Latest iOS has this fatal security flaw that may put your iphone at risk

Apple devices are considered as one of the most secured devices in the world, however, the new update may have opened a gate for security breach.  

The company has officially released iOS 13.1 and iPadOS 13.1 updates which bring back shortcuts automation, share ETA, and features a tweaked volume indicator with unique icons and it comes with a bunch of bug fixes.

However, iPhone or iPad users don’t get too excited, as the new update have huge flaw which allows third-party keyboards to attain “full access” to your devices “even if you haven’t approved this access”, Forbes pointed.

According to Apple, The flaw doesn’t affect the official iOS keyboard and also admitted that they are yet to find a solution to fix the flaw. The company promises to fix the issue in the coming update.

The third party keyboards are hugely popular among the iOS users because official keyboards are too limited. Interestingly, the new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max come with an updated operating system, iOS 13, so there is no option available to avoid it.

The company is expected to release a minor update in coming weeks to fix the issue.

Amazon Echo Show

Amazon Echo Show

The best smart home ecosystem

Amazon's second-gen Echo Show is about a year old at this point, but it's still a competitive choice among smart displays with 10-inch screens. The main reason: Alexa's ecosystem of third-party partners and services, which is more open and expansive than what you get with Google.

 

In fact, Google recently ended support for the Works with Nest partner program, which many gadget makers and services providers relied upon to keep their offerings compatible with Google smart homes. Now, as the search giant asks users to migrate their Nest accounts over to a single, unified Google account, those connections are breaking in ways that have left many upset.
For instance, you used to be able to open the Nest app on an Apple TV and stream the feed from your Nest Cams straight to your television. Once you migrate accounts, that app won't work at all. Same goes for partner products like the Haiku smart ceiling fan and the Abode smart security system -- both were Works with Nest partners, but each is now in limbo.
There's no such drama with Alexa (at least not yet). In fact, Amazon has managed to find ways of playing nice with key competitors like Apple, Microsoft and yep, even Google. All of that makes it the better option for anyone planning on building a smart home setup with a voice-activated smart display at the center. You'll have more device options as you expand that setup than you will with Google, especially if you're a fan of connected cameras.
On top of that, the second-gen Echo Show features its own, built-in Zigbee hub, which the Nest Hub Max lacks. That lets it connect directly with Zigbee smart home gadgets like smart bulbs, smart locks and motion sensors with no need for additional hub hardware.
Beyond the smart home strengths, the Echo Show does a decent job with routine smart display functions. It's good for streaming music, with support for services like Tidal and Apple Music that don't work with Google, and, to my ear at least, slightly fuller sound than the Nest Hub Max. It's great for keeping up with the latest headlines or checking a quick sports score or weather forecast.
As for video, the Echo Show uses Skype for video calls and supports streaming from Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. Meanwhile, Google places calls via Google Duo and supports playback from YouTube, HBO Now and CBS All Access (CBS is CNET's parent company, by the way). Each device also works with a number of other video service providers, including names like Dish, so check to see if the stuff you like to watch is watchable on your smart display of choice before you make a purchase.
And no, the Echo Show doesn't include a shutter for the camera, either -- just a digital kill switch. I've included two alternatives with camera-covering shutters that are each worth considering below.
The all-new Echo Show features a new look, a vibrant 10” HD screen, built-in smart home hub and improved speakers. Just ask Alexa to make a video call, or see who’s at the front door.
Echo Show’s new speakers feature dual 2” premium drivers, a passive bass radiator and Dolby processing to deliver expansive stereo sound with deep, powerful lows and crisp highs. Adjust the treble, mid and bass levels, and set up multi-room music to play music across compatible Echo devices throughout your home.

Size	246 x 174 x 107 mm
Weight	1755 grams Actual size and weight may vary by manufacturing process
Display	10.1” touchscreen
Camera	5 MP
Wi-Fi Connectivity	Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO) for faster streaming and fewer dropped connections than standard Wi-Fi. Supports 802.11a/b/g/n/c Wi-Fi networks. Does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) Wi-Fi networks. Also includes an 802.15.4 radio for support of smart home devices.
Bluetooth Connectivity	Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) support for audio streaming from your mobile device to Echo Show and Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) for voice control of connected mobile devices, and from Echo Show to a Bluetooth speaker with a separate Bluetooth antenna. Hands-free voice control is not supported for Mac OS X devices.
Audio	Dual 2” neodymium stereo drivers & passive bass radiator.
System Requirements	Echo Show comes ready to connect to your Wi-Fi. The Alexa App is compatible with Fire OS, Android and iOS devices, and also accessible via your web browser. Certain skills and services are subject to change, may not be available in all areas and may require separate subscriptions or other fees.

Processor	Intel Atom x5-Z8350 processor for advanced technology and processing capabilities.
Accessibility Features	On Echo devices with screens, you can enable Alexa subtitles, magnify the screen, toggle colour inversion and choose between colour correction options. You can also enable the VoiceView screen reader to use gestures to navigate the screen and hear spoken feedback about the items you select. Learn more about Echo screen accessibility and Alexa accessibility.
Warranty and Service	Amazon Echo Show (2nd Generation) is sold with a limited warranty of one year provided by the manufacturer. If you are a consumer, the limited warranty is in addition to your consumer rights and does not jeopardise these rights in any way. This means you may still have additional rights at law even after the limited warranty has expired (for further information on your consumer rights, click here). Use of Amazon Echo Show is subject to the terms found here.
Included in the Box	Echo Show, power adaptor/cable (1.8 m) and Quick Start Guide.
Generation	Echo Show 2nd Generation –

---

At this moment in time there isn't a dedicated wall mounting bracket available. An appropriate size shelf would seriously be the best option.

Google Nest Hub Max

Google Nest Hub Max

The best combination of hardware and software

 

Let's start with your newest option, the Google Nest Hub Max. At $230, it costs $100 more than the original Nest Hub, and it offers the same, voice-activated Google Assistant smarts plus a bigger screen, better sound quality and the addition of a camera.

It's not just any camera, either; it's an intelligent, face-tracking camera with a 127-degree wide-angle lens. Teach it what you look like, and the display will show you personalized bits of data like reminders, messages and calendar entries whenever it recognizes you. Making a Google Duo video call with Google Nest Hub Max? The camera will automatically pan and tilt to follow you as you move about the frame. It can even recognize gestures -- just raise your hand to pause or resume playback.

The camera can double as a Nest Cam, too. Enable the feature, and you'll be able to view its feed via the Google Home app or the Nest app, the latter of which also lets you set motion activation zones and save recordings to the cloud via Nest Aware.

All of that makes for a more sophisticated camera experience than we've seen with other smart displays, none of which can recognize faces or gestures. I just wish Google had given us a camera shutter, too. You can flip a switch to disable the camera digitally, but you can't cover it up. That's too much of a trust ask for my bedroom, thank you very much.

Beyond the camera in Google Nest Hub Max, Google's smart display features the same visual operating system as the smaller-size Nest Hub -- a good thing, because that visual interface is better and snappier than Amazon's. Information is organized and presented well, it frames your photos neatly without too much clutter on the screen, and it'll actually show you what the Google Assistant is hearing as you speak, something you still won't get from the Echo Show.

In Google Nest Hub Max You also get the same ambient light sensor as the original in Google Nest Hub Max. It can automatically adjust the brightness and contrast of the screen to keep your photos looking their best when it's cycling through them in ambient mode, and to keep the thing from blinding you when the room is dim. That's one of our favorite features among any of the smart displays we've ever tested.

Bigger and Better Google Nest Hub Max

The Google Nest Hub Max is exactly what it says it is: a bigger version of the Nest Hub. It's larger and louder, though it doesn't have quite the same impressive boom as a dedicated speaker. Still, it's reasonably priced at $229.99, full of useful media features, and can even keep an eye on your home while you're away. So while it isn't the best-sounding Google Assistant smart display (that honor goes to the $250 JBL Link View), it's one of the most useful, and it sounds better than the smaller Nest Hub and Lenovo Smart Clock, making it one of the better values for your smart display dollar.

Tech specs Google Nest Hub Max

Camera

6.5-megapixel camera with wide field of view (FOV) and Smart Framing

• Face Match technology

• Quick Gestures
• mic + camera switch

Dimensions & Weight

Dimensions

• Depth: 3.99 in (101.23 mm)
• Width: 9.85 in (250.1 mm)
• Height: 7.19 in (182.55 mm)
• Power cable: 1.5 m

• Weight
• 2.91 lb (1.32 kg)

Colors

 Chalk

Charcoal

 

Display

10” HD touchscreen (1280x800)

 

Speakers & Mic

Stereo speaker system

 

Google Assistant built in Stereo speaker system (2x 18mm 10W tweeters, 1x 75mm 30W woofer)

• Far-field microphones
• Ultrasound sensing
• Voice Match technology

Sensors

• Ambient EQ light sensor

Connectivity

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support

 

Wifi and Bluetooth® 5.0 support

• 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5GHz) Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth® 5.0 support
• Chromecast built in
• 802.15.4 (at 2.4GHz) Thread support

Power

30W power adapter

 

Ports

DC Power Jack

Operating System

Android • iOS¹

What's in the box

Google Nest Hub Max

Power adapter

Quick Start Guide

Safety & warranty booklet

Requirements

Nearby electrical outlet

Wi-Fi network

Compatible mobile device (Android, iOS)

 

Buy Google Nest Hub Max Now

Key new features in the Google Nest Hub Max are a larger 10in HD (1080x720) screen, which is ideal for watching YouTube videos or following recipes in the kitchen, a built-in camera for video calls, security monitoring, Face Match and gesture recognition, and improved speakers. Now able to recognize users by their face as well as their voice, built-in Google Assistant confirms its place as the smart AI assistant to beat.

Personalised results based on your face

By setting up Voice Match Google Assistant is able to recognise up to six individuals and serve up a personalised experience for each based on their own user preferences and information tied to their Google account. 
With the new camera in Nest Hub Max Google is also able to achieve this using Face Match - again, for up to six users.

Gesture controls

Nest Hub Max's camera will be able to interpret a variety of hand gestures as an alternative to spoken commands. A hand gesture can be used to start or stop music playback, for example, which may be more successful than relying on the two-far field mics when music is blaring.

When the device is recording you, or the camera is being remotely monitored via the Home or Nest apps, you'll now see a green LED on the hub. No green LED, no reason to panic.

Google has also vowed to improve privacy and be more transparent with the user security of all its Nest devices, saying it will disclose all hardware capable of monitoring a user, and promising that their data is not sold and can be deleted.

There's also a physical switch to turn off the camera, so nothing will be recorded unless you allow it to be.

So if that helps you to be a little more comfortable with the inclusion of the camera.

 

Apple Watch Series 5

The Apple Watch 5 comes in with 18-hour ‘all-day’ battery life. Running on the latest watchOS 6, Apple Watch Series 5 features incredible new specs including international emergency calling for users to call emergency services in 150 countries globally even without having the iPhone. The Apple Watch Series 5 GPS models start at $399, whereas cellular models start at $499, and will hit stores on September 20.

Also, the firm’s original streaming service, Apple TV Plus will launch on November 1 and will cost $4.99 per month. Apple’s new game-subscription service Apple Arcade will be available on September 19 for $5 a month with one-month free trial. The iOS 13 and iPadOS will launch on September 19 and September 30 respectively.

Moreover, Apple also announced few other things such as the upcoming Apple Research app that will let people be part of anonymous studies and participate in health research, the Apple Watch Studio, Apple Trade-In, and Apple Fifth Avenue, as per Business Insider.

What's new in the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max

What's new in the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max

• Six colors: black, white, yellow, purple, green, Product Red
• A13 Bionic chip
• 64GB, 128GB, 512GB storage capacities
• Hour more battery life than iPhone XR
• Faster Face ID unlocking
• Wi-Fi 6 support, but no 5G
• Dual camera system with a 12-megapixel lenses: wide and ultrawide (switch by tapping on the screen)
• Camera night mode
• 2x optical zoom
• New portrait lighting in monochrome
• 12-megapixel front-facing camera (up from 7 megapixels)
• 4K video for both front and rear cameras, with slow-motion video for the selfie camera
• iOS 13 
• Starts at $699 or $17 per month with trade-in (£729, AU$1,199) 

 

 

• New iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max key specs

• Two screen sizes: 5.8- and 6.5-inch OLED displays (both 458 ppi pixel density)
• "Super Retina XDR" display supports HDR 10 with Dolby Vision (and Dolby Atmos sound)
• Phone body: Textured matte finish
• 64GB, 256GB, 512GB storage capacities
• Three rear cameras with 4x optical zoom: Wide, ultrawide, telephoto lenses (OIS for wide and telephoto)
• Upcoming camera feature called Deep Fusion compiles nine images to reduce noise and amp up details
• 4 hours more battery life (Pro) and 5 hours longer battery life (Pro Max) than last year's models
• Faster Face ID unlocking
• Wi-Fi 6 support, but no 5G
• 4K video for both front and rear cameras, with slow-motion video for the selfie camera (aka "slofies")
• New portrait lighting effect: Monochrome
• iOS 13 on-board, with system-wide dark mode
• Fast charging adapter
• Colors: midnight green, space gray, silver, gold
• iPhone 11 Pro starts at $999 or $25 per month with trade-in (£1,049, AU$1,749)
• iPhone 11 Pro Max starts at $1,099 or $29 per month with trade-in (£1,149, AU$1,899)
•  

Apple unveils three new much anticipated iPhones

Apple finally put an end to everyone’s curiosity after it launched its iPhone 11 flagship yesterday at its event along with new iPad, new Apple Watch and other gadgets. 

 Tech giant Apple held its major event where it unveiled a lot of products including three new iPhones, which were the highlight of the show. Here’s a list of things Apple announced at its show.
iPhone 11

As already seen in leaks, the iPhone 11 is a 6.1-inch phone costing $699. It features A13 Bionic chip, which Apple calls the ‘fastest CPU and GPU ever in a smartphone. iPhone 11 comes in with dual 12MP+12MP rear camera, and an improved selfie camera with a new slow-mo feature dubbed ‘slofies’. The phone operates on the latest iOS 13 and is available in six new colors.

 iPhone 11 Pro
The second phone of the flagship, iPhone 11 Pro is a 5.8-inchphone starting at $999. It also features A13 Bionic chip and runs on iOS 13. However, the iPhone 11 Pro features triple 12MP+12MP+12MP rear camera, and will be available in four colors.

 iPhone 11 Pro Max

 

The iPhone 11 Pro Max is a $1,099 costing 6.5-inch phone featuring A13 Bionic chip and running on latest iOS 13. Like the iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max too features triple 12MP+12MP+12MP rear cameras and is also available in four colors.

New iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max key specs

• Two screen sizes: 5.8- and 6.5-inch OLED displays (both 458 ppi pixel density)
• "Super Retina XDR" display supports HDR 10 with Dolby Vision (and Dolby Atmos sound)
• Phone body: Textured matte finish
• 64GB, 256GB, 512GB storage capacities
• Three rear cameras with 4x optical zoom: Wide, ultrawide, telephoto lenses (OIS for wide and telephoto)
• Upcoming camera feature called Deep Fusion compiles nine images to reduce noise and amp up details
• 4 hours more battery life (Pro) and 5 hours longer battery life (Pro Max) than last year's models
• Faster Face ID unlocking
• Wi-Fi 6 support, but no 5G
• 4K video for both front and rear cameras, with slow-motion video for the selfie camera (aka "slofies")
• New portrait lighting effect: Monochrome
• iOS 13 on-board, with system-wide dark mode
• Fast charging adapter
• Colors: midnight green, space gray, silver, gold
• iPhone 11 Pro starts at $999 or $25 per month with trade-in (£1,049, AU$1,749)
• iPhone 11 Pro Max starts at $1,099 or $29 per month with trade-in (£1,149, AU$1,899)

 New iPad

Apple’s all new seventh-generation iPad is a 10.2-inch device featuring smart connector for Apple’s Smart Keyboard, Apple Pencil support and an 8MP rear camera. It runs on Apple’s new operating system for iPad: the iPadOS. The new iPad starts at $329 and costs $299 for education customers, and will start shipping on September 30.
 
 

Honor 8C review

Does the device forerun 2019's latest lineup of charming budget phones?

 Honor's been launching phones that befit all sort of pockets out there, and I'd say that's a smart move.
Successor to Honor's 7C device, the 8C holds the brand's widely celebrated design aesthetic at a pretty affordable price point: Rs26,499.
Now does the kind price tag play host to its fair share of compromises? Let's discuss the phone in detail to figure that out.

The nubs: first impressions and highlights

I feel most devices that have so far come out of Honor's 8-series take pride in their good looks, befitting prices and AI-enabled cams.
Here's quick list of spoilers giving away the gist of what this review says in detail about the 8C device:

Key specs

6.26 inch display, 19:9 aspect ratio
4000mAh battery
13+2MP Dual AI camera
Dedicated micro SD slot
Snapdragon™ 632 octa-core processor, running on Android 8.1 by default
3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage

Build and design

In an age where phones are all about glass backs and metal frames, Honor decides to unabashedly dress its 8C in a charming but all-plastic body. The finish, however, appears to hold a glossy-but-muted matte feel, and checks most marks on the good-looks test.

The notch holds a notification LED placed right in the center of the audio grille.

Design elements on the back of the phone, exclusive to my blue variant, compose a rather vignette colour gradient that the brand calls the 'cat eye' effect; made out of 3D printing techniques and nano-level patterns.
I feel most design traits are borrowed straight off the brand's celebrated 8x device, and they're all pleasing to the eye.

Notch and bezels on the device are slim; however, the chin of the phone has the brand's name etched on it.

Under direct sunlight, the body shimmers beautifully in various tones of blue.

One-hand operation on the device is a bit of a problem as the body, being a little too quick to befriend finger prints and grease, is somewhat slippery. But that, I feel, can almost instantly be fixed with the ready-to-use silicon case that accompanies the device in the package.
Following its 8-series code, Honor stacks its back shooters and flash vertically on the top left corner of the back with the brand name mentioned on the bottom left.

Display

 

The 8C gets an IPS capacitive screen.

The 8C holds an immersive 6.26-inch HD display on a 19:9 aspect ratio on a resolution of 720 x 1520 pixels.
I feel these specs might not woo a certain crowd of people given how competitor brands are thriving to enhance display experience these days.
To the saturation and brightness end, I feel the device does justice to most features it employs; colours are vivid, viewing angles are pleasing and brightness works well under most low light conditions.
The device, however, shows significant struggle in this department under direct sunlight.

Camera

At Rs26,499, I didn't really expect the cams on this device to sweep me off my feet. Turns out, they didn't even try.
The shooters are somewhat underwhelming but decent for those not too particular about phone photography.
I'm discussing the little niggles in their respective sections as follows:

Front cam results

Here's what I noticed:

• The front cam holds a basic 8MP shooter and doesn't do much to enhance selfie-photography.
• The camera over-brightens the background in its attempt of picking the object and its details well; it does however allow manual tweaks for brightness to answer the issue.
• Edges are often blurred with background details missed entirely under troublesome lighting conditions.
• The phone does not offer AI-photography options on the front cam.

Back cam results

The back cams, each holding 13+2MP capabilities, produce shots that appear over-saturated and over-exposed but work just fine under bright, broad daylight.
Let's discuss some samples.
Under direct sunlight:

Here are my observations:

• The back cams fare well under direct sunlight and pick sufficient details out of the object.
• Focus takes time to lock in place.
• The AI option only adds vivid colours to the shots taken and makes negligible changes to the finer details.

Under low light settings:

Here's what I noticed:

• Under troubling light conditions, images hold significant noise and objects appear to be smudged.
• The cameras add some grain to the image, and tend to wash out edges of objects picked.
• The UI does not support the brand's specialised 'night mode' (as seen on the 8x and 10lite devices) but the AI identifies scenes shot at night and throws in a great deal of light on objects identified in dark or low light settings.

AI and HDR photography:

I like how Honor is generous with its AI feature and almost always plugs it into most phones they release irrespective of price points. However, for the 8C device, it's hard to please photography enthusiasts with the AI option.
Photos shot with HDR are pleasing as the saturation, exposure and brightness appear more natural comparatively, and I found myself reaching out for the option more often compared to AI and regular imaging options.
Details picked by the HDR option are also significantly true to life.

Processors and battery performance

Leaving behind the mid-ranged Kirin chipset, the 8c device surprisingly becomes one of the world's - and Honor's - absolute firsts to introduce the Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 chipset.

The unit I have here did not show heat up under heavy usage.

On this price tag, the device's speedy performance reflects how good a decision that has been. Packed with an Octa-core processor, I feel the combo works best for boosting power on the device and allowing it to run videos and games relatively faster; no lags, no stutters noted.
The 4000mAh battery, which is a major update to Honor 7C's 3000mAh capacity, takes time to fill up (because no fast charging again) but performs exceptionally well; no hiccups noted even when I tested the batteries out by running a ton of charge-draining apps together.

This, I feel, remains one of the major pluses this device has on offer.
The low-light face unlock feature somewhat failed to leave a lasting, positive impression on me. I feel I had to struggle around it a bit only to find myself giving up altogether in only few attempts.

The bottom line

In all honesty, the 8C is a well-rounded device that betrays its price tag in multiple ways; the batteries are great, processors speedy, and design and build quality conform to Honor's signature precision for all of its 8-series devices.
In entirety, I feel it's just not meant to be judged solely on the basis of its imaging capabilities; it doesn't come across as a camera-focused phone to me.
Now, do I feel the 8C is a worthy contestant in this year's lineup of hot-selling, good-looking budget phones?
May be, considering:

• It runs on capable hardware.
• The device is all plastic but adeptly conforms to Honor's signature design aesthetic.
• It comes with batteries that stand tall against heavy usage.
• The device is incredibly light weight even though it holds a 6.26-inch display and 4000mAh batteries.

Not really, considering:

• The cameras are somewhat unworthy.
• There's a lack of fast charging support, like most Honor phones coming out these days.
• It's hard to turn a blind eye to rival brands in the market; think Xiaomi and Nokia.

China's Weibo takes down Instagram-like app after logo plagiarism controversy

Chinese microblogging website Weibo Corp has taken down an Instagram-like app just three days after its launch and apologised following accusations of plagiarism about the app's logo, in a stumble for efforts to find new sources of growth.

Weibo, launched by Sina Corp in 2009, is one of China's most established social networking companies alongside the likes of Tencent Holdings Ltd. But it has been seeking new ways to grow in the face of competition from startups including short video apps Douyin and Kuaishou.

The company, backed by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, launched image-sharing app Oasis on Monday. Local media likened it to Facebook Inc's Instagram app as it had a similar interface and allowed users to browse, share and edit photos and videos through the app. Instagram is blocked in China.

By Wednesday, it ranked as one of the top free apps on Apple Inc's Chinese App Store.

But Weibo then took the app offline after a microblogger said the logo was nearly identical to one designed by a Korean movie studio for the Ulju Mountain Film Festival in 2015.

“We apologise to the designer and also to our friends that care for us!” the app said in a Weibo post.

“We especially thank the user who flagged this to us.” “We have initiated an internal inspection of our design process and contacted the designer to solve the copyright issue,” it said.

Oasis said it will relaunch the app “soon”.

A Weibo representative did not immediately respond to an emailed request by Reuters for comment.

400 million Facebook users' phone numbers exposed in privacy lapse

Phone numbers linked to more than 400 million Facebook accounts were listed online in the latest privacy lapse for the social media giant, US media reported on Wednesday.

An exposed server stored 419 million records on users across several databases — including 133 million US accounts, more than 50 million in Vietnam, and 18 million in Britain, according to technology news site TechCrunch. 

The databases listed Facebook user IDs — unique digits attached to each account — the profiles' phone numbers, as well as the gender listed by some accounts and their geographical locations, technology website TechCrunch reported.

The server was not password protected, meaning anyone could access the databases, and remained online until late on Wednesday when TechCrunch contacted the site's host.

Facebook confirmed parts of the report but downplayed the extent of the exposure, saying that the number of accounts so far confirmed was around half of the reported 419 million.

It added that many of the entries were duplicates and that the data was old.

"The dataset has been taken down and we have seen no evidence that Facebook accounts were compromised," a Facebook spokesperson told AFP.

Following the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal, when a firm used Facebook's lax privacy settings to access millions of users' personal details, the company disabled a feature that allowed users to search the platform by phone numbers.

The exposure of a user's phone number leaves them vulnerable to spam calls, SIM-swapping — as recently happened to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey — with hackers able to force-reset the passwords of the compromised accounts.

Samsung to finally launch foldable smartphone in South Korea

Tech giant Samsung has said it will launch its hotly anticipated first foldable smartphone on Friday, months after faulty screens forced an embarrassing delay of its release.
The world’s largest smartphone maker spent nearly eight years developing the Galaxy Fold, but had to hold its launch in April after reviewers reported screen problems within days of use.
It was a major setback for the firm, which was hoping to spark demand for its high-end phones with the launch of the $2,000 device, with profits plunging in recent quarters in the face of a weakened market and strong competition from Chinese rivals.
After months of “refining” the Galaxy Fold — which is ready for use on high-speed 5G networks in some markets — Samsung said it will release the smartphone in South Korea on Friday, followed by select countries including the United States, Germany and France.
The firm will also offer a programme to Galaxy Fold users under which the company would cover 70 percent of the cost of screen repair once within a year of use.
Samsung shares were up four percent in afternoon trading in Seoul.
The Galaxy Fold has been widely promoted as the “world’s first foldable smartphone”, while rivals such as China’s Huawei have been racing to bring similar devices to market.
Samsung has a history of humiliating setbacks with major products, most notably a worldwide recall of its Galaxy Note 7 devices in 2016 over exploding batteries, which hammered its reputation.
The firm has also been caught up in the intensifying trade war between Japan and South Korea stemming from World War II disputes.
The row saw Tokyo impose tough restrictions on exports crucial to South Korean tech giants in July, and Samsung vice chairman Lee Jae-yong — who called the situation a “crisis” — has visited Tokyo to secure materials.

Analysts have said the trade dispute will affect the delivery of Samsung products — among them the Galaxy Fold as it relies on a chemical film produced by Japanese firm Sumitomo Chemical.
Lee is currently facing a retrial over his role in a massive corruption scandal that brought down former president Park Geun-hye.
He was initially jailed for five years in 2017 on multiple convictions including bribery, which was reduced to a suspended sentence on appeal, only for the Supreme Court to order a retrial last month.
Analysts say the ruling could pose a serious challenge for Samsung.

New iPhone 11: what we want to see

We were mostly impressed with the iPhone XS range last year, but that doesn't mean they're perfect - talk to any ardent Android user and they'll give chapter and verse on why the iPhone isn't anywhere near as well-spec'd as their device.
That does kind of miss the point of the iPhone - Apple's never been about the spec, more the usability and overall polish - but there are some things we'd like to see more (or less) of with the iPhone 11 range:

1. No notch (or, at least, a smaller one)

The iPhone X made the smartphone notch a mainstream 'thing' - but with the advent of punch-hole cameras and under-screen technology on our phones, the notch needs to go.
While Apple needs that space to chuck in the array of sensors that make Face ID as secure as it is, we want a new solution - and Apple has the means to work out what that is, as well as helping attract a new raft of users.

2. A new design

While the current design of the iPhone XS and XS Max is one of the best out there, we want something new, something more. Apple could make things more sleek, remove more of the physical buttons or even wrap the screen around - a statement can be made with some smart engineering.
Sadly, that doesn't seem likely to appear until 2020's iPhone - the new iPhone in 2019 looks destined to stay rather similar to the last two generations' design.

3. Better battery life

We say this ever year, but the fact remains that iPhones still aren't the strongest performers when it comes to battery life.
That said, the iPhone XR was one of the longest-lasting devices ever from the Cupertino brand, so let's see some of the prowess baked into the larger, more expensive iPhones. It's not easy (damned physics keeps getting in the way) but that doesn't mean improvements can't be made.

4. eSIM only

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The current iPhones - the XS, XS Max and iPhone XR - all pack an eSim alongside their main, physical card.
While it would be weird at first, Apple has the power to change users' attitudes to what's acceptable on a smartphone (think how everyone is now losing the headphone jack) and making the SIM virtual would allow greater freedom to hop between networks and deals at will, rather than being stuck on one contract for too long.
With 5G on the way, that's going to see a lot more competition for users - and flexibility will be the number one benefit for those wanting a great phone deal.

New iPhone, iPhone 11 or iPhone XI

What will Apple call the iPhone 2019? It's a tricky one: Apple has backed itself into a corner with the name. Roman numerals could well remain, but how does the iPhone XI follow the iPhone XS?
Apple has been staunch on verbally calling the handsets the 'iPhone 10' and 'iPhone 10-S'. With that in mind, the iPhone XI seems to make the most sense, but then - if the older models remain - there will be an X, an XS and an XI (along with an XR) - and iPhone 11 is easier to understand.

New iPhone 11 camera: the biggest change

One source claims that only the iPhone 11 Max will have the three camera array, but that seems rather fanciful when Apple made a big deal in 2018 explaining how the iPhone XS and XS Max were almost identical bar the screen size - we expect three lenses on both the higher-end 11 variants.

New iPhone 11 release date

• iPhone 11 launch date: September 10, 2019 
• iPhone 11 pre-order date: September 13, 2019
• iPhone 11 release date: September 20, 2019

Apple has confirmed its next launch event, and it's happening on Tuesday, September 10 at 10am PT.
Like every year, we did some sleuthing around the possible iPhone 11 release date beforehand, so we always had a pretty good idea when was coming.
This date allows Apple to ship its iPhones into retail channels well before the holiday rush, and is now a well-trodden path to do such. As for the new iPhone 11 pre-order date, Apple tends to open this on the Friday following the launch, which would be September 13 by our calculations.
Finally, the new iPhone 11 release date - the day when you'll actually be able to get your hands on the handset for the first time - seems very likely to be a week later on Friday September 20, if previous releases are anything to go by.
That prediction was bolstered by an analyst from Wedbush claiming that the three new iPhones launched in 2019 will all go on sale at the same time - the iPhone 11, 11 Max and 11R would all be on sale at the same time thanks to the production process being so much more mature this year - again, suggesting little in the way of upgrades.
And it might not be just the new iPhone range that launches on this date, we may well also get the Apple Watch 5 then too.

New iPhone 11 price: will it still be $1,000?

• iPhone 11 price likely to start around $999 (£999, AU$1,579)
• There could be a new price strategy

The iPhone 11 price is almost certain not to drop this year - especially for the 'main' new iPhone. After all, Apple priced both the iPhone XS and iPhone X starting at $999 (£999, AU$1,579) and without a massive change to the design or functionality, a price hike doesn't seem likely.
With news that Apple isn't selling as many iPhones as it previously forecast, there's a chance the iPhone 11 will be priced more affordably - although we reckon a price freeze, rather than a reduction, is a more likely move by Apple.
That said, the new iPhone 11R could be a touch cheaper - depending on the new camera technology. A less-costly iPhone than last year (where the iPhone XR debuted for $749 / $749) could happen if not a lot changes to the hardware... but if Apple goes with the higher-power camera, then the same price is likely to be maintained, in our opinion.
The addition of the iPhone 11 Pro rumor - which, it has to be noted, is based on a single tweet (one that does have some form in getting the naming right of past iPhones) - would suggest a price hike for the phones.
But given analysts are suggesting that the new phones will 'lack novelty', we're not expecting the inflated cost that would bring.

New iPhone, iPhone 11 or iPhone XI?

What will Apple call the iPhone 2019? It's a tricky one: Apple has backed itself into a corner with the name. Roman numerals could well remain, but how does the iPhone XI follow the iPhone XS?
Apple has been staunch on verbally calling the handsets the 'iPhone 10' and 'iPhone 10-S'. With that in mind, the iPhone XI seems to make the most sense, but then - if the older models remain - there will be an X, an XS and an XI (along with an XR) - and iPhone 11 is easier to understand.
That doesn't easily point to the best, most-desirable model. So could Apple do what's been rumored for years and simply go for the 'new iPhone' as the 'main' XS replacement, and stick with the same iPhone XR name, albeit with a small spec upgrade?
As mentioned, the iPhone Pro could be added to the mix, bringing it into line with its iPads (and indeed MacBooks) in terms of their naming, but we're rather doubtful of that.
That said, we've now seen the names 'iPhone 11', 'iPhone 11 Pro' and 'iPhone 11 Pro Max' listed by a case-maker, so we can't rule out the 'Pro' moniker. iPhone 11 Pro Max seems very unlikely though.
But Apple has already ditched numbered increments for Mac, MacBooks, TV and iPads, so 'new iPhone' would be a logical next step - even if iPhone 11 would be the most pleasing thing for consumers looking for the obviously best new phone.

New iPhone 11 design

What will the new iPhone look like? Pretty simple really: from the front, quite similar (according to the leaks we've seen). The biggest change will be on the back: a hefty triple-lens camera in a square design.
We've included a video from Mobile Fun above, one that shows the best rendering of what most are expecting to see from the iPhone 11 when it launches later this year. You can also see a similar design in a video showing unofficial dummy handsets created based on leaks.
Indeed, roughly that design shows up in most leaks we're seeing at the moment, with the three camera system being used on the iPhone 11 and 11 Max, with the iPhone 11R still getting the large square bump, but only two lenses.
The square protrusion doesn't look as attractive as we're used to seeing on iPhones, but Apple could be springing a surprise to make sure it doesn't lose too much ground to Samsung, Huawei and Google.
We've seen huge improvements to the camera quality there, and while Apple's iPhones are still superb at taking pictures on the go, extra capability like a wide-angle lens would be something extra and would explain the extra size of the sensors.

 

Back on the subject of the iPhone 11R, reports suggest that the new phone will be landing in purple and green shades - in addition to the current range of black, white, yellow and red - with coral and blue disappearing - after shards of the new material appeared.
These shards were leaked by respected Apple writer Mark Gurman, who also showed the new iPhone range will have this larger camera protrusion in new case moldings, used by third-party manufacturers to secure your iPhone.
We've elsewhere heard that all three new iPhones might come in black, white, gold and dark green shades, while one source adds that some models might have a subtle 'rainbow' finish.
Another leak from CashKaro and OnLeaks, suggest the new iPhones will get a smaller (and more circular) mute button, but that's hardly going to raise the roof when the new iPhone 11 is announced on stage in September.
Rumors of a frosted-glass back do appear once in a while, but (at best) this is likely to be a small variant and not indicative of the wider iPhone 11's design style - even if it would help improve wireless charging.

New iPhone 11 display: the same or shifting?

Right: let's get one thing straight... there's not going to be a flexible iPhone this year. While we've seen patents so far, that's as far as the rumor mill is cranking about a bendy Apple device - and that makes sense, given how many issues Samsung and Huawei have had with their bending handsets.
So what will the iPhone 11 display look like? Well, the smart money is currently saying that things will remain the same. A rumor has stated that the 5.8-inch display will remain, with the bezels shrinking slightly, although that was an added line to a wider 'leak' that the iPhone will have a central camera - which we don't think will happen.
While some reports say the display size will stay the same size, others think the main iPhone 11 will be larger. We believe that the same 5.8-inch screen will remain on the iPhone 11, as that will be cheaper for Apple to produce than making a whole new size

New iPhone 11 battery and features

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The iPhone 11 battery was always going to be a source of much debate, with users asking every year for a little more juice coming out of their device. The good news for them is that a couple of nifty tricks might helps things along for the new iPhone in 2019.
One thing we're not expecting is that the new iPhone will lose the Lightning connector, the Apple-only port that connects to all manner of accessories. Multiple rumors have stated that it might be replaced by USB-C, but it seems (for now) that won't be the case.