Samsung Galaxy S24’s generative AI features are powered by Google Cloud

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Samsung Galaxy S24’s generative AI features are powered by Google Cloud
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One of the buzzwords mentioned during Galaxy S24’s announcement was “AI” or artificial intelligence. Since this is Samsung most advanced phone to date, it makes sense for the South Korean company to take advantage of the power of AI.

Interestingly enough, all the advanced AI features coming on the Galaxy S24 flagships are powered by Google Cloud, Samsung announced earlier today. According to the South Korean handset maker, the Galaxy S24 will be the first Samsung device to deploy Gemini Pro and Imagen 2 on Vertex AI via the cloud.

This means that other Galaxy devices might receive similar AI features in the not-so-distant future. Gemini has been designed from the ground up to be multimodal, which means it can generalize and understand, operate across, and combine different types of information such as text, code, images, and video.

At launch, Samsung-native apps will benefit from Gemini’s power, as users will be able to take advantage of the summarization feature across Notes, Voice Recorder, and Keyboard.

Imagen 2, Google most advanced text-to-image diffusion technology, will also be part of Galaxy S24’s AI package. These features can be found in Generative Edit in S24’s Gallery application and provides users with intuitive photo-editing capabilities.

Using Generative Edit will require a network connection and Samsung Account login. Also, a visible watermark will be overlaid on the image output upon saving to indicate that the image is generated by AI. It’s also important to mention that editing with Generative Edit always results in a resized photo up to 12MP.

Samsung also confirmed that it’s the first Google customer to test Gemini Ultra, the Mountain View company’s most capable and largest model for highly complex tasks. As such, all Galaxy S24 models will be using Gemini Nano, an on-device LLM that comes with Android 14.


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Galaxy S21 FE, S20, A53 & more get January update in the US

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Galaxy S21 FE, S20, A53 & more get January update in the US
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Samsung has released its January 2024 security patch for a bunch of Galaxy smartphones in the US. The latest security update is available for the Galaxy S21 FE, Galaxy S20 series, Galaxy S20 FE, Galaxy A53, and the Galaxy Z Flip. Apart from the Galaxy S20 FE, all other devices have picked up the new SMR (Security Maintenance Release) in international markets too.

Samsung pushes its January update to more Galaxy devices in the US

A few days back, Samsung pushed the January SMR to the Galaxy S21 FE in Europe. The update has gradually expanded to more regions, reaching the US. We can see that it is available for carrier-locked units on several networks, including T-Mobile and Dish. The new firmware build number is G990USQS9FXA2. It is just a matter of time before the update reaches unlocked units.

The January SMR rollout for the Galaxy S20 series is also currently limited to carrier-locked units in the US. The new build number for the 2020 flagship lineup is G98*USQS8HWL1. That for the global 5G version is G981BXXSIHWL1 and the global 4G version is G980FXXSIHWL1. Samsung didn’t release the 4G-only Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra stateside.

The Galaxy S20 FE, which also came in 4G and 5G versions in international markets, is another phone that recently started getting the January security update in the US, where only the 5G version was sold. Once again, Samsung is initially only covering carrier-locked units. The updated build number for the phone is G781USQSEHWL2. Its global versions have yet to pick up the new SMR.

The latest security patch is also available for the Galaxy A53 5G globally, including in the US. Carrier-locked units stateside are getting the update with firmware version A536USQS9DXA4. It is A536BXXS8DWL5 for the global units. Lastly, the January SMR is rolling out to the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Flip 5G globally with the build number F700FXXSEKWL1, F700USQS8JXA2, or F707U1UES6IXA1.

This update patches 80 security vulnerabilities

Samsung’s January security update patches 80 vulnerabilities across the Galaxy family. These include at least one critical Android OS issue, over five dozen high-severity Android OS issues, and five Galaxy-specific issues. The Korean firm has already pushed the new SMR to most eligible devices. The remaining few models will also soon get it. As usual, you can check for new updates on your Samsung device through the built-in Settings app.


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Samsung Galaxy S24 is the first-ever phone to bring HDR to Instagram, Snapchat

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Samsung Galaxy S24 is the first-ever phone to bring HDR to Instagram, Snapchat
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The Galaxy S24 is undeniably Samsung’s most advanced smartphone to date, not just thanks to its new AI features, but also due to many of the technologies that make it rather unique in a very competitive market.

One of the features that marks a first not just for the South Korean company, but for the entire smartphone market, is the Galaxy S24’s ability to preserve the quality of the pictures when posted on third-party social apps like Instagram and Snapchat.

Samsung’s flagship now integrates directly with mobile apps in HDR to upgrade social sharing. Many of the phone’s camera features including nightography and video stabilization will also be available when capturing photos and videos using Instagram’s cameras.

This means you no longer need to take a screenshot of the camera-like viewfinder when using third-party social apps. Thanks to the partnership between Samsung and Instagram, the full capabilities of the Galaxy S24’s camera can be directly accessed through the social app.

Furthermore, when you want to share a picture from the Gallery, photos are shown in Super HDR and can be shared in their full resolution from the Galaxy S24. Additionally, Super HDR provides Galaxy S24 users with previews before they take a picture they want to share on third-party social apps.

This is definitely an interesting and useful new feature that will allow influencers to level up their posts on Instagram and Snapchat. It’s unclear if the new feature will be added to any of Samsung’s previous flagships or the company’s other Galaxy devices, but it’s quite possible for that to happen later on.


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Androxgh0st Botnet Malware Steals AWS, Microsoft Credentials

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Androxgh0st Botnet Malware Steals AWS, Microsoft Credentials
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Threat actors use botnet malware to gain access to the network of compromised systems that enable them to perform several types of illicit activities.

They get attracted to botnet malware due to its distributed and anonymous infrastructure, which makes it stealthy and sophisticated.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently discovered that hackers are actively deploying Androxgh0st botnet malware that steals AWS and Microsoft credentials.

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Androxgh0st Botnet Malware

Androxgh0st malware builds a botnet to find and exploit victims in target networks. It’s a Python-scripted threat targeting .env files with sensitive data, like credentials for AWS, Office 365, SendGrid, and Twilio. 

This botnet malware, “Androxgh0st,” also misuses SMTP for scanning, exploiting credentials and APIs, and deploying web shells on compromised targeted systems.

To scan for websites with vulnerabilities, Androxgh0st malware uses scripts by exploiting CVE-2017-9841 to run PHP code remotely via PHPUnit.

It targets /vendor/phpunit/phpunit/src/Util/PHP/eval-stdin.php URI on websites with exposed /vendor folders, which allows threat actors to execute code. 

Not only that, but this malware also enables downloading malicious files, setting up fake pages for backdoor access, and accessing databases in cyber operations.

The malware targets the .env files for credentials, and to scan Laravel web applications, it forms a botnet.

Threat actors issue GET/POST requests to /.env URI by searching for usernames, passwords, and more. In debug mode, they use a POST variable (0x[]) as an identifier. 

If successful, they access email, AWS credentials, and the Laravel application key. 

Besides this, by exploiting CVE-2018-15133, they encrypt PHP code to pass it through the XSRF-TOKEN cookie for remote code execution and file uploads.

Threat actors behind Androxgh0st botnet malware exploit CVE-2021-41773 by scanning Apache servers (v2.4.49 or v2.4.50). Through path traversal, they locate files beyond the root directory, allowing remote code execution. 

They access sensitive data or misuse the services by obtaining the credentials. While for AWS compromises; they create users, policies, and instances for further scanning.

Looking for cost-effective penetration testing services? Try Kelltron’s to assess and evaluate the security posture of digital systems – Free Demo


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Samsung’s January update reaches Galaxy A52s, A31 & more

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Samsung’s January update reaches Galaxy A52s, A31 & more
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Samsung‘s Galaxy S24 launch may have grabbed the attention of the tech world, but it hasn’t affected the company’s security patch rollouts. It continues to push the latest SMR (Security Maintenance Release) to eligible devices at an incredible pace. As many as six new models recently picked up the January update. The new SMR is available for the Galaxy A52s, Galaxy A31, Galaxy A03, Galaxy Note 10 Lite, Galaxy M51, and Galaxy M42.

More Galaxy devices pick up Samsung’s January security update

As of this writing, the January security update is available for the Galaxy A52s in Europe. It is rolling out with the firmware build number A528BXXS6FXA1. The official changelog supplied by Samsung confirms that the update doesn’t bring anything more than the latest security fixes. It contains a whopping 80 vulnerability patches, including one critical Android OS flaw affecting the entire Android ecosystem.

Samsung will soon push these security fixes to the Galaxy A52s globally (it wasn’t sold in the US). The Galaxy A31 is also in the process of receiving the new security update. It is currently picking up the January SMR in the company’s home country, South Korea. The updated build number for the phone is A315NKSS4DWL1. Launched in March 2020, the device is now in the final stages of its life. It may not get many more security updates.

The Galaxy A03, which arrived in November 2021, still has a lot of life left, though. Samsung is currently pushing this month’s security fixes to the budget handset in Russia with firmware version A035FXXS6CXA3. A global rollout for this phone should be just around the corner. The Galaxy Note 10 Lite, on the other hand, is receiving the update in Latin America. The new build number for the device is N770FXXS9HXA1.

The update is also available for a couple of M-series models

The Galaxy M51 and Galaxy M42 are the other two Samsung devices that recently started picking up this month’s security patch with dozens of vulnerability fixes. The updates for these devices come with the firmware build numbers M515FXXS5DXA1 and M426BXXS7DXA2, respectively.

The OTA (over-the-air) rollouts are currently limited to select markets. However, Samsung will gradually expand its coverage to more users globally over the next few days. As usual, you can navigate to Settings > Software update > Download and install to check for updates manually. You may also get a notification when the update reaches your phone.


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The Galaxy S24 has improved ray tracing, adds AI game features

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The Galaxy S24 has improved ray tracing, adds AI game features
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Samsung officially announced the Galaxy S24 series of devices today, and they come with improvements to ray tracing to make your gaming experiences feel even more immersive and look better than ever before. This improved ray tracing support should be available across all devices as they all come with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. However, Samsung seems to reference the Galaxy S24 Ultra with an Exynos chip during its Unpacked live stream. Compared to last year’s Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has 53% faster ray tracing performance thanks to the new ray tracing module that the company is using.

Worth noting, however, is that Samsung confirms actual user performance will vary based on a number of factors. This will include things like “user environment, conditions, and pre-installed applications and software,” Samsung says. In practice, users should see improvements to the realism of lighting effects, shadows, and reflections when the ray tracing is on compared to when it’s off. This will depend on the game though. As not all games support ray tracing. Especially on mobile devices.

Samsung does confirm that it’s working with multiple partners to further this set of gaming enhancements. Stating that it’s working with game studios, publishers, and game engine companies to increase the amount of ray tracing-enhanced experiences users will have on their phones. Some of those partners include Blizzard with Diablo Immortal, Netease with Racing Master, Tencent with Arena Breakout, and Wemade with Night Crows. The company expects to get more studios and publishers onboard in the future.

Buy At Samsung – Galaxy S24/Galaxy S24+

Buy At Samsung – Galaxy S24 Ultra

In addition to ray tracing, the Galaxy S24 series has a wider vapor chamber for sustained performance

Samsung’s Galaxy S devices have generally been fitted with the best possible chipsets at the time. The case is no different this year. And all three phones will make great devices for mobile gaming. But they’ll need to do more than just perform. They’ll also need to perform for extended periods. Samsung knows people can sometimes play mobile games for longer sessions. So to help with sustained performance, it’s added a wider vapor chamber to the Galaxy S24 series.

This will help with cooling efficiency and ensure that the phones don’t get too hot while gaming. As it helps to disperse heat more efficiently from the device. The vapor chamber isn’t doing all of the work though. Samsung says the Galaxy S24 series has a redesigned structure that includes a POP TIM, and a Liquid Type TIM. These together with the vapor chamber surround the APU and push heat away from it in two separate directions. This should help for more sustained high performance. But again, this could vary by user depending on what they’re playing and how long they play.

An NPU helps optimize battery life efficiency

To even further enhance the gaming experience, Samsung’s Galaxy AI-powered NPU (neural processing unit) optimizes the battery life efficiency so you can play games for longer before the device needs a recharge. This isn’t too unlike what Intel has done with its Core Ultra CPUs that also come with an NPU.

Samsung says all these things make the Galaxy S24 series the “best smartphone for gamers.” Real-world performance might tell a different story, but it’s too soon to tell. It’s also worth noting some gamers may value more gaming-centric features. And it will certainly be hard to topple mobile gaming powerhouses like ASUS’s ROG Phone series, which includes the newly launched ROG Phone 8 and ROG Phone 8 Pro. Still, there’s no doubt these will end up being great devices to game on. Whether customers feel they’re the “best” or not. You can pre-order the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+, as well as the Galaxy S24 Ultra starting today.


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Google adding Pixel’s Super Res Zoom to Chromebooks

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Google adding Pixel’s Super Res Zoom to Chromebooks
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After updating Chromebook system requirements to qualify as “Chromebook Plus,” Google adds zooming capability to the camera app. The addition also seemingly includes the ‘Super Res Zoom‘ feature found on Google’s Pixel phones starting with the Google Pixel 3. Super Res Zoom utilizes Machine Learning (ML) to extract more detail in the final result.

Chromebooks usually have a front-facing webcam for your video calls, although, you can capture still images too. However, the sub-par hardware doesn’t always lead to a final output most people are okay with. Notably, to obtain the Chromebook Plus badge, a device must have at least a Full HD resolution webcam.

Google pushes Super Res Zoom from Pixel devices to Chromebooks

Some Chromebook devices including the Google Pixel Slate and the Lenovo Ideapad Duet series also offer a back camera. A photography session with these Chromebooks will certainly not be as convenient as on your Google Pixel 8 Pro or Galaxy S24 Ultra.

However, having the capability to show your surroundings on a call with a respectable amount of detail and clarity is seemingly something Google is looking for. Google has already added built-in lighting enhancement and background blur features to Chromebook Plus OS, reports 9to5Google.

Chromebooks didn’t have a zoom feature on its camera up until this point. In a recent code change, the ChromeOS camera app appears to include a feature flag noted as “camera-app-digital-zoom“. The code change also reveals the “super-resolution” keyword. It indicates the inclusion of the ML-powered special zoom feature ‘Super Res Zoom’ or a similar implementation.

However, it’s important to note that the camera hardware on a flagship or even midrange smartphone is way more capable than that on a Chromebook. So, you should raise the bar of your expectations accordingly.

The Zoom feature for Chromebooks is currently under development

The feature flag “camera-app-digital-zoom” is currently available on the latest Dev channel build. Although it remains inactive at the moment.

We hope to see improvements in ChromeOS devices at the hardware level as well, which will let Google run its software magic and yield great results just as the Pixel camera does.

Google Pixel 3 Super Res Zoom
Before and after Super Res Zoom (Credit: Google)

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Pixel Launcher may soon let you switch your search engine

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Pixel Launcher may soon let you switch your search engine
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Google is reportedly working on a new option for Google Pixel users to customize the default search engine on its Pixel Launcher. Regulators in various countries have urged Google to let users choose their Android search engine, and this new development may extend that choice to Pixel home screens. A recent build of the Pixel Launcher app in Android 14 QPR2 Beta 3 reveals a hidden option labeled “Search Engine.”

Details are scarce and Google has not officially confirmed the feature. However, it suggests a potential shift toward allowing users to set third-party search engines as defaults.

The Pixel Launcher’s search engine customization option is currently in the developmental stage. Additionally, Google has not provided any information on when or if it will introduce the said ability to Pixel phones. The description accompanying the hidden option reads, “Select the app you’ll use to search the web. This will affect search and content on your home screen.”

If implemented, users could choose alternatives like Bing instead of being restricted to Google Search on their home screens.

A response to the ongoing antitrust challenges that Google is facing?

The speculated customization option may be a response to the ongoing antitrust challenges Google faces, with accusations of monopolistic practices. Regulators, including the US Justice Department and state attorneys general, allege that Google’s dominance in the search engine market creates a monopoly, limiting users’ ability to explore alternative options. Google’s control over Android has been a focal point in these debates.

Any potential changes to the Pixel Launcher could have implications for the appearance and functionality of the search bar widget on the home screen.

Google Search is unlikely to lose a considerable portion of its Android users anyway

Google, as the dominant search engine, is likely to remain the go-to choice for most of the users. Over the years Google has put a lot of effort into providing a seamless search experience.

The ability to set another search engine as default in the Pixel Launcher could be a welcome change. However, this addition alone is unlikely to make a difference for the search giant.

Pixel launcher search engine
Credit: Google News channel (Telegram)

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This is how much Apple CEO Tim Cook earned in 2023

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This is how much Apple CEO Tim Cook earned in 2023
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There is no denying that the CEOs of Big Tech companies are among the highest-paid executives in the world. They usually take millions of dollars in cash, and the rest comes in the form of stock shares, which could also be worth tens of millions of dollars.

With a market cap of over $2.88 trillion, Apple is currently the second-largest company in the world. So it should not be surprising that its CEO, Tim Cook, is on the top earners list. As 9to5mac reports, Apple has released its annual proxy statement to inform shareholders, investors, and the public. The report contains the payments to the company’s executives and other related expenses.

According to Apple’s statement, Tim Cook’s promised compensation for 2023 was $49 million. This is a 40% decline from the $84 million targeted in 2022. However, the actual number shows that CEO Cook could earn much more than the targeted compensation.

Apple reveals Tim Cook’s salary and his other expenses in 2023

To be exact, Tim Cook earned $63,209,845 in 2023, which is roughly 28% more than what was promised to him ($49 million). The increased payment comes after Apple announced its revenue from iPhone set an all-time record for the quarter. Meanwhile, compared to his 2022 earnings, the 2023 income is still 36% short.

Tim Cook’s salary at Apple was set at $3,000,000, while his stock awards were worth $46,970,283. The non-equity incentive plan compensation is $10,713,450, and all other compensations account for $2,526,112.

Apple also revealed how much it paid for Tim Cook’s private jet costs. In 2023, the tech firm paid $1,621,468 for Cook’s travel expenses. Compared to last year, Cook’s personal jet expenses have almost doubled. Of course, the costs were justified by Apple’s board of directors in 2017 for “security and efficiency reasons.” Protecting the CEO also cost Apple $820,309 in 2023.

Apple’s annual proxy statement includes payments to other company executives. In 2023, Apple Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri earned $26,935,883, while General Counsel and Secretary Kate Adams made $26,941,705. Also, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Retail, Deirdre O’Brien, received $26,937,010 in compensation, and Chief Operating Officer, Jeff Williams, got $26,961,226.


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Google employees criticize layoffs amid their CEO’s silence

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Google employees criticize layoffs amid their CEO’s silence
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Last week, Google laid off hundreds of workers across multiple teams, totaling over a thousand job cuts. Officially, the company told multiple news outlets that some positions were eliminated to help teams work more efficiently together. But there was silence from one significant figure: Sundar Pichai, the chief executive officer of Google. While their company’s head has been quiet, Google employees have been outspoken. Following the cuts, Google employees criticized layoffs via posted messages in the company’s internal communication boards, as reported by The Verge.

“Thank you, our corporate overlords, for our new annual tradition,” one employee wrote. “Google culture changed dramatically last year with its first major round of layoffs,” said another.

The messages were posted in Memegen, the name for Google’s internal meme board used by employees. By “annual tradition,” the Google employees are referencing the pattern of layoffs within the company. Last year, nearly a year prior exactly to the latest round of cuts, Google laid off 12,000 employees. It was a big hit to the company and employee morale, and employee discontent has continued.

Google has continued to lay off smaller groups of employees since the 12,000 people were let go in January 2023. The most recent round of cuts, which affected Google’s AR, core engineering, and Assistant teams, represented about 0.5% of the company. It was part of a larger restructuring that saw the co-founders of Fitbit depart and hardware teams become more unified. However, the company’s claims that people needed to lose their jobs for Google to work more efficiently aren’t sitting well with employees.

Google employees are speaking out on layoffs

Notably, Pichai hasn’t made a public statement regarding the latest round of job cuts. More importantly, per reports, the CEO hasn’t even addressed the issue privately with employees. Laid-off workers have found out that their positions are being eliminated via bland emails, and other employees are following along with the rest of us in the media. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why Google employees are strongly criticizing the layoffs.

When pressed by employees, like at a recent all-hands meeting last month, Pichai was forced to open up. The Google and Alphabet leader called it a moment unlike any other the company has experienced in 25 years. “It became clear that if we didn’t act, it would have been a worse decision down the line,” Pichai said in the meeting, per Business Insider. “It would have been a major overhang for the company. I think it would have made it very difficult in a year like this with such a big shift in the world to create the capacity to invest in areas.”

Despite last year’s cuts, which Pichai described as necessary, it appears the layoffs are still ongoing. Google has well over 100,000 employees still working for the company, and these employees are watching layoffs occur without much explanation or support from Pichai. As experts argue, the employees deserve better from their top boss.


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