The world is all about AI at the moment (and probably will be like that for the foreseeable future). So, it’s absolutely key that AI apps on phones get improvements often. Android Authority now reports that Google is working on adding a useful experience to its AI app, Gemini.
You will be able to read Gemini’s response before the entirety of it has been generated
PiunikaWeb and AssembleDebug have managed to uncover a new feature in the works that allows you to read Gemini’s response as it is being generated. Right now, you have to wait for the entire response to be generated to be able to read it, but the new feature will bring the app up to par with its Web version.
The Gemini assistant didn’t really have smooth sailing from its inception. Initially called Google Bard, it’s been somewhat lacking compared to other AI competitors. However now, Google seems to finally be catching up.
The improvement in the works will be quite helpful. Especially if you’re one of the inpatient ones (pretty much everybody these days) and you don’t fancy waiting for a few seconds to then read a whole paragraph. Now, you’d be reading line by line or so, so you don’t get bored while the AI is still generating your response. This is, by the way, how most AI chatbots work, so it’s a somewhat overdue feature for Gemini’s Android app. The web version allows you to read in real-time as well.
Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master’s degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She’s also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it’s walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.
Before, there were some allegations that Meizu was leaving the smartphone market. Now, we have important information that these claims are unfounded. The Chinese brand will continue to develop new products and at the same time continue to deal with artificial intelligence. Recently, there has been mention of a Meizu model with the model number M468Q.
Not only that, some think that this model number belongs to the Meizu 21X. However, the discovered model number does not belong to the Meizu 21X, it belongs to the Meizu 21 Note. Meizu is developing a new smartphone called the 21 Note. In this article, we will look at all the details of the Meizu 21 Note.
Meizu 21 Note is coming
The Meizu 21 series has high performance, a stylish design, and long battery life. The reason for the high performance is that these smartphones are launched with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 dazzles with its superior performance. Meizu plans to introduce the Meizu 21 Note model a few months after introducing the 21 series. According to our sources, the Meizu 21 Note has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. In addition, a 5500mAh battery and 66W fast charging will be included in the 21 Note model.
Meizu 21 Note will have model numbers “M468Q” and “M468H“. The database has officially confirmed the existence of the Meizu 21 Note, and in addition to that, it was revealed that the Meizu 21X will not be released yet. Meizu may be developing a different smartphone called 21X. But the model numbers M468Q and M468H belong to the Meizu 21 Note.
We don’t know when Meizu will launch its new smartphone. Recently, this smartphone passed the 3C certification. At the time of passing the 3C certification, it was found that it will come with 66W fast charging support. It will have a similar fast charging support with previous Meizu models. The biggest thing that distinguishes the Meizu 21 Note compared to other models is its high battery capacity. The Meizu 21 Note is expected to have a 5500mAh battery. Apart from these, there are no other details about the device.
It is officially confirmed that Meizu will continue to develop new smartphones. We detected that the brand will not be limited to the Meizu 21 Note and will develop different models. We plan to announce these other Meizu models in the coming days. Stay tuned.
The notorious cybercrime group previously known as Hellokity has reemerged under a new alias, “HelloGookie.”
This development was reported by the cybersecurity watchdog MonThreat via their Twitter account.
Hellokity, known for its high-profile cyber-attacks, has been a significant player in digital extortion.
The group gained notoriety for deploying ransomware to infiltrate corporate networks, encrypting data, and demanding hefty ransoms for decryption keys.
Their operations have caused disruptions across various sectors, impacting business operations and consumer data privacy.
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The Rebranding to HelloGookie
According to the details shared by MonThreat, Hellokity has not only changed its name but also appears to have upgraded its ransomware tools and tactics.
This rebranding could be an attempt to evade law enforcement and cybersecurity defenses that had adapted to their previous methodologies.
🚨 Hellokity Ransomware Group Returns Under the Name “HelloGookie”
HelloKitty ransomware group is returning to its activities under the name HelloGookie. The threat actor is allegedly rebranding its ransomware operation as HelloGookie. They were also found to have published data… pic.twitter.com/vLfpHmyPIA
The return of Hellokity under the new moniker “HelloGookie” poses fresh challenges for cybersecurity professionals.
Organizations must stay vigilant and update their security protocols to counter the evolved strategies of this group.
The rebranding might also indicate a possible expansion in the group’s target industries or geographical focus.
Preventative Measures
Organizations are advised to enhance their cybersecurity by implementing robust data backup solutions, conducting regular security audits, and training employees on cybersecurity best practices.
It is also essential to keep all software up to date to mitigate vulnerabilities that ransomware could exploit.
The resurgence of Hellokity as HelloGookie is a stark reminder of the persistent threat cybercriminals pose in the digital age.
Businesses and individuals must remain proactive in their cybersecurity efforts to protect against such evolving threats.
Further updates from cybersecurity experts and law enforcement agencies are eagerly anticipated as the situation develops.
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Veriti Research has discovered a surge in attacks from operators of the Androxgh0st malware family, uncovering over 600 servers compromised primarily in the U.S., India and Taiwan.
According to Veriti’s blog post, the adversary behind Androxgh0st had their C2 server exposed, which could allow for a counterstrike by revealing the impacted targets. The researchers then went on to alert the victims.
Further research revealed that Androxgh0st operators are exploiting multiple CVEs, including CVE-2021-3129 and CVE-2024-1709to deploy a web shell on vulnerable servers, granting remote control capabilities. Moreover, evidence suggests active web shells associated with CVE-2019-2725.
Image: Veriti
Androxgh0st Threat Actor Ramps Up Activity
Hackread.com has been tracking Androxgh0st operations since was first noticed in December 2022. The malware operator is known for deploying Adhublika ransomware and was previously observed communicating with an IP address associated with the Adhublika group.
Androxgh0st operators prefer exploiting Laravel applications to steal credentials for cloud-based services like AWS, SendGrid, and Twilio. They exploit vulnerabilities in Apache web servers and PHP frameworks, deploying webshells for persistence.
However. their recent focus seems to be building botnets to exploit more systems. Recently, the FBI and CISA issued a joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) advisory, warningabout Androxgh0st constructing a botnet to carry out credential theft and establish backdoor access.
Last year, Cado Security Ltd. revealedthe details of a Python-based credential harvester and a hacking tool called Legion, linked to the AndroxGh0st malware family. Legion is designed to exploit email services for abuse.
The Way Forward
Veriti’s research goes onto show the importance of proactive exposure management and threat intelligence in cyber security. Organizations must regularly update their security measures, including patch management for known vulnerabilities, strong web shell deployment monitoring, and behavioural analysis tools to prevent breaches and protect against similar vulnerabilities.
Slack has been testing its AI-powered tools with a select number of customers since the beginning of the year. Today, Salesforce, Slack’s parent company, announced that the AI tools are available to all paid customers.
Previously, these AI tools were only available for Enterprise plans. However, starting this week, all customers can pay for the Slack AI add-on, which is priced at $10 per user per month for Slack Pro and Business+ plans.
Slack’s AI tools provide customers with some generative capabilities, including the ability to search for answers that offer personalized, intelligent responses, as well as channel recaps that generate key highlights, and thread summaries.
These native features don’t require any training and are easy to use. Also, Slack announced that it does not share customer data with LLM providers and does not use customer data to train large language models (LLMs).
Slack AI runs on the company’s infrastructure and its LLMs are hosted directly within Slack ensuring that customer’s data remains in-house. Although Slack AI was originally only available in English, the tools now support Spanish and Japanese too, with more languages coming soon.
If you use WhatsApp often with family and friends, some upcoming changes to the app might make it easier to transfer files back and forth. This previously discovered feature seems to be getting some new refinements and might be able to replace OS-specific features like AirDrop on iOS and Quick Share on Android.
WhatsApp’s Bluetooth file-sharing feature for users nearby was first discovered back in January. Although still being tested, some new details are being added to the interface, such as a screen advising what the feature does and what permissions are needed. This was found by WaBetaInfo in version 2.24.9.22 of WhatsApp beta on the Google Play Store.
Credit: WaBetaInfo
The idea of the feature is simple: When you want to share a file, you’ll be able to find nearby WhatsApp users directly through a new section within the app. The app will then use your device’s Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi for discovery (without requiring a data connection), and then you and the recipient will both need to open this new sharing section to connect.
This will be an “opt-in” approach, which means full privacy control. Additionally, WhatsApp assures users that all file sharing will remain end-to-end encrypted for security, and phone numbers will be hidden even when sharing. To use this feature, you’ll need to grant WhatsApp some permissions, including access to the files you want to share and permission to use your device’s location services to see which other devices are nearby.
WhatsApp’s new file-sharing option could be a game-changer, particularly for large files or when you’re in an area with a weak internet connection. However, where I see the most advantage is when using across operating systems. Right now, transferring files between an iPhone and an Android is a complicated matter, unless at least one of the users knows how to use other third party tools. Most of the time, what ends up happening is that one will send the file to the other via text (or SMS), which we know can be limited and will usually result in some awful compression.
Having this available within WhatsApp, which is used quite a bit already in my neck of the woods, will definitely make file transfer (particularly photos) practically frictionless. I envision a future where I no longer need to be the middle woman trying to educate friends and family on how to upload to Google Drive or use Snapdrop in order to send a high quality picture. Let’s hope this feature rolls out soon in an upcoming update.
If you’ve ever wanted a quicker way to share specific parts of your phone screen with friends or colleagues, you’ll be glad to know a feature just like that may be arriving soon. Google is reportedly working on an update to Circle to Search which allows users to copy and share screenshots of a selected area of the screen.”Circle to Search,” the feature currently available on some newer Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones, lets users draw a circle on the screen to search for information, as well as copy text. With the new update that is under development, according to findings by AssembleDebug (via PiunikaWeb), users will be able to do more than just search. They will be able to copy the circled area as an image, allowing them to edit or share it with others.
“Circle to Search” screenshot selection | Credit: PiunikaWeb
This will be particularly useful for sharing specific parts of apps, documents, and other visuals on your phone screen. Currently, to accomplish this you’d have to take a screenshot, then crop it in order to capture only a portion of what is on the display.
In addition to the new screenshot functionality, Circle to Search looks to also be getting a slight new look to it, specifically to the handles surrounding the area that is being selected. Currently, the area selected is enclosed in rounded brackets, while the new area looks more square and with less polish. It’s possible that this isn’t a final design and just a sign that development on this feature is far from finished.
Credit: PiunikaWeb
It is unknown when this new feature for Circle to Search is planned as an update for Pixel phones. However, judging by how tweaks to existing features such as this one traditionally get rolled out, it makes sense that this would make it into a future Pixel Feature Drop. It is also a possibility that Google may want to save this as an announcement for Google I/O as an Android 15 improvement.
Either way, Circle to Search and AI seem to be where Google is spending most of its energy these days. It would make sense if Google wants to spend a little more time working to refine and add polish to this feature before rolling it out to users.
With a bipartisan vote count of 360-58, the House passed a bill on Saturday that takes the banning of the popular video app TikTok in the U.S. one step closer to becoming reality. The bill is similar to one that passed the House in March by a vote count of 352-65; that bill would ban TikTok owner ByteDance from U.S. app storefronts unless the Chinese company quickly sold TikTok to a new owner.
With 170 million U.S. users, TikTok is accused of collecting personal data from its U.S. subscribers and there is concern that under Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rules, the Chinese government can force ByteDance to turn over this information to it.
The new TikTok bill is attached to a couple of requests to fund military equipment for Ukraine and to fund missiles for Israel. By submitting the bill to the Senate in this format, House Republicans put pressure on the Senate to pass the bill in a single vote. Analysts believe that the Senate will take up the bill within the next two weeks which could improve its chances of getting passed. President Joe Biden has previously said that if the bill reaches his desk, he will sign it.
The House of Representatives passes a new bill that could result in the banning of TikTok in the U.S.
The U.S. considers TikTok, with its current ownership, to be a national security threat. However, many young Americans love the app and TikTok users would prefer to see ByteDance sell the app to a U.S. company. In 2020, then President Donald Trump tried to force ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. assets to an American company and in September of that year, he told reporters that he had approved “in concept” a deal that would have resulted in the acquisition of TikTok by U.S. tech firm Oracle. That deal never made it to the negotiating stage. Microsoft and Walmart were also said to be interested in TikTok.
Once signed into law by the president, the new bill would give ByteDance 270 days to find a new owner for TikTok, up from the 6-month deadline that the previous bill from last month gave the company. The new bill also would give the president the option to increase the deadline by an additional 90 days if he feels that progress is being made on a sale.
In a post on “X” this past week, TikTok wrote, “It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives is using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, devastate 7 million businesses, and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy, annually.”
Not many might remember, but Google announced last year during its Cloud Next event plans to implement interoperability between its Chat app and Microsoft Teams and Slack.
Powered by Mio, the functionality entered beta testing right away and was available to Workspace customers through a special program that they could enroll into.
Earlier this week, Google announced that after about one year of testing, interoperability between Google Chat, Microsoft Teams, and Slack is finally generally available for Google Workspace customers.
This means that organizations will now be able to use Google Chat and other messaging platforms like Slack and Teams within their domain to offer their customers a more seamless experience for their users.
However, there’s one major requirement that Google Workspace customers must meet in order to benefit from this interoperability. According to Google, a separate Mio licensing is required to enable interoperability between Google Chat, Teams and Slack.
The functionality is already available in both Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains and doesn’t require any end user action.
