Google Maps tests the use of some colors that copy Apple Maps

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Google Maps tests the use of some colors that copy Apple Maps
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While Google Maps is still considered the top mapping and navigation app for mobile devices, Apple Maps has made an incredible turnaround after the fiasco that was the original launch of the service back in 2012 with the release of iOS 6. Apple was forced to start from scratch to revise the app and has done a pretty decent job of doing so, And now Google appears to be testing some new color options for Google Maps that match some of the shades used by Apple Maps.
Spotted by 9to5Google, Google Maps is testing a lighter blue color to represent water and any difference to the hue used by Apple is very minor. On the other hand, Google appears to be moving away from Apple by using a darker green color to indicate areas like parks and forests. Previously, Google and Apple both used a lighter shade of green to represent such areas.
From L to R current Google Maps, new Google Maps, Apple Maps. Image credit-9to5Google - Google Maps tests the use of some colors that copy Apple Maps

From L to R current Google Maps, new Google Maps, Apple Maps. Image credit-9to5Google

But Google Maps is also testing the use of gray, instead of white, to signify a road, and dark gray to represent a highway. All of these color changes being tested bring Google Maps in line with Apple Maps’ color scheme. And if you use Dark theme on both apps, Google Maps’ implementation of it remains darker than Apple Maps. Dark theme on the mapping apps is an acquired taste with some drivers complaining that it is harder to view the maps on the apps using a darker background.

From L to R current Google Maps, new Google Maps, Apple Maps. Image credit-9to5Google - Google Maps tests the use of some colors that copy Apple Maps

From L to R current Google Maps, new Google Maps, Apple Maps. Image credit-9to5Google

You can go into the settings for both apps and keep them in Light mode if that is what you prefer. Additionally, Google Maps is also giving the driving directions at the top of the screen a darker green background color although you will have to use it under real-world conditions to see what impact the darker color has on you.

Current Google Maps on the left, new on the right. Image credit-9to5Google - Google Maps tests the use of some colors that copy Apple Maps

Current Google Maps on the left, new on the right. Image credit-9to5Google

The updated version of Google Maps is reportedly rolling out today to Android users although it has yet to hit my Pixel 6 Pro running Android 14 beta 5.2.

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Garmin’s Venu 3 lets you manually track your sleep

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Garmin’s Venu 3 lets you manually track your sleep
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The Garmin Venu 3 is out and it appears to have a big focus on sleep features. Sleep tracking has become a very popular feature set for smartwatches and sport watches in recent years. And Garmin seems to be following this trend with its latest watch. A big feature with this device is sleep coaching. The new Sleep Coach feature will allow users to work towards a better night’s rest.

The feature will analyze HRV data along with your recorded sleep stages and use that to begin coaching you on how to sleep better. It can then add that information into your Morning Report. The Sleep coach isn’t the only new sleep feature though.

You can manually track your sleep with the Garmin Venu 3

The Sleep Coach is just the beginning. With the Garmin Venu 3 you can also now manually track your sleep. Just like you can do with other activities such as running, walking, cycling and more. With manual sleep tracking, you can start the process whenever you decide it’s time to get a little rest. Making this a really useful tool for those that take scheduled naps and want that data recorded. But you can also setup auto nap detection to automatically track long naps if you don’t want to deal with setting up the tracking manually. Garmin says the auto detection can also suggest how long naps should be. So you know how long to doze off the next time.

In addition to manual sleep tracking the smartwatch also has a new Wheelchair Mode. With this enabled, users can track how many times a day their push the chair around. This mode can also tell users when they shift their weight in the chair and it offers workout and sport tracking specific to wheelchairs.

The new Venu 3 and Venu 3S version both feature an AMOLED touchscreen and boast a battery life of up to 14 days in smartwatch mode. The Venu 3 and Venu 3S are available from August 30 and retail for $449.99. If you’re interested in picking up the watch you can find it at the link below.

Garmin Venu 3 – Best Buy


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Hackers Launch MiTM Attack to Bypass VMware Tools SAML

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Hackers Launch MiTM Attack to Bypass VMware Tools SAML
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VMware Tools SAML

VMware has been reported with a SAML token signature bypass vulnerability, which a threat actor can exploit to perform VMware Guest operations. CVE ID has been assigned for this vulnerability, and the severity was mentioned as 7.5 (High).

VMware tools are a set of modules and services for enabling several services in VMware products, which help better manage guest operating systems and flawless user interactions between the host and the guest operating system. VMware tools also can pass messages from the Host to the Guest operating system.

However, VMware has released a security advisory for addressing this vulnerability.

An attacker with a man-in-the-middle (MITM) network positioning between the vCenter server and the virtual machine can bypass the SAML token signature verification and exploit this vulnerability to perform VMware guest operations. The CVSS score for this vulnerability has been given as 7.5 (High).

There has not been a publicly available exploit released for this vulnerability yet.

Affected Products

ProductVersionRunning OnCVE IdentifierCVSSv3SeverityFixed VersionWorkaroundsAdditional Documentation
VMware Tools12. x.x, 11.x.x, 10.3.xWindowsCVE-2023-209007.5Important12.3.0NoneNone
VMware Tools10.3.xLinuxCVE-2023-209007.5Important[1] 10.3.26NoneNone
[2] VMware Tools (open-vm-tools)12. x.x, 11. x.x, 10.3.xLinuxCVE-2023-209007.5Important[3] 12.3.0NoneNone

VMware has been previously found to have a critical vulnerability in the Aria Operations for Networks, which lets threat actors perform authentication bypass and arbitrary file write operations. 

To remediate the vulnerability, VMware released a security advisory and Knowledge Base for VMware Aria Operations for Networks. Similarly, a security advisory has been released to fix this VMware tool vulnerability.

Users of VMware tools are recommended to upgrade to the latest version in order to prevent this vulnerability from getting exploited by threat actors.

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


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Aqara debuts new Matter-compatible Smart Home Products at IFA 2023

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Aqara debuts new Matter-compatible Smart Home Products at IFA 2023
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Aqara showed up in Berlin for IFA with a couple of new smart home products, and they are all Matter-compatible. Which is a huge deal, as we start to move towards the Matter protocol taking over the smart home.

First up is the Smart Lock U200. This is a new smart lock that actually doesn’t require you to change your actual lock. This is a retrofit solution, giving users a keyless home access option. As this does work with a NFC card, or specific NFC-enabled mobile devices. You can also use a PIN, fingerprint or a mobile app to get into your home.

Aqara has also announced its Camera E1. This is a smart camera for your home. It’s a Pan/Tilt Camera with 2K resolution. It does support Apple HomeKit Secure Video, as well as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. So you can use your voice to control it. Aqara is using WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 here for connecting to your home and smart devices.

Next up is the Dual Relay Module T2. This is is a versatile home automation solution, and gives you control over various devices, including lights, motorized window coverings, garage doors, boilers, electric heaters and even underfloor heating. It was built on Zigbee 3.0, and supports Matter-over-Bridge, and other major third-party platforms.

Aqara’s Ceiling Light has a LED status light

Many have been wanting smartphones to bring back a LED status light, but Aqara did it with their ceiling light. It’s a multi-color light, and has about 16 million vibrant colors, which enables users to set ideal lighting for different moods and occasions. It does have Matter-over-bridge support, and works with other major platforms.

The ring around the light can serve as a status indicator when linked to other smart home products. This would allow you to program the outer link to show a specific color when one of your other smart devices detects an issue, such as a leak or an open door.

These are all set to be available in the coming months, but Aqara did not mention specific availability dates, nor pricing.


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HP launched the Pavilion Plus 16 laptop with NVIDIA RTX graphics

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HP launched the Pavilion Plus 16 laptop with NVIDIA RTX graphics
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HP has a ton of high-quality computers on the market, and the company also has some more affordable offerings. While the Pavilion Plus series of computers do get up there in price, they don’t shoot too far above the $1,000 mark. The company just introduced the new HP Pavilion Plus 16. This is the first 16-inch computer in the series, according to Engadget.

This series of computers could be thought of as the premium mid-rangers of HP’s computers. There’s a 14-inch variant that starts at $849.99. It comes with Windows 11 Home, a 13th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, 256GB of onboard storage, 16GB of RAM, and a 2.2K IPS LCD display.

The HP Pavilion Plus 16 comes with NVIDIA RTX graphics

As stated, this computer is the first in the series with a 16-inch display. Actually, the screen is 16.5 inches diagonal, and it’s an impressive panel. It’s a 2.2K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. So, you can expect whatever you’re looking at to pop.

Moving onto the internals, this computer will have a selection of processors, but it will max out with the 13th-gen Intel Core -7 processor. Also, if you’re looking to do some gaming on this computer, the top model of the computer will use the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU. This is a pretty high-end GPU, and it will be able to run a ton of the games that are on the market.

Aside from those internals, the HP Pavilion 16 Plus has up to 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. Just know that these will be present in the top model of the computer. As for battery capacity, we’re looking at a large 68Wh battery, and the company states that it can last up to 11:45 hours on a single charge for typical usage. If you’re only video-watching, then it should last you to around 15:45 hours.

Moving onto the ports, this computer gives you a nice array. It has two USB-A ports, a USB 3.2 Type-C port, and a Thunderbolt 4 port with USB power delivery. Other specs include B&O audio and Wi-Fi 6E.

This computer starts at $1,000 for the base model. It will arrive sometime in October in Natural Silver and Warm Gold. You’ll be able to pick one up from HP.com, Costco, and Amazon.


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Cisco Patched Multiple NX-OS And FXOS Vulnerabilities

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Cisco Patched Multiple NX-OS And FXOS Vulnerabilities
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Multiple vulnerabilities riddled Cisco’s NX-OS and FXOS software, putting the networking devices at risk. Cisco patched the vulnerabilities with updated NX-OS and FXOS versions, urging Nexus and Firepower users to upgrade their systems as soon as possible.

Cisco NX-OS And FXOS DoS Vulnerabilities

Specifically, FXOS and NX-OS software power the networking giant’s Nexus (Ethernet switches for data centers) and Firepower (Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW)) devices.

The service confirmed patching five different vulnerabilities affecting its FXOS and NX-OS software. Exploiting three of these vulnerabilities could allow an adversary to trigger denial of service on the target devices. These include,

  • CVE-2023-20200 (CVSS 7.7) – This vulnerability affected the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) service of FXOS software. An authenticated remote attacker could exploit the inherent improper handling of specific SNMP requests by sending maliciously crafted requests to the device to trigger system crashes. This flaw affected Firepower 4100 Series, Firepower 9300 Security Appliances, and UCS 6300 Series Fabric Interconnects when running Cisco FXOS Software or Cisco UCS Software with SNMP service enabled (which is disabled by default).
  • CVE-2023-20169 (CVSS 7.4) – This vulnerability affected the Intermediate System-to-Intermediate System (IS-IS) protocol of Cisco NX-OS Software. Due to insufficient input validation when parsing an ingress IS-IS packet, the flaw allowed an unauthenticated, remote adversary to trigger denial of service on the target device by sending maliciously crafted IS-IS packets. It affected Nexus 3000 Series Switches and Nexus 9000 Series Switches in standalone NX-OS mode when running Cisco NX-OS Software Release 10.3(2) with IS-IS protocol enabled.
  • CVE-2023-20168 (CVSS 7.1) – This security flaw impacted the TACACS+ and RADIUS remote authentication for Cisco NX-OS Software. With the directed request option enabled for TACACS+ or RADIUS, the software developed incorrect input validation when processing authentication attempts. Hence, an authenticated remote adversary could trigger the DoS on the target device by entering a maliciously crafted string at the login prompt. This vulnerability affected multiple Nexus devices running Cisco NX-OS Software with the directed request option enabled for TACACS+ and RADIUS.

Other Important Bug Fixes

Alongside the three high-severity vulnerability fixes, Cisco has also addressed two medium-severity flaws affecting its devices. These include,

  • CVE-2023-20115 (CVSS 5.4) – This vulnerability affected the SFTP server implementation for Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switches and 9000 Series Switches in standalone NX-OS mode. An authenticated remote attacker could trigger the flaw and download or overwrite arbitrary files from the OS on the target devices.
  • CVE-2023-20234 (CVSS 4.4) – An arbitrary file write vulnerability affecting the CLI of Cisco FXOS Software. Exploiting this flaw could allow an adversary to overwrite system files, provided the attacker possesses admin credentials.

Cisco patched all five vulnerabilities with subsequent NX-OS and FXOS software releases. The tech giant has also listed all the vulnerable devices in its advisories, which users can refer to upgrade their systems accordingly.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.


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JBL’s new Party Speaker will make your neighbors hate you

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JBL’s new Party Speaker will make your neighbors hate you
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JBL has just announced its “loudest ever” JBL PartyBox speaker. It’s the JBL PartyBox Ultimate.

This new speaker from JBL is actually really impressive, and for $1,699 it probably should be. But it has WiFi included, as well as Dolby Atmos. That’s not usually something you see on speakers this big. JBL claims that the PartyBox Ultimate is “guaranteed to level up any party, anywhere”.

Inside the PartyBox Ultimate, JBL has included two high-sensitivity mid-range drivers, and dual tweeters. Giving you some really incredible sound, that also gets very loud without distorting the sound quality. You can place it in huge areas, JBL claims that it can rock the space of two basketball courts, and that’s thanks to a pair of 9-inch subwoofers that provide thunderous bass, that you’ll fee in any room.

On top of that, there’s Dolby Atmos included that will really make you feel the sound.

WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 are supported

JBL has included WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 LE Audio for connectivity here. So you can get great sounding music straight from your smartphone. You can also pair two PartyBox Ultimate speakers together for an even wider soundstage.

The PartyBox Ultimate also comes with the Signature JBL PartyBox light that can automatically sync to the music. Allowing you to take the party up to 11.

Want to take it to the beach or the pool? Well you can. JBL has a IPX4 rating making it splashproof, but it cannot be submerged in water. JBL Has included a handle, making it easy to move around.

As far as when you can buy this one, JBL says that it will go on sale in North America starting in October and it will cost $1,699.95. You can expect it to be available from all of the usual retailers that sell JBL products like Amazon, Best Buy, and others.


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GM is using Google’s AI chatbot for OnStar calls

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GM is using Google’s AI chatbot for OnStar calls
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Like many car manufacturers, General Motors is no stranger to generative AI. Earlier this year, the automaker started developing an AI driving assistant with ChatGPT. Now, it looks like GM has found another use for generative AI to support its OnStar service. 

The automaker announced on Tuesday, coinciding with Google’s Cloud Next conference, that it is now using Google Cloud’s conversational AI chatbot, called Dialogflow, to service simple OnStar calls (via TechCrunch). According to the company, this frees up the service’s employees to address more complex requests. 

“Generative AI has the potential to revolutionize the buying, ownership, and interaction experience inside the vehicle and beyond, enabling more opportunities to deliver new features and services,” said Mike Abbott, GM’s VP of Software and Services. “The work with Google Cloud is another example of our efforts to transform how customers engage with our products and services.” 

GM first debuted its OnStar Interactive Virtual Assistant — essentially, the automaker’s in-car concierge service — in 2022. GM’s service is powered by algorithms that use Google Cloud’s conversational AI technologies. This means that, with the AI software, OnStar members can receive answers to common inquiries, as well as routing and navigation assistance.

GM is now using Google’s conversational chatbot to handle OnStar requests.

Now, the auto manufacturer extended its collaboration with Google Cloud with the deployment of the tech company’s Dialogflow. This allows OnStar’s virtual assistant to handle more than 1 million customer inquiries a month. The technology is now available in the US and Canada in most model year 2015 and new vehicles with OnStar.

Previously, GM’s use of AI was limited to simple requests like turn-by-turn navigation. But OnStar’s virtual assistant is trained to recognize certain words that might indicate an emergency. It will then route the call to a trained specialist.

GM’s relationship with Google started several years before the virtual assistant’s 2022 debut. The two companies initially joined forces in 2019 when GM named its first vehicles with Google built-in, with more GM vehicles to follow. This allowed users to easily access Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Maps directly from the cars’ visual displays. 

The shift to AI means that OnStar specialists are “able to spend more time with customers with requests that require a human touch.” The company further notes that it’s already planning for future uses of AI in its vehicles. 


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Aiper debuts a Smart Solar-Powered Robot Pool Skimmer at IFA 2023

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Aiper debuts a Smart Solar-Powered Robot Pool Skimmer at IFA 2023
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Aiper has unveiled a pretty cool product at IFA in Berlin this week. And that’s the company’s first smart solar powered cordless robot pool surface skimmer. It’s called the Surfer S1. The Surfer S1 actually won’t launch until Q1 of 2024, so it won’t be out anytime soon, but it should be out in time for next Summer.

Surfer S1 is basically a smart water surface cleaning robot, which is powered by the Sun. That’s thanks to a solar panel that is on the top of the robot. So as long as it’s sunny, it should be able to get the job done. Though, Aiper does say that it should get you about 10 hours of efficient surface cleaning.

Don’t forget that this is a “smart” pool skimmer too, which means there’s an app. It works on both Android and iOS, and gives you control of the pool skimmer in the palm of your hand. You can also monitor the robot’s performance, set a schedule for cleaning, check on the battery levels and a whole lot more. It’s a lot like a robot vacuum, but for your pool.

How does the Surfer S1 work?

It uses anti-beaching columns that can prevent it from getting stuck, along with two ultrasonic wave sensors that can detect and avoid hitting the pool walls. There are also motorized paddle-wheels that allow the robot to move around, and skim the pool. It can glide across pool surfaces and it works on all shapes and sizes of pools. So you can toss that skimmer and get the Surfer S1 instead.

Aiper says that the Surfer S1 is going to be available in the first quarter of 2024, and the price is actually pretty good. It’s going to be available for just $599. And available in black and white. Currently, Aiper robots are available from their website, Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot and Lowes. So expect the Surfer S1 to be available in the same retailers.


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The next Philips Hue Bridge software update will Matter

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The next Philips Hue Bridge software update will Matter
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Stop me if you’ve heard this before, Philips Hue is going to support Matter. Yeah, this was announced last year, but after a few delays, it looks like it is finally going to start rolling out next month.

It’ll come to the Philips Hue Bridge in the form of a software update, in September. There’s no word just yet on when in September, but just September.

This software update is going to be huge. For one, it’s going to allow customers to use their existing Hue systems with Matter devices and apps. So that every existing Philips Hue product, from as far back as 2012, will work on Matter. Now that, is a huge deal.

So what is Matter? Well to put it in simple terms, it’s a protocol that will allow smart home products to work cross platform. So your smart speaker can use Siri, Google Assistant or Alexa. And you don’t need to buy a smart light that works with your specific assistant, as they will work with all three. It’s been pioneered by Apple, Amazon and Google actually, along with a number of other smart home companies.

Philips Hue had quite a few announcements for IFA this year

On top of this announcement about Matter, Philips Hue also debuted a handful of new security products. It debuted its first Secure Camera, which is also available with a floodlight. The name is quite on the nose, since it does support end-to-end encryption or E2EE. This is not new for smart home cameras, but it is good to see.

Hue also announced new contact sensors for doors and windows in your home. Which will alert you when they are opened. Of course, the contact sensors and the new Secure Cameras will all work with your Philips Hue lights. The cameras also have built-in sirens to help scare off intruders.


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