The hackers weaponize 7zip files to pass through security measures and deliver malware effectively.
These archived files can hide malicious content, which makes it more difficult for antivirus programs to identify threats.
In early 2024, Cofense researchers discovered a new kind of malware known as Poco RAT that mainly targeted individuals who spoke Spanish and were employed in the Mining industry.
At first, it was delivered through a Google Drive-hosted 7zip archive focusing on file execution, anti-analysis, and C2 communication.
By Q2 2024, four sectors had been reached by Poco RAT; however, mining (67% of campaigns targeting one company) still remains its major objective.
The malware is characterized by its custom code that’s narrow in scope and more focused on basic RAT functionality rather than extensive monitoring or credential harvesting. Besides this, the Poco RAT attacks maintain consistency in their TTPs.
Sectors targeted by email volume (Source – Cofense)
Here below, we have mentioned all the email features:-
Finance-themed content
Spanish language used
Links to Google Drive-hosted 7zip archives
Either direct links or embedded links in attached files
Email seen delivering Poco RAT via a Google Drive link (Source – Cofense)
Poco RAT is distributed through 7zip archives containing executables, delivered via three methods. Here below we have mentioned them:-
Direct Google Drive URLs in emails (53%)
Links embedded in HTML files (40%)
Links within attached PDFs (7%)
These tactics exploit legitimate file hosting services to bypass Secure Email Gateways (SEGs).
The HTML method adds an extra layer of obfuscation by first downloading an HTML file that then links to the malware and reads the report.
Although the PDF method is the rarest, it’s potentially the most effective at evading detection, as SEGs often consider PDFs non-malicious and may miss embedded URLs.
This multi-layered approach demonstrates the threat actors’ sophistication in leveraging various file types and hosting services to maximize successful malware delivery.
Poco RAT uses POCO C++ libraries, a Delphi-based malware that arrives as an executable.
Despite extensive metadata attempts to evade detection, it faces average detection rates of 38% for executables and 29% for archives.
The malware establishes persistence via registry keys, injects into the legitimate grpconv.exe process, and communicates with a C2 server at 94.131.119.126 on specific ports.
While its primary functions include gathering environment information, it can also download and execute additional malware, potentially leading to more severe compromises.
The malware’s use of popular open-source libraries and legitimate processes demonstrates its attempt to blend in with normal system operations.
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Cyble Research & Intelligence Labs (CRIL) researchers have identified a cyber threat targeting the upcoming Paris Olympics.
On June 23, 2024, a Russian hacktivist group known as the “People’s Cyber Army” (Народная Cyber Армия) and their allies, HackNeT, announced their intentions to launch Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks on multiple French websites.
This announcement has raised concerns about the cybersecurity of the Summer Olympics, which is set to take place in Paris.
Figure 1: Official Telegram channel of People’s Cyber Army
The Announcement and Initial Attacks
According to the Cyble Research & Intelligence Labs (CRIL) researchers, the People’s Cyber Army made its first post regarding its campaign to target the Paris Olympics on its Telegram channel on June 23, 2024, at 0840 hours UTC.
This post was followed by a claim of a successful DDoS attack on the website of Festival La Rochelle Cinéma (Fema) (festival-larochelle.org) at approximately 0830 hours UTC.
They supported their claim with a link to a domain downtime monitoring website, ‘check-host.net.’
HackNeT joined the campaign three hours later by forwarding the same post from the People’s Cyber Army’s Telegram channel.
Shortly after, HackNeT claimed to have successfully DDoSed the website of the French palace cum cultural and exhibition center, Grand Palais (Paris) (grandpalais.fr).
Second post from HackNeT Telegram Channel
Overview of Threat Actor’s Activities
The People’s Cyber Army is a notorious hacktivist group with a history of high-profile cyberattacks. One of their most significant attacks was on Ukraine’s nuclear agency. The group is linked to APT44, Sandworm, FROZENBARENTS, and Seashell Blizzard.
Their first mention dates back to March 2022, and since then, they have amassed a significant following on their Telegram channel, currently known as CyberArmyofRussia_Reborn, with 51,000 subscribers.
The People’s Cyber Army regularly collaborates with other pro-Russian hackers, including NoName057(16), HackNeT, CyberDragon, and UserSec Collective.
They are politically motivated and often publish justifications for their attacks on their Telegram channel.
The People’s Cyber Army’s DDoS tool is coded in Python and features various techniques for carrying out Layer 4 and Layer 7 attacks.
The tool utilizes both multithreading and multiprocessing to send requests simultaneously, increasing the effectiveness of the attack. It also has proxy support to hide the attacker’s IP address, making it harder to track the attack.
The group encourages its Telegram subscribers to use these tools by posting brief tutorials on how to install and use them.
Telegram Post describing the use of DDoS tools
HackNeT: An Emerging Threat
HackNeT is a pro-Russian group that began operations in February 2023. It should not be confused with the Xaknet group, which has been inactive since November 2023.
HackNeT conducts politically motivated attacks and often collaborates with other pro-Russian hacktivist groups, including NoName057(16), People’s Cyber Army, CyberDragon, 22C, and UserSec Collective.
The People’s Cyber Army’s connection with APT44 underscores the seriousness of the threat. Given the group’s consistency in statements and history of attacks, it is crucial to investigate this incident thoroughly.
The announcement of these “training DDoS attacks” suggests that the group is preparing for larger-scale attacks during the Summer Olympics in Paris.
The cyber threat posed by the People’s Cyber Army and HackNeT is a significant concern for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
The international community and cybersecurity experts must remain vigilant and take proactive measures to safeguard the event’s digital infrastructure.
As the Olympics draw closer, the potential for more sophisticated and large-scale cyberattacks looms, necessitating a coordinated and robust defense strategy.
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A new feature coming to the Photos app in iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia will help users fix and recover lost and damaged photos and videos. A “Recovered” album in the Photos app appears in the Utilities section of the app. You’ll see it if there are photos and videos that are not part of the Photos app. The “Recovered” album, if it appears in your Photos app, can be used to permanently delete or restore images and videos stored in the album.
There are reasons why photos and videos can get lost. One reason is a data corruption issue similar to the one that caused photos that had been deleted to return to the Photos app. Or some images just might not correctly get saved to the Photos library. Third party apps with permission to access and manage your Photos library can also cause photos to go lost or become damaged.
The “Recovered” album will appear on the Photos app if and only if there are damaged or lost photos or videos on your iPhone. You can check by following these directions:
Open the Photos app.
Scroll down and find “Utilities.”
Tap on “Recovered” and verify your identity using Face ID or Touch ID.
Tap on a photo or video and choose to “Permanently Delete” or “Restore to library.”
When upgrading to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, or macOS Sequoia, your device will scan automatically for damaged or lost images or videos that can be recovered. To reiterate, if your device doesn’t have any lost or damaged images or videos, you will not see the “Recovered” album on your phone. This should prevent that earlier issue where previously deleted images started surfacing again on the Photos app.
Apple releases iOS 18 Public Beta 1. | Image credit-PhoneArena
Apple today released iOS 18 public beta 1 which is actually the same version as iOS developer beta 3. Usually, the developer beta is released first and Apple goes through feedback from developers looking for big issues to patch before releasing the next version of the public beta.
To install iOS 18 developer beta 3 or iOS 18 beta, go to Settings > General > Software Update. At the top of the screen, tap on Beta Updates and choose the option you want ranging from off (no iOS 18 betas will appear), iOS 18 Developer Beta, or iOS 18 Public Beta. To repeat, from this moment on, the developer beta and public betas will be the same except that the developer betas will arrive a little earlier.
After making your choice, hit the back button in the upper left corner and you will see an invite to install the iOS 18 beta version you picked. Follow the directions to install it on your phone. Before you install any beta, make sure that you recently backed up your phone on iCloud.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 might look like a pretty minor upgrade on paper, but as I’ve found out in the time I’ve been using it since Unpacked, it’s much more than that. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is more durable this year, and it even has a dust rating this time around. However, it’s still smart to pick up a case or two for your new Galaxy Z Fold 6, so that if you do drop it, it’s not destroyed. Luckily, we have scoured the internet for some of the best Galaxy Z Fold 6 cases around and have listed them here.
Best S Pen Case
Right off the top, we have the Galaxy Z Fold 6 S Pen Case. Now we believe that this is the best case available for the Galaxy Z Fold 6, since so many people love the S Pen. And this case gives you a place to store it when you’re not using it. This case does start at $99 but keep in mind that you are getting an S Pen here, which is typically priced around $50-$60 by itself. However, right now, this is priced at just $49, which is an absolute steal for this case.
Samsung is offering the S Pen Case in three colors this year, gray, navy, and pink, to match the three main colors of the Galaxy Z Fold 6. While we have not tested this newer version of the S Pen Case, we did use last year’s version quite a bit with the Galaxy Z Fold 5. And this year it is even thinner, which we did get to check out at hands on ahead of Unpacked. It’s a really nice silicon case that protects the back, sides, and front of the phone while also giving you a slot for the S Pen. It also prevents the phone from wobbling as much.
When it comes to the best slim case for the Galaxy Z Fold 6, look no further than Spigen. With the new Slim Armor Pro, we have an impressive case for the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which even includes protection for the hinge. Most foldable cases forget about the hinge, but not the Slim Armor Pro. It does have a nice part that covers the hinge, though we would definitely prefer this to be a kickstand.
Spigen is generally pretty inexpensive, but this is actually one of the more expensive cases on this list, coming in at $74.99 (however, at the time of writing this, there is a 5% off coupon you can clip). It’s available in black, gray, and blue. It mostly matches the colors of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, but it leaves out the pink.
With this case, Spigen is making it easier to hold onto your Galaxy Z Fold 6, so that you are less likely to drop it. And that is definitely important for a $1,899 phone.
When it comes to leather cases for foldables, the pickings are pretty slim. But, Samsung is offering its own leather case once again, called the Kindsuit Case. This case looks and feels like leather, but Samsung never mentions leather at all when it comes to this case. I checked it out in person at hands-on with Samsung ahead of Unpacked, and it is definitely vegan leather. So it won’t patina as nicely as most of those iPhone cases, unfortunately.
Samsung does offer the Kindsuit Case in two colors: brown and black. Though it’s worth mentioning that the black case is sold out for quite some time. These are priced at $89.99, and is usually on sale for under $70.
This is a stunning case for your Galaxy Z Fold 6, especially if you’re not into the bold and bright colors of some other cases. This keeps your phone looking professional, but unique. Samsung says that this case is stylish and fashionable, while highlighting the cameras bold design. It also sports a soft inner lining that will help provide additional protection for your phone.
As someone that does use an iPhone, MagSafe cases like this one from TORRAS always catch my eye. This has the magnetic ring on the back, so you can pop on a MagSafe battery pack or any other accessory for your Galaxy Z Fold 6. It also includes a slot for your S Pen, making it a really great case for everything you might need.
TORRAS is selling this case for $79.99, and it only comes in a translucent black color, unfortunately. So you can’t match it up with the Silver Shadow or Midnight colors of the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
This case does also have a raised lip for the screen and camera, to keep either one from getting scratched. As mentioned, it doe have a dedicated holder for the S Pen too, instead of having to make the case thicker, it’s simply wider.
TORRAS has also rigorously tested this case, and it is 3x military shockproof protection, so you can drop your phone in this case and not be worried about it shattering. Which is definitely a good thing, after all this is a $1899+ smartphone.
Samsung also makes the best-rugged case for the Galaxy Z Fold 6, and surprisingly, it’s cheaper than most other cases here. This one is the SHLDAir Rugged Case and it goes for $69.99.
This case is a pretty popular one, and it’s already sold out at Samsung, but it should be back pretty soon. Samsung says that there is 3.4mm padding on all four corners here based on SHLDAir technology, providing strong protection that has passed the military standard test MIL-STD-810G. So you can rest assured that your new Galaxy Z Fold 6 is nice and safe inside this case.
Like a lot of other cases, the SHLDAir Rugged Case does have a raised edge, which will protect the screens and the cameras from any drops. However, one thing that many people usually worry about with these cases are, wireless charging. Don’t worry, wireless charging still works with the SHLDAir Rugged Case, while also adding a nice secure grip to your phone.
Samsung does indeed make some really good cases, and this Silicon case is no different. Instead of just being a silicon case, Samsung has also added more functionality. So, there is a kickstand on the right side of the back portion, which is near the center when the phone is unfolded. There is also a strap on the left side, which makes it easier to hold onto your new Galaxy Z Fold 6. Some people think this makes the case look cheap, but I really like the functionality of this silicon case. It makes the $84.99 MSRP a bit easier to stomach.
The Silicone Case is available in both white and gray, and there is also a version that is clear (though that is not “silicone” obviously) without the kickstand. It’s a great looking case, in fact the picture at the very top of this article is of the clear version of this case on the pink Galaxy Z Fold 6. I got a chance to spend some time with it ahead of Unpacked, and I actually really liked it, and I’m not a big clear-case person. However, the only downside is that the clear version does not have a kickstand.
If you’re looking for a good silicone case for your Galaxy Z Fold 6 that can do more than just protect your phone, then this is the case to get.
The best clear case available right now for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is actually the Guflire Clear Case with S Pen holder. This case is also pretty cheap, coming in at $34.99. However, that does make me think that this is going to yellow pretty quickly. Unfortuantely, Samsung’s own clear case is out of stock so we can’t list that, and there aren’t many other options.
This almost looks like a clear version of Samsung’s S Pen case for the Galaxy Z Fold 6, where it has a slot on the backside of the case to hold your S Pen. It’s a great option, since Samsung still has not added an S Pen silo to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 – this is likely down to the amount of space available inside the phone.
Samsung was expected to introduce its new S series tablets at the recent Unpacked event. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. However, the company did reveal that the Galaxy Tab S10 series of slates will be available before the end of 2024. Now, Max Jambor, a reliable Samsung tipster, suggests that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 series will launch in October.
Samsung could first introduce the higher-end Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra variant in October
According to the source, Samsung will first launch the higher-end Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra variant in October. Reiterating to a previous post on Allround-PC, the tipster claims that the Tab S10+ model would not “be unveiled together” with the Ultra variant. Some reports indicate that Samsung will not launch a base model of the Tab S10 series at all this year.
The last two generations of the Galaxy Tab S series arrived in three models. However, this year, the company is going for a dual-variant lineup. There’s a possibility that Samsung will launch the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra alongside its Android XR headset.
Both the products in these categories could go official at the upcoming Samsung Developers Conference on October 3. Notably, some previous reports suggested that Samsung will launch the Tab S10 series alongside the Galaxy S24 FE. It is merely speculation at the moment, so take this information with a grain of salt.
The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra will be virtually identical to the Tab S9 Ultra in terms of design
Notably, we published a batch of renders of the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra in collaboration with OnLeaks. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra will be virtually identical to the Tab S9 Ultra in terms of design. It will offer a large 14.6-inch display and a slim waistline. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor will power the top-tier Android tablet.
The Galaxy Tab S10+ will go on a different route with its SoC by opting for the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM. Sadly, no more details regarding their other specifications and pricing are available at the moment.
AT&T, one of the largest mobile carriers in the US, suffered a data breach earlier this year. A group of hackers managed to access the sensitive data of many company clients. Now, a new report claims that AT&T paid the hackers to delete the stolen data.
According to Wired, AT&T paid around $370,000 to hackers from the ShinyHunters group to delete the compromised data. The report indicates that, after payment, the group sent a video showing that it actually deleted the data. Initially, ShinyHunters asked for up to 1 million dollars, but after a stage of negotiations, both parties settled on a lower figure.
ShinyHunters reportedly got $370,000 from AT&T to delete compromised customer data
The negotiation between AT&T and ShinyHunters would have been carried out through an intermediary known as Reddington. The report indicates that the same intermediary has already worked for ShinyHunters in negotiations with other affected companies. The script used for the breach had the potential to compromise the data of more than 160 brands. It is known that big names such as Ticketmaster and Santander Bank are on the list.
Going back to AT&T, the stolen data included up to 6 months of user text and call records. The affected records were those made between May and October 2022. The company had already admitted this year that it suffered a previous hack in 2021, impacting user data from 2019. When news of the latest hack became known, AT&T attempted to calm the waters by claiming that data such as names, Social Security numbers, or dates of birth had not been compromised. However, the info obtained by hackers could be used to track the identities of those affected using online tools.
Reddington claimed that the ShinyHunters group deleted the only existing complete copy of the data. However, the negotiator also warned that there may be excerpts remaining. AT&T would have paid the “fee” in Bitcoin on May 17.
Other big companies were affected
It’s noteworthy that the data breach did not directly attack AT&T. Instead, it attacked Snowflake, a third-party cloud storage company trusted by other large companies. The ShinyHunters group managed to obtain the login credentials of a Snowflake employee. From there, they managed to access private data from third parties.
A recent leak suggests that “Pro” models in the Pixel 9 series could include a 1-year subscription to Gemini Advanced at no additional cost. Google will launch its new generation of mobile flagships next month (August).
Google pioneered the integration of AI-powered features into consumer smartphones. The company bet heavily on the segment with the launch of the Pixel 8 series and its own Gemini LLMs. Since then, Google has integrated AI into multiple services, offering access to the most advanced features through the Gemini Advanced subscription. With the Pixel 8 series, the company offered a 4-month trial to buyers. Now, it seems that Google will take this further, offering a free 1-year subscription to buyers of the Pixel 9 Pro series.
Pixel 9 Pro devices reportedly to come with 1-year of Gemini Advanced
If you’re not aware of the leaks, you may not know that two “Pixel Pro” models are expected this year. The Mountain View giant would launch a compact-sized Pixel 9 Pro, and a Pixel 9 Pro XL with a bigger screen. Well, the 9to5Google team just found direct references to the possible bonus these devices will include in the latest Google app beta (v15.28). According to the report, a string says the following: “Your Pixel Pro gives you access to a 1-year subscription to Gemini Advanced, our most capable AI model with priority access to new features, at no cost to you.”
Gemini Advanced includes multiple perks for productivity and everyday life. It offers 2 TB of Google Drive storage, Gemini integration into Workspace tools, and access to the most advanced Google AI models, among others. In addition, it will be mandatory to access Gemini Live. The latter is an advanced conversational experience that Google is working on, which seeks to allow you to “talk” to Gemini using natural language as if it were another person.
Vanilla Pixel 9 would include a 6-month trial
Recent leaks revealed that Google’s next “Fold” device will be called Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This suggests that buyers of the company’s next premium foldable device would also enjoy 1-year of Gemini Advanced. Lastly, it looks like the vanilla Pixel 9 will also offer something similar, but for less time. More specifically, there are strings that refer to a Gemini Advanced 6-month trial.
Google will be introducing the Pixel 9 series of devices at the next “Made by Google” event on August 13. Yes, this year’s Google product event is taking place in August instead of October. The company is expected to introduce as many as four new Pixel phones this year. These include the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Thanks to the numerous leaks, there’s hardly anything left to the imagination regarding the design of the upcoming Pixel phones. Most recently, a Pixel 9 Pro XL unit was compared with Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra flagship. Now, the same source has posted a new video, in which the Pixel 9 Pro XL is compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL has flat sides and rounded corners like the iPhone 14 Pro Max
In the hands-on video, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has flat sides and rounded corners like the iPhone 14 Pro Max. However, the rear camera housing sets them apart in terms of design. The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a large square camera module that’s placed in the top-left corner. The Pixel 9 Pro XL, on the other hand, has a horizontal primary camera module towards the top.
The latest leak refutes the earlier reports that claimed that the Pixel 9 Pro XL will resemble the iPhone 14 Pro Max. As you can see in the images, that will not be the case. Notably, in another video, the source has also compared the regular Pixel 9 with the Pixel 8. It doesn’t reveal a lot, other than showing the size and how similar these phones are in terms of design.
The XL variant will be the most loaded offering in the Pixel 9 series
If the reports are to be believed, the Pixel 9 Pro XL will be the most loaded model in the upcoming series. Powered by the Google Tensor G4 processor, the device is said to come with 12GB or 16GB of RAM. The handset will have either a 6.7-inch or a 6.8-inch QHD+ LTPO AMOLED panel. The device is expected to sport a max screen refresh rate of 120Hz and support for HDR10+ content.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is also said to flaunt an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and a new modem for enhanced connectivity. In the camera department, the XL model is expected to get a main, ultrawide, and periscope telephoto lens at the rear. The official launch is less than a month away, so mark your calendars for August 13.
The “AstroPortrait” mode could soon be backported to Samsung Galaxy S24 and S23 series smartphones. The South Korean tech giant has reportedly announced the feature’s availability on older Galaxy devices.
Samsung Expert RAW app to get AstroPortrait
Apple iPhones may capture stunning images. However, Samsung has been making several breakthroughs in using Generative Artificial Intelligence to “stitch” multiple images.
Samsung introduced the Expert RAW app with the Samsung Galaxy S22 lineup. This app contains the “AstroPhoto” mode. This mode takes extra-long exposures of the night sky, allowing Samsung smartphones to capture celestial bodies.
Needless to say, these objects aren’t visible to the naked eye due to light pollution. However, a powerful smartphone can “denoise” these photos.
Building on top of the AstroPhoto mode, Samsung introduced the “AstroPortrait” mode. However, this mode is currently limited to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 series.
The AstroPortrait mode essentially captures stunning and vivid images of the night sky and then stitches them with regular photographs of people or objects.
When will Samsung Galaxy S23 and S24 get the AstroPortrait mode?
According to Samsung, the AstroPortrait mode takes two separate images; one with subjects on Earth and the other that focuses on the night sky. The result is a portrait of people with star-filled backdrops.
Interestingly, not all of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 series smartphones have the AstroPortrait mode. Samsung appears to be rolling out the feature gradually. However, the company has indicated that it will backport the new photography mode to the Galaxy S23 and S24 series devices.
— Sammy Fans – We ♥ Samsung! (@thesammyfans) July 15, 2024
Specifically speaking, all Samsung Galaxy smartphones that have the Expert RAW app embedded, should get the AstroPortrait mode. Samsung hasn’t indicated a date for the release of the update. However, the update should be available for S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra users in the next few months.
It appears the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5 might not get the AstroPortrait mode. Although the Galaxy Z Flip 5 lacks supporting hardware, the Z Fold 5 does have a working AstroPhoto mode in its camera app. Hence, the Z Fold 5 may get the feature in the future.
Android’s co-founder Andy Rubin’s company Essential shut its shop down in 2020. The brand quit the smartphone market with only one device under its belt called the Essential PH-1. Notably, the company had a couple of phones including the Essential PH-2 and PH-3 in the pipeline in 2019. In addition, another device from the brand known as the “Gem” was in the works the same year.
Notably, Rubin shared a handful of photos of the Essential Gem in 2019. The official photos showed a radically different device with a super tall form factor. Now, a hands-on video of the prototype of the unreleased Essential Gem smartphone has surfaced.
The Essential Gem phone’s hands-on video shows a radically different device than the PH-1
Rob Wainwright, a software engineer at Nova Launcher, recently purchased the Essential Gem’s prototype through eBay. The engineer went on to share some details about the phone online. He posted a hands-on video of the Essential Gem, showing its unique tiles-based interface and design from all angles.
The Essential Gem prototype shown in the video has a radically different form factor than the PH-1. The device looks more like a touchscreen-based remote control rather than a smartphone. There’s a punch-hole in the screen to house the selfie camera. At the rear, the phone has a large camera module and a fingerprint sensor below it. The fingerprint sensor of the prototype isn’t working in the hands-on video.
There are tiles for different applications on the main screen. The UI elements of the phone appear to flip individually to match a landscape view. However, the notification area and the Settings menu are close to vanilla Android.
The unreleased Essential phone’s specs include the Snapdragon 730G SoC and 4GB RAM
Furthermore, the specs of the Essential Gem phone’s prototype are also revealed. The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G processor. The chipset is paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of native storage.
The display offers a resolution of 2,160 x 560 pixels and a refresh rate of 90Hz. The Gem is based on the Android 10 version. Similar to the Essential PH-1, the prototype variant doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack. That said, the Essential GEM could have been a powerful smartphone with a radically different design in 2019.