History of Google Pixel smartphones – updated May 2023

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History of Google Pixel smartphones – updated May 2023
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Google has replaced its Nexus smartphone lineup with the Pixel series. This change happened back in 2016, when the first two Google Pixel smartphones arrived. With this change, Google more or less indicated that it’s done making affordable flagship-grade phones aimed at developers and enthusiasts, and that it wants to bring its smartphone creations closer to regular consumers.

This managed to disappoint quite a few people who loved the company’s Nexus line, but they had to make their peace with it, and move on. Since the first two Pixels, Google announced a number of new ones (including some mid-range ones), and we’re here to take a closer look at all of them, basically, as we’re here to take a walk down the memory lane, if you will. Do keep note that new Pixel phones will be added to the list as they arrive, that includes both flagship and non-flagship devices, in this case.

Google Pixel & Pixel XL

Google had announced two smartphones as part of the Google Pixel lineup back in October 2016, the Google Pixel and Pixel XL. These are the first two Pixel smartphones the company ever announced. They offer a considerably different design than any Nexus device the company introduced up to that point. The two phones look identical, but they are different in terms of size.

The Google Pixel and Pixel XL are made out of metal and glass. Most of the back on these two phones is covered by metal, but the upper portion has a glass plate applied to it. Bezels on the two phones are quite thick, even for the time period they were released in, and their design is nothing spectacular, but it did stand out back then. Both phones originally shipped with Android 7.1 Nougat.

These two devices are both fueled by the Snapdragon 821 64-bit quad-core processor, while both of them include 4GB of RAM, and come in 32GB and 128GB storage flavors. Neither of them offers storage expansion, and a 12.3-megapixel camera is included on the back of both devices, and was considered to be amongst the best in the class back then. Both devices are splash and dust resistant, and they include an 8-megapixel front-facing camera.

The Google Pixel features a 5-inch fullHD display, while the Pixel XL has a 5.5-inch QHD panel. Both of those displays offer a 16:9 display aspect ratio, and both utilize AMOLED panels. The Google Pixel includes a 2,770mAh battery, while the Pixel XL packs in a 3,450mAh unit, and both support 18W fast wired charging.

Google Pixel 2 & 2 XL

The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL were introduced back in October 2017. These are the company’s second-gen Pixel flagships, and unlike the Pixel and Pixel XL, these two do not look identical. The Pixel 2 comes with considerably thicker bezels than the Pixel 2 XL. That is the main difference between the two phones, in addition to the fact they’re different in size as well.

The design of the back on these two devices is similar to the Pixel and Pixel XL, in all honesty. They both have that glass plate on the back, though it is much smaller this time around. Most of their back side is made out of metal. Both of these phones include stereo speakers, and both have OLED displays, but different OLED panels. The Pixel 2 ships with a regular AMOLED display, while the Pixel 2 XL includes a P-OLED panel.

The Google Pixel 2 features a 5-inch fullHD display, while the Pixel 2 XL comes with a QHD+ display. Both devices are fueled by the Snapdragon 835 64-bit octa-core processor, while both include 4GB of RAM and 64GB / 128GB of non-expandable storage. Android 8.0 Oreo shipped out of the box on these two phones, while both of them include a single 12.2-megapixel camera on the back. The Pixel 2 features a 2,700mAh battery, while the Pixel 2 XL packs in a 3,520mAh unit.

Google Pixel 3 & 3 XL

The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL were announced in October 2018, and are Google’s third-gen Pixel flagships. These two phones, much like the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, do not look identical. They do have identical back sides, reminiscent of the Pixel 2 series back, but the front sides are different. The Pixel 3 does not include a display notch or a hole, but it has noticeable bezels above and below the display. The Pixel 3 XL has a similar bezel below the display, but not at the top. Instead, Google opted to include a rather tall / large notch at the top of the display.

Both of these phones include front-facing stereo speakers, though the Pixel 3’s output is more powerful, due to the more powerful speaker above the display. The Pixel 3 is smaller than the Pixel 3 XL, quite a bit, actually. The Pixel 3 includes a 5.5-inch fullHD+ P-OLED panel, while the Pixel 3 XL rocks a 6.3-inch QHD+ P-OLED display. Both phones are fueled by the Snapdragon 845 64-bit octa-core processor by Qualcomm.

Both the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL include 4GB of RAM and 64GB / 128GB of storage, though it is worth noting that storage is not expandable here either. Android 9 Pie comes out of the box on these two phones, while a 12.2-megapixel camera sits on the back of each of these devices. Two 8-megapixel units are included on the front side of both phones, while both devices are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance.

Google Pixel 3a & 3a XL

In May 2019, Google introduced its very first mid-range Pixel smartphones. As part of this series, the company announced the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL handsets. These two phones look the same, and basically pack the same specs, save for the display and battery sizes. Both devices resemble the Pixel 3 quite a bit, but unlike the Pixel 3, they are made out of polycarbonate.

A regular, capacitive fingerprint scanner sits on the back of these two phones. You will also notice a single camera back there. That is a 12.2-megapixel camera, the same on that the company included in the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. With this camera, the company basically brought its flagship feature to mid-range devices. That camera is the main selling point of these two phones, along with their price tags.

The Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL ship with Android 9 Pie, and both devices are fueled by the Snapdragon 670 64-bit octa-core SoC. Both devices also include 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, while an 8-megapixel front-facing camera sits on both phones. The Pixel 3a features a 5.6-inch fullHD+ OLED panel. The Pixel 3a XL comes with a 6-inch fullHD+ OLED display.

Google Pixel 4 & 4 XL

Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL

Google announced two Pixel 4 flagships in October 2019, the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. Those two devices are different in size, but sport the very same design. Both are made out of metal and glass, and were initially launched in three color variants. Google introduced both devices in Just Black, Clearly White, and (limited edition) Oh So Orange variants. Out of all three variants, only the Just Black model has a glossy backplate.

The Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are less slippery than most other flagships in the market. At least they were at the time they launched. Both phones have a rather large “forehead”, which host various sensors. Sensors for advanced facial scanning are included. The same goes for a radar chip that enables “Motion Sense”. A front-facing camera is also included, and your regular smartphone sensors. Google did not include a fingerprint scanner on either of these two smartphones.

The Pixel 4 series devices are the first phones in the series to offer two rear-facing cameras. In addition to the main 12.2-megapixel camera, a 16-megapixel telephoto unit is also included. The Snapdragon 855 fuels both the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, and both phones include 6GB of RAM. Android 10 comes pre-installed on both of these devices, while both offer front-facing stereo speakers.

Google Pixel 4a & 4a 5G

Pixel 4a and 4a 5G featured image

The Google Pixel 4a and 4a 5G were both announced in 2020, but not at the same time. The Pixel 4a arrived in August, while the Pixel 4a 5G dropped a month later than that. These two phones look almost the same. The only difference is in the rear camera housing, as the Pixel 4a 5G has an extra camera on the back. Both phones are made out of polycarbonate, while the Pixel 4a 5G is the largest of the two.

They do look almost identical, but their internals are somewhat different. The Pixel 4a 5G has an ultra-wide camera on the back, unlike the Pixel 4a. It also includes a more powerful processor on the inside, along with 5G connectivity. The phone has a larger display, though the refresh rate is the same, and so is the resolution. Due to its larger size, the Pixel 4a 5G does pack in a larger battery than its sibling. The rest of their specs are pretty much the same.

The Pixel 4a 5G is essentially a cross between the Pixel 4a and the Pixel 5. It actually launched back-to-back with the Pixel 5, though the Pixel 5 is a more prominent smartphone… but also a more expensive one. Both the Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a 5G came with Android 11 out of the box, and both offer stereo speakers, and a rear-facing fingerprint scanner.

Google Pixel 5

Pixel 5 render featured image

The Google Pixel 5 was announced in September 2020, as Google’s best 2020 smartphone. It shares some of its internals with the Pixel 4a 5G, but it does have some advantages. This phone is made out of metal, though it comes with a resin cover on top of it. Its bezels are uniform, which means there’s not pronounced ‘chin’ on this phone. The device has a display camera hole in the top-left corner, like its siblings.

The device is fueled by the Snapdragon 765G SoC, the same chip that fuels the Pixel 4a 5G. It comes with a 6-inch fullHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The camera setup is the same as on the Pixel 4a 5G, while the device also shipped with Android 11 out of the box. The phone is IP68 certified for water and dust resistance, while its secondary speaker is placed under the display. A rear-facing fingerprint scanner is included on this phone.

Google Pixel 6 & 6 Pro

Pixel 6 and 6 Pro featured image 1

The Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro were announced in October 2021. These two phones represented Google’s return to the premium tier smartphone space. They are considerably different than what Google offered a year before, not only when it comes to specs, but design as well. These two phones ushered in Google’s new, bold design, that is easily recognizable.

They are significant for a number of reasons. This was the first time, since 2017, that Google used a different main camera sensor. The ISOCELL GN1 from Samsung ended up being used here, replacing Sony’s aging sensor Google preferred. On top of that, both of these smartphone are equipped with the Google Tensor SoC, Google’s first-ever smartphone processor. As if that’s not enough, they are also the first smartphones from the company to include an in-display fingerprint scanner.

The two phones have high refresh rate displays, a 90Hz and 120Hz on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, respectively. Android 12 comes pre-installed on both smartphones, which brought Google’s new ‘Material You’ UI. Both phones support 30W fast wired charging, and 23W wireless charging. Stereo speakers are included, and both phones are water and dust resistant.

Google Pixel 6a

Google Pixel 6a render image 11

The Google Pixel 6a got announced in May 2022. It was presented during Google I/O 2022, Google’s developers conference. During the show, Google said that the phone won’t become available straight away, but instead scheduled its release for the end of July. That being said, the Pixel 6a ushered in Google’s new design language to the Pixel A series. In other words, it borrowed the Pixel 6 design.

The Pixel 6a has a frame made out of metal, and a 3D thermoformed composite back (plastic). The Google Tensor SoC fuels this smartphone, Google’s very first mobile processor, the same one that fuels the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Google also upped the game in the RAM and storage departments. It included LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 flash storage here, as it did in its flagships. It was using LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.1 flash storage before then.

A 12.2-megapixel camera is the main camera on this phone, which is a very well-known sensor for Google. The Pixel 5a 5G, the Pixel 6a’s predecessor, used it, and the same goes for a ton of other Pixel phones since 2017. The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro were the only two since 2017 that didn’t use that camera. Android 12 comes pre-installed on this smartphone, while a 4,410mAh battery sits on the inside. 18W wired charging is supported, while stereo speakers are also a part of the package.

Google Pixel 7 & 7 Pro

Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro renders

The Google Pixel 7 & Pixel 7 Pro got announced in October 2022. These two smartphones do not represent a major change in comparison to the Pixel 6 series. They actually look very similar to their predecessors, with one obvious difference. The Pixel 7 series has a piece of metal covering the rear camera visor, instead of the glass that was used in the Pixel 6 series smartphones.

The Pixel 7 is also a bit smaller than the Pixel 6. Both of these smartphones are fueled by the Tensor G2 SoC, Google’s second-gen Tensor chip. They come with a number of camera improvements, though the camera hardware remained basically the same. The Pixel 7 utilizes a 50-megapixel main camera, in addition to a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit. Both of those cameras are used by the ‘Pro’ model as well, with the addition of a 48-megapixel telephoto camera.

Both devices support wireless charging, and neither includes a charger in the box. Android 13 comes pre-installed on both smartphones. Some new camera features include Macro Focus on the ‘Pro’ model, while both devices offer the ‘Face Unblur’ feature as well. Those are only some of them. These two phones also feature the most recycled materials of any Pixel phone to date.

Google Pixel 7a

Pixel 7a render featured 1

The Google Pixel 7a got announced in May 2023, during Google I/O. This is the very first ‘Pixel a’ series smartphone to offer wireless charging, and also the first one to offer a high refresh rate. The phone launched with a 90Hz fullHD+ AMOLED display, and also the most powerful processor Google had to offer at the time, the Tensor G2. That is the same SoC that Google included inside the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.

The Pixel 7a‘s design is based on the Pixel 7, that much is obvious. Unlike the Pixel 7, however, this handset is smaller thanks to its 6.1-inch display. It does have thicker bezels, however, and it doesn’t include a glass backplate, but a plastic one. Google also employed new cameras in this smartphone, a 64-megapixel main camera, and a 13-megapixel ultrawide one. That was an odd move by the company, as the ‘Pixel a’ series smartphones usually pick up sensors Google used in the past.

Google did not include a charger in the box here, which many consumers got used to at this point. The Pixel 7a launched in four color options (Charcoal, Coral, Sea, and Snow), one of which ended up being exclusive to the Google Store (Coral).

Google Pixel Fold

google pixel fold 45

The Pixel Fold is Google’s very first foldable smartphone. It got announced in May 2023, during Google I/O. This is a book-style foldable, but it differs from Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold lineup quite a bit. It’s a lot shorter overall, and it also leans towards the horizontal layout when unfolded, not the vertical one, like the Galaxy Z Fold phones up to this point. It is rather wide when folded at 79.5mm, but it’s also very short at the same time at 139.7mm.

This handset is quite heavy, it weighs 283 grams, while it utilizes Google’s Tensor G2 processor. There are two 120Hz displays included here, while Google also packed in 12GB of RAM. Google did a great job of making this phone stand out, with its design, it definitely looks like a member of the Pixel family. The Pixel Fold made out of metal and glass, in case you were wondering.

Android 13 came pre-installed on the device, while two models got pushed out, one with 256GB of storage, and the other with 512GB of storage. There are two cameras on the back of the device, and one on each of its displays. Google announced the Obsidian (Black) and Porcelain (White) color variants of the device.


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How to reset your iPhone, Restart it and restore to Factory Settings

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How to reset your iPhone, Restart it and restore to Factory Settings
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After you’ve been using the same phone for many months, or many years, it can start to feel slow, sluggish and even start to act up. A quick way to fix this is to do a soft reset, or even restoring to factory settings. It’s a pretty simple thing to do, but today we’re going to show you how you can do both.

How to reset your iPhone

Resetting your iPhone is quite easy. It’s basically restarting it, which can often times fix things like apps stalling, and the battery life not being as good.

  1. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button (also known as the power button), and the Lower volume button.
  2. Now you’ll see a menu that has three sliders. You’ll want to use your finger to slide to power off.
  3. After a minute or so, your iPhone will turn off. Now, to turn it back on, press the Sleep/Wake button until you see the Apple logo.
  4. That’s it. That’s a soft reset of your iPhone.

How to do a force restart

Now if your iPhone is not responding at all, you might need to do a force restart. Here’s how you can do that.

  1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
  2. Press and quickly release the Volume down button.
  3. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until you see the Apple Logo.
  4. And that will force your iPhone to restart. That should hopefully solve the issue that caused your phone to freeze.

How to restore to factory settings

This is normally a last resort, but you can also opt to restore your iPhone to factory settings. This will restore it to what it was like, brand new out of the box. We recommend backing up your iPhone first, so that when you go to set it up again, you can set it up from your iCloud backup.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap on General.
    IMG 0052 Medium
  3. Scroll down to the bottom and tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  4. Tap on Erase all Content and Settings.
    IMG 0051 Medium
  5. On this next screen, it’ll show you what will be erased. Including apps and data, your Apple ID, Find My, and more. Tap on Continue.IMG 0050 Medium
  6. Next you’ll be asked to put in you passcode to that iPhone, if you have one.
  7. Your iPhone will perform a backup to iCloud. If your phone is set to backup every night when it’s charging, then this likely won’t take long.
  8. Then you’ll need to sign out of your Apple ID.
  9. Now, it’ll start to erase your iPhone and reset it.
  10. Once it restarts, you can start to set it up as a brand new iPhone, whether for yourself or someone else.
  11. And that’s it.

That’s how you can reset, or restore your iPhone to factory settings. Hopefully you won’t need to do this all that often, but this is how it is done.


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CISA Warns that Hackers Actively Exploiting Samsung Vulnerability

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CISA Warns that Hackers Actively Exploiting Samsung Vulnerability
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Exploiting Samsung Vulnerability

CISA has issued a recent warning regarding a security flaw that impacts Samsung devices, enabling attackers to circumvent Android’s address space layout randomization (ASLR) protection during targeted attacks.

ASLR serves as a crucial security feature in Android, ensuring that the memory addresses where essential app and operating system components are loaded into the device’s memory undergo randomization.

Introducing this mechanism significantly enhances the complexity for potential attackers attempting to exploit memory-related vulnerabilities, thereby heightening the challenge of executing successful attacks such as buffer overflow, return-oriented programming, or other exploits that rely on manipulating memory.

Samsung mobile devices that are operating on the following versions of Android OS are susceptible to the vulnerability (CVE-2023-21492), which arises from the inadvertent inclusion of sensitive data in log files:-

  • Android 11
  • Android 12
  • Android 13

Local attackers possessing elevated privileges can leverage the disclosed information to carry out an ASLR bypass, consequently facilitating the exploitation of the vulnerabilities in memory management.

Flaw Profile

  • CVE ID: CVE-2023-21492
  • Description: Kernel pointers are printed in the log file before SMR May-2023 Release 1 allows a privileged local attacker to bypass ASLR.
  • Summary: It’s a kernel pointers exposure in a log file
  • Severity: Moderate
  • Base Score: 4.4
  • Reported on: January 17, 2023
  • Disclosure status: Privately disclosed

As part of the latest security updates, Samsung has effectively resolved this matter by implementing measures that prevent kernel pointers from being logged in future occurrences.

According to the May 2023 Security Maintenance Release (SMR) advisory, Samsung has acknowledged being informed about an exploit targeting this particular issue in the wild.

Although Samsung did not disclose specific information regarding the exploitation of CVE-2023-21492, it is important to note that during highly targeted cyberattacks, security vulnerabilities are frequently exploited within the complicated chain of exploits.

These campaigns employed chains of exploits targeting the following platforms’ vulnerabilities to deploy commercially-driven spyware:-

While apart from this, there are two separate attack campaigns were identified and disclosed by the security analysts at Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) and Amnesty International in March.

Immediately patch by June 9

Following CISA’s recent inclusion of the CVE-2023-21492 vulnerability in its list of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities, U.S. Federal Civilian Executive Branch Agencies (FCEB) have been granted a three-week timeframe until June 9 to fortify their Samsung Android devices against potential attacks exploiting this security flaw.

In accordance with BOD 22-01, federal agencies must patch all flaws added to CISA’s KEV list by the deadline of June 9, 2023.

The cybersecurity agency’s list of bugs exploited in attacks is valuable for U.S. federal agencies and private companies. 

Private organizations can significantly reduce their risk of being successfully attacked by prioritizing the remediation of vulnerabilities on this list, along with federal agencies.

EHA

Frequent vulnerabilities serve as prime targets for cyber attackers, exposing the federal enterprise to substantial risks.

Shut Down Phishing Attacks with Device Posture Security – Download Free E-Book


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Sony LinkBuds S on Sale for a Limited Time

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Sony LinkBuds S on Sale for a Limited Time
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Amazon has the Sony LinkBuds S on sale, coming in at just $148. That’s going to save you $51 off of the regular price. That’s not to bad for these earbuds, not an all-time low, but we likely won’t see that again until June when Prime Day starts again. So now is a good time to pick up a pair.

Sony LinkBuds S – Amazon

Why you should buy the Sony LinkBuds S

The Sony LinkBuds S are the newest pair of truly wireless earbuds from the company. They are a cheaper version of the LinkBuds which were actually quite polarizing. With the LinkBuds S, Sony says that you are always connected. They are comfortable enough that you can wear them all day, without wanting to take them out.

Sony has included premium noise cancelling here on the LinkBuds S. So you can tune out your environment and only listen to your music, podcast or take a call.

Speaking of calls, Sony has included really impressive mics on the LinkBuds S. Allowing you to make crystal clear calls, so you can talk even in windy and noisy environments. These are rated at IPX4 for water and sweat resistance. Meaning they can be used for workouts, but don’t take them into the shower or the pool.

Now, when it comes to battery life, the LinkBuds S can last about 6 hours on a charge. That’s about the industry standard at this point. With the included carrying case, you’re looking at 20 hours of battery life. Sony has also included some fast charging. So a 5 minute top up will give you an hour of listening. Great if you forgot to charge your LinkBuds S before going to the gym.

You can pick up the Sony LinkBuds S from Amazon today by clicking the link below. This sale is not going to last long though.

Sony LinkBuds S – Amazon


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Apple shared its very first App Store transparency report

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Apple shared its very first App Store transparency report
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Apple has published its App Store transparency report for the first time ever. In that two-page document, Apple revealed some really interesting information that we’ll talk about here.

Apple has published its very first App Store transparency report

First and foremost, some of you may be wondering how many apps were in the App Store at the end of last year. The answer is… 1,783,232. The company actually rejected almost as many App Store submissions, believe it or not, 1,679,694, to be exact.

Another interesting tidbit is that Apple reviewed 6,101,913 app submissions last year. Do note that these numbers include updates to existing apps, not just new releases, which is why the number is so high.

It’s also worth noting that the company rejected 441,972 submissions based on legal grounds. 186,195 apps got removed from the App Store last year, while the company fielded 1,474 takedown requests.

What about downloads? Well, Apple says that iPhone, iPad, and Mac users downloaded an average of 747,873,877 apps every week. That will seem far less impressive when you hear that they also redownloaded an average of 1,539, 274,266 apps every week.

The company did this as a result of a settlement it reached with developers in 2021

Some of you may be wondering why did Apple do this? Why did the company publish its very first App Store transparency report so late in the game? Well, it’s because of the settlement it reached with App Store developers in 2021.

Back then, Apple promised that it will “share meaningful statistics about the app review process, including the number of apps rejected for different reasons, the number of customer and developer accounts deactivated, objective data regarding search queries and results, and the number of apps removed from the App Store”.

All in all, it’s nice to see more information about the App Store, that’s for sure. It gives us a peek behind Apple’s curtain.


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OxygenOS 13.1 rolling out to OnePlus 11 & a bunch of older phones

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OxygenOS 13.1 rolling out to OnePlus 11 & a bunch of older phones
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The OnePlus 10T started getting OxygenOS 13.1 quite recently, and a bunch of other phones now joined the party, including the OnePlus 11. The OnePlus 11 is, as many of you know, the company’s latest flagship handset.

The OnePlus 11 and a number of other OnePlus phones are now getting OxygenOS 11

In addition to the OnePlus 11 and OnePlus 10T, a bunch of other devices got the update as already mentioned. Those devices are: OnePlus 11R, OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro, OnePlus 8T, OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9 Pro, OnePlus 9R, and OnePlus 10 Pro.

Now, the changelogs for all devices are not the same. Also, some of the listed devices are getting the update in India only, for now. The global models are expected to join the party soon enough, though.

Let’s first tackle the changes that are the same across devices, shall we? All devices are getting a new TalkBack feature that recognizes and announces images in apps and Photos. OnePlus also added the Zen Space app. That app comes with Deep Zen and Light Zen modes, to help you focus.

The Championship mode has been added to Game Assistant. This mode is supposed to improve performance while disabling notifications, calls, and other messages so that you can focus on gaming.

You can now also control your music playback directly from the Game Assistant

Speaking of gaming, OnePlus also added a music playback control to Game Assistant. You can now control your music directly from the game assistant, without the need to access the notification shade or anything of the sort.

All the other features are exclusive to some phones. OnePlus added a new auto-connect feature that enables automatic connection between phones, tablets, and PCs which are in close proximity. This feature is coming to the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro only.

The company also expanded Omoji’s functionality and library on the OnePlus 8 Pro, 9, 9 Pro, 9R, 11, and 11R. The Simple mode got improved as it got a new helper widget and quick controls on the home screen. This change is coming to the OnePlus 8 Pro, 8T, 9, 9 Pro, and 9R.

The OnePlus 10 Pro changelog also consists of two additional entries. One says that OnePlus improved the battery life in some scenarios, and the other that the system stability and performance have been improved.


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Samsung completes a 200km test run of Level 4 self-driving tech

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Samsung completes a 200km test run of Level 4 self-driving tech
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Samsung may soon achieve Level 4 autonomous driving. The company has reportedly completed a test run of its self-driving system, covering 200km from Suwon to Gangneung in South Korea without any human driver intervention. Its research and development (R&D) arm SAIT (Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology) developed the autonomous driving software and algorithm that powered this test vehicle. The Korean conglomerate used a market-ready car in conjunction with necessary technologies from other companies.

Samsung gets closer to achieving Level 4 autonomous driving

Level 4 autonomous driving (High Driving Automation) is the penultimate level of vehicle autonomy, which includes six levels in total (0-5, with Level 0 offering no automation). As Synopsys explains, these vehicles “can intervene if things go wrong or there is a system failure”. They usually do not require human interaction to drive in most circumstances. However, a human driver can always manually override the system. This is to ensure proper handling of emergencies and extreme weather conditions.

Google-owned autonomous driving technology company Waymo is already running a Level 4 self-driving taxi service in Phoenix, Arizona. While these vehicles can operate in self-driving mode, there are certain limitations. They must not cross a preset top speed limit and aren’t only allowed to go outside a designated area. Level 5 autonomous driving (Full Driving Automation), which doesn’t require a human driver at all, is undergoing testing but is not yet available to the general public. Level 3 (Conditional Driving Automation), meanwhile, is already in the commercialization stage.

Samsung has been working on advanced self-driving technology for some time now. While it doesn’t plan to enter the automotive business itself, at least not just yet, the company aims to create a complete autonomous driving system for other manufacturers. The Korean conglomerate already makes semiconductors, displays, and other sensors for self-driving cars. The idea is to combine technologies from subsidiaries such as Harman and the DS division to give its automotive customers a reliable “brain” for their cars of the future.

The years of work are now bearing fruit for Samsung. According to the Korean media, the autonomous driving software and algorithm developed by SAIT can already detect a ramp and adjust driving automatically. It can also recognize special-purpose vehicles and automatically change lanes when required. With these accomplishments, Samsung has essentially secured the prerequisite technologies for Level 4 autonomous driving. Time will tell what’s next for the company in the field of autonomous driving.


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Mastermind Behind iSpoof Fraud Website Sentenced to 13 Years in the UK

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Mastermind Behind iSpoof Fraud Website Sentenced to 13 Years in the UK
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At the peak of its illicit activities, iSpoof enabled scammers to contact nearly 20 individuals every minute, employing false identities to deceive their targets.

In a landmark case, Tejay Fletcher, the mastermind behind the notorious fraud website iSpoof, has been sentenced to 13 years and 4 months in prison. The 35-year-old, residing in Western Gateway, London, was handed his sentence at Southwark Crown Court on May 18th.

Fletcher had previously pleaded guilty to manufacturing or providing fraudulent materials, aiding and abetting criminal offences, possessing criminal assets, and transferring illicit funds.

Working in collaboration with the Cyber and Economic Crime Units of the Metropolitan Police, City of London Police, the National Crime Agency, Europol, Eurojust, Dutch authorities, and the FBI, the operation succeeded in dismantling iSpoof in November 2022, apprehending its users, and ensuring the website’s operator faced justice.

Scotland Yard shuts down iSpoof Website, Arrests 100+ People in the UK
Seized iSpoof website (Image credit: Hackread.com)

iSpoof operated as a platform for criminals to impersonate representatives from banks, tax offices, and other official institutions to defraud unsuspecting victims of millions of pounds. It is estimated that UK victims alone suffered losses totalling £43 million, with global losses exceeding £100 million.

At the peak of its illicit activities, iSpoof enabled scammers to contact nearly 20 individuals every minute, employing false identities to deceive their targets. The network’s takedown, however, has provided some relief to the victims and dealt a significant blow to the world of cyber-enabled fraud.

Paul Foster, Deputy Director of the National Crime Agency and Head of the National Cyber Crime Unit, emphasized the importance of targeting online platforms that facilitate criminal activities. Foster stated, “We will continue to target criminal infrastructure and pursue the administrators and users. The protection of victims and their data online is paramount.”

The modus operandi of iSpoof involved users paying for its services to impersonate representatives from prominent banks such as Barclays, Santander, HSBC, Lloyds, and Halifax.

By posing as concerned officials, fraudsters coerced unsuspecting individuals into divulging sensitive information, including one-time passcodes, ultimately allowing them to siphon money from the victims’ accounts.

The reported losses suffered by iSpoof’s victims in the UK alone amount to £48 million, with an average loss estimated at £10,000. However, due to underreporting, the actual figures are believed to be much higher.

Over the course of 12 months leading up to August 2022, iSpoof facilitated approximately 10 million fraudulent calls globally, with 3.5 million originating in the UK.

Of these calls, 350,000 lasted longer than one minute, affecting 200,000 individuals. As a result of public appeals, an additional 340 victims have come forward to aid the investigation, indicating the widespread impact of iSpoof’s operations.

Mastermind Behind iSpoof Fraud Website Sentenced to 13 Years in the UK
Tejay Fletcher

Prior to its shutdown in November 2022, iSpoof experienced rapid growth, with 700 new users registering on the site each week. It generated an average weekly income of £80,000, accumulating 59,000 registered users.

Fletcher also utilized the encrypted messaging platform Telegram to market iSpoof through a channel called The iSpoof Club. He leveraged this channel to update users, promote website enhancements, and expand the network.

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  3. Owner of Breach Forums Pompompurin Arrested
  4. Do Kwon of Terraform Labs, Arrested in Montenegro
  5. Instagrammer Ray Hushpuppi over $125m BEC scam

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Motorola Razr 40 Ultra will have a different name in the US

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Motorola Razr 40 Ultra will have a different name in the US
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Motorola has recently officially confirmed when will its new ‘Razr’ phones launch. The Motorola Razr 40 and Razr 40 Ultra will become official on June 1, and it seems like at least one of them will have a different name in the US.

The Motorola Razr 40 Ultra is coming to the US with a different name

This is not all that surprising, as we’ve seen something similar happen in the past. Anyhow, this new info was revealed by Evan Blass, a well-known tipster. He says that the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra will be called the Motorola Razr+ in the US.

Motorola Razr Plus name US

He did not mention the regular variant, the Razr 40. We’re not sure why, but the Razr 40 may not even make its way to the US. We’ll have to wait and see. If it does, it would be logical for it to be called just the ‘Razr’, considering that the ‘Ultra’ model will have the ‘+’ in its name.

Having said that, the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra aka Razr+ is definitely not a mystery at this point. The phone’s design surfaced, along with its specs, and more information.

It will have the largest cover display in the business (as far as clamshell foldables are concerned)

The Razr+ will feature a large cover display, the largest in the business on a clamshell foldable. It will even go around the phone’s main camera, so you’ll essentially have several display holes on it.

The device’s main screen will have thin bezels, and a centered display camera hole. The phone will once again be made out of metal and glass, and it will include two cameras on the back.

The Motorola Razr 40 Ultra / Razr+ will feature a 6.7-inch fullHD+ main pOLED display. That display will offer a high refresh rate. The company will also offer 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage with this phone.

A 3,800mAh battery was also mentioned, as was support for wireless charging. You’ll find a side-facing fingerprint scanner on this smartphone, and a 3.5-inch cover display.

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC is said to fuel the phone, while a 32-megapixel main camera was tipped too. The same goes for an 8-megapixel secondary camera, which does seem weird. Both of those camera sensors do seem out of place, so take this info with a grain of salt.


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Meta releases Quest VR version 54 update with new features

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Meta releases Quest VR version 54 update with new features
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It’s no secret that Meta’s Quest devices have single-handedly transformed the VR space, offering users an affordable way to immerse themselves in virtual reality. Now, in an effort to make the experience even better, Meta has announced the new version 54 update for the Quest VR devices, which brings a range of innovative additions, including Custom Skybox View, 2D app push notifications, and controller improvements.

One of the most exciting new features of the update is the Custom Skybox View, which allows users to set their own images as a VR backdrop. However, it’s important to note that the custom views must be in JPG or PNG format and should not exceed 6144×3160 pixels. Therefore, to set the Custom Skybox View, users need to navigate to the Experimental Settings > Personalization tab and scroll down to the Virtual Environment page. And although this new personalized skybox feature remains invisible to others visiting your virtual home, Meta might introduce the option to share these custom environments in the future.

“In the coming weeks, a new experimental feature will enable you to customize your skybox on Quest Home. With the power of AI, you will soon be able to generate anything you can imagine,” said Zuckerberg.

More new features

In addition to the new customization options, the new version 54 update brings 2D app push notifications, allowing important messages and updates from apps like Instagram to be displayed directly in the Meta Quest VR headsets. Additionally, users can also reply to messages and interact with notifications without exiting their VR experience. Moreover, Meta claims they have resolved the tracking issues with the Quest Pro controller and significantly enhanced the interactions within the virtual environment.

Several other notable features of the new update include a streamlined Physical Space setting, new environments for the avatar mirror feature, which allows users to see themselves in the virtual world, and the integration of filter and sorting options into the search feature, thus making it easier to discover new apps.


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