Some YouTube TV subscribers are experiencing confusion when they try to access their DVR’d shows, as they are being prompted to subscribe to Max (Formerly, HBO Max) in order to watch the recordings. This issue has been causing frustration among users, although all signs point to this being a glitch.
According to some reports on Reddit, some YouTube TV customers have encountered an unexpected prompt to subscribe to Max while trying to access recordings from specific channels. It seems that this is more of an error rather than an exciting new policy or feature.
YouTube TV and Max, formerly known as HBO Max, have been seamlessly integrated for a while now. With this integration, customers gain access to extra content on YouTube TV, while ensuring that standard channels and recordings remain easily accessible without additional requirements.
There have been reports from several YouTube TV customers about a frustrating error that is hindering their ability to access DVR recordings from certain channels. Instead of playing the recorded content, YouTube TV encourages customers to subscribe to Max.
It appears that when users are trying to access their recorded content, YouTube TV is attempting to access the show or movie version from Max, instead of the live TV recording. A YouTube TV Community Manager on Reddit has promptly addressed these reports, stating that they are already investigating the reported error. Unfortunately, there is no specific timeframe for when a solution may be released.
For now, customers who come across this error are recommended to power cycle their Smart TVs or streaming sticks and checking for any available device updates. Also recommended is to look for the particular movie or tv show episode under the “Extras” section of their DVR, and if all that fails, to get in touch directly with YouTube TV Live Support for more in-depth troubleshooting. The Community Manager on Reddit is also requesting that screenshots of the their “Stats for Nerds” be submitted along with their posts.
This issue, while not appearing to be a major one, underscores the intricacies of interconnected streaming platforms. Merging content libraries can be a double-edged sword, as it brings both opportunities and potential challenges. Let’s hope that the engineers at YouTube TV can quickly resolve the technical issue and restore uninterrupted access to saved shows for subscribers.
Earlier this week, Samsung released the January 2024 security patch for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4. Those were the first two devices to pick up the latest security update. The company is now pushing the update to the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5, starting in the US.
US versions of Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 get January update
As of this writing, Samsung‘s January 2024 update is available for carrier-locked variants of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 in the US. The two foldables are picking up the new SMR (Security Maintenance Release) with the firmware build numbers F946USQS1BWL7 and F731USQS1BWL7, respectively. We can confirm the availability of the update for users on T-Mobile and Metro networks. A wider rollout should be just around the corner.
The latest updates for the factory-unlocked variants of Samsung’s 2023 foldables may or may not bear identical build numbers. However, the changelog will remain the same. The new release only brings this month’s security fixes, which isn’t surprising. Both Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 are coming fresh from the Android 14-based One UI 6.0 update, which they picked up in late November. It brought tons of new features and improvements.
As far as this month’s security fixes are concerned, there is a lot to talk about. The January 2024 SMR for Galaxy devices patches as many as 80 vulnerabilities—75 Android OS and five Galaxy-specific issues. Among the 75 Android OS flaws patched this month were one critical, six moderate, and 68 high-severity vulnerabilities. Four of the five Galaxy issues were moderate vulnerabilities in the Notification service, Samsung DeX, and My Files.
The fifth Galaxy-specific flaw was a high-severity improper authentication vulnerability in the Bluetooth pairing process. It allowed remote attackers to establish a pairing process without user interaction. The January security update patches all of these flaws in Galaxy devices. Note that the five Galaxy patches from Samsung don’t apply to Android products from other brands. The 75 Android OS patches do.
Fourth-gen Samsung foldables are receiving this update widely
When Samsung released the January update for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4, the availability was limited to Europe. The update is now available widely, including in Asia and the US. The new build numbers stateside are F936USQS3EWL9 and F721USQS3EWL9, respectively. The Korean firm will push the new SMR to more devices in the coming days. We will keep you posted accordingly.
Samsung‘s Galaxy S24 flagships may cost less than the Galaxy S23 in Europe. If leaks are accurate, all storage variants of the smaller two models will see a price cut. The price of the 256GB Ultra model may go up. This is likely because of the upgrade from 8GB to 12GB RAM. The Plus model is also jumping from 8GB RAM to 12GB across the board but the rumored switch to the Exynos chipset might have allowed the company to lower the price.
Galaxy S24 prices may go down in Europe
If you recall, Samsung shipped the Galaxy S23 series with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor globally. It equipped the smaller two models and the 256GB Ultra with 8GB RAM. The 512GB and 1TB storage variants of the latter have 12GB RAM. This year, the company is giving 12GB RAM as standard on the Plus and Ultra models. The vanilla Galaxy S24 still has 8GB RAM.
Additionally, Samsung is rumored to use the Exynos 2400 processor on the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ in Europe, with the Ultra getting the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 globally. The switch to the in-house Exynos processor lowered the BOM (bill of materials) cost of the former duo. It is seemingly passing the benefit to customers. Reliable tipster Roland Quandt says the phones will cost €50 less than their respective predecessors.
The vanilla Galaxy S24 will be priced at €899 for the 128GB storage variant and €959 for the 256GB variant. For the Plus model, Samsung will charge €1,149 for 256GB storage and €1,269 for 512GB storage. However, if you grab the 256GB Galaxy S24 Ultra, you will have to shell out €1,449, €50 more than the 2023 model. Its 512GB and 1TB variants will cost €1,569 and €1,809, respectively—which is a €10 price cut.
Of course, these aren’t official prices. Samsung won’t share the pricing details of the new flagships before launch. However, the figures come from reliable tipster Roland Quandt via X. While the source says the prices are specifically for Italy, we expect similar figures in most European countries. Dutch publication GalaxyClub reported the same prices for the Galaxy S24 trio last week.
Samsung has priced the new flagships aggressively
If the Galaxy S24 series arrives with this pricing in Europe, it would be an aggressive move from Samsung. The new flagships don’t bring many hardware upgrades but there are plenty of new software features to look forward to. The company has baked AI into the system, delivering unparalleled on-device AI capabilities. It remains to be seen how Samsung prices the phones in other markets. There are rumors about a price increase in its homeland, South Korea.
Google announced Teams for Android Auto back in May at I/O 2023 but didn’t say when exactly it will be available. Nearly a year after the announcement, Microsoft has finally confirmed that Teams will be coming to Android Auto next month.
The information is tucked away into the Microsoft 365 roadmap and doesn’t include any other details. The only thing mentioned is that Microsoft Teams will arrive on Android Auto in February 2024.
Microsoft also notes that Teams on Android Auto will allow users to “easily join meetings from the calendar view, quickly call your speed dial contacts and see your recent calls on your Android phones.”
Android Auto and Android Automotive have been quite successful lately, as more car manufacturers announced in the past 12 months have decided to adopt Google’s platforms.
Currently, Android Auto integrates with 200 million cars, Google claims. Cars made by Chevrolet, GM, Honda, Renault, and Volvo are among the many brands that have already opted to use Google’s Android Automotive in their cars.
Microsoft Teams is a more than welcome addition to Android Auto, especially that the platform has such a massive customer pool. As to why it took so long for Microsoft to bring Teams to Android Auto, your guess is as good as ours.
Perhaps Microsoft and Google thought I/O 2023 was a good opportunity to announce that Teams is coming to Android Auto, even though the app was nowhere near ready for primetime.
According to a new report, the Huawei P70 series will use a much better ultrawide camera. This information comes from Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known analyst who is usually spot-on with his information.
The Huawei P70 series will get a much better ultrawide camera
He said that Genius Electronic Optical will provide Huawei with a new ultrawide camera module. He also reiterated that Huawei is aiming for 100-120% growth with the Huawei P70 series devices (compared to the P60 series). That’s something he mentioned back in November too.
In any case, this new camera module will use a 1G6P lens. In other words, it will have one glass and six plastic elements. On top of that, this will be a 1-inch type sensor, which is a huge deal. Most ultrawide units out there use 1.56-inch type sensors.
Needless to say, the camera system on the Huawei P70 series will be a huge deal. That is one of the main selling points of Huawei devices, and it has been that for quite some time now. That is especially true when it comes to the company’s flagships.
That camera setup on the back will have the ‘XMAGE’ branding, and if the Huawei Mate 50 series, P60 series, and Mate 60 series are anything to go by, those cameras will be immensely capable.
Leica’s departure didn’t exactly mess up Huawei’s camera prowess, not at all
The fact that the Leica partnership is no longer active didn’t really affect Huawei’s cameras. Those smartphones provide outstanding images and really good video. So we’re looking forward to seeing what can Huawei achieve with even more powerful camera hardware.
We still don’t have the details regarding other cameras on the phone… well, phones, as we’re expecting to see three of them. The Huawei P60 series arrived back in March last year (global launch was in May), so we’re expecting a similar launch timeframe this time around.
Chances are we’ll see plenty more rumors by the time the launch event comes knocking.
It’s always sad to say goodbye to old applications that we used to use over the decades. However, the march of progress must continue, even when some of our favorite programs get overstepped. After nearly 30 years of existence, Microsoft is discontinuing Windows Wordpad.
Maybe you used this program to write your first book, do early school reports, or spend hours as a teenager typing up scripts for sitcoms in your bedroom (I remember the good old days), Windows Wordpad has been there. It’s an extremely simple program by today’s standards thanks to Microsoft Word and similar programs. However, you can’t deny that it has a lot of sentimental value.
Well, Windows is finally discontinuing Wordpad
We knew that this day was coming, as Wordpad has been depreciated since September 2023. Now, if you are still using the program, you won’t log on to your computer to find it gone just yet. The program was removed in the preview build of Windows 11. So, you can still access it in the current stable version of Windows 11.
The preview version is version 26020 released on the Canary Channel. So, once that version makes it to the stable channel, you will no longer see Wordpad. Also, if you reinstall Windows 11, you won’t see the program. It’s definitely sad to see the program go even though not many people continue to use it.
Wordpad was first introduced back in 1995. Most of us used to ask kids back when we just needed a program to type down words and not much more. However, as adults, our needs are much more robust. Thus, we need programs with much more robust features, and capabilities. Wordpad just couldn’t keep up.
That’s not the only program going away
The Windows People app is also going away. However, its spirit will live on, unlike Wordpad’s. People was introduced with Windows 8, and it’s a digital address book. Folks used it to manage all of their contacts and addresses.
Well, all the functionality of the People app is being moved over to Outlook. So, you’ll be able to access all of the features natively from within Outlook. This eliminates the need to have a separate app.
There are other minor changes coming with the latest version of Windows 11, the company wrote an extended blog post about the changes.
According to Surfshark, a third of data collected by these apps is susceptible to tracking by third-party advertisers or data brokers, posing a significant threat to user privacy.
In the latest study conducted by Surfshark’s Research Hub, an in-depth analysis of 100 popular apps has revealed troubling trends in data privacy practices. The research zeros in on shopping and food delivery apps, shedding light on the unsettling reality that Amazon Shopping and Wish are leading when it comes to collecting user data.
It’s not surprising that Amazon is taking the lead, but unfortunately, it’s for all the wrong reasons. Back in November 2023, Atlas VPN conducted a study that uncovered some unsettling facts. Amazon, along with eBay and Afterpay, emerged as the top Android shopping apps when it comes to collecting user data, surpassing all other apps in their data-hungry practices.
Shopping and Food Delivery Apps: Data Hungry Culprits
Surfshark’s study indicates that among various app categories, shopping and food delivery apps stand out as the most data-hungry, with Amazon Shopping and Wish taking the lead. An unexpected revelation is that more than a third of data collected by these apps is susceptible to tracking by third-party advertisers or data brokers, posing a significant threat to user privacy.
User Tracking and Linking: The Alarming Statistics
According to the company’s report, On average, shopping and delivery apps collect a staggering 21 out of 32 possible data points, with a startling 95% linked directly to the user’s identity.
Wish emerges as the most data-hungry app within this category, collecting 24 out of 32 data points, and utilizing over a third of the data to track its users. DoorDash and Wish stand out, with 40% of collected data points dedicated to user tracking, including sensitive information like email addresses, precise location, and purchase history.
Amazon, on the other hand, while not engaging in user tracking, emerges as a unique data collector, amassing 25 out of 32 possible data points, all intricately linked to the user’s identity.
Food Delivery Apps and Intrusive Data Practices
Zooming in on food delivery apps, Uber Eats takes the lead in tracking the most data points, sharing 12 out of 21 collected data points with third parties. The study also scrutinizes GrubHub and Instacart, uncovering their respective data collection practices.
App-wide Data Collection Trends
An astonishing 1523 data points are collected across the 100 apps under scrutiny, averaging 15 unique data points per app. Notably, 90% of these apps collect essential usage, diagnostic, and identifier data crucial for their functionality. Two-thirds of the apps collect user names and coarse location, while almost half track precise location data.
Facebook, Instagram, AI Generated Art, and Signal
Facebook and Instagram emerged as the most privacy-invasive apps, collecting all 32 data points defined by Apple. The app with the lowest data collection appetite is AI Generated Art, standing out as the sole app that refrains from gathering any data points. Signal, not so surprisingly, stands out in the top 10 most privacy-sensitive list, collecting only one data point (phone number) that is not linked to or used to track the user.
Surfshark
Recommendations for Users
Surfshark advises users to scrutinize developers’ reputations and data retention policies before downloading apps. Additionally, paying attention to constant permission requests for access to sensitive information and limiting app access to information only when in use can contribute to enhanced privacy.
The study analyzed 100 apps across 10 categories, selecting them based on search engine results. Three layers of data points were considered: unique data points collected, data linked to the user, and data used to track the user.
Surfshark’s Lead Researcher, Agneska Sablovskaja, emphasizes, “Understanding an app’s privacy policy is crucial for safeguarding digital autonomy.” With this study, Surfshark aims to empower users with knowledge, allowing them to make informed decisions about the apps they choose to incorporate into their digital lives.
Samsung will soon drop three new flagship Android smartphones in the market. The company will launch the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra on January 17. Ahead of that, it is busy hyping up the device. Samsung is also simultaneously working on obtaining regulatory certifications for the phones. It just picked up the IMDA certificates for the Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra in Singapore.
Galaxy S24 phones receive another regulatory approval
Over the past few months, Samsung’s Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra have received approval from several regulatory bodies around the world. The FCC in the US, BIS in India, KTR in South Korea, TKDN in Indonesia, and NBTC in Thailand are to name a few. Singapore’s IMDA has now joined this list. As of this writing, it appears to have certified only the latter two models. But the vanilla Galaxy S24 should also soon receive the IMDA approval.
Spotted by MySmartPrice, the Singaporean regulatory agency has certified the Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra with the model numbers SM-S926B/DS and SM-S926B/DS, respectively. These are the global versions of the phone with dual-SIM support. The listing on the IMDA’s official website doesn’t reveal any specs. It says the devices boast 5G cellular connectivity, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and UWB (Ultra Wideband).
However, this isn’t all we know about Samsung’s upcoming flagships. Leaks have already revealed detailed specs and alleged prices for some regions. The company has slightly redesigned the Ultra model to include a flat display and a titanium frame. The device also replaces the 10x zoom camera with a 5x solution. The rest of the hardware is mostly unchanged, including the display size, battery capacity, and the other four cameras.
On the inside, Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S24 Ultra with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and 12GB of RAM as standard. This chip may also power the Galaxy S24+ in most countries, with some regions getting the company’s in-house Exynos 2400 chip. Both variants have 12GB of RAM. The vanilla model, on the other hand, has 8GB of RAM and will arrive with the Exynos processor in most markets, excluding the US, Canada, and China.
The new Samsung flagships bring tons of AI features
The Galaxy S24 series does not bring many hardware upgrades over the Galaxy S23. The 2023 flagship lineup already boasts a capable camera system and a solid build. Samsung’s focus this year is to improve the user experience. It has built AI into the system, allowing for groundbreaking on-device and cloud-based AI features on the Galaxy S24. Time will tell whether the bet pays off. The new flagships are expected to go on sale at the end of this month.
Samsung‘s Android 14 update has reached a few more Galaxy devices. The company has released the update for the Galaxy A72, Galaxy A52 LTE, Galaxy A23 LTE, and Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2022). The Galaxy A33 5G is also now widely receiving the new Android version.
Galaxy A72 and more devices join Samsung Android 14 party
Samsung started pushing Android 14 to eligible Galaxy devices at the end of October 2023. Over the past couple of months, it has updated all recent flagship and premium models to the new Android version, which brings One UI 6.0. The update isn’t available globally for some devices but it is just a matter of time now.
In the meantime, the Korean firm continues to release Android 14 and One UI 6.0 to the remaining models. The Galaxy A72, which debuted in early 2021, is now picking up the update. First reported by X user @tarunvats33, the update is available in Russia with the firmware build number A725FXXU6EWL4. It should reach more markets in the coming days.
The update package weighs around 2.2GB and bundles the December 2023 Android security patch. Samsung’s official changelog reveals all the new features and improvements that the Galaxy A72 is getting with the One UI 6.0. The same goodies are also rolling out to the LTE versions of the Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A23. Their 5G versions have already received this update.
The former is picking up Android 14 in Russia with the build number A525FXXU6EWL3. The December 2023 security patch is part of the package for the Galaxy A52 LTE too. The update for the Galaxy A23 LTE, meanwhile, is available more widely. Depending on the region, the new build number for the phone is A235FXXU4DWL1 or A235MUBU4DWL1. It is getting the November patch.
The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2002) is another Samsung device that recently started receiving the Android 14-based One UI 6.0 update. It is available to users in Europe with the build number P613XXU4CWL1. The Korean firm is pushing the update to the mid-range tablet with the November security patch. It should get a newer security release in the coming months.
The update is available widely for the Galaxy A33 5G
In addition to these releases, Samsung has also expanded the availability of the Android 14 update for the Galaxy A33 5G. The device started picking up the new Android version over a month back but the rollout was limited to Europe back then. It is now available in more regions, with the November security patch in tow. The new build numbers are A336BXXU7DWL1, A3360ZHU7DWK6, and A336NKSU5DWL1.
Google Assistant has been the default voice assistant on Android phones for over half a decade. It’s been able to remain the top option over assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa and Samsung’s Bixby. However, it seems that OpenAI wants to throw in its chips and try to make it a shot to be your go-to Voice Assistant. According to a new report, OpenAI could be looking to make ChatGPT the default voice assistant on your Android phone.
Now, this was discovered via an APK deep-dive. Companies sometimes put strings of code in their current apps that hint at future features. However, that’s not a guarantee that the companies will unveil them. They can easily take the code out at any point, so you’ll want to take this news cautiously. It’s very possible that OpenAI will not unveil this feature.
OpenAI wants ChatGPT to be your AI default voice assistant
The code for this feature was discovered in ChatGPT version 1.2023.352. It was released last month and, within the code, we see an activity called com.openaI.voice.assistant.AssistantActivity. It’s hidden within the code, so it’s not accessible to users. However, the folks at Android Authority were able to get it up and running… Well, mostly.
When activated, you’ll see a familiar swirling animation pop up. It looks like the loading or “thinking” animation that you will see in the app. After about half a second, you will see the OpenAI white circle appear. Below that, you see a tiny microphone icon with four dots that represent the moving waveform. The four dots will elongate and shrink as you speak.
All of this will take up about the bottom third of the screen. So, it’s designed to be displayed on top of apps just like Google Assistant. At this point, we’re not 100% sure how you will access this assistant, but it will be a lot more convenient than having to navigate to the app itself. Unfortunately, the feature is very much incomplete, as the feature swiftly terminates after being summoned.
Divine intervention of the Google variety
Throughout all of 2023, Google has had a person of vendetta against ChatGPT for obvious reasons. It’s a tool that very much threatens a large chunk of Google’s revenue. So, there’s been a blood match between Google and OpenAI. Also, the $13 billion that Microsoft invested in ChatGPT didn’t make things any better for Google.
So, with OpenAI planning to potentially create a Google Assistant replacement, one can wonder if Google will pull any strings to stop this from happening. While Samsung’s phones are extremely popular, the Bixby assistant doesn’t quite threaten Google Assistant, as people typically don’t like Bixby. Another option is Amazon Alexa, but it’s very much tied to the Amazon ecosystem.
However, Chad GPT has a much broader appeal, and it’s pretty much the de facto choice for people to get their generative AI fix. So, it stands a chance of really cutting into Google Assistant’s usage. We’re pretty sure that Google is not going to stand for this, and we will probably see the two companies buttheads over chat GPS implementation. Only time will tell if this happens.
