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  • Google Night Sight feature now rolling out on all Pixel devices

    Google Night Sight feature now rolling out on all Pixel devices

    Google gave us a glimpse of the Night Sight feature during the Pixel launch event, a feature that’s supposed to enhance low-light photography. Now, the company has officially confirmed that Night Sight is rolling out to all Google Pixel smartphones. According to Google, the feature will rolling out over the next few days and arrive on ‘all three generations of Pixel devices’. Night Sight is essentially designed to reduce noise and offer enhanced details for images shot in extremely low-light or dark environments.

    Google says that the feature uses a combination of digital photography and machine learning to yield the best results. As soon as you press the shutter button in Night Sight mode, the camera rapidly captures a series of frames. Once the picture is saved, Google explains that the feature uses deep machine learning algorithms to correct the white balance and exposure levels.

    night sight
    6-second Night Sight Image shot with the Pixel 3 using a Tripod: (Credits: Googleblog/AlexSavu)

    The feature is now officially available on all past and current generation Pixel devices. Owners of any of the three Pixel generation devices can head over to Google Play and check if they need to update Google’s camera app. If the update doesn’t show up, then you already have the update or the update isn’t yet ready for your device.

    Once the update is installed, the feature will show up on your Google Camera app. To see how Night Sight works, just point your Pixel’s camera lens towards any dark spot in your room. After which, Night Sight should pop-up as a button just above your other camera modes. In case it doesn’t show up, you can also find it by sliding on your camera modes towards the left.

  • Microsoft finally resumes Windows 10 October 2018 update rollout

    Microsoft finally resumes Windows 10 October 2018 update rollout

    Microsoft has finally resumed the roll out Windows 10 October 2018 update, after pulling the plug on the original release due to a bug which completely wiped out users data. Microsoft confirmed the re-release in an official blog post, and promised that it has “thoroughly investigated and resolved” any issues from the original launch. That said, it took the company nearly a month to fully test the update before re-releasing it for the general public.

    The initial Windows 10 October 2018 update was publicly launched without being tested by Windows Insiders. However, Microsoft now assures that it has tested the build for any bugs before making it available for everyone.

    “In addition to extensive internal validation, we have taken time to closely monitor feedback and diagnostic data from our Windows Insiders and from the millions of devices on the Windows 10 October Update, and we have no further evidence of data loss,” explains Microsoft’s John Cable, director of program management for Windows servicing and delivery.

    Windows 10 October 2018 Update will now be available for a small number of Windows 10 users starting today. Besides, you can manually check for the update by going to Windows 10 Update Assistant. That said, users will only get the update notification if their system is compatible. As in case any compatibility issues are detected, the update will not show up.

    “If we detect that your device may have an issue, such as an application incompatibility, we will not install the update until that issue is resolved, even if you ‘Check for updates,’ so you avoid encountering any related problems,” explained Microsoft.

    The Windows-maker also promised it’ll make sure such glitiches don’t happen again with forthcoming Windows 10 updates. The company says it’ll pay more attention to the quality of updates it offers to Windows 10 users in the future.

  • Abzu will be available on the Nintedo Switch starting November 29

    Abzu will be available on the Nintedo Switch starting November 29

    The much-applauded undrewater adventure game from Giant Squid, Abzu, is finally arriving on the Nintendo Switch. The scuba diving game will be available on the Switch starting November 29 at a price of $19.99. Besides, buyers can avail a discount of 10 percent on pre-orderding the game.

    Abuz is the brainchild of Matt Nava, the developer who gave us likes of games such as Journey and Flower 2. Abzu is about exploring the in-game’s enormous and intriguing underwater landscape. Players don the role of a young woman decked in a scuba diving gear. Their task is to solve puzzles and soak-in the wealth of breaktaking sights in the game’s underwater universe. As you descend into the heart of the ocean, players come across breathtaking sights of ruins and remains of ancient civilizations, along with a huge variety of fishes.

    The game’s debut trailer which can be seen above, highlights the game ‘s mesemrizing underater world. 505 games has also confirmed that Abzu for the Switch will offer the same great experience as it does on other platforms. All in all, it’ll be an underwater trip worth diving into.

    “Dive into a majestic underwater adventure! From the artistic mind behind Journey and Flower, Abzu is a beautiful underwater adventure that evokes the dream of diving. Immerse yourself in a vibrant ocean world full of mystery and bursting with color and life. Perform fluid acrobatics as the Diver, using graceful swimming controls. Discover hundreds of unique species based on real creatures and form a powerful connection with the abundant sea life. Interact with schools of thousands of fish that procedurally respond to you, each other, and predators. Linger in epic seascapes and explore aquatic ecosystems modeled with unprecedented detail. Descend into the heart of the ocean where ancient secrets lie forgotten. But beware, dangers lurk in the depths,’ explains the game’s official page.

    To recall, Abzu was originally released for the PS4 and Windows back in early 2016, followed by its release on Xbox later that year. Now, the game will finally arrive on the Nintendo Switch console starting November 29.

  • Razer Phone 2 will be an AT&T exclusive, sales begin November 16

    Razer Phone 2 will be an AT&T exclusive, sales begin November 16

    AT&T has announced that it’ll be the exclusive carrier of the newly launched Razer Phone 2 in the US. The carrier will begin selling the gaming-focussed phone starting November 16 through its online, as well as retail stores across the country.

    Interested buyers can also get the device via AT&T stores in Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, as well as Chicago at launch day. The Razer Phone 2 is being offered at $26.67/month over a 30 months plan. Besides, you can also pay a full price of $799 if you’re not willing to tie yourself to a 30 month contract with AT&T.

    Tailor-made for hardcore gaming, the Razer Phone 2 comes with high-end specifications and gaming-focused features. Under the hood, the handset gets powered by a 2.8Ghz Snapdragon 845 processor bundled with 8GB of RAM and Adreno 630 GPU.

    The company also touts the handset’s vapor chamber cooling system, which allows efficient heat dissipation and further enhances the overall performance.

    Up front, the Razer Phone 2 sports a 5.72-inch IGZO LCD QHD 120Hz UltraMotion display which boasts a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels. The handset’s display also gets Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection as well as Anti-Fingerprint protection. Razer also touts that it is the only smartphone certified by Netflix to support HDR video content and Dolby Surround 5.1 support.

    To further augment the gaming experience, Razer Phone 2 packs dual-front facing stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support and 24-bit USB-C DAC. The handset also gets IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.

    Elsewhere, the smartphone packs a 4000mAh battery with support for QuickCharge 4.0 and fast wireless charging.

    As for cameras, the Razer Phone 2 features 12MP+12MP dual rear cameras with f/1.75 wide aperture and OIS. For selfies, the smartphone packs an 8MP front-facing shooter with f/2.0 aperture.

    Talking about colour variants, the Razer Phone 2 will be available in Mirror Black and Satin Black colour options. For more information about the Razer Phone 2, you can visit AT&T’s official website.

  • Galaxy F foladable phone will reportedly launch in March at a huge price tag

    Galaxy F foladable phone will reportedly launch in March at a huge price tag

    Korean giant Samsung gave us a first glimpse of its foldable phone, reportedly called the Galaxy F during its annual developers conference. The handset will feature two displays – a main 7.4-inch foldable display and 4.6-inch display on the cover that’ll stay active even when the device is folded.

    During the conference, Samsung’s President Koh Dong-jin also announced that the company will launch the handset in the first half of 2019. Now, a new report from South Korean publication Yonhap News Agency has seemingly revealed a release date and price for Samsung’s foldable phone.

    According to the report, the Galaxy S10 flagship will be unveiled in February 2019, most likely at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The report further notes that Samsung will launch a 5G version of the Galxy S10 about a month later, during the launch event of the Galaxy F foldable phone.

    So far, not much is known about Samsung’s foldable smartphone. A Galaxy F prototype was teased during Samsung’s annual develpers conference. According to the demo, the handset will sport a tablet-like form factor with a main 7.4-inch foldable display which closes like a book transforming into a smaller, candybar form factor with a 4.6-inch cover display that remans active when the device is folded.

    The Galaxy F will also be equipped an app ‘continuity’ feature to ensure that the apps running on the secondry cover display will be available on the main foldable display as well when opened.

    In addition, the foldable smartphone will also ship with Samsung’s new user interface dubbed as One UI. The new UI sports rounded icons as well as a design language which Samsung suggests allows Android users to focus on “what really matters.”

    Coming back to the report, the South Korean publication also suggests that the Galaxy F will cost a whopping $1770. The report also notes that Samsung hasn’t arrived at a final price yet, though the company intends to ship one million units of the Galaxy F for the first batch of orders.

    Finally, Yonhap News also notes that Samsung will launch a 5G version of the Galaxy S10 alongside the upcoming foldable phone. The Galaxy F, however, won’t come with 5G capabilties, added the report.

  • Google Play Store hit with another Trojan-ridden app

    Google Play Store hit with another Trojan-ridden app

    Yet another malicious call recording application has been discovered on Google’s PlayStore by malware researcher Lukas Stefanko. The app, called Simple Call Recorder published by FreahApps Group, already had over 5000 installs and has been available on the PlayStore since November 30, 2017.

    Despite being a normal call recording app, Simple Call Recorder tricked users into donwloading an additional app impersonating as a flash player update, explained malware researcher Lukas Stefanko. Once installed, the malicious app compromised and infected the device by asking the user to install a fake flash player update.

    “After install and launch, Simple Call Recorder decrypts additional binary file carried in assets and dynamically loads it. This behaviour is typical for the most Android threats these days. This Trojanized app contains call recording functionality and malicious code responsible for downloading and installing additional app,” explained malware researcher Lukas Stefanko in a blog post.

    Interestingly, the Simple Call Recorder application has been on the Play Store for almost over a year, which happens to be a really long time before being found and then finally removed.

    It’s also worth noting that this isn’t the first time malware reseracher Stefanko has found a Trojanized Android app on the Google Play Store. Back in September, he found a Trojan-ridden banking app which also disguized itself as a functional phone call recording app and stole banking information from compromised Android devices.

    Surprisingly, even this one lasted on the PlayStore for quite long and witnessed over 10,000 installs. The app was capable of stealing banking credentials even when SMS two-factor authentication was activated.

    Besides, malware reseracher Stefanko also found 29 other malicious Android apps from August unitl early October 2018 in the Google Play store, which also masked themselves as authentic banking apps and used phishing forms to collect a user’s personal banking information. Fianlly, Stefanko suggests that if an Android app asks you to download Flash Player from servers besides Adobe, it should be taken as a warning sign as the app is most likely infected.

  • Meet Samsung W2019, a folding smartphone with dual AMOLED displays

    Meet Samsung W2019, a folding smartphone with dual AMOLED displays

    At its developer conference in San Francisco, Korean giant Samsung officially unveiled its foldable smartphone dubbed as the W2019. The highlight of the handset is its foldable design. The device looks reminiscent of the Moto Razr, at least when we look at its buttons and keypads.

    In terms of specifications, the Samsung W2019 sports a 4.2-inch Full HD internal S-AMOLED display as well as a 4.2-inch external AMOLED display that also supports Full HD. The smartphone packs a 3070mAh battery and runs Android 8.0 Oreo out-of-the-box. Elsewhere, the handset packs 6GB of RAM bundled with either 128GB and 256GB of built-in storage. The W2019, however, does not get the classic 3.5mm jack.

    In the photography department, the smartphone features a dual lens 12MP+12MP primary camera setup with f/1.5 aperture, 2x optical zoom, OIS, 4k video recording at 60fps, as well as slow-motion recording at 960fps. There’s also an 8MP front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture.

    Owners of Samsung W2019 will also get free access to a host of services which will include an exclusive hotline, phone disinfection, as well as software fixes and updates.

    That being said, the smartphone will remain exclusive to Chinese market and will be sold in the country through carrier China Unicom. It will be offered in a choice of Rose Gold and Platinum color options. As far as pricing goes, the Samsung W2019 is priced at 18,999, which roughly amounts to a hefty $2700.

    Samsung, however, has plans to launch another folding smartphone for the US market, rumoured to be called the Galaxy F or Galaxy X. The Korean manufacturer recently gave us a glimpse of the device’s Infinity Flex display at the annual Samsung Developer Conference. Samsung’s long-rumoured foldable phone is expected to launch in 2019. Hopefully, it doesn’t carry the same obnoxious price tag as the W2019.

  • Netflix will not support Wii after January 31, 2019

    Netflix will not support Wii after January 31, 2019

    If you’re still using the old Wii console just to watch Netflix. Well, it’s time you should start looking for a new alternative as Netflix has officially confirmed that Nintendo will suspend Netflix and other streaming services on the Wii after January 31, 2019.

    In addition, Nintendo also announced the shutdown of the Wii Shop channel indicating that the console won’t be of much use besides playing offline games starting next year. Nintendo emailed customers of the news pointing users to get other alternatives to continue watching Netflix, suggesting the streaming service might soon land on Nintendo Switch.

    “We hope you’ll soon enjoy an even better Netflix experience with additional features on a supported device,” said Netflix.

    The move is likely to disappoint Wii owners, as keeping online services up for the Wii would’ve fetched the company more brand loyalty. Wii owners were already disappointed when Nintendo decided to stop users from adding points to Wii Shop anymore. Put simply, moves like this are just a reminder of the issues we face with streaming services. Most of us have other systems like a PS4 or Wii U to use streaming services. However, the older lower middle class who got a Wii long ago and don’t want anything else are out of luck.

    However, the news shouldn’t come as surprise as the Wii is nearly a 12 year old console and is approaching the end of its life cycle. If you don’t own a smartTV which has built-in streaming apps, you have the option to get a streaming device that’ll cost much less than what you paid for your Wii.

  • Activision announces Nuketown map release date for Black Ops 4

    Activision announces Nuketown map release date for Black Ops 4

    Activison and Treyrach have officially announced that the long-time fan favourite map, Nuketown, will arrive on PS4 on November 13, followed by other platforms on Black Ops 4

    The news was confirmed via the official Black Ops 4 Twitter account. The tweet was accompanied by a Russian phrase to fans of the map which tranlates to ” Welcome back”. A short also teaser accompanied the tweet, giving eager fans a taste of what’s in store. The teaser suggests that Nuketown gets a slight makeover for Black Ops 4, with a refrshed icnoic signs and propogandisitic art that reminds one of the Soviet-era.

    https://twitter.com/CallofDuty/status/1060955612769509377

    Well, this won’t be the first time that Nuketown gets a makeover since the original map’s debut back in 2010. While the map’s layout has remained largely unchanged, the map got a new look in Black Ops 2 to reflect a retro futursitc 1960s America. In Black Ops 3, it had a more science fiction feel to it. Now, in Black Ops 4, it appears developers have given it a chilling, Cold War vibe.

    All in all, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 players on the PS4 are rather stoked to get their hands dirty in Nuketown next week. Xbox One and PC players, however, need to wait unitl PS4 version’s timed-exclusivity expires.

    To recall, Sony annouced back in September that it’s expanding its partnership with Activision regarding PS4 exclsuivity for Black Ops 4 post launch content. Acticivsion also confirmed that all pst-launch content for its latest first person shooter Black Ops 4, will have 7-day exlusivity period on PS4.

  • Facebook launches a new standalone video-sharing app, called Lasso

    Facebook launches a new standalone video-sharing app, called Lasso

    Facebook quietly launches its standalone new video-sharing app, dubbed as Lasso. The new app is essentially a TikTok rip-off, which lets users share and create music filled videos. Facebook has reportedly been working on Lasso since October, and is now available on both iOS and Android users.

    Lasso is Facebook’s attempt to attract youths who’ve been ditching its flagship platform. The app allows users to discover content using hashtags, create new short videos using a bunch of fun-filled tools, and follow other creators.

    Facebook also promised that its new app features a massive music library, just like the popular short-video social networking app TikTok. Users can record themselves lip-syncing and dancing. The app also offers other TikTok-like features such as adding music and cool effects to your videos. Even Lasso’s user interface looks exactly similar to that of TikTok.

    Being a Facebook-owned app, you can create a Lasso account with your Facebook or Instagram. Just allow the app to access your profile page, photos and videos, and Lasso lets you share your videos from the app directly to your Facebook story. Once you’re through with the setup, you can directly scroll through a huge library of short videos.

    Given the fact there’s already tons of content on Lasso, it appears the app was available to a small group of community users before its public release. Reports also suggest that a similar support is also expected to arrive with Instagram stories later this year.

    It’s also worth noting that Facebook has been surprisingly quiet about Lasso’s release. The company has posted no official statement on its website, apart from a short Tweet by Facebook product manager Andy Huang where he announced the app’s launch.

  • Deal! Microsoft Surface Pro 6 with Platinum cover now availble at just $599

    Deal! Microsoft Surface Pro 6 with Platinum cover now availble at just $599

    If you’re on the lookout for a new Surface Pro model, this might be the right time to get one as the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is now available at a much lower price. Not to mention, it’ll also get you some extra goodies as a part of a rather not-to -be missed deal.

    The deal which is available right now includes the Surface Pro 6 and a Platinum cover bundle for just $599. That said, it’s a limited time offer so grab one before the deal expiries using the link here.

    Microsoft is offering a substantial discount as the Surface Pro 6 usually starts at $899, while a Type C cover is priced at an extra $129.99. So essentially, you’ll have to shell out over $1000 to get a Surface Pro 6 without any discounts.

    However, it’s also worth noting that this discounted Surface Pro 6 bundle features Intel Core m3 processor coupled with 4GB of RAM, as opposed to Intel Core i5 or Intel i7 core processors. Hence, it won’t be a s powerful as its other high-end variants, but the deal is something one cannot afford to miss.

    Apart from this, Microsoft is also selling two other Surface Pro bundles, though at much higher prices. The Surface Pro 6 featuring Intel Core i5, 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM along with Platinum Signature Cover is now available for $1159, while its 256GB storage variant is available at $1459.

    However, readers are reminded that these deals will only till supplies last so grab them as soon as you can. Besides, we can expect more Black Friday deals with attractive discounts in the next few days. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • iPhone X and 13-inch MacBook Pro have hardware issues, confirms Apple

    iPhone X and 13-inch MacBook Pro have hardware issues, confirms Apple

    Apple officially confirms that its last year’s iPhone X and 13-inch MacBook Pro (non touch bar) units have known hardware issues.

    The company said that the iPhone X’s display isn’t as responsive to touch as it’s supposed to be. According to Apple’s support page, the iPhone X’s screen, or some part of the screen fails to respond to a user’s touch. In some cases, the screen reacts even when the user hasn’t touched it.

    Apple said that customers with eligible iPhone X handsets can have their display unit replaced for free at their nearest Apple retail store or any Apple Authorized Service Center. Sources also suggest that iPhone X users have been complaining of the screen issue for months. The iPhone X was launched last year and has now been discontinued after the release of the latest iPhone XS, iPhone XS Plus, and iPhone XR.

    As for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, Apple said that some units might have a glitch that leads to loss of data or in some cases, complete hard drive failure. However, the company also notes that MacBook Pro units sold between June 2017 and June 2018 with 128GB and 256GB of storage and without Touch Bar might have the issue causes loss of data or drive failures.

    The company also added that customers with eligible devices can get both issues fixed at their nearest Apple retail store or any Apple Authorized Service Centre for free. The company also added that customers with faulty iPhone X and MacBook Pro (non Touch Bar) units should get their devices repaired as soon as possible. To find out if your MacBook Pro is eligible for a free service, just enter your device’s serial number on Apple’s official support page.

  • Google releases Android November security patch

    Google releases Android November security patch

    Google rolls out the November security update for Pixel, Nexus, and Essential devices. The latest Android security patch arrives with fixes for 17 security vulnerabilities.

    However, Android’s November Security patch includes bugs and fixes specifically aimed at Pixel devices. According to Google, the new patch is likely to improve notification stability and picture-in-picture performance on Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 devices.

    In addition, this update also brings the Pixel launcher button, which allows Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL users to launch Assistant much faster. Users can now squeeze Active Edge and easily trigger Google Assistant on their Pixel 2 handsets.

    Users are also reminded that the new update does not resolve memory management issues with the Google Pixel 3. An issue which causes background apps to spontaneously close. However, Google is aware of the issue and a fix for the same is expected to roll out in the coming weeks.

    It’s also worth noting that Google’s November Security patch will possibly be the last update rolling out to Pixel C, Nexus 6P, and Nexus 5X smartphones. As Google usually has a two year firmware upgrade cycle after a device is released. With that being said, it shouldn’t be a cause for concern thanks to dedicated developer communities who build ROMs that bring the latest security patches and Android features to most of Google’s older devices.

  • Apple releases watchOS 5.1.1 update to fix bricked Apple Watches

    Apple releases watchOS 5.1.1 update to fix bricked Apple Watches

    Apple starts rolling the new watchOS 5.1.1 update. With the new update, Apple has resolved the issue that led to bricked Apple Watches. The new watchOS 5.1.1 software update was released today and is now available via an OTA update on all supported Apple Watches running watchOS 5.0.1.

    Apple Watch users are advised to install the update to enjoy the new features included in watchOS 5.1.1. These include 70 new emoji characters, support for Group FaceTime audio, along with a new full screen colour watch face.

    How to update to watchOS 5.1.1

    In order to install the new update, you’ll need an iPhone running iOS 12.1. Next, just open the watch app on your iPhone, go to General, Software Updates, and tap on download/install the update. Also, make sure that your Apple Watch has sufficient charge in order to successfully the install the new update.

    To recall, Apple pulled the plug on watchOS 5.1 after its release last week as users reported the update bricked their Apple Watches. According to reports, Apple Watches were getting stuck on the Apple logo after users installed the previous update. Series 4 are Series 3 Apple Watches were primarily impacted by the issue.

    It took the company around a week to fix the issue by including a patch in the new watchOS 5.1.1 update. Hopefully, the new update delivers and Apple Watch owners don’t have to worry about any bricking issues.

    That said, it’s worth noting that users who’ve installed watchOS 5.1 and it caused a bricking issue on your Apple Watch, you’ll need to get in touch with Apple Support as installing watchOS 5.1.1 won’t fix the issue.