Best of IFA 2023: TECNO MEGABOOK T1 2023

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The TECNO MEGABOOK T1 2023 is the ultra-portable laptop you’ll want to take everywhere

Laptops come in all shapes and sizes, and the MEGABOOK T1 from TECNO announced at IFA 2023 aims to be the best combination of a laptop you can easily take with you anywhere without compromising on display size and functionality.

At a svelte 14.8mm thick and just 1.39kg in weight (that’s just over 3lbs.), the TECNO MEGABOOK T1 is ultra slim and ultra portable. That means you shouldn’t have any trouble whatsoever fitting it in any backpack or laptop bag or sleeve. So long as they can fit laptops with a 14-inch display. Plus, at 1.39kg, this thing is so light you’ll probably forget it’s in your backpack. And that will mean wonders for anyone that needs or wants to carry a laptop around with them all day. As it will lead to less strain on your shoulders and back from added weight.

To top things all off in the design department, the laptop is built with an aluminum body. Giving it that extra premium look thanks to the use of metal. It comes in two colors as well. Monet Violet, and Space Gray.

It has a laptop battery that can last you all day and then some

When it comes to being portable, you don’t just want your laptop to be thin and lightweight. You also want it to last you as long as possible without a charger. The MEGABOOK T1 2023 will do just that for you. TECNO designed it with a 75Wh battery and boasts that it can last on a single charge for up to 18.5 hours. Considering there are only 24 hours in a day, this battery will most certainly last you all your waking hours, unless you’re staying up beyond a full 24.

For students and working professionals, this presents the opportunity to leave the charger at home if the laptop already has a full battery. Shaving even more weight off the entire package since you won’t need to bring the charger. TECNO says this is the largest battery of any laptop in its price range. That, in addition to the sleek design and ultra-portability is why the TECNO MEGABOOK T1 2023 earned our Best of IFA 2023 award.


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Meta may let you avoid ads on its apps for a fee

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A large part of the social media experience is wading through advertisements. They’re a blessing and a curse depending on what’s being sold to you. If you don’t like seeing ads while using Meta’s social media platforms, then you might be able to skip them. According to The New York Times (via The Verge), Meta might let you avoid ads while using its social media platforms.

Now, this is a big if, as details on this are very scarce. The report states that Meta could be planning on letting users in Europe pay a fee to stop seeing ads on Facebook and Instagram. This would be similar to how YouTube cuts the ads when you sign up for Premium.

Meta may let you avoid ads, but it’s not likely

For the time being, we don’t know what the company is planning right now. There’s not much information supporting this leak, and there’s a chance that the company won’t do it.

If Meta does decide to bring this change, we expect it to stay in Europe. That sounds like a bummer to other people around the world who’d happily pay to avoid seeing ads. However, there’s a reason.

The EU is passing some strict data regulations that compel big companies like Meta and TikTok from collecting data from their users to create targeted ads and content. This is why TikTok brought a chronological feed in Europe.

This could be Meta’s way of keeping the peace with the EU’s regulatory body. Letting people pay to eliminate ads gives them a way out of the company’s data collection vacuum.

Meta has been on the EU’s bad side for years for how adamantly it collects its users’ data. A big part of Meta’s income comes from selling advertisements to users. Collecting data on its users helps its algorithm optimally target ads at people who are more likely to click on them. The more people click on the ads, the more money Meta gets.

At this point, we’re not sure whether Meta will go through with this. Only time will tell.


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Pixel 8 series will retain the physical SIM slot and come with new Night Sight video

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The Pixel 8 series is on the horizon, and rumours about the new device have been circling throughout the internet. Among these rumours was the possibility that Google might adopt Apple’s approach and ditch the physical SIM slot altogether. However, according to a new report from 9to5Google, the Pixel 8 series will keep the physical SIM slot while also incorporating an eSIM expansion, similar to the older Pixel devices.

New Night Sight video

Video capture has consistently been one of the Pixel series’ major drawbacks, partly due to the processor’s limitations in post-processing. However, with the new Tensor G3, featuring new Arm cores across the board and the addition of UFS 4.0 storage, Google is looking to make a significant leap in video capturing capabilities with the introduction of a new Night Sight video mode. This feature would not only help solve the current problem of lower frame rates in nighttime videos but would also enable users to capture exceptional videos in even the most challenging lighting conditions.

However, it is important to note that Google isn’t the only smartphone maker with this feature. Oppo, for instance, has been offering a 4K night video mode on its premium smartphones for some time, albeit with the help of its custom image-processing chip.

Improved camera hardware

When talking about the camera hardware, the Pixel 8 series will feature the new Samsung ISOCELL GN2 50MP sensor as the main camera, marking an improvement over the GN1 used in the Pixel 7. Additionally, the Pixel 8 series will introduce a new 64-megapixel ultrawide camera powered by Sony’s IMX787 sensor, while the 10.8MP telephoto lens will remain unchanged, retaining its 5x optical zoom capability.

Furthermore, Google is also revamping the user interface of the Pixel camera app, as leaked screenshots indicate that the interface for photo and video controls will vary depending on the selected mode.

The Pixel 8 series will launch on October 4th.


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Forever 21 Systems Hacked: 500,000+ Users Affected

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Forever 21 Systems Hacked

In a recent development, Forever 21 disclosed a cyber incident that came to light on March 20, 2023, affecting a limited number of its systems. 

Forever 21 is a multinational fast fashion retailer headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States. Originally founded as the store Fashion 21 in Highland Park, Los Angeles, in 1984, it is currently operated by Authentic Brands Group and Simon Property Group, with about 540 outlets worldwide.

The clothing retailer took swift action upon discovering the breach, launching an immediate investigation and enlisting the support of prominent cybersecurity firms. 

Furthermore, law enforcement agencies were promptly notified and have been working alongside the company’s internal investigation.

Affected individuals were notified through written communications, with the notification process taking place between August 29, 2023, and August 31, 2023.

Investigation of the Breach

The investigation’s findings have revealed that an unauthorized third party gained access to select Forever 21 systems, affecting a staggering total of 539,207 individuals over a period spanning from January 5, 2023, to March 21, 2023.

Among those affected, 1,139 are residents of the state of Maine. During this time frame, the unauthorized party managed to obtain specific files from these systems. 

The investigation determined that the files involved contained some personal information, such as name, Social Security number, date of birth, bank account number (without access code or pin), and information regarding your Forever21 health plan, including enrollment and premiums paid.

Fortunately, at this point, there is no concrete evidence to suggest that the compromised data has been exploited for fraudulent activities or identity theft, and there’s no reason to believe it will be in the future.

Forever 21 has taken substantial measures to prevent further unauthorized access to the breached data, and there is no indication that the third party made additional copies or shared the compromised information. 

As a result, the company believes that the risk to individuals whose personal data was exposed during this incident is relatively low.

However, as a precautionary step, Forever 21 provides affected individuals a complimentary 12-month membership of Experian’s IdentityWorksSM. 

This service offers advanced identity protection and assistance in case of identity theft. It’s worth noting that enrolling in this program will not have any adverse effects on your credit score.

To prevent similar incidents in the future, Forever 21 has initiated and continues to evaluate and implement additional security measures to safeguard its systems and data.

Further, they added, “If you believe your information might be affected or have any questions regarding this breach, you can contact Forever 21’s dedicated helpline”.

Keep informed about the latest Cyber Security News by following us on Google NewsLinkedinTwitter, and Facebook.


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Best of IFA 2023: HONOR Magic V2

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A foldable phone that feels like your regular smartphone, when folded.

The HONOR Magic V2 was originally announced in July, but it made its first global appearance at IFA 2023 in Berlin. We’ve decided to give HONOR one of our IFA 2023 awards for the Magic V2, as it truly is an intriguing smartphone, based on my hands-on time with the device. Foldables have been getting thinner and thinner, lighter and lighter, and HONOR really managed to push both those areas to the limit.

It feels like a regular smartphone, but it’s not

From the hardware standpoint, the HONOR Magic V2 is truly intriguing. It really does feel like you’re holding a regular smartphone when it’s closed. It’s also a lot lighter than I thought it would be. The in-hand feel is premium, and so on. Why am I raving on about how thin and light it is? Well, because those are two areas it really has the edge on compared to the competition.

The HONOR Magic V2 is 9.9mm thick, and it weighs 231 grams. That goes for the eco-leather model, the glass model is slightly thicker and heavier. Some of its closest competitors are over 3mm thicker, which is a big deal when you’re talking about foldable smartphones. Also, the HONOR Magic V2 is considerably lighter than most of its competitors, some of them weigh over 20 grams more.

The company used titanium for the hinge, and two Silicon-Carbon batteries

HONOR had to think outside of the box in order to achieve this, though. First and foremost, the company redesigned the hinge entirely. On top of that, it’s now made out of titanium. The redesign helped with the thickness, and titanium with the weight, and, of course, the quality of the hinge itself. On top of that, HONOR is using two Silicon-Carbon batteries here, to achieve a combined rating of 5,000mAh. Those batteries are immensely thin, at 2.72mm of average thickness.

The phone is also really well-equipped in terms of specs. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is here, Qualcomm’s most powerful chip to date. HONOR also included LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage. Two 50-megapixel cameras sit on the back, in addition to a 20-megapixel one. Some of you will also be glad to hear that 3,840Hz PWM Dimming tech is also included, and much more. On top of all that, the HONOR Ultra-thin Bionic VC Cooling System is also implemented here. Ultra-thin vapor chamber (VC) is used, and the same goes for ultra-high thermal conductivity graphite, thermal conductivity gel, copper foil, and more. HONOR wanted to ensure that the phone remained cool despite the fact it had very limited space in there.


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Chromebook users can get 3 months of GeForce Now for free

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Cloud gaming is gaining traction with more companies running their own services. One of the more prominent services is NVIDIA GeForce Now. Well, if you own a Chromebook, then you can get a free trial of GeForce Now for free with no strings attached, according to The Verge.

Chromebooks have gotten much more powerful and useful since they were introduced. Now, Google is working on increasing the gaming capabilities of Chromebooks, and this includes cloud gaming. So, this is a move to raise awareness about the fact that Chromebooks could be gaming machines through cloud gaming.

Chromebook users can get a subscription to GeForce Now for free

This is a heck of a deal, as the “no strings attached” part is extremely accurate. Firstly, you’ll need to be using a Chromebook that was released during or after 2017. That’s the only main caveat to this deal.

As for the trial, if you own an eligible Chromebook, then you’ll get, not one, not two, but three months of GeForce Now access for free. That’s a great deal.

A great thing about this deal is that you won’t need to hastily unsubscribe the day before the trial ends. When you activate the trial, you won’t put in any credit card information. This means that it won’t auto-renew after the trial ends. When the trial ends, the service ends. Obviously, if you fall in love with the service, you can sign up for a membership when the trial expires.

In order to take advantage of this deal, you’ll need to go to the Google Chromebook Perks page. Scroll down until you find the GeForce Now section. Click on the Get Perk button. When you do that, you’ll activate your trial and start gaming.

While you’re there, you’ll be able to check out some other perks that you get as a Chromebook user. There are a handful of perks that you can choose from, and they could grant you some free stuff.


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The Ultra HDR feature was discovered in Google Photos

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Android 14 will soon launch, and with it, we’re going to see some new and exciting features. If you use Google Photos, then you might like this news. According to Android Police, Google Photos is preparing to support Android 14’s Ultra HDR format.

Back in May, Google announced the Ultra HDR format slated to come with Android 14. This is a backward-compatible HDR format that will actually downgrade to SDR (standard dynamic range) when needed. Say, you take an HDR image, but you’re trying to view it on a non-HDR display. Well, the system will actually drop that down to SDR.

However, if you then view that same photo on an HDR screen, it will then snap to HDR. This is a way of letting apps knock images down to SDR without compressing them.

The Ultra HDR format was discovered in Google Photos

This is a standard that Google is planning on distributing to many apps, but it was first discovered in its first-party photo app. AssembleDebug discovered some code in Google Photos version 6.51.0.561138754. These notes read”

Ultra HDR disabled

UltraHdrPreviewFragment

EDITOR_ULTRA_HDR_PREVIEW

photos_mediadetails_details_ultra_hdr

These notes point to the Ultra HDR feature in the app. These are just a few lines for right now, so we’ll see more code for this feature come up as time goes on. As stated before, this is going to come out with Android 14, so there’s still some time to wait. Also, we don’t know if this feature will come out when Android 14 hits or if it will launch in a QPR. Only time will tell.

In other Google news

Google Chat, the company’s WhatsApp competitor, now has a new AI feature called Duet AI. This is a generative AI assistant that users can use to speed up their tasks. Since it uses generative AI, it’s able to create content, summarize documents, answer questions about Drive files, and more.

If you have a Workspace account, and you want to try it out, you can do so today.


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BadBazaar Malware Attacking Users Via Weaponized Apps

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The Android BadBazaar malware is being distributed through the Google Play store, Samsung Galaxy Store, and dedicated websites mimicimg Signal Plus Messenger and FlyGram malicious applications.

These active campaigns are connected to the China-aligned APT organization known as GREF. Uyghurs and other Turkic ethnic minorities have historically been the target of the spyware known as BadBazaar.

The BadBazaar malware family has already been targeted, and the FlyGram malware was also observed being spread in a Uyghur Telegram channel.

According to ESET researchers, Germany, Poland, the U.S., Ukraine, Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Congo-Kinshasa, Hong Kong, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, and Yemen are the countries where victims have been found most often.

Specifics of the Attack

Researchers found active Android campaigns where malicious apps with the names Signal Plus Messenger and FlyGram were uploaded and disseminated through the Google Play store, Samsung Galaxy Store, and specific websites, imitating the Signal app (signalplus[.]org) and a Telegram alternative app (flygram[.]org).

The primary objective of BadBazaar is to steal device information such as the contact list, call logs, and the list of installed applications, as well as to spy on Signal conversations by secretly attaching the victim’s Signal Plus Messenger app to the attacker’s mobile device.

BadBazaar Figure_01
Signal Plus Messenger is available on Google Play (left) and Samsung Galaxy Store (right)

FlyGram can specifically extract not just sensitive data like contact lists, phone logs, and a list of Google Accounts but also basic device information. 

Additionally, the malware can exfiltrate some Telegram-related data and settings; researchers say this data excludes the Telegram contact list, messages, and any other sensitive data.

“If users enable a specific FlyGram feature that allows them to back up and restore Telegram data to a remote server controlled by the attackers, the threat actor will have full access to these Telegram backups, not only the collected metadata,” according to report shared with Cyber Security News.

Linking the victim’s Signal communications to the attacker

Every newly created user account receives a special ID from the server. This ID has a sequential pattern, which shows that at least 13,953 FlyGram accounts have this feature turned on.

Similar device data and private information are gathered by Signal Plus Messenger, but its primary objective is to track the victim’s Signal communications.

It may obtain the Signal PIN that secures the Signal account and abuses the link device feature, which enables users to link Signal Desktop and Signal iPad to their phones.

“Malicious code from the BadBazaar family was hidden in trojanized Signal and Telegram apps, which should provide victims a working app experience (without reason to remove it) but with espionage happening in the background”, researchers said.

Keep informed about the latest Cyber Security News by following us on Google NewsLinkedinTwitter, and Facebook.


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A foldable that doesn’t feel foldable

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HONOR showed off its latest smartphones at IFA 2023 in Berlin. It brought over the HONOR Magic V2, which is its latest foldable flagship. That device launched in China in July, and this was its global debut of sorts. In addition to that, the HONOR V Purse concept was shown off, but that’s a story for another article, We’re here to focus on the HONOR Magic V2, as that’s the only phone I managed to get some hands-on time thus far. It’s probably more appealing to many of you, as it’s an actual product on the market at the moment.

It feels like a regular smartphone when folded

Having said that, I had high hopes for the design of this phone, and I wasn’t disappointed. The Magic V2 really does feel like a regular smartphone when you hold it. This thing is only 9.9mm thick (eco-leather model). The glass variant is 0.2mm thicker at 10.1mm. Either way, this is the thinnest book-style foldable on the market. It’s a lot thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold 5 (13.4mm), when folded, just to give you one example. It also trumps the Google Pixel Fold, the Huawei Mate X3, and even the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3.

When it’s folded, you can normally use its 6.43-inch display, and you won’t feel the extra thickness of a foldable. When unfolded, you get access to a large 7.92-inch panel. HONOR also fixed one of my display-related gripes with the HONOR Magic Vs, this phone’s successor. Both displays offer a 120Hz refresh rate now. On the Magic Vs, one of them stood at 90Hz. That is something you do notice when you jump between panels often.

Unfolding the phone is much easier now

The company even improved the unfolding experience of the device this time around. How? Well, the Magic Vs was not the easiest phone to unfold, as its two halves were too close together, and you had no proper point of pulling the phone apart. It wasn’t a bit issue, as you do get used to it, but that’s handled a lot better on the Magic V2. The hinge also feels better this time around, as HONOR rebuilt it entirely. The company used titanium in order to improve the hinge, and you can definitely feel that.

What about the crease? Well, it’s barely noticeable, especially in comparison to the Galaxy Z Fold 5. You can see it, but you won’t feel it under your finger nearly as much. That’s in line with some other Chinese smartphone OEMs. Needless to say, that’s great to see, as it does make a difference when using the device, it’s not only for aesthetics.

It’s also quite light for a book-style foldable

Many of you are probably wondering about its weight. Well, despite the fact it has a 5,000mAh battery, the Magic V2 weighs only 231 grams. That’s actually quite light compared to most other foldables in the same category. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 weighs 253 grams, while the Pixel Fold weighs 283 grams. You will feel that difference. As I said, this phone feels like a regular smartphone when it’s folded, and that goes for its weight too.

HONOR didn’t say anything about this phone’s global availability, but considering the attention it got here at IFA, and the fact that HONOR used the word ‘global’ a lot, it’s probably coming later this year.


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When is the best time of day to play mobile casino games?

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Casino gamers are always looking for a strategy to win despite them being games of chance. Does the time that you play mobile casino games influence increased chances of winning one of them?

There is no exact best time of day to play mobile casino games. It’s up to your preference and personal schedule as to when is the best time to play online casino games.

Log on to an online casino to take your chances when betting on your favorite games. Since casino games are won by chance, it does not matter what time of day you log on to a mobile casino game to play for real money.

To get a better night’s rest, maybe limit your casino gaming at night to end an hour or so before bedtime so you have time to wind down. Casino gaming in the morning or during your lunch break at work may be better options, so you have the best focus during your most productive hours.

For Progressive Jackpots, Play On Holidays or During the Summer

Even though there is no specific time formula to guarantee a win on casino games, there are special exceptions. For example, there may be a higher chance of hitting a progressive jackpot when more people are available to play at once.

Engage in progressive jackpot slots when it’s around popular commercial holidays. Think Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas as these are holidays when most people are not at work and more at home doing things they want to do such as playing mobile casino games.

Try your hand at playing progressive jackpot slot games during the summertime as well. Most people take a week’s or more vacation in the summer to enjoy the weather and time with their children as they are off of school. Plus, they’ll be casino gaming during their downtime.

Since progressive jackpots increase as more people bet on them over time, there is a larger chance of someone within the betting pool hitting the jackpot as everyone keeps playing. Holidays are when most people have free time to do what they like to do while hanging out with family and friends.

Even if you do not hit the jackpot yourself, you are entitled to a part of the winnings as long as you have placed any bet during the duration of the promised reward payout. However, betting what you can in a progressive jackpot can help it to gradually increase for your benefit if someone does hit it.

More People Play Casino Games At Night Time

Let’s face it. Mornings are hectic for casino gamers as they get ready for work. Afternoons are just as busy with finalizing the day’s responsibilities and errands after a work shift. Hence, most gamers prefer logging on to their mobile casino games during the evening hours when they’ve finished dinner and all their daytime tasks.

The highest traffic times for nighttime gaming on mobile casino games are 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. On weekdays, the start of this popular play time is around when families have finished cleaning up from dinner, their children have gone to bed, and adults start to have their time before they lay down for the night.

Plus, if you like playing craps online, doing so in the late weekday evening hours around midnight means it’ll be a bit easier to make your bets to be competitive with the high rollers. Be mindful that live dealer mobile casino games will be more crowded with bettors in the late-night weekend hours as more people are off work and don’t have to be up early the next morning.

Pros of Mobile Casino Games

Playing mobile casino games is a remote experience that can be enjoyed from anywhere you are. Whether commuting to work, lounging in your room, or visiting family and friends out of state, your favorite mobile casino games are accessible from the palm of your hand using a smartphone or tablet.

As long as you have a mobile connection or access to Wi-Fi, you can play mobile casino games on your device’s web browser or use the casino’s app on your device. Especially if you have an Android device with fast processing speeds and lots of data storage, you can access as many casino apps as you want for an optimal mobile casino gaming experience.

Mobile gaming is much more comfortable than playing casino games from your PC. Whereas you’d have to stay seated in front of your PC if playing on the desktop platform, you can choose to sit or lounge anywhere you want when doing mobile casino gaming because you only have to hold a smartphone or tablet in your two hands.

Cons of Mobile Casino Gaming

If you do not have a high-speed mobile connection or Wi-Fi access, you may have a subpar casino gaming experience. Be sure your connection is strong enough to prevent game lagging and to instantly see if you get a payout from a win or not.

You are limited to mobile casino gameplay for as long as you have a battery charge on your device. You’ll have to stop the fun if you do not have your device’s charger with you while on the go.

Because mobile casino gaming enhances its availability to players, it increases the chances of gambling addiction. Reassure this does not happen by budgeting your bankroll for the week and stop betting when you have run out of discretionary funds rather than depositing more from your needed funds.

Conclusion

Whatever time you want to play mobile casino games is up to you. There is no specific formula on what time of day to play casino games to increase your chances of winning. However, in some cases, playing at specific times of the year can enhance winning chances, but they do not guarantee them.

Was there a time that you hit a big win in a casino game? If so, what time of day did it happen? Share your experiences below!


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