Kling AI video generator challenges Sora with impressive results

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Kling AI video generator challenges Sora with impressive results
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Kling, developed by TikTok’s rival in China, is a new AI-powered video-generating service. AI tools are becoming more and more capable, and it seems that the next big leap will be in the generation of clips. OpenAI, one of the biggest names in the segment, launched this year by launching Sora. Kling wants to be a worthy rival.

Maybe the name “Kuaishou” doesn’t sound familiar to you. It’s because outside of China it is known as “Kwai.” The service has established itself as TikTok’s main rival in China. However, it now wants to step firmly into the AI-powered video generation segment. Kuaishou describes Kling as a “model of video generation.” Like other similar services, videos are generated based on a text prompt.

First Kling AI generated video samples are impressive

People who have had access to the service, like Min Choi, have posted some generated videos. The results seem quite impressive:

The Kling AI website includes multiple other samples of generated clips. However, let’s remember that those clips might have been retouched in some way. In the past, it was found that one of the videos generated by Sora had many additional hours of work behind it. Still, the thread in X above also includes examples generated from user prompts.

Currently, the Kling AI video generator is only available in China. Also, those interested must sign up for a waiting list. In its current state, it is capable of generating 1080p/30fps clips with a maximum duration of up to two minutes.

The company has not yet revealed when the service will be accessible without a waiting list or outside of China. However, TikTok’s rival appears to have a powerful and promising video-generating tool with Kling AI. Sora, its main international rival, will be available later this year according to Open AI.


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Google’s Gemini might expand app control with upcoming Spotify extension

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Google’s Gemini might expand app control with upcoming Spotify extension
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Google is going all in with its Gemini project, aiming to up its game against ChatGPT. The tech giant is pushing hard to blend its AI chatbot with various apps and services people are using through what it calls Gemini extensions.

Just recently, Google unveiled the YouTube Music extension, letting users ask Gemini to find, play, and control tunes straight from YouTube Music. There’s a good chance Google will soon expand this feature to other music streaming apps as well.

Spotify could soon get its own Gemini extension


A deep dive into Google app version 15.22.29.29.arm64 by tech media outlet Android Authority and code expert Assemble Debug has uncovered that Google is working on a Spotify extension for Gemini.Similar to how the YouTube Music extension works, the Spotify one should let Gemini connect with the Swedish music streaming app. This means you will be able to use Gemini to manage music playback on Spotify and play your favorite playlists or artists. Gemini should also be able to help you find a song by its lyrics or hunt down tracks similar to your favorites.

The Spotify Gemini extension isn’t live yet, but once it’s ready and Google gives it the thumbs up after some beta testing, it should roll out widely. However, once it’s live, you might need to manually enable it by:

  1. On your phone or tablet, head over to gemini.google.com.
  2. At the top, hit Menu, then tap on Settings, and finally extensions.
  3. Locate the extension you’re looking for and toggle it off or on.
  4. Just follow any prompts that pop up on your screen.

Extensions give Google Gemini access to data from different Google apps and services, making its AI results even more spot-on for you. For example, with the Google Workspace extension, Gemini can give you answers based on your own content. And with the Google Maps extension, Gemini gives you location-based info.

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New York to ban addictive social media feeds and overnight notifications for teens

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New York to ban addictive social media feeds and overnight notifications for teens
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New York plans to ban social media companies (think Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snap, and more) from using algorithms to manage content for minors without parental consent.

State lawmakers are taking measures against social media platforms, which have faced criticism in recent years. They’re blamed for their alleged addictive nature and impact on young people.

You might recall how in February, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a lawsuit against social media companies like Meta Platforms’ Facebook and Instagram, accusing them of contributing to a mental health crisis among the youth. The lawsuit alleges that the companies intentionally designed their platforms to “purposefully manipulate and addict children and teens to social media applications”.The newly proposed legislation aims to stop social media companies from providing automated feeds to minors. The bill, still being finalized but expected to be voted on in the coming days, would also ban sending notifications to minors during overnight hours without parental consent, according to people familiar with the matter.

In March, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that prohibits children under 14 from accessing social media platforms and requires parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds, a move intended to protect them from online risks to their mental health.

Back in March 2023, Utah was the first U.S. state to implement laws regulating children’s access to social media in March of last year, followed by states like Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, and Texas.

The dangers go beyond the algorithm’s addictive nature. Kids on social media (without proper supervision) are exposed to inappropriate content that can be harmful to their development. This includes violent images, explicit material, and misinformation that can skew their understanding of the world. Moreover, the addictive nature of social media can lead to excessive screen time, which is associated with a host of issues such as sleep disturbances, decreased physical activity, and impaired academic performance.


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Apple Plans A Passwords App As iPhone Password Manager

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Apple Plans A Passwords App As iPhone Password Manager
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Apple users may soon get their very own password manager app as the tech giant plans to introduce the “Passwords” app. With its own password management tool, Apple apparently seems ready to give tough competition to the existing password managers offered for iPhones and Macs.

Apple Intends Launching The Passwords App As A Dedicated Password Manager

As reported by Bloomberg, Apple has decided to roll out its very own password manager for the users, the “Passwords” app. Apple plans to unveil this new app at this year’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (June 10-14, 2024).

While the tech giant will share more details about the password manager at WWDC, for now, they have highlighted a few key features.

As reported, Apple’s Passwords app will serve as a dedicated password manager powered by Apple’s iCloud Keychain. Though Keychain already functions as a standalone password management solution, allowing both password generation and storage features, using it is a bit tedious for most users as it is accessible only after navigating the device settings. Therefore, Apple intends to streamline the process with the new Passwords app, making the password manager readily accessible.

Regarding the Passwords app functions, Apple shares that the app can import passwords from other password managers. This way, users may easily switch from their existing password managers to Apple’s built-in one. Besides, it will also provide multi-factor authentication functionality, enabling the users to ditch other authenticator apps, too.

With so many features, the tech giant seems willing to give tough competition to the big players of the password management realm, like LastPass and others. It seemingly has addressed all the shortcomings in its existing credential management features. The new Passwords app will boast easy accessibility, secure password management, and MFA functionality—everything a privacy-savvy user wants.

However, it remains to be seen whether Apple can really convince its users to trust the Passwords app for their credentials instead of their current password vaults.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.


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Google Play Store may soon remind you to open your forgotten apps

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Google Play Store may soon remind you to open your forgotten apps
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Google has started testing a reminder feature within its Play Store app that will gently nudge you to open apps that you have downloaded but never opened. This convenient feature is especially useful for those who tend to download apps and then forget about them.

Android users often download apps only to forget to open them, and Google aims to solve this issue with a new feature that reminds users to open apps they have downloaded but not yet used. This feature, discovered during a deep dive of the app’s code, was found in the Google Play Store v41.2.21 and is called the “Open app reminder.”

The feature works by sending a notification to the user if they haven’t opened a newly downloaded app within 24 hours of installation. If the user ignores the first reminder, a second reminder will be sent. However, after two reminders, no further notifications will be sent for that specific app. It’s worth noting that this feature is still under testing and might not be available to all users yet.

Images credit — Android Authority

This upcoming feature from Google is a welcome addition for users who frequently download apps but don’t always remember to open and use them. It’s particularly beneficial for those who download apps over Wi-Fi and then switch to other tasks, forgetting about the recently installed apps.
According to Android Authority, the feature was spotted in the Google Play Store version 41.2.21 during an APK breakdown. However, some users have already seen the feature on their devices, which means that Google is gradually rolling it out and that we can anticipate a wider release of this feature soon. This upcoming feature from Google is a small yet useful addition to the Play Store and serves as a gentle reminder for users to explore and utilize the apps they have downloaded.

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Quit Using EmailGPT As Its Vulnerability Risks Users

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Quit Using EmailGPT As Its Vulnerability Risks Users
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Researchers warn users to stop using the EmailGPT service due to an unpatched security vulnerability. Exploiting the flaw potentially results in various security threats from data exposure to system crashes and monetary losses.

EmailGPT Extension Vulnerability Threatens Users

Sharing the details in a recent post, Synopsys Cybersecurity Research Center (CyRC) researchers highlighted how a severe security flaw in EmailGPT risks users’ security.

EmailGPT is an AI-powered email generating API and browser extension. Leveraging OpenAI’s GPT, it allows users quickly create email drafts and replies via prompts generated on the basis of the previous user communications.

As elaborated, the researchers discovered numerous prompt injection vulnerabilities that an adversary could exploit to take over the service logic. Consequently, the attackers may force the service to leak hardcoded system prompts and execute malicious prompts.

Regarding the impact of such exploits, the researchers mention about the users suffering financial losses due to repeated malicious prompts which an attacker may generate to the API that works on a pay-per-use model. Moreover, an attacker may also inject malicious prompts causing the service to leak sensitive user information, or even trigger denial of service.

This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-5184, received a medium severity rating and a CVSS score of 6.5, according to CyRC advisory.

No Patch Available Yet

According to the timeline shared in the advisory, the researchers first attempted to contact the EmailGPT developers and report the flaw in February 2024, followed by multiple attempts for the same. However, despite their effort, the researchers received no response from the service regarding vulnerability fixes.

Consequently, upon completion of the standard 90-day disclosure period, the researchers went ahead with public disclosure.

For now, there exists no viable patch or mitigation for the vulnerability. Given the threats associated with potential exploitation, the researchers advise users to stop using the EmailGPT service (API and browser extension) until a fix arrives.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.


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iOS and AI: everything you need to know

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iOS and AI: everything you need to know
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WWDC kicks off with a keynote, giving us a sneak peek at the upcoming operating systems for Apple products, and this year is no different. 

Artificial intelligence is the buzzword in tech right now, and Apple is diving in headfirst. At today’s WWDC 2024, the Cupertino tech giant announced the new

and some fresh AI updates across all its major software, dubbing it Apple Intelligence. 

Following the keynote, developers gain access to a beta build to test their apps. As for us regular users, we can also sign up our iDevices to receive public beta builds once they’re released.

The complete version of iOS usually debuts in September alongside the latest iPhone. Therefore, this year, we anticipate iOS 18, along with its new AI features, to launch alongside the iPhone 16 series.

So, where did Apple sprinkle its AI magic?


Well, pretty much everywhere in its software. But the AI additions in iOS 18 make this the biggest software refresh we have seen in years. And while Apple is spreading AI across its operating systems, Siri is the main highlight.

Siri

Apple has reworked Siri using large language models to make it smarter and more responsive to user queries. The new Siri can now take actions within Apple’s own apps, making the assistant way more capable than it used to be.


The new Siri feels more casual and conversational, with a more natural-sounding voice. It can do more than before, taking into account events, locations, dates, people, and companies. In an essence, Siri will use your information to serve you better results. For example, you can tell Siri to find your driving license and the digital assistant will pull it out from Photos. 

Siri is stepping up its game with some handy new tricks. Imagine being able to tell Siri to open a document, move a file, delete an email, edit a photo, or give you a quick summary of your messages, notifications, and articles. That is the kind of convenience Apple is bringing with the updated Siri.


However, as exciting as all this sounds, we will have to wait a bit. The new Siri experience is set to roll out with the first version of iOS 18 and some of the new features will roll out gradually in the next year. 

Apps and services


Apple is sprinkling AI magic into loads of its own apps, and here is a rundown of the new AI features the company revealed during the event:


  • Safari: Safari is getting smarter with an Intelligent Search feature that uses AI to highlight key topics and phrases on web pages, providing a neat summary. And there is a handy new tool called Web Eraser for hiding pesky parts of web pages that keep popping up.
  • Messages: in the Messages app, get ready for a slew of handy AI features. Now, you will get better-suggested replies powered by AI for swiftly responding to incoming texts. Plus, ‌Siri‌ is stepping up its game by summarizing lengthy messages, making it easier to catch up on conversations. There is also a new emoji feature coming out. Users can make emojis based on their messages. These emojis will be made by AI, and they will be completely original, not from the usual emoji collection. 
  • Mail: the Mail app is improved with a new Smart Replies feature that offers suggestions for quick responses to incoming emails. Alongside that, there are enhancements to the search function and an option to summarize lengthy email threads. Not stopping there, Mail is also getting a makeover with automatic categorization of incoming messages. And you can also use the new Rewrite feature to get different drafts of your text by changing the tone and style of your email. 
  • Photos: in the Photos app, there is a new AI-powered feature that lets users remove unwanted objects from their images. Plus, searching photos and videos gets easier as thanks to AI, the app  understands more complex queries. You can also create a memory by typing a description and letting Apple Intelligence do the work of turning your photos into a movie.
  • Notes: with the latest AI updates, Notes lets you record voice memos directly within the app, complete with a transcript feature. Mathematical notations have been enhanced to accommodate a wider range of equations, and the app also offers AI-generated summaries of key points in both notes and audio recordings.
  • Voice Memos: similar to the Notes app, the Voice Memos app now offers transcripts and summaries for recorded content.
  • Notifications: AI will get summaries of the most important and relevant information. 
  • New Image Playground app: You can create as many images as you want with the help of AI. It is also integrated into Messages and more in-house apps. 

Which devices will be receiving the latest AI features?


‌iOS 18‌ is compatible with all iPhones that support iOS 17, including:
  • iPhone 15 series
  • iPhone 14 series
  • iPhone 13 series
  • iPhone 12 series
  • iPhone 11 series 
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone XS
However, Apple Intelligence will be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models, iPads and Macs with M1 chip and newer.

Privacy and security


In iOS 18, some of the new AI features work right on your device, so they won’t rely on cloud servers for processing, which means your data stays on your iPhone. However, other features will work on servers but Apple says you are in control of your data and can choose where to store it. 

Apple usually puts all its features into beta first, so they can test them thoroughly before making them official. The new AI features are all opt-in, if don’t want to use AI, you have the option not to.


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FINALLY: Apple announces RCS support coming to iPhones via iOS 18 this fall

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FINALLY: Apple announces RCS support coming to iPhones via iOS 18 this fall
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Image credit: Apple

Apple’s latest operating system, iOS 18, will finally bring Rich Communication Services (RCS) support to its Messages app this fall, as mentioned in passing today during Apple’s WWDC 2024 conference. This move, long-awaited by consumers and industry experts alike, promises to enhance cross-platform messaging between iOS and Android devices.For years, communication between iOS and Android users has been hampered by the outdated SMS protocol. The difference in messaging protocols has led to issues such as reduced image and video quality, message length limitations, and a lack of end-to-end encryption in cross-platform conversations. The visual distinction between blue iMessage bubbles and green SMS bubbles further emphasized this disparity.RCS, developed as a modern replacement for SMS, has already become the standard for Android devices. This protocol boasts features like typing indicators, read receipts, support for longer messages, and high-quality media sharing. It essentially mirrors the iMessage experience but is designed to work across different platforms.

RCS support for the Messages app was mentioned as a footnote during the WWDC 2024 keynote | Credit: Apple

While pressure from companies like Google and Samsung to adopt RCS may have played a role, the catalyst for Apple’s decision seems to be tied to regulatory scrutiny from the European Union. The timing of Apple’s November announcement, promising RCS support in the coming year, suggests a strategic move to appease EU regulators.
Previously, in a statement to the press, Apple had said that it would be “adding support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard as currently published by the GSM Association,” which left room for speculation as to what that would entail. The RCS standard that is currently used on the Google Messages app on Android is not the RCS Universal Profile and includes some extra features such as end-to-end encryption. It will be interesting to see if some type of encryption will be included in Apple’s version.

Although Apple has not yet provided specific details on how RCS will be implemented in iOS 18, this development is a significant step towards a more unified and feature-rich messaging experience for users across different mobile platforms. It remains to be seen how this change will impact iMessage’s popularity and whether Apple will extend RCS support to group chats or leverage it for features beyond basic messaging.


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Apache Log4j2 Vulnerability Remains A Threat For Global Finance

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Apache Log4j2 Vulnerability Remains A Threat For Global Finance
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Despite a working patch that has been around for years, the Apache Log4j2 vulnerability still poses a threat to the global finance sector. A security researcher warned users about the threat.

Apache Log4j2 Vulnerability Remains A Threat – Warns Researcher

Security researcher Anis Haboubi directed the cybersecurity and financial sector’s attention to a critical security issue. As highlighted through his recent X post, the well-known yet notorious Apache Log4j2 vulnerability wreaked havoc a few years ago.

To reiterate, log4j2 is a variant of the first detected vulnerability Log4Shell, which allowed remote code execution in apps running the vulnerable Java logging library. It took the firm several attempts to patch the flaw before releasing the Log4j version 2.17.1, addressing the vulnerability CVE-2021-44832. This vulnerability, tagged as a moderate-severity issue, allowed RCE to an attacker with write access to the logging configuration.

Elaborating further on this matter in his X post, Haboubi wrote,

“A critical vulnerability (CVE-2021-44832) allows attackers with write access to the logging config to exploit a JDBC Appender with a JNDI URI, enabling remote code execution. This could compromise your system by executing malicious code remotely.
Once compromised, attackers can pivot using SSH tunnels to access private network databases.”

The researcher also cited Sisense’s guide on SSH tunnel connections to a private network, explaining that an adversary exploiting the Log4j2 vulnerability could further exploit SSH tunnels for lateral movement on the network.

Haboubi also explained Sisense’s latest move to integrate PEM key-based authentication in the setup script to prevent unauthorized access. While this step alleviates the severity of Log4j2, Haboubi also urged the relevant organizations to update logging configurations and implement SSH security measures to prevent potential threats.

These findings arrive following the recent security breaches at Sisense and Snowflake, which occured due to the exploitation of security flaws in their infrastructure, exposing sensitive financial data to hackers.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.


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Here’s a leaked image of the HMD Atlas

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Here’s a leaked image of the HMD Atlas
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HMD has disconnected itself from Nokia and unveiled some very typical-looking mid-range phones. while we’ve already seen several HMD-branded phones, there are still a few surprise devices popping up. We now have a leaked image of the HMD Atlas. This is going to be a mid-ranger with a pretty nice display based on the information.

As you may know, HMD took over the license to build Nokia phones several years back. Since then, it’s been struggling to polish the company’s tarnished golden image. The company has been popping out some affordable devices over the past few years at a slowing pace. So, HMD struck out on its own and got to work on its own phones. While that’s the case, HMD has released some Nokia-branded phones recently.

We got a leaked image of the HMD Atlas

At this point, we shouldn’t expect any radical new designs or premium flagships from HMD just yet. Right now, the Finnish company is still focusing on padding out the sub-$300 market. As such, this newly leaked phone won’t have you drooling over the specs.

Starting off with the display, the HMD Atlas looks like it’s going to have a 6.64-inch LCD display with a 1080p+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. That’s not jaw-dropping, but it’s still an improvement over the 720p+ resolution on the other phones.

Powering the device, we have a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2. So, we’re not looking at a lot of power, but it still grants it 5G connectivity. Backing that up, there’s 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage.

In the battery department, we’re seeing some impressive numbers. This phone has a 5,500mAh battery. That’s a 10% boost from the standard 5,000mAh battery capacity we see with most phones.

Moving over to the cameras, this phone could have a 48MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture. We expect that to be accompanied by a 5MO ultrawide camera and a depth sensor. Up front, we’re looking at a 16MP selfie camera.

Lastly, this phone could have a 3.5mm headphone jack, Micro SD card expansion, and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity. The Atlas could cost $239.99 when it launches.


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