There are non-Pixel Android users who would love to have the search experience of the Pixel Launcher on their phones. And now a third-party app called the Pixel Search app brings this experience to other Android phones. Tech journalist Mischaal Rahman tweeted (via AndroidAuthority) that “This app looks great! The search feature of many OEM launcher apps isn’t nearly as good as the Pixel Launcher’s unified search. This new app seems to replicate the Pixel Launcher search experience quite well!”
The app’s developer writes, “Pixel Search is the ultimate search app that allows you to find anything on your phone with ease. You can quickly search through your apps, contacts, web suggestions, and files without having to open multiple apps. Pixel Search is designed with a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy for anyone to use.” Once installed, users can open Pixel Search by tapping on the icon or its Material You-themed widget. The widget also includes a shortcut to Google Discover and Google Voice search.
The Pixel Search app brings the Pixel Launcher’s search experience to non-Pixel phones. Image credit AndroidAuthority
Pixel Search has the familiar search field on the top of the display, just like the Pixel Launcher, and right underneath are the icons for the last four apps visited-just like the Pixel Launcher. And if you tap on the three-dot icon on the right of the display, you can change the theme, change the app you want to use for searches and select a quick launch option that will automatically open the first search result. The latter is a feature that search on the real Pixel Launcher doesn’t have.
One thing that the Pixel Search app can’t do is search for system settings. But apparently, this is something that the developer is looking to add in the future. Speaking of the developer, Rushikesh Kamewar has already listed 15 additional apps in the Google Play Store. And by the way, the Pixel Search app is free.
According to GDAC, stolen cryptocurrencies include 61 Bitcoins, 350.5 Ethers, 10 million of the WEMIX gaming currency, and $220,000 worth of Tethers.
South Korean cryptocurrency exchange and blockchain platform GDAC has fallen victim to a devastating hack, resulting in the theft of approximately $13.9 million worth of various cryptocurrencies.
GDAC CEO Han Seunghwan made the announcement on April 10 2023, revealing that the attack had occurred on the morning of April 9th 2023, when the hacker gained control of some of the exchange’s hot wallets.
The stolen cryptocurrencies include 61 Bitcoin, 350.5 Ether, 10 million of the WEMIX gaming currency, and $220,000 worth of Tether. This amounts to around 23% of GDAC’s total custodial assets, as stated in the announcement. In response to the attack, GDAC has halted all deposits and withdrawals and has initiated emergency server maintenance.
GDAC has taken swift action by reporting the hack to the police, informing the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA), and notifying the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the loss incurred due to the attack. The exchange is also urging other crypto exchanges not to honour any deposits made from the address used by the attacker.
Seunghwan expressed the challenges of confirming the timeline for resuming deposits and withdrawals, citing the ongoing investigation as a reason for the uncertainty.
Unfortunately, this incident is not isolated, as centralized exchange hacks continue to plague the cryptocurrency industry. In January 2022, Crypto.com suffered a hack that resulted in a loss of over $15 million.
In November 2019, the South Korean cryptocurrency exchange UPbit was hacked after which attackers managed to steal $50 million worth of Ether. Nevertheless, the GDAC hack will only harm investors’ trust in online crypto exchanges.
As the cryptocurrency market continues to grow, security remains a critical concern. Exchanges and investors alike must remain vigilant and implement robust measures to safeguard against potential cyber threats. GDAC’s unfortunate experience serves as a reminder of the importance of stringent security protocols in the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrencies.
The most interesting security related news from the week of April 3 – 9.
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Samsung is hard at work on making its next-gen foldables more appealing and attractive as the competition grows. The upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 will address several complaints with its earlier foldable smartphones. These include the display crease, cover display limitation, thickness, and weight. While we are still months away from the final product, a reputed tipster has shared “100%” correct details about the display size and the weight of the new foldables.
According to tipster Ice Universe, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will feature a 6.7-inch inner folding display and a 3.4-inch cover display. While the main screen is unchanged from last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 4, the secondary screen on the outside is huge this year. We are calling a 3.4-inch screen huge because the 2022 and 2021 models featured a 1.9-inch panel. Rumors are that the new Flip phone from Samsung will get a square-shaped display on the outside (an aspect ratio close to 1:1). It will be much more useful than the earlier solution.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 isn’t getting the same treatment when it comes to the display, though. The new model will feature a 7.6-inch inner folding display and a 6.2-inch cover display. That’s unchanged from the past two generations of Samsung’s Fold series foldables. While we don’t have any complaints with the main display of the Galaxy Z Fold 4, the secondary screen has a rather tall aspect ratio of 23.1:9 (down from 25:9 on the Galaxy Z Fold 3). Many users requested the company to make the screen wider. It’s unclear if there’s any change to the aspect ratio this year.
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be lighter
Coming to weight, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will reportedly weigh 187 grams. That’s the same as the Galaxy Z Flip 4. However, Samsung has cut some mass from the Fold model. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be “just” 254 grams heavy. That’s down nine grams from last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 (263 grams). There have been reports of the company trying to cut weight by four grams more, but those efforts seemingly weren’t fruitful. That’s based on the tipster’s claim that these specs are “100%” accurate.
That said, the 2023 Samsung foldables are still at least four months away. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 won’t debut ahead of August. That’s plenty of time for more leaks and rumors. If multiple sources corroborate the same information, it would feel more accurate. Rest assured, we will keep you posted with all the latest information about the upcoming foldable smartphones.
Over the past few years, YouTube has been introducing a range of new features to entice users to subscribe to its premium plan, though long-requested features like queuing have been forgotten. Now, as part of these ongoing efforts, the platform has recently introduced five new features aimed at enhancing the video-watching experience and potentially making it more enjoyable with friends and family.
One of the most significant new features is the “1080p premium” tier of video quality, which offers a higher bitrate for playback. As a result, premium users can now enjoy extra crisp and clear videos with lots of detail and motion. However, the enhanced 1080p quality level is currently only available on iOS devices, but YouTube plans to roll out the feature to all users soon.
“Whether you’re an avid sports fan or locked in on the latest gaming videos, this new feature will bring an even deeper visual quality to our members,” says YouTube.
Making YouTube Premium a social experience, adding queuing and more
In an effort to make watching videos a more social experience, YouTube is introducing a new feature called “Meet Live Sharing,” allowing everyone to view the same YouTube video together, regardless of whether they have a Premium subscription or not. The feature is currently only available for Android devices, and in the coming weeks, iOS users will be able to access it via FaceTime.
“Through Meet Live Sharing on Android devices, Premium members can host Google Meet sessions where all attendees, regardless of whether they are Premium or free users, can watch YouTube videos together,” reads YouTube’s blog post.
After being in testing for some time now, YouTube is finally rolling out a queueing system for phones and tablets that allows users to create a queue of videos, add new ones, and change the position of the ones already there. Additionally, the new Smart Downloads feature will automatically download recommended videos through Wi-Fi to users’ mobile devices for offline watching at a later time.
Moreover, YouTube is also introducing a “continue watching” feature that allows users to resume watching their videos from the last point they left off, regardless of the device they are using.
Security and privacy are the main buzzwords for every company that promises to provide them, usually for a high price. McAfee is one of the most iconic names that activates in the security field and after nine years of partnership with Samsung, the company announced an extension of that partnership that will probably go beyond the 10-year mark.“When purchasing the latest Samsung product, the last thing users want to think about is its security. Consumers should be able to enjoy what the internet has to offer, from banking to browsing social media, with the benefit of protections against potential risks online. Our almost decade-long partnership with Samsung extends our award-winning online protection to Samsung’s customers and advances our mission to empower consumers to live their lives online with confidence.”Under the continuing partnership, Samsung smartphones such as the new Galaxy S23 series, as well as the Galaxy Book3 series, will come pre-installed with antivirus protection developed by McAfee. It’s pretty simple and totally not unheard of, especially in a world where security and privacy are so treasured by phone users.
Of course, in addition to smartphones, McAfee will also protect Samsung’s tablets and PCs. Protection against malware is more important than many phone users realize these days. Although the free availability of security solutions isn’t yet something that customers are taking into consideration when looking to buy a new phone, it’s worth checking out if you plan to spend a lot of money.
We’re not sure if McAfee announcement includes names like Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy S23+ and Galaxy S23 just because they’re so popular in the United States, but we would expect other Samsung smartphones and tablets to benefit from the same level of security protection, not just the most expensive ones.
Until we get confirmation, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy S23+, Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy Book 3 series are the only ones that come with McAfee security solutions just about everywhere on the globe.
Apple has recently taken swift action to patch two zero-day vulnerabilities that posed a potential threat of exploitation in cyberattacks.
The vulnerabilities have been successfully fixed in emergency security updates released by Apple to safeguard its devices, such as iPhones, Macs, and iPads, against potential breaches.
One of the most alarming revelations is that Apple may have already known the exploitation of these zero-day vulnerabilities in the wild.
Since we all know that Apple always follows a strict curriculum while handling or making public any technical details regarding zero-day flaws.
Experts from Amnesty International and Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) have identified these two zero-day vulnerabilities:-
Clément Lecigne from TAG
Donncha Ó Cearbhaill from Amnesty International
Apple Zero-day Flaws
The two zero-day vulnerabilities were tracked as follows:-
CVE-2023-28206: It’s an IOSurfaceAccelerator out-of-bounds write, and it could lead to:-
Data corruption
A crash
Code execution
The successful exploitation of CVE-2023-28206 will enable an attacker to gain kernel privileges using a maliciously crafted application and execute arbitrary code on the target’s devices.
CVE-2023-28205: It’s a WebKit used after free weakness, and while reusing freed memory, it could lead to:-
Data corruption
Arbitrary code execution
The successful exploitation of CVE-2023-28205 enables the threat actors to deceive targets into downloading malicious web pages under their control, potentially resulting in the execution of arbitrary code on compromised devices.
While apart from this, it has been confirmed by security analysts that hackers exploiting these two vulnerabilities tend to focus their attacks on human rights workers.
Even these two zero-day vulnerabilities could be chained together with other security flaws in the wild to exploit iOS devices.
Super proud of our team at @AmnestyTech and everyone who helped in this investigation.
Today, Apple published an emergency update for all iPhones to patch an exploit chain which we, together with @_clem1 (Google TAG) discovered in the wild. pic.twitter.com/KLMYjqi3lK
One of the most concerning issues is that several users will remain vulnerable to these zero-day flaws since the threat actors are actively exploiting these zero-day flaws before any patches have been released.
Vulnerable Devices
It appears that Apple has provided quite a comprehensive list of vulnerable devices, and these devices include:-
iPhone 8 and later
iPad Pro (all models)
iPad Air 3rd generation and later
iPad 5th generation and later
iPad mini 5th generation and later
Macs running macOS Ventura
Fix
Apple released several emergency security updates in an attempt to address these two zero-day vulnerabilities, and here below, we have mentioned them:-
iOS 16.4.1
iPadOS 16.4.1
macOS Ventura 13.3.1
Safari 16.4.1
Cybersecurity researchers have urged users to immediately update their devices to prevent any potential breach or exploitation.
Apple has released iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, and macOS 13.3.1 for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, respectively, and our advice is to install them as soon as possible.
On Friday April 7, 2023, Apple released iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, and macOS 13.3.1 for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, respectively, and our advice is to install them as soon as possible because all three updates include important security fixes.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has already ordered federal agencies to patch these two security vulnerabilities before May 1st, 2023.
The updates may already have reached you in your regular update routines, but it doesn’t hurt to check if your device is at the latest update level. If a Safari update is available for your device, you can get it by updating or upgrading macOS, iOS, or iPadOS.
The security content of iOS 16.4.1 and iPadOS 16.4.1 contains information about two vulnerabilities that Apple has been made aware of reports that these issue may have been actively exploited.
CVE-2023-28206: an out-of-bounds write issue in IOSurfaceAccelerator was addressed with improved input validation. The issue that could allow an app to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges is fixed in iOS 15.7.5 and iPadOS 15.7.5, macOS Monterey 12.6.5, iOS 16.4.1 and iPadOS 16.4.1, macOS Big Sur 11.7.6, macOS Ventura 13.3.1.
IOSurfaceAccelerator is an object that manages hardware accelerated transfers/scales between IOSurfaces in the IOSurface framework. The IOSurface framework provides a framebuffer object suitable for sharing across process boundaries. It is commonly used to allow applications to move complex image decompression and draw logic into a separate process to enhance security.
An out-of-bounds write can occur when a program writes outside the bounds of an allocated area of memory, potentially leading to a crash or arbitrary code execution. This can happen when the size of the data written is larger than the size of the allocated memory area, when the data is written to an incorrect location within the memory area, or when the program incorrectly calculates the size or location of the data to be written. In this case an attacker can use it to elevate the privileges of a malicious app. For those interested, a proof-of-concept (PoC) has been published for this vulnerability.
CVE-2023-28205: a use after free (UAF) issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in iOS 15.7.5 and iPadOS 15.7.5, Safari 16.4.1, iOS 16.4.1 and iPadOS 16.4.1, macOS Ventura 13.3.1.
UAF is a type of vulnerability that is the result of the incorrect use of dynamic memory during a program’s operation. If, after freeing a memory location, a program does not clear the pointer to that memory, an attacker can use the error to manipulate the program. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. In this case, when the vulnerability is exploited, processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution.
WebKit is Apple’s web rendering engine. In other words, WebKit is the browser engine that powers Safari and other apps.
The security content of macOS Ventura 13.3.1 covers the same two vulnerabilities and Apple has also released a new Safari 16.4.1 update for macOS Monterey and macOS Big Sur, which likely addresses the WebKit vulnerability.
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The best monitors for PS5 can make all the difference when playing your favorite games. And just because they’re the best doesn’t mean they have to cost you an arm and a leg. On the same token, it doesn’t mean they’ll be dirt cheap. More than likely, they’ll sit somewhere in the middle of all that.
Many monitors fit for gaming can also be less expensive than a TV. And chances are if you can get a TV for around the same price or less as a dedicated gaming monitor, it’s probably not the best option for gaming. Of course, it all depends on where you plan to keep your PS5. If your setup is in the living room, sitting on a couch, then a TV may be the way to go. Though keep in mind they have big-screen gaming monitors as well. And we even have a few on this list.
If you’re like me and your PS5 is set up on the same desk as your PC, then you definitely want a monitor. Even if it’s one with a bigger screen. Provided your desk space allows a monitor of that size. Not to mention these days, gaming monitors for console have become a lot better than they used to be. As many brands are now catering to both console and PC gamers. With that said, check out our list below for the best monitors for gaming on your PS5.
Sony’s Inzone M9 was launched last year and remains a great option for a PS5 monitor. Coming from Sony, it’s also designed with the PS5 in mind, though it will serve as a great option for PC gamers as well.
It comes with a 4K panel and a 144Hz refresh rate, along with HDMI 2.1 ports to take advantage of the PS5’s capabilities for 4K visuals and a higher 120fps in games that support it. Other features like VRR assure gamers that the monitor will always provide a refresh rate that’s suitable for the activity, and DisplayHDR600 promises vibrant colors with a better-looking HDR contrast for games.
HDR doesn’t look great in all games though so adjust this accordingly. If you want to keep everything in the family, Sony’s first gaming monitor is a safe bet and one of the best monitors for PS5.
Next up we have a very nice large monitor from ASUS. If you have a little extra room on your desk and you like a bigger monitor, the ASUS ROG Strix 43 (XG43UQ) is one of the best monitors for the PS5. There are a few reasons for this. For one it’s a larger display which means more screen real estate for your games. It also comes with a 4K panel, and has a 120Hz refresh rate with multiple HDMI 2.1 ports to take the most advantage of your PS5’s graphics capabilities.
The max refresh rate is also 144Hz if you plan to hook up a PC to this monitor as well. And to help really make the colors of your games come to life, the monitor features DisplayHDR1000. It’s a big beefy boy, but it’s probably one of the best gaming monitors for the PS5 that you’ll find.
LG makes a great gaming monitor and if you don’t really need or want a bigger screen, consider LG’s UltraGear 27GP850-B. It’s a 27-inch panel with a QHD nano IPS display, up to 165Hz refresh rate (for PC), DisplayHDR400, and a quick response time of just 1ms.
Now it doesn’t have HDMI 2.1. But at the price of $399, there has to be some compromises and that was one of them. But if this is right around what your budget is, PS5 games will still look good on this monitor and run at 60fps, which isn’t bad by any means. Especially if many of the games you’ll be playing are single player experiences. Plus the small 27-inch form factor means you should have plenty of room on your desk.
There’s lots to love about this monitor and especially at this price range. For starters, it’s a curved 32-inch monitor but it isn’t ultrawide. Which means no black bars on the sides of your console’s picture. more importantly though it’s 4K, comes with HDMI 2.1 ports and has a 144Hz display. So you can get 4K and 120fps with your PS5 games that support the faster frame rate. Keep in mind you will need an HDMI 2.1 cable though. DisplayHDR400 is also present to really make the colors pop for your games.
Another great option here if you’re looking for something smaller that not only has HDMI 2.1 but also a 4K panel and a fast response time is the TUF Gaming VG28UQL1A from ASUS.
It’s a smaller display than the GIGABYTE one above and costs $20 more. So in most cases we would probably still recommend the GIGABYTE monitor over this one. Due to size and slightly higher cost with similar features. But, if you would prefer a monitor with a screen smaller than 32-inches, this is an excellent choice.
You’ll still get the features you need to make the most of your PS5 and won’t pay much more. This is also a flat panel if you don’t care for the curved displays. At $599 this is one of the best monitors you’ll find for PS5.
Sticking with the smaller monitors, Acer’s Predator XB283K KV is $50 less than the ASUS TUF monitor above and offers many if not all of the same features. It comes with variable refresh rate support, multiple HDMI 2.1 ports, a 1ms response time and a 4K 144Hz panel.
So with an HDMI 2.1 cable connected to your PS5 you can ensure you get the faster 120fps in games that support it with the higher resolution 4K visuals.
Should you need to get in and tweak any of the settings, the menu button is located in the bottom left corner so it’s super easy to reach. Though you shouldn’t have to fumble with much if any settings at all.
There’s a few reasons why we included this monitor. It’s definitely expensive. And because of that we feel there are better options on this list. But that doesn’t mean this isn’t a great option for use with the PS5. Cost aside, here’s what we really like about this one.
It features a 32-inch display with an ultrawide format, which means it’s great for PC games. The downside with that is you’ll end up seeing those black bars on the side when playing PS5 games. But if you can overlook that, then there are tons of other good features. It supports HDMI 2.1, it’s a 4K panel, and it features Quantum HDR2000 which means rich, vibrant colors you won’t get on a lot of other monitors.
It’s pricey but worth it if you want something for PS5 and PC, since it does offer the Ultrawide 21:9 aspect ratio.
A cheaper option from Samsung is the Odyssey Neo G7 43. If you have the space on your desk for a bigger monitor, this model comes in at $100 less than the one above. It still offers HDMI 2.1 and has a 4K panel. But best of all it comes with a 16:9 aspect ratio so your PS5 picture will fill the entire screen.
Just like the model above it also comes with a 1ms response time. This is also a flat panel, and the display is matte so you won’t have to worry about reflections too much. It’s a solid buy if you’re looking for one of the best monitors for PS5 in the 40-inch and up size range.
Rounding out our list is another option from Acer. This time the Acer Nitro XV282K. This is a 28-inch screen with 4K visuals, a 144Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1 ports, and a 1ms response time. It’s fairly similar to the Predator model up above but you’ll end up saving some money going with this model. And you won’t really lose much in doing so.
That being said, the Predator model is on sale right now. So at only $60 more, it’s a better value. This monitor however is a great pickup when the Predator monitor goes back up to its full price. Some other things to consider are the MSRP of both Acer monitors when coming directly from Acer. The Predator model normally retails for $629.99. While this Nitro monitor is listed at $899.99. And at those prices, there are better options on this list.
The Chinese tech giant Alibaba wants to jump into the AI bandwagon by launching a rival for ChatGPT, BBC reports.
Despite world tech leaders warning that the AI race has become “out of control,” more and more companies are tapping into this space. Microsoft and Google took the initiative with Bing and Bard, and Alibaba is one of the latest companies that is reportedly developing a ChatGPT-style chatbot.
The outlet reports that Alibaba’s product is called Tongyi Qianwen and would integrate into the company’s businesses. Yet, the release timeline is unknown, but the tech giant says it will come in the “near future” and supports both English and Chinese languages.
Alibaba’s chairman and chief executive, Daniel Zhang, already said that AI and cloud computing drive today’s technological watershed moment.
Alibaba to launch a rival for ChatGPT
It’s not a weird move by Chinese companies to develop a local version of a Western service. This is mainly because of government policies that restrict Western companies from operating in the country. Given that Alibaba is a tech giant in China, it can’t certainly rely on a Western-backed AI product.
Tongyi Qianwen would be first added to Alibaba’s workplace messaging app DingTalk. According to the company’s announcement, the chatbot can turn conversations in meetings into written notes. As well as write emails, draft business proposals, etc. Alibaba also plans to bring Tongyi Qianwen to Tmall Genie, which is a smart speaker that uses AliGenie’s intelligent personal assistant.
Meanwhile, the Cyberspace Administration of China is working on a draft to manage generative AI. The proposal states that companies are responsible for the legitimacy of data used to train the technology.
As AI advances, it’s creating a sense of fear among governments, and they’re looking to enact regulations. Italy has recently banned ChatGPT, which led to a 400% increase in VPN usage in the country. Additionally, Goldman Sachs has reported that over 300 million jobs might be axed by AI.
