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  • Nintendo adds three new cult classics to Switch Online service

    Nintendo adds three new cult classics to Switch Online service

    Some good news for Nintendo Switch owners, as the company has announced three more popular titles to its NES online game roster. These include the cult classic side scrolling action game Ninja Gaiden, Tetris-inspired puzzle game Wario’s Woods, and HAL’s The Adventures of Lolo.

    Our favorite among the three is none other than the original Ninja Gaiden, where players don the role of the legendary Ryu Haybusa who travels to America to seek revenge for his father’s death.

    “Fight your way through six challenging side-scrolling chapters/14 stages (not including boss battles) while defeating gangs of street thugs, battling evil ninjas and fighting barbarian bosses by using the deadly Dragon Sword, ninja skills and ninja magic,’ reads the official game description.

    Up next, we have Tetris-style puzzler Wario’s Woods featuring Wario and Toad. It was apparently the last game release for NES before it was ‘retired’, and is bound to entertain players of all ages.

    Finally, there’s HAL’s Adventures of Lolo, another puzzle game that’ll be fun for all age groups. Besides, it’ll surely evoke a sense of nostalgia for players who remember the original game.

    If you haven’t subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online service yet, it’s a worthy investment for just $3.99 a month or $9.99 a year. All three new games will be available starting December 12. Besides, Nintendo also asserts that more titles will be added to its NES online service in January. If you’re into old school games, grab your Switch Online subscription now.

    Elsewhere, Nintendo also promised it’ll start shipping its NES-styled controller for Switch next week for those who pre-ordered them back in September. These controllers are only offered to Swtich online subscribers and can be purchased via Nintendo’s official website.

  • 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.

  • Tumblr finally announces war against adult content

    Tumblr finally announces war against adult content

    Tumblr has announced that it wil no longer allow pornographic or adult content on its platform. The move come shortly after Tumblr’s app was ousted from the App Store after images depicting child sexual abuse appeared on the platform.

    Tumblr has promised that starting December 17, it would not allow explicit content on its platform. Such content includes ‘photos, GIFs, or videos that show real-life human genitals or female presenting nipples and any content — including photos, videos, GIFs, and illustrations — that depicts sex acts”, said Tumblr.

    The company also stated that all blog owners will be notified of the new guidelines so they’re ready to implement changes before deadline. Tumblr says it’ll be using automated tools to identify pornographic content, and users can export their content if it’s impacted by the new guidelines.

    Tumblr became notoriuosly infamous for sharing adult content on its platform. The platform was banned in Indonesia in 2016 for sharing pornographic content. However, the company’s CEO now assures it’s aiming for a clean future.

    “There are no shortage of sites on the internet that feature adult content. We will leave it to them and focus our efforts on creating the most welcoming environment possible for our community,” said Jeff D’Onofrio, CEO of Tumblr.

    That said, some adult content would still be allowed on the platform under the new guidelines. For instance, content such as breastfeeding, health and birth related matreial, as well as erotica.

    “Written content such as erotica, nudity related to political or newsworthy speech, and nudity found in art, such as sculptures and illustrations, are also stuff that can be freely posted on Tumblr,” explanied Tumblr’s FAQ page.

    Besides, blog owners whose posts have been identified as adult content will be notified, and they’ll have the right to appeal to Tumblr’s decision.

  • 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.

  • 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 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.

  • 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.

  • Instagram rolls out a new feature called Close Friends

    Instagram rolls out a new feature called Close Friends

    Instagram has announced a new feature called Close Friends, designed to give users a little more privacy on its social network. As the name suggests, the new feature allows users to share stories which they might consider private to just a select group of friends.

    “Starting today, you can make a close friends list on Stories and share with just the people you’ve added. Instagram Stories has become the place to express yourself and share everyday moments, but our community has grown and sometimes what you want to share isn’t for everyone. With Close Friends, you have the flexibility to share more personal moments with a smaller group that you choose,” the company said in a press release.

    Using the feature is relatively simple. To add friends you want in the list, just go to your profile and tap on “Close Friends” in the side menu. When you share Stories, you’ll get the option to share with just the people you’ve added on your Close Friends list.

    Besides, you’ll have absolute control over the list, as no one can request you to add them. To know if you’re on someone’s Close Friends list, you’ll see a green circle around their photos in the Stories tray, or a green colored badge when you view their Stories.

    That said, it appears the feature is only available for Stories, and not regular posts. Nevertheless, it’s a new feature that gives you more control over who can see your Stories on Instagram. Close Friends has started rolling out today globally on the latest version of the Instagram app on Android and iOS.

    Instagram has been working on several changes to its platform. The company has already announced its plans to introduce a redesigned user profile page. Besides, the Facebook-owned social network has finally stepped up to crack down fake followers and likes.

  • 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.

  • Assassin’s Creed Odyssey set to receive its first DLC in December

    Assassin’s Creed Odyssey set to receive its first DLC in December

    Ubisoft has officially confirmed that Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is slated to receive its first DLC, Legacy of the First Blade, on December 4. The upcoming DLC can be purchased as part of the Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Season Pass, or separately on December 4.

    As the name suggests, the upcoming DLC is all about the first Assassin to use the famous blade. Ubisoft plans to release the Legacy of the First Blade in episodes. The first episode called Hunted, will arrive on December 4 on all platforms. That said, you also have the option to wait and play the entire DLC from the beginning to the end once they’re available.

    “Throughout Hunted and the following two episodes, players will continue their grand Greek Odyssey to encounter Darius, the legend who was first to wield the Assassin’s Hidden Blade. As the story of Hunted unfolds, players will discover whether Darius is friend or foe, while meeting new characters, engaging in gripping naval combat, fighting new and powerful enemies, and uncovering revelations about the Assassin’s Creed universe,” explained Ubisoft in a press release.

    In Legacy of the First Blade, players can also customize new equipment and master new special abilties as they fight their battles across Greece. You can check out the launch trailer below:

    Ubisoft also revealed that the second and third DLCs for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, named Shadow Heritage and Bloodline, will arrive early next year for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

    Not to metnion, Season Pass owners get access to two major episodic storylines – Legacy of the Fist Blade and The Fate of Atlantis. Besides, the Season Pass also includes Assassin’s Creed Remastered and Assassin’s Creed Liberation Remastered, slated for a release in March 2019.

  • 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

  • Samsung Galaxy S10+ rumored to pack 12GB of RAM and 1TB storage

    Samsung Galaxy S10+ rumored to pack 12GB of RAM and 1TB storage

    Leaks about the upcoming Galaxy S10 flagship are starting to line up nicely. The upcoming Galaxy lineup also marks the tenth anniversary of Samsung’s flagship smartphone, and it appears the Korean giant has something special in store.

    If a recent report is to be believed, the Galaxy S10+ variant could possibly come with 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. If this turns out to be true, it would take Samsung handsets to a completely new level.

    Samsung is rumored to launch four different variants of its next flagship, and the top-end model would likely pack a whopping 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The base variant of the Galaxy S10 is said to come with a 5.8-inch display, along with a dual rear camera setup.

    However, the top-end model of the upcoming flagship lineup is expected to pack a whopping 6.7-inch display, along with a quad-camera setup on the back. If this happens, it would turn out to be quite a massive upgrade over the current Galaxy S9+.

    As far as release goes, Samsung could debut the Galaxy S10 lineup sometime in late January or early February. Besides, a 5G variant of the Galaxy S10 is also in the works, which will reportedlt debut alongisde the Galaxy F foldable phone in March.

    More leaks about the forthcoming Galaxy S10 lineup are liley to surafce as we near its official release. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.