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Category: News

  • 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.

  • New McLaren 720S Spider goes official

    New McLaren 720S Spider goes official

    After the Senna and Speedtail, Mclaren has announced the refreshed 720S Spider convertible.  The company has essentially reduced the overall weight of the car, as the newly introduced convertible weighs in at just 2937 lbs (1332 kg). With this weight reduction, the latest iteration of the coupe zips from 0-62 mph (100kph) in just 2.9 seconds.

    Besides, the McLaren 720S Spider needs a time of 7.9 seconds to reach 124 mph (200kph) from standstill. As far as top speed goes, the coupe reaches a maximum speed of 212 mph ( 341 kph) without the roof. And with the roof folded down, it can still attain an impressive top speed of 202 mph ( 325 kph).

    Under the hood, the 2019 McLaren 720S Spider gets powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine that churns out 710 horsepower and 770Nm of torque to the 20-inch rear tyres via a 7-speed SSG transmission. It also offers three driving modes – Comfort, Sport, and Track.

    As expected, McLaren will offer its latest convertible coupe in Performance and Luxury variants. In addition, buyers have a choice to choose from 23 colors, which include Belize Blue, Aztec Gold, as well as a SuperNova Silver color variant ( hommage to the orginal 12C).

    As far as pricing and availabilty goes, McLaren has already started accepting orders for the 720S Spider for $315,000. While shipping for the new convertible is slated to begin in March 2019. The car will rival the likes of Ferrari 488 Spider when it officially hits the road.

  • iPhone users complain of a bug in iOS 12.1.1

    iPhone users complain of a bug in iOS 12.1.1

    The re-released iOS 12.1.1 update has a bug which adversely affects mobile data for a number of users. According to a report by Forbes, the iPhone-maker apparently knew about the bug before its commercial rollout. The report further adds that mobile data doesn’t work properly on iPhones after updating to iOS 12.1.1, and causes several other issues with their device.

    Some users suggest they can browse the web with Safari, however they can’t access the web while using other apps. Others suggest that a Wi-Fi connecton is required to access the web no matter whether they use the browser, or other apps installed on their iPhones. The issue affects all iPhone models irrespective of the country.

    For now, Apple hasn’t yet rolled out a fix for the bug. Users who are facing this issue are currently advised to get in touch with Apple Support.

    Interestingly, it appears Apple had knowledge about the bug before releasing the update. As several beta testers reported the issue on Twitter while iOS 12.1.1 update was undergoing beta testing. Besides, the official Apple account on Twitter also engaged in the discussion and asked affected users for further details.

    Now, this essentially suggests Apple knew iOS 12.1.1 update could affect cellular data connectivity before re-releasing the update for everyone. The company is yet to acknowledge the issue, so we’re not sure as to when a fix for the bug will roll out. There’s also a possibilty users might have to wait until the next iOS update for the fix to arrive.

    Are you facing data connectivity issues with your iPhone after updating to iOS 12.1.1. Let us know in the comments below.

  • Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon 8cx chipset, world’s first 7nm PC platform

    Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon 8cx chipset, world’s first 7nm PC platform

    Qualcomm has announced its Snapdragon 8cx compute chipset with 8-core Kyro CPU and Adreno 680 GPU. It’s the world’s first 7nm PC platform with support for DrectX 12 API. The company claims that Qualcomm’s Adreno 680 GPU offers 2x performance improvement and 60 percent improved power efficiency over its predecessor.

    “Together with the Qualcomm Kryo 495 CPU, our fastest yet, the Snapdragon 8cx is designed to deliver amazing graphics, powerful productivity, and multi-day battery life,” further added Qualcomm.

    The Snapdragon 8cx chipset also offers support for multi-gigabit LTE thanks to the integrated X24 LTE modem capable of churning out download speeds of up to 2Gbps.

    The chipset also comes with full hypervisor support, along with advanced crypto-security and Windows 10 Enterprise support, which allows users to properly secure sensitive information such as passwords, log-ins, and more.

    Besides, the Snapdragon 8cx also offers immersive graphics performance and HW accelaration for advanced video formats, with support for 4K HDR playback at 120 frames-per-second. In addition, the 8cx also supports high-fidelity and true surround sound using Qualcomm’s Aqstic Audio technology.

    Finally, the new chipset also comes with support for Microsoft’s DirectX 12 API along with advanced location features such as Low Power Geofencing and Tracking, Pedestrian Navigation, as Sensor-aided navigation.

  • 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.

  • Microsoft reportedly prepping a Chromium-powered web browser

    Microsoft reportedly prepping a Chromium-powered web browser

    Microsoft is reportedly working to replace its Edge browser in Windows 10 with a new Chrome-based browser. The Windows-maker could announce its replacement as early as this week. The new broswer might be released to Insiders in the next few Windows 10 builds. However, it is likey to see its final release in the next 19H1 update for the OS expected to arrive in Spring next year.

    Sources indicate that Microsoft has approached Google to offer assistance with the new broswer. The next-gen browser will feature a rending engine from Chromium, replacing Edge’s EdgeHTML engine. Going by reports, the new browser will essentially be based on the same engine that powers Google Chrome.

    Hence, the upcoming browser would be more or less be Microsoft’s very own version of Chrome. The Chromium-powered browser would hopefully fix stabilty and comaptibilty issues that have led to Edge’s potential demise. Besides, it also has the potential to work seamlessly on ARM-based Windows PCs.

    Google’s Chrome browser reportedly commands more than half of the global market share. The reason being that it gets updated regularly, offers plethora of extensions, and uses an advanced engine that correctly renders most of the websites out there.

    Microsoft originally promised to make all Google Chrome extensions compatible with its Edge browser. However, it turned out to be quite an uphill task for the company given that both browsers are based on different engines. It’s pretty evident Microsoft needs to spruce things up in the browser department if it has any chance of competing with the likes of Chrome.

  • Samsung plans to bring in-display fingerprint sensor to smartwatches

    Samsung plans to bring in-display fingerprint sensor to smartwatches

    We’ve heard of Samsung’s plans to bring an in-display fingerprint sensor to its upcoming smartphones. However, it appears the Korean manufacturer wants to bring the feature to its smartwatches as well. According to a recently discovered patent filing, Samsung is exploring the possibility of integrating the fingerprint sensor within the display of its future smartwatches. Now, this would essentially allow users to unlock the smartwatch by placing their finger on the screen.

    Going by the patent filing, Samsung wants to use a technology dubbed as Force Touch, which suggests that users would have to press the screen to unlock the smartwatch. Besides, the patent also suggests that only a certain area of the screen would require Force Touch, and not the entire screen. And in case this reaches mass production, the South Korean manufacturer also indicated that technology will support, capactive, resistive, infrared, as well as ultrasonic sensors.

    in-display

    Not to mention, Samsung will likely use an ultrasonic sensor on the upcoming Galaxy S10 series. However, there’s still consfusion whether all models of the upcoming flagship would get this technology, or will it be reserved for top-end variants of the handset.

    Samsung is expceted to unveil the Galaxy S10 series in February 2019. Numerous leaks in the second half of 2018 have tipped that Samsung is betting big on perfecting optical in-display fingerprint technology. This suggests that upcoming Samsung phones would likely come equipped with this feature. As for the upcoming Samsung smartwatch to feature this technology, it could be the next-generation Galaxy Watch. However, it’s still early come to any conclsuions, as Samsung will need to perfect this technology before its enters mass production.

  • Apple won’t launch a 5G iPhone before 2020

    Apple won’t launch a 5G iPhone before 2020

    Apple reportedly won’t launch a 5G compatible iPhone before 2020. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple will likely adopt next generation 5G cellular connectivity by 2020. Notably, this report falls in line with earlier leaks and rumors which pointed that the first iPhone with 5G support won’t release before 2020.

    The report cites multiple sources familiar with Apple’s plans, adding that Intel will most likley provide the 5G modems, which was also indicated by earlier reports. Sources suggest that Apple plans to use Intel’s 8161 5G modem chip, however it won’t use Intel’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chips for the 2020 model.

    Besides, given the ongoing legal spat between Apple and Qualcomm, the iPhone-maker will likely rely on Intel to provide 5G modems for its future iPhones. That said, if this report turns out to be true, Apple will fall behind its Android rivals who are most likely to introduce 5G -equipped smartphones by next year.

    Samsung and Huawei have already invested heavily in 5G and are likely to introduce smartphones with 5G support by 2019. That said, Apple was also slower in adopting 4G connectivity compared to other smartphone manufacturers.

    However, it turned out to be a good decision for the iPhone-maker. As Apple waited for 4G LTE technology to mature compared to other major brands who forced themselves to install 4G components on their handsets – essentially impacting both size and battery life. Though we can’t say the same thing might happen when 5G cellular connectivity starts rolling out.

  • Microsoft confirms another bug in Windows 10 version 1809

    Microsoft confirms another bug in Windows 10 version 1809

    Microsoft has announced yet another bug in Windows 10 October 2018 update (version 1809), adding that it’ll block the update on more PCs. The company said it’s working together with Morphisec to fix some issues with Morphisec Development Kit. The software giant says that cusotmers using these solutions might not be able to use Microsoft Office if they’ve upgraded to Windows 10 version 1809.

    “Microsoft and Morphisec have identified an issue on devices that have installed Morphisec Protector or another application that uses the Morphisec Software Development Kit (SDK) including:  Cisco AMP for Endpoints. These applications may impact customers’ ability to save Microsoft Office documents,” Micrsoft explained on its Windows 10 version 1809 status page.

    Microsoft says it’s further looking into the matter, and the only workworund for users right now is to uninstall products that have been affected. The company added that Windows 10 version 1809 upgrade will be blocked on their PCs as long as incompatible software is detected on their systems.

    “Uninstall affected applications and get updated versions from respective vendors when available. Next Steps: We are working with Morphisec and Cisco to address this issue in updated versions of their applications,” explained Microsoft.

    For now, Microsoft hasn’t announced an exact time frame for the bug fix to roll out. That said, the company is expected to roll out new cumulative updates for Windows 10 version 1809 in the next few days.

    Earlier, Microsoft had blocked the rollout of Windows 10 October 2018 update due to a bug which completely wiped out users data,

  • Apple Music set to arrive on Amazon Echo on December 17

    Apple Music set to arrive on Amazon Echo on December 17

    Apple Music is slated to arrive on Amazon Echo and Alexa-powered smart speakers starting Decemebr 17, confirmed Amazon in a blog post. The announcement comes shortly after Amazon said it has joined hands with Apple to sell its latest products via its online store. Besides, the move appears mutually beneficial for both parties as music services from both companies aren’t doing particularly well.

    Starting December 17, subscribers of Apple Music will be able to play music on demand via Amazon Echo smart devices. The iPhone-maker’s streaming service now joins the likes of Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, as well as Amazon’s own music service on Alexa devices.

    “Music is one of the most popular features on Alexa—since we launched Alexa four years ago, customers are listening to more music in their homes than ever before. We are committed to offering great music providers to our customers and since launching the Music Skill API to developers just last month, we’ve expanded the music selection on Alexa to include even more top tier services. We’re thrilled to bring Apple Music – one of the most popular music services in the US – to Echo customers this holiday,” said Dave Limp, senior vice president, Amazon Devices.

    Amazon recently opened up Alexa to more third party music services when it rolled out its Music Skill API in November. This essentially allows third party services to utilize a host of Alexa capabilties across a range of smart devices. These include multi-room audio, using music as Alarms, and more.

    To recall , Amazon recently signed a new deal with Apple to sell Cupertino’s latest products such as iPhone XS and iPhone XR via its online store. However, Amazon will not sell Apple’s HomePod speaker through its ecommerce store, as it directly competes with Amazon’s own smart speakers. Not to metnion, Amazon also doesn’t sell Google’s Home devices on its platform.

  • New Android Auto update will roll out soon, here’s what’s new

    New Android Auto update will roll out soon, here’s what’s new

    The latest Android Auto update has officially arrived. As expected, the update brings new features and enhances the old ones to make your ride simpler and more personal. The update makes the user interface less cluttered and reduces the risk of distraction while driving.

    To begin with, the new Android Auto update improves search and media browsing features so that drivers can access content more easily. Media Content is now visible more clearly on the screen so you can view and browse content easily.

    Besides, the layout now displays bigger album art images so you can easily view what you want to play. Hence, you don’t have to spend a lot of time fiddling the screen to find what songs you want to listen. Popular streaming apps such as Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pocket Casts, Google Play Music, and Google Play Books are also available. And thanks to Google Assistant, you can also use voice search.

    android auto

    Talking about messaging, you get the ability to launch WhatsApp, Messages, and Hangouts right from the Android Auto display. Group Messages and Visual Message previews are also available, however, they can only be viewed when the car isn’t moving. Also, you’ll need to activate the feature first within the Settings menu.

    Google has also expanded messaging support in the new Android Auto update with support for MMS and RCS ( rich communication services).

    The new Android Auto update is expected to roll out in the next few days. In the meantime, make sure to watch out for an OTA alert or head over to the PlayStore to check if the latest update is available for download.

  • Dell discloses cyber attack with a possibility of data breach

    Dell discloses cyber attack with a possibility of data breach

    Dell has revealed that a cyber attack was detected in early November, and the company has now reset all customer passwords in order to avoid possible data breach.

    The company is yet to find any solid evidence of customer information being stolen from their servers, but they did suggest there’s a chance that their personal data could be at a risk.

    “On November 9, 2018, Dell detected and disrupted unauthorized activity on its network attempting to extract Dell.com customer information, which was limited to names, email addresses and hashed passwords,” says Dell.

    As a precaution, the company has reset all customer passwords to protect personal information. In fact, the company has asked all users to go through a multi step authentication process to get access to their accounts as a safety measure. All customers will get a notification by default to reset their passwords when they try to log into their accounts via Dell.com.

    “Dell cybersecurity measures include the hashing of our customers’ passwords and a mandatory Dell.com password reset. Hashed passwords, along with the password reset, limit exposure of customers’ account information. Customers are encouraged to change passwords for other accounts if they use the same password for their Dell.com account,” further added Dell.

    Interestingly, the company was tight lipped about the attack and disclosed it 20 days later only after the investigation was over. The reason being that they wanted independent digital forensics agencies to finish the investigation before disclosing it to the public.

    According to Dell, the online services that were disprupted by the mass password reset were Dell.com, Global Portal, Premier, and support.dell.com

  • Apple fixes iCloud for Windows compatibilty issues with a new update

    Apple fixes iCloud for Windows compatibilty issues with a new update

    Apple has finally rolled out an iCloud for Windows update to fix compatibilty issues with the latest version of Windows 10. iCloud for Windows version 7.81 has been specifically released by Apple to address compatibilty issues with Windows 10 October 2018 update (version 1809).

    To recall, Microsoft prevented users from downloading iCloud for Windows software after an incompatibilty was discovered by Apple. The issue led to problems updating Shared Albums after users downloaded Windows 10 version 1809.

    That time, Microsoft promised it had joined hands with Apple to roll out a fix for the iCloud software that’ll work properly with the latest version of Windows 10.

    “Apple has released an updated version of iCloud for Windows (version 7.8.1) that resolves compatibility issues encountered when updating or synching Shared Albums after updating to Windows 10, version 1809. We recommend that you update your iCloud for Windows to version 7.8.1 when prompted before attempting to upgrade to Windows 10, version 1809,” said Microsoft.

    Users can manually check for the update by heading over to Windows Update and Check for Updates. The update is being rolled out in phases to devices that are fully compatible with Windows 10 version 1809. Hence, if your system has no compatiblity issues, the download would be ready and should show up while checking for updates.

    Besides, Microsoft is also working on fixing several other bugs in Windows 10 October 2018 Update. The company has released a new cumulative update for Insiders in the Preview ring to test some of these fixes.

  • Company claims its software allows anyone to bypass iPhone passcode

    Company claims its software allows anyone to bypass iPhone passcode

    Hacking into iPhones is always a hot topic, and now a company called DriveSavers claims that anyone can hack into an iPhone using its software, even if it’s guarded by a long passcode. The company which specializes in data recovery services, touts that its software has a success rate of 100 percent.

    “Utilizing new technology, we have a 100% success rate with unlocking and recovering data from passcode-protected smartphones of every make, model and operating system with any length passcode, including phones and tablets with more complicated passcodes of six digits or more,” explains DriveSafe.

    For now, it’s unclear how the company’s software allows anyone to easily hack into an iPhone, despite being passcode protected. Interestingly, DriveSavers says this service is offered to consumers at a very affordable price. The company says customers can get in touch with the them for more information about pricing and other details.

    That said, the company also has safety protocols so that its services aren’t misused. DriveSavers says its software won’t unlock an iPhone if you aren’t the owner. In fact, it runs a detailed background check to make sure only the owner of an iPhone is able to unlock the device using its software.

    “We attempt to validate the legal right to access the data during all phases of the recovery process. This starts with the information gathered during the intake process. We also have a legal authorization form requiring specific information identifying the right to the data,” the company says.

    Though, it’s still unclear right now how the software works. Besides, one can’t even be sure whether the solution has a 100 percent rate of success.

    Apple is yet to provide an official statement regarding the matter, though there’s a high possibilty the company is already looking into this software to avoid potential misuse and exploits. Hence, we won’t be surpised if Apple rolls out a patch for the same in the next iOS update.

    DriveSavers also claims its software can hack into Android smartphones as well, such as handsets from BlackBerry, LG, Samsung, as well as Windows PCs.

  • Apple slashes iPhone XR prices with one Japanese carrier

    Apple slashes iPhone XR prices with one Japanese carrier

    An earlier report indicated that Apple plans to slash iPhone XR prices in Japan by offering subsidies to carriers. The reason behind this alleged move was said to be low-demand for new iPhones in the market. Now, it appears the report turns out to be true.

    As Japanese carrier NTTDocomo is offering the iPhone XR with a price drop of nearly $100 when purchased with a 24-month contract. The 64GB variant of the handset can be purchased with payment of 7000 Yen ($62) per month through NTTDocomo in the country. Sources also suggest that more carriers in Japan will likley follow suit in the next few days.

    That said, it’s also worth noting that this price cut doesn’t apply if the iPhone XR is bought unlocked from a different carrier or retailer. As the price of the handset remains the same, unless one gets it with a 24-month contract.

    Besides, it’s still unclear whether Apple plans to offer similar price cuts in other markets across the globe, apart from Japan. Though with all reports pointing to slowing down of 2018 iPhone sales, we won’t be surprised if something like this happens in other global markets as well.

    Earlier reports also indicated that Apple plans to resurrect the iPhone X. The company reportedly plans to relaunch the iPhone X at lower prices, possibly to compensate for low sales of its new iPhone lineup. However, it shouldn’t come as a surprise as this won’t be the first time Apple will produce old iPhone models for markets which have sufficient demand for cheaper handsets.

    The latest price cut comes shortly after a report earlier this week which claimed that Apple has slashed production orders for its latest iPhone XS and iPhone XR models, due to lower than anticipated demand.