The Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are receiving January 2024 update. The search giant rolls out monthly updates for its devices. The January 2024 update is the first of the year. It mainly focuses on fixing bugs and issues following last month’s big December Feature Drop. This time, Google took two more days to deliver the update instead of the first Monday of the month schedule.
Google Pixel 8, 8 Pro receive January 2024 update focusing on bug fixes
As per the January 2024 update changelog, Google has fixed a camera bug that was causing the camera app to crash in certain conditions. This is rolling out to other eligible devices apart from the Pixel 8 series. The list includes the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series as well as the Pixel 5, 5a, Pixel Fold, and Pixel Tablet.
Additionally, Pixel 8 series users are also getting two more fixes. The update resolves the flashing black screen issue that would appear while playing video in certain conditions. It also fixes a wallpaper bug that shows black on the home screen in certain cases.
The latest update also includes the January 2024 security patch. As per the Android security bulletin, it squashes a host of bugs and fixes security loopholes. The January 1 patch resolves 11 security issues whereas the January 5 patch fixes 49 critical-severity vulnerabilities.
January 2024 update rolling over-the-air
The build number of the January 2024 update in the global market for the Pixel 5a (5G), Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, and Pixel Tablet is UQ1A.240105.002. The global versions of the Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro have the firmware number UQ1A.240105.004. Meanwhile, the Verizon-locked versions of the aforementioned devices carry the build number UQ1A.240105.004.A1.
The January 2024 update for Pixel devices is rolling over the air. Since it is released in a phased manner, it should take some time to hit all eligible devices. Users can also manually check for the update by heading to Settings > System > System Update.
X, formerly Twitter, is introducing a new “basic” verification plan for small businesses. Previously, it cost $1,000 per month for everyone. The Elon Musk-owned social media platform has announced an 80% price reduction, bringing the monthly fee to $200. However, there’s a catch: only select businesses can subscribe to this plan.
X will offer a verified organization badge for $200 to SMB customers
X’s @Verified account shared the update on January 2, stating that the “basic tier” is available for $200 per month or $2,000 annually. This represents a flat 80% reduction, mainly aimed at “smaller businesses.” Notably, this is different from the four levels of X Premium — Free, Basic, Premium, and Premium+ — available to personal accounts.
What’s the difference between the Full Access plan and the Basic plan?
The Basic plan is designed to help businesses find customers and expand their reach through advertising. This plan offers priority support and advertising credits but does not include a 2x boost in hiring or affiliations. With affiliations, X refers to accounts with a blue checkmark and the organization’s logo beside it. Additionally, access to Grok AI and Media Studio, previously TweetDeck, is included.
On the other hand, the Gold checkmark Full Access plan provides a more comprehensive suite of features. In addition to priority support and advertising credits, it offers a 2x boost in hiring capabilities and the ability to form affiliations. It’s important to note that each affiliate account costs $50 monthly. Moreover, it allows businesses to reach more customers organically and recruit talent more effectively with the 2x hiring boost. For a limited time, the Full Access plan also offers advertising credits that organizations or any of their affiliates can use every month, along with dedicated support.
But anyway, $1,000 monthly is a sweet deal for most small and medium-sized businesses. Therefore, the $200 monthly or $2,000 yearly “basic” plan makes more sense for SMBs.
Managing emails on Gmail for Android can be quite frustrating when there’s no “Select All” option available. In contrast to the desktop version, where this feature has been available for quite some time, the app has required users to tap on each email individually in order to perform actions such as deleting, archiving, or moving them to different folders. However, the situation has changed now, as Google has at last introduced a “Select All” button to the Gmail app for Android that seems to be rolling out widely.Some users first noticed the new feature back in September, when hidden flags were discovered suggesting that Google was developing it. However, its availability was limited until recently, when an increasing number of users started reporting sightings on Reddit. After conducting tests on various devices and accounts, Android Police is also now reporting that the “Select All” feature is now available on the Gmail app for Android, regardless of the app version.
Gmail’s new “Select All” button
The Select All feature is user-friendly and functions as intended. To select all the emails in a view, simply long-press on one email or tap on the sender’s avatar. Then, navigate to the top of the screen and tap on the Select All button. It’s as easy as that! You have the freedom to perform various actions, including deleting, archiving, labeling, or marking as read. This feature is fully functional across all views, including search results, inboxes, and categories.The Gmail app for Android just got even better with this new addition. Alongside its existing features, this update is sure to enhance the user experience. It’s quite remarkable that Google has finally introduced a feature that is both fundamental and user-friendly. Although it may have taken them some time, it’s better late than never. Make sure to update your Gmail app to the latest version if you haven’t seen the Select All option yet. It’s definitely worth checking out.
Last month, both the ASUS ROG Phone 8 and ROG Phone 8 Pro surfaced in images, revealing their designs. Well, the ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro just appeared again, and its design is shown from all angles.
The ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro design gets shared again, from all angles this time
These images come from MySmartPrice, and you can check them all out below the article. As you can see, the ROG Phone 8 Pro will look much more like a regular phone. The same goes for the regular ROG Phone 8.
These will still be gaming smartphones, though, don’t worry about that. They’ll still offer a ton of gaming features, both software and hardware ones. You will spot shoulder triggers on the right-hand side of the phone.
Three cameras sit on the back, along with RGB lights. Those RGB lights will be programmable on the ‘Pro’ model, says the source. A flat display is included on the front side of the phone, and a centered display camera is also a part of the package.
The bezels will also be quite thin, and the phone will include powerful specifications too
The bezels will be quite thin, and you’ll also notice that an audio jack is included on this phone. This handset will also have rather powerful specifications, as expected.
Based on rumors, it will be fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. It will feature a 6.7-inch fullHD+ display with a 165Hz refresh rate. That will be an LTPO display with, by the way.
A 50-megapixel main camera (Sony’s IMX890 sensor) will be backed by a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 32-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom). A 32-megapixel selfie camera was also mentioned.
You can expect to get up to 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM here
The ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro will include up to 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.0 flash storage. Android 14 will come pre-installed on the device with the ROG UI.
A rather large battery will also be in use, a 5,500mAh unit. 65W wired charging is also expected, along with Bluetooth 5.3, 5G support, and more. The ASUS ROG Phone 8 series will launch on January 8.
iFixit and the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) petitioned the FTC (the Federal Trade Commission) to create new right-to-repair requirements at the end of last year. Now, the FTC wants to hear from actual consumers before it decides whether to draft rules in response to that petition. The FTC announced the request for public comments on Jan. 2, 2024, and the submission portal will remain open for 30 days. Anyone who’d like to comment can do so through the FTC’s online portal, and these comments will remain publicly available under the FTC-2023-0077 docket number.
The right-to-repair movement aims to make products more repairable and make those repairs more accessible. The idea is that if consumer electronics are easier to repair and replacement parts can be sourced, they can stay up and running for longer. This would reduce e-waste, save consumer dollars, and have other environmental benefits.
Up until recently, it was nearly impossible to get OEM replacement parts for independent repair from major companies, like Apple. That’s starting to change, with brands such as Apple and Google starting self-service repair programs. Google, in fact, has partnered with iFixit to sell complete repair kits for Pixel smartphones.
But there’s still a lot of work to be done. Some big companies have expanded independent repair offerings due to public pressure, but are not required to do so by law. That’s what iFixit and the PIRG are hoping to change by asking the FTC to draw up formal legislation. For the FTC to take action, it needs to see that right-to-repair is something that actually affects U.S. consumers, which is why it’s important to submit your comment.
iFixit believes your comments to the FTC might affect it’s position on right-to-repair
You can say just about anything in your statement to the FTC, but it should relate to your personal experiences with right-to-repair. Of course, you can oppose the creation of right-to-repair rules in your comments as well. If you aren’t sure exactly what to say, iFixit released a pre-written statement that consumers can submit expressing their support for the petition:
“The United States needs more Right to Repair rules. A lack of repair competition is hurting consumers and small repair businesses. Without national action to protect our repair rights, corporate repair monopolies will keep us wasting our own money, wasting our planet’s resources, and prematurely sending products to the dump. I support this petition and call on the FTC to take action!”
Otherwise, you can say whatever you like, but remember that comments will be posted publicly. Be sure to get them in by Feb. 2, 2024 to ensure the FTC considers them.
Two former Samsung employees, Mr. Kim and Mr. Bang, returned to Korea from China earlier this year. They were arrested on charges of leaking intellectual property related to Samsung’s 18-nano DRAM technologies. The accused individuals, who worked for China’s ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), have allegedly shared crucial Samsung memory technology secrets, earning “several million dollars” in the process.
The South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported the case and the suspects to prosecutors in May, prompting an investigation. Industry experts estimate (via Yonhap News Agency) the leaked information to worth about 2.3 trillion won ($1.8 billion). The case highlights growing concerns over chip technology leaks, with industry figures suggesting a fourfold increase in such incidents over the last five years.
Besides financial damage, the leak of Samsung’s 18-nano DRAM tech may also impact its competitive edge in the field
The NIS and prosecutors focused their initial investigations on semiconductor deposition technology. Mr. Kim, a retired Samsung employee who joined CXMT in China, reportedly shared insights and technology related to this field which is reportedly Samsung’s intellectual property. The authority only described the second person, Mr. Bang, as a “former Samsung subcontractor” and not much information about him and his contribution is known.
The leaks could potentially impact seven other Samsung semiconductor fabrication processes, prompting further investigations. Prosecutors have sought arrests for violating Korea’s Prevention and Protection of Industrial Technology Leakage Act, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations.
Based on analysis, the alleged leak could have significant repercussions for Samsung, with approximately 40% market control. The leaked technology might not only result in substantial financial damages to Samsung but also impact the company’s competitive edge, considering the years of research and development invested in the 18-nanometer DRAM technologies. The NIS noted a considerable rise in chip technology leaks, calling for stricter penalties.
In response to the allegations, CXMT issued a statement (via Reuters) asserting its commitment to respecting intellectual property rights and maintaining robust mechanisms to prevent the inflow of third-party information from its employees. However, the company didn’t provide any more specific comments on the matter of Samsung’s intellectual property theft.
In a lawsuit stemming from a data breach, DNA service provider 23andMe has drawn sharp criticism for its response letter, in which it attempts to pin the blame on the affected customers.
In October 2023, 23andMe, the popular DNA testing company based in Mountain View, California, experienced a data breach. During this incident, hackers exposed the personal information of more than 7 million customers.
Additionally, another hacker attempted to sell genetic records of 23andMe users for $100,000 for a bundle of 100,000 profiles. The information taken by the hackers in the data breach included the following details:
Names
Genders
Birth years
Ancestry reports
Some DNA data
Self-reported locations
Predicted relationships
Most recent login dates
Relationship labels (e.g., “mother,” “cousin”)
Health-related information based on genetic profiles
Percentage of DNA shared with DNA Relatives matches
As a consequence of the data breach, 23andMe is facing a lawsuit. In a letter filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, the company attributed the data breach to customers themselves, contending that the breach occurred because users reused their login credentials.
Specifically, the company claims, users employed the same usernames and passwords on 23andMe as on other websites that had experienced previous security breaches. According to 23andMe, this practice and users’ failure to update their passwords after these incidents were unrelated to any security lapses on 23andMe’s part.
The letter also claims that threat actors could not have caused “pecuniary harm” as it lacked Personal Identifiable Information (PII) data, such as social security number, driver’s license number, or any payment or financial information.
“… unauthorized actors managed to access certain user accounts in instances where users recycled their own login credentials—that is, users used the same usernames and passwords used on 23andMe.com as on other websites that had been subject to prior security breaches, and users negligently recycled and failed to update their passwords following these past security incidents, which are unrelated to 23andMe.” “Additionally, the information that the unauthorized actor potentially obtained about plaintiffs could not have been set to cause pecuniary harm (it did not include their social security number, driver’s license number, or any payment or financial information).”
23andMe
It is worth noting that initially, 23andMe claimed only 14,000 accounts were directly compromised, stating the hackers used “credential stuffing“, meaning stolen login credentials from other websites were used to access 23andMe accounts. This led some to criticize the company for suggesting user negligence played a role in the breach.
However, further investigation revealed the attackers accessed information from a much larger number of profiles: 5.5 million DNA Relatives profiles and 1.4 million Family Tree profiles connected to the compromised accounts. While 23andMe still maintains the initial breach involved 14,000 accounts, this broader access to information fueled criticism that the company downplayed the severity of the incident.
23andme leaked on a popular Russian hacker and cybercrime forum (Screenshot: Hackread.com)
It’s important to note that relying solely on passwords is considered a security vulnerability. This is why many experts advocate for two-factor authentication (2FA) as an additional layer of security. Interestingly, 23andMe introduced mandatory 2FA for all users after the breach, suggesting they acknowledged the password-only system wasn’t sufficient.
For insights into 23andMe’s claims, we reached out to Nick Rago, Field CTO at Salt Security, adds:, who emphasised that, “In this age of sophisticated social engineering attacks, any claim that a data breach can not cause “pecuniary harm” because it did not consist of social security numbers, driver’s license number, or credit card data has to be done tongue in cheek.”
Nick countered 23andMe’s version of things explaining hackers do not require PII data to harm unsuspecting users, especially with the emergence of deepfake and AI technologies. Nick also warned that revealing genealogy or relationship details can aid attackers in constructing targeted social engineering attacks on both small and large scales.
“Exposing any genealogy or relationship information would be quite useful to an attacker when building a targeted social engineering attack, whether it be targeted at scamming a consumer, stealing an identity, or as a phase of a more sophisticated attack campaign, such as getting privileged system access in a corporate infrastructure,” said Nick.
Erfan Shadabi, Cybersecurity Expert at comforte AG, told Hackread.com, “Attributing the entirety of blame to users is a flawed argument that oversimplifies the complex landscape of cybersecurity. While it is true that users must follow best practices for account safety, companies also must protect the sensitive information that has been entrusted to them. It is admirable that 23andMe has taken the recent step of requiring two-factor authentication (2FA) to strengthen defences against credential-stuffing attacks.”
In early November, we exclusively revealed the design of the Galaxy Xcover 7, Samsung’s upcoming rugged smartphone. We now have another set of exclusive official renders of the device to share with you courtesy of our trusted, confidential source. The new renders show the handset from more angles and include the official wallpaper for the phone.
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 7 new official renders
The latest Galaxy Xcover 7 renders reveal that Samsung will ship the device with a default wallpaper inspired by the Galaxy S23’s wallpaper. With the screen lit, we can now see its front design more clearly. Since we are talking about a rugged phone, there are thick bezels around the display with a U-shaped notch at the top. There’s a raised bumper along the edges to protect the screen during falls. The display itself should have a protective layer on top.
The back panel of the phone is user removable, and so should be the battery. Samsung has created grooved patterns on the cover for a stronger grip. The Galaxy Xcover 7 has a single camera on the back with a copper-colored ring around the lens. A dual LED flash unit sits below the camera. The edges of the phone also have a rugged design. The customizable action key on the left side has a similar copper-colored accent.
Those familiar with Samsung’s Xcover lineup already know that this key can be customized to execute any function. You can assign it to open an app or launch some other feature. On the other side of the phone are the power and volume buttons. The top edge has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microphone hole. There’s another microphone hole at the bottom, sitting alongside a USB Type-C port and a speaker.
We can also see two golden pins at the bottom of the Galaxy Xcover 7. This means the device will support charging over Pogo pins in addition to USB-C. It appears to lack a fingerprint scanner, though. We don’t expect Samsung to include an under-display solution while there is no physical scanner to be found in the renders we have today. The power button seemingly doesn’t incorporate one. We don’t have a confirmation, though.
Samsung will launch the new rugged phone soon
The Galaxy Xcover 7 may not remain under wraps for much longer. Leaks have already revealed most of its key specs. The device features a 6.6-inch display with an FHD+ resolution. We expect an LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protective layer. Under the hood, we might get MediaTek’s 5G-enabled Dimensity 6100+ chipset paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage.
The device is fueled by a 3,950mAh battery with 25W fast wired charging. It boasts NFC, Wi-Fi 5, and Bluetooth 5.3 and will run Android 14 out of the box. The handset should come with MIL-STD-810H-grade ruggedness, IP68 dust and water resistance, and drop-to-concrete resistance. It’s rumored to cost €379 or around $400. Samsung may launch the Galaxy Xcover 7 alongside the Galaxy Tab Active 5 over the next few months.
Google will retire the ‘Important’ tab feature in its Files by Google app available on both Android and iOS soon. Introduced last year and exclusively available for devices in India, the ‘Important’ tab scans users’ phones to identify crucial documents such as passports, IDs, and other essential files.
This ‘Important’ tab feature inside Files by Google aligned well with the Indian government’s DigiLocker service. However, Google will remove this feature from the app in the next update scheduled for February 15, 2024. Users should make copies of their important files before the tab’s discontinuation.
Users of the ‘Important’ tab in Google Files can leverage the share option in the Files app
As noted by an APK Insight post from 9to5Google, a notice inside the app informs about the removal of the ‘Important’ tab, emphasizing that the feature will no longer be available after February 15, 2024. It further states, “Your saved documents in the ‘Important’ tab will be permanently deleted from Files after this date. To save a copy of your documents, use the Share option to do so before 15 February 2024.”
Users who have utilized the ‘Important’ tab feature should take note that they will no longer have access to all files stored under this category inside the Files app after the specified date. To safeguard their crucial documents, users can create copies before the impending removal. Google suggests utilizing the ‘Share’ option within the app to create copies of the stored documents inside the ‘Important’ tab.
In an effort to prevent users from losing their important documents, Google will also send out notifications to users, informing them about the impending shutdown of the ‘Important’ tab inside Files by Google. The notification may look something like “Files is removing the Important tab. Your saved documents in the Important tab will be deleted after 15 February 2024”
2023 was the year of AI for Google, and it saw the introduction of Google Bard. We’ve known for a while that Bard was going to be powered up by Gemini, and now we have more information on that. According to a leak on X (formally Twitter), Google is working on a chatbot called Bard Advanced, and it looks like it will not be free to use.
Google is working on Bard Advanced, and it likely will not be free
Bard has been up for some time, and Google has powered up many of its services using it. However, in December, we were introduced to Bard powered by Gemini. This version of the chatbot uses the Gemini Pro LLM (large language model). This version is currently available and free to use.
However, the most advanced version of Gemini is called Gemini Ultra, and this model has the ability to generate images and audio along with text. It’s absolutely gigantic, and it’s in competition with OpenAI’s GPT-4 model. Gemini Ultra is currently not available at the moment, but Google did tease a January release.
Well, it appears that Google is going to power up Bard using Gemini Ultra, and it could be named Bard Advanced. So, Bard Advanced might be able to generate images and music. However, that remains to be seen.
Based on the code in Google Bard, as discovered by Bedros Pamboukian on X, Bard Advanced will cost money to use. Within the code, we see the text ” try Bart Advanced for 3 months, on us”. This means that you’ll have to pay for the service after a 3-month trial.
hi, bard advanced will be free for 3 months and you’ll need Google One too, enjoysies
the fact that it’s in prod implies it’s ready & being tested (currently an experiment)
again, not a leaker, but Google keeps putting stuff in plain sight and literally nobody realizes… pic.twitter.com/YqfAK77f0F
Also in the code, we see a non-functioning Google One link. This points to the fact that you may be required to have a Google One subscription to use Bard Advanced. This is similar to how you’re required to have an X Premium+ subscription to use Grok.
Right now, we don’t know the price for Bard Advanced so we’ll have to wait for more information to know for sure.
