Sony Xperia 1 V vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

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Sony Xperia 1 V vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
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Both Sony and Apple released immensely compelling flagship smartphones this year. Sony’s launched in May and became available in July. Apple’s both launched and went on sale in September. Having said that, we’re here to compare the Sony Xperia 1 V vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. If you’re in the market for a large flagship smartphone, with all the bells and whistles, these two phones are definitely worth checking out.

We’ll first list their specifications, as we usually do in comparisons. Following that, we’ll compare the two phones across several other categories. We’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life and charging, cameras, and audio output as well. With that in mind, let’s get this going.

Specs

Sony Xperia 1 V vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, respectively

– Screen size:
6.5-inch OLED display (flat, 120Hz LTPO, HDR)
6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion (flat, 120Hz, HDR10, 2,000 nits)
– Display resolution:
3840 x 1644
2796 x 1290
– SoC:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Apple A17 Pro
– RAM:
12GB (LPDDR5X)
8GB
– Storage:
256GB/512GB (UFS 4.0)
256GB/512GB/1TB (NVMe)
– Rear cameras:
48MP (f/1.9 aperture, 1.12um pixel size, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, Dual Pixel PDAF), 12MP (f/2.3 aperture, Dual Pixel PDAF, 2.5x-5.2x continuous zoom)
48MP (f/1.78 aperture, second-gen sensor-shift OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FoV, macro photography), 12MP (telephoto, f/2.8 aperture, 5x optical zoom)
– Front cameras:
12MP (f/2.0 aperture, 1.25um pixel size)
12MP (f/1.9 aperture) + TrueDepth
– Battery:
5,000mAh
4,422mAh
– Charging:
30W wired, 15W wireless, reverse wireless (charger not included)
20W wired, 15W wireless, reverse wired charging (charger not included)
– Dimensions (unfolded):
165 x 71 x 8.3mm
159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25mm
– Weight:
187 grams
221 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3
– Security:
Side-facing fingerprint scanner
Advanced facial scanning
– OS:
Android 13 (upgradable to Android 14)
iOS 17
– Price:
$1,399.99 (often discounted to around $1,000)
$1,199
– Buy:
Amazon
Apple

Sony Xperia 1 V vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Design

The Sony Xperia 1 V and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max are visibly different devices. They both do have a flat frame all around, but that’s basically where the similarities end. The Xperia 1 V has a flat display without a display camera hole or notch. It has slightly thicker bezels at the top and bottom, though. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, includes a flat display too, with thin, uniform bezels. However, it does also have a pill-shaped cutout in that display for the front-facing camera and facial scanning tech.

Both smartphones have three cameras on the back. The Xperia 1 V has three vertically aligned units, which are placed in the top-left corner. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a recognizable camera setup on the back; the one Apple has been using for several generations. Those cameras also sit in the top-left corner. In addition to the power/lock and volume rocker keys, both smartphones do have an additional button. The Xperia 1 V has a shutter button on the right, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max has an Action Button on the left.

Despite the fact the Xperia 1 V has a smaller display, it is taller due to its aspect ratio. It is also considerably narrower than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, while being the same thickness as Apple’s device. The Xperia 1 V is also considerably lighter at 187 grams. The iPhone 15 Pro Max weighs 221 grams. Both smartphones offer an IP68 certification for water and dust resistance, which is always nice to see. They do feel different in the hand, though, but the premium aspect is easily noticeable on both.

Sony Xperia 1 V vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Display

There is a 6.5-inch 4K (3840 x 1644) OLED display included on the Sony Xperia 1 V. That display is flat, and it supports a 120Hz refresh rate. In addition to that, HDR content is also supported here. That panel has a 21:9 aspect ratio, and around 84.2-percent screen-to-body ratio. The display is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 from Corning.

iphone 15 pro max AM AH 18

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the flip side, has a 6.7-inch 2796 x 1290 panel. That is a flat LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display. That panel also has a 120Hz refresh rate, while it supports HDR10 content. Dolby Vision support is also a part of the package. This panel has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, and an almost 90 percent screen-to-body ratio. This display gets up to 2,000 nits when it comes to brightness. It is protected by the Ceramic Shield Glass.

In all honesty, there’s not much to complain about when it comes to either of these two displays. They both offer vivid colors, deep blacks, and great viewing angles. The touch response is also quite good. The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s display does have the advantage of being a bit brighter, but the difference is not that big. The Xperia 1 V has a sharper panel, though you’ll be able to utilize 4K resolution only with 4K content. Not many people will notice the difference on a display of this size.

Sony Xperia 1 V vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Performance

Sony’s flagship is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. That is Qualcomm’s second most powerful chip at the moment, it was the most powerful one until recently. The phone is also equipped with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and UFS 4.0 flash storage. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the flip side, is fueled by the Apple A17 Pro chip. It includes 8GB of RAM, and NVMe flash storage.

Both of these chips are truly powerful, even though the Apple A17 Bionic does have the edge in terms of sheer performance power. The Xperia 1 V does have the edge in the RAM and storage departments, when it comes to sheer performance, that is. How does that reflect on a day-to-day performance, however? Well, both smartphones do a great job in that regard, to say the least.

They’re both perfectly smooth. They can handle anything you throw at them with ease. That goes for regular tasks, and even more complicated ones, such as gaming. No matter what game you dig up or how demanding it is, these two handsets can handle it. That’s not surprising, but it’s worth noting. They both do get quite warm during gaming sessions, but never too warm to handle.

Sony Xperia 1 V vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Battery

A 5,000mAh battery sits inside the Sony Xperia 1 V, while a 4,441mAh unit can be found inside the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple’s iPhones usually have smaller battery packs than their Android counterparts. That’s because they do work differently, and usually require less battery power to provide similar battery life. That being said, is the battery life any good on these two phones? Well, yes, it is, definitely.

From what we’ve seen, the iPhone 15 Pro Max does offer a bit more in that regard, but the difference is not that big. Getting over 8 hours of screen-on-time with the iPhone 15 Pro Max was perfectly doable for us. The phone lasted quite a bit once the initial struggles were over. The Xperia 1 V, on the other hand, can provide up to 7-7.5 hours of screen-on-time, presuming you’re not pushing it hard with gaming and so on. Your mileage could and will vary, of course. Each of us uses our phones differently, so we do get different results. What we can say, however, is that both of these phones offer great battery life, and not many people will have complaints.

When it comes to charging, Sony’s flagship supports 30W wired, 15W wireless, and 5W reverse wireless charging. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, supports 20W wired, 15W wireless (MagSafe and Qi2), and 7.5W Qi charging. 4.5W reverse wired charging is also supported here. Do note that neither phone comes with a charger in the box, though.

Sony Xperia 1 V vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: Cameras

There are three cameras on the back of each of these two phones. The Sony Xperia 1 V includes a 48-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit, and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera (3.5x-5.2x continuous optical zoom). 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).

iphone 15 pro max AM AH 25

Quite a few flagship smartphones this year were really compelling in the camera department, and these two are definitely close to the top. They both offer great camera performance in both still images and video. The iPhone 15 Pro Max does have the edge in the video department, while the situation with stills is a close battle and more a thing of preference than anything else. We’d say that the iPhone 15 Pro Max is still more consistent, even when it comes to stills, though.

Images from the iPhone 15 Pro Max are almost always spot on, and it’s one of the best point-and-shoot cameras out there (when it comes to phones). The Xperia 1 V is also a very good point-and-shoot camera, but its magic lies in its very capable camera apps. You can really dial in your shot to make it look perfect, if you’re so inclined. The two phones capture plenty of details during the day, while they also do an outstanding job in nighttime conditions too. Their secondary and tertiary cameras do a good job of following the main camera’s color science too.

Audio

Both phones are equipped with a set of stereo speakers, and both of them do a great job. The sound is plenty loud, and also very well-balanced. The iPhone 15 Pro Max technically provides a slightly louder output, but the difference is so minuscule that many of you wouldn’t even notice the difference.

The Xperia 1 V does have one advantage when it comes to wired audio, it includes a 3.5mm headphone jack. You’ll need to utilize the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s USB-C port in order to connect your headphones via a wired. Both smartphones are equipped with Bluetooth 5.3, however.


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Comcast’s Xfinity breached by Citrix Bleed; 36 million customer’s data accessed

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Comcast’s Xfinity breached by Citrix Bleed; 36 million customer’s data accessed
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In a notice for its customers, Xfinity acknowledges it recently fell victim to a data security incident. Xfinity is Comcast’s brand for TV, internet, and home phone services, sometimes referred to as Comcast Cable Communications.

During the data breach the attackers were able to access 35.8 million customers’ usernames and hashed passwords. For some customers, other personal information may have been exposed, such as names, contact information, the last four digits of social security numbers, dates of birth, and secret questions combined with answers.

On October 25, 2023, Xfinity discovered suspicious activity and subsequently determined that between October 16 and 19 unauthorized access to its internal systems occured.

Xfinity says it notified federal law enforcement and started an investigation, which revealed the attackers had used the Citrix Bleed vulnerability. Affiliates of at least two ransomware groups, LockBit and Medusa, have been observed exploiting Citrix Bleed as part of attacks against organizations. Whether one of those affiliates was behind this attack is not known.

On October 10, 2023, Citrix released security updates to address Citrix Bleed, but many organizations struggle to patch in a timely manner. Although you would expect a large company like Comcast to have some type of vulnerability and patch management deployed.

The company is notifying customers through a variety of channels, including through the Xfinity website, email, and news media.

Xfinity has required customers to reset their passwords to protect affected accounts. In addition, Xfinity strongly recommends that customers enable two-factor or multi-factor authentication to secure their Xfinity account.

It is not advisable to use the same password for multiple accounts, but if you did, Xfinity recommends that you change the passwords for any accounts that share your Xfinity password.

Customers with questions can contact Xfinity’s dedicated call center at 888-799-2560 toll-free 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available on the Xfinity website.

Data breach

There are some actions you can take if you are, or suspect you may have been, the victim of a data breach.

Data breach

There are some actions you can take if you are, or suspect you may have been, the victim of a data breach.

  • Check the vendor’s advice. Every breach is different, so check with the vendor to find out what’s happened, and follow any specific advice they offer.
  • Change your password. You can make a stolen password useless to thieves by changing it. Choose a strong password that you don’t use for anything else. Better yet, let a password manager choose one for you.
  • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). If you can, use a FIDO2-compliant hardware key, laptop or phone as your second factor. Some forms of two-factor authentication (2FA) can be phished just as easily as a password. 2FA that relies on a FIDO2 device can’t be phished.
  • Watch out for fake vendors. The thieves may contact you posing as the vendor. Check the vendor website to see if they are contacting victims, and verify any contacts using a different communication channel.
  • Take your time. Phishing attacks often impersonate people or brands you know, and use themes that require urgent attention, such as missed deliveries, account suspensions, and security alerts.
  • Set up identity monitoring. Identity monitoring alerts you if your personal information is found being traded illegally online, and helps you recover after.

We don’t just report on threats – we help safeguard your entire digital identity

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Protect your—and your family’s—personal information by using Malwarebytes Identity Theft Protection.


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The kid who leaked GTA VI could spend life in the hospital

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The kid who leaked GTA VI could spend life in the hospital
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Remember when the internet was turned on its ear by the massive GTA VI leak? Well, this has been an ongoing story, even though it’s been on the back burner for a while. Well, the story continues, as a young leaker involved with the GTA VI leak could spend the rest of his life in a hospital.

To recap, Rockstar Games, the company developing GTA VI, went through a storm of drama last year when 90 clips of the unreleased game were leaked online. Other important information was leaked like the source code for the game. The hacker group, named Lapsus$, demanded a ransom from the company, but it was unpaid.

Soon after, two individuals were arrested, and both of them are under the age of 19. One member is 18-year-old Arion Kurtaj, and the other was identified to be a 17-year-old male. His name was not released because he’s an under-aged minor. Both were arrested for this hack and for hacking other larger companies like Microsoft, Nvidia, and Uber.

One GTA VI leaker could spend life in a hospital

Kurtaj was under the spotlight soon after this news broke. While that’s true, the GTA hack wasn’t his first run-in with the law. He was arrested and released on bail for hacking Nvidia and BT/EE. You’d think that he’d learned his lesson. However, in a hotel, using an Amazon Fire Stick, the hotel’s TV, and his phone, he carried out his attack on Rockstar. This led to another arrest.

After a mental health assessment, it was discovered that Kurtaj suffers from acute autism. The doctors deemed him unable to stand trial because of this. This, undoubtedly, led the trial in a different direction. Adding fuel to the fire was the fact that Kurtaj was revealed to be violent in nature.

As part of the mental assessment, examiners found that he “continued to express the intent to return to cybercrime as soon as possible. He is highly motivated.” This is after being arrested multiple times, so the jury made a pretty heavy decision.

Kurtaj will remain in a hospital indefinitely. It’s essentially a life sentence, but it’s not written in stone. If he’s deemed no longer a danger. We’re going to have to see how this sentence is carried out.

In any case, the trailer for GTA VI recently hit the internet, and people are raving about it. It’s slated to come out in 2025.


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Pricing, Channels, How to Sign Up in 2024

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Pricing, Channels, How to Sign Up in 2024
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Philo TV is currently the cheapest Live TV Streaming service available. Priced at just $25 per month, it even undercuts Sling TV. Despite its cheap price, Philo is still one of the relative “unknowns” in the streaming world. But it is one that cord-cutters will love. Seeing as $25 is a whole lot less than what cable companies charge for the same channels.

The biggest reason why Philo TV is not as popular as, say, YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV (besides the fact it isn’t baked by a popular brand in the streaming industry like YouTube or Hulu) is the fact that it does not offer all of the channels of its competitors. It offers around 63 channels – though it is quickly adding more and more to its service. And it also doesn’t have any local or OTA channels included, which helps them keep the cost down.

Philo reported some pretty rapid growth in 2019, and we’re expecting the same in 2020. As more and more people were forced to stay home most of the year. And looking for something to watch, Philo came in as a great option since it was cheap and had plenty of channels to watch content on.

Is Philo a great option for cord-cutters out there? We’ll try to answer that question and tell you everything you need to know.

What is Philo TV?

Philo TV is what many would call a “skinny” Live TV Streaming service. Since it does not offer all of the channels that you’d expect a streaming Live TV service to offer. But it does offer quite a few channels that competitors do not.

Discovery owns Philo TV, and it is actually still fairly new. It was pretty recent that you could only watch Philo on your smartphone. But now it is available on a lot more platforms, and the free trial has been extended to seven days from three.

Philo is able to stay pretty cheap because it does not carry any local channels or sports channels. And those are usually what drives up the cost on streaming Live TV services. Just look at YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV. As they add more sports, they end up raising prices rather significantly.

Philo TV has channels from A&E, AMC, Discovery, Scripps, and Viacom (distributors of Comedy Central, BET, MTV and others). Which are not usually available on other streaming services. Making it a bit more unique. Though these companies are all part owners of Philo too, so this makes plenty of sense from a competition standpoint.

Sign Up For Philo TV

How much does Philo TV cost?

Update: On May 25, 2021, Philo announced that prices will be increasing to $25 per month for the service. And this starts on June 8. The price is only for new customers, so if you sign up before June 8, you will be locked into the $20 per month price.

Philo TV, much like YouTube TV, aims to keep things simple. Offering a single plan that includes all of its channels. That plan will cost you $20 per month.

Philo TV users do have the ability to add STARZ for $9 per month. EPIX is available for $6 per month. Philo TV routinely offers some great discounts on these add-ons. In fact earlier this year, you could sign up and get either one for half price for the first three months. So keep a look out for some specials on STARZ and EPIX through Philo TV.

At launch, Philo TV was just $16 per month for 45 channels. They also offered a second plan that was $20 for 58 channels. It eliminated the cheaper plan in May 2019. Sticking with just one plan, and continuing to add more channels to that plan.

philo tv
Philo TV: STARZ & EPIX

Is there a free trial available?

Philo TV does offer a seven-day free trial for its service as well as a seven-day free trial for STARZ and EPIX when you add those to your account.

To get started, you can click here and then enter your phone number or email address. This will get the process started for you. Philo TV’s free trial sign-up process is a bit unique. You initially sign up with your phone number or email. And then a couple of days later, you’ll be asked to add your credit card information. And, of course, you’ll be billed after the seven days are up unless you cancel.

Sign Up For Philo TV

What device can I watch Philo TV on?

Over the past couple of years, Philo TV has greatly expanded its list of supported devices. It is now available on just about every platform.

Here’s every platform that supports Philo TV as of December 2020:

  • Web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari)
  • iPhone and iPad
  • Android smartphones and tablets
  • Android TV
  • Chromecast via Android
  • Apple TV
  • Roku
  • Amazon Fire TV

Currently, the gaming consoles do not support Philo TV. But given how quickly Philo TV is expanding support, that is likely to come very soon.

philo devices
Philo TV: Supported Devices

Some have mentioned that the video quality on Philo TV is a bit softer than what you might find on other streaming TV services that cost nearly three times more. This could be due to Philo TV really compressing the content to deliver it for less, and keep their prices down. If that’s a big deal for you, then you may want to look elsewhere.

Sign Up For Philo TV

How many concurrent streams can I have?

With Philo TV, you can stream on up to three devices concurrently. That’s right on par with the competition. Most other streaming Live TV services also offer up to three screens at once in their base package.

You also have the ability to create up to ten profiles. So everyone in your home can have their own profile for watching Philo TV.

What internet speed is recommended for streaming Philo TV?

There are recommended Internet speeds for Philo TV. You can stream Philo TV on the internet as slow as 3Mbps. And to take full advantage of HD quality, you only need about 13Mbps for reliable streaming. Here’s how Philo lays it out:

  • 13Mbps – Recommended for reliable HD streaming with multiple streams or other devices on the same network
  • 7Mbps – Stream one HD Video
  • 3Mbps – Stream SD quality Video
  • Lower than 3Mbps – you may notice Philo load slowly and/or rebuffer constantly. Video quality is also reduced.

What channels are available?

As mentioned already, there are 70 channels available on Philo TV, which is also up quite a bit from just a year ago. The following is a list of Philo TV channels available as of December 2023.

  • A&E
  • AccuWeather
  • AMC
  • American Heroes Channel
  • Animal Planet
  • aspireTV
  • AXS TV
  • BBC America
  • BBC World News
  • BET
  • BET Her
  • Catchy Comedy
  • CLEO TV
  • CMT
  • Comedy Central
  • Cooking Channel
  • Crime + Investigation
  • Deck the Hallmark
  • Destination America
  • Discovery Channel
  • Discovery Family
  • Discovery Life
  • EarthxTV
  • FeTV
  • Food Network
  • FYI
  • Game Show Network
  • getTV
  • Great American Country
  • Great American Family
  • Hallmark Channel
  • Hallmark Drama
  • Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
  • H&I
  • HGTV
  • History
  • IFC
  • INSP
  • Investigation Discovery
  • Law&Crime
  • Lifetime
  • LMN
  • Logo
  • Magnolia Network
  • MeTV
  • MeTV+
  • Military History
  • Motor Trend
  • MTV
  • MTV Classic
  • MTV Live
  • MTV2
  • Nick Jr.
  • Nickelodeon
  • Nicktoons
  • Oprah Winfrey Network
  • Paramount Network
  • PopTV
  • REVOLT
  • Science Channel
  • Smithsonian
  • Start TV
  • Story TV
  • Sundance TV
  • Tastemade
  • TeenNick
  • TLC
  • Travel Channel
  • TV Land
  • TV One
  • UPtv
  • VH1
  • Vice
  • WE tv

As mentioned before, Philo TV does not include any local channels like ABC, CBS, NBC, or FOX. Nor does it have any sports like ESPN or Fox Sports. You can, of course, get your locals from using an Antenna. And as long as you don’t watch any sports, then Philo TV is a great option.

Sign Up For Philo TV

Do any channels stream in 4K?

Unfortunately, none of these channels stream in 4K. However, if you are watching through a device like the NVIDIA SHIELD TV, you can get 4K upscaling on this content. Not quite the same, but it will look better on your 4K TV.

All of these channels will stream in HD, though. This depends largely on your internet connection and speed, though. As mentioned earlier in this post. If you have very slow internet, you’ll be stuck in SD, which is essentially 480p.

Live streaming content is available in 720p, and on-demand content will be available in 1080p.

What features are available?

Most Live TV Streaming services offer some added features to help set their own service apart from the competition. And Philo does as well. Here are all of the features that are included with Philo TV.

DVR

Much like YouTube TV, Philo also offers DVR included in its regular price. Other services offer DVR but as an added fee on top of the monthly fee. Philo is the only other Live TV Streaming Service that offers unlimited DVR storage, too. However, unlike YouTube TV, they are not available for nine months. In fact, it’s a much shorter amount of time. Just 30 days.

Allowing you to record your favorite shows and movies, but you won’t be able to keep them forever. Unless, they air quite often. As Philo will continue to record every episode, even if it is a rerun. So you’ll be able to keep popular favorites like Family Guy, The Simpsons, Two and a Half Men, and The Big Bang Theory in your DVR. Since they do air on multiple channels daily.

You’ll never need to worry about deleting movies and shows on your DVR, as Philo will do that automatically after 30 days. And it’s unlimited storage.

Fast-forward through commercials

Like any other streaming TV service, there are commercials on Philo TV. You’re going to – for the most part – see the same commercials as those watching the same channel on YouTube TV, cable, or Sling TV. Now based on the channel, you may be able to fast-forward through commercials. This mostly depends on whether or not you are recording that show or not. And if you are already at the “Live” part of the show, then you won’t be able to fast-forward, of course.

On-demand content

Philo also offers plenty of on-demand content from the channels it offers. Channels like AMC, BBC America and IFC have classic films as well as new blockbuster movies available to stream on-demand. There are additional on-demand movies available for rental fees. These range from $2.99 to $4.99.

Philo TV also has over 40,000 shows that are available to watch on-demand. Unfortunately, there is not an easy way to browse video-on-demand content. You’ll have to just look for the “VOD” tag on the show profile pages, to see that it is available on demand.

Sign Up For Philo TV

philo tv
Philo TV: Live TV Guide

Philo TV Interface

The Philo TV interface is actually quite nice. So, there are three tabs at the top of the interface. These are Home, Guide, and Search. Which are pretty much self-explanatory. Basically, Home is showing you content that Philo thinks you’ll want to watch. The Guide is the typical live guide that most TV services have. Search is where you can search for something to watch. The Home screen also shows you trending content that is currently live, so you can see what everyone is interested in right now.

It’s a very simple-to-use interface, and the guide looks really slick.

Is Philo TV worth the price?

Philo doesn’t have a lot of features, but it does have a lot of channels for not a lot of money. There are definitely some things missing here like local and sports channels. But if you aren’t a big watcher of sports, then $20 per month for 63 channels is not to bad. By keeping their list of features down, they are able to keep the price down, too.

YouTube TV and Hulu with Live TV both offer a lot more features, however, they are also more than three times as much per month, as Philo TV. So the saying “you get what you pay for” is definitely valid here.

Since Philo TV has a lot of channels from ViacomCBS and Discovery, which are not available on a lot of other services, it can also be a good addition to your streaming TV setup. Use Sling TV and Philo TV together. It will get a bit confusing as to which channel is on which service, but doable. And a lot less than Comcast, Verizon, or AT&T would charge for cable TV.

If you’re thinking of checking out Philo TV, you can sign up for a seven-day free trial of the service by clicking here. It’s definitely worth trying, even if you ultimately end up not keeping it.

Sign Up For Philo TV


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How Outlook notification sounds can lead to zero-click exploits

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How Outlook notification sounds can lead to zero-click exploits
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An Akamai researcher has found two vulnerabilities in Windows that can be combined to achieve a full, zero-click remote code execution (RCE) in Outlook.

Both vulnerabilities were responsibly disclosed to Microsoft and addressed in the August 2023 and October 2023 patch Tuesdays, so the researcher felt it was no problem to disclose their findings.

The first vulnerability, listed as CVE-2023-35384, is a Windows HTML platforms security feature bypass vulnerability. It allows an attacker to craft a malicious file or send a malicious URL that would evade Security Zone tagging, resulting in a loss of integrity and availability of security features utilized by browsers and some custom applications (including Outlook).

This could allow an attacker to cause a user to access a URL in a less restricted Internet Security Zone than intended. Basically the exploit falsely tells the system that the file or URL is local so it has a higher trust factor. For more technical details and the methodology used to find the vulnerability we refer to the researchers post.

The second vulnerability, listed as CVE-2023-36710, is a Windows Media Foundation Core Remote Code Execution vulnerability where the word Remote refers to the location of the attacker. The attack itself is carried out locally.

As part of the process of playing a WAV (Waveform Audio File), the researcher found it was possible to cause two out-of-bounds writes for WAV files with a certain size. An out-of-bounds write or read flaw makes it possible to manipulate parts of the memory which are allocated to more critical functions.

To chain these vulnerabilities together, an attacker would have to send an affected Outlook client an email reminder with a custom notification sound. By using the first vulnerability the client would retrieve the sound file from any SMB server. The Server Message Block protocol (SMB protocol) is a client-server communication protocol used for sharing access to files, printers, serial ports and other resources on a network.

And when the specially crafted sound file is auto-played this can lead to code execution on the victim’s machine without interaction (zero-click).

Is this something to worry about?

Personally, I don’t think so. Although the research was very thorough and interesting, creating a suitable sound file is challenging. The researcher noted that the smallest possible file size with IMA ADP codec is 1 GB and that it might not be possible to achieve in some codecs, like MP3.

Also, patches for the vulnerabilities have been available for months. It does prove however that with some effort it is possible to find these type of vulnerabilities, and there are undoubtedly more out there.

To demonstrate that fact, it is good to know that CVE-2023-35384 is the second patch bypass for CVE-2023-23397, which was discovered by the same researcher and patched by Microsoft as part of its May 2023 security updates.

The researcher criticized Microsoft’s patching methods:

“As a result, the patch added more code that also had vulnerabilities in it. We suggested to remove the abused feature instead of using patches, since the feature does more harm than good.”

So, instead of rooting out the problem, Microsoft added more code and with that, made the attack surface larger. A problem we unfortunately encounter often.

If your organization has been unable to patch these vulnerabilities, you can mitigate the risks by using microsegmentation to block outgoing SMB connections to remote public IP addresses. Microsegmentation refers to an approach to security that involves dividing a network into segments and applying security controls to each segment based on the segment’s requirements.

Or use the ThreatDown DNS filtering module to block suspicious web domains and manage specific site restrictions.

Our business solutions remove all remnants of ransomware and prevent you from getting reinfected. Want to learn more about how we can help protect your business? Get a free trial below.


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Google Chat redesign finally rolling out with a floating tab bar

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Google Chat redesign finally rolling out with a floating tab bar
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Google‘s effort to revamp its services continues, with the recent redesign of Google Chat making its way to Android devices. The redesign, initially announced in November, introduced a new bottom bar and interface enhancements to streamline navigation within the Chat app.

In the standalone Google Chat app for Android, the traditional bottom bar and floating action button (FAB) have undergone changes. The new design replaces these elements with a pill-shaped container featuring icons for Home, Direct messages, Spaces, and Mentions. A circular indicator visually highlights the active tab, ensuring users are aware of their current view.

However, some users noted that the absence of labels beneath the icons may require familiarization, although the straightforward Google Chat icons solve this concern. A rounded square FAB, slightly smaller than its predecessor, now resides next to the pill, offering users an option to create new chats conveniently.

Google Chat redesign aims for a balance between uniformity and individuality

The redesign, which rolled out to Google Chat and Gmail for iOS and the web, is now gradually reaching Android devices. Google announced the change in its Google Workspace Updates blog in late November. However, the server-side update is taking more than three weeks to reach all users.

In Gmail, the floating pill appears above the existing bottom bar, which condenses into three tabs. Although users have accepted this navigation approach in the dedicated app, it appears busier within the integrated Gmail experience.

Despite the visual adjustments, users have mixed opinions on Google’s recent design changes. Critics argue that the uniformity across various Google apps diminishes individuality and makes them visually indistinguishable. This shift aligns Google Chat with the broader Material You design philosophy seen in recent updates to other Google services.

As the redesign in Google Chat slowly permeates the Android ecosystem on an account-by-account basis, users can anticipate an improved and more cohesive user experience. The floating pill design, combined with the squared FAB, brings Google Chat in line with contemporary design standards. However, user preferences may vary, with some expressing reservations about the evolving visual identity across Google’s suite of applications.


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The Best Foldable of 2023 is the OnePlus Open and it’s now $300 off!

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The Best Foldable of 2023 is the OnePlus Open and it’s now $300 off!
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The OnePlus Open is by far the best foldable of 2023, and right now, you can pick it up from Best Buy for just $1,399 without having to do a trade-in.

Currently, it is on sale for $1,499, which is $200 off. But if you activate it today on AT&T or Verizon, you can get another $100 off, knocking it down to $1,399. That is a pretty incredible deal. Because this is the 16GB/512GB variant – also the only variant of the Open, so it’s far cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold 5, which has a regular price of $1,919 for that RAM/Storage variant.

I’ve been using the OnePlus Open for the past four months, well ahead of when the company announced the phone. And I still can’t put it down. It’s just that good. OnePlus nailed the screen sizes and brightness here. It gives us an 18:9 aspect ratio on the front display, so you don’t need to open the phone every time you want to use it. That also means that you can use two apps side-by-side on the inner display at a regular app size. There’s also Open Canvas, which does a good job with multi-tasking and lets you use more screen real estate than you actually have.

The displays are also incredibly bright at 2,800 nits of peak brightness. So that problem of not being able to see foldable displays in the sun, that’s not a problem here.

On top of that, OnePlus included an incredible camera setup on this phone. It’s been the first time that I have routinely grabbed a phone that wasn’t a Pixel to take photos. That’s really saying a lot.

Finally, we can’t forget about the rest of the specs, which are pretty high-end for the end of 2023. This includes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage onboard, along with a 4,800mAh capacity battery, which is quite impressive for a foldable, especially one that is this light.

You can pick this up at Best Buy today, but this sale won’t last long, so you’d better be quick.

Buy at Best Buy


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Iran’s Peach Sandstorm Deploy FalseFont Backdoor in Defense Sector

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Iran’s Peach Sandstorm Deploy FalseFont Backdoor in Defense Sector
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In its latest campaign, Iranian state-backed hackers, Peach Sandstorm, employs FalseFont backdoor for intelligence gathering on behalf of the Iranian government.

Cybersecurity researchers at Microsoft Threat Intelligence Unit have uncovered the latest activities of the Iranian nation-state actor Peach Sandstorm, also known as HOLMIUM. The group has been making efforts to deploy a newly developed backdoor called FalseFont, specifically targeting individuals within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB).

This disclosure follows Microsoft’s earlier findings, outlined in a September 2023 blog post, where Peach Sandstorm was identified as targeting sectors such as satellites and pharmaceuticals on a global scale.

Iran's Peach Sandstorm APT Targeting Defense Sector with FalseFont Backdoor
Identity attack lifecycle of Peach Sandstorm as of September 2023 (Microsoft)

Microsoft’s investigative team believes that Peach Sandstorm is actively pursuing intelligence gathering for the Iranian government, aligning their actions with state interests.

According to Microsoft’s tweets shared today, FalseFont stands out as a custom backdoor equipped with a diverse set of functionalities. These capabilities enable operators to gain remote access to compromised systems, execute additional files, and transmit information to its Command and Control (C2) servers. The first instances of FalseFont in action were detected against targets in early November 2023.

The development and deployment of FalseFont showcase a consistent evolution in Peach Sandstorm’s tactics, a trend observed by Microsoft over the past year. This suggests a continuous effort by Peach Sandstorm to enhance their tradecraft.

It’s worth noting that Microsoft Defender Antivirus already detects FalseFont as Backdoor:MSIL/FalseFont.A!dha. Although Microsoft is monitoring Peach Sandstorm’s activities, unsuspecting users should be on the lookout for phishing and social engineering attacks that may be employed by Peach Sandstorm to spread the FalseFont backdoor.

Here are some key points to follow for protection against phishing and social engineering attacks that may deliver the FalseFont backdoor to your device:

  • Be Skeptical of Emails: Exercise caution when receiving unexpected emails, especially those containing suspicious attachments or links. Verify the sender’s legitimacy before interacting with any content, as FalseFont often infiltrates systems through phishing emails.
  • Update Security Software: Ensure that your antivirus and anti-malware software are up-to-date. Regularly install security patches and updates to safeguard against vulnerabilities that attackers might exploit to deliver the FalseFont backdoor.
  • Verify Email Addresses: Double-check email addresses, particularly in communication related to sensitive information or financial transactions. FalseFont attackers often use deceptive email addresses to mimic legitimate entities.
  • Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implement MFA for all relevant accounts to add an extra layer of security. Even if credentials are compromised, MFA can prevent unauthorized access, reducing the risk of FalseFont infiltration.
  • Employee Training: Conduct regular phishing awareness training for employees to recognize and report suspicious emails. Educate them about the tactics used by attackers to deploy FalseFont and emphasize the importance of staying alert.

Guarding Against Social Engineering Attacks Delivering FalseFont:

  • Verify Caller Identity: Be cautious when receiving unexpected calls or messages, especially those requesting sensitive information. Verify the identity of the caller independently before sharing any personal or confidential details.
  • Beware of Urgency: Social engineering attacks often create a sense of urgency or emergency. Be sceptical of requests demanding immediate action, and take time to independently verify the legitimacy of such communications to avoid falling victim to FalseFont.
  • Limit Information Sharing on Social Media: Minimize the amount of personal and professional information shared on social media platforms. Attackers may use publicly available details for targeted social engineering attacks, leading to the deployment of the FalseFont backdoor.
  • Educate on Social Engineering Tactics: Provide training on social engineering tactics and red flags associated with deceptive communication. Awareness about manipulation techniques helps users identify and thwart attempts to deliver FalseFont through social engineering.
  • Regularly Review Privacy Settings: Periodically review and adjust privacy settings on online accounts and social media platforms. Restricting access to personal information reduces the chances of attackers gathering details for crafting convincing social engineering attacks and deploying FalseFont.
  1. Iran’s Scarred Manticore Targets Middle East with LIONTAIL Malware
  2. Some social engineering & Facebook will gift your account to hackers
  3. Iranian Hackers Posed as Israelis in Targeted LinkedIn Phishing Attack
  4. Iranian Stalkerware ‘Spyhide’ Steals Data from 60,000 Android Devices
  5. Iran’s MuddyWater Group Hits Israelis with Fake Memo Spear-Phishing

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Google Pixel will tell you when it’s high time to replace your battery

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Google Pixel will tell you when it’s high time to replace your battery
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Google Pixel 8 series’ launch in October came with a jaw-dropping promise: seven years of software updates. No other phone maker has even hinted at such a long-term commitment. While it sounds like a dream come true for many, a closer look reveals some hidden wrinkles, especially when it comes to your battery. Because any device loses its battery capacity over time, and with seven major updates, you might see yourself on the hunt for battery replacement. But here’s the twist: Google has your back. It lets you know the total battery cycle counts with the latest December Pixel Feature drop.

Although, you could check your phone’s battery cycle counts with some tweaks. But it has never been a straightforward method or something you find in settings itself. For instance, iPhones show battery health percentages for users to decide if they need to replace the battery. This is especially useful when you rely on your phone daily and can’t afford to run out of power during important moments. Moreover, Apple introduced the battery cycle count feature in iPhones, but it’s exclusive to the iPhone 15 line.

Google Pixel will help you decide when it’s time to replace battery

9to5Google talked about “battery cycle counts” when Google released Android 14 QPR1, around two weeks before the Pixel 8 line came out. The latest December Pixel Feature drop update comes with it. In the Settings > About Phone section of Google Pixel devices, a fresh “Battery Information” shows up. It details the battery, like when it was made and how many times it’s been charged.

While users can now see the age and history of their battery, it doesn’t show the “battery health” yet but Android expert Mishaal Rahman suggests that it will make it to the phones in the next updates. Meanwhile, Google could walk an extra mile to detail more about the battery like its unique serial number. This could help distinguish between original and replaced batteries. At large, major updates are expected in Android 15.

The math behind battery health

Battery health on a Pixel phone or any smartphone is straightforward. The math here is simple. When your phone displays 70% battery health from its original 4,000mAh capacity, it means the battery’s capacity has reduced to 2,800mAh. And that’s 70% of the original 4,000mAh.


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Microsoft is officially killing the Windows Mixed Reality

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Microsoft is officially killing the Windows Mixed Reality
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Microsoft is inching a step closer to putting the final nail in the coffin of its Windows Mixed Reality. It allowed users to experience both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) using compatible head-mounted displays (HMDs). Microsoft introduced it as part of the Windows 10 operating system in 2017 and also supported it on Windows 11. But now, it’s wrapping up.

Microsoft bids goodbye to Windows Mixed Reality

Microsoft has announced the deprecation of Windows Mixed Reality, its virtual reality platform launched in 2017 to compete with the likes of HTC Vive and Oculus (now owned by Meta). This means that Windows Mixed Reality will be phased out in a future Windows release. It noted that Windows Mixed Reality will be removed in a future Windows release. This includes the Mixed Reality Portal app and support for SteamVR and Steam VR Beta. This doesn’t come as shocking, given the previous reports suggesting Microsoft’s disinterest in AR.

While Windows Mixed Reality never quite reached the heights of its rivals in terms of market share, it offered a more accessible VR option thanks to its compatibility with headsets from key makers like Acer, Dell, Lenovo, ASUS, HP, and Samsung. This wider hardware ecosystem stood in contrast to the more closed-off nature of other VR platforms.

Its legacy will continue

The news of Windows Mixed Reality’s deprecation doesn’t spell doom and gloom for VR enthusiasts entirely. Microsoft has assured that the HoloLens 2, its high-end mixed reality headset geared towards businesses and professionals, remains very much in the picture. The company even rolled out a free Windows 11 upgrade and other improvements for quite a pricey $3,500 headset.

While Windows Mixed Reality’s journey may be coming to an end, its legacy lives on. Its efforts to make VR work with many devices and be easy to use made a big impact. Many will remember its influence on the world of virtual and mixed reality.

Meanwhile, another tech major reports plans to unveil its headset, Vision Pro, as soon as February 2024. Many anticipate it will be one of Apple‘s major releases and likely come with a super-premium cost.


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