Planning your trip can sometimes be a stressful and time-consuming endeavor which can ruin the whole experience. With Artificial Intelligence (AI) becoming increasingly integrated into our lives, it was inevitable for major travel companies like Booking.com to leverage AI to assist their users.
Booking.com has recently launched an AI Trip Planner powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The Next Web spotted this new feature, which is currently available for beta testing in the US starting from June 28th. The AI Trip Planner essentially functions as a chatbot that helps users create their travel plans.
The AI Trip Planner is built upon Booking.com’s existing machine-learning models and incorporates ChatGPT to create a more conversational tone. The concept is simple: you can interact with the chatbot, providing details about your desired destination, travel companions, duration of the trip, and preferred experiences. In response, the chatbot generates a customized plan for you, offering various accommodation options, places to visit, and even restaurant recommendations.
Initially, the AI Trip Planner’s chat functionality is being rolled out to Genius loyalty members in the US and is currently available only in English. Whether this feature will be expanded to other countries and languages remains unclear.
Utilizing AI for travel planning is not entirely new, as there are already apps like Roam Around or Wonderplan that offer similar capabilities to Booking’s AI Trip Planner. Booking.com suggests that the Trip Planner is just the beginning, hinting at potential future features that integrate AI even further.
Having started as a startup in Amsterdam, Netherlands, back in 1996, Booking.com has since evolved into one of the world’s largest digital travel companies, boasting a platform with over 28 million listed places. While the AI Trip Planner can assist you in navigating through this vast number of options, it’s worth noting that a chatbot may overlook certain unique experiences that only a human can recommend.
A new tool named “Snappy” developed by cybersecurity experts, can assist in identifying rogue WiFi access points that aim to steal data from users who are unaware.
Tom Neaves, a security researcher with Trustwave and an enthusiast of wireless and RF technology, claims it is simple for determined attackers to fake the MAC addresses and SSIDs of reliable access points on open networks.
It is too simple for an attacker to set up their own Access Point with the same SSID and have the users connect to it, which is an issue for users, especially for those utilizing open wireless networks (coffee shops, supermarkets, etc.).
Particularly if the attacker is also spoofing the legitimate Access Point’s MAC address, the user truly has no way of knowing they are not on the genuine one.
In this case, Man-in-the-middle attacks allow threat actors to intercept and examine transmitted data since they are in control of the router.
Notably, a Media Access Control address (MAC address) is a unique identification issued to a network interface controller (NIC) for use as a network address in communications within a network segment.
This is widespread use in most IEEE 802 networking technologies, such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.
MAC addresses are sometimes referred to as the built-in address, Ethernet hardware address, hardware address, or physical address since device makers typically assign them.
Each address may be saved either by a software mechanism or in hardware, such as the read-only memory on the card.
Snappy, created by Neaves, is an indispensable tool that effectively distinguishes authentic access points from suspicious ones.
With Snappy’s recognition capabilities, this common issue can now be easily resolved by identifying if it is the same access point that was used previously.
To create a signature, he needed to identify several components (elements, parameters, tags, etc.) in the beacon frame that were sufficiently distinct between access points both individually and collectively to serve as a fingerprint.
He says the idea of a signature, however, would not function if these values changed throughout time and remained constant to themselves.
Elements that characterize an access point
He discovered several static elements by examining Beacon Management Frames, including the vendor, BSSID, supported rates, channel, country, maximum transmit power, and others, that alter between various 802.11 wireless access points but remain constant for a particular access point over time.
The researcher calls the tool snap.py (Snappy), using the word “snap” (as in “snapshot”) to use this item and also not at all/only once substantially inspired by the Python file extension “.py,” which properly rounds off the situation.
Additionally, he reasoned that he could combine these components and hash them with SHA256 to produce a distinctive signature for each access point that a scanner tool could use to identify matches and mismatches.
Snappy in action, a SHA256 hash created for the wireless access point
In addition to the process for producing SHA256 hashes of wireless access points, Snappy can also identify access points made by Airbase-ng, a tool that attackers employ to make fake access points to intercept packets sent by connected users or even to snoop on their network traffic.
As long as Python is available, running Python scripts on laptops should be simple, but users of mobile devices will need to go above and beyond to find specialized interpreters and emulators.
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According to a new report, the Pixel 8 series will not only offer bigger batteries, but faster charging too. This information is provided by Kamila Wojciechowska in collaboration with Android Authority.
Both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will offer bigger batteries
Based on this information, the Pixel 8 will offer a 4,485mAh battery, while the Pixel 8 Pro will ship with a 4,950mAh unit. As a reminder, the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro offered 4,270mAh and 4,926mAh batteries.
This is a rather noticeable step up for the Pixel 8, and a small step forward for the Pixel 8 Pro. Still, it’s really nice to see, of course. In regards to charging, the Pixel 8 will support 24W wired charging, while the Pixel 8 Pro will offer 27W wired charging.
Faster wired charging is also expected, but wireless charging will remain the same
Considering that the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro supported 20W and 23W wired charging, respectively, this is also an improvement. Where we will not see a boost is in the wireless charging section. The Pixel 8 will support 20W wireless charging, while the Pixel 8 Pro will come with 23W wireless charging support. Do note that you’ll be able to take advantage of this only via Google’s proprietary charger, though.
In case you end up using regular Qi charging, via some other charger, both phones will end up being locked to 12W charging. So, the Pixel Stand is the way to go. We’re not sure if Google plans to announce a new charger or not.
Both devices will likely launch in October
As a reminder, both of these smartphones will likely launch in October. Both of them will also be fueled by the Google Tensor G3 SoC. That chip will be a considerable step up over the Tensor G2. Chances are it will still not be nearly as powerful as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
If you’d like to know more about both of these smartphones, check out our Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro previews.
Elon Musk has decided to impose temporary read limits on Twitter, and the users simply lost it. Truth be said, this is a rather odd turn of events, but the reactions were something to behold.
Elon Musk announced temporary read limits on Twitter, and managed to upset a lot of people
The owner of Twitter, Elon Musk, announced the change on Saturday. He first imposed read limits for verified users of 6,000 posts per day. That limit was set to 600 posts per day for unverified users, and 300 posts a day for new unverified users.
Musk said this change is “temporary”, and that it’s here “to address extreme levels of data scraping & system manipulation”. Following that announcement, users all over the platform flipped out.
Some of them really got angry, and decided to leave the platform, even some well-known ones, like Macaulay Culkin (that’s just one random example). Most users just complained, though, while some even took this opportunity to highlight alternative platforms. Needless to say, this is a really odd move by Musk. That’s hard to deny.
That limit was quickly upped, twice
Still, even though it’s an odd turn of events, it’s only a temporary limitation. Twitter quickly upped the limit, twice, during the same day, actually. It first increased the limit to 8,000 pots for verified, 800 for unverified, and 400 for new unverified.
Later that day, on June 1, the limit was raised to 10,000 posts for verified, 1,000 for unverified, and 500 for new unverified. Since then, we didn’t get any more info from Elon Musk, at least at the time of writing this article.
Everything Elon Musk is doing these days is under the microscope, especially changes related to Twitter. That is to be expected, as Twitter is a social media network after all. This should not have happened at all, but some users did end up overreacting, as the change is only temporary.
Spotify is working on a new feature that will allow users of its music streaming services to watch and listen to full-length music videos in its app. While the company hasn’t confirmed the information, it’s common for Spotify to thoroughly test new features before making them official.
According to a new report by Bloomberg, Spotify is considering adding music videos to its app, but that doesn’t mean that the feature is already being tested. The move is meant to put Spotify in a better position against competitors like YouTube and TikTok.
Currently, Spotify is looking for partners that will help it bring music videos to its streaming service, at least according to people familiar with the company’s plans. If the rumor ends up being accurate, it will confirm what seems to be a trend for Spotify: complete focus on video content.
Spotify is trying to keep up with other players in the market by adding features that proved to be very popular among users of competing services. In that regard, Spotify launches “clips” at the beginning of the year, a new feature that would allow artists using its music streaming service to publish videos shorter than 30 seconds as a means to keep in touch with their fans.
After heavily focusing on podcasts until a few months ago, it looks like Spotify has turned its attention to video content in an attempt to appeal to different audiences. Either it will succeed or not, it depends on its approach and how well its partners will react to Spotify’s business proposal.
Although it might not be something that will bring to many customers to the platform, it could convince those that are already subscribed to not consider switching to other music streaming services due to lack of new features.
Great news for drivers as Google Maps’ latest update brings back a previous “issue” that made it possible to use the maps app on your smartphone and car display at the same time. This specific feature was originally added to the app early this year, but it was reportedly unintended behavior.
As such, Google “fixed” the issue removing the ability to use Maps on phone and car display simultaneously in a follow-up update. It took Google several months to figure out that what was deemed as a bug was actually a great feature that should have been available for Android Auto users a long time ago.
That being said, it looks like Google Maps users can finally use the app on Android Auto and their Android smartphones, at least according to the latest reports coming from Reddit users (via Android Police).
If you’re still getting the “Your phone can’t display Google Maps while Android Auto is running” message, it means the feature has yet made it to your device yet. It’s unclear why Google decided to restrict Android Auto users to either having Maps shown on their phones or car display, but it might have to do with safety concerns.
As many of you probably know already, Android Auto provides minimal information on the car display such as turn-by-turn navigation, distance remaining (ETA), and music controls. Google wanted Android Auto users to focus on driving rather than what’s on their car display, hence the not so many details offered.
However, using Google Maps for navigation on an Android phone provides more information, thus requiring more attention from the driver. That was probably one of the reasons that Google decided not to allow Google Maps to run at the same time on Android Auto and Android phones, but that seems to have change as the search giant accepted the fact that drivers may be helped with navigation by their companions.
WhatsApp has been rolling out new features to its messaging app like there’s no tomorrow. Several updates were released last month alone (not counting the beta version), which is unusual even for one of Google’s most popular apps. Over the weekend, WhatsApp announced yet another new feature is making its way to Android and iOS users: Chat Transfer.Announced on Twitter, the new feature allows WhatsApp users to transfer their full chat history without having to leave the app. However, there’s a big catch, as the feature can only transfer data across the same operating system, so if you’re planning to switch from Android to iOS or vice versa, the new Chat Transfer feature will not work.
If you’re an Android or iOS user who wants to switch to a different operating system, you can transfer your WhatsApp chats using apps like Move to iOS. The new feature announced over the weekend has the same functionality, but it makes it possible to transfer WhatsApp chats without having to leave the app, albeit only across the same operating systems.
To take advantage of the new feature, you must set up a new account on your new phone and choose the Chat Transfer option to create a QR code. Then, simply scan the QR code provided with the old phone and wait for the phones to connect and the data to be transferred to the new smartphone.
According to Google, the ability to transfer WhatsApp chats without having to leave the app is available starting today, although it may take a few weeks to show up for everyone, so be patient if you didn’t get it yet.
Submarine cables installed on the ocean floor facilitate the transmission of data and voice between land-based stations.
International communication has relied on submarine cables since the first one was laid across the English Channel in 1850. This cable was used to transmit telegraph messages between England and France.
Using fiber-optic cables for telecommunications has proven to be a superior option compared to satellite-based alternatives. These cables are not only faster and more reliable but also more cost-effective.
They consist of thin strands of glass that transmit data as light pulses encased in layers of plastic, steel wires, copper sheathing, and polyethylene insulation.
Reports indicate that there will be a significant rise in traffic, with a projected compound annual growth rate of approximately 28% from 2022 to 2030, resulting in a monthly data consumption of 603.5 million terabytes.
Submarine Cable service systems
Expansion Poses Cyber Security Risks
A report by Recordfuture states that Chinese state-owned enterprises have been striving for a larger share in the global submarine cable network since the beginning of the 21st century.
China is currently increasing its ownership and operation of cables around the globe, which gives them more control over the deployment of submarine cables in specific locations.
Every year, there are more than 100 submarine cable faults where the cables get damaged or severed completely, disrupting data transmission.
Most of these damages are physical and tend to happen by accident, frequently caused by fishing boats.
Given their resources and motives, state-sponsored organizations pose the greatest risk of deliberate espionage and sabotage.
To optimize the performance of submarine cables and improve their operations, owners are utilizing network management tools to manage their infrastructure efficiently.
Maps of Submarine Cable
Network management tools are connected to the internet, making them vulnerable to targeted attacks from state-sponsored adversaries, ransomware groups, hacktivists, and other cyber threat actors.
In April 2022, an attempted cyberattack against a submarine cable operating system in Hawaii was foiled by federal authorities. The attack was made possible by a breach of a third party’s credentials.
According to a prediction by Record Future, there is a significant likelihood of espionage activities aimed at the entire submarine cable system. This encompasses the landing station infrastructure, submarine cables, third-party providers, and the hardware and software that link all these elements.
It’s important to stay alert and take necessary precautions to prevent any unauthorized access or data breaches.
Submarine cable networks and operating systems may potentially be at risk from non-state actors like hacktivists and ransomware gangs.
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Gas prices are on the rise, seeing a meteoric rise in 2022 so far, and we all want to find cheap gas. Starting off around $2-3 in the beginning of 2022, depending on where you live in the US, up to well over $5 in many areas. Making it cost you over $100 just to fill your tank. As of this writing, the national average for a gallon of gas is $4.92, and it’s showing no signs of stopping.
With summer travel ahead, gas prices are just going to keep going up. So we’re here to help you save some cash on your gas tank. Thanks to a handful of Apps on Android (and iOS), you’ll be able to save some serious cash on gas this summer and moving forward. And who wouldn’t appreciate that?
Google Maps has a bunch of neat features
Google Maps has a few tricks that can help you save money on gas. First off, you can tap on the “Gas” icon at the top of the page and show gas stations around you, as well as their prices. Unfortunately, you can’t sort this list by the cheapest, or by location. But you can see the prices which is good. These prices are updated through the Google My Business feature-set and automatically updates, as long as the gas station uses Google My Business.
Secondly, Google Maps also has the “most fuel-efficient route” feature. Which will show you a few different routes you can take to get to your destination, along with a most fuel-efficient route. This might take a few minutes longer, but it will generally involve fewer turns, and avoid the highway. Since the highway isn’t very fuel-efficient, staying on the backroads means you’ll get more miles per gallon.
There are a couple other features that Google Maps has, that aren’t necessarily tied to saving money on gas, but saving money period. Finding routes that don’t include tolls. A lot of States do have toll roads, and they can become quite pricey, especially on a road trip. But Google Maps can help you avoid them. Google Maps can also help you find public transport to get you from point A to point B. While it might take longer, it will save you money.
Find cheap gas with the Gasbuddy app
Gasbuddy is one of the very popular apps to find cheap gas. It’s been around for well over a decade, and will show you the cheapest gas in your location. Which you can sort by price and by distance from you. It also includes gas prices from Costco and Sam’s Club, which Google Maps generally doesn’t.
On top of that, Gasbuddy does also offer cashback deals when you spend money on everyday purchases with the Gasbuddy Card. There are paid subscriptions that promise up to $.40 off per gallon of gas with Gasbuddy. Which, if you do a lot of traveling, that might be the way to go.
Sam’s Club & Costco
Another way to save money on gas is with a Costco or Sam’s Club membership. Costco memberships start at $60 and Sam’s Club at $45. Though Sam’s Club usually has some sort of deal going on to where the membership is nearly free. Both memberships offer two cards, so you can split the cost with someone else, making it even cheaper.
Gas at Costco and Sam’s Club can sometimes be up to $0.50 cheaper per gallon than nearby gas stations. With the average car having a gas tank size between 13 and 16 gallons, that’s about $6-$8 in savings each time you fill up. Making the membership pay for itself pretty quickly. Don’t forget that you can also use it in the store and save on all sorts of other things. Including Costco Pizza which is an amazing value – an 18-inch pizza for under $10, even with rapid inflation right now.
Just like with anything else, there is a best day to get gas for cheap. That is normally Monday, with the second cheapest being on Sunday. But whatever you do, do not buy gas on Wednesday or Thursday, those are usually the most expensive days. This data comes from a survey from Gasbuddy.
Monday has been the best day to buy gas according to Gasbuddy’s survey in 2017, 2018, 2019 and now 2022. So that’s unlikely to change.
This is similar to how Wednesdays are the best days to fly, versus Friday-Monday.
Consider buying an EV
This is not an option for everyone, not only because electric vehicles are not that cheap, but also because the used car market is insane right now. But if the situation is right for you, and you’re looking for a new car, you may want to jump into that EV life.
Besides being able to laugh at gas prices as you drive by, you’ll also save money on maintenance. EVs need very little maintenance in their life. Basically just a tire rotation and replacement, and that’s it. So with an EV, you’re basically paying all of that maintenance costs upfront with the more expensive car.
Even if you can’t charge at home, an EV is a good option. I own a Chevy Bolt EV, having traded in my Chevy Trax last year. And my Bolt EV costs a whole lot less per mile to drive, in terms of fuel. I did the numbers last month, and I drove 947.1 miles, spending $66.48 to charge. That came out to about $0.07 per mile. Whereas a Chevy Trax at a generous 28 miles per gallon with the national average gas price of $4.97, would cost $0.17 per mile. That’s more than double.
Sure, range anxiety is going to set in, so you’ll want to download apps like A Better Route Planner (also known as ABRP) or Plugshare which will help you find charging stations to charge at. And it’s a good idea to get something like a Volkswagen ID.4, or a Hyundai Ioniq 5, which will charge fairly fast, and you won’t be at the charging station very long. The Ioniq 5 can go from 10-80% in less than 20 minutes.
The RedMagic 8S Pro will become the very first 24GB RAM smartphone, and alongside it, the company will also announce a gaming tablet. That’s not something we expected, but it has been confirmed by RedMagic via Weibo.
RedMagic gaming tablet is also coming on July 5
As a reminder, both devices will drop on July 5, in China. The RedMagic 8S Pro will almost certainly become available in global markets too. It will be interesting to see if the same will happen for the tablet.
RedMagic did not reveal any specifications of this tablet, however. What we do know is that it will have thin bezels at least based on the shared teaser, which you can see below this paragraph.
A single front camera will be included, and it seems like this will be a larger tablet. We’re not sure how big, but we expect a 12-inch display or something close to it. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or Dimensity 9200+ SoC is also expected, as this is a gaming tablet after all. Besides, the RedMagic 8S Pro will utilize the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, an overclocked version of it.
Now, this thing could be a rebranded version of the ZTE Axon Pad which launched back in April. That device has a 12.1-inch QHD+ display, Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, four speakers, and so on. That’s just a wild guess, but considering RedMagic is ZTE’s company, it’s a possibility. Different specs could be included, though.
The company will also announce a pair of truly wireless earbuds
Alongside those two products, RedMagic will also announce a pair of truly wireless earphones called ‘Dao’. The company promises “extreme aesthetics and performance” here.
The RedMagic 8S Pro will look almost the same as the RedMagic 8 Pro, which is not a bad thing. It will include an under-display camera, thin bezels, and flat sides. On top of that, its black model will also have a see-through back. Advanced gaming features will also be included, both hardware and software ones.
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