gizmosure

Author: Allen Parker

  • Windows 10 reportedly surpasses Windows 7

    Windows 10 reportedly surpasses Windows 7

    Windows 10 has finally surpassed Windows 7 in terms of users. Officially released back in 2015, the latest version of Windows now has more users than Windows 7. According to a report by Net Market Share, Windows 10 has now captured a user base of 39.22 percent, beating Windows 7’s user base of 36.90 percent.

    Hence, Windows 10 becomes the most popular OS in the world, way ahead of macOS X which has userbase of 9.61 percent, followed by Windows XP and Windows 8.1.

    Microsoft originally hoped to achieve over one billion Windows 10 devices in a span of three years, though that did not happen. The company announced back in May last year that nearly 700 million PCs are running Windows 10.  It’s also worth noting that Windows 10 growth was impacted ever since the end of the free upgrade offer for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users.

    The latest version of Windows did see an increase market share, though at a much slower pace, as more and more businesses moved away from Windows 7. With that being said, one can’t deny the fact that Windows 10 adoption accelerated throughout 2017-18.

    Users still running older versions of Windows

    That said, the majority of users are still running older versions of the OS even now. Extended support for Windows 7 will come to end in 2020, and by that time Microsoft should be able to achieve that 1 billion target.

    During the initial launch of the OS, Microsoft said it won’t have much trouble getting users to upgrade to newer versions of Windows in the near future. The company’s Windows as a Service strategy has performed rather well so far, with more than 20 percent of all Windows 10 users already using the latest feature update for the OS, which rolled out in October.

    Not to mention, Microsoft has a huge year ahead of itself with one major update planned for the first half of 2019, while another in the second half of 2019.

  • AT&T working on a 2-in-1 portable charger for iPhone and Apple Watch

    AT&T working on a 2-in-1 portable charger for iPhone and Apple Watch

    It appears AT&T plans to join the lucrative and ever-growing wireless charger accessory market. As according to an FCC filing, the carrier is allegedly working on a 2-in-1 iPhone and Apple Watch charger that also houses a 3000mAh battery for charging on-the-move.

    The filing also reveals the name of this accessory, which AT&T calls the Power Drum Wireless charger and Apple Watch Power Bank. Not to mention, it’ll also work with any smartphone that supports the Qi wireless charging standard.

    power drum

    Going by the the diagram shown in the filing, the top of the Power Drum serves as Qi charging pad for your iPhone or any Qi-compatible smartphone. Besides, the device integrates Apple Watch charger on the front. The hardware supports output of up to 10W, though it can be dialed back to 7.5W for iPhones.

    You can find the complete documentation of the Power Drum below:

    • Made for: Apple Watch Series 3, Apple Watch Series 2, Apple Watch Series 1, Apple Watch (1st generation)
    • 2-in-1 portable charger, charges an Apple Watch and Qi-enabled wireless device simultaneously
    • 3000mAh capacity battery
    • Built-in magnetic charging module for Apple Watch
    • LED charge indicators
    • Input: Micro USB
    • Output: up to 10W on select wireless charging devices and up to 5W on Apple Watch

    As we can see in the documentation above, it does not mention support for the Apple Watch 4. That said, it’s highly unlikely the accessory won’t support the latest Apple Watch. It only implies that AT&T began working on the Power Drum nearly a year ago.

    As far as pricing goes, the documnetaion suggests the Power Drum will set you back by $99.99. However, there’s no mention when the carrier will start shipping the device. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • New Galaxy S10 Lite render allegedly leaked by case maker

    New Galaxy S10 Lite render allegedly leaked by case maker

    Samsng is expected to release the Galaxy S10 series flagships sometime in February, most likely ahead of MWC 2019. We’ve already come across a barrage of leaks and rumours about the upcoming Galaxy flagship over the past few months.

    As per earlier leaks, Samsung is widely rumored to announce three to four variants of the Galaxy S10. One of those variants is a 5.8-inch flat screen model with an Infinity O display, referred to as the Galaxy S10 Lite.

    The latest leak comes from reupted Samsung insider IceUniverse, who has a credible track record of posting legit details and renders about unreleased devices. He’s shared an image a seemingly authentic Galaxy S10 Lite render created by a case manufacturer, giving us a fairly good idea about the handset’s design.

    Going by the leaked render, the Galaxy S10 Lite could be one heck of a looker. We can see uniform bezels around the screen, much like the newly launched iPhone range. Besides, we can see the punch-hole for the camera near the top right corner, which in our opinion looks much better than notched displays.

    Moving on, the leaked render shows it’ll have the classic 3.5mm jack on the bottom, right next to the USB-Type C port.

    Apart from these details, not much can be gleaned from the leaked render. Neither does the render show where the fingerprint sensor will be positioned. That said, we’ve heard rumors that it could be housed on the back or on the edges.

    More details about the Galaxy S10 are likely to surface as we near its official release. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • iPad Mini 5 case allegedly leaked

    iPad Mini 5 case allegedly leaked

    An alleged case leak of the upcoming iPad Mini 5 is doing rounds on the web. Spotted on Slashleaks, the leaked case gives us an idea of how Apple’s next-generation iPad might look like.

    Going by the alleged leak, the case shows a vertical camera cutout, implying that the iPad Mini 5 might feature a similar camera layout as the iPad Pro with a rear flash. The back of the case also shows a microphone cutout in the centre.

    Moving on, we can see cutouts for the speakers at the top and bottom suggesting four speakers onboard the upcoming iPad Mini 5. Besides, there seems to be a cutout for the headphone jack at the bottom. Elsewhere, we can see a cutout at the side, which suggests the upcoming iPad Mini might feature a Smart Connector to support Smart Keyboard, just like the iPad Pro.

    Apart from this, the case leak doesn’t reveal any further details. Besides, we aren’t even sure whether this case is actually designed for the next-generation iPad Mini 5.

    That said, the rumor mill suggests that Apple is indeeding working on the iPad Mini 5. However, not much has been revealed about the new fetaures coming to the 7.9-inch tablet. There might be, though, a slim chance that the iPad Mini 5 could also support the older Apple Pencil, much-like like the 6th gen iPad.

    With the release of the large iPhones, it was predicted that the iPad mini would eventually phase out. The growing popularity of larger screens has apparently made small-sized tablets less attractive for users.

    However, the iPad Mini is an exception. It still enjoys a popularity among users and is selling well. And in the past, the iPad Mini served the purpose of bridging the gap between Apple’s small iPhones and large-sized iPads.

  • Qualcomm now pursuing ban on iPhone XS and iPhone XR

    Qualcomm now pursuing ban on iPhone XS and iPhone XR

    The legal spat between Apple and Qualcomm goes on. Last week, a Chinese court issued an order to ban sales of all iPhone models in the country since the iPhone 6s upto the iPhone X. Now, it appears Qualcomm is seeking a ban on the newly launched iPhone XS and iPhone XR as well.

    In an interview with Bloomberg, Qualcomm’s general counsel Don Rosenberg stated that the only reason why the newly launched iPhone range were not impacted by the court’s ruling, is because they weren’t launched at the time of the appeal.

    “It affects older iPhones. It affects the iPhone 6s right through the X, and the only reason it doesn’t apply at the moment to the later devices is because when we brought the suit they didn’t exist. The new models will be coming very soon. We are already in the process of seeking an order covering the new models as well,” said Rosenberg.

    To recall, a Chinese court issued a ban on iPhone sales in the country for violating Qualcomm patents. Apple was found to be infringing upon two patents as per the Chinese court’s ruling. These include a patent for changing and reformatting the size and appearance of photographs, and one for managing apps when viewing, navigating and dismissing apps using a touchscreen.

    Apple still selling iPhones in China

    Following the court’s ruling, Apple announced it would address the issue with an iOS update, which began rolling out on Monday. However, Qualcomm says that Apple should take the court order seriously and stop selling iPhones in China.

    “It should’ve been taken a bite and it should take a bite of Apple sales right now in China. The order requires them to stop selling, stop offering for sale, and stop importing any devices between these model numbers I suggested,” further added Rosenberg.

    Despite the court’s ruling, Apple is still selling iPhone models in China. The Cupertino-based company says that the latest iOS 12.1.2 update addresses the alleged patent violations.

  • iOS 12.1.2 update starts rolling out, fixes the eSIM bug

    iOS 12.1.2 update starts rolling out, fixes the eSIM bug

    Apple starts rolling out the new iOS 12.1.2 update for compatible iPhones. The latest iOS update is primarily aimed at fixing the eSIM activation bug for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR.

    To recall, eSIM functionality first arrived with iOS 12.1. All major carriers in the US such as Verizon, T Mobile, as well as AT&T are now supporting this feature. Apart from addressing issues with eSIM activation, the update also fixes an issue that could impact cellular connectivity in Turkey for Apple’s 2018 iPhone line-up.

    According to Apple’s release notes:

    iOS 12.1.2 includes bug fixes for your iPhone. This update includes:

    • Fixes bugs with eSIM activation for iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max
    • Addresses an issue that could affect cellular connectivity in Turkey for iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max

    The latest iOS 12.1.2 update could also include software tweaks for the Chinese market to negate Qualcomm’s patents. A court recently issued a ban on iPhone sales in China as Apple was found to infringe on two of Qualcomm’s patents. These include a patent for changing and reformatting the size and appearance of photographs, and one for managing apps when viewing, navigating and dismissing apps using a touchscreen.

    However, Apple said it would roll out an iOS update specifically to neutralize the ban imposed on iPhone sales in China. The Cupertino giant also added that the update will directly address patent violation claims made by Qualcomm.

    How to download iOS 12.1.2 on your iPhone

    To download the latest update, just head over to the Settings Menu. To check the update, go to Settings> General> Software Update. As with all iOS updates, iOS 12.1.2 is available as an over-the-air update and is free to download.

  • Galaxy S10 live photo allegedly spotted ahead of launch

    Galaxy S10 live photo allegedly spotted ahead of launch

    Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S10 series in a few weeks, and alleged leaks of the handset keep coming as we near its official release. Today, a live photo of the Galaxy S10 is allegedly doing rounds on the web, giving us a fairly good idea about the flagship’s design.

    A report by Wccftech has purportedly leaked an image which shows a hole on the handset’s display near the top right corner, indicating the place where the front-facing camera and other components will be housed. Samsung is expected use Infinity O displays on the upcoming Galaxy S10, and this new design element will allow Samsung to hide the front-facing components of the handset within the display.

    Galaxy S10 live photo

    Samsung could launch three to four variants of the Galaxy S10

    Samsung is widely expected to announce three to four variants of the upcoming Galaxy S10 featuring different camera configurations. And the model shown in the leaked photo shows a single-lens front facing shooter. Hence, there’s a chance this could be Galaxy S10’s base model, also referred to as the Galaxy S10 Lite, which rumoured to feature a 5.8-inch flat screen and a dual-lens primary camera setup.

    It also appears the handset will feature rather small bezels at the top of the screen. Besides, the leak also suggests the Galaxy S10 will not have a notch, which should be good news for fans, as this design element has received mixed responses from smartphone users around the globe.

    The latest leak does fall in line with earlier reports of the handset. That said, readers should take this information with pinch of salt as nothing is official at the moment. More leaks about the Galaxy S10 are likely to surface before its official release. We can even expect official press renders to leak out ahead of launch, as they did in the past. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • New Samsung Galaxy S10 leak reveals prices of all variants

    New Samsung Galaxy S10 leak reveals prices of all variants

    Rumors about the upcoming Galaxy S10 are flying thick and fast. Samsung is widely expected to announce three to four variants of the Galaxy S10 in early 2019. Now, a new report from Gizmodo suggests the flagship might be unveiled just before MWC 2019, while pre-orders could begin starting Februry 20, 2019. The report further notes that the Galaxy S10 could start shipping on March 8, 2019.

    As already mentioned, Samsung could launch three to four models of the Galaxy S10. All models of the flagship are likley to pack Infinity O displays. The screen on the upcoming Galaxy flagship has a hole near the top, which houses components such as front-facing camera.

    Besides, the report has allegedly revealed the prices of all upcoming Galaxy S10 models which you can find below:

    • Galaxy S10 (5.8-inch) 128 GB storage – ($850)
    • Galaxy S10 (6.1-inch) 128 GB storage – ($1,000)
    • Galaxy S10 (6.1-inch) 512 GB storage – ($1,250)
    • Galaxy S10+ (6.4-inch) 128 GB storage -($1,130)
    • Galaxy S10+ (6.4-inch) 512 GB storage -($1,390)
    • Galaxy S10+ (6.4-inch) 1 TB storage – ($1,760)

    Finally, the report also notes that the Korean manufacturer could launch a 5G variant of the Galaxy S10+ at a later date. Past leaks have tipped that this particular model could feature a total of six cameras.

    Besides, the upcoming Galaxy S10 will likely have two variants when it comes to processors, an Exynos 9820 model and a Snapdragon 855 variant. Qualcomm recently unveiled its next gen flagship mobile processor, the Snapdragon 855, and the Galaxy S10 with this processor will be launched in the United States.

    More Galaxy S10 leaks are likely to surface as we near its official release. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • Apple files an appeal to reverse iPhone ban in China

    Apple files an appeal to reverse iPhone ban in China

    Apple has filed an appeal with a Chinese court to reverse the ban imposed on all iPhone models in the country since the iPhone 6s. The ban is essentially a part of the ongoing legal battle between Qualcomm and Apple.

    “Qualcomm’s effort to ban our products is another desperate move by a company whose illegal practices are under investigation by regulators around the world,” Apple said in a statement to CNBC.

    While Qualcomm stated in a press release that a Chinese court has issued two preliminary injunctions against Apple subsidiaries in the country. As per the order, Apple is supposed to halt ‘sale and offers for sale in China of the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X’.

    “Apple continues to benefit from our intellectual property while refusing to compensate us. These Court orders are further confirmation of the strength of Qualcomm’s vast patent portfolio. The injunctions require Apple to immediately stop infringing on two Qualcomm patents,” said Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel, Qualcomm Incorporated.

    Apple was found to be infringing upon two patents as per the Chinese court’s ruling.

    These include a patent for changing and reformatting the size and appearance of photographs, and one for managing apps when viewing, navigating and dismissing apps using a touchscreen.

    Despite the court’s order, Apple insists it’ll keep selling iPhones in China. The Cupertino giant says it did not violate these patents and the ban goes beyond the scope of the two injunctions.

    “All iPhone models remain available for our customers in China. Qualcomm is asserting three patents they had never raised before, including one which has already been invalidated. We will pursue all our legal options through the courts,” said Apple.

    Apple and Qualcomm have been engaged in a rather fierce legal battle for the past few years. Both tech giants have sued each other in various courts in several countries across the globe.

  • Apple’s next iPhone will look much like the iPhone Xs, says analyst

    Apple’s next iPhone will look much like the iPhone Xs, says analyst

    It appears we can’t expect the next iPhone range to look much different from the current lineup.  As according to Nomuar analyst Anna Lee, Apple’s 2019-iPhone lineup won’t be much of a change from the current lineup. Now, this essentially implies that the next iPhone’s design will remain largely similar to the current iPhone XS.

    “We think the three new iPhones in 2H19F will likely have the same form factors (body size and displays) as the 2H18 iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, with some added AR [augmented reality]-related features,” said the analyst.

    Apple is widely expected to launch three iPhone models next year as well, a 5.8-inch model, a plus sized Max model, along with a 6.1-inch LCD model.

    “We think 2019 could be the last year the iPhone uses the iPhone X design architecture, in preparation for initial hardware specs for 5G (sub-6GHz) and AR (augmented reality), before greater architecture upgrades in 2020F for 5G and a more comprehensive AR system,”, the analyst further added.

    Besides, the analyst also notes there’s a good chance iPhone sales would shrink even further during the next fiscal year. The analyst estimates 204 million iPhone units sales is fiscal year 2019, while it’s expected to drop in fiscal year 2020 to 200 million units.

    Apple has already cut production orders for this year’s iPhone lineup. Reports indicate that iPhone XR orders have been massively reduced, by upto 30 percent.  Although, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have not witnessed such reduced orders.

    Apple’s decision to reduce production orders comes as a result of lower than anticipated demand for new iPhone models as well as overall shrinking of the smartphone-market. Reports further cite that weak demand in China is another reason for cutting down production of newly launched iPhone models.

  • Apple Watch Series 4 starts getting ECG functionality

    Apple Watch Series 4 starts getting ECG functionality

    The Apple Watch Series 4 was officially unveiled during the company’s annual keynote event in September. The company’s latest smartwatch practically stole the show thanks to its built-in Electrocardigram (ECG) feature. As the name suggests, this feature gives users a heart sensor on their wrists as it can detect unusual heartbeats.

    Apple touts its latest smartwatch as the first consumer device to come with this functionality. Now, key sources indicate that the feature has finally arrived on Apple Watch Series 4 thanks to the latest watchOS 5.1.2 update. Besides, the update also brings the irregular heart rate notification for all generations of the Apple Watch, going back to Apple Watch Series 1. Both features will be available as a part of watch0S 5.1.2 update.

    With that being said, FDA had earlier warned users that the feature is for informational purpose only and shouldn’t be used by anyone below the age of 22. The federal body also suggests that users shouldn’t consult doctors solely on the basis of the app’s data readings.

    In addition, several medical experts have also indicated that users may arrive at false inferences from the app, which may lead to unnecessary trips to doctors. Apple has also issued a statement in this regard, stating that these features shouldn’t be taken as diagnostic tools.

    The ECG functinlaity, for now, is rolling out in the US, and will be available via the WatchOS 5.1.2 update. Besides, Apple has also extended the return period for Apple Watch from two weeks to 45 days, though only for heart rate issues.

  • Galaxy S10 Plus concept renders show what the flagship might look like

    Galaxy S10 Plus concept renders show what the flagship might look like

    The Galaxy S10 series is expected to go official in February 2019. However, we’ve already come across a flurry of Galaxy S10 leaks in the past few months. Today, we have yet another leak of the upcoming flagship, allegedly revealing the handset in all its glory. Multiple Galaxy S10 Plus renders have been posted on the web, giving us a good idea what the handset might look like.

    Apart from the renders, a 360 degree video of the upcoming handset is also uploaded on YouTube by OnLeaks in collaboration with 91Mobiles. To begin with, the latest leak indicates the Galaxy S10 won’t feature a rear fingerprint scanner.

    The reason being that Samsung has opted for an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor on its next flagship. Besides, we can also see a triple camera setup on the handset’s rear, which falls in line with earlier leaks.

    On the front, the video shows the Galaxy S10 Plus with dual selfie shooters housed within a camera cutout, instead of the notch. However, we can see significant top and bottom bezels which suggests the handset shown in the video is a clone.  Nonetheless, it still gives us a goo idea about what to expect from the upcoming flagship. Past leaks have indicated that the Galaxy S10 series will have incredibly thin or nearly invisible bezels around the display.

    At the bottom, we can see a speaker grille, USB Type-C port, as well as a 3.5mm jack. Besides, we can see power and volume rockers on the right, and the Bixby button on the left.

    Galaxy S10 Plus Rumored Specs

    Besides, puported specs of the device include a 6.44-inch Super AMOLED display having a resolution of 1440×2960 pixels. Under the hood, the device is expected to get powered by an octa-core processor bundled with 6GB RAM.

    In terms of cameras, the device is rumored to feature 16MP+16MP+13MP triple rear cameras, along with a dual camera setup on the front. Elsewhere, the Galaxy S10 Plus is likely to get powered by a 3700mAh battery with support for fast charging.

    Readers, however, are advised to take this information with a pinch of salt as nothing is official at the moment. Samsung Galaxy S10 series is expected to go official in February 2019. More leaks about the device are bound to surface as we near its official release. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back more.

  • New Galaxy S10 leak suggests it’ll have incredibly thin bezels

    New Galaxy S10 leak suggests it’ll have incredibly thin bezels

    Leaks about the upcoming Galaxy S10 are flying thick and fast. We already have a good idea about what to expect from Samsung’s next flagship, and everything we’ve come across so far should be great news for Samsung fans. Past leaks have already tipped at an all-screen display with incredibly thin bezels. Besides, we’ve also heard about different camera setups for each variant, including a Galaxy S10 model with five cameras on board.

    That being said, the most talked about change is the Galaxy S10’s display. It appears smartphone manufacturers are in a race to eleimiate bezels from their handsets. And going by the latest leak, it looks like Samsung could take the lead with its upcoming Galaxy S10 flagship smartphone series.

    A screen protector was leaked by credible Samsung tipster IceUniverse, which suggests the Galaxy S10 might have have incredibly thin or almost zero bezels on any edge. While one can argue that bezels still exist, but they’re so slim that they almost seem negligible.

    Leaks about the upcoming flagship are starting to line up nicely, and it could turn to be Samsung’s most exciting smartphone in years. Samsung is expected to unveil the new Galaxy S10 flagship range late in February, followed by a 5G variant of the handset about a month later.

    That said, readers are advised to take this information with a pinch of salt as nothing is official for now. More leaks about the Galaxy S10 are likely to surface as we near its official release. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • Sennheiser headphone app susceptible to hacking

    Sennheiser headphone app susceptible to hacking

    Sennheiser’s HeadSetup and HeadSetup Pro applications are susceptible to hacking, according to Germany’s Secorvo Security Consulting. Sennheiser has now advised users to update to the latest versions of the app after researchers discovered they added two Certification Authority CA certificates into the local system’s Trusted Root CA store, which could potentially allow man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.

    Sennheiser claims that the update removes these vulnerable certificates from its HeadSteup app. Besides, Secorvo Security Consulting has also published a report with detailed information about this vulnerability, along with a list of mitigation measures. Users who’ve downloaded the HeadSetup app on their systems are advised to manually uninstall the certificate. For more information on how to uninstall the certificate, follow the link here.

    In the wake of this vulenrability, Microsoft has also published an advisory which informs customers of two disclosed digital certificates that can be used to remotely spoof website or contents. In addition, the Windows-maker has also updated the Certificate Trust List to ensure that user-mode trust has been ousted from the two Certification Authority certificates installed by Sennheiser’s apps in the local system’s Trusted Root CA store.

  • New Galaxy S10 leak reveals camera details of all four variants

    New Galaxy S10 leak reveals camera details of all four variants

    Rumours about the Galaxy S10 are flying thick and fast. Past leaks have given us a fairly good idea about wthat to expct from Samsung’s upcoming flagship. Now, we have another leak about the Galaxy S10 which reveals Samsung is prepping four different variants of the Galaxy S10.

    According to a report by Korean publication The Bell, all four variants of the Galaxy S10 will feature different camera setups. Besides, some of the details revealed in this report falls in line with earlier leaks, so there’s a chance this report is accurate.

    The rumoured base model, which sources refer to as the Galaxy S10 Lite, will pack dual rear cameras and a single lens shooter on the front. The handset’s secondary camera lens on the rear will get optical zoom. The report also suggests the base model’s camera setup will be a significant upgrade compared to the Galaxy S9.

    The next model referred to as the Galaxy S10, is also said to pack dual rear cameras with OIS. However, the report adds this variant will also have dual front facing cameras.

    The third model, however, will feature a triple lens camera setup. The report suggests that in addition to optical zoom, it’ll also offer a wide angle sensor. Up front, there’ll be two different cameras for selfies and video calls, one of which will offer wide angle support.

    Finally, the top end model of the Galaxy S10 with 5G support is expected to release about a month later. The report suggests this variant could boast a quad camera setup on the back. Apart from features such as OIS and wide angle support, this model could come with a time of flight 3D sensing sensor for AR. For selfies, this one will also pack dual front facing shooters.

    More details about the Galaxy S10 are likely to surface as we near its official release. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.