OnePlus 6, OnePlus 6T are finally getting Android 11 based OxygenOS

HIGHLIGHTS

• Open beta for OxygenOS based on Android 11 is now out for the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T.
• The update brings several System improvements and new features to the two smartphones
• Users are advised to wait for a stable version before upgrading to Android 11.

The OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T are finally upgrading to the OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11. A public rollout for the stable version is still a while away though, as only an open beta has been made available by the company as yet.

Some might think that it is a bit too late for the Android 11 upgrade to the device, with the Android 12 nearing launch. Keep in mind that the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T are around three-year-old smartphones and were launched with Android 8.1 Oreo and Android 9 Pie respectively. The Android 11 update will mark the third major software upgrade for the devices.

Though this may be the end of the line of any more upgrades for the two smartphones. Users of both OnePlus 6 and 6T are hence advised to upgrade to the Android 11 based OxygenOS 11 as and when a stable version is available.

For now, OnePlus has started rolling out an open beta for Android 11 for the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T. The company had first promised to bring the update for the two devices by the end of August. It has now been released more than a month ahead of schedule.

Since this is an early build of the OS, not everyone is advised to install it just yet. OnePlus will use the beta rollout to look for bugs in the system and gather feedback. Once it makes the required improvements, it will likely introduce a stable build in the near future.

For those who still want to upgrade to it right away, make sure that you backup your phone data before doing so. The upgrade will require users to manually download the open beta through the OnePlus forum titled “OxygenOS Android 11 Open Beta 1 for OnePlus 6/6T.” Users can then follow the steps listed on the forum once the package download is complete.

The open beta build for OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11 will bring several new features to the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T. These include updates to the System UI that will now feature a new visual design with optimised details.

It will introduce new Game Space features, including convenient switches of Fnatic mode, new notification mode, quick reply, mistouch prevention and more. There will also be an update for Camera with a new and optimised UI, as well as the introduction of features like Ambient Display, Dark Mode and more.

You Can Now Drive a Tesla and Visit the Gigafactory in PUBG Mobile

PUBG Mobile is getting a huge update that adds a variety of changes, including a Tesla Gigafactory, Tesla electric vehicles, a new Mission Ignition mode, and more. Yeah, you heard that right. You can now drive a number of Tesla vehicles and even check out the popular Gigafactory in-game. Having said that, here’s all you need to know about PUBG Mobile 1.5 Ignition update.

PUBG Mobile 1.5 Ignition Update

Tesla Gigafactory

PUBG Mobile has teamed up with renowned EV maker Tesla to add a Tesla Gigafactory to the Erangel map. Players can activate switches in the factory’s assembly line to build a Tesla Model Y. Moreover, the cars assembled here will have an autopilot mode. Yeah, it is a life-like Tesla in-game. You can activate Autopilot mode on highways to automatically take you to pre-set markers along the highway.

Apart from Model Y, you will also see the Tesla Cybertruck, Roadster, and Tesla Semi trucks that randomly spawn alongside the road. You can damage the Semi to get supply crates that would meet all your ammunition needs in the game.

Mission Ignition Mode

Accessed through the EvoGround section, Mission Ignition is an experimental mode that envisions the long-term technological transformations on Erangel – the first map in PUBG Mobile. Notably, Mission Ignition mode revamps 6 major areas of Erangel. Check out the new names of popular spots in Mission Ignition mode below:

• Transit Center (Pochinki)
• Port of Georgopol (Georgopol)
• Tech Center (The School)
• Security Center (The Military Base)
• Logistics Agency (Yasnaya Polyana)
• Energy Center (Mylta Power)

Mission Ignition mode offers special gameplay systems, including dynamic elements where lifts, automatic doors, and other moving platforms appear in the upgraded urban area. You could expect HyperLines – a feature that lets players move between fixed locations at certain times. PUBG Mobile 1.5 also offers an Air Conveyor outside some urban areas to travel through the air.

Other than these, Mission Ignition offers new firearms and attachments, including the 5.56 mm ASM Abakan, ergonomic grip, muzzle brake, drum magazine, and more. You will also see a unique anti-gravity motorcycle in this mode.

PUBG Mobile 1.5 also offers other improvements including new glass windows and new firearms and combat improvements. The company has also extended 90 fps mode to some new devices. If you are interested, you can check out the entire patch notes on Reddit here. We will have to wait and see if these exciting features will eventually reach Battlegrounds Mobile India.

PUBG Mobile 1.5 Ignition Update: Size and Release Date

PUBG Mobile 1.5 Ignition Update has a size of around 686MB on Android and 1.64GB on iOS. You can’t team up with players on different versions, so make sure your entire squad is updated to the latest version.

PUBG Mobile 1.5 update will start rolling out from July 14. You can get 2,888 BP, 100 AG, and a Victorian Maiden Backpack for 3 days if you update the game before July 16 (UTC 0). So yeah, are you excited to finally ride a Tesla albeit virtually? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Google Pixel 6 Series Will Get Five Years of Software Updates?

Google’s upcoming Pixel 6 lineup is rumored to launch later this year. While we have seen numerous leaks regarding the Pixel 6, including the Whitechapel chip, a fresh report from Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech has revealed the complete specifications of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro.

Pixel 6 and 6 Pro Leaked Specifications

According to the report, the Pixel 6 will feature a 6.4-inch AMOLED display, while the Pixel 6 Pro may feature a 6.71-inch plastic OLED display. Notably, this is slightly larger than the previously rumored 6.67-inch display for the Pro variant.

Prosser’s report reiterates the presence of Google’s custom chipset. Moreover, he claims that the regular Pixel 6 could have 8GB of RAM and 128/ 256GB of storage. Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, is likely to equip 12GB of RAM and might come in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage variants.

In terms of optics, the Pixel 6 may feature a 50MP wide-angle camera and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. For selfies, an 8MP front camera is likely. Coming to Pixel 6 Pro, you could expect a triple camera setup consisting of a 50MP wide-angle camera, a 48MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultra-wide sensor. You might also find a 12MP front camera on the Pro variant.

As you would expect, both devices in the Google Pixel 6 series will run Android 12 out of the box. The battery capacity is likely to be 4,614mAh and 5,000mAh on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro respectively. Other tidbits mentioned in the report include support for Wi-Fi 6E, 5G, and Google’s Android Enterprise Recommended (AER) certification.

Notably, the report also highlights that the Pixel 6 series will get at least 5 years of software updates. While this is a significant jump from the current three years of OS update, it remains unclear if the newly added 2 years will include version updates or just security updates. So, stay tuned for more information.

Windows 11 Insider Preview Brings Back Refresh Button, Adds Search in Start Menu

After releasing the first Windows 11 preview build last week, Microsoft is now rolling out a new Insider build (version 22000.65) to Dev channel users. Here are all the changes and bug fixes in the new Windows 11 update.

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22000.65 Released

The most noticeable visual change in the new Insider build has to be the new search box in the Start menu. You don’t necessarily have to click to highlight the search box though. You can just start typing when you open the Start menu and Windows 11 will automatically process your search.

Another convenient change is the ability to show the taskbar across multiple monitors. To change the taskbar placement in Windows 11, go to Settings -> Personalization -> Taskbar and pick how you would prefer to see your taskbar in the secondary display.

You can choose to enable the taskbar in all displays, just the main taskbar, and taskbar where the window is open, or only in the taskbar where the window is open.

Apart from these, Microsoft has updated the system alert dialog box in some cases such as battery low alerts or when you change display alerts. In addition, Windows 11 now shows Power mode settings in the Power & battery page in Settings.

And just when we thought the Refresh option has taken a backseat in Windows 11, the 22000.65 build has brought back the beloved Refresh button to the right-click context menu. Microsoft has also optimized snap layouts when using smaller PCs and brought GIFs to the emoji panel for Windows Insiders in China.

As far as bug fixes are concerned, the latest Windows 11 build includes the fix for the critical PrintNightmare vulnerability and other miscellaneous improvements to Search, taskbar, Settings, File Explorer, Search, and the Widgets. You can check out the entire changelog right here and the best Windows 11 features from our linked article.

WhatsApp is focusing on improving the visual experience for Android and iOS users

WhatsApp is focusing on improving the visual experience for Android and iOS users. The messaging app is reportedly working on larger link previews and the possibility of allowing users to send high-quality images to their contacts. The messaging app was spotted testing large link previews during one of the beta tests. This as the name suggests would change the way a link appears in a chat.

As per Wabetainfo, WhatsApp is testing a large link preview for a future update. The feature was being tested on Android as well as the iOS app. “Not all websites support large previews, so WhatsApp will show the usual small thumbnail in this case. This feature is under development, and it will be available in a future update. Stay tuned to discover other features about WhatsApp beta for Android and iOS!” the report read. The screenshot shared by the WhatsApp features tracker reveals that the link previews would become larger. Users will get to see more content when they receive or send a link.

WhatsApp features tracker said that the feature will be available in a future update as it is still under development. The company has not made it available for public view yet but the beta testers can check the feature after updating their app.

Another feature that the messaging app is working on is to allow its users to send high-quality images on WhatsApp. The messaging app was earlier spotted working on a new feature to let users choose the quality of the video before sending it to their contacts. WhatsApp is now working on high-quality images. If the feature is rolled out, users will get to choose the quality of the image before sending it to their contacts.

Users will get three options— one is the Auto or recommended option, which would automatically detect the best compression algorithm for specific images, the other one is the Best Quality, this would send the image using the best quality available and the third is the Data Saver, which will compress the images when Data Saver mode is enabled in your Android device. The feature is currently under development and not available for the public.

Apart from this, WhatsApp has temporarily enabled waveforms for voice messages. The real-time waveforms will start appearing when you record voice messages. The feature has been spotted in the WhatsApp beta version for Android, and it is currently under development.

Poco F3 GT is launching with Dimesity 1200 SoC to compete with OnePlus Nord 2

Poco F3 GT India launch has been teased and it suggests a direct rivalry with the upcoming OnePlus Nord 2. The smartphone was confirmed to launch in the third quarter of 2021 and is expected to debut in the first half of August 2021. It is likely to be a rebranded variant of the Redmi K40 Gaming Edition that was launched in China in April. Poco initially put out a video teaser on Thursday hinting that the Poco F3 GT launch is really close

This was followed by another tweet where Poco used OnePlus’ Nord 2 announcement to promote its own smartphone. Not your N-ordinary phone the tweet read. None of these posts have suggested at any official launch date but have led to speculations that Poco might unveil the device on July 22 the same date when OnePlus is introducing its Nord 2.

It will be an interesting battle in the mid-premium category as both the devices will be powered by the same MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC. This will make the Poco F3 GT company’s only second smartphone to be powered by MediaTek processor. Meanwhile, the OnePlus Nord 2 will be company’s first to use a MediaTek chip.

The sneak peek hints at the presence of game triggers on one side of the phone. This further confirms that the new phone can be the rebranded Redmi K40 Gaming Edition that came with similar-looking game trigger buttons. Poco has followed a similar strategy in the past.

The Poco F3 GT may come with a 6.67-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 480Hz touch sampling rate, HDR10+, and punch-hole cutout for the selfie shooter. The Poco F3 GT is expected to be powered with the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC coupled with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage that is further expandable via a microSD card.

The smartphone is likely to feature a 64-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. There is a 16-megapixel camera on the front for selfies. The phone should feature a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for security and may ship with Android 11-based MIUI 12.

Asus Partners with Qualcomm on "Smartphone" Priced at $1,499

If you keep a close watch on the smartphone segment, you would have seen leaks for a Snapdragon-branded smartphone last month. Well, putting an end to the anticipation, American chipmaker Qualcomm has launched its first-ever smartphone today. Called the “Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders,” this device is designed to enable users to experience the latest Qualcomm technologies.

Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders Launched

Why Is Qualcomm Launching a Smartphone?

Now, the first question that many of you may have is – why is Qualcomm launching a smartphone? Well, in a closed-door briefing, the company executives revealed that a whopping 1.6 million users have joined the Snapdragon Insider program since its inception back in March this year. Like Windows Insiders, these individuals give feedback on the company’s products to help better the experience for consumers. To reward its loyal fanbase, Qualcomm has unveiled the “Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders” today.

This smartphone, which has been designed and manufactured by Asus, will offer the Snapdragon Insiders a more curated experience. It will focus on the key strengths of Qualcomm’s chipset, including Elite Gaming, Snapdragon Sound, AI cameras, 5G, and more. Also, Asus will handle the distribution and sale of this smartphone using its own channels.

Moreover, if you are wondering, is Qualcomm going to compete with popular OEMs like Samsung, Xiaomi, or Asus? Well, that is not the chipmaker’s intention as it is looking to only cater to the enthusiast crowd. With that out of the way, let’s take a look at the key specifications and features of the Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders.

Key Features and Specs

Manufactured by Asus, the first Snapdragon-branded smartphone includes a 6.78-inch Full-HD+ Samsung AMOLED display with a Delta E <1, up to 1200 nits of peak brightness, and HDR10/ HDR10+ certification. It also boasts 111.23% DCI-P3 color gamut support and Gorilla Glass Victus protection on top. There’s also a 24MP selfie camera housed in the minimal top bezel.

Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset and not the recently unveiled Snapdragon 888 Plus variant. This may seem like a confusing move to many, but the answer to why Asus didn’t use the Plus variant chip is simple. The device development started before the Snapdragon 888+ was launched, so enthusiasts have to settle with the less-powerful flagship chipset. The chipset is coupled with 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB UFS 3.1 storage.

Turning our attention to the rear, there’s a lot to take in here. First, there’s a light-up Snapdragon fireball logo that’s illuminated in white (no it’s not RGB). Then, you can notice the physical fingerprint scanner, which is the Qualcomm 3D Sonic Sensor Gen 2. Finally, there’s a triple camera system with a 64MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom on the rear.

Also, this Snapdragon-branded phone also includes a 4,000mAh battery with support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 5.0. You will get a 65W power adapter in the box.

Alongside the smartphone, Qualcomm has also bundled a pair of premium Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) supported TWS earbuds from Master & Dynamic. They are powered by the Qualcomm QCC5141 Bluetooth audio chipset, supports up to 24-bit 96kHz audio quality, ultra-low latency, echo and noise cancellation, and more. These earbuds will enable you to experience Snapdragon Sound for the first time on a smartphone.

Specifications Table

To sum up everything we have just talked about, here’s a quick look at the specs sheet of Qualcomm’s first smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders.Dimensions173.15 x 77.25 x 9.55mmWeight210 gramsDisplay6.78-inch sAMOLED
Full-HD+ (2448 x 1080p)
144Hz refresh rate
1200 nits of peak brightnessProcessor5nm-based Snapdragon 888, clocked at 2.84GHzGPUAdreno 6605G ModemSnapdragon X60RAM16GB LPDDR5Storage512GB UFS 3.1Rear Cameras64MP Sony IMX686 primary camera
12MP Sony IMX363 wide-angle camera
8MP telephoto camera, 3x optical zoomSelfie Camera24MPSoftwarestock Android 11ConnectivityWi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.2, NFCNavIC supportYes, along with GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BDSBattery Pack4,000mAhCharging65W Quick Charge 5.0
(limited to 35W in India)Price$1,449 in the US
~Rs. 1,11,990 in India

What’s in the Box

Qualcomm aims to give users a chance to experience all of its cutting-edge technologies with this product launch. You are not only getting the Snapdragon smartphone but also a fast-charging adapter, TWS earphones with the latest Qualcomm chip and audio tech, and more.

Apart from the smartphone, here’s everything included in the box with the Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders:

• Master & Dynamic MW08SI ANC TWS Earbuds
• 65W Qualcomm Quick Charge 5.0 Power Adapter
• USB-C to USB-C braided charging cable
• Custom Rubber Bumper case

Price and Availability

With Qualcomm and Asus offering more than just a smartphone in the box, you will have to pay a premium to get your hands on this special offering for Snapdragon Insiders.

The Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders is priced at $1,499 in the US and will go on sale in August 2021. Apart from the US, it will be commercially available in Canada, UK, Japan, Korea, and Germany. The device will make its way to India at a later date and be priced at Rs. 1,11,990 (could differ at the time of launch).

So, what are your thoughts on this Snapdragon smartphone for enthusiasts? Let us know in the comments section below.

Twitter No Longer Enjoys Liability Protection in India, Delhi Court

After the Indian government established New IT Rules 2021 earlier this year, Twitter has been facing some serious legal issues in the country. We saw a report last month stating that the social media giant is to lose its status as an intermediary platform in India. Now, as per a court filing, Twitter has lost liability protection against user-generated content in India.

For the uninitiated, social media platforms and internet services in India enjoy something called “safe harbor” protection. It essentially prevents the Indian government to hold an internet service or a social media platform responsible for any illegal activity or hate speech by any of its users. This protection is enjoyed by companies such as Google, Facebook, and WhatsApp.

Twitter, unfortunately, will not be able to take advantage of the “safe harbor” protection anymore as the company did not comply with the New IT Rules in India. The said guidelines require any social media company (with over 5 million users) to appoint a chief compliant officer, a resident grievance officer, and a nodal contact executive to address user issues on the platforms.

While companies like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Google have partially or fully complied with the new guidelines by appointing necessary executives, Twitter has not complied with any of the requirements. Moreover, the American social media giant has faced major criticisms over “manipulated media” tweets that escalated the situation between the government and Twitter.

“All social media platforms are welcome to do business in India. They can criticize Ravi Shankar Prasad, my Prime Minister, or anyone. The issue is of misuse of social media. Some of them say we are bound by American laws. You operate in India, make good money, but you will take the position that you’ll be governed by American laws. This is plainly not acceptable,” said India’s IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in a conference.

iPhone 14 Lineup May Have All Models Featuring 120Hz LTPO OLED Displays

Apple may offer 120Hz displays across its entire iPhone 14 (or 2022 iPhone) lineup. Although the Cupertino giant is apparently busy preparing its 2021 iPhone family that could be titled the iPhone 13, a report from South Korea has suggested that LG Display is planning to kick off the production of its 120Hz displays based on the low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) technology that would be a part of the iPhone 14 models next year. This will be unlike the iPhone 13 models that are rumoured to have 120Hz displays limited to the Pro models.

The Elec reports that LG Display has started internal talks with manufacturer Avaco to obtain LTPO-manufacturing equipment for its display facilities. The final order for the equipment is said to take place once the South Korean company gets an approval from Apple for its next year’s iPhone lineup. This suggests that the ongoing development could be aimed to eventually offer LTPO OLED displays with 120Hz refresh rate across all the iPhone 14 models.

Apple is said to have partnered with Samsung for using its 120Hz refresh rate-supporting LTPO OLED displays on the iPhone 13 Pro models this year. However, on the non-Pro iPhone 13 options, the company is reported to use regular LTPS TFT OLED displays from LG that aren’t supposed to offer a higher refresh rate.

The Elec in one of its earlier reports said that Samsung Display was planning to manufacture as many as 80 million units of its OLED panels for the new iPhone models, whereas LG Display would make only 30 million units. Both Samsung and LG are also reportedly the only display manufacturers for the iPhone 12 lineup.

LG Display does have an LTPO OLED production line, but it has not yet produced as many of those displays as Samsung has done so far.

One of the other reasons why Apple may switch to 120Hz displays across all its iPhone 14 models is the absence of a mini-version iPhone in the series. There are some reports that have suggested the end of Apple’s mini iPhone plans with the launch of the iPhone 13 mini this year. It will, thus, help the company to offer its iPhone models in a regular size that will have enough room to keep a bigger battery, which is something quite essential to offer higher refresh rates.

Unlike Apple, Android manufacturers including Samsung have embraced higher refresh rate displays to offer a smoother scrolling effect on their flagships. Apple’s move would, however, help developers bring some new experiences with higher refresh rates — especially given the scale at which the iPhone world attracts customers.

Alongside the 120Hz refresh rate, the iPhone 14 series is speculated to have in-display fingerprint sensor and a new 6.7-inch model. There could also be a hole-punch display design on the iPhone 14 Pro.

Nokia G20 launched in India at Rs 12,999

Nokia G20 was due for a launch in India, according to some rumours. And it has been a long time since these rumours began. Now, HMD has gone ahead with the launch but rather silently. The Nokia G20 is now listed on Amazon, along with the price and sale date. The next budget phone from HMD is going to be available for less than Rs 13,000 in India, as opposed to its European pricing that translates to roughly Rs 14,000. And while the Nokia G20 is going to go on sale in the next few days, HMD or Amazon has not said anything about the launch of the Nokia X20 5G phone.

Back in April, HMD held its biggest event this year so far to launch as many as six smartphones. These smartphones are important for the Finnish company, which has seen dwindling smartphone sales in India of late because they bring a new identity to Nokia’s phone lines. Instead of just numbers, the Nokia phones now have letters on them.

The six phones are Nokia X20, Nokia X10, Nokia G20, Nokia G10, Nokia C20, and the Nokia C10. The X-series is for 5G phones, while the rest of the phones use just 4G. And those two 5G phones, X20 and X10, come months after the company’s first 5G phone arrived. Nokia’s 5G line-up is already scarce as it is, and what deepens the problem is that HMD has not launched the X20 in India yet. The Nokia X20 may entice customers in India who are increasingly buying 5G phones, even though they are not sure when exactly they will be able to access it at their location. Both Airtel and Reliance Jio have scheduled commercial trials for the year-end or early next year.

Nokia G20 price

HMD has priced the Nokia G20 at Rs 12,999. This could be the price of the base variant that comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory. There is a variant with 128GB of storage and it is not currently clear if that will be available at the first sale or now. The Nokia G20 per-booking begins on July 7 while the first sale will be on July 15 through Amazon India and Nokia’s online store. On pre-booking, customers can get Rs 500 off on the purchase of Nokia G20 or they can go for a Rs 2,099 discount on the purchase of the combo of the Nokia G20 and Nokia Power Earbuds Lite.

Nokia G20 specifications

Display: The Nokia G20 sports a 6.5-inch HD+ display with a 20:9 aspect ratio.

Processor: Powering the Nokia G20 is a MediaTek Helio G35 processor.

RAM and Storage: You get 4GB RAM on the G20 and 64GB, 128GB storage configurations. There is also a microSD card slot.

Rear Cameras: The Nokia G20 has a 48-megapixel main camera, a 5-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth-sensing camera.

Front Camera: You have an 8-megapixel front camera on the Nokia G20.

Battery: Backing the Nokia G20 is a 5050mAh battery with 10W fast charging via USB-C port.

Google has reportedly removed 9 apps from the Play Store

Google has reportedly removed 9 apps from the Play Store after they were discovered to be trojans, stealing user data. The apps in question were stealing Facebook passwords of users using identical Javascript code. It is as if third parties do not have enough user data from Facebook from its massive data breach earlier this year.

The trojan apps were discovered by the digital security platform Dr. Web as researchers from the firm shared a detailed report on the same. As per the report, the trojans used a special mechanism to acquire Facebook credentials, including passwords, of users. Then, they sent the acquired data to the attackers’ servers. The report also suggests that the apps stole cookies from the current authorization session to send them to perpetrators.

Apps That Stole Facebook Passwords

The researchers recognized five malware variants integrated into these apps. Amongst these, three of them were native Android apps, while the remaining two used Google’s Flutterwork framework that is developed for cross-platform compatibility.

Coming to the apps in question, more or less every one of them had over 100,000 downloads. The majority of the downloads were for an app named “PIP Photo”, which boasted 5.8 million downloads on the Play Store. The second-most downloaded trojan app was “Processing Photo”, which had more than half a million downloads.

Image Courtesy: Dr. Web

The other compromised apps were Rubbish Cleaner (100,000+ downloads), Horoscope Daily (100,000+ downloads), Inwell Fitness (100,000+ downloads), App Lock Keep (50,000+ downloads), Lockit Master (50,000+ downloads), Horoscope Pi (1,000+ downloads), and App Lock Manager (10+ downloads).

After Dr. Web published the report, labeling these apps as trojans, Google was quick to remove all the apps from the Play Store. Moreover, a company spokesperson reported to Ars Technica that all developers of these apps were banned from publishing apps on the Play Store.

If you downloaded any one of these apps on your device, we recommend you remove it right away and change your Facebook password immediately. Then you can go to “have i been pwned?” website to check if your Facebook credentials were compromised or not.

Google might soon launch a new Health app for its users

Google might soon launch a new Health app for its users. The app will reportedly work much like Apple’s health app, allowing the cumulation and sharing of such health data with others.

The information comes through a leaked screenshot of the Google app under works. As pointed out in a report by 91mobiles, the description of the app mentions “a unified view of your health,” the data for which is pulled from the person’s visits to the doctors, labs and more such healthcare facilities.

To get started with the app, users will have to link their online accounts from places where they have received their healthcare. It is believed that the app will then source the health data of the user from these establishments and help display it to the user right on their phone.

This type of health data accumulation is much helpful for those who require regular visits to hospitals or other healthcare facilities. It will also help a person share their complete medical record with their doctors for utmost clarity on their health patterns.

Google Health app screenshot (Image: 91Mobiles)

As provided by tipster Ishan Agarwal, the leak reveals that the app is in the early stages of development as of now. Though it is being tested for several new features, it is not clear if the app will see the light of day for sure.

As of now, Agarwal tips that the app has menus for profile pages, records, contacts, and sharing. This means that the Health app by Google will allow users to share their health data with their loved ones, much like Apple lets its users do the same. It will thus also ask for contacts and sharing permission from the user upon use.

It is expected that the new Health app by Google will first be available for Android devices. An iOS version might follow soon after. Once Google rolls out the app across the platforms, it will build on its Google Fit app for the health-oriented offerings in the company’s software portfolio. Moreover, it will be a healthy competition to Apple’s Health app, which is bolstered much by the hardware that Apple makes, like Apple Watch. If Android-based wearables or other health monitoring devices help Google achieve a similar ecosystem with the app is yet to be seen.

Telegram adds group video calls, animations

Telegram, quickly became popular after WhatsApp ran into problems after its new Privacy Policy update earlier this year. While the rival offered a number of features, making it one of the most packed messaging services out there, it still lacked one major feature that WhatsApp had – Group Video Calls.

Telegram has however fixed that with a new update, that brings not just group video call support to the platform, but also other new features like screen sharing and noise suppression. Check out all the new features here.

Group Video Calls

Telegram users can now make full-screen video calls on the app or the Telegram Web platform. The feature, rivalling conferencing tools like Zoom and Google Meet, adds features like noise suppression and tablet support.

On tablets and desktop, video calls will appear in a large, split-screen view of the video grid along with the list of participants. Group video calls will also open in a separate window, allowing users to do other things without minimizing the video call.ADVERTISEMENT

Animated backgrounds, message animations

Telegram is also adding several changes to the UI. There is also now support for animated backgrounds, where colours and patterns can shift in the background as you send and receive messages. There are also new message animations for text messages, stickers and emojis, which can now be seen smoothly gliding upwards from the text box into the chat.

Telegram also now adds two more icons on iOS, login info reminders, a bot menu to browse the list if commands, and even more animated emoji. The app is also releasing new tools for developers that let people create their own stickers and import them into the app in one tap.

The new features should come in an app update from the Google Play Store or the App Store and you should receive it soon if you haven’t already.

LEGO Is Making Building Bricks From Recycled Plastic Bottles

Renowned toy manufacturing giant LEGO recently unveiled its first building brick made from recycled plastic bottles. The company aims to use sustainable resources for manufacturing its popular building sets in the future. So, the development of the new bricks made from recycled plastic is a significant step to enable the company to achieve its sustainability goals.

The Danish toymaker announced the environment-friendly bricks via an official press release. The initial product is a prototype of a LEGO brick that uses PET plastic from discarded bottles, complying with the company’s strict quality and safety standards. As per the company, engineers and material scientists tested over 250 variations of PET materials and hundreds of other plastic formulations to develop the new prototype brick.

Image Courtesy: LEGO

The company states that over 150 people are working to develop sustainable solutions for LEGO products. The new sustainable bricks were developed using recycled PET sourced from US suppliers that use US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approved processes.

Now, coming to the design, these LEGO bricks are not that different from a standard Lego building brick. As per the company, a one-liter plastic PET bottle is enough to make at least ten 2 x 4 LEGO bricks. The company has used its patent-pending formulation process that uses a “bespoke compounding technology to combine the recycled PET with strengthening additives.” This makes the new bricks as strong as the standard LEGO bricks. So, these will hurt the same if you stepped on them!

Coming to the availability of the new sustainable LEGO bricks, the company states that “it will be some time before bricks made from a recycled material appear in LEGO product boxes”. The company will continue to test and develop the PET formulation. Following this, it will decide whether to move the development to the pilot production phase. These testings and developments, as per the toymakers, will take at least another year.

Cheapest 5G iPhone ? Next-gen Apple iPhone SE may launch in early 2022

Apple back in 2020 launched the much-awaited iPhone SE (2020) smartphone. The phone was a successor to the first-generation iPhone SE that was launched back in 2017. Now, a new report has revealed that there may well be a third-generation iPhone SE smartphone, the iPhone SE 2022.

Kuo says that the upcoming iPhone SE 2022 will be the ‘cheapest 5G iPhone ever’. It is worth noting that as of now, iPhone 12 Mini is the cheapest 5G iPhone. It retails at $699 in the US and ₹69,990 in India. If Kuo’s report is indeed correct, the iPhone SE 2022 will come with a price tag of less than 70 grand. On the other hand, it would be pricier than the iPhone SE 2020, which comes at a starting price of ₹39,900 in India.

iPhone SE 2022 Design

This report follows another report by the Apple analyst, wherein he said that the next-generation iPhone SE, that is the iPhone SE 2022, will be almost similar in design to the existing iPhone SE model, that is the iPhone SE 2020, which in turn is closer in design to the iPhone 8.

iPhone SE 2022 Specs

At the same time, DSCC analyst Ross Young had shared the specifications of the upcoming iPhone SE model. He had said that the iPhone SE 2020 successor will be released in 2022 and that it would come with a 4.7-inch LCD display. In addition to this, the analyst had said that the iPhone SE 2022 will feature support for 5G connectivity with sub-6GHz band.

Twitter in Trouble Again! NCPCR Issues Summons to Delhi Police for Non-Registration of FIR Over Availability of Child Pornography

Micro-blogging platform Twitter is in trouble again, but this time over the availability of child pornographic material on the platform.  The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which is the country’s apex child rights body, has issued summons to the DCP of Delhi Police Cyber Cell over non-registration of FIR against Twitter after child sexual abuse material was found on the microblogging site.

According to details by ANI, the NCPCR issued summons to the DCP of Delhi Police cyber cell asking him to appear before it via video conferencing on 29 June and apprise the body of the action taken over the availability of child pornographic material onTwitter.

NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said that the NCPCR issued summons to DCP Cyber Crime, Delhi seeking a personal appearance along with a copy of FIR which is to be filed on Twitter. “Twitter was found to have given false and misleading responses during the inquiry conducted by NCPCR for the presence of pornographic and child sexual abuse matter, a grievous offence under the POCSO ACT”, Kanoongo said.

On May 29, the NCPCR had directed the Delhi Police to file an FIR against Twitter India, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and IT Act. The NCPCR’s order to Delhi Police came after the child rights wing had conducted an enquiry and found child sexual abuse material on the microblogging site. The NCPCR stated that the summon is being made after Delhi police failed to submit a report on this whose stipulated time period was seven days.

Amazon buys wickr messaging app

Wickr, the secure messaging app founded in 2012. The Signal-like encrypted messaging services were primarily used by the government agencies in the United States. Amazon, however, has not revealed the value of the deal.null

“We’re excited to share that AWS has acquired Wickr, an innovative company that has developed the industry’s most secure, end-to-end encrypted, communication technology. With Wickr, customers and partners benefit from advanced security features not available with traditional communications services across messaging, voice and video calling, file sharing, and collaboration. This gives security-conscious enterprises and government agencies the ability to implement important governance and security controls to help them meet their compliance requirements,” Amazon said in a blog post.

Wickr is primarily designed for government agencies, military, enterprise and individuals. The messaging app which was founded by Robert Statica, Kara Coppa, Christopher Howell, Nico Sell, York Sell in 2012, has apps based on different customer needs. The app lets users exchange end-to-end encrypted and content-expiring messages, including photos, videos, and file attachments. Wickr has several apps including Wickr Pro, Wickr RAM, and Wickr Enterprise, Wickr Me. WickrRAM was specifically designed keeping in the mind the military. It is believed that the app stays secure even in the harshest environment whereas the Wickr Enterprise was created for companies with larger workforces.

Wickr is so secure that it not only encrypts users data and conversations, it also strips metadata from all content transmitted through the network.

“With the move to hybrid work environments, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, enterprises and government agencies have a growing desire to protect their communications across many remote locations. Wickr’s secure communications solutions help enterprises and government organizations adapt to this change in their workforces and is a welcome addition to the growing set of collaboration and productivity services that AWS offers customers and partners,” the blog read.

Amazon also said in the blog that it will start offering Wickr services immediately and Wickr customers, channel, and business partners will not find any noticeable change in the app they can use the services like before.

Source

India's IT exports may witness double-digit growth in FY22: Report

As Indian IT majors adapt to the post-Covid business dynamics and spend heavily on several aspects, IT exports from the country are expected to witnessed a healthy double-digit growth in the ongoing financial year, according to a report prepared by Kotak Institutional Equities

Noting that there has been strong spending across companies in the IT sector, the report said that the strength in spending will show in the strong growth of IT services companies.

The compressed timelines have forced the companies to simultaneously transform multiple parts of their enterprise and reskill people instead of a sequential approach, it said, adding that the opportunities created in the process are many, including replatform businesses in the Cloud, address cost pressures, build resilience and security, adjust operations and customer experiences and find new sources of growth.

to grow in healthy double digit in FY2022 and close to double digits in the subsequent years, helped by accelerated digital shift and core transformation spends,” it said.

The report noted that select large players such as infosy and TCS could grow in mid-teens driven by share gains and capabilities to drive full stack transformation.

It, however said: “We are wary of supply-side pressures seeping through elevated wage revisions and impacting profitability.

“Large companies (specifically Infosys and TCS) have strong training infrastructure and depth to create talent pools. They are in a position to contain the impact from wage revision. Mid-tier companies may be vulnerable. We are constructive on Tier-1 IT names led by Infosys, Tech Mahendra and HCLT

Source

DRDO successfully test fires Enhanced Pinaka Rocket

Continuing the development of Artillery Rocket Systems, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired extended range version of indigenously developed Pinaka rocket from a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) on 24^th and 25^th June 2021 at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.  

Twenty-five Enhanced Pinaka Rockets were launched in quick succession against targets at different ranges. All the mission objectives were met during the launches. The enhanced range version of Pinaka Rocket System can destroy targets at distances up to 45 kms.  

All the flight articles were tracked by Range instruments including Telemetry, Radar and Electro Optical Tracking System deployed by ITR & Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE). 

DRDO successfully test fires Enhanced Pinaka Rocket https://t.co/JyTwd25d61 pic.twitter.com/oU4fBgOSsh

— DRDO (@DRDO_India) June 25, 2021

The rocket system has been developed jointly by Pune based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) with manufacturing support from M/s Economic Explosives Limited, Nagpur. The development of Enhanced Pinaka system was taken up to achieve longer range performance.  

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO and the Industry on the successful launch of Enhanced Pinaka Rockets. Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy commended the efforts of the teams involved in the successful trials.

NASA Partners with Tide To Develop Space-Friendly Detergent

If you are a space enthusiast, have you ever wondered what do astronauts do when their clothes get all dirty and stinky in space? Well, if you have, then you might know that they wear their clothes for a prolonged period until throwing them away to be destroyed. So, to solve this issue, Tide is developing a space-friendly detergent to help astronauts wash their dirty clothes in space.

Tide Space-Friendly Detergent

According to recent reports, NASA has teamed up with Procter and Gamble, the parent company of Tide, to develop a special detergent to wash clothes in space. This will keep the astronauts’ clothes fresh and wearable for a long period in space.

Now, for the unaware, astronauts go through hectic days inside spacecraft wearing the same clothes for a long time. And, considering that they exercise every day to prevent bone-withering effects due to weightlessness, you can imagine how dirty, sweaty, and stinky their clothes can get.

However, the astronauts keep wearing the clothes until they cannot take their stink or dirt anymore. Following this, they throw these dirty clothes aboard discarded cargo ships. As a result, NASA has to send over 68kg of new clothes per year to astronauts working on the International Space Station (ISS), which becomes pretty expensive and inefficient for the space organization.

So, to solve this issue and help astronauts keep their clothes clean and fresh for a long time, Tide has announced “Mission PGTide”. As part of this mission, the company will send a pair of Tide detergent and stain removal experiments to the space station later this year.

The company will initially send custom-made, space-friendly detergents to astronauts in December. This will enable the astronauts to test the detergents and observe how the enzymes react to six months of weightlessness.

Following this, the company will send Tide To Go stain-removal pens and wipes to space in May 2022. These will also be tested by the astronauts aboard the space station.

A Washing Machine for Space?

Now, as per reports, P&G, apart from developing the space-friendly detergent, is also working on a washer-dryer device that can be used in space. The device will use minimal amounts of water and detergent to be efficient enough to operate in space. However, one of the many challenges for the astronauts would be to recycle the washing water to make it drinkable.

As for the delivery of the product to space, there is no information as of now. However, NASA aims to send the special detergent as well as the washing machine sooner rather than later. This is because the space organization wants the solution ready before the commencement of the upcoming Artemis Moon Mission, which will take astronauts to the Moon by 2024.