Samsung is on a roll today. The company has released the One UI 5.1 update to a host of Galaxy smartphones. After the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S21, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and Galaxy Z Flip 3, the new One UI version is now available for the Galaxy S20 series and the Galaxy Z Flip 4.
Like earlier rollouts, Samsung has initially released the One UI 5.1 update for the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra in Europe. The new firmware build number for the phones is G98**XXUFHWAK (via SamMobile). The rollout for the Galaxy Z Flip 4 has also begun in Europe. The updated firmware version for the foldable is F721BXXU1CWAC. The February 2023 Android security patch, which fixes more than 50 vulnerabilities, is part of the package. Samsung should expand the rollout to more markets, including the US, in the coming days.
One UI 5.1 brings plenty of new features and improvements. We have new tools in the stock camera app, while the Gallery app adds a Shared Family Album. The update also adds new editing features, including support for the remastering of downloaded GIF files for enhanced resolution and clarity. Samsung Notes supports collaboration during a video call on Google Meet with One UI 5.1. Bixby Text Call is also available in English. There are some foldable-specific features as well. Check out our coverage of One UI 5.1 features to know what else you’re getting with this update.
This is the last major update for the Galaxy S20 series
One UI 5.1 is the final major feature update for the Galaxy S20 series. Samsung launched the phones in early 2020 with Android 10 out of the box. Over the past three years, the devices have received updates to Android 11, Android 12, and Android 13. They aren’t covered under the company’s extended support policy that guarantees four generations of major Android upgrades. As such, the Galaxy S20 trio will not get Android 14. That also means no more major feature updates.
The Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra will only receive security updates going forward. Those updates will come for at least one more year, if not longer. But right now, users have a major feature update to look forward to. As usual, you can check for updates from the Settings app. Simply navigate to Software update > Download and install and you’ll be prompted to download the latest available OTA (over the air) update. If you don’t see any updates, wait a few days and check again.
It appears that the new 15-inch MacBook Air is set to be announced in April. This is based on information released by display industry analyst Ross Young. Who has said that the display production for this model is underway.
The April time-frame doesn’t sound as crazy as you might think. Apple does typically have an event around March/April to announce their Spring products. Usually including a new color for the iPhone (purple and green in recent years), along with new spring bands for the Apple Watch and some other features. So to see the 15-inch MacBook Air announced here would not be a surprised.
People want a larger MacBook Air
Currently, with the Apple Silicon transition, Apple is actually missing a spot in their laptop lineup. Those that want something larger than a 14-inch laptop, have to pony up and buy the 16-inch MacBook Pro with a M2 Pro chipset inside, which is close to $3,000. But what about an entry-level type laptop, with a 15-inch display? That’s what the MacBook Air 15 could really solve for Apple. And it could even be under $2,000. Especially since it would use the M2 most likely.
With it coming in April, we could see it sticking with the M2, or jumping to the M3. Apparently, the M3 is just about ready, and it is going to be on the next-generation 3nm process from TSMC. Whereas the M2 is really just a critiqued version of the M1. So it’s more of a stop-gap for Apple.
Now there’s also the chance that Apple could opt to announce this at WWDC in June. Sometimes Apple does unveil hardware there, but not all of the time. It’s every once in a while, but that is likely where the new Mac Pro will be announced, the last Mac that needs Apple Silicon.
Hey Google, hear this noise? BING. You are about to lose market share in search and it is going to cost you billions of dollars in revenue. BING. According to Reuters, Microsoft announced tonight that it is integrating its Bing search engine and Edge web browser with the AI superstar that everyone is talking about, ChatGPT. Microsoft is investing billions in OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, so it makes sense that Microsoft’s search engine and web browser get first crack at adding the conversational AI experience to its mobile apps.
Bing can generate $2 billion in ad revenue for each percentage point of the “search” market share it adds
While Bing currently has about 9% of the online search market, Microsoft expects to generate $2 billion in additional advertising revenue for each percentage point of market share it adds. For Q4 2022 Google Search generated revenue of $42.6 billion compared to “only” $3.2 billion for Microsoft’s search and news advertising revenue. That’s a gap Microsoft is hoping to close and more.
A new AI-powered version of Bing is coming to mobile devices
During a press briefing at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington, CEO Satya Nadella said, “This technology is going to reshape pretty much every software category.” ChatGPT is available on the Bing website for a limited number of users and will be ready for mobile users via the Bing app in the weeks ahead. But before you get too excited, during the “limited preview stage,” only pre-set queries will be allowed. At a later date in the future, free-form queries will be answered.
To get the Bing app with ChatGPT integration, you first need to click on this link to join a waitlist. You can jump ahead in the line by making Microsoft apps the default choice on your PC and scanning a QR code to install the new Bing app on your phone.
Bing will use OpenAI’s most powerful Prometheus model which will use real-time web data from Bing. That means Bing’s chatbot will be able to give answers based on current events rather than post answers that are limited to 2021 data. And with ChatGPT, Bing users will be able to get a summary of the articles they are reading, compose emails, and translate them to reach more readers. Microsoft warns that ChatGPT, like most AI chatbots, is apt to give incorrect information which it calls a hallucination. The company says more user feedback will help reduce hallucinations.
Not all analysts see Microsoft’s move as a big one for consumers. Gartner analyst Jason Wong said Microsoft’s “partnership with OpenAI is more relevant for its business customers.” Even so, Wong stated that Microsoft could offer “disruptive opportunities” in consumer businesses as well. The analyst said, “Except for gaming, Microsoft has not been a leader in key consumer technologies, such as search, mobile and social media.”
Microsoft says that the AI-driven Bing will no longer simply disseminate links. Instead, it will give users clear answers in simple language combining answers that Bing found on the web and from its collection of data. On the Edge web browser, ChatGPT could be used to help users understand long and complex documents.
Google introduced its own conversational AI platform on Monday
Google tossed its hat into the conversational AI era yesterday by announcing Bard. Google CEO Sundar Pichai wrote that AI is “the most profound technology we are working on today. AI helps people, businesses and communities unlock their potential.”
ChatGPT was forecast back in December to replace Google in a couple of years. Now it seems possible that this is going to happen earlier than expected. The chatbot can “write computer code, create complex essays, decorate your home, come up with a winning marketing idea, and more.” Teaching professionals are concerned that students will turn to AI chatbots to write essays instead of using their own brains.
Besides Google search, Microsoft is also going after Google Chrome by adding a ChatGPT sidebar to the Microsoft Edge web browser.
There are some downsides to this technology besides hallucinations. AI chatbots can create racist content and without morals, some content can be distasteful to humans. And even when it writes about something that is obviously wrong, it can convince people to believe the content.
Researchers at Avanan have discovered a newly detected Blank Image Attack, in which hackers are hiding malicious scripts in black image files.
According to Check Point Software company Avanan researchers, a new attack tactic is designed to lure innocent users into giving away their assets. It has been dubbed a Blank Image attack, and the targets are spread across the globe.
In this new phishing scam, hackers send blank images in HTML attachments. When the recipient opens the attachment, they are redirected to a malicious landing page that delivers malware.
Researchers reported that attackers have now learned how to bypass antivirus services such as VirusTotal and implant malware in Blank images. Avanan’s cybersecurity researcher, Jeremy Fuchs, noted that scammers could easily target anyone using this tactic as the objective is to obtain something from the user.
“Any user with access to credentials or money is a viable target,” Fuchs noted.
How Does the Attack Work?
As per the findings, this phishing attack targets the victim via email. The email includes a document purportedly sent from DocuSign, which contains a link that takes the victim to the electronic agreement management service’s official website if they click the button “View Completed Document.”
This is interesting as the link redirects the victim to the legit landing page of DocuSign, so they are tricked into trusting the email. The danger, however, lies in the HTML or .htm attachment that’s a part of the DocuSign link, as this attachment contains an SVG image.
The phishing documents (Credit: Avanan)
This image is encoded using Base64- a binary-to-text encoding program. This is an empty image, but the file has an active JavaScript that redirects the victim to the malicious link. Since this is a blank image, nothing appears on the screen. It is only used to serve the malicious script to bypass antivirus services.
If you want to stay safe, avoid opening any attachments with the extension .htm, and it is recommended that administrators block HTML attachments.
Before Amazon announced the Fire TV Cube (2022) at its Devices and Services event in September, I really thought that the Fire TV Cube was dead. It had been over three years since the previous model was announced. And since then, Amazon had introduced a handful of new Fire TV Sticks, including the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which I thought would replace it. But I was wrong.
The new Fire TV Cube is a great streaming device, and doesn’t really compete with many Roku devices, nor Google TV devices. But it does compete with the NVIDIA SHIELD TV and the Apple TV, which are similar in price. So how well does it compare with those two streamers? Let’s find out in our full review.
Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022) review: Setup
Like most of Amazon’s Fire TV products, setting up the Fire TV Cube is actually super easy. You’ll be asked to login to your Amazon account, of course. And then you’ll be walked through the setup process of activating Alexa, downloading apps and so forth. The setup process can take a bit of time, especially if the Fire TV Cube has gotten a few updates since it was manufactured. But the user input is pretty simple.
In the setup process, it’ll also ask you to setup your TV and/or soundbar to be controlled with your Alexa Voice Remote (included with the Fire TV Cube). This shouldn’t require a lot of work, at least it didn’t in my experience. And I used it with a couple of different UST Projectors and TVs.
It’s good to see that the setup process is still pretty simple, simple enough that even your parents or grandparents can do it.
Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022) review: Hardware
As I mentioned in the top part of this review, the design of the Fire TV Cube is much better this year. Even though it mostly looks the same. So what’s new here? Well, the biggest thing is that it is now wrapped in fabric. Taking that design choice from its Echo smart speakers. Why is that such a big deal? Dust. Scratches. And really anything else that can happen to it. Previously, it was made out of a glossy plastic, which could get pretty ugly pretty fast. Now a lot of us will likely put it in our entertainment system and really never see it again. However, with always-on Alexa, you’re going to want to be able to see it, to know that Alexa is listening.
The design is still pretty simple. On the top, there are four buttons for turning the mic on and off, as well as adjusting the volume. To be honest, I never used any of these buttons. The Fire TV Cube has been really good at not giving false positives for “Alexa”. Even with it sitting right next to the TV, and commercials saying the wake word. And since I have it plugged into a projector and a Sonos Beam plugged into that, the volume buttons aren’t very useful for me. But good to see them there.
Now on the back, that’s where you’ll find your ports. There’s power of course, with an IR extender above it. To the right is a USB-A port, and an Ethernet port. And on the left are two HDMI ports. There’s a HDMI In and an HDMI Out. Why is there an HDMI in and out port you ask? Well, for cable boxes. If you haven’t cut the cord yet, you can plug your cable box into this, and tell Alexa to turn to a specific channel on your Xfinity cable box. Which is really neat.
It also includes the latest Alexa Voice Remote (not the Pro model, unfortunately). Which has buttons for basically everything. There’s a power button at the very top, along with an Alexa button in blue below it. With a D-Pad, buttons for back, home, menu, as well as play/pause, fast-forward and rewind. There’s also volume and channel buttons, as well as Settings here. And finally at the bottom, there are buttons for Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu. Some of the most popular streaming services on the market.
The only real complaint I have about the Fire TV Cube’s design is the fact that it still attracts a lot of dust. But that’s natural and will happen with anything, unfortunately.
Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022) review: Software
Amazon’s Fire TV software is pretty lightweight, so it doesn’t need a lot of hardware inside, to make it run smoothly. And that’s the case here. It’s very smooth, and I have yet to have it lag or hiccup at all. Of course, that’s thanks to a quad-core processor inside, with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. The Storage is pretty nice to have, but would definitely like to see more in the Fire TV Cube. That’s still more than most streamers though – except for the Apple TV.
Fire TV is actually really starting to grow on me. I didn’t use to be a big fan of it. But the interface is really nice, and easy to navigate. It’s also easy to find things to watch, whether that’s what is currently airing on YouTube TV, new apps to download, or something that’s available on-demand. Not to mention the fact that nearly every app is available on Fire TV.
Hands-free Alexa feels like a “pro” version of Alexa and Fire TV. The fact that I can walk by the TV and just say “Alexa, play FOX on YouTube TV” while the TV is off, and have it turn on the TV, open YouTube TV and change the channel to FOX is really impressive. Now going to a specific channel doesn’t work 100% of the time. But it will open the correct app.
Since it is Alexa, you can also ask for the weather, show your camera feeds from your Ring cameras, and a lot more. Now if you don’t like it listening for “Alexa” or whatever wake word you chose, all the time, you can turn off the mic. There’s a button on the Fire TV Cube for that, which will then turn the light to orange all the time. You’ll still be able to use the Alexa button on the remote to talk to Alexa.
Should I buy the Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022)?
You should. It’s one of the best streaming TV devices I’ve used in a long time. A lot of devices will tend to crap out due to the RAM and storage that it has, but the Fire TV Cube has plenty of both.
You should buy the Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022) if:
You are invested in the Amazon and/or Fire TV ecosystem already.
You want Alexa in your living room.
You want a “pro” streaming experience.
You shouldn’t buy the Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022) if:
You prefer Google TV, Roku, or another platform.
You don’t want to spend over $100 on a streaming device.
You don’t want Alexa always listening (you’d be better off with a Fire TV Stick 4K Max which is much cheaper).
The popular social media networking giant Reddit has appeared as the latest victim of a cyber attack. According to the official disclosure, the security breach happened when the attackers targeted Reddit systems following a phishing attack. While the users’ accounts remained unaffected, the breach exposed internal documents and other sensitive data to the attackers.
Reddit Security Breach Targeted Its Servers
Sharing the details on their official subreddit, the platform owners revealed a serious security breach that hit Reddit networks on early February 5, 2022.
As disclosed through their post, the service detected a sophisticated phishing attack targeting Reddit employees. The attack attempted to lure the staff into surrendering their login credentials and verification tokens by redirecting them to a fake intranet gateway.
Then, as it happens in such cases, one of the employees fell victim to this attack. And the attackers then used the stolen credentials to access Reddit’s internet data. The breached data includes internal documents, codes, business systems and dashboards, advertiser information, and employee data.
Nonetheless, Reddit confirmed that the incident didn’t impact the core systems that ‘run’ Reddit. Nor did it affect Reddit users’ accounts.
Based on several days of initial investigation by security, engineering, and data science (and friends!), we have no evidence to suggest that any of your non-public data has been accessed, or that Reddit’s information has been published or distributed online.
Reddit elaborated that they quickly responded to the security breach as the affected employee self-reported the matter shortly after the incident. Hence, they blocked the attackers’ access and secured their network.
What Should You Do?
Although Reddit has confirmed no apparent effect on the users’ accounts, nor did their login credentials have an impact. Yet, it’s good to practice caution to avoid digital mishaps.
Hence, Reddit advises users to enable two-factor authentication on their accounts to ensure secure logins. Besides, they recommend using a password manager since they not only store passwords but also save users from filling in login credentials on phishing sites. That’s because “the domains won’t match,” as Reddit says.
ReversingLabs has published an advisory to share details of a malicious package discovered in the PyPI (Python Package Index) while performing a routine inspection of open-source repositories.
Researchers Lucija Valentic and Karlo Zanki noted that the malicious package, dubbed Aabquerys, was discovered in the open-source JavaScript NPM repository and can download second and third-stage malware payloads onto infected systems.
Typosquatting – A Growing Threat
Aabquerys use the typosquatting technique to encourage downloading malicious components, as it has been cleverly named to make it sound like the legitimate NPM module Abquery. The malicious package contained two files, one of which was obfuscated through a JavaScript obfuscator.
“In the case of aabquerys, the obfuscated code in question was easily de-obfuscated. That revealed a file with clearly malicious behaviour,” the advisory/blog post read.
Valentic and Zanki assert that it is a critical issue since open-source codes are viewable by everyone, so it is essential to investigate the attempt to disguise or hide such functionality on an open-source module.
Aabquerys Package Analysis
Aabquerys could download second and third-stage malware payloads onto infected devices from a remote server. It also contains an Avast proxy binary (wscproxy.exe) vulnerable to DLL sideloading attacks.
The third stage payload is identified as Demon.bin, which boasts conventional RAT functionalities generated using a post-exploitation, open-source C2 framework called Havoc, authored by C5pider.
Infection chain
A concerning issue is that the author of Aabquerys has published various versions of Aabquerys, namely aabquery and nvm jquery, which could be earlier versions of Aabquerys.
After its discovery, the Aabquerys package was promptly removed from the NPM repository. Nevertheless, the findings highlight the growing threat of malicious packages hidden in open-source repositories like PyPI, GitHub, and NPM that can have lasting adverse consequences for the software supply chain.
Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy A34 5G and Galaxy A54 5G mid-range smartphones next month. The phones have been doing rounds on the rumor mill for the past few months, revealing tidbits about them. Today, we have detailed specs and alleged prices of the upcoming mid-range duo.
According to a WinFuture report, the Galaxy A34 5G will sport a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It will be powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 900 chipset with 6GB and 8GB RAM options and 128GB/256GB storage variants. Samsung will offer a microSD card slot for expandable storage.
The Galaxy A54 5G will feature a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with the same specs. Samsung is equipping this phone with its in-house Exynos 1380 processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB internal storage. As suggested by a previous leak, a 6GB RAM version doesn’t exist this year. You will find a microSD card slot here as well.
For photos and videos, Samsung will equip the Galaxy A34 5G with a 48MP primary sensor, 8MP ultrawide sensor, 5MP macro sensor, and 13MP selfie sensor. The Galaxy A54 5G gets a 50MP main sensor, 12MP ultrawide sensor, 5MP macro sensor, and 32MP selfie sensor. Both phones boast OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) and can record 4K videos.
Other highlights of these phones include Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, a 5,000mAh battery with 25W fast charging via a USB Type-C port, an under-display optical fingerprint scanner, an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, and stereo speakers. Samsung is curiously offering Wi-Fi 5 on the Galaxy A34 5G but Wi-Fi 6 on the Galaxy A54 5G. The former gets a 3.5mm headphone jack but the latter misses out on it.
Rumored Galaxy A34 5G and Galaxy A54 5G prices
Along with specs, we also have rumored European prices of Samsung’s upcoming mid-range duo. The Galaxy A34 5G will reportedly cost between €410 and €430 (approx. $450) for the base model, i.e. 6GB+128GB. The 8GB+256GB will reportedly cost between €470 and €490 (approx. $510). If you grab the Galaxy A54 5G, you’ll have to shell out between €530 and €550 (approx. $580) for the 8GB+128GB configuration and between €590 and €610 (approx. $640) for the 8GB+256GB option.
If we are to go by Samsung’s Galaxy S23 pricing, the Galaxy A34 5G and Galaxy A54 5G will likely come a little cheaper in the US. Prices are affected by local taxes and various other factors. We should hear more about the new mid-range Galaxy smartphones in the coming weeks as Samsung gears up to take wraps off them. We will keep you posted.
When it comes to the internet, we all want the fastest speed. We also don’t want to worry about any deadspots in our home, where we can’t get WiFi. And that comes down to having the best WiFi routers in your home. This is one piece of tech that you should definitely not cheap out on.
But there are thousands of different routers out there on the market right now. So which ones are the best to buy? Well, we’ve rounded up the very best WiFi Routers that you can pick up right now.
Top 10 Best WiFi Routers
Whether you’re looking for a WiFi router for gaming, or maybe a mesh WiFi router to blanket your home in WiFi, we have all of the routers that you need on this list. Some are actually pretty affordable, while others can also get pretty expensive. But remember, you get what you pay for. And with how important Internet is these days, you don’t want to cheap out.
Google’s newest WiFi Router, is the Nest WiFi Pro, which is a WiFi 6E router, that doesn’t work with older versions of the Nest WiFi system. It’s still a mesh WiFi system, now with WiFi 6E. It also uses WiFi 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Giving you plenty of bandwidth.
Google has made this a very accessible WiFi 6E router, starting at just $199 for a single pack, and going up to $399 for a three-pack. It’s also available in four colors.
The ASUS ROG Rapture is a really good WiFi router for gamers out there. This is a tri-band WiFi router that will provide you with the fastest speeds (that your ISP allows) along with low pings. Which is important when playing games online. Especially FPS games.
It is also AiMesh compatible, so this could work as a Mesh WiFi router too, which is pretty cool, especially for those with lots of smart home products in their home.
This is the router that everyone needs, if they are tired of paying their ISP to “rent” their modem. This is a modem and router combo, and it works with most ISPs. So for $169, you can save $7-$15 per month, depending on your ISP. Since you don’t need to rent their modem any longer.
The NETGEAR Nighthawk Cable Modem will work with ISP plans up to 400Mbps. Now if you have faster, it’ll still work, but you won’t get faster speeds, unfortunately.
This WiFi router from Tenda is actually a “smart” WiFi router. And it supports up to 2033Mbps connections. So that’s going to support most people these days, even those with Gigabit connections.
It can also connect up to 40 devices, without impacting the bandwidth, which is rather impressive, and great for those that have embraced the smart home. It also has a signal amplifier on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, so that you can get better coverage and speeds.
Nest WiFi is by far the best mesh WiFi router. It offers up a very easy setup process. Basically download the Nest WiFi app, and it’ll walk you through the setup process.
It’s also great for blanketing your home in WiFi. This two-pack can cover 4,400 square-feet. Additionally, you can add more Nest WiFi routers to your setup, if you need a bit more coverage. Nest WiFi is also really good about moving devices from the 2.4GHz network to the 5GHz network when needed. It can handle up to 200 devices on the network.
Nest WiFi makes it very easy to setup a guest network and even share your WiFi password with others.
Amazon recently announced a brand new eero Mesh Wifi Router, it’s the eero 6. This particular model has all of the popular features of the other eero routers, but now it has support for WiFi 6. Making it future proof, for a good amount of time.
With eero, not only do you get better coverage and better speeds, but it’s also great for controlling smart home devices. Particularly the eero 6, as it has a built-in Zigbee hub. Making it super easy to set up your smart home.
This single eero 6 will cover around 1,500 square-feet of your home. And provide speeds up to 900Mbps. You can also buy the extender, which is $199 total. And purchase more eero’s to go around your home, if 1,500 square-feet is not quite big enough for you.
Ubiquiti is really well-known for doing WiFi networks for large office spaces. And now, the Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine can be in your home, running your WiFi network. It’s best for those with faster internet speeds, like gigabit speeds. It has a managed 4-port Gigabit switch as well.
As you’d expect from Ubiquiti, it has advanced security gateway with IDS/IPS and DPI. it also has the UniFi Network controller with intuitive User Interface.
This is a very powerful Mesh WiFi router and will provide some really great speeds for your home.
NETGEAR Orbi Whole Home Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System
If you’re familiar with NETGEAR Orbi, then you’ll be familiar with this Mesh WiFi Router. It offers the same great performance as other Orbi options, but with WiFi 6 support. Meaning that it is going to be future-proof for a little while. Allowing you to really get a router and not worry about upgrading it for at least five years, or even longer.
With the Orbi, you are able to use this two-pack to cover 5,000 square-feet and up to 60 devices. It will automatically move devices from 2.4GHz to the 5GHz network. So if you have a smart doorbell on your network, it will keep it on the 2.4GHz network as it needs coverage more than the speed. So 2.4GHz works better for it.
Much like the others on this list, the Orbi is also great at setup, and control through the Orbi app. Allowing you to kick off devices you don’t want on your network and much more.
This is the gamer’s edition of the AmpliFi, which includes a mesh WiFi router that has an easy-to-use touchscreen display. It also includes two MeshPoints to maximize coverage and eliminate dead zones in your home.
AmpliFi has included four gigabit ethernet ports here, as well as a WAN port, and an ethernet cable. This setup can cover up to 10,000 square-feet.
The MeshPoints can be plugged in, anywhere in your home. As these do not need a table to sit on, they just plug into the wall. Which means you won’t need to worry about them being on the ground, not getting the right signal.
Best mesh WiFi router with advanced cyber threat protection
Netgear Orbi Whole Home Mesh WiFi System
Netgear Orbi Whole Home Mesh WiFi System
The Netgear Orbi Whole Home Mesh WiFi System has a few different integrations included, which makes it really great. Like the advanced cyber threat protection. So you can keep your network and the devices connected to it safe. Thanks to Netgear Armor.
It also has support for Disney Circle, which is going to allow you to set parental controls for your kids.
With the Orbi, you are able to use this three-pack to cover 7,500 square-feet and up to 60 devices. It will automatically move devices from 2.4GHz to the 5GHz network. So if you have a smart doorbell on your network, it will keep it on the 2.4GHz network as it needs coverage more than the speed. So 2.4GHz works better for it.
Much like the others on this list, the Orbi is also great at setup, and control through the Orbi app. Allowing you to kick off devices you don’t want on your network and much more.
Google is constantly looking to improve Google Maps. No longer just an app that helps you get from point “A” to point “B” quickly and safely, Maps will now recommend places to eat, hotels to stay at, and fun things to do when you arrive at point “B.” It will even show you landmarks to visit. And Google Maps will always show you where to get gas, a cup of coffee, groceries, and more.
Google unveils Immersive view to give you the lay of the land before you arrive
Today, Google announced some changes to its Maps app that make it more immersive when it comes to looking around to get the feel of a place or, as some call it, the lay of the land. Immersive view will combine Street View with aerial images and will show weather and traffic info on top to give users “a rich, digital model of the world.”
Immersive view, coming to Google Maps
Google gives us an example. “Say you’re planning a visit to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. You can virtually soar over the building and see where things like the entrances are. With the time slider, you can see what the area looks like at different times of day and what the weather will be like. You can also spot where it tends to be most crowded so you can have all the information you need to decide where and when to go.”
Continuing with the example, Google adds, “If you’re hungry, glide down to the street level to explore nearby restaurants — and even take a look inside to quickly understand the vibe of a spot before you book your reservation.” Immersive view starts rolling out today (displayed in alphabetical order) in London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Tokyo.
Google’s AR-powered Live View takes a live feed from your phone’s camera and layers huge arrows and other information on top to help those walking get to their destination while at the same time, pointing out interesting buildings and landmarks around them. A couple of years ago, Google added Live View to indoor locations such as airports in the U.S., Zurich, and Tokyo (not displayed in alphabetical order). The feature helps travelers roaming an unfamiliar airport find the bathroom, car rental stands, lounges, and more.
Live View will soon be available in more airports and shopping malls around the world
Today, the company announced, that over the next few months, it is adding Live View to 1,000 new airports, malls, and train stations in Barcelona, Berlin, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Melbourne, Paris, Prague, São Paulo, Singapore, Sydney, and Taipei.
Search with Live View uses both AI and AR to help you find ATMs, restaurants, parks, and transit stations while walking. To activate it, simply hold the phone up while walking the streets. The info you will see is very useful as it will show you “when a place is open, if it’s busy right now, and how highly it’s rated – so you can make an informed decision and maximize your time.”
Search with Live View helps you find nearby bathrooms, ATMs, and more
Google recently started offering search with Live View in London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco, and Tokyo. Over the next few months, Google will add the feature in Barcelona, Dublin, and Madrid.
Google Maps will soon give you “glanceable directions.” This will allow a user to track his journey from the route overview or the lock screen. You will see information like updated estimated arrival times and where you will make the next turn. Previously, this data would only be shown once you unlocked your phone, opened the app, and used the comprehensive navigation mode. This feature will be disseminated in the coming months to Android and iOS devices.
Google Maps will give important information to EV drivers
Google Maps is also adding new features for Electric Vehicles (EV) that have built-in Google capabilities. For example, on any trip that will require a stop at a charging station, Maps will recommend the best place to stop based on the current traffic, the current charge level of the EV’s battery, and forecast battery consumption. If the recommended charging stop is not convenient, it can be replaced with another upcoming stop with just a few screen taps. With this feature, EV drivers won’t have to keep worrying about stopping to charge regardless of the destination.
Look for fast chargers for your EV while on the road
EV drivers will also be able to tap the ‘very fast’ charging filter to find stations that use chargers of 150 kilowatts or higher. This should allow most cars to top off the battery and get back on the road in less than 40 minutes. And under search results, Google will now show when places like supermarkets have a charging station to help you pick up your groceries while charging the battery in your EV.
