Apple and Amazon face lawsuit over inflating iPhone prices

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Apple and Amazon face lawsuit over inflating iPhone prices
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It comes as no surprise that iPhone prices remain stable even months after launch. However, according to a lawsuit filed back in November, Apple and Amazon allegedly joined forces to artificially inflate the prices of iPhones and iPads sold on the platform, effectively eliminating over 98% of all Apple resellers. Now, in a recent development, U.S. District Judge John Coughenour has denied the request made by Apple and Amazon to dismiss the lawsuit, allowing it to progress further.

As a result, the case will now move forward to evidence-gathering and other pretrial proceedings, representing a significant step for the plaintiffs – all U.S. residents who purchased new iPhones and iPads on Amazon from January 2019 onwards.

“A major win for consumers of Apple phones and iPads,” said Steve Berman, a lawyer for the plaintiffs

The lawsuit argues that both Apple and Amazon signed an agreement in 2018 where Amazon agreed to drastically reduce the number of Apple resellers in exchange for Apple’s regular supply of discounted devices, therefore benefiting both parties. Additionally, the lawsuit also states that prior to this deal, there were approximately 600 third-party Apple resellers on Amazon in 2018, but this number dropped to only seven after the agreement took effect.

Apple’s response

Although the allegations about Apple’s practices have raised some concerns, the company defended its agreement, stating that it helped combat the sale of counterfeit Apple products on Amazon. Additionally, Apple’s attorneys stated in a court filing that such agreements were commonplace and legally acceptable, citing previous rulings that recognized them as pro-competitive and lawful. However, Judge Coughenour noted that any opposing motivations behind the agreement would be addressed in later stages of the litigation.

The outcome of this lawsuit will have implications not only for Apple and Amazon but also for the wider e-commerce landscape. Furthermore, the complaint seeks unspecified triple damages and other forms of relief.


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WhatsApp is testing a notifier option for their new Channels feature on Android

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WhatsApp is testing a notifier option for their new Channels feature on Android
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WhatsApp is currently working on a new feature that will allow users to be notified when channels are available. This feature is still in development and is only available to beta testers in the countries where Channels are currently rolled out.
WhatsApp announced the new Channels feature last week. This feature will allow users to follow users and channels and keep up with them via a feed, similar to what we have now with Twitter, that is separate from existing chats.
Unfortunately, the feature launched in limited capacity and is currently only available in Singapore and Colombia, with the promise to come to other countries soon. However, it is this limitation that made it possible for the folks over at WaBetaInfo to discover a brand new feature tied to Channels — a notifier that lets you know when you will able to subscribe to them.

This feature is currently being tested in version 2.23.12.20 of WhatsApp Beta, which is available via the Play Store to those enrolled in the beta program. It turns out that when the Channels feature launched, users that had access to it shared invite links which ended up in the hands of users that did not have access to the feature. At first, this resulted in a generic message stating that the feature is not yet available.

However, on this latest beta version, the generic notification has been transformed and now looks more polished. Aside from the fancy redesign, the notification now also includes an option for the user to tap on “Notify me,” to be added to a waiting list. Once channels are available for your account, you will receive a notification letting you know.
Source - WaBetaInfo - WhatsApp is testing a notifier option for their new Channels feature on Android

Source – WaBetaInfo

It is unclear when channels will be available to users outside of Singapore and Colombia. However, the fact that WhatsApp is working on a feature to allow users to be notified when channels are available suggests that they are planning to roll out the feature to a wider audience in the near future.


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Galaxy Z Fold 3, Flip 3 & more get June 2023 update in the US

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Galaxy Z Fold 3, Flip 3 & more get June 2023 update in the US
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After the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4, Samsung has now released the June 2023 Android security patch to its third-gen foldables in the US. Both Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 are receiving the latest security update stateside. The new SMR (Security Maintenance Release) is also available for the US-bound Galaxy A32 5G.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 was the first Samsung device to pick up the June SMR globally, with the rollout beginning in the US. The Korean firm released the update for the foldable early last week alongside the Galaxy Note 20 series. It has since added several others to the party, including the Galaxy Z Flip 4. Today, Samsung has released the latest security update for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 in the US.

Both carrier-locked and unlocked versions of these foldables are getting the June SMR stateside. The new firmware build numbers for the two versions of the Fold model are F926USQS3FWE5 and F926U1UES3FWE1, respectively. Likewise, those for the Flip model are F711USQS4FWE5 and F711U1UES4FWE1. According to SamMobile, which first reported this rollout, the update is widely available on most carrier networks. The devices don’t seem to be getting any major user-facing changes or new features. The update is all about this month’s security fixes.

Speaking of security fixes, the June SMR contains more than 60 of those. That’s the combined total of fixes for Galaxy-specific issues (coming directly from Samsung) and other generic Android OS issues (coming from Google or vendors of respective components). At least three of those were critical security issues. If you’re using one of Samsung’s recent foldables in the US, all of these security patches will reach your phone soon. Watch out for a notification about the OTA (over the air) rollout. You can also manually check for updates from the Settings app.

The Galaxy A32 5G is also getting the June security update in the US

Along with the 2021 foldables, Samsung has also released the June security update for the Galaxy A32 5G in the US. The carrier-locked version of this midrange smartphone is currently getting the new SMR on a handful of networks, including T-Mobile, Sprint, and MetroPCS. A wider rollout may follow in the coming weeks. The updated firmware build number for this phone is A326USQSADWE2. The June SMR doesn’t bring any additional goodies to the Galaxy A32 5G either. It will get Android 14 if Samsung decides to push three major Android OS updates to this phone.


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The Nitro Deck will give you a ‘Professional’ Switch experience

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The Nitro Deck will give you a ‘Professional’ Switch experience
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The Nintendo Switch is a massively popular console and it’s garnered a ton of support from third-party hardware developers. There’s a new accessory coming that will take your Switch game to the next level. The Nitro Deck is a Switch accessory that promises a “professional” experience.

As stated, there are a ton of Switch accessories on the market, but the Nitro Deck is one of the most robust-looking add-ons. It’s more than a set of third-party Joy-Cons. Rather, as the name suggests, it’s a deck that you’ll slip your Switch into.

The Nitro Deck will give you a professional Switch experience

The Nitro Deck has the rough appearance of a Steam Deck, but you can’t get the Steam Deck in some fun and nostalgic colors (more on that later). You will slip your Switch into it, and it will connect to the USB-C port just like on a dock. After that, you’re good to go. In case you’re wondering, yes, this also works with the Switch OLED.

As with most Switch accessories, this deck brings additional features that you don’t find with the first-party products. For starters, the deck connects via the USB-C port. This means much lower-latency input. This will also pass through a current to charge your Switch.

Moving over to the back, you’ll see four remappable buttons. These are for people who want to tailor their experience to their liking.

One of the most important aspects of this deck is the set of joysticks. If you remember the large lawsuit that Nintendo went through a couple of years ago regarding the “Joy-Con Drift”, then you’re probably wary about picking up first-party Joy-Con accessories. The Nitro Deck promises that there will be no drift with its joysticks.

Did someone say “Nostalgia”?

Now, let’s talk colors. The Nitro Deck is going to come in some rather nice and nostalgic colors when it launches. Starting, there are the classic Black color and the Black & White color.

If you were around in the early 90s, then you’d appreciate the color that looks like the SNES controller. If the GameCube was your jam, then you’ll love the GameCube controller color.

There are colors from Limited Run Games, as well. These are some fun transparent colors that look amazing.

Nitro Deck 4

If you’re looking forward to picking up one of these decks, there’s going to be a bit of a wait. These officially ship on September 18th. The base-level Nitro Deck costs $59.99 (£47.99 / AU$88). You can learn more using the link below.

Learn more about the Nitro Deck


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Google optimizes Drive and Docs apps on Android to improve the foldable experience

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Google optimizes Drive and Docs apps on Android to improve the foldable experience
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Google has announced a couple of new updates for Google Drive on Android aimed at enabling a more cohesive design between web and mobile, as well as improving the experience with foldables.

The first of these updates optimizes the Google Drive app for foldable devices by implementing a visual tweak. The item preview viewer now contains controls that will intelligently respond to the position of the foldable device, depending on whether it is opened, closed, or even partially opened. Once it detects the correct position, the viewer and the controls will adjust themselves accordingly.

Source - Google Workspace Blog - Google optimizes Drive and Docs apps on Android to improve the foldable experience

Source – Google Workspace Blog

This will be particularly helpful if you are using a device such as a Galaxy Z Fold or any of the upcoming foldables. One notable folding smartphone that will be benefitting from this change is Google’s own upcoming Pixel Fold, which should be arriving later this month to those that pre-ordered.
Additionally, if you use Google Docs on an Android device, you will now see your docs in paginated mode when you first open them. There is one exception to this and that is if the document has already been set up to open in “pageless” mode.

Pageless mode sets up your document so that it continuously scrolls without any page breaks, images adjusts to your screen size, and wide tables can be fully viewed by scrolling to the left and right. In contrast, paginated mode shows your document with pages and page breaks. This view was previously not available on mobile.

Source - Google Workspace Blog - Google optimizes Drive and Docs apps on Android to improve the foldable experience

Source – Google Workspace Blog

Google has been slowly but surely updating their own apps to take advantage of the larger real estate on tablets and foldables as well as adjusting the layout of said apps to make more sense to the user. It will be interesting to see what other tweaks are in the pipeline for Google Apps, and any app for that matter, now that foldables are becoming more mainstream.


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Pink Drainer Posed as Journalists, Stole $3M from Discord and Twitter Users

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Pink Drainer Posed as Journalists, Stole $3M from Discord and Twitter Users
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It has been determined that the Pink Drainer hackers have managed to pilfer approximately $3 million from nearly 1,932 victims.

A notorious hacker group known as “Pink Drainer” has been identified as the mastermind behind a series of high-profile Discord and Twitter hacks. Their targets include prominent projects such as Evomos, Pika Protocol, OpenAI CTO, and Orbiter Finance.

According to reports, the hackers have successfully lured users into clicking on phishing links by exploiting compromised Discord accounts, resulting in the loss of valuable assets.

ScamSniffer, an organization dedicated to tracking and combating online scams, has conducted an in-depth investigation and confirmed that Pink Drainer is responsible for the majority of the Discord hacks reported in the past month.

Through the analysis of stolen data across various blockchain networks, including Mainnet, Arbitrum, BNB, Polygon, and Optimism, it has been determined that the group has managed to pilfer approximately $3 million from nearly 1,932 victims.

The Pink Drainer hacking incidents have followed a similar pattern. The group has been employing sophisticated social engineering techniques, often masquerading as journalists from reputable media outlets like Decrypto and Cointelegraph.

Victims were then approached for interviews, which lasted for several days and ultimately required Know Your Customer (KYC) authentication. However, this process was a ruse to embed phishing attacks related to Discord in the final steps.

Pink Drainer Hackers Steal $3M from Discord and Twitter Users
Fake consent form – Stolen funds and number of victims (Image credit: ScamSniffer)

One particular method employed by Pink Drainer involved guiding Discord administrators to open a malicious “Carl verification bot” and directing them to add bookmarks containing malicious code. These bookmarks, when followed, triggered the execution of JavaScript (JS) code capable of stealing the victim’s Discord Token. This token theft granted the hackers unauthorized access to Discord accounts.

After gaining access, Pink Drainer took additional measures to prolong the attack. They removed other administrators, set the malicious account as an administrator, and manipulated the main account to engage in violations that led to it being blocked by Discord. These steps made it challenging to remove phishing messages from Discord servers, further exacerbating the impact on victims.

By analyzing various blockchain data, it has been determined that Pink Drainer successfully stole approximately $2.43 million from Mainnet and $350,000 from Arbitrum. The discovery of Pink Drainer can be attributed to the vigilant efforts of Taylor Monahan, who first identified the hacker group using ScamSniffer’s on-chain monitor bot. One victim, whose NFT assets worth nearly $320,000 were stolen, provided crucial information leading to the resolution of the address that transferred the assets, which was named “pink-drainer.eth.

The recent string of hacks attributed to Pink Drainer serves as a reminder of the evolving threat landscape in the cryptocurrency and online communities. Users must remain cautious and exercise vigilance when interacting with unfamiliar links or providing sensitive information.

In related news, a recent report by blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs indicates a significant drop in crypto-related hacks during the first quarter of 2023. The industry witnessed a 70% decrease in stolen funds, amounting to approximately $400 million across 40 attacks, compared to the same period in 2022. The decline can be partly attributed to legal actions against hackers and the impact of sanctions imposed on the crypto mixer Tornado Cash, which has made it increasingly difficult for criminals to launder their illicit proceeds.

  1. How hackers behind Twitter Bitcoin scam were caught
  2. Atomic Wallet Hit by $35M Theft in Recent Crypto Breach
  3. New malware targets Discord users to steal personal data
  4. Telegram and Discord Bots Delivering Infostealing Malware
  5. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s account hacked with racial slurs

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Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra spotted with 12GB RAM, S9 FE in the works

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Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra spotted with 12GB RAM, S9 FE in the works
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Samsung‘s Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra has popped up on Geekbench ahead of its launch next month. The device will arrive in late July as the company’s latest top-of-the-line flagship Android tablet. The Korean firm also has a base Galaxy Tab S9 and Galaxy Tab S9+ in the works. It is reportedly working on a Galaxy Tab S9 FE as well.

The new Geekbench listing shows the Wi-Fi version of the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra (model number SM-X910). The global 5G version bears the model number SM-X916B, while it’s SM-X918U for the US 5G version. The listing confirms that the device will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 “for Galaxy” chipset, the same chipset that powers the Galaxy S23 series. It scored 2,086 points in single-core and 5,686 points in multi-core tests on Geekbench v6.

Samsung has paired the processor with 12GB of RAM, though the tablet may also come in other memory configurations. The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra will run Android 13 out of the box. We are expecting the company to ship the device with One UI 5.1.1, a new version of its custom software that is already in development. The current version is One UI 5.1. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 foldables should also debut with One UI 5.1.1 next month.

As said earlier, the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra will be accompanied by two more flagship tablets: Galaxy Tab S9 (SM-X710/SM-X716B/SM-X718U) and Galaxy Tab S9+ (SM-X810/SM-X816B/SM-X818U). The latter has already received the FCC certification along with the Ultra. The base model should also pick up FCC approval soon.

Samsung also has a Galaxy Tab S9 FE in the works

Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event in late July may debut three new Galaxy Tab S9 series flagship tablets, but they may not be the only models in the lineup. It reportedly also has a Galaxy Tab S9 FE in the pipeline. The first hint at a possible new FE-series tablet popped up through Geekbench in early April. It was later rumored that Samsung may launch two variants of the new FE tablet.

While we haven’t heard much about the device since, noted tipster Roland Quandt recently claimed that the Korean firm has already begun work on the Galaxy Tab S9 FE. He didn’t share further information, though. Considering the lack of rumors about it, the tablet may arrive later in the year, possibly alongside the Galaxy S23 FE. The new FE phone appears to be slated for a Q4 2023 release. We should get to learn more about these two FE-series devices in the coming months.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra Geekbench


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Samsung’s Odyssey OLED G9 costs $2,199 and pre-orders are live

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Samsung’s Odyssey OLED G9 costs $2,199 and pre-orders are live
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Samsung has announced the official price of the Odyssey OLED G9 gaming monitor, and as expected it’s going to be a rather expensive gaming monitor to add to your setup.

You’ll be able to purchase the new Odyssey OLED G9 display for a not so modest price of $2,199. This probably surprises no one given it’s still a 49-inch display with an OLED panel. And given the fact that Samsung’s other Odyssey G9 displays have all been around the same price, give or take a couple hundred bucks.

Still, that never takes away the sting of the high cost. If the cost is within your budget and you’d like to grab one, you can also pre-order the monitor starting today. It’s available from Samsung’s online store as well as retailers like Best Buy.

Samsung offsets the Odyssey OLED G9 price a little if you pre-order

You won’t be saving any money on the monitor itself. But Samsung will give you a gift if you pre-order the monitor between now and launch. That gift of course is a $250 e-gift certificate for the Samsung online store. You also don’t get the gift right away so you can’t use it on the purchase of the monitor.

As Samsung mentioned in its announcement about the monitor reservations last week, it could take up to 35 days before you get the e-gift certificate. The company also clearly states the $250 can’t be used for the monitor. Though perhaps you could use it on the purchase of a second one.

With this ultrawide monitor at your disposal, you’ll see just about every detail you could ever want in all of your games. At stunning Dual Quad High Definition with support for up to a 240Hz refresh rate. If you’ve got the desk space, there’s likely no better way to play games. And there’s a lot of games coming out in the next few months that would look excellent on this monitor.


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Galaxy Z Flip 5 cover display will run ‘some’ full apps

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Galaxy Z Flip 5 cover display will run ‘some’ full apps
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Companies are perfecting the clamshell foldable phone form factor, and they’re getting close to cracking it. We are currently waiting for the Galaxy Z Flip 5, and, according to Sam Mobile, this phone’s cover display will run some full apps.

One issue that people have with clamshell foldables is how tiny their outer displays are. They’re good for displaying notifications and some small widgets. However, you can’t do much more with them. Companies like Samsung and Motorola are trying to change this.

Galaxy Z Flip 5 will run some full apps on its outer display

What’s as important as the ability to unfold your phone is what you can do without even having to open it. According to the report, there will be a short list of full apps that you can use on the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s outer display. What we know is that some of these apps are coming straight from Google.

The list includes apps like Google Maps, Google Messages, and YouTube. These apps are referred to as “optimized”, so they will be suited to work perfectly with the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s display. So, you won’t have to worry about any issues using these apps.

Along with those apps, we also got word that Samsung will provide its own first-party apps optimized for the smaller screen. That’s something to be expected. We are not sure what apps the company is going to optimize, but we can expect that they will be apps core to the smartphone experience.

Mark your calendars!

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is expected to be announced along with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 at the end of next month. This is much earlier than the announcement of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4.

Also during the event, we are expecting to see the announcement of the Galaxy Tab S9 series. These will be an improvement over last year’s tablets. There’s not much that we know about these devices, but all will be revealed when Samsung has its next unpacked event.


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Former Samsung executive indicted for stealing chip tech

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Former Samsung executive indicted for stealing chip tech
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Prosecutors have reportedly indicted a former Samsung executive on charges of stealing and leaking company secrets. The suspect is accused to have used the illegally obtained confidential Samsung data to build a copycat chip factory in China. Officials did not reveal the identity of the accused.

According to a Reuters report, the suspect illegally acquired critical information about Samsung’s semiconductor technology when working for the company. They used the data to build a rival chip factory just about a mile (1.5km) away from the Korean firm’s chip manufacturing facility in Xian, China between 2018 and 2019. The attempt failed due to funding issues, but the person ended up with cuffs around their wrists.

“It’s a grave crime that could deal a heavy blow to our economic security by shaking the foundation of the domestic chip industry at a time of intensifying competition in chip manufacturing,” the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office said in a statement. The defendant, meanwhile, is denying the allegations. They have already been arrested, though. The court has yet to confirm the trial date for the case.

This data theft is estimated to have caused Samsung losses of at least KRW 300 billion (more than $233 million). The accused may not have pulled off the theft alone, though. Prosecutors have reportedly also indicted six other people for their suspected involvement. Among them is an inspection company employee who may have leaked the architectural plan of the company’s semiconductor factory.

Apart from Samsung, the prime suspect in this data theft also worked with another South Korean semiconductor firm SK Hynix, serving as a Vice President. Their tenure or designation at Samsung is not known. But, the report suggests the person held a high-level position at the company. Overall, the person worked in the Korean semiconductor industry for about 28 years.

Prosecutors previously indicted four Samsung employees on similar charges

This isn’t the first case of Samsung employees stealing critical semiconductor technology. In October last year, prosecutors indicted four current and former Samsung employees on similar charges. These indictments are coming amid the South Korean government’s push to strengthen the nation’s semiconductor industry. Prosecutors say these kinds of data thefts jeopardize national economic security.

“We will sternly deal with any leakage of our technology abroad and strongly respond to illegal leaks of domestic companies’ core technologies in semiconductor, automobile, and shipbuilding sectors among others,” Reuters quoted a South Korean police official as saying. The country has launched a nationwide investigation, arresting 77 people involved in 35 cases of suspected corporate spying over the past four months.


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