When the Pixel 8 series was announced last year, Google stated that they were getting away from monthly and quarterly updates for the Pixel line. Instead, security updates and feature drops would come when they are ready. And this is a pretty good example of that, considering the next Feature Drop wasn’t due until March since the last one was in December. Instead, we are getting it in late January.
This feature drop brings four new features, which are going to be very useful features. The first one is a feature we first saw debut on the Galaxy S24 Ultra earlier this month. That’s Circle to Search.
Circle to Search is honestly a very powerful and convenient feature; while working on my review of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, I’ve been using this feature quite a bit, and now it’s almost a habit. It’s just such a good implementation. Essentially, you can now long press on the gesture bar or home button if you are using navigation buttons to open up Circle to Search. Then just circle what you want to search. This works for pictures and text in any app. It’s powered by Google’s Gemini AI model.
Circle to Search is only coming to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
More AI features for Pixel, including Magic Compose and Photomoji
This is Google, so you knew there were going to be more AI features in this feature drop. Next up is Magic Compose. This feature is able to craft stylized, suggested responses within the context of your messages. It’s pretty similar to Chat Assist on the Galaxy S24 series, but now it’s on Pixel.
Google is also bringing Photomoji to the Pixel with this update. With Photomoji, you are able to transform your favorite photos into reactions with the help of on-device Google AI. Photomoji will work on Pixel 3a and later.
Finally, Google is making the thermometer on Pixel 8 Pro actually useful. At launch, it really seemed like more of a gimmick since you couldn’t use it to measure your or someone else’s temperature. But now, you can. Google is also making it easy to save your results to your Fitbit profile, so you can keep track of your temperature.
These are all rolling out in the next update, which should start to roll out in the next couple of days.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra landed in January 2024, alongside its siblings. That is Samsung’s new flagship, and in this article, we’ll compare it with the very best of Apple. We’ll compare the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. These two smartphones are immensely different. Not only do they offer entirely different designs, but their camera setups are also quite different, and the same goes for camera processing. Needless to say, there’s a lot to talk about here.
We’ll first list the specifications of each smartphone, and will then jump into various different categories to compare them. We’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, camera performance, and audio output. Let’s get this party on the road and see how the two phones stack up, shall we?
Specs
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, respectively
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Design
The moment you lay your eyes on these two phones, you’ll realize how different they are. Both are made out of metal and glass, and both use titanium for their frames. The thing is, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has rounded corners and flat sides, which is not something we can say for the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Samsung’s flagship is flat on top and bottom, but its corners are sharp, and the sides are very slightly curved.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max also includes a pill-shaped camera cutout on the display, the so-called Dynamic Island. Samsung opted for a considerably smaller cutout with its display camera hole at the top. Both devices have very thin bezels, and those bezels are uniform. All of Samsung’s physical keys sit on the right side, while Apple opted to spread them out on both the left and right sides. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also has the Action Button on the left side.
If we flip them around, you’ll notice even more differences. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has its recognizable camera island in the top-left corner. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the other hand, has five separate cutouts on the back, four of which are camera sensors. The in-hand feel between these two phones is considerably different. That’s mainly due to the different shapes of both phones, but they’re both very slippery.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra does have a slightly larger display, and it’s a bit taller, wider, and thicker than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Samsung’s flagship is also around 10 grams heavier than what Apple has to offer. Both smartphones do offer an IP68 certification for water and dust resistance, and it’s also worth saying that the Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with an S Pen stylus.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Display
Apple’s flagship features a 6.7-inch 2796 x 1290 LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display. That display is flat, and it supports an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz). HDR10 content is also supported here, and the same goes for Dolby Vision. This panel goes up to 2,000 nits of theoretical brightness, while the display aspect ratio is 19.5:9. This panel is protected by the Ceramic Shield Glass.
iPhone 15 Pro Max
The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the flip side, features a 6.8-inch QHD+ (3120 x 1440) Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display. That display also has an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz), and it supports HDR10+ content. It has a theoretical peak brightness at 2,600 nits, and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. This panel is also flat, and it is protected by the Gorilla Glass Armor from Corning. The two phones have very similar screen-to-body ratios, but Samsung’s is ever so slightly lower.
How do these displays compare? Well, they’re both excellent in many ways, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra does have one major advantage. First and foremost, they’re both vivid, have deep blacks, and excellent viewing angles. The touch response is very good on both panels, and both displays are more than sharp enough. Also, they’re both very bright and as bright as you’ll need a smartphone display to be.
The thing is, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s panel comes with Gorilla Glass Armor on top, which makes a huge difference when it comes to reflections. That is something you’ll notice during the day, and if you get annoyed by reflections often, the Galaxy S24 Ultra may be a solution for you.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Performance
Apple’s A17 Pro 3nm processor fuels the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the other hand, is fueled by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor. That’s basically an overclocked variant of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Apple’s handset also includes 8GB of RAM and NVMe flash storage. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage.
How do they compare performance-wise? Well, both smartphones are very smooth in their daily operations, as you’d expect. Both have very good animations and can multitask with ease. Opening apps is fast, and the same goes for browsing, consuming multimedia, and many other actions you’ll conduct here. They can also hold their own when it comes to gaming. The iPhone 15 Pro Max had some issues in that regard at first, but Apple seemingly fixed the issue. Samsung improved cooling inside its new flagship, and it shows.
They can both run very demanding games and perform great during those sessions. Do note that extremely demanding games can make both phones feel quite warm, but not too warm, at least the ones we’ve tried running, like Genshin Impact, for example. Overall, both of them do offer very good performance.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Battery
There is a 4,441mAh battery included inside the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the flip side, has a 5,000mAh unit. Apple’s handsets usually have smaller battery packs due to the way iOS functions, so don’t pay much attention to battery size differences here. The point is, that both of these devices offer outstanding battery life, to say the least. During our battery life rundown test, both smartphones were outstanding, and are currently amongst the top three smartphones we’ve run that test on. Samsung actually lasted longer, if we’re comparing them directly.
Both of these smartphones can be two-day phones for many people. There are, of course, those of you who are power users, and who will have to charge them after a day’s worth of use, but rest assured, both of these phones are road warriors, and draining them won’t be easy. You can always do that with intensive games, but with general usage, not so much. Shooting way over 8 hours of screen-on-time is possible on both phones, both of them had plenty of juice left in the tank at that point, during our usage (with no gaming involved in the process). They were both also quite consistent.
Apple’s new flagships support 20W wired, 15W wireless (MagSafe & Qi2) charging, 7.5W Qi charging, and also 4.5W reverse wired charging. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the other hand, supports 45W wired, 15W wireless, (no Qi2 support), and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. Do note that neither phone comes with a charger in the box, though. Samsung’s wired charging may seem much faster on paper, but it’s not that much faster. In our test, the iPhone 15 Pro Max reached a full charge in an hour and 45 minutes, while it took the Galaxy S24 Ultra an hour and 26 minutes.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Cameras
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 48-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (120-degree FoV), and a 12-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (5x optical zoom). The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the other hand, includes a 200-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (120-degree FoV), a 10-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom), and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (5x optical zoom).
Galaxy S24 Ultra
Samsung opted to replace its 10x periscope telephoto camera with a 5x one. Was that the right move? Well, yes and no, at least based on our testing thus far. Updates could change things a bit, though. Considering that is one major change, let’s talk about that first. The 5x camera on the Galaxy S24 Ultra does perform better at 3x and 4x zoom, as the iPhone 15 Pro Max doesn’t really have a separate 3x telephoto camera as Samsung’s smartphone does. Things are much closer at 5x, though, and it all depends on the scene. The iPhone 15 Pro Max can hold its own, and in our experience even outdo the Galaxy S24 Ultra at 5x.
Generally speaking, the main cameras do a great job on both phones, but they’re very different. Samsung cut down on image processing, but it’s still there. We love the fact that the Galaxy S24 Ultra tends to leave images darker to make them more realistic now. It also has a cooler tone when it comes to photos. The iPhone 15 Pro Max tends to provide photos with warmer tones, and it does generally tend to brighten up images a bit more in low light. The tables are turned this time around.
Ultrawide cameras generally do a good job and tend to keep a similar color science to the main units, but that’s not always possible. Yes, you will notice the quality dip with the ultrawide cameras, but still, they’re good enough. The iPhone 15 Pro Max does win the video category more often than not, but it has never been this close.
Audio
Both of these devices do have a set of stereo speakers included. Those speakers are good on both smartphones. They do get more than loud enough and are well-balanced. They’re not the best we’ve heard on any phone, but are very good, and not many people will have objections.
What they do not include is an audio jack. That’s a rarity these days, especially when it comes to flagships. You can always take advantage of their Type-C ports, though. If you use wireless headphones/earphones, both phones support Bluetooth 5.3.
Android 14 and One UI 6 have been available for some time now, but One UI 6.1 is the update that Samsung’s new Galaxy S24 series will ship with. For that reason, a lot of people are curious whether their older smartphone will get the One UI 6.1 update. There are plenty of new features included in One UI 6.1, including the Galaxy AI tools that headline the S24 series’ top additions.
However, Samsung initially released a very short list of devices set to receive the One UI 6.1 operating system. These included the entire Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9+, Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 5, and Galaxy Z Flip 5.
Samsung now says more Galaxy devices will get One UI 6.1, according to a post from Tarun Vats on X. The post shows screenshots of a note from a Galaxy S Manager on Samsung’s official forums. In the post, the manager says that the entire S21 and S22 series will receive the update. The timeline for the rollout is sometime in the first half of this year, which is somewhat ambiguous. This could mean that the update will be released weeks from now, or that it is many months away.
Typically, devices that receive the first OS upgrade will get subsequent updates to that version. For example, not all One UI 5 devices got the boost to One UI 6 last year. However, we expect that all One UI 6 devices will receive the follow-up One UI 6.1 update. The aforementioned devices and product lineups are the only ones confirmed to get it, as of now.
Not all of Samsung’s One UI 6.1 devices will get Galaxy AI
Some of the biggest parts of the One UI 6.1 update are artificial intelligence features. Samsung released a suite of AI tools, called Galaxy AI, at its Unpacked event alongside the Galaxy S24 series. These include things like Circle to Search and Chat Assist. However, these AI tools are in part powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset. So, bringing them to older devices might not be as feasible.
Edit suggestions, photo ambient wallpapers, and translation features are processed on-device. These will require more recent chipsets, such as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy and its NPU. Others, theoretically, should be more universal. Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S23 series, its current-gen foldables, and the Galaxy Tab S9 will get at least some Galaxy AI features. For now, there are still plenty of One UI 6.1 devices that aren’t slated to receive Galaxy AI.
If you use mobile payment apps like Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App, you need to be concerned about a scheme used by criminals to drain money from your bank account. Unauthorized users are able to get access to an unlocked device and use it to make purchases with the mobile payment apps by using financial data from them to open new accounts. This has led Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg Jr. to send letters characterized by Newsweek as “scathing” to the CEOs of the three aforementioned mobile payment app firms demanding that the companies take immediate action to protect consumers.
Manhattan DA Bragg Jr. says financial apps are the most “lucrative target” for scammers
With some users of these apps experiencing financial hardship after using the peer-to-peer mobile payment apps, Bragg Jr. said, “No longer is the smartphone itself the most lucrative target for scammers and robbers—it’s the financial apps contained within. Thousands or even tens of thousands can be drained from financial accounts in a matter of seconds with just a few taps. Without additional protections, customers’ financial and physical safety is being put at risk.”
One of the apps cited as problematic by the Manhattan DA was Cash App
Bragg Jr. is the Manhattan DA, but what he is describing is actually a nationwide problem. In his letters to the CEOs of Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App, Bragg Jr. wrote , “Just in the past year, there have been thefts stretching from Los Angeles, where several people were robbed of thousands of dollars through Venmo at knifepoint, to Orlando, where a woman had thousands drained from her Venmo after a child asked to use her phone. Similar thefts and robberies have been publicly reported in West Virginia, Louisiana, Illinois, Kansas, Tennessee, Virginia, and elsewhere across the United States.”
Bragg Jr. explains that in one version of the scam, a stranger approaches a smartphone owner and asks to borrow his phone to make a call, and while in possession of the victim’s device, the thief transfers a large amount of funds to himself using the victim’s financial app. In another ploy, the stranger asks for a donation for a specific cause and offers to transfer the money himself using the victim’s smartphone. But once the phone is in the scammer’s possession, he transfers a large amount of money to his own account.
The easiest way to avoid getting ripped off is not to allow your phone to be held by anyone but you
Bragg Jr. wrote in his letter to the CEOs that “further security measures to prevent unauthorized access to unlimited use of your financial services would have prevented such crimes.” The easiest way to prevent getting ripped off by such schemes is never to hand over your smartphone to anyone. Don’t get suckered into giving up control of your handset. If someone approaches you with a sob story about why they need to borrow your phone, say no, or make the call yourself.
A spokesman for Zelle’s parent company, Early Warning Systems, played down the number of incidents even while admitting that it was aware of the criminal activity mentioned in Bragg Jr.’s letter. The company said, “Less than one-tenth of one percent of transactions are reported as fraud or scams, and that percentage keeps getting smaller.”
A Cash App spokesman said that the firm was “committed to building trust with our customers and investing in areas that help build a safe and secure platform.” It went on to say that it works “proactively and diligently to safeguard our customer’s money and mitigate against the risk of fraud on our platform through a combination of preventative controls like multi-factor authentication, account transaction limits, fraud detection, and consumer education.”
Bragg Jr. said that mobile payment apps need to institute security measures similar to the Stolen Device Protection feature that Apple recently installed on iPhone models eligible to receive the update to iOS 17.3. The feature requires the use of Face ID or Touch ID to allow certain sensitive activities to be performed on the phone if it is in an unfamiliar location.
The new feature also requires that an hour pass between the time an iPhone user makes certain important changes to the FindMy app, Face ID, the Apple ID password, and more. After the hour, the user’s identity must be verified by Face ID or Touch ID.
This article is based on research by Marcelo Rivero, Malwarebytes’ ransomware specialist, who monitors information published by ransomware gangs on their Dark Web sites. In this report, “known attacks” are those where the victim did not pay a ransom. This provides the best overall picture of ransomware activity, but the true number of attacks is far higher.
2023 was the worst ransomware year on record for Education: according to original ThreatDown research, the sector witnessed a staggering 70% surge in attacks in the past year, increasing from 129 incidents in 2022 to 265 in 2023.
The spike is further underscored by the increase in median monthly attacks. In 2022 there was an average of 11 attacks per month, but by 2023, this number leapt to 21—marking an 91% uptick in monthly attacks.
Although the attacks were carried out by several ransomware gangs, two in particular were responsible for the lion’s share of 2023 attacks (50%)—LockBit and Rhysida (a rebrand of Vice Society). The data also shows that, while ransomware attacks against education are a global phenomenon, the US (with 80% of known attacks) and the UK (with 12%) were hit the most frequently attacked countries between January 2023 and December 2023.
Let’s break down attacks on the education sector by the ransomware gangs involved, the countries of target, and which gangs attacked which countries the most.
The Threat Landscape
The top gangs that targeted the education sector between January 2023 and December 2023 include LockBit (60), Vice Society/Rhysida (44), CL0P (22), Medusa (17), and Akira (15). Together, these 5 gangs were responsible for about 81% of all Education ransomware attacks.
When we look at which gangs attack educational institutions most consistently (with attacks in at least six different months), however, the data tells a slightly different story. While top gangs such as CL0P and Royal may have targeted a significant amount of educational institutions, they tend to attack a majority of their victims in just one or two months.
Again, LockBit and Vice Society/Rhysida emerge as the most consistently prolific attackers against the Education sector. Notice too that Vice Society hasn’t been active since June 2023—the same month we witnessed the rise of Rhysida.
Geographic Distribution
When we break down education sector attacks by country, it becomes clear that the US and the UK have a huge target on their back. The US, however, bore the brunt of the onslaught, with 169 reported attacks.
K-12 vs Higher Ed
In 2023, 43% of all ransomware in education attacks in 2023 targeted Higher Ed and 36% of attacks targeted K-12.
Some of the most high profile attacks on Higher Ed and K-12 in 2023 include an attack against Western Michigan University, which caused a 13-day service disruption, and against the Minneapolis School District, which resulted in over 300,000 files leaked and a $1 million ransom.
K-12 trends YoY
Ransomware attacks on K-12 increased 92% between 2022 and 2023, with 51 attacks in 2022 and 98 total attacks in 2023.
Higher Ed trends YoY
Ransomware attacks on Higher Ed increased 70% between 2022 and 2023, with 68 attacks in 2022 and 116 total attacks in 2023.
Looking Ahead
The reality is that tight budgets of many educational institutions force them to struggle with outdated equipment and limited staff, making education an easy target for ransomware gangs. To recap, our key findings include:
2023 witnessed a worrying 70% rise in ransomware attacks on the education sector, increasing from 129 incidents in 2022 to 265.
The median number of monthly attacks surged by 91%, indicating a heightened and consistent threat throughout the year.
LockBit and Rhysida emerged as the primary attackers, responsible for about 50% of all attacks.
The US and the UK bore the brunt of ransomware in education attacks, with over 90% of all attacks being against these two countries.
Both K-12 and higher education institutions faced significant increases in attacks, with a 92% rise in attacks on K-12 and 70% in higher education, showing widespread vulnerability across all levels of the educational sector, but especially K-12.
Ready to shield your school against threats like LockBit and Rhysida?
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Pre-orders for the Galaxy S24 series opened last week, shortly after the devices were announced at Unpacked. And Samsung had some pretty good deals on all three models. But Best Buy has just one-upped Samsung with their Galaxy S24 pre-order deals. This is a pretty incredible deal, particularly on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
You can save up to $870 on the new Galaxy S24 series with pre-order, qualifying trade-in, and a free storage upgrade. However, that is not all. You will also get up to a $150 Best Buy Gift Card. It’s $50 for Galaxy S24, $100 for Galaxy S24 Plus, and $150 for Galaxy S24 Ultra.
So, with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, you can get a 512GB model for just $549. That’s after $750 in trade-in credit if you have a phone that matches the max trade-in credit. You’re also saving $120 with the free storage upgrade from 256GB to 512GB. And, of course, you still get a $150 gift card, which you can use for some other accessories with the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
For Galaxy S24, you can get up to $600 in trade-in credit and up to $750 in trade-in credit for Galaxy S24 Plus. With the Galaxy S24, that makes the phone effectively $200 for 256GB of storage. Plus, the $50 in Best Buy Gift Cards, it’s hard to pass that deal up.
Samsung’s new Galaxy S24 series launches on January 31, so you only have about a week left to get your pre-orders in and take advantage of these deals.
As per the data breach notification filed by the company with Maine’s attorney general office, hackers gained access to customers’ usernames and passwords, along with other sensitive data.
Popular American fast-casual restaurant chain Jason’s Deli has been hit by a data breach, exposing the personal information of millions of customers. The incident, a credential stuffing attack, occurred in December 2023 and affected approximately 344,000 users.
It is worth noting that hackers employed the same attack technique during the 23andME data breach, a DNA testing service. The company, however, shifted the blame onto the victims, loosely arguing that the breach could have been prevented if the affected individuals had not used the same password on other accounts.
Credential Stuffing Attack
As per the data breach notification filed by the company with Maine’s attorney general office, the incident was identified and took place on 21 December 2023. During the attack, hackers gained unauthorized access to Deli Dollar and online account login credentials of approximately 344,000 users.
The attackers used a technique known as credential stuffing, which involves taking usernames and passwords stolen from other data breaches and trying them on different websites.
When it comes to login credentials, hackers were able to access customers’ usernames and passwords. Other potentially exposed data includes the following:
Names
date of birth
Contact Lists
Order history
phone numbers
email addresses
Deli Dollars points
House account number
Preferred Jason’s Deli location
Redeemable amounts and banked rewards
Truncated gift card and credit card numbers.
However, the company maintains that the attackers would likely have had limited access, unable to view your complete payment or gift card number—possibly only the last four digits.
Jason’s Deli has apologized for the data breach and assured customers that they are taking steps to improve their cybersecurity. The company has stated that they are conducting a review of its security protocols and implementing additional safeguards to prevent future attacks.
For insights into the data breach, we reached out to Lionel Litty, Chief Security Architect at Menlo Security who emphasised that companies must implement Multi-Factor Authentication on customers’ accounts.
“While Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is crucial for password reuse and credential stuffing, not all MFA solutions offer equal protection but to truly get the full value from MFA and ensure comprehensive protection, organizations must invest in phishing-resistant MFA,” Litty explained.
“By doing so, they not only mitigate the risks associated with password compromise but also elevate their overall cybersecurity posture. Remember, the technology you use matters and will produce better outcomes,” he said.
Impact on Customers
The data breaches at Jason’s Deli have raised concerns about the security of customer information and the potential for identity theft. Customers whose information was exposed in the credential stuffing attack are at risk of having their online accounts hacked.
Jason’s Deli has advised customers to monitor their financial statements for any unauthorized activity and to report any suspicious charges to their bank or credit card company. The company has also provided information on how to protect themselves from identity theft.
Hackread.com’s Recommendations for Customers
If you are a Jason’s Deli customer, it is important to take steps to protect your personal information. Here are a few recommendations:
Monitor your financial statements for any unauthorized activity.
Report any suspicious charges to your bank or credit card company.
Be cautious about clicking on links or opening attachments in emails from unknown senders.
Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication on your online accounts.
Change your password for your Jason’s Deli online account and any other accounts where you use the same password.
The data breaches at Jason’s Deli serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting our personal information. By taking steps to be more vigilant and security-conscious, we can help reduce the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft or other cybercrime.
Nokia G42 5G is finally getting the Android 14 update, even though it’s a bit later than other phones. PhoneArena points out this delay might be because Nokia’s parent company, HMD, is getting ready to launch its own brand of smartphones. So, we may also expect to see HMD-branded phones in the US, available through different carriers and stores. For now, reports suggest that India will first see the brand during the first half of 2024. CEO Jean-Francois Baril says that both the brands, Nokia and HMD, will co-exist.
Nokia G42 5G receives Android 14 update
Nokia has begun rolling out the Android 14 update for the G42 5G, with updates for additional models anticipated soon. First reported by NPU, the Android 14 update (Build V2.160) is now available in India and other markets. It also features the December 2023 security patch, making it a significant update. Also, it’s quite substantial as it weighs around 2.7GB. According to the same report, the Android 14 update might soon extend to other models. Hence, the Nokia G605 5G and the Nokia X30 5G could be the next in line to receive the update.
Quick summary of what this update brings to your Nokia phone
You’d already know that the Android 14 has some cool new features. Once you update your Nokia G42 5G, you’ll notice a couple of things. Firstly, it’s easier to keep track of your health info. You can also decide more easily which apps can use your data. The phone has new features for people with visual or hearing needs, like camera and screen flashes for notifications, bigger fonts, and smarter scaling.
It also comes with a new option that shows how long the screen has been on since the last full charge. You can also customize your lock screen more with new options. There’s a cool predictive back gesture, and sharing stuff from your phone is improved too.
The Pixel 8a retail box appeared along with the phone’s design
The Pixel 8a surfaced in CAD-based renders back in October, while it appeared in real-life images even before that… in September. So the phone’s design was not exactly a secret, but this retail box (shown below) kind of confirms it.
You can see the black-colored model here, which we presume Google will refer to as ‘Obsidian’. The design seems to be very similar to that of the Pixel 7a, but this handset’s corners are more rounded.
You still get a camera visor on the back, with two cameras included. An LED flash is also placed on that camera strip. Once again, the camera strip goes from the frame on one side to the frame on the other.
This leak also shows you that all physical buttons are included on the right-hand side. That is expected, of course, as Google has been doing it that way for a long time. The power/lock button sits above the volume up/down buttons. That’s Google’s unique way of doing things.
You will notice that the camera visor has a different color than the back side of the phone. It’s dark gray while also being metallic in a way. The backplate seems to be considerably darker, but still not pitch black.
The Pixel 8a is expected to include a 6.1-inch display, Google Tensor G3 SoC & Android 14
This retail box does not reveal any specs, unfortunately. The phone is expected to include a 6.1-inch display, based on previous info. That display will be flat, and a display camera hole will be included.
The phone did appear on Geekbench too, a while back, and that listing revealed that we’ll get 8GB of RAM. Android 14 will come pre-installed on the phone, while the Google Tensor G3 will fuel the phone.
The Pixel 8a is expected to launch in May, during Google I/O 2024. Things could change, of course, but that’s what’s expected at the moment. As a reminder, the Pixel 7a also arrived in May, last year.
In what is assuredly a shocking blow to its employees, eBay has just announced it is about to lay off a thousand members of its workforce. Many companies have been seeing massive layoffs since last year. This includes multinational giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, who have laid off thousands of employees. eBay is the most recent large corporation to follow this trend, it seems. This news comes after eBay’s CEO Jamie Iannone sent a note to eBay’s internal staff on the 23rd of January.
What did Jamie Iannone talk about in his note?
The note shared by the CEO starts off by talking about how eBay has been having a “meaningful improvement” in recent years. He talks about the company taking measures and decisions that have “accelerated the pace of innovation”. The first two paragraphs continue to talk about eBay’s growth and success, and how more needs to be done. It’s the third paragraph where things take a more depressing turn.
Jamie Iannone mentions how the toughest decision the company needs to make now is to “reduce our current workforce”. This isn’t just some small layoff, either; 9% of eBay’s entire full-time workforce is being let go. Jamie says this need has arisen because the company’s expenses have outpaced its growth. Employees that will be laid off will be notified shortly, and directly, via Zoom calls. Jamie also says that these employees will be provided with “support and resources”. Lastly, he closes off the note promising a better, stronger eBay going forward.
Possible reasons why eBay is about to lay off employees
There is a worrying trend to be seen here. Companies worldwide, big and small, are downsizing drastically and quickly. This is because there are a multitude of factors at play here. For example, it is true that some companies’ expenses have outpaced their growth. It’s something that has been happening ever since the Covid-19 lockdowns. However, there is also another reason why these layoffs might be happening now; AI.
All of these major layoffs have taken place after the advent of generative AI in early 2023. As more AI tools became mainstream, more people began to be replaced. It is highly probable that, to cut costs, these workers that are being let go are being replaced by AI. Many of these roles consisted of text-based or call-based customer support, which can very easily be automated with AI. In fact, these roles work more efficiently with AI. So it’s easy to see the allure for companies in replacing their workers with chatbots. Or, it might just be that some roles are becoming outdated as more and more advancements take place in the retail industry. This is just speculation, however.
eBay is one of many companies that is having significant layoffs- Google recently laid off a ton of its employees as well. The transition to AI will continue to see many jobs being automated, and many more workers being laid off. It remains to be seen if new jobs centered around managing these AI tools crop up, bringing humans back into the workforce.
