Galaxy Z Flip 5 has top-notch display, poor camera: DXOMARK

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Galaxy Z Flip 5 has top-notch display, poor camera: DXOMARK
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Despite flagship prices, Samsung‘s foldable smartphones have never delivered a flagship-like camera quality. In our review, we found both Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 leaving much to be desired when it comes to the camera performance. DXOMARK has now published its assessment of the Flip model’s cameras and the results didn’t surprise us. The device finds itself at the 44th spot in the publication’s global smartphone camera ranking. Its display quality is top-notch, though (more on that later).

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 features two cameras on its back. The primary 12MP shooter has an aperture of f/1.8 and offers PDAF (phase-detection autofocus) and OIS (optical image stabilization). The ultrawide lens is also a 12MP sensor (f/2.2 aperture) and it boasts a 123-degree field of view. DXOMARK found that these cameras offer good exposure and a wide dynamic range in regular photos. The new Samsung foldable also delivered satisfactory results in video stabilization, autofocus, and white balance.

However, the publication noticed noise in photos in most conditions, especially close to the edges. Low-light photos were also full of artifacts. Moreover, the lack of a dedicated telephoto camera means the Galaxy Z Flip 5 relied on digital zoom, severely affecting the image quality. Overall, the phone achieved a camera score of 127, worse than more than 40 other phones. Even the Pixel 6 Pro, which debuted almost two years before it, scored higher (134). The Pixel 7a, which costs half the Galaxy Z Flip 5, scored more too (133).

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 won’t disappoint you with its display quality

Cameras may not be the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s strength, but the foldable won’t disappoint you with its display quality. The device achieved a display score of 149 during DXOMARK’s extensive lab tests. This score is bettered only by two other phones — the Google Pixel Fold and the Honor Magic 5 Pro. Both of these devices scored 151. Note that it’s the main folding display we are talking about here.

According to DXOMARK, the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display offers good color fidelity and suitable brightness for HDR10 video content. Its brightness levels (peak brightness of 1710 nits) are also well-suited brightness for most lighting conditions. The publication found the display delivering “pleasant readability” outdoors. The screen is smooth to use too. If anything, the persistent crease is a problem. Otherwise, the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s display is top-notch. You can check out our Galaxy Z Flip 5 review to learn more about its everyday performance.


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Some iPhone 15 models could get faster charging

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Some iPhone 15 models could get faster charging
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It seems like some iPhone 15 models could get faster charging. This information comes 9to5Mac, and the site got the info from “industry sources”.

Some iPhone 15 models are said to offer faster charging, finally

At the moment, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus support 20W wired charging, and the ‘Pro’ iPhones offer 27W wired charging support. That charging is quite slow by modern standards, as it takes the iPhone 14 Pro Max around two hours to fully charge.

35W charging would improve things a bit, and that would be a welcomed change. Now, the source said that some iPhone 15 models will get faster charging. If we had to guess, we’d say the ‘Pro’ models will get it. That would make sense. The regular models will probably remain stuck at 20W.

As a reminder, all iPhone 15 models are getting Type-C USB ports this year. Also, last year, Apple showed off a dual-port 35W USB-C charger. So that charger could be used to charge the new iPhones at full speed. You, of course, won’t get a charger in the iPhone 15 retail box.

35W will still be considerably slower than what the competition offers

Now, even if 35W charging ends up being a reality for some iPhone 15 models, that’s still quite slow compared to the competition. A ton of Chinese smartphone OEMs offer much faster charging.

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra, for example, offers 120W charging, as does the OPPO Find X6 Pro. The OnePlus 11 supports 100W charging (80W in the US), while the Redmi Note 12 Explorer Edition goes up to 210W.

As a reminder, all iPhone 15 models will also feature a Dynamic Island cutout. The ‘Pro’ models will have thinner bezels, and also titanium frames. The Pro Max variant is also tipped to feature a periscope telephoto camera, which will be a first for any iPhone.

All four devices are tipped to arrive either on September 12 or 13. They’ll become available to pre-order a couple of days after that, and go on sale on September 22.


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Threads is getting two new features this week

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Threads is getting two new features this week
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It’s safe to say that Threads consumes most of Meta’s development resources at the moment, as the battle for X’s (previously Twitter) users is in full swing. Despite losing more than half of its initial installed base, Meta hopes to win over some of the users who left because Threads lacked a lot of the features they were expecting to be able to use at launch.Over the last few weeks, Threads has received regular updates that introduced many of the features that users have been asking for. That’s quite an achievement in itself considering the app has only been launched recently. It means Meta is focusing on adding a throng of new features and improvements to Thread in an attempt to close the gap between the social app and X.

Last week, Threads received an update that added a trio of important new features: a new mention button, the ability to share a Threads post on Instagram DM, and the option to add custom alt-text to photos and videos included in posts.

Earlier today, Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced on Threads that the app is getting two new features in the coming days. Although they’re not as important as the ones included in the previous update, they are among the features that users have been asking for, so that’s definitely a plus.

According to Mosseri, Threads is now receiving a new Reposts tab that allows users to see all their threads they repost in a single place. Additionally, the latest Threads update adds reposts to users Following Feed.

Based on previous history, we expect another update adding new features to Threads next week. If you’ve already moved to Threads from Twitter, keep your eyes peeled for more info on this one.


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New iOS 16 Hack Blocks all Apps Except Attackers

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New iOS 16 Hack Blocks all Apps Except Attackers
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Artificial Airplane Mode

The Airplane mode in smartphones ensures safe device use on flights, as this feature prevents interference with critical flight systems by deactivating all the wireless functions of the smartphone.

Besides this, the Airplane Mode’s role extends beyond travel, serving as:

  • Battery saver
  • Disconnection tool
  • Meditation aid

Researchers at Jamf Threat Labs have recently developed a post-exploit persistence method for iOS 16. If it is exploited successfully, it lets attackers set up a fake Airplane Mode with all the original Airplane Mode’s user interface features to hide their malicious app.

This allows the attacker to keep access to the device even when the user thinks it is offline.

New iOS 16 Hack Analysis

In a report sent to Cyber Security News, experts from Jamf Threat Labs said that they had first looked into how Airplane Mode works and found that two daemons control it. Here are the names of those two daemons:

  • SpringBoard for UI shifts
  • CommCenter for network control

Moreover, the CommCenter daemon also enables users to manage or control app-specific cellular data blocking.

When the user turns on Airplane Mode, the pdp_ip0 (cellular data) network interface hides the IPv4/IPv6 IP addresses.

Security analysts kept the cellular connectivity active for a selected application on their newly developed artificial Airplane Mode with slight UI changes.

While the analysis began with console log tracking, and the initial relevant log emerged upon enabling Airplane Mode:-

A C++ function that is symbol-less was found while locating the code in the disassembler using the following string:

To plant a deceptive Airplane Mode, researchers replaced the Airplane Mode’s call chain feature with an empty action that does nothing on activation.

In short, with the help of this newly crafted deceptive feature, an attacker could maintain an active cellular connection and undisrupted internet access.

Moreover, the attack requires further UI adjustments for conventional Airplane Mode illusions, like dimming cellular icons and disabling user interaction.

The analysts hooked up two Objective-C methods to achieve this and then disabled the cellular icon’s intended effect; it made the necessary adjustments by injecting a piece of code.

  • -[SBStatusBarStateAggregator _noteAirplaneModeChanged] 
  • -[CCUIModularControlCenterOverlayViewController _beginPresentationAnimated:interactive:]

Users activating Airplane Mode without Wi-Fi anticipate Safari’s offline state. The usual prompt to “Turn Off Airplane Mode” was mimicked by using CommsCenter’s app-blocking as a faux Airplane Mode.

Swapping the alert is challenging, as cutting Safari’s internet without full device Airplane Mode activation is the crucial test.

After combining all the techniques, the fake or artificial Airlane Mode works completely fine, just like the real one.

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


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Galaxy S24 & 24+ will have a different frame, similar to iPhone

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Galaxy S24 & 24+ will have a different frame, similar to iPhone
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According to one of the most prominent tipsters out there, the Galaxy S24 and S24+ will have a different frame. This information comes from Ice Universe, and he shared it via X (formerly known as Twitter).

The Galaxy S24 & S24+ are set to ship with a different frame

He says that the “middle frame design” of the Galaxy S24 and S24+ has changed. He adds that it “has become a vertical frame design similar to iPhone”. He then shared an image of the Meizu 20, while saying we can expect something like that. There are two images included below.

The frame is a bit curved on the Galaxy S23 and S23+, and based on this info, it’ll be flat on the Galaxy S24 and S24+. Chamfered edges will also be a part of the package, which is a good thing.

Ice Universe says that he likes this change, as he doesn’t like the “sharp middle frame of S23”. We tend to agree with that, if Samsung makes this change, the Galaxy S24 and S24+ will likely be more pleasant to hold and operate.

Flat frames can be a problem with heavier devices, but the Galaxy S24 and S24+ will be considerably lighter than the Galaxy S24 Ultra. So, it shouldn’t be a problem.

The same tipster recently shared some info about the Galaxy S24 Ultra

That’s basically all the info he shared at the moment. Ice Universe is revealing the upcoming Galaxy S24 series bit by bit. He recently revealed the weight of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and also some camera info.

The entire Galaxy S24 series will become official in the first quarter of next year. By the looks of it, we’ll once again get three smartphones. The Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra are coming.

We don’t have much information about them at this point. Chances are that all three phones will include the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, even though the Exynos 2400 is also rumored for some regions.


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Snapchat confirms My AI posting stories was a technical glitch

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Snapchat confirms My AI posting stories was a technical glitch
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Ever since its introduction, the Snapchat My AI chatbot has garnered mixed responses, thanks in part due to the company’s lack of safety precautions and its prominent placement in the Chat feed. Now, in a recent disturbing revelation, the AI chatbot started recording videos of many users’ surroundings, including walls and ceilings, and subsequently sharing these videos as live Stories with their entire audience.

As a result, many users turned to X to voice their concerns. For instance, @RyanJKrul expressed their worry by stating, “My Snapchat AI posted a random 1-second story and isn’t responding to me, AND I’M FREAKED OUT.” Meanwhile, @repmiIas wittily drew parallels with a movie plot, and @Zander0009 playfully speculated that the AI had gained sentience. Moreover, the fact that the chatbot even stopped responding to user queries further fueled user concerns.

Snapchat’s response

While far from sentient, Snapchat promptly tackled the situation by attributing the ‘My AI’ anomaly to a technical glitch that disrupted the chatbot’s regular operations. Additionally, the platform also explained that they had resolved the issue and clarified that the AI had not covertly captured snapshots of users’ surroundings.

Nonetheless, this incident once again underscores the company’s haste in integrating AI into its service. Additionally, the fact that Snapchat’s support page explicitly advises users not to entrust the AI with sensitive information or anticipate entirely precise responses underscores the challenges companies are facing in regulating these AI systems.

However, Snap is not alone in grappling with these challenges. Zoom, for example, recently faced widespread backlash for revising its privacy policy to permit the use of customer data for AI training, ultimately backtracking its decision due to the criticism. Additionally, even tech giants like Google encountered significant hurdles during the initial days, with some Googlers expressing disappointment at the premature release of the Bard AI chatbot.


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Telegram celebrates 10 years with biggest update to date, here is what’s new

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Telegram celebrates 10 years with biggest update to date, here is what’s new
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Telegram celebrated its 10th birthday at the beginning of the week and released its biggest update yet. Apart from making Stories available to everyone, not just to Premium users, this week’s Telegram update brings a bunch of interesting new features and a bucketload of improvements.

But let’s start with Stories, by far the most-requested feature in the history of Telegram, the company says in a blog post. After launching Stories for Premium users not long ago, Telegram is now making the feature available to everyone.

Telegram users can now experiment with Stories, which are displayed in an expandable section at the top of the screen, allowing them to see the full length of their chat list and folders. Stories can be shared with just a quick tap, or you can hold down to use reactions.

Another interesting new feature added this week is a Dual Camera mode, which allows users to take photos or videos with both the front and rear cameras simultaneously for their stories.

Also, Stories now support captions where creators can include longer text description, tag friends or add links. The new feature allows users to add multiple images from their gallery or use search to find GIFs and pictures from the web.

Privacy and security are very important for those using social apps, and Telegram delivers. Those who post their stories on Telegram can choose from four privacy settings: Everyone, My Contacts, Close Friends, and Selected Contacts.

Each of these options can be fully customized allowing users to include or exclusive any users. It’s also possible to disable screenshots to prevent viewers from saving or sharing it if you want to keep a story more private.

Telegram celebrates 10 years with biggest update to date, here is what's new

According to Telegram, this is a first for a social media app. Apparently, you can now update any element of a story at any time. For example, you can change a story’s visibility, caption, on-screen text, stickers or just about anything else, without having to delete and repost it from scratch.

Furthermore, stories can now be posted on your profile, even though they will only last up to 48 hours. If you have multiple stories posted, they will be arranged in a grid pattern.

Last but not least, Telegram users are getting detailed view statistics. Whenever a user opens a story, they will appear in a list of viewers that is only visible to the creator. You will now be able to see the list, which can be filtered to show just your contacts, and sort by recent views or reactions first.

And if you’re a Premium user, you can now enable Stealth Mode to erase views from any stories opened in the past 5 minutes and hide what you plan to view in the next 25 minutes.

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According to TM Roh, a foldable Galaxy Tab is likely

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According to TM Roh, a foldable Galaxy Tab is likely
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Samsung is the one to beat when it comes to foldable phones, but there’s still one area that the company is looking to claim. We’re still waiting on the company to bring us a foldable Galaxy Tab. Well, according to TM Roh, a foldable tablet isn’t out of the cards.

Samsung recently launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Galaxy Z Flip 5. These phones have already broken pre-order records, and they continue the brand’s focus on refinement. The two latest foldables bring the latest specs along with some technical improvements.

If you want to order these phones, you can do so here. Click here to order the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and click here to order the Galaxy Z Flip 5.

A foldable Galaxy Tab seems likely to come

The thought of a foldable tablet doesn’t seem like much of a stretch. It’s a foldable phone, but just bigger. However, it’s not that simple. The larger the screen, the less durable it is. When talking about foldable displays, they need to be as durable as possible.

Regardless, the head of Samsung’s Mobile eXperience, TM Roh, reassures us that the company still has its sights set on a foldable Galaxy Tab. “What has been applied to the smartphone will then spread to the tablet and laptops as well.”, Roh said in an interview with Sam Mobile.

The company is actively looking into making larger foldable secrets in the near future. We just don’t know when to expect this to happen. If the company plans on launching a foldable tablet, it will need to live up to the standard already established by the Galaxy Z phones.

That’s easier said than done. A larger screen means a larger chance of ingress by particles. Also, we’ve mostly seen the durability of sub-8-inch foldable displays. If Samsung pushes the size to 10 inches, 12 inches, or even 14 inches, who knows if it will be able to last as long as a phone?

There are a ton of factors to take into consideration before making a foldable tablet. Let’s just hope that the company knows what it’s doing.


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Gigabud RAT is a sneaky Android banking malware

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Gigabud RAT is a sneaky Android banking malware
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We reported on a number of different malware programs out there, and unfortunately, we have another such report. This time around we’re talking about Gigabud RAT, a sneaky Android banking malware.

Gigabud RAT is a rather new banking malware which can cause serious financial damage

At the moment, it’s targeting accounts holders over numerous financial institutions in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Peru. It could spread to other countries, though.

This malware does things a bit differently than most other banking malware we’ve come across. It doesn’t execute any malicious actions until the user is authorized into the malicious application. That sheer fact makes it very, very difficult to detect. This info comes from Group-IB researchers.

This malware does not go for HTML overlay attacks, like most others. Instead, it “gathers sensitive information primarily through screen recording”.

Gigabud RAT is a rather new malware. It was first documented by Cyble back in January this year. Back then, it was impersonating bank and government apps to get sensitive data. It seems to have been operational since July 2022, though.

There is also a second version of this malware called ‘Gigabud.Loan’

There is also a second variant of this malware referred to as Gigabud.Loan. That particular malware disguises itself as loan applications. It lures users to file for a low-interest loan via a scam app. That way, it can gather all the info it needs.

TheHackerNews notes that both versions of this malware spread to users via phishing websites. Those links usually end up being delivered to users via SMS messages, or via social media. Gigabud.Load also gets pushed out in the wild in the form of APK files through WhatsApp.

As we always say, be very careful when it comes to unknown links that look suspicious, and also install apps from unknown sources. Your last line of defense are permissions on your Android phone. Make sure you grant permissions only to apps you trust, and be wary of what permissions you grant them as well.


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WhatsApp’s latest update brings support for high-resolution photos

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WhatsApp’s latest update brings support for high-resolution photos
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We all know that WhatsApp is not the best app when it comes to sharing photos or videos. Meta’s messaging app compresses media files lowering the quality and while that’s probably fine if you view them on your phone, the situation is much different if you open these on the desktop.

It took quite a long time for WhatsApp to acknowledge the issue, but we’re finally happy to report that you can now send HD photos and the app will preserve their resolution.

The information was confirmed by Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg on his Facebook page, so if want to see the new feature in action, there’s also a short video attached to his post that sheds more light on support for HD photos.

Although this is a really nice surprise, we knew WhatsApp was testing the ability to share HD photos since June. What’s interesting is that support for HD videos is still not available, although Meta claims this will come very soon.

It’s also important to mention that support for HD photos is available for iOS and Android users, which makes sense considering the feature was spotted on both platforms a few months ago.

If you get the update, a new “HD” button should appear at the top of the photo-sharing screen, so tap it and then choose the photo quality. Although the default selection remains Standard Quality, you can now choose HD quality if you want your photos to preserve their resolution.

Those who are on the receiving end will notice that the picture shared using the HD quality option will have an HD label in the bottom left corner, which will confirm that they’ve been sent a higher-resolution picture.

According to Meta, all HD photos sent via WhatsApp are protected via the app’s end-to-end encryption system, so you won’t have to worry about privacy/security.


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