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  • Google Maps Gives Users the Ability to Manage Their Profiles

    Google Maps Gives Users the Ability to Manage Their Profiles

    Google Maps finally allows users to manage their profiles straight from the mobile app, a feature that wasn’t available earlier. With the new update, Android users now add their name, profile photo, a short bio, along with the ability to manage account setting and privacy tools directly from the Google Maps app.

    Users can manage their public profile from their phone via the new ‘your profile’ tab in the side menu. Users also get the option to hide their public contributions on their profile. To do so, just head over to Menu/Your profile/More/Profile settings and turn off Show contributions on your profile. That said, anyone will still be able to see your name, photo, and bio on your profile.

    Besides, users also get the option to make their profile invisible for businesses for added privacy.

    The option to manage and edit public profiles is a welcome change given the fact that Google Maps is built upon user contributions to fill in details. Though readers are reminded that being a server-side update, having the latest Google Maps app won’t guarantee that you’ll get this feature.

    For now, users will have to wait until Google makes it available for their device. Besides, there’s also no information about whether iOS users will get this option, as it does not show up there at the time of writing.

    That said, the feature is likely to arrive on iOS as well as Google is committed to improving the experience of Google Maps on all platforms. Back in October, the company announced a bunch of new features for the iPhone version of Google Maps, giving users the ability to report accidents, traffic jams, and speed traps. The feature arrived on Android earlier this year, and now both iOS and Android users can report about incidents such as road accidents, lane closures, along with other driving hazards such as obstacles or abandoned vehicles on the road.

  • The Outer Worlds to Release on Nintendo Switch in 2020, New Patch Incoming Next Week

    The Outer Worlds to Release on Nintendo Switch in 2020, New Patch Incoming Next Week

    The Outer Worlds is said to release on the Nintendo Switch in early 2020. The announcement was made during an earnings call where Take-Two Interactive announced that the game will be released on Nintendo Switch during its 2020 fiscal year. Now, this means that the game could launch on the Nintendo Switch before the end of the fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2020.

    The company behind Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds is the latest game by Obsidian Entertainment. The game was released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows PC on October 25. Since the game’s release, it has managed to draw a lot of attention thanks to its traditional RPG approach combined with a witty and sharp modern experience.

    Elsewhere, Obsidian Entertainment also announced that a new update for The Outer Worlds is also coming next week. The upcoming update, Patch 1.1.1.0, primarily addresses several bugs in the game but also brings subtle gameplay improvements.

    “At this time, we would like to let you all know that we are looking at releasing a patch next week to implement some changes and bug fixes. This patch is currently in the testing phase and as long as no other issues occur during this time, we hope to release it to you all sometime next week. Please be aware that this can change, but we are working hard to make this timeline and things are looking good thus far,” wrote Obsidian on its forums in a post shared on Thursday.

    You can check out the full patch notes below:

    • The crashing issue in Tartarus
    • Increase Font Size – Conversations/Subtitles
    • Muffled sound effects occur at random times for players on the PS4
    • Companions dying and failing companion quests on modes other than Supernova
    • Unable to finish “Radio Free Monarch”
    • Trophy “Not the Best Choice” fails to unlock properly
  • Android Auto App Now Available for Android 10 Users

    Android Auto App Now Available for Android 10 Users

    Back in September, Google promised that it would release a separate Android Auto app specifically for Android 10 users with a non-compatible head unit. Now, the app has finally arrived on the PlayStore so that Android 10 users can use the app on their smartphones.

    Dubbed as ‘Android Auto for Phone screens, the new app is designed to bring the full Android Auto experience on your phone’s screen, until Google Assistant Driving mode arrives.

    “This app lets you use Android Auto on your phone screen with a phone running Android 10. If you have Android 10 and an Android Auto compatible car, you can project to your car display without downloading this app. Simply plug in your phone to get started,” explained Google.

    With Android Auto, Android 10 users can deploy Google Assistant to route their next destination with real-time GPS navigation and traffic alerts using Waze and Google Maps. Users get real-time updates about their route such as hazards, roadblocks, jams, and ETA.

    Besides, users can also manage their infotainment system to listen to music, podcasts, and audiobooks on a wide range of apps such as Pandora, Spotify, Google Play Music, TIDAL, Deezer, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and more. Not to mention, Android Auto also features a Do Not Disturb Mode so drivers can concentrate on the road and to avoid any distractions.

    To recall, Google recently integrated Android Auto with Android 10 OS so as to remove the need to download a separate app. However, this implied that Android 10 users who own a car without a compatible head unit would not be able to use the app on their smartphones, which was possible earlier. To rectify the situation, Google has finally released a standalone Android app for Android 10 users.

    Initially, Google seemed completely fine with chucking the idea of a standalone Android Auto app, as it was supposed to be replaced by Google Assistant ‘driving mode’. However, Google Assistant ‘driving mode’ is still not available, so until it becomes available, Google seems to have come up with a temporary solution for Android 10 users without an Android Auto compatible head unit with the new standalone Android Auto app.

  • Minecraft Earth Early Access Now Available in 9 Countries

    Minecraft Earth Early Access Now Available in 9 Countries

    Microsoft has released the early access build of its augmented reality game, Minecraft Earth. The company confirmed that the game has arrived on PlayStore for Android and AppStore for iOS in nine countries. These include the UK, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Iceland, the Philipines, South Korea, and Sweden.

    Users in the supported regions can now play the early access version of Minecraft Earth, which offers more features than its earlier beta version. That said, the beta version won’t be a complete reflection of what the game will look like upon its final release.

    Microsoft appears to be a tad behind schedule with the game’s release. The company earlier said that it plans to release Minecraft Earth in all countries before the end of 2019.

    With Minecraft Earth, Microsoft wants to take on other popular AR games like Pokemon Go and Wizards Unite. Much like the current Minecraft game for PC, Minecraft Earth is also a block building and adventure game. However, the game is specifically designed for Android and iOS and uses augmented reality to build creations wherever you like using your smartphone. You can place your creations on the streets, in a park, or even around the home, so that other Minecraft Earth players can view them using their smartphones.

    Minecraft Earth is completely free, implying that the full version of the game will be a free-to-play game. Android and iOS users can download it at no cost and play the game as much as they’d like without any hidden costs. There will, however, be a store to purchase extra Mobs and skins though Microsoft is yet to reveal exact details of in-app purchases. In the meantime, you can find out more about the game from the official website.

  • Google Releases Android Security Patch for November 2019

    Google Releases Android Security Patch for November 2019

    Today, Google rolled out the newest Android security patch for November 2019 to address several security vulnerabilities and bug fixes in the latest Android 10 OS. The new Android security patch fixes as many as 38 security vulnerabilities in various of Android’s core components such as Android Framework, Android Library, Media framework, Android System, Kernel components, and Android components. Therefore, users are advised to install the Android Security Patch for November 2019 on their devices as soon as possible.

    One of the critical issues addressed by the latest security patch is a flaw that could allow a locally installed malicious app to bypass user permissions to gain access to additional app permissions. This vulnerability could allow a remote hacker to execute arbitrary code using a specifically crafted file, allowing the hacker to gain access to additional permissions.

    “The most severe of these issues is a critical security vulnerability in the System component that could enable a remote attacker using a specially crafted file to execute arbitrary code within the context of a privileged process. The severity assessment is based on the effect that exploiting the vulnerability would possibly have on an affected device,” explains the security bulletin.

    Google also released the Pixel Update for November 2019, which addresses as many as 21 vulnerabilities in the Linux Kernel components, Qualcomm components, LG components, and Android framework specific to Pixel devices. Besides, the latest update brings functional patches to offer various improvements to supported Pixel handsets. These include Smooth Display and Camera quality improvements for the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL.

    Besides, there’s additional support for Xbox Bluetooth controller mapping on Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, and Pixel 4 XL. Elsewhere, the latest patch brings improvements for bottom speaker audio quality on Pixel 3, along with improvements for Google Assistant keyword on Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, and Pixel 3 XL.

  • Experts hack Alexa, Google Home, and Siri by using ordinary lasers

    Experts hack Alexa, Google Home, and Siri by using ordinary lasers

    Researchers have apparently found a way to hack assistants such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, as well as some smartphones, by simply pointing a laser. The hack dubbed as Light Commands, allows attackers to take full control over many popular voice-controlled devices by targeting the device’s microphone with lasers.

    Takeshi Sugawara, one of the lead researchers of the study, explained that microphones in smart devices convert sound into electrical signals, which sends commands to the device. He added that microphones react the same way to a focused light pointed at them, just like they respond to sound commands.

    “It’s possible to make microphones respond to light as if it were sound. This means that anything that acts on sound commands will act on light commands,” Sugawara told Wired in a statement.

    As many voice-controlled devices are not protected by a PIN or password, attackers just need to be in the device’s line of sight to exploit this vulnerability. In a research paper published on Monday, experts revealed how they could easily hack smart speakers, tablets, and even phones by simply pointing a laser` through a window. They added that the vulnerability could be exploited by hackers to operate smart switches at homes or offices, as well as buy things online without being detected.

    “Once an attacker gains control over a voice assistant a number of other systems could be open to their manipulation. In the worst cases, this could mean dangerous access to e-commerce accounts, credit cards, and even any connected medical devices the user has linked to their assistant,” says a breakdown of the study on the University of Michigan’s website.

    Experts spent nearly seven months testing this vulnerability on popular voice-controlled devices powered by Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. These include Google Home, Echo Dot, Fire Cube, Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, iPhone, and iPad. They were able to successfully exploit the flaw using ordinary laser pointers, laser drivers, and a telephoto lens. In some cases, even a souped-up flashlight did the trick.

    Researchers also added that they’ve shared their findings of the exploit with Google, Facebook, Amazon, Tesla, as well as Ford.

  • Fortnite player Jarvis Kaye gets a life ban for using Aimbots

    Fortnite player Jarvis Kaye gets a life ban for using Aimbots

    Professional Fortnite player Jarvis Kaye, who has nearly 2 million followers on YouTube has been permanently banned from playing the game over the use of aimbots.

    Jarvis posted an emotional six-minute video on YouTube apologizing for his actions. He added that he’s been banned for life for uploading videos that showed him using aimbots, which is essentially a hack designed to improve the accuracy of your shooting.

    In his defense, he revealed in the video that he only used aimbots in Fornite’s casual solos mode and playground mode while making content for his followers on YouTube and Twitch. Jarvis also added that he had never used an aimbot while playing in a competitive setting.

    “All I was thinking about whilst I was making those videos was just how entertaining and interesting these videos would be for you guys to watch,” said Kaye.

    Jarvis stated later in the video that being permanently banned from playing the game he loved so much would be a bitter pill to swallow. He also added that he’s not looking for an easy way out, and is ready to accept any punishment from Epic.

    In response, Epic Games stated that it has a no-tolerance policy towards any form of cheating.

    “We have a zero-tolerance policy for the usage of cheat software. When people use aimbots or other cheat technologies to gain an unfair advantage, they ruin games for people who are playing fairly,” Epic Games told in a statement.

    Jarvis later stated that he should have noted Fortnite’s Terms of Service agreement, which clearly prohibits the use of “cheats, bots, scripts, or mods not expressly authorized by Epic” that give players any form of unfair advantage.

    In light of these events, fans and followers of Jarvis have started a social media campaign with the FreeJarvis hashtag. Some fans also pointed the XXiF’s punishment, who was caught cheating in one of the world cup qualifiers, though only got a week’s suspension, while Jarvis got a permanent ban for using aimbots in a non-competitive setting.

  • New Dropbox feature lets you easily share large-sized files

    New Dropbox feature lets you easily share large-sized files

    Earlier this summer, Dropbox announced a new feature called Transfer to make file sharing easier and efficient. That time, it was available in beta, however, Dropbox is rolling out the new feature to all users starting today. Dropbox Transfer aims to resolve a few hassles of file sharing by focussing on sending files, and not specifically collaboration. Until now, we’ve been able to share files, however, changes made to the file either by the sender or the receiver would automatically sync.

    With Transfer, you can send a copy of the file and changes made by either the receiver or sender won’t automatically sync, so you can send the same file to some other client or person. Put simply, you can edit the file and any changes you make won’t affect the original file. Another advantage of Transfer is that you can share the file with anyone, regardless of whether the recipient has a Dropbox account or not.

    “Transfer is our answer to a common problem: Sometimes you simply want to hand off files. No giving people edit access to your originals, no links that let people download updates you make later—just, “Here are your files!” While email might work for a JPEG or two, collections of large multimedia files easily go well beyond the typical 25 MB attachment limit. And Dropbox shared links are best for when recipients need access to always up-to-date files. explained Dropbox in a blog post.

    The company is also touting the file size you can share using Transfer – up to a 100GB of files in one go. However, it’ll depend on which Dropbox account you have. For instance, the basic account still offers only 100MB transfers. Though with a Plus or Business Standard account, you can transfer 2GB of files in one go. On the other hand, with an Enterprise, Professional, Business Advanced, or an Education account you can send up to 100GB of files in one shot with Transfer.

    “Transfer lets you send up to 100 GB of files in just a few clicks. Just select files from your hard drive or Dropbox account to create your transfer. You can even password protect it and set an expiration date to encourage recipients to download the files. You’ll get a link you can send to anyone—even if they aren’t on Dropbox. After you send it, viewership stats let you see how many times the transfer’s been accessed,” further added Dropbox.

    Dropbox says users can now make a transfer page via its desktop and iOS apps, as well as on Dropbox.com. You can also customize the background along with the logo that recipients will see when your file transfer is accepted by them.

  • Moto Razr foldable phone leaked ahead of official release

    Moto Razr foldable phone leaked ahead of official release

    The upcoming Moto Razr foldable phone has purportedly leaked ahead of its official unveiling scheduled for Nov. 13th. The leak comes via credible Evan Blass aka @evleaks, who has a rather immaculate track record when it comes to leaks. Blass posted several images of the handset which indicate that it’ll look much like its famous predecessor. Going by the leaked image, the bottom of the device looks rather chunky and thick. Besides, the handset’s chin also seemingly houses a Home button. However, the highlight of the device appears to be the display, which not only happens to be fully touchscreen but foldable at the same time.

    The upper half of the handset would fold down just like its predecessor, and sit flush with the bottom half of the device. The upcoming Moto Razr will have touchscreen all through, unlike its predecessor which had a keypad at the bottom.

    To recall, a patent was filed by Motorola earlier this year that revealed the design of the new age Razr. The filing contained several diagrams that show a folding handset with a clamshell form factor. According to the filing, the Moto Razr will have two screens, a small screen on the outside and a folding screen on the inside.

    As for pricing, key sources indicate that Lenovo plans to launch Moto Razr at a price tag of $1500. Besides, rumor also has it that the device will be a Verizon-exclusive in the US. Not to mention, reports also suggest that Lenovo plans to manufacture over 200,000 units of the new RAZRs, which is rather surprising given it’s a $1500 luxury phone.

    The launch of the Moto Razr will make it compete with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X. That said, unlike Samsung and Huawei who’ve advertised their foldable devices as flagship offerings, Motorola appears to have a rather scaled-down approach with its foldable offering.

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab Active Pro rugged tablet now available in the US

    Samsung Galaxy Tab Active Pro rugged tablet now available in the US

    Samsung has officially announced that its latest rugged tablet, the Galaxy Tab Active Pro is now available in the US starting for $599.99.

    For now, the tablet is only available for purchase through Samsung’s channel partners. That said, the Korean manufacturer has confirmed that the device will also be available on Samsung.com. Besides, the company also added that an LTE version of the tablet which works with the four major carriers in the US will also be available starting November 15th for $679.99.

    The Galaxy Tab Active Pro is specifically designed for users who work outdoors or in rough working conditions. Samsung claims that the device is also shock resistant, with a MIL-STD 810G certification. In addition, the tablet, as well as the bundled S-Pen, also get IP68 certification to offer protection against dust and water. Therefore, the Galaxy Tab Active Pro could be a good choice to use on the job without having to worry about potential damage to harsh working environments.

    galaxy tab active pro

    As for specs, the tablet sports a 10.1-inch Full HD display with 550 nits of max brightness. Under the hood, it gets powered by the Snapdragon 670 octa-core processor paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in storage. The storage is further expandable up to 512GB via a microSD card.

    Elsewhere, the Galaxy Tab Active Pro features a fast-charging 7600mAh battery which is rated to deliver up to 15 hours of back up on a single charge. Besides, the device features a 13MP camera on the back and an 8MP front-facing camera. Other notable features include a fingerprint scanner, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and USB-C charging. Not to mention, the device supports POGO pin-based accessories such as keyboards and chargers.

    It’s also worth noting that the latest Galaxy Tab Active Pro is Samsung’s first rugged tablet to support DeX. With DeX, users can plug the tablet into a monitor to get a full-on desktop experience.

  • Apple officially unveils AirPods Pro with active noise cancellation

    Apple officially unveils AirPods Pro with active noise cancellation

    Apple has announced the latest version of AirPods called the AirPods Pro, which features active noise cancellation and in-ear design. The new AirPods Pro is now available for order in the US and will arrive in Apple retail stores on Wednesday, October 30.

    As for pricing, the latest version of AirPods gets a price tag of $249, and come bundled with a Qi-wireless charging case. In comparison, the AirPods 2 are priced at $199 with the wireless charging case and $159 without the wireless charging case.

    “The new in-ear AirPods Pro sound amazing with Adaptive EQ, fit comfortably with flexible ear tips and have innovative Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode. We think customers are going to love this new addition to the AirPods family,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC9urbiVp4M

    AirPods Pro features a new, curvier design with flexible ear tips. Apple will include three sizes of flexible silicone ear tips. The company adds that the ear tip provides a comfy fit and superior seal in the user’s ears.

    Also, there’s an ‘Ear Fit Tip Test’ that is designed to ensure that users get the best audio experience by testing the quality of the seal and identifying the best ear tip size. It uses advanced algorithms that work together with microphones in each Airpod to measure the sound level, and detects whether the ear tip is the right size and fit for a user.

    Apple also notes that the AirPods Pro is sweat- and water-resistant for non-water sports and exercise. These wireless earbuds have a rating of IPX4.

    Other new features include audio sharing, which allows users to listen to the same song or watch the same movie with a friend by simply bringing another pair of AirPods close to the iPhone or iPad. Besides, Siri gets the ability to speak incoming messages as and when they arrive.

    Besides, there’s also a transparency mode, which lets customers listen to music while still hearing the surrounding environment.

    In terms of battery life, AirPods Pro is rated to deliver 5 hours of listening time, 4.5 hours with Active Noise Cancellation mode enabled, or 3.5 hours of talk time.

  • Google confirms first Stadia Game Studios in Montreal

    Google confirms first Stadia Game Studios in Montreal

    Google Stadia is officially slated for a release on November 19. Now, the company has announced the first games studio that’ll be a part of Stadia Games and Entertainment. The studio will be based in Montreal and create exclusive games that utilize the cloud gaming platform.

    “Google’s very first exclusive studio will produce exclusive, original content across a diverse portfolio,” said industry veteran Jade Raymond. She further added the city’s rich gaming culture and heritage that launched multiple studios and many outstanding games.

    She also mentioned that Stadia Games and Entertainment will join hands with other studios to help them bring Stadia technology to other games and take them to the next level.

    “Stadia is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace; these diverse perspectives will shape the games we create together. We’re committed to building an environment that will empower the developers who work at Stadia to create new, unique gaming experiences,” said Jade Raymond.

    We’re just a few weeks away from Stadis’s November 19th release via a Founder Edition Bundle for $130. This edition includes three months of Stadia Pro which costs $10 a month. It lets you stream games up to 4K HDR at 60fps, includes a copy of Destiny 2, offers discounts on all games on Stadia store, as well as access to a collection of free games.

    Besides, the Founder’s Edition also includes a Buddy Pass which you can gift to a friend for three months. It also includes the exclusive Stadia controller along with Chromecast Ultra.

    The base subscription called Stadia Pro will be offered at $10/month. It gives players access to stream games at 4K resolution/60 frames-per-second. However, the service won’t offer all the games as new ones need to bought separately. Also, you’ll have to purchase the standalone Stadia controller which costs $70. Also, a free version of Stadia, called Stadia Base, is slated for a release sometime next year as well.

    Google also revealed a list of over 30 games that will be available for purchase when Google Stadia officially launches in November. These include the likes of Doom, Doom Eternal, Ghost Recon: Breakout, as well as other popular first-person shooters. Other Stadia games announced include Final Fantasy XV, Darksiders Genesis, Metro Exodus, The Divison 2, and many more. Both Mortal Kombat 11 and Battle for the Grid will also be available on launch day.

  • Samsung announces next-gen flagship Exynos 990 processor

    Samsung announces next-gen flagship Exynos 990 processor

    Samsung has announced the next flagship processor for 2020, the Exynos 990. The new chipset is built using Samsung’s 7nm process and includes Mali-G77 GPU that is said to improve the overall performance by 20 percent compared to its predecessor. The chipset features a tri-cluster setup that includes two Arm Cortex A76 high-performance cores, four Cortex-A55 efficiency cores, and two of Samsung’s custom processor cores.

    The Exynos 990 also comes equipped with support for displays with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz to offer smoother animation and gaming, though will consume more power. Besides, the chipset is equipped to handle as many as six cameras with a maximum resolution of 108 pixels, though only three at once.

    That said, the new Exynos 990 lacks the integrated 5G modem found in the 980, implying it’s targeted at 4G devices. However, it can be paired with a separate modem – like Samsung’s new 5G Exynos Modem 5123. s one of the first modem chips made using the 7nm EUV process and supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave airwaves. The new modem is equipped to handle download speeds up to 5.1Gbps on sub-6GHz and 7.35Mbps on mmWave networks. It also can deliver 3.06Gbps speed on 4G using 1024 QAM digital modulation.

    “Samsung’s Exynos 990 and Exynos Modem 5123 are perfectly adapted for high-volume 5G and AI applications, and are designed to help the world’s most ambitious enterprises, large and small, achieve their goals of bringing new capabilities to their markets,” said Samsung.

    The Exynos 990 chipset will most likely debut on the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S11 series. Meanwhile, Samsung said that the new Exynos 990 and Exynos Modem 5123 are expected to go into mass production before the end of 2019.

  • First photos of PlayStation 5 devkit leaked on the web

    First photos of PlayStation 5 devkit leaked on the web

    Earlier this month, Sony revealed some enticing details about the upcoming PlayStation 5 console. In an interview, CEO Jim Ryan stated the DualShock controller that’ll come bundled with the PS5 will feature haptic technology and adaptive triggers. According to Sony, haptic technology will allow gamers to truly feel a broader range of feedback. The second innovation is called adaptive triggers, will be incorporated into the L2/R2 trigger buttons. Sony says that these two innovations when combined ‘can produce a powerful experience that better simulates various actions’.

    “Developers can program the resistance of the triggers so that you feel the tactile sensation of drawing a bow and arrow or accelerating an off-road vehicle through rocky terrain,” explained Sony

    Besides, the company said it’ll stick with the existing naming pattern, which essentially means that the next console will be officially called the PlayStation 5. Finally, the company also confirmed its plans to release the PS5 sometime during the 2020 holiday season. Now, leaked photos of the console’s devkit have surfaced on the web.

    The photo falls in line with previously leaked patent sketches of the PS5. We can see several front-facing ports as well as multiple vents. Besides, the top of the console features a V-shaped design, which happens to be Roman numeral V. Elsewhere, we can see a big circle on the console’s right, which rumors indicate will allow 4K live streaming at the press of a button. The leaked image also shows as many as six USB ports, along with the standard eject, reset, and standby buttons.

    That said, even if this leak is genuine, there’s no guarantee that the actual finished product will look similar to the PlayStation 5 devkit.

    Sony has confirmed its plans to release the PlayStation 5 during the 2020 holiday season. Though we can expect plenty of photos and rumors to emerge before the company officially unveils the PS5 next year. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • Samsung rolls out a fix for Galaxy S10, Galaxy Note 10 fingerprint scanner flaw

    Samsung rolls out a fix for Galaxy S10, Galaxy Note 10 fingerprint scanner flaw

    A flaw was recently discovered in the Galaxy S10 that allowed any fingerprint to unlock the device. A British user found the controversial fingerprint scanner issue that allowed any fingerprint to unlock the flagship handset using a cheap screen protector.

    Soon after this story spread like wildfire over the Internet, Samsung responded that it was “aware of the case of S10’s malfunctioning fingerprint recognition and will soon issue a software patch.” In fact, Samsung also stated that the issue concerns not just Galaxy S10 users, but also owners of the Galaxy Note 10.

    The Korean manufacturer also warned users in an official statement:

    “To prevent any further issues, we advise that Galaxy Note10/10+ and S10/S10+/S10 5G users who use such covers to remove the cover, delete all previous fingerprints and newly register their fingerprints. If you currently use front screen protective covers, to ensure optimum fingerprint scanning, please refrain from using this cover until your device has been updated with a new software patch. A software update is planned to be released as early as next week, and once updated, please be sure to scan your fingerprint in its entirety, so that the all portions of your fingerprint, including the center and corners have been fully scanned.”

    Now, key sources suggest that Samsung is pushing an emergency update to address the fingerprint authentication flaw. For now, it appears that Galaxy Note 10+ 5G variant has started receiving this patch as an OTA update, which weighs 17.29MB. Besides fixing the fingerprint scanner flaw, the update also brings Touch screen and camera performance improvements, among others.

    For now, it’s unclear whether the update is available for Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, and standard Galaxy Note 10 users. That said, it should be on its way soon given they too feature the same ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. We’ll keep an eye on this and update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.