playback, audio recording, and navigation. As part of that, it’s built a new API for backing things up to (and from) your phone.

 

 

Google says if a user starts a data transfer with this API, it should keep running until it succeeds, rescheduling and automatically pausing if you lose your connection, and resuming when that connection is restored.

Bigger text

Two hundred percent font scaling, but non-linear so things don’t look ridiculous. Hooray for accessibility!

 

Respect your regional preferences

Celsius or Fahrenheit? Do your weeks begin on Monday or Sunday or perhaps even Thursday? What set of numbers do you use? Is your country’s language gendered? Android 14 will let you set the first three preferences and provide a Grammatical Inflection API so translated / localized apps can address people without potentially insulting them.

 

Play lossless audio on USB headphones without missing calls

You could maybe already do this — but when you did, Android had to hand over audio control to your USB headphones and lost the ability to ring and alarm you properly. In Android 14, there are standard APIs for lossless and high-res playback without all the hurdles.

Keyboard, touchpad, and stylus enhancements

I don’t have a lot of detail but I overheard this during one developer session: “Android 14 adds automatic layout configuration for keyboards, improved touchpad gesture detection, advanced stylus motion prediction, and more.” Mishaal Rahman at XDA Developers spotted some of this in a beta, too.

Capture HDR images that older phones can still enjoy

When you’re snapping HDR photos on your Pixel or Samsung, you might be doing so in a format that’s tough for older phones to load properly.

 

 

Android 14 adds a new kind of JPEG image that’s actually two pictures in a single file: a normal SDR picture that can play on traditional screens and a “gain map” that captures the extreme brightness that only HDR displays can let you enjoy. Plus, metadata to combine them.

 

Your grandpa’s old phone just reads it as a normal JPEG, but newer devices with nice bright screens get the full 10-bit HDR image. I don’t get why Google and Qualcomm are marketing this as “Ultra HDR,” but it sounds like a good addition!

Fancy features for third-party cameras

 

The ML Kit document scanner.

Image: Google

 

With In-sensor zoom, Google will let camera apps “leverage advanced sensor capabilities to give a cropped RAW stream the same pixels as the full field of view.”

 

With Camera Extensions, Google will let apps “handle longer processing times, enabling improved images using compute-intensive algorithms like low-light photography on supported devices.” Night Sight in Instagram?

 

With a Document Scanner API for ML Kit, coming in Q4, apps should be able to scan physical receipts and other text documents into digital ones.

A more useful share button

The Sharesheet is what pops up after you press the share button in an app, and Android 14 gives app developers a dedicated row for their own custom buttons there — plus it “uses more signals from apps to determine the ranking of the direct share targets to provide more helpful results for the user.”

 

Rumored Android 14 features

While those are all the notable features I saw confirmed during Google I/O, there are also more than a few intriguing additions to Android spotted in betas or other code. Here are a few you might see in the final release:

 

• Make your phone a PC webcam.
• Automatically switch to the best cell signal across two SIMs.
• Single-app screen recording.
• Hide your PIN from shoulder surfers and auto-confirm for faster PIN entry.
• A built-in bloatware removal tool.
• Automatically whip out your loyalty cards when you’re at the store.

When is Android 14 coming out?

August or September, probably. That’s what this Google image below suggests anyhow.

 

 

16 ways that Android 14 will subtly improve your phone

Black Hat Asia Miscreants have infected millions of Androids worldwide with malicious firmware before the devices even shipped from their factories, according to Trend Micro researchers at Black Hat Asia.

This hardware is mainly cheapo Android mobile devices, though smartwatches, TVs, and other things are caught up in it.

The gadgets have their manufacturing outsourced to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM). That outsourcing makes it possible for someone in the manufacturing pipeline – such as a firmware supplier – to infect products with malicious code as they ship out, the researchers said.

This has been going on for a while, we think; for example, we wrote about a similar headache in 2017. The Trend Micro folks characterized the threat today as "a growing problem for regular users and enterprises." So, consider this a reminder and a heads-up all in one.

“What is the easiest way to infect millions of devices?” posed senior Trend Micro researcher Fyodor Yarochkin, speaking alongside colleague Zhengyu Dong at the conference in Singapore.

Yarochkin compared infiltrating devices at such an early stage of their life cycle to a tree absorbing liquid: you put the infection at the root, and it gets distributed everywhere, out to every single limb and leaf.

This insertion of malware began as the price of mobile phone firmware dropped, we're told. Competition between firmware distributors became so furious that eventually the providers could not charge money for their product.

“But of course there’s no free stuff,” said Yarochkin, who explained that, as a result of this cut-throat situation, firmware started to come with an undesirable feature – silent plugins. The team analyzed dozens of firmware images looking for malicious software. They found over 80 different plugins, although many of those were not widely distributed.

The plugins that were the most impactful were those that had a business model built around them, were sold on the underground, and marketed in the open on places like Facebook, blogs, and YouTube.

The objective of the malware is to steal info or make money from information collected or delivered.

The malware turns the devices into proxies which are used to steal and sell SMS messages, take over social media and online messaging accounts, and used as monetization opportunities via adverts and click fraud.

One type of plugin, proxy plugins, allow the criminal to rent out devices for up to around five minutes at a time. For example, those renting the control of the device could acquire data on keystrokes, geographical location, IP address and more.

“The user of the proxy will be able to use someone else’s phone for a period of 1200 seconds as an exit node,” said Yarochkin. He also said the team found a Facebook cookie plugin that was used to harvest activity from the Facebook app.

Through telemetry data, the researchers estimated that at least millions of infected devices exist globally, but are centralized in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. A statistic self-reported by the criminals themselves, said the researchers, was around 8.9 million.

As for where the threats are coming from, the duo wouldn’t say specifically, although the word “China” showed up multiple times in the presentation, including in an origin story related to the development of the dodgy firmware. Yarochkin said the audience should consider where most of the world's OEMs are located and make their own deductions.

“Even though we possibly might know the people who build the infrastructure for this business, its difficult to pinpoint how exactly the this infection gets put into this mobile phone because we don’t know for sure at what moment it got into the supply chain,“ said Yarochkin.

The team confirmed the malware was found in the phones of at least 10 vendors, but that there was possibly around 40 more affected. For those seeking to avoid infected mobile phones, they could go some way of protecting themselves by going high end. That is to say, you'll find this sort of bad firmware in the cheaper end of the Android ecosystem, and sticking to bigger brands is a good idea though not necessarily a guarantee of safety.

“Big brands like Samsung, like Google took care of their supply chain security relatively well, but for threat actors, this is still a very lucrative market,” said Yarochkin. ®

Source

Google Pixel 7a is one of the worst-kept secrets of 2023. We already knew most of its specs, design, and colour options even before the company revealed that it was working on such a device. Pixel 7a is the successor of Pixel 6a, which was revealed at the Google I/O 2023 keynote event on May 10, while Pixel 7 is a much older device. Here is everything you need to? know about the Google Pixel 7a vs. Pixel 7 comparison!

Pixel 7a Specs

Google Pixel 7a features a Google Tensor G2 processor that delivers reliable performance. It launched with only a 128GB storage option and will offer 8 GB of memory to help you run all your files smoothly. It also has a 6.1-inch OLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. Google says that it supports FHD+.

The camera system is also impressive, with a 64MP main sensor, a 13MP ultrawide lens, and a 13MP front-facing camera for selfies and video calls. The battery life is also another aspect to consider, with a 4,385mAh capacity that will probably be enough for you for daily usage. The Pixel 7A comes in various colours to match your style, charcoal, coral, sea, and snow, and it costs $499.

Pixel 7 Specs

On the other side of the competition, Google's Pixel 7 is powered by the same processor, the Google Tensor G2 chip, and has 8GB of memory. Differentiating from the Pixel 7a, you have two options for storage; 128GB or 256GB. Its battery life is slightly weaker than the new model with 4,355 mAh.

Pixel 7 is equipped with a 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and 10.8MP front camera. Another important difference is its screen. The Pixel 7 has a slightly bigger display, 6.3-inch OLED with 90Hz, but it is also $100 more expensive, priced at $599. Pixel 7 colours include Lemongrass, Snow, and Obsidian.

Comparison

Storage options are one of the most important parts where the regular Pixel 7 steps us. While Pixel 7a only offers a 128GB model, you have three options for Pixel 7; 128GB and 256GB. If you need more storage, Pixel 7 wins the race in that area. Pixel 7 also supports fast charging, while 7a lacks that feature.

Both devices are identical when it comes to the processor and memory specs. However, their screens are different, and if you are a fan of larger displays, Pixel 7 wins the race once again with a 6.3-inch OLED with 90Hz against 7a's 6.1-inch display. Pixel 7's display can go up to 2400 x 1080 FHD+ resolution and offers better performance for users looking for bigger screens when deciding which phone to buy.

On the other hand, Google's new Pixel 7a has a better camera than Pixel 7, which makes it even a better option than Pixel 7 Pro model, which shares the same camera specs as the vanilla model. If you are looking for a better camera setup, Pixel 7a will be your go-to option with a 64MP main sensor, a 13MP ultrawide lens, and a 13MP front-facing camera for selfies and video calls.

Pixel 7a's specs look promising, and it is $100 cheaper than Pixel 7, which makes it a lot more appealing as pricing is one of the most important things to consider when buying a phone. Google also revealed a new deal the customers who buy the Pixel 7a smartphone will also get a pair of Pixel Buds A-Series earbuds.

It looks like a close call, but considering what we have talked about under the comparison heading, find out which one is more appealing to you or which one will be able to match your needs and pay the price!

Google Pixel 7a vs Pixel 7: Which one to buy?

When you saw the unveiling of the Pixel Fold during the I/O keynote yesterday, you probably took a long look at the $1,800 handset and said to yourself, “Cool, but I don’t really want to spend that much money on something so weird.”

Turns out, the urge to not buy a folding phone is a common one; folding devices have captured less than 2 percent of the smartphone market and still exist firmly within a niche. But that reluctance is actually fine for Google, since the company most likely does not expect the Pixel Fold to sell in huge numbers. Instead, Google expects the device to show its designers a whole lot about how people use folding phones, and how Android must adapt to best serve this growing market of handsets with multiple screens.

Anshel Sag, an analyst at the firm Moor Insights & Strategy, points to the high price of the Pixel Fold as a marker for Google’s intentions with the device. Its going rate is about the same as something like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold4, and nearly $800 pricier than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip4. If Google really wanted to sell more units, it might have dropped the price enough to undercut Samsung’s larger foldable, or tried to entice folks who’ve never considered a folding phone because they don’t have a couple grand to spare. Priced as it is, the Pixel Fold cannot be expected to become the next big hit. It’s instead meant to be a vessel on which Google can perfect its foldable software future.

“They have to build hardware to be able to understand how that software will be used,” Sag says. “Most of the issues with foldables have been resolved, with the exception of software. Google needs to improve the experience and, more importantly, enable developers to make the most of foldables as a form factor.”

For comparison, consider Google’s Pixel Watch, the Android-powered wearable that was recently released into an already mature wrist computer market dominated by Apple, Samsung, and Garmin. It was years late to the starting line and emerged as a smooth and beautiful device that was nevertheless underpowered and buggy. The Pixel Watch has still sold reasonably well, though nowhere close to the competition. So why bother making it at all? Well, because there is a whole ecosystem of software for Wear OS devices that Google knows it needs to be on top of. And because it makes both the hardware and the software, Google can use the Pixel Watch to experiment with new interactions, apps, and experiences.

Building a proprietary folding device once again gives Google total control of the hardware and software for a new class of gadget. On its own foldable phone, the company can better tinker with things like multitasking, screen switching, or app behaviors specific to larger screens. The company doesn’t need to sell millions of units to learn how these things should work. It needs to sell just enough Pixel Folds to get an idea of how people are using it in the wild.

“It’s very much a first-generation product,” Sag says. “There are some unique capabilities we won’t see in anything else, but this will be a low volume device.”

Cleaner Slate

The Fold could also be a way to revamp an older form factor in Google’s wide-ranging lineup: tablets. Android tablets have languished in the shadow of Apple’s iPad for years now. Neither consumers nor Google itself seem certain of how an Android tablet is supposed to fit into peoples’ lives. Google is pitching its newly announced Pixel Tablet as a casual device meant for controlling a smart home and consuming entertainment and not as a productive or creative workhorse. To underscore this strategy, the table comes with a charging dock that has a speaker built in; docking the tablet turns it into a photo frame that doubles as a controller for the smart home.

“One of the things they realize is tablets don't really leave the home all that often,” says Jitesh Ubrani, a research manager at the tech analyst firm IDC.

Google could be using insights from the Fold’s large display to spruce up the way apps work on a tablet that stays in your lap. Apps meant to work on a device where you constantly fold, unfold, and spin the screen have to be dynamic enough to match those changes. The Fold could be the testing ground for an ecosystem of apps that are more adaptive and responsive to these actions, seamlessly spinning and scaling to different orientations.

Of course, Google also sees each new product as a playground for its artificial intelligence efforts. Sag points out that many of the company's services are thinly veiled vessels for machine learning algorithms that track your movements, study your behaviors, and collect your data. During yesterday’s I/O keynote, Google executives spent 80 minutes on the topic of generative AI before they even got to the announcements about Android devices. 

But when they did, those announcements were given a sprinkling of AI pizzazz. Android phones are getting AI-generated wallpaper images, AI-powered photo editing tools, and messaging apps that can send AI-assisted texts. Google is sticking AI inside every mobile device for every context. The Pixel Fold and the Pixel Tablet, as odd as they are, will only help Google better learn how the new types of interactions the devices enable should fit into our lives.

Google Doesn’t Need You to Buy Its Folding Phone

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However, software lovers were also treated to a sneak peek into the upcoming Android 14, the next iteration of Google's popular operating system. With a renewed emphasis on privacy, customization, and visual aesthetics, Android 14 aims to revolutionize the user experience.

What are the new Android 14 features showcased at I/O 2023?

With the unveiling of Android 14's remarkable features at Google I/O 2023, it's evident that Google is dedicated to enriching the user experience. The emphasis on customization, immersive visuals, creative expression, and streamlined device tracking showcases Google's commitment to staying at the forefront of technological innovation.

Android enthusiasts can eagerly anticipate the arrival of Android 14, as it promises to redefine the boundaries of what a mobile operating system can offer.

Customization galore: Enhanced lock screen personalization

One of the standout features of Android 14 is the enhanced customization options for lock screens. Google's emphasis on personalization is evident as users can now exert greater control over their lock screen clocks. From selecting fonts, colours, sizes, and designs, to even adding lock screen shortcuts, Android 14 empowers users to make their lock screens truly their own. The ability to seamlessly switch between activities directly from the lock screen interface enhances convenience and efficiency.

Immersive visual delights: Emoji and cinematic wallpapers

Android 14 elevates visual aesthetics with its introduction of emoji and cinematic wallpapers. Users can now embrace a playful side by selecting from a vibrant range of emojis to create unique wallpapers for their home and lock screens. With interactive emojis that react to touch, the user's device comes alive with every interaction.

Building upon the visual appeal, Android 14 introduces cinematic wallpapers, enabling users to transform ordinary photographs into mesmerizing 3D images. By incorporating motion effects, these dynamic wallpapers add depth and captivate attention, turning the user's device into a captivating window to another world.

Unlocking creativity: Generative AI wallpapers

With Android 14's generative AI wallpapers, users are given the power to unleash their creativity. By selecting from various themes such as classical art or mystical botanicals, users can generate personalized wallpapers. The customizable prompts further refine the design, resulting in wallpapers that reflect the user's individuality. Android 14's generative AI wallpapers blur the boundaries between art and technology, fostering a unique and expressive user experience.

Locate with ease: Revamped Find My Device feature

Google recognizes the occasional misplacement of cherished devices and aims to alleviate the stress with Android 14's revamped Find My Device feature. If you accidentally leave your Google Pixel buds behind, for instance, you can now rely on nearby Android devices to assist in locating your Android 14-powered phone. This enhancement emphasizes Google's commitment to seamless integration and user convenience.

Google showcases exciting Android 14 features at I/O 2023

At Google I/O 2023, the company announced the new Pixel Tabet along with the much-awaited Pixel Fold and Pixel 7a. The Android-powered tablet sports the familiar Pixel design language with a textured aluminum enclosure and a nano-ceramic coating for improved grip.

However, Google has also introduced a Charging Speaker Dock bundled with the device which essentially doubles it up as a Google Home-style smart speaker. Pixel Tablet can magnetically attach to the dock and charge while using its bigger speakers to play audio. Other accessories include a $79 Pixel Tablet Case with a built-in steel ring that can be used to hang it from a hook or incline on a table.

Google Pixel Tablet specifications include the following:

• 10.95-inch 2560x1600 LCD panel with rounded corners and 500 nits peak brightness
• Google Tensor G2 octa-core SoC and Titan M2 security chip
• 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage
• Ships with Android 13
• 27-watt-hour battery that offers video streaming of up to 12 hours
• Front camera: 8MP with f/2.0 and 1/4" sensor, 1080p30 video recording
• Rear camera: 8MP with f/2.0 and 1/4" sensor, 1080p30 video recording
• Quad-speaker audio system with three microphones
• Dual-band WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, Ultra Wide Band, USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1
• Power button fingerprint sensor, 4-pin accessory connector
• colour options: Porcelain, Hazel, Rose

With its built-in Hub Mode, the Pixel tablet can act as a smart home controller allowing users to see their video doorbell feed, adjust their thermostat, or turn on the living room lights. Google said it has optimized over 50 of its own apps to make better use of the tablet's large display.

Apart from that, Google says that the device will receive at least five years of security updates, adding that these updates might include feature drops and other updates. Pixel Tablet is now available for pre-order from Amazon with a price tag of $499 (128GB) and $599 (256GB). As of now, it's offered in a WiFi-only configuration in multiple regions, including U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Japan, and Australia. Google says that the device will hit the shelves on June 20.

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Google launches Pixel Tablet that doubles up as a Google Home speaker

In terms of hardware, the Pixel 7a comes with the Google Tensor G2 processor, Titan M2 security chip, 8GB of RAM, a 90Hz Smooth Display, wireless charging, and support for Face Unlock. Google has packed all this stuff into its affordable Pixel offering so that more people can experience the “core Pixel experience”.

Google is very impressed with the upgraded camera system it has crammed into the Pixel 7a. The main camera has a 72% larger sensor than the Pixel 6a which allows in more than 44% of light. There’s also a brand new 13-megapixel ultrawide lens so you can snap more in your shops. If you’re a user of Night Sight, it’s now twice as fast as on the Pixel 6a.

The Pixel 7a can capture 4K video with the 13-megapixel front camera - this could be a big hit among vloggers and influencers. The Pixel 7a can also take long-exposure shots which should help when photographing things in motion, it could also help with astrophotography, though, Google didn’t say. Finally, the Tensor G2 allows the Pixel 7a to offer Super Red Zoom up to 8x for sharp, high-quality images.

Moving away from the camera features, the Pixel 7a include AI-powered Pixel Call Assist features. You can see what this includes below:

• Direct My Call lets you see menu options and get to the right department quicker when calling businesses.
• Call Screen tells you who's calling and why, so you know before picking up.
• Hold for Me waits on the line so you don’t have to and notifies you once the representative is available.
• Clear Calling enhances the caller’s voice and reduces background noise.
• Wait Times gives you an estimated time you’ll be on hold for when calling a business.

The Pixel 7a is available in Charcoal, Snow, Sea, and Coral colours. You can buy it now via Amazon.

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Pixel 7a is available today from $499, has revamped camera system

Google has finally unveiled the Pixel Fold at the Google I/O 2023. The new phone will pave a way for Google to enter the foldable smartphone market.

The Google Pixel Fold looks similar to the Galaxy Fold but is not as tall as Galaxy Z Fold but wider than the Samsung counterpart. The device is powered by Google's Tensor G2 SoC with Titan M2 co-processor. It comes with 12GB LPDDR5 RAM with 256 and 512GB UFS 3.1 storage options. The device features a 4821mAh battery and supports up to 30W wired charging as well as Qi wireless charging.

In terms of camera, the Pixel Fold will come with a 9.5MP f/2.2 outer camera and an 8MP f/2.0 inner camera, both with fixed focus. At the rear, the Pixel Fold will feature a 48MP primary camera, 10.8MP ultra-wide with 121.1-degree FoV and 10.8MP 5x telephoto with Super Res Zoom up to 20x. For connectivity, Google has equipped the Pixel Fold with 5G (mmWave and sub 6), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC and UWB. The device supports dual SIM with a physical nano-SIM slot and an eSIM.

Coming to the highlight of the phone, the Pixel Fold features a 7.6-inch 2208x1840p OLED display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The display is covered with protective plastic and supports a peak brightness of 1450nits. The inner front camera sits on the top right of the phone.

Outside the Pixel Fold has a 5.8-inch 2092x1080p OLED display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The display is protected by Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus and supports a peak brightness of 1550nits. The device has a punch hole in the center for the outer front camera.

The Google Pixel Fold will be available in two colours; Obsidian and Porcelain. The device is priced at $1,799 and is up for pre-order in the US. Google is also bundling the Pixel Watch if you pre-order the phone right now. The phone will be shipped to customers starting next month.

Google finally unveils Pixel Fold, company's first foldable smartphone

As part of Google I/O 2023, the company announced a new way for Android phone owners to find them, even if the phone is currently offline. It's an update to the Find My Device app that will use Bluetooth connections to basically crowdsource a lost phone's location:

Google stated:

We’ve heard from you that being able to locate devices that are offline or that don’t have location capabilities would make keeping track of your devices more seamless. That’s why later this summer, we're launching a refreshed Find My Device experience that makes it easier than ever to locate your devices and belongings quickly and securely by ringing compatible devices or viewing their location on a map in the app – even when they’re offline. The new Find My Device network will harness over a billion Android devices across the world to help you locate your missing belongings like headphones, tracker tags, or even your phone via Bluetooth proximity.

Google added this new Bluetooth feature for finding devices will use end-to-end encryption for extra safety. It also repeated an announcement with Apple that it was developing a way to combat unwanted tracking of wireless devices with a new joint specification that should be approved by the end of 2023.

Google will soon help Android owners find their device even if its offline

In Google's blog post, it stated that the apps can also adapt to foldable screens to change layouts if it moves between a standard smartphone screen and the larger foldable phone screen. Here's an example with the Google Calendar app:

You can view your monthly calendar on the left and details of your day’s events on the right. A new navigation bar on the top makes it easy to switch between different views (e.g. day, week, month). The app also smoothly transitions from a foldable phone’s front screen through to the inner screen.

Other apps that work with larger screens include Calm, Candy Crush Soda Saga, YouTube, and Peloton. These updates will roll out over the next few weeks. The Google Play Store has also been updated for these screens:

You can now see immersive trailer videos of games you are interested in on the large screen, view app ratings based on the type of form factor you are using, and use one device to effortlessly install apps across all your Android devices.

Stay tuned as we will have more news from Google I/O

Android tablets and foldable phones will be getting special versions of apps

So this year, schools in Ohio, Colorado, Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, California and others banned the devices in class to curb student obsession, learning disruption, disciplinary incidents and mental health worries.

“We basically said, ‘This has got to stop,’” said Dayton Public Schools Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli. “We’ve got academic issues that are not going to be fixed … if our students continue to sit on their phones.”

Most school systems already had cellphone bans in 2020, according to federal data, but the pandemic brought more urgency to places with lenient rules or lax enforcement. Some invested in ways to lock up phones away during school hours. Others forced students to keep them hidden away — with strict penalties for violations.

The stakes are higher after the covid years, with many districts behind academically up to a year or more and doing all they can to help students catch up. Some have come to see social media — accessed via students’ phones — as a major contributor to poor mental health. A string of school systems has filed suit against the platforms.

But many students — who use their phones for listening to music, arranging rides home, checking on grades or assignments — are unhappy with the crackdowns. Some check in with parents or coaches by text. Some think the decision should be theirs, not a school dictate.

Parents have been split on the issue, with many critics insisting their children need phones in case of an emergency.

“We’re not trying to infringe on anybody’s freedom, but we need to have full attention in the classroom,” said Nancy J. Hines, superintendent in the Penn Hills School District, in the suburbs of Pittsburgh.

Hines said cellphone problems in her diverse 3,000-student system intensified after the pandemic. Hoping to switch the focus from scrolling to learning, the district tried a ban last year in its middle school. Homeroom teachers collected phones every morning and locked them in zippered storage cases. Students picked up their cellphones before heading home.

This year, they went a step further, expanding to high school. There, students slip their phones into locking Yondr pouches (about $16 each) that they carry with them all day and that they open by tapping it against a magnetic device as they leave.

The experience has not been perfect. Some students gamed the system by putting an old cellphone in the pouch and hiding their current device. But it generally has gone well, she said. “Do we have 100 percent compliance?” she said. “No, but the majority of our teachers would say that it is much better. There are fewer distractions.”

In Philadelphia, 27 public schools use Yondr pouches, said spokeswoman Monique Braxton. Schools request approval from the district and pay for them out of their own budgets, she said.

Principal Megan Wapner rolled out the pouches at her K-8 school in Philadelphia this year for students in fourth grade to eighth grade. Now, she said, she sees children talk to each other at lunch, rather than text or scroll. If a parent needs to reach a student during school hours, school staff promptly relay messages, she said.

But in Virginia Beach, with 64,000 students, district officials considered the pouches too expensive, given the number of students who would need them. They discussed several approaches, deciding “there has to be some personal responsibility on the individuals that come to our schools to follow the rules,” said Matthew Delaney, chief schools officer.

A new regulation this school year forbids cellphone use during instructional hours or in a school setting. Middle-schoolers now must keep phones stowed in their lockers. High school students may carry phones — and use them during lunch or between classes — but not in class.

Teachers refer offenders to an administrator, who may give them a warning, an in-school detention or another punishment.

Students punch a timecard at the start of school and surrender their cellphones at Prairie Creek High School in Strasburg, Colo., in 2019. (RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post/Getty Images)

Delaney said the district has “seen some great strides,” but challenges continue: Teachers have to monitor the issue, and parents have to support the district’s desire to restrict them.

“It’s a consistent area of concern that we try to get ahead of and at times we have to react to,” he said.

Andrea Palomino-Jayo, 17, a high school senior in Virginia Beach, has not minded the change. Teachers were strict as the school year started, she said, and continue to remind students from time to time. She keeps her phone off and tucked into her book bag — and likes that students are involved in class discussions instead of “what’s on their phone,” she said.

Many teachers are all-in for new limits.

In Kansas, teachers have raised the issue during contract negotiations — which are ongoing — asking the district to ban cellphones in class. The goal is for a districtwide discussion of the issue, said Katie Warren, president of the United Teachers of Wichita. Previously, teachers had asked principals for schoolwide restrictions, with varied results.

The timing is ideal, said Mike Harris, a high school teacher and union vice president. As a result of the pandemic, Wichita students now have district-provided Chromebooks they can use in class for research or other online work. “They don’t need their cellphones to learn,” he said.

Superintendent Bill Wilson, who leads a system of 1,400 students in Brush, Colo., about 90 miles northeast of Denver, said nearly all of student discipline issues last year were the result of phones or involved phones. Social media posts and texts during school hours often led to conflicts, bullying or other infractions, he said.

 This year, the rules are the same in every classroom: No phones. If students are caught in class or even in a hallway, they must go to their school’s office and wait for a parent to come to collect their phone. If they need to read messages on their phone — say, about a ride home or a team practice — the rules permit them to visit the office and view them there.

“When they’re finished, they put the phone back into their backpacks and go on their way,” he said.

With the Yondr system, phones are sealed inside at the start of school. Students tap the pouch on an unlocking base to open it as they leave at the end of the day. (Yondr)

 He sees more interaction between teachers and students, more focus, less conflict in hallways. And only a handful of students are second-time offenders, he said. “The majority of our students, when we surveyed them, were thankful for it because it has reduced the stress in their life,” he said. “They’re not worried about what their friends are saying, at least not during school time.” Several parents were critical early on, he said, but most have been accepting.

For other parents, the higher priority is being in touch in a crisis. Rachel Whittemore, who lives in the suburbs of New York City, said she noticed her 13-year-old son was visibly anxious about a proposed cellphone ban at a previous school, having grown up with a steady drumbeat of news about school shootings. His school now allows students to carry phones as long as they don’t use them during school hours — which works for him.

“I’m afraid that if something happens, I won’t be able to contact anyone … to tell people I’m okay or I’m not,” the eighth grader said. “Worst case scenario: You can at least say goodbye.”

But educators and experts say students need to focus on their surroundings during a crisis, not their cellphones.

People peering into phones “lose all awareness of what is going on around them,” which can increase the likelihood of being hurt, said Jaclyn Schildkraut, a researcher on school and mass shootings and executive director of the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium at Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government in New York.

“You’re putting yourself at greater risk because you’re not actively working to protect yourself,” she said. Phones should not be pinging with messages either — or even used in silent mode during an active shooter incident, she said. After the crisis subsides, students can connect with parents, she said.

In Danbury, Conn., Kristy Zaleta, principal of Rogers Park Middle School, switched to a new approach this year, too: Phones are off limits except during the school’s three-minute transition periods and its 30-minute lunch. “Any other time, they’re taken away,” she said.

The result: “There’s a calmer sense,” she said. “It definitely feels like the air has changed.” The previous year, she said, “almost broke us.”

Source

Apple is working on a new Live Activities feature for the Maps app that will display turn-by-turn navigation directly on the lock screen, according to Apple leaker @analyst941. They claim that it will be a part of iOS 17 and shared a render that gives an idea of how the unreleased feature would look in action. It shows the map in a square window along with some direction prompts at the top.

Released with iOS 16 last year, Live Activities is meant to display an app's most current data on the lock screen and in Dynamic Island. For instance, the feature can show how far an Uber is from its pickup location.It can also display workout progress, live game scores, or how much time is left for a food delivery order to arrive.

As per their tweet, the Maps Live Activity feature will offer a "seamless transition when unlocking" the device. Users will be able to swipe up on the screen and view their notifications as usual. While covering a big real estate on the lock screen, it would be like "a wallpaper for the most part" with the ability to move the map around, the leaker said. However, they added that the company is experimenting with a single tap or long press on the map to open the full app.

The company is also testing multiple ways to resize the live activity such as adding a graphic button, or with a long press or single tap. Moreover, the leaker alleges that it's possible to minimize the live activity to the size of the music player in the lock screen and re-maximize it by tapping the activity.

iOS 17 is rumored to bring various other features such as revamped versions of the Wallpapers, Health, and Wallet apps. Apple will talk about the iOS 17 features and changes during its WWDC 2023 keynote next month. It is expected to add the long-awaited app sideloading capability as well but a recent report suggests the feature might be limited to Europe only.

New report claims iOS 17 to display turn-by-turn navigation directly on the lock screen

Canalys noted that tablet shipments tend to drop off following the holiday period. This year, it was more pronounced due to the cost of living crisis hitting many countries around the world. In addition, there’s a correction taking place following the large increase in demand through the pandemic when working from home became popular. It said companies are now recalibrating expectations for more modest demand.

Discussing the appeal of tablets in education, Himani Mukka, Research Manager at Canalys, said:

“Beyond consumers, tablet vendors will also see future growth opportunities from commercial and education deployments. There has been some stagnation in procurement from businesses and the public sector amid economic challenges, but budgets are set to rematerialize. Education demand in Asian markets will be a big volume driver, particularly for low-to-mid-range Android devices.”

Of the top five tablet manufacturers, all saw annual growth declines. The company that saw the largest decline was Lenovo at -37.0%. The company with the smallest decline was Huawei at -4.3% but this was the smallest of the top five brands to begin with. The market leaders, Apple and Samsung, saw slight increases in their market share year-over-year to 38.9% and 21.2% respectively.

Tablet shipments fell to lowest levels since start of pandemic, Apple grew its market share