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  • Samsung Galaxy Fold release date announced

    Samsung Galaxy Fold release date announced

    The Samsung Galaxy Fold was originally slated for a release in April. However, the launch got delayed after early reviewers faced issues with the device’s screen. Samsung later officially announced that it had fixed these issues and the device is ready for a release. Now, the Korean manufacturer has revealed an exact release date of the handset. According to Samsung, the Galaxy Fold is now ready for launch and will be available starting September 6 in South Korea.

    The handset will arrive in the US ‘in the coming weeks, said Samsung in a press release. Rumour has it that the handset would launch in the US on September 27. As far as pricing goes, the handset is set to cost a whopping $2000.

    Besides, Samsung also plans to offer something called ‘Galaxy Fold Premier Service”. The service essentially gives Galaxy Fold buyers “”direct access to Samsung experts who can provide you tailored guidance and support over the phone any time, any day.” Key sources also suggest that buyers won’t have to pay for the service separately, as it’ll be included in the price of the Galaxy Fold.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9ydQoi2VbA

    To recall, Samsung initially pushed back the handset’s launch after reviewers faced several hardware issues with the device. Though the company later confirmed that it had made several changes to the Galaxy Fold to resolve the problems with the screen discovered by early reviewers.

    To begin with, the top protective layer of the Infinity Flex display now covers the bezels as well. Hence, everything looks proper now as early reviewers assumed it was screen protector and tried to peel it off, thereby damaging the screen.

    Next, Samsung has added more metal layers under the screen to make it more durable. Also, the space between the body and the hinge has been reduced. Elsewhere, Samsung also claims there are additional reinforcements now to protect the screen from external debris. Finally, the company has strengthened the top and bottom of the hinge with more protective particles.

    “Samsung is conducting final product tests to make Galaxy Fold available to consumers starting from September in select markets. Availability details will be shared as we get closer to launch,” the company added in the press release.

    Hopefully, Samsung is now ready to launch the Galaxy Fold starting September 6, without any issues that were discovered in early review units of the handset.

  • Android 10 arrives on Pixel phones

    Android 10 arrives on Pixel phones

    Android 10 has officially arrived. Google started rolling out the latest version of its Android OS to Pixel phone users on Tuesday. As expected, Android 10 brings several tweaks and performance improvements. Though for the most part, Android 10 appears to be an incremental update as users may not notice some of the new features immediately.

    Some of the highlights in Android 10 include the new gesture system. For instance, you’ll need to swipe right from the screen’s left edge to back, instead of just pressing the back button found in earlier versions of Android. Users can also swipe left or right on the bottom of the screen to scroll through their recently used apps.

    Another significant change is the new Privacy settings. In Android 10, all privacy settings like app permissions, account activity, and personal data are found in one place. Now, this is much unlike Android 9, where users need to find app privacy settings within each app. With the latest version of Android, users can customize how apps on their smartphone access their location data. They can choose between three options; all the time, only when they use the app, or never. Moreover, it even reminds users if they allowed apps to access their location all the time.

    Elsewhere, Android 10 devices will get security updates like an app update in the Google Play Store. The whole idea is to make it faster and easier for users to get the latest security updates.

    Besides, there’s a new Focus mode, which allows users’ to temporarily pause apps which they might find distracting while performing som other tasks.

    Android 10 also allows users to save photos in HEIF format, which essentially uses less space without comprising on quality. Therefore, photos look just as good as the earlier JPEG format, without consuming too much space on the phone.

    There’s also a new app called Sound Amplifier. As the name suggests, it allows users to boost the sound they want to hear by filtering out the background noise. However, the feature only works with wired headphones.

    Android 10 also happens to be the first version of Android that doesn’t have a dessert name. Google decided to ditch dessert-themed names as global users found it easier to relate to numbers.

    As is usually the case with major updates, Android 10 will arrive in phases. Hence, not all Pixel users might have received the update right away. Users, however, can manually check if the update is available by heading over to Settings> System> Advanced> System Update.

  • State-backed effort responsible for the massive iPhone hack: Report

    State-backed effort responsible for the massive iPhone hack: Report

    Google’s Project Zero team recently found multiple flaws in iOS that allowed hackers to gain access to an iPhone. The attack involved a small group of websites which targeted visitors’ devices to gain access to their personal information, as well as location data. Besides, the attack could also gather encrypted information from apps such as WhatsApp, iMessage, and Telegram.

    According to sources, such websites have been running for two years, during which thousands of visitors possibly accessed them every week. Apple, however, was quick to roll out a fix for the flaw in iOS 12.1.4. Apple revealed in the update that the vulnerability, referred to as ‘memory corruption issues’, was fixed with ‘improved input validation. Hence, iPhone owners are most likely protected against these exploits, as a fix was rolled out for the same with iOS 12.1.4 on February 7.

    That said, the perpetrator behind these attacks remained a mystery. Now, thanks to some digging by TechCrunch, it turns out that the culprit behind these attacks was the Chinese government.

    The attack was apparently part of a campaign to gather surveillance on a minority Muslim group in China, the Uyghur community, residing in China’s Xinjiang territory. The Chinese government claims that Islamists militants and separatists target the country’s Xinjiang region. Reports indicate that China has forced nearly 2 million people from the Uyghur community and Muslim minorities into camps for indoctrination, prompting activists to call on China to stop such mass detention efforts.

    Google revealed in its disclosure that merely visiting the infected sites was enough for the exploit to attack your device. Therefore, even people outside the Uyghur community may have been affected by this state-sponsored spy effort. Key sources also indicate that not only iPhone users were affected by the attack, but even devices running Android and Microsoft’s operating systems. With thousands of visitors accessing such malicious websites, it allowed the Chinese government to capture their private data as well as their location data.

  • Huawei Mate 30 launch date announced

    Huawei Mate 30 launch date announced

    The Huawei Mate 30 is set to go official at an event in Munich on September 19. The Chinese manufacturer recently posted the event’s invite which shows a gradient ring with the caption ” We’re going full circle in Munich on 19.09.2019″. The teaser image does fall in line with earlier leaks, which shows a round camera housing with a thick ring around it. Besides, the teaser also tips at a quad-camera setup, along with an almost bezel-free display with a wider notch. The teaser primarily focuses on the camera lens graphic, which suggests the flagship is likely to pack a top-notch camera.

    Key sources suggest that both the Huawei Mate 30 and Huawei Mate 30 Pro will be unveiled at the event. The Chinese manufacturer’s upcoming flagship will also get powered by the latest Kirin 990 processor. Other rumored features include support for wireless charging.

    That said, the fact that Mate 30 phones possibly won’t use Google apps and services thanks to the current trade disputes between China and the US, Huawei might have to consider other alternatives so that the handset’s sales aren’t affected. If the Huawei Mate 20 isn’t allowed to be sold with licensed Google apps and services, the handset could be offered an open-source version of Android. Another alternative for Huawei is to release it own HarmonyOS that’ll support Android apps. That said, it’s still possible that Google might apply for an exempt for the Huawei Mate 30.

    We will bring you all the news and updates from the Mate 30 launch event set for Sept 19. in Munich. In the meantime, more leaks about the Huawei’s upcoming flagship 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.

  • 2020 Ford Explorer Hybrid offers better mileage and more power

    2020 Ford Explorer Hybrid offers better mileage and more power

    The EPA has revealed fuel economy estimates for the 2020 Ford Explorer Hybrid, making it a viable option for those on the lookout for a green SUV. The estimates indicate that the rear-wheel-drive variant of the SUV offers a better fuel economy compared to its all-wheel-drive sibling.

    The rear-wheel-drive model of Ford’s latest hybrid churns out 27 miles-per-gallon in the city, 29 miles-per-gallon on highways, and 28 miles-per-gallon combined. In comparison, the all-wheel-drive model will deliver 23 miles-per-gallon in the city, 26 miles-per-gallon on highways, and 25 miles-per-gallon combined.

    The new Ford Explorer Hybrid certainly won’t disappoint when it comes to long trips. The rear-wheel-drive variant offers a range of more than 500 miles between fill-ups. The all-wheel-drive, on the other hand, has a range of 450 miles between fill-ups. Not only has it the ability to deliver on long trips, but it also has the towing power. The latest hybrid model has the power to lift up to 5,600 pounds.

    The 2020 Ford Explorer Hybrid will rival the likes of Toyota’s Highlander Hybrid SUV when it launches. However, sources indicate that Ford’s latest hybrid still can’t beat Toyota’s Highlander Hybrid when it comes to fuel economy. The Japanese automaker’s 2019 all-wheel-drive model churns out 28 miles-per-gallon combined, while its upcoming 2020 Highlander Hybrid is expected to deliver an estimated 34 miles-per-gallon combined.

  • Fitbit Versa 2 powered by Amazon Alexa goes official

    Fitbit Versa 2 powered by Amazon Alexa goes official

    The Fitbit Versa 2 smartwatch is finally official. The new smartwatch comes with Amazon Alexa and will launch on September 15, starting at $199.95. It’ll come in three color options. These include a black color with a carbon case, a stone color with a mist grey case, and a petal color variant with a copper rose aluminum case.

    Besides, there’ll be two exclusive editions of the smartwatch, emerald and Bordeaux with a copper rose case. The two exclusive versions will be available later this fall via Fitbit.com and select retailers.

    The Fitbit Versa 2 gets a slew of upgrades over its earlier model. For instance, it gets a more powerful processor, which means apps and data will load much faster. Besides, it is claimed to offer over five days of battery life.

    Elsewhere, the Versa 2 gets a sleek new waterproof design, along with new sleep features such as ‘sleep score,’ which essentially tells a user how well he slept. It also gets an on-device microphone with Amazon Alexa integration, which users can command to check their schedule, start a workout, or respond to texts.

    The Fitbit Versa 2 also gets a brighter, crisper AMOLED display with an optional ‘Always On’ mode. Other notable features include water resistance up to 50 meters, 15+ exercising routines, 24/7 heart-rate tracking, and on-device workouts.

    Apart from the new smartwatch, the company also announced Fitbit Premium, a new subscription service slated for a release this fall for $9.99 a month or $79.99 per year. The Versa 2 smartwatch will support Fitbit Premium service, which essentially gives users more information about their health trends. The service will be available in English in 17 countries via the Fitbit app.

    Besides, the service will be available in more languages by 2020, such as French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, and Korean. Moreover, Versa 2 buyers will get a 90-day trial for the service.

  • Google Pixel 4 detailed images leaked

    Google Pixel 4 detailed images leaked

    While Google has officially teased several images of the upcoming Pixel 4 flagship. That said, those photos didn’t reveal anything concrete apart from the square camera housing on the back. However, a new set of alleged leaked images of the device seemingly gives us our first close look at the Pixel 4.

    The images show both front and back of the Pixel 4, along with sensors and bezels. The photos show a rather thin bottom bezel, but it still appears pretty big compared to several other phones. Meanwhile, it appears Google has ditched the notch on top. However, it doesn’t seem too tall despite all the sensors it houses. Besides, the image also shows a narrow, but a slightly taller speaker grille compared to the Pixel 3. Also, we can see a greyish-white power button housed on the right edge, with volume rockers placed right below it.

    The back of the phone shows the massive square camera housing, which is rumored to pack a standard 12MP lens with phase detection autofocus and a 16MP telephoto lens. Besides, the image suggests that Google has possibly used glass on the back instead of the dual-tone matte soft-touch glass, as the Pixel 4’s rear appears quite shiny.

    Though as is the case with every leak, readers are advised to take this with a pinch of salt as there’s no confirmation that these images are real. With that being said, these images were seemingly taken by a Sprint engineer as the “Sprint” text is clearly visible on the lockscreen. Given the fact that Sprint currently sells the Pixel 3 and 3 XL, it shouldn’t be a surprise that these images show the real Pixel 4.

    As per earlier leaks, Google is expected to release the Pixel 4 range in October, while shipping is likely to begin later that month. More leaks about the Pixel 4 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.

  • Baidu overtakes Google, now the second largest smart speaker seller globally

    Baidu overtakes Google, now the second largest smart speaker seller globally

    The global smart speaker market has seemingly witnessed a tectonic shift, making the Chinese manufacturer Baidu the second-largest smart speaker seller internationally, as it overtook Google to claim the second spot.

    According to a new report from Canalys, the Chinese manufacturer recorded a staggering growth in Q2 2019, compared to the same period a year ago. The company saw an astounding growth of 3,700 percent, recording sales of 4.5 million units, which is a monumental rise compared to 100,000 units it sold during the same period last year.

    In comparison, Google managed to achieve sales of 4.3 million units of its smart speakers, a drop of 19.8 percent as it sold 5.4 million units in Q2, 2018.

    Amazon regains the top spot, recording sales of 6.6 million units of its smart speaker systems in Q2 2019. Now, this makes for a growth of 24.5 percent, compared to 4.1 million units of its Echo range of smart speakers that found buyers in Q2, 2018.

    It’s also worth noting while Google and Amazon maintain an international presence, sales of Baidu smart speakers were largely restricted to the Chinese market. That said, the enormous size of the Chinese market means there’s a massive potential for Baidu to grow, given that smart speaker market in the country is still in its nascent phase.

    “Local network operators’ interests on the [smart display] device category soared recently. This bodes well for Baidu as it faces little competition in the smart display category, allowing the company to dominate in the operator channel,” said Canalys Research Analyst Cynthia Chen.

    Both Google and Amazon focused on international markets in Q2 2019. Reports indicate that 50 percent of Amazon’s shipments were outside the U.S in Q2, an increase of 32 percent compared to the same period last year. As for Google, 55 percent of its shipments were made outside the U.S, an increase of 42 percent compared to the same period the previous year.

    The remaining top five contenders were Alibaba and Xiaomi, shipping 4.1 million and 2.8 million units respectively in Q2 2019. Meanwhile, the sales of Apple’s HomePod totaled 3.7 million units.

  • FTC and AT&T settle data slowdon lawsuit

    FTC and AT&T settle data slowdon lawsuit

    The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and AT&T have reached an agreement over a data throttling lawsuit, which accused the carrier of slowing down data sent to wireless devices. A federal court ruling has revealed that the two parties agreed to a settlement on August 2, and requested a 90-day stay so that FCC can review and vote on the agreement. That said, the value of the settlement remains unknown. Key sources, however, suggest that the deal will include an injunction as well as a monetary payment.

    To recall, the FTC sued AT&T in 2014 for throttling unlimited data plans without clearly informing its customers. The commission stated that the carrier didn’t do enough to notify or warn customers that it massively slows down their data after it reaches a specific limit. FTC’s primary concern was AT&T’s integrity and honesty, as the carrier changed the terms of use for subscribers without providing them with proper information.

    In response, AT&T claimed that the FTC’s lawsuit was ‘baseless’ as only 3 percent of customers were affected by the change of terms, who were eventually notified of data throttling over text. That said, FTC argued that AT&T didn’t give its customers an apparent warning, which applied to users that subscribed to AT&T’s early unlimited data plans.

    While back in 2016, an appeals court stated that AT&T’S ‘common carrier status’ implied that they don’t need to reveal the throttle as per FTC. In 2018, however, a federal court allowed FTC to move forward with its case against AT&T, stating that data services weren’t part of the common carrier status.

    It remains to be seen what FTC’s settlement with AT&T would mean for the rest of the industry, as many carriers in the country now practice data throttling. New research claims that carriers in the US are involved in more aggressive data throttling practices than what they’ve led subscribers to believe. The study found that the big four carriers in the US aggressively throttle data, irrespective of network congestion.

  • New Lamborghini hybrid supercar possibly incoming

    New Lamborghini hybrid supercar possibly incoming

    A new Lamborghini hybrid supercar is possibly on its way. The Italian super carmaker just teased an image of it’s upcoming offering on Instagram. The teaser shows a shadowy photo of the car’s front end with Y-shaped LED running lights and a glowing Lamborghini logo. Key sources indicate it’ll be the Lamborghini’s first hybrid production car. The company plans to unveil the car during the Frankfurt International Motor show, which kicks-off on September 14.

    Reports also note that the car gets inspired by the ‘Terzo Mellenio’ concept introduced in 2017. One can clearly notice the distinctive Y-shaped running lights on the car’s front end. Though just like a lot of concepts, the Terzo Millenio was never released. That said, the new teaser suggests that the concept may finally, become a reality.

    Besides, sources also indicate Lamborghini plans to produce limited quantities of this car, reportedly known as LB48H. The company is expected to churn out only 63 units of the vehicle a nod to1963, the year Lamborghini was founded.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B1eQe7Iorw-/?utm_source=ig_embed

    The LB48H is a hybrid supercar inspired by the ‘Terzo Millenio’ concept, though with a few tweaks. While the Y-shaped LED running lights reminds us of Terzo Milenio, but on closer look, we can see that the roof and front bumper look much like the Aventador. Under the hood, the car is expected to get powered by a hybrid V12 setup.

    As far as pricing goes, rumor has it that the LB48H, or whatever it may be called could set one back by $3 million. There’s still a lot to know as to what Lamborghini has in store for this one. That said, with the 2019 Frankfurt International Motor Show set to begin on September 14, we won’t have to wait too long to find out.

  • Android Q renamed Android 10, Google ditches dessert names

    Android Q renamed Android 10, Google ditches dessert names

    Until now, Google has named its Android operating system after treats or desserts in alphabetical order. After their alpha and beta versions, the company released Android Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jellybean, KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow, Nougat, Oreo, and Pie.

    That said, that’ll change with the forthcoming release of Android. As after nearly ten years, Google has decided to ditched dessert-themed names for its Android operating system. The company’s next version, earlier known as Android Q, has been renamed Android 10. The move comes as Google believes that switching from dessert names to numbers won’t be confusing for global users, as numbers as easier to understand and remember.

    “We are changing the way we name our releases. Our engineering team has always used internal code names for each version, based on tasty treats, or desserts, in alphabetical order. This naming tradition has become a fun part of the release each year externally, too. But we’ve heard feedback over the years that the names weren’t always understood by everyone in the global community.” said Google in a blog post.

    The company also added that the change comes after feedback over several years. According to Google, some alphabets such as L and R aren’t easily distinguishable when spoken aloud in certain languages.

    “As a global operating system, it’s important that these names are clear and relatable for everyone in the world,” further added Google.

    Apart from the name, the Android logo also got a slight refresh. The green Android mascot now only shows the head instead of the full body. Besides, the Android name, which was earlier in green, is now in black. It’s only a slight tweak, and still, very much easily recognizable, something users might not even notice.

    Currently, in beta, Google is expected to release Android 10 in Q3 2019, most probably by the end of August.

  • Dell XPS 13 announced with Intel’s Comet Lake 10th Gen CPUs

    Dell XPS 13 announced with Intel’s Comet Lake 10th Gen CPUs

    Ahead of IFA 2019, Dell has refreshed its XPS 13 lineup with the latest Intel Comet Lake 10th Gen processors. The base model featuring the Intel Core i3-10110U processor gets a price tag of $899. Besides, Dell plans to ship the top-end model with the hexacore Intel Core i7-10710U chipset in October.

    Dell also announced that the XPS 13 2-in-1 is now available for purchase. It becomes the first laptop to get Project Athena certification, with 9 hours of battery life thanks to the 10th generation of Intel Core mobile processors for laptops and 2-in-1 devices.

    Besides, Dell’s Inspiron and Vostro range will also soon start shipping with Intel’s 10th Gen CPUs. These include the likes of Inspiron 14 7000 and Inspiron 7000 13-inch 2-in-1 laptops, which begin shipping on October 1st starting at $929.99 and $849 respectively. Both devices will feature 10th Gen Comet Lake CPUs. The 2-in-1 will come in 13-inch, 15-inch, and 17-inch configurations, featuring DDR4 RAM and support for Nvidia GeForce MX250 graphics.

    Intel’s latest 10th gen Comet Lake processors come in i3, i5, and i7 configurations with up to 6 cores, promising 2x performance improvement with increased productivity and multitasking.

    “From multitasking to everyday content creation, the newest additions to the family-scale performance for even higher levels of productivity,” said Intel’s Chris Walker, Vice President and General Manager of Mobility Client Platforms in the Client Computing Group.

    The new 10th-generation Intel Core lineup also gets Intel Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) wireless chipset with WPA3 security support for a secure and faster Internet connection. Besides, the new range also scales the performance of Thunderbolt 3 ports with capabilities of up to 40 Gb/s data transfers. They take advantage of the super optimized 14nm process technology to offer a gain of 16 percent overall performance and more than 41 percent better productivity and multitasking.

    Built using super optimized 14nm process technology, they deliver a 16 percent improvement in overall performance as well as over 41 percent improvements in productivity and multitasking.

  • Spider Man PS4 ‘Game of the Year Edition’ leaked

    Spider Man PS4 ‘Game of the Year Edition’ leaked

    It appears last year’s PS4-exclusive blockbuster Spider will get a Game of the Year edition. The GOTY edition for Spider-Man will likely include the latest version of the game with three different DLC releases for the PS4, and presumably for the PS5 as well. While Sony Interactive is yet to acknowledge such a product officially, many believe one is on the cards. Now, it appears Amazon UK might’ve accidentally leaked Marvel’s Spider-Man Game of the Year edition for the PS4.

    While the listing doesn’t reveal any concrete details, but it does suggest one is on the horizon. Leaks via retail listings generally lack credibility, though something leaked on Amazon usually turns out to be a real product. Of course, Amazon UK has removed the listing, but what goes up on the internet, stays on the internet. That said, just like any leak, we’ll take this information with a pinch of salt.

    In any case, Marvel’s Spider-Man for the PS4 is one of the best open-world games out there. Insomniac Games has intricately crafted a fantastic story that hardcore comic books fans have come to appreciate. The PS4- the exclusive title was the Insomniac’s most successful game, reportedly selling 13.2 million copies worldwide. Given the game’s enormous success, it’s apparent Sony and Insomniac might pair up for a Spider-Man sequel on the PlayStation 5.

    In other related news, Sony Interactive Entertainment has officially announced the acquisition of Insomniac Games, developer of last year’s Spider-Man game. The latest acquisition brings Sony Worldwide Studios to a total of 14 game development studios.

    Insomniac Games was founded in 1994 and has largely remained an independent studio for around 25 years. They’ve worked with big-name companies like Sony and Microsoft on several projects. Besides, Insomniac has also worked with Oculus on several VR games. They’ve also developed the yet-to-be-released VR game ‘Stormland’, currently announced as an Oculus exclusive.

  • Apple TV+ set for a November release at $9.99 a month

    Apple TV+ set for a November release at $9.99 a month

    Apple’s upcoming streaming service, Apple TV+, is all set for a release in November. Although Apple is yet to confirm any launch window or monthly tiers officially, key sources indicate that the company plans to launch its streaming service at $9.99 a month. Upon its release, the service will directly compete with the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and more.

    Apple will likely offer a free trial period for subscribers, just like Apple Music, which had a free trial period of three months. Likewise, even Apple’s game subscription services offer a free trial, but only for a month.

    For now, sources indicate Apple will offer five shows when Apple TV Plus is officially released. These include ‘Truth Be Told’ featuring actress Octavia Spencer, ‘See’ starring Jason Momoa, and ‘The Morning Show’ featuring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. Besides, there’s also going to be a show called Amazing Stories by Steven Spielberg, along with a show called ‘Home’ that’ll showcase luxury and extravagant houses.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA7D4_qU9jo

    That said, Apple will to need to acquire rights for many other shows, as the original content they have on offer isn’t enough.
    In comparison to what competitors have on offer, Apple’s streaming service pales in comparison.

    Well established names like Netflix and Disney have more to offer for the same basic monthly plan. The iPhone-maker is late to the party with its streaming service, and the only way to make a mark into the streaming world would be to offer viewers a plethora of choices. Now, this means investing a lot of money to make binge-worthy content. Financial Times reports that Apple plans to spend nearly $6 billion on shows and rights.

    That said, it is still far less than what the likes of Netflix and Disney are expected to invest. Netflix is reported to have a budget of $14 billion for new releases this year, while Disney is said to spend around $24 billion on new releases this year.

    As already mentioned, Apple’s new streaming service launches in November with tiers starting at $9.99 per month. It’ll be interesting to see how Apple TV+ will compete against the likes of Netflix and Disney, who offer a plethora of content for their viewers.

  • iOS 12.4 bug lets anyone jailbreak an iPhone

    iOS 12.4 bug lets anyone jailbreak an iPhone

    During the early days of the iPhone, jailbreaking was primarily done to install third-party apps that were not available via the App Store. Since then, there’s been no need to jailbreak iPhone thanks to the availability of thousands of apps and more customizable operating systems. That said, a new vulnerability was found this week in iOS 12.4, making it the first iOS jailbreak to be publicly revealed in years.

    First reported by Motherboard, the latest iOS 12.4 has a bug that Apple apparently fixed in iOS 12.3. Now, this essentially makes it possible to exploit the vulnerability to jailbreak iOS 12.4. Security researcher Pwn20wnd released the first free public version of the jailbreak that users are already using to customize the look of their Homescreen or to download unauthorized apps. That said, readers are advised not to do so, as jailbreaking makes your iPhone more susceptible to risks and hacks.

    Therefore, until Apple rolls out a fix for the same in iOS 12.4.1, many iPhones are at risk as the bug makes it easier to hack iPhones. A security researcher told Motherboard that hackers could exploit this vulnerability to develop a malicious app that could steal data from other apps on your iPhone. Given the security risks, readers are advised not to jailbreak their iPhones. Besides, they should also beware of the apps downloaded from the App Store until Apple rolls out a fix.

    Jailbreaking allows iOS users to add apps and other functions that Apple wouldn’t usually allow users to perform on their iPhones. iOS has rather strict limitations that are designed to protect users from malicious apps but also gives Apple more control over the ecosystem. Therefore, jailbreaking has an adverse effect on your iPhone’s security, but at the same time gives users more control over the phone.