The NSA has some advice about keeping remote workers safe from harm.
People working remotely is no longer unusual, so the National Security Agency (NSA) has produced a short Best Practices PDF document detailing how remote workers can keep themselves safe from harm. In fact, the guide can also be applied to people using computers at home generally and is written in a way that’s easy to understand.
Back to basics
The NSA’s three main executive summary points are:
Upgrade and update all equipment and software regularly, including routing devices
Back up your data and disconnecting any devices you can
Limit administration to the internal network only
You may be surprised by how seemingly basic these suggestions are given the source, but this simplicity is in its favour. Consider how many folks will only decide to start making backups once they’ve lost everything for the first time. You have to start somewhere, and not every organisation asking employees to work from home has necessarily considered these opening talking points due to budget, resources, or other factors. They may not even have a budget for work-owned devices, amd may instead be relying on employees using their own devices.
Even thinking about who has access to what on a home network is beneficial—there’s nothing wrong with limiting access to guests on the home network, for example. Some routers and packages allow you to isolate guests on their own little network, away from the main one. This can help reduce the spread and impact of an infection, and keep all of those valuable work and / or home documents safe.
Much of the NSA’s advice leans heavily into ensuring all the little things are taken care of:
Keep your software up to date. From Windows to your web browser, everything needs to be updated regularly.
Keep your router updated. This may sound odd if your router is supplied by your ISP, as many of those update automatically. But if you run an off-the-shelf router you may be fully responsible for its overall well being. This isn’t mentioned, but you should consider changing the default password when you first boot up the router. Without some hunting around on the Internet, you may never know if what’s shipped is a default applied to multiple routers, or if it’s unique to you.
Use a password manager and two-factor authentication (2FA). The guide highlights that while some form of 2FA is better than nothing, some types of 2FA are better than others.
Separate work and life activities. It’s a lot easier to figure out where a breach happened if you don’t have sensitive work documents scattered across 3 personal devices.
Connect to your office with a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Using a work-supplied VPN makes your computer part of the work network, keeping data safe as it travels over the Internet.
Getting physical about security
There’s a strong focus on physical device security of one kind or another too, which is often overlooked. Some highlights include:
Cover your webcam.
Mute microphones.
Limit sensitive conversations.
The latter is particularly interesting given the slow rise of IoT in the home alongside an increasing amount of voice activated and “always listening” hubs. As the guide notes, all of the below could potentially cause trouble if set to record:
Baby monitors
Children’s toys
Smart devices
Home assistants
Games consoles
PCs with microphones attached
This is especially the case where a poorl-secured device is recording audio and storing it (for example) on a wide-open server where anyone can grab the contents. If you have children at home, consider how many of the toys in the next room may have recording / Internet connectivity and make yourself a to-do list.
If you’re going to make backups, I would add to the NSA’s advice to place files on an external device by suggesting that you also encrypt your data. While it’s unlikely that someone will break into your home and steal a hard drive, better safe than sorry. You’re probably more at risk of taking it somewhere and accidentally losing it, so the encryption will help in any case. Finally, keeping those external devices disconnected when not in use will help lessen the device’s exposure to bad things. If you experience an infection on your PC, you don’t want it affecting your backups.
Unsocial networks
There’s quite a bit of advice in relation to social networks and social engineering. It’s easy to let your guard down when at home, and security advice from work may be a little harder to come by when not in the office.
Don’t post personal information online that can be used to reset your passwords, such as your first pet’s name or the street you grew up on.
Lock your contact list down to friends only, if you can.
Watch out for copycat and imitation profiles.
The best practices document also correctly notes that it’s worth checking both the Terms of Service and app or website settings regularly. Changes in policy can leave you exposed.
Overall, the NSA has produced a useful step by step guide covering a lot of bases, including public hotspots, email, and even user habits. Give the document a read and feel free to add in some tips you think the NSA may have missed in the comments section.
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Samsung is aiming to sell around 30 million units of the Galaxy S23 series globally this year. That’s more than a ten percent increase from total Galaxy S22 sales last year. While it may seem an ambitious target, the company has begun on a high note. The new flagships received record-breaking pre-orders in several markets, including India, South Korea, and France. Samsung has now revealed Galaxy S23 pre-order numbers for Latin America and Taiwan, and the story is the same.
According to Samsung, the early demand for the Galaxy S23 series is substantially higher than the Galaxy S22 in Latin America. For the first time, the company opened pre-orders for its latest flagships in Brazil on the same day as other global markets. This helped it rake up 50 percent more pre-orders for the new phones across Latin America. Last year, Galaxy S22 pre-orders more than doubled from Galaxy S21 in the region. A further increment on that bodes well for the Korean behemoth’s long-term future.
“The great momentum we are witnessing shows the excitement of customers for products that go the extra mile and give them the freedom to express themselves creatively,” said TM Roh, head of Samsung’s mobile business. Unsurprisingly, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is almost outselling the other two models combined. Nearly 60 percent of buyers picked up the most expensive model in the lineup. This has been a global trend and it’s no different in Latin America. After all, the phone is in a league of its own in terms of specs and features.
The numbers for Taiwan are even more impressive. The Galaxy S23 Ultra accounted for more than three-fourths (75 percent) of all pre-orders in the region. Overall Galaxy S23 pre-orders also grew by double digits in Taiwan. Samsung is still running some attractive promotions for its latest flagships there. Buyers get a free 45W travel adapter, silicone case, Samsung Wallet EasyCard rebates, Samsung Care+ discounts, extended free trials for Microsoft 365 Basic, YouTube Premium, Adobe Lightroom, and Adobe Express, free optional accessories, and more freebies.
Samsung may not find it difficult to achieve its Galaxy S23 sales target
Going by these pre-order success stories, Samsung may comfortably achieve its sales target for the Galaxy S23 series this year. The company had set a similar target for the Galaxy S22 series last year but fell short of it. That may not be the case this time around. A lot depends on rival products, though. Xiaomi’s new Xiaomi 13 Pro series is turning a few heads. Samsung will have to continue offering attractive promotions to keep the momentum going. We should get a clearer picture of the overall Galaxy S23 demand in the next few months.
Samsung is one of the larger TV makers in the world right now, and they make a ton of great TVs. But which Samsung TV is the best one to buy? Well that’s what we’re going to help you decide on today.
Samsung has mostly moved over to QLED for its TVs, but you’ll still find some that are LED or LCD. Those will be cheaper too, since QLED does cost more to manufacture and it’s also a newer technology. These TVs are all at least 4K, if not 8K. So you’re going to get a really great picture out of these.
Top 10 Best Samsung Smart TVs
We have listed ten of the best Samsung smart TVs that are currently on the market, down below. These range from smaller TVs, to larger ones, as low as $549, all the way up to several thousand dollars.
There’s even a 8K Samsung QLED TV available in this list. Which is going to be future proof for likely about a decade from now.
The Samsung Q80R is the best smart TV you can buy right now for a few reasons. But the biggest one is the picture quality. It’s going to give you the best looking picture, thanks to it being a QLED TV. That’s going to give you some very bright and vivid colors, and with HDR included, it’s going to look stunning.
This is partly thanks to the Quantum processor that is inside the Q80R, processing the picture to give you the best picture yet. Viewing angles on the Q80R are also pretty insane. Meaning that you can sit anywhere in your living room and still get a really great looking picture when watching the big game.
Samsung uses its own Tizen operating system for its smart TVs. It doesn’t quite have as many apps as Amazon Fire TV, Roku or Android TV, but all of the big name apps are available. Including Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and much more. Samsung also has support for Apple’s AirPlay 2, iTunes and even Homekit.
The QN900A is the second-generation 8K TV from Samsung, so it does have a big improvement over the Q9000R that was on this list previously. It’s also more expensive and only available in bigger sizes. Though, to really see the difference in an 8K TV, you kind of need it in at least a 65-inch model.
This has the new Samsung Neo Quantum Processor 8K which is going to provide a stunning picture on the QN900A. It will also upscale non-8K content to an 8K resolution. Which is needed since there is very few titles available in 8K right now.
It also has what Samsung calls “Infinity Screen” with almost no bezels on any of the sides of the TV. So it can melt into the wall of your home, particularly if you have it mounted.
The Samsung AU8000 series is a really good “default” TV. Basically, it’s the one you should buy if you just need a TV for anywhere in your home. It comes in many different sizes from 43-inches up to 85-inches. So it’ll be great in a smaller bedroom, or in your living room.
The AU8000 series has dynamic crystal color and a crystal processor 4K. This is going to provide a really incredible picture, and reveals true-to-life colors, all without paying for a QLED TV.
It also has three HDMI ports, however, there’s no HDMI 2.1 included here. So no 4K120 gaming on this one.
This is the 2021 release of the lower-end Neo QLED TVs from Samsung. It comes in a variety of sizes ranging from 50 to 85-inches. So there’s something for everyone here.
Neo QLED is a sort of new technology that Samsung started using in 2021. This means that it uses Mini LEDs instead of just regular LEDs. Making it a much improved picture over the older models. It’s also brighter, without appearing washed out.
Samsung has AI upscaling available here, thanks to the Neo Quantum Processor 4K. Which ensures that you always get full 4K resolution on your TV.
This Neo QLED TV is actually slightly cheaper than the QN90A series, but it also doesn’t come in the smaller size. You still get to enjoy all the benefits of Neo QLED here though, which is nice.
The Neo Quantum Processor 4K will upscale non-4K content to 4K resolution. So you can really take full advantage of this impressive looking display.
Like the rest of the Samsung TVs on this list, this does also have all of your favorite apps available. Like YouTube, HBO MAX, Netflix, Hulu and much more.
This is a rather unique QLED TV. This is what Samsung calls “The Frame”. Basically, the bezels are the same width on all four sides, and you can use this as a picture frame when you’re not watching TV. And thanks to QLED offering realistic colors, it can really look like a painting.
That is also why The Frame comes in much more sizes, and smaller sizes, like this 32-inch QLED TV. So it’s a great way to get a smaller TV, with a great looking panel.
This is another odd TV from Samsung. The Sero was announced at CES 2020, and it’s what Samsung envisions as the future for TV. Basically, the TV can rotate to landscape or portrait orientation. Allowing you to watch vertical videos on your TV. That also explains why it comes in just one size.
But this is still a QLED TV, running on Tizen. So all of your favorite apps are available on this one too. But it will take up more space than you probably expected it too. Since it needs to be able to rotate.
This is one of the higher-end QLED TVs from the 2020 release cycle. So it’s not a Neo QLED TV, and that means it is using LED instead of Mini LED for the backlight. So it’s not quite as bright, but you won’t be disappointed with this. Especially since you can get it for under $1000.
It has the same upscaling that almost every 4K TV has these days. Allowing you to watch 1080p content at 4K resolution. It also runs on Tizen, which means your favorite apps are here. Like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, HBO MAX and more. As well as support for Bixby, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Chromecast, and AirPlay.
If you’re not sold on QLED, then this is a great TV for your living room or man cave. As this is still LED, and it’s a massive 86-inch TV, which is always nice to have.
It also has a crystal processor 4K, which offers ultra fast processing and can transform everything into 4K quality. It’s powered by Tizen and brings along a ton of your favorite apps like YouTube, Netflix, HBO MAX and much more.
This is likely the cheapest 80+ inch TV that you can purchase today.
One of the biggest music streaming services, Spotify, has just announced a small yet meaningful update to its app. Typically, we don’t report on updates that involve minor changes like turning a Heart icon into a Plus, but Spotify’s update does more than just add visual changes.
Earlier today, Spotify officialized a brand-new change that’s beneficial to all its users. The app’s iconic Heart button will be replaced with a Plus button that does more than just marking the songs you want to save.
Basically, Spotify is unifying the Heart and “Add to playlist” icons into a single symbol: the Plus (+) button. This means that when you use the Plus (+) button, you will be able to save and choose the destination of any song, playlist, or podcast with a single tap.
Going forward, in order to save a song or podcast episode, Spotify users must tap the Plus (+) button positioned to the right of the song or episode title in the Now Playing view. After the song or podcast has been added to Liked Songs or Your Episodes, the Plus (+) button will become a green check. Moreover, you can even change the destination of your saved content by simply tapping the green check.
Another option at your disposal makes it possible to add an entire album to Your Library. Simply click the Plus (+) button to add your favorite album, playlist, or audiobook to Your Library. Once you see the green check, it means that it’s been successfully added.
Obviously, the reason behind the new change is a simple, more unified user experience. Having a more streamlined way to save favorite music and podcasts means a lot these days when any extra action makes us lose focus.
Unsurprisingly, this is exactly what Spotify found in its user research. On top of that, the same research found that saving songs and podcasts makes us more likely to listen to them again, which is pretty interesting.
According to Spotify, the new changes to the Heart icon will begin to roll out to all users globally on iOS and Android starting today and will become available to all users in the coming weeks.
Cybersecurity experts at Sophos recently detected multiple malicious 2FA apps in App Store and Google Play that deploy malware.
While Twitter made a recent announcement stating that it no longer considers SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) to be sufficiently secure.
Users who have opted for Twitter’s premium service, Twitter Blue, and have purchased a verified badge to enhance their reach and tweet length are the ones who are most affected by this significant change.
In the case of pay-to-play users, they will still be able to receive their two-factor authentication codes by text messages (SMS).
Within the next three weeks, the rest of the users must switch over to a different 2FA system before March 17, 2023. One viable solution to meet Twitter’s new security requirements is to use a specialized app that generates a unique sequence of one-time codes seeded with an encryption algorithm.
Alternatively, users can also use a physical hardware token, such as a Yubikey, which performs the cryptographic functions required to verify their identity.
Reliable 2FA Apps
For iPhone users, the built-in password manager within the iOS operating system can generate 2FA codes for a multitude of websites. This eliminates the need for users to download and install any additional software, making the process simple and hassle-free.
For Android users, Google provides its own authenticator application, aptly named Google Authenticator, which can be downloaded from the official Google Play store.
This app can generate unique codes for 2FA authentication purposes, making it a viable and reliable solution for users who are seeking enhanced security measures with proper authenticity.
It is reasonable to assume that a significant number of users may have inquired about alternative authenticator applications available for download. This curiosity arises from the need to diversify their security measures and not solely depend on Apple or Google’s cybersecurity protocols.
Numerous reputable companies offer authenticator utilities that are free, reliable, and straightforward in functionality. These authenticator applications serve the sole purpose of providing 2FA codes without any additional fees or advertisements.
This is particularly beneficial for users who prefer to use a 2FA app that is not from the same vendor as their operating system.
Malicious 2FA Apps
The issue at hand is the vast number of applications available that offer this service, which makes it challenging to determine their reliability and effectiveness.
Adding to the complexity is the fact that these apps have gained endorsement and recognition for their quality through their inclusion in the official app stores of Apple and Google, which maintain strict security protocols.
Following the discontinuation of the SMS method of two-factor authentication by Twitter, experts analyzed several authenticator apps.
When security analysts, Tommy Mysk and Talal Haj Bakry investigated authenticator applications, they discovered findings that were both alarming and surprising.
The investigation uncovered information that was previously unknown to them, and it has raised concerns about the reliability and effectiveness of some authenticator applications.
During their investigation, security analysts discovered multiple fraudulent applications that closely resemble legitimate authenticator applications. These applications are designed to deceive users into subscribing to a yearly service costing $40.
The existence of these fraudulent applications highlights the importance of careful consideration when choosing an authenticator application, as it is crucial to ensure that it is from a reputable source.
They identified four authenticator applications that have almost identical binary codes. This similarity suggests that these applications may have been developed by the same entity or group.
Furthermore, during the investigation, analysts also discovered an authenticator application that sends all scanned QR codes to the developer’s Google Analytics account, raising concerns about the security and privacy of user data.
Based on the investigation conducted by security analysts, it appears that imposter applications within this category attempt to persuade users to pay annual subscription fees ranging from $20 to $40.
Many of these suspicious authenticator apps use this technique to trick users. After you finish the welcome wizard after the first launch, you get the in-app purchase view. And the x button to dismiss the view appears after a few seconds (upper right corner)#AppStorepic.twitter.com/sgxEo5ZwF0
However, it is worth noting that this amount is comparable to the cost of purchasing a reputable hardware 2FA token, which is likely to last several years and offer greater security.
During their search on the App Store, they encountered an application with a description that appeared to be poorly written and contained numerous grammatical errors.
Interestingly, the application was developed by a company that used the name of a well-known Chinese mobile phone brand, which is likely an attempt to appear legitimate and trustworthy.
It is surprising to note that the suspected fraudulent individuals were able to obtain an Apple code signing certificate using a name that they were not authorized to use.
The highest-ranked app that appeared in a search for 2FA apps on Google Play not only charges unnecessary fees but also takes the initial secrets of the accounts set up for 2FA without authorization.
Recommendation
It is secure to use a generated code for one-time use because the seed does not have the potential to be reverse-engineered, as a result, the seed must always remain a secret.
In order to verify that the user has provided a correct code that matches the time they are trying to log in, the service they are attempting to access requires a copy of their seed.
After Twitter’s announcement, if you recently downloaded an authenticator app, it is recommended that you review your choice and ensure that you have selected a trustworthy app.
Things that you should check:-
Forced into paying a subscription for it.
App is littered with ads.
App comes with larger-than-life marketing and glowing reviews yet comes from a company you’ve never heard of.
Having second thoughts and something doesn’t feel right about it.
When switching to a new authenticator app, it is important to remember that you will need to reset all 2FA seeds for all the accounts you have associated with the previous app.
Beware of fake ROBLOX, Steam and Nintendo game cracks that may contain the ChromeLoader malware. Learn more about the threat and how to protect your device from this malicious software.
The cybersecurity researchers at AhnLab Security Emergency response Center (ASEC) have discovered a new ChromeLoader malware campaign in which hackers managed to bypass antivirus programs and other cybersecurity mechanisms. This campaign is dubbed uncommon due to the file type attackers have used to evade detection.
Hackers Using VHD Files As Popular Games Cracks
According to AhnLab researchers, the ChromeLoader malware campaign is distributed via VHD (virtual hard disk) files, which is a different choice because, usually, ISO optical disc image format files are used in such campaigns.
However, in this case, attackers have used VHD files, which are distributed with filenames that seem like cracks or hacks for Steam and Nintendo games. The objective is to modify browser settings by infecting web browsers, such as Google Chrome, and diverting traffic to bogus advertising websites. A VHD file can be easily mounted on a Windows device and works with most virtualization software as well.
One of the malicious websites (Screenshot credit: ACSE)
“When a VHD file is downloaded through this process, the user can easily mistake the malicious VHD file for a game-related program,” ASEC researchers said. “Disguising malware as game hacks and crack programs is a method employed by many threat actors,” researchers said in a blog post.
What is ChromeLoader?
ChromeLoader, also known as ChromeBack and Choziosi, surfaced first as a browser-hijacking credential stealer in January 2022. In May 2022, ChromeLoader malware was pushed into pirated games and QR codes.
Eventually, it evolved into a multi-faceted, potent threat capable of stealing sensitive user data, deploying ransomware, and dropping decompression bombs.
ChromeLoader can also conduct click fraud by leveraging browser extensions to monetize clicks. Many of its new versions can invade both macOS and Windows devices. The shift from ISO to VHD files indicates that ChromeLoader has undergone another round of upgrades.
Numerous Websites Promoting Fake Game Cracks/Hacks
Researchers noticed that several malicious websites were marketing cracked versions of famous games, including the following:
ROBLOX
Elden Ring
Dark Souls 3
Need for Speed
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Super Mario Odyssey
Call of Duty and more
Red Dead Redemption 2
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Additionally, software versions such as Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Office are also marketed in this campaign.
Although the malicious websites hosting fraudulent game hacks and software versions have been taken offline, gamers and unsuspecting users should beware of this campaign.
Instead of downloading the game, they may receive ChromeLoader malware that can launch unwanted ads on their devices and steal credentials from web browsers and other saved data.
Users looking for pirated video game hacks and software are the key targets of attackers, who are lured into downloading VHD files from compromised websites appearing in search results.
In a recent 2023 Mobile World Congress interview, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon said Apple’s 5G chip could roll out next year.
Rumors of an Apple 5G modem have swirled around the internet for a while.
In Feb 2022, the Cupertino-based tech giant was reportedly in talks with new vendors for its first-ever custom 5G modems. Indeed, the report claimed that Apple could use the new 5G chip on the 2023 iPhones.
A recent DigiTimes report in December 2021 revealed that the Qualcomm 5G Modem would power the iPhone 15 lineup. However, the publication claimed Apple was still working on an in-house replacement.
Well, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon has inadvertently confirmed the report. In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern, Amon said Apple’s 5G modem could be ready in the coming year.
“We expect that Apple will do their own modem in 2024, but if they need ours they know where to find us,” says Amon’s comment, as shared by tech analyst Carolina Milanesi.
So which iPhone will be the first to get the custom 5G modem?
When to Expect From Apple’s 5G Chip Release
Based on Amon’s discussion with WSJ, Apple could release its 5G chip on at least one iPhone 16 Model.
That aligns with a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman that Apple could launch the chip in one new product — a high-end iPhone. However, the tech giant would extend the hardware to other devices and entirely phase out Qualcomm’s modems in roughly three years.
Alternately, the in-house 5G modem could first appear on lower-volume devices such as iPad mini or iPad Air before making its way to the iPhones.
Whatever the case, the forthcoming iPhone 15 models will reportedly come with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon x70 modem. Also, the chip company recently announced a new 5G modem — the Snapdragon X75 — that future iPhones can use during the transition phase.
Just in, Samsung Mobile business has been bestowed with an award for their social media performance. This award is from Wisight, Thailand’s number 1 social media analytics service. The analytics firm gave Samsung this award at their 11th Thailand Social Awards event.
The award honors Samsung’s presence on various social media platforms across the country. Samsung Thailand took to its website to post this victory for its fans in and out of the country. Here is everything you need to know about the best brand performance on social media awards presented to Samsung.
Details on the Samsung Mobile business’ best brand performance on social media award
Samsung Mobile business got the best brand performance on social media award from Wisight in Thailand. This award honors Samsung’s presence on various social media platforms. Over 300 other social media performance awards were presented to other individuals and businesses present at this event.
According to Wisight, these awards reflect the voice of the public through a selection system. This system tests the performance of the various nominees on social media platforms in Thailand. How well users of these social media platforms relate with these businesses or creators is a major determining factor. The result from this selection process then goes through some evaluation before the awards get to the awardees.
The process uses a benchmark known as the “WISESIGHT METRIC” that measures the growth of the business on social media. According to Wisight, the “METRIC” system serves as a “measurement criterion.” This system has three subsystems known as Brand, Content, and Creator METRIC.
The social media accounts of Samsung Mobile business in Thailand went through the Brand METRIC evaluation system. This tested for fundamental factors (followers, reactions, comments, etc) and analytical factors (comment ratio, share ratio, and sentiment). After going through these testing phases, Samsung’s social media accounts in Thailand came in line to win this award.
There were various award categories featuring various industries for the award presentation. Samsung, along with Huawei, OPPO, Vivo, and Sony all got awards in the Mobile and Consumer electronics category. This shows the active presence of the Samsung Mobile business on various social media platforms in Thailand.
In a recent post on Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg announced that his team is working on Meta AI personas. This is an artificial intelligence system that will be made available on Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp. From the Facebook post announcing this feature, Mark made it clear that it will be available in the future.
That postmarks Meta’s voyage into the world of artificial intelligence. Already, some top tech companies like Google and Microsoft have made some moves to develop AI models for their businesses and customers. Bard and Bing with ChatGPT are the respective AI models from Google and Microsoft.
Meta is now working on its own AI system to help with the company’s messaging apps. Mark Zuckerberg says that this AI tool will be useful for creation and expression. This tool for creation and expression will become available first, before the Meta AI personas.
Just like ChatGPT, the Meta AI personas will aim to create content for users
The details on how this coming AI personas feature will be put to full use are still unclear. But it is important to delve into Mark Zuckerberg’s post that announced this coming feature. His announcement gives users a glimpse into the artificial world that Meta has in store.
Mark Zuckerberg is pulling together a team to work on the development of this coming AI personas feature. This will be a generative AI model, and it will be available on Meta’s messaging platforms. He goes on to say that this project will not only be beneficial to everyday users, but also to Meta’s various products.
This AI model will be similar to the ChatGPT but might differ in its usage. Being a generative AI code, the personas feature will be able to create media posts or curate messages. This feature might be put to use by enabling a business page to reply to customers without human interference.
All development stages of the AI personas will take place before users will get to use them. But in the meantime, Meta is working on a creative and expressive tool to be made available first. The Meta AI personas will take more time to get ready before rolling this feature out to the public.
During this development stage, Meta will experiment with text, images, and videos to help improve the AI persona system. Also, considering that this tool will be one of Meta’s first AI models, it needs to put in the extra effort. According to Zuckerberg, Meta will undergo foundational work to support the coming AI personas.
The launch of this feature will mark a new era for how users interact with their Meta messaging apps. Its launch date remains unknown, but the Meta AI personas will become available after the creative and expressive tools. More information about this coming AI feature will become available in the coming weeks leading up to its official launch.
The Realme Pad X was unveiled back in May of this year and has been available for sale since July 2022. Realme sent us the Glacier Blue Pad X along with the Smart Keyboard and the Realme Pencil. The entry-level Wi-Fi 4/64GB model is priced affordably at €220.
I have been reviewing Realme smartphones and wearables for quite some time now. However, this is the first tablet that I have gotten to review from Realme. And what a first impression this Glacier Blue creates. It is definitely one of the best-looking Android tablets currently available on the market.
Budget price and premium design
I have to admit that the Realme Pad X does look like it decided to emulate the iPad Pro design language to some extent. And that is not a bad thing because this tablet looks better than a lot of other Android tablets- some of which costs hundreds more than the Pad X.
On the front is an almost 11-inch display with fairly thin bezels. The video conferencing camera (who really takes selfies with a tablet camera?) is on the longer edge. Or I daresay in the correct location for video calls and chats. The tablet is quite comfortable to hold because it weighs just 500 grams and is only 7.1mm thick.
The attention to detail is excellent and you can easily mistake the overall construction to be made from aluminum. However, both the frame and the back cover are made of plastic. The Glacier Blue color and matte texture give it a really unique look. It doesn’t matter which angle you look at it, the Realme Pad X looks premium.
No headphone jack and USB-C headphones don’t work either
You will see a set of symmetrical grilles on the short edges for the four speakers onboard. There are also small cutouts for the two microphones along with a USB-C charging port. The location of the power button and volume rocker is identical to what you would see on an iPad. Realme sent us the data-capable version of the Pad X. So it has a dual-SIM tray with a micro SD card slot which is also something you don’t see nowadays.
There is no headphone jack and that is a glaring omission in my opinion. What is more egregious is the fact that USB-C headphones don’t work on this tablet – even those made by sister company Vivo. If you want to watch something without disturbing anyone around you, then you are stuck using wireless headphones/earbuds with this tablet.
The display on the Realme Pad X is actually quite good considering the price
The Realme Pad X has a 10.95” WUXGA+ (1200 x 2000 pixels) IPS LCD Display. The display has a 5:3 ratio, a 213ppi pixel density, and an 84.6% screen-to-body ratio. It has TUV Rheinland certification for ‘Low Blue Light Eye Protection’.
There are a couple of other display options that improve the viewing experience such as O1 Ultra Vision Engine and DC Dimming. Specs-wise, it has a peak brightness of 450 nits and I did not have any issues using it indoors during my review period.
In terms of daily use, I found that colors are vivid and quite accurate. Even though the max resolution is only 1080p, it didn’t seem to pose any issues watching videos on YouTube, Netflix, or Prime Video. Also interacting with the UI including the Smart Sidebar didn’t have any issues in terms of touch sensitivity.
Performance is great thanks to the Snapdragon 695
The Realme Pad X comes in Wi-Fi and 5G models. We got the top-of-the-line 5G model with 6/128GB. But, from a raw performance standpoint, I doubt the RAM and storage will make much difference across the entire range. The Snapdragon 695 5G processor is built on a 6nm wafer fabrication process. The Geekbench scores are middle of the road and about 25% less than the base 10.2-inch iPad running on the A13 Bionic processor. In other words, it’s definitely good enough for everyday tasks, watching videos, and light gaming.
There were no issues with browsing, emailing, video calls, meetings, or other productivity tasks. Running two apps side by side was also a breeze on this tablet (more on multi-tasking a bit later in the software section of this review). Ditto for watching videos on various streaming apps on the Pad X.
Playing games is not a big issue on this device from a hardware performance standpoint. The main issue is that with 213ppi and a 60Hz IPS display it is best to run games at medium settings in order to not get a lot of jitter while gaming.
The battery life is great on Wi-Fi but not while using 5G
There is a fairly large 8340 mAh battery onboard with 33W fast charging support. During my review period, on Wi-Fi, this tablet easily got 10+ hours of SoT watching videos and browsing. However, battery life takes a hit on 5G, where the SoT was around 6-7 hours. I also noticed that the standby drain was fairly hefty on 5G versus Wi-Fi. So, that is something to keep in mind while using the Realme Pad X.
The retail box does come with a USB cable and a 33W charger. Another neat feature that Realme included is reverse charging so you can use the Pad X as a power bank to charge your earbuds or even your smartphone if necessary.
The Realme Pad X has 5G Connectivity
So, here is an interesting story. A few months ago, I reviewed the Realme 9 5G smartphone which has the exact same Snapdragon 695 6G processor as this Realme Pad X. On that smartphone, I never got a 5G signal. On the flip side, I got a 5G signal as soon as I put in my SIM card in this Realme Pad X. Not exactly sure what is going on, as both of these are global devices running Android 12 and Realme UI 3.0.
I used this tablet on the road a few times and I had no issues watching movies and TV shows or sending emails or making calls on the Realme Pad X. I love the fact that most non-USA data-capable tablets let you make phone calls!
Multi-screen collaboration – a fancy term for using your phone on the tablet works great on the Realme Pad X and comes in handy in certain situations when you want to share data from the phone quickly while using the tablet with a keyboard for work emails or file sharing. You can then cut, edit, and process files on the large tablet screen, for increased efficiency.
Another option to transfer photos, videos and documents between your phone and tablet with one touch is Realme share. Other connection options include Bluetooth, Screencast, and Tethering. I think you will be very happy with the options the Realme Pad X has in terms of connectivity.
The Quad speakers on the Realme Pad X sound amazing
The Realme Pad X has four speakers – two on each side – and they sound phenomenal thanks to Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio. I took the tablet on a road trip and thoroughly enjoyed the immersive sound from the quad speakers whilst catching up on multiple TV shows on Disney+ and Prime Video.
While we are on the topic of sound, the Pad X pairs very quickly and efficiently with other Realme devices. Pairing with a pair of Realme Buds Air Pro was effortless and seamless with a visual indication of the battery life of the earbuds as well as the amount of charge left in the case. Let’s say you are streaming sound on the earbuds and you get a phone call, the Buds will automatically switch to answer the phone call which is quite convenient.
Realme U1 3.0 has a lot of useful features for productivity
For the most part, Realme UI 3.0 is identical to what we saw on the Realme 9 5G smartphone. This is a custom ROM running on Android 12 with the May 2022 security patch. Most of the differences from the smartphone software are in the “Special Features” section of the settings menu. I found split screen, smart sidebar, and display size options to be the most useful ones.
Useful multi-tasking features are available on realme UI 3.0
Split screen works in an app that supports this option with a 2-finger swipe down from the top to split the screen. You can also use the recent tasks menu, tap the More button in the upper right corner (3 dots) and then tap ‘split screen‘. Another option is to drag the app that supports split screen directly from the smart sidebar.
Smart Sidebar is always available from the edge of the screen and comes in very handy to launch an app quickly. You can then resize it so it floats over whatever work you are doing or going split screen for more efficient multi-tasking.
If an app does not support fullscreen display in landscape mode, you can change its display size to mimic what you get on a smartphone and use it. This allows you to use the remaining display for another app. For example, Twitter and Gmail work quite well in this scenario.
Another very useful feature is Limelight for video calling. The front-facing camera keeps you in the center of the frame during video calls and meetings. It works really well with Google Meet and Zoom.
I do a decent amount of reading on my tablets thanks to the free books available from Prime library. The Realme Pad X has quite a few good options for reading – eye comfort mode reduces blue light, and reading mode simulates the experience of reading a book printed on paper. In addition, there is a dark mode available which offers a high-contrast option for reading without too much stress on the eyes.
A few glaring drawbacks that dampen the overall software experience
There are a couple of glaring drawbacks from a software perspective. First off there are no good note-taking or doodling (sketch) apps to take advantage of the excellent Realme Pencil. Second, I had to sideload Netflix which is a big dealbreaker. Third, the security patch is May 2022 so long-term software support seems to be lacking.
The Cameras are surprisingly very good for a tablet
The 8MP f/2.0 front-facing camera with a 105° field-of-view is really good for video via Google Meet or Zoom. The colors are spot on, the detail isn’t too bad and the best thing is the all-new ‘Limelight’ feature. The machine learning and AI onboard are extremely good at detecting your face and keeping you in the center of the frame during video calling. Selfie pictures from the FFC aren’t too shabby either.
On the rear, there is a 13MP f/2.2 camera which is quite capable. It is able to scan text from documents and books, although holding a tablet to scan is a bit unwieldy. However, it is nice to see a good camera with useful features in a tablet. Oh, and the pictures from the 13MP rear camera are quite good in daylight in terms of detail and color science.
The Realme Pad X has excellent OEM accessories to enhance the user experience
Besides the Pad X, Realme also sent us an OEM keyboard case and a Pencil for review. Both are sold separately from the tablet and are similar to what Apple, Samsung, and Huawei offer for their tablets.
The OEM Keyboard case works like a charm
I typically use cases on all my gadgets. Sometimes OEM cases are great and at other times 3rd party cases seem to work better. In the case of the Realme Pad X, the keyboard case made by Realme is excellent. Overall fit and finish are great, keys are clicky with good feedback making it effortless to type. Most of this review was actually typed using the keyboard case.
The case does fully cover the tablet offering a reasonable amount of protection. However, there is only one default position available to lock the tablet in on the case which is a bit irksome. Another thing to note is that there aren’t any pogo pins, but until the tablet is seated in the groove above the keyboard, it will not work despite being connected via Bluetooth.
The Realme Pencil works very well as a stylus
The new Realme Pencil is very stylish and looks/feels/works like a real pencil. It also charges very fast (~15 minutes) via the magnetic strip on the tablet just above the front-facing camera. Realme claims about 25 minutes of writing time with only 1 minute of charging and a full charge should last about 10+ hours. From the quick seat of the pants testing, I can vouch that these claim times should hold up in real-life use scenarios.
Realme claims that the Pencil has 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity. During my review period, it worked very well as a stylus thanks to the 240Hz touch sampling rate. I wasn’t able to use it to sketch or take notes since there wasn’t any first-party app loaded on the device. This is definitely something Realme should have addressed in terms of software on the Pad X.
The Realme Pad X is a genuine Android alternative to the base iPad
The Realme Pad X starts at INR17,999 ($225/€220) for the Wi-Fi-only 4/64GB model, and INR25,999 ($325/€320) for the 5G 4/64GB model. If you want the accessories, the Realme Smart Keyboard is priced at INR4,999 ($63/€61) and the Realme Pencil is INR5,499 ($69/€68). So for roughly the same price as the 2021 base iPad you get a 5G capable tablet and for about $130 more you can get the keyboard and the Pencil. A similar iPad setup would cost you over $1000 and even the Samsung Tab S8 would cost you quite a bit more.
For those not wanting 5G or the OEM accessories, $225 is a great price for a tablet with a gorgeous display, stellar hardware design, good battery life, great cameras, and absolutely phenomenal speakers. The software experience could be better, but I am hoping that Realme fixes that with a subsequent update.
