Tech News Updates: October 2019

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Pegasus Spyware: How it Can Easily Take Over Your Phone With Just a Missed Call

Traditionally, Pegasus works by sending a link, and if the target user clicks on it, it is installed on the user’s device.

NPCIL Admits Malware Attack on Computer in Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), a public sector undertaking under the Department of Atomic Energy, however, added that the plant systems were not affected.

NPCIL Admits Malware Attack on Computer in Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), a public sector undertaking under the Department of Atomic Energy, however, added that the plant systems were not affected.

No Information on India Purchasing Israeli Spyware Pegasus, MHA Says in RTI Reply

Pegasus allegedly exploited WhatsApp's video calling system with installing the spyware via giving missed calls to snoop on 1,400 select users globally.

Apple Music Student Plan to Provide Apple TV+ Subscription At No Extra Cost

Apple Music's offer to bundle access to Apple TV+ along with its $4.99 per month subscription was revealed by Hailee Steinfeld on her Instagram account.

Microsoft’s Xbox Console Streaming Preview is Now Live for Android

Xbox Console Streaming for Android is available for US and UK Xbox Insiders who have enrolled their consoles in the Alpha or Alpha Skip-Ahead rings.

WhatsApp Hack: Government Officials Said to Be Targeted in at Least 20 Countries

Senior government officials in multiple US-allied countries were targeted earlier this year with hacking software that used WhatsApp to take over users' phones, according to people familiar with the messaging company's investigation.

Facebook Sued For Age, Gender Bias in Financial Services Ads, Says Complaint Being Reviewed

The suit against Facebook contends that women and older people were denied the benefits of ads for financial services because Facebook tools allow messages to be targeted at specific age ranges or genders.

Mario Kart Tour Reaches 123.9 Million Downloads in Its First Month, Still Behind Pokemon Go: Sensor Tower

Nintendo's Mario Kart Tour has already reached 123.9 million unique downloads across the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in its first month, as per a report by Sensor Tower.

Apple TV App Reportedly Arrives on Some Sony Android TVs, Ahead of Official Launch of Apple TV+

A user from Brazil has reported that the Apple TV+ app is being pushed to Sony Android TVs, before its official launch on November 1.

Samsung Daily Content Discovery Platform Replaces Bixby Home, Rollout Begins Next Month

Samsung Daily’s core functionality will be the same, but it comes with interface improvements and more content like recipes, news, and games.

Sony PlayStation Vue Streaming Service to Shut Down in January, Company Cites Competition

Sony said on Tuesday it would shut down its cloud-based TV service PlayStation Vue in January, citing competition.

HBO Max Streaming Service to Launch in May 2020 at $14.99 per Month, AT&T Says

Some existing subscribers to HBO's cable channel or HBO Now will get free access to HBO Max, AT&T said.

Apple Pay in EU Antitrust Spotlight as Regulators Seek Details

European Commission said it had information Apple may have restricted online payments for the purchase of goods and services made via merchant apps or websites, in breach of EU antitrust rules.

Apple Resumes Human Reviews of Siri Audio With iOS 13.2 Update

Apple is resuming the use of humans to review Siri commands and dictation with the latest iPhone software update.

WhatsApp Sues Israel's NSO for Allegedly Helping Spies Hack Phones Around the World

WhatsApp alleges that NSO helped government agencies deliver malicious software through seemingly harmless WhatsApp video calls, even if the targets never answered their phones.

WhatsApp Pay India Launch Soon: Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook is inching closer to launch much-anticipated WhatsApp Pay in India and will soon have a positive news to share, the company's CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Facebook Now Has 1.62 Billion Daily Users, 2.2 Billion Daily Users Across Services

Facebook reported 2.8 billion monthly users and 2.2 billion daily users across Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp, both slightly higher than the prior quarter.

Apple Tunes Out Trade War as New AirPods, Services Lift Holiday Outlook

The results mark the fourth straight quarter of year-over-year declining iPhone sales.

WhatsApp May Soon Work on Multiple Devices at the Same Time; You Can Now Rejoice

As of now, you can only run one WhatsApp account on your registered device.

Sharp KC-G40M Air Purifier Review: Magical PANDAA is a Secret Anti-Pollution Weapon

If You Have Dry Throat Issues, You Need This. Complete Air Purification And Humidification, in one purifier.

Rising Seas Could Destroy Homes of Nearly 300 Mn People by 2050; Mumbai at Risk Too

The new projections suggest that much of Mumbai is at risk. Built on what was once a series of islands, the city’s historic downtown is vulnerable.

Slowing iPhone Sales Didn’t Stop Apple From Clocking Its Best Q4 Revenue Ever

Apple Inc. shares gained nearly 2% to $247.77 in Wednesday’s extended trading after the company revealed its fiscal fourth-quarter financial report.

Twitter Bans Political Ads on Its Platform, Pressure Up on Defiant Facebook

Twitter's move comes in contrast to the Facebook policy that allows political speech and ads to run without fact-checking on the leading social network.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai Defends Products as Regulators Kick In

Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Monday said the company consistently wants to work and build products that benefit users and support the ecosystem.

Facebook, Google, Twitter Urged to Do More to Combat Fake News in EU

Facebook, Google and Twitter must do more to tackle fake news or face regulatory action, the European Commission said on Tuesday.

YouTube Music for Android Gets Dedicated Widget, iOS Update Brings Siri Support, PWA for Desktops Debuts Too

YouTube Music for Android has been updated with a dedicated 4x1 widget. Its iOS counterpart, on the other hand, has received Siri support.

Google Messages Expands RCS-Based Chat Experience: Here's How to Get It on Your Android Device

Google Messages app beta version 5.2.051 brings RCS chat experience to users in India and across the globe.

Google Search to Stop Supporting Flash Content Soon

Google has announced it will stop supporting Flash content in its Search as the Internet prepares to bid a farewell to the multimedia software platform next year.

Adani Group Partners Digital Realty to Build Data Centres in India

Adani-Digital Realty collaboration would leverage the latter's extensive experience and industry-leading solutions.

US Kids' Appetite for Online Video Doubled in 4 Years: Survey

The number of young Americans watching online videos every day has more than doubled, according to survey findings released Tuesday.

PUBG Mobile to Get Upgraded Anti-Cheat System That Targets Hackers Without Collateral Effects

PUBG Mobile's security team is working on an upgraded anti-cheat system to keep cheating behaviour in check.

TikTok Maker ByteDance Denies Reports It Is Planning Hong Kong Listing

ByteDance, whose globally popular app TikTok has raised US security concerns, on Tuesday denied reports that it was considering an initial public offering in Hong Kong in the first quarter of next year.

Google Owner Alphabet Said to Be in Bid to Buy Fitbit

There is no certainty that the negotiations between Google and Fitbit will lead to any deal, the sources said.

Instagram Bans Fictional Snippets Showing Suicide

Instagram early this year clamped down on images of self-injury after a British teen who went online to read about suicide took her own life.

Google Hit by Australian Regulator Lawsuit Over Data Collection

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said Google had failed for almost two years from January 2017 to tell Android phone customers that they needed to switch off two settings - rather than just one - if they did not want the company to retain their information.

WhatsApp for iPhone Update Hides Notification Badges for Muted Chats, Takes Group Privacy Settings Globally

WhatsApp has released a new version of its iPhone app in the App Store. Carrying version number 2.19.110, the updated WhatsApp Messenger for iPhone includes two major changes and also takes the Group Privacy Settings globally.

Spotify Says It Grew Rapidly in India in Q3, Reaches 248 Million Monthly Active Users Globally

Spotify's premium subscribers globally grew 31 percent in the third quarter of this year to 113 million.

Apple Earnings Call: Record Q4 Revenue in India as Mac Sales Rise in the Country

Apple's strong fourth quarter performance in India come as a much needed respite, after it filed a 70 percent profit decline in India for 2018-19.

Facebook's New Preventive Health Tool Can Remind You About Your Next Flu Shots

Facebook's Preventive Health Tool will remind users to get flu shots and other medical check-ups on the basis of their age and sex.

Buying Guide: Don’t Step Outside Without Wearing an Anti-Pollution Mask

A high-quality mask with a good fit can be useful in keeping pollutants, fumes, PM2.5, PM10 and other airborne illnesses, from your throat and lungs.

PUBG Mobile: Season 10 Royale Pass Rewards, Costumes, Skins, and More

All the new goodies that will be arriving with Season 10 for PUBG Mobile.

Apple TV Now Available on Select Sony Smart TV Models

Sony Smart TV users will now be able to watch Apple TV movies and shows purchased through the iTunes Store or access the Apple TV Channels like Showtime and HBO.

Samsung Daily Content Discovery Platform Replaces Bixby Home, Rollout Begins Next Month

Samsung Daily’s core functionality will be the same, but it comes with interface improvements and more content like recipes, news, and games.

HMD Global Adds ‘Environmental Profiles’ of 17 New Nokia Mobile Phones

The list released by Nokia also includes details such as materials and substances, packaging, energy efficiency, and energy consumption of the phones.

Google Owner Alphabet Could be Planning to Take Over Fitbit

Fitbit helped pioneer the wearable fitness devices market but has seen disappointing sales since July 2019 when it launched the Versa Lite.

Sony PlayStation Vue Streaming Service to Shut Down in January, Company Cites Competition

Sony said on Tuesday it would shut down its cloud-based TV service PlayStation Vue in January, citing competition.

PUBG Mobile Season 10 ‘Fury of The Wasteland’ Royale Pass Leaked

All the new goodies that will be arriving with Season 10 for PUBG Mobile.

HBO Max Streaming Service to Launch in May 2020 at $14.99 per Month, AT&T Says

Some existing subscribers to HBO's cable channel or HBO Now will get free access to HBO Max, AT&T said.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Samsung Teases Its Next-Gen Foldable Smartphone

Commonly called the Galaxy Fold 2, Samsung's new foldable smartphone could be pitched against the Motorola Razr.

Apple Pay in EU Antitrust Spotlight as Regulators Seek Details

European Commission said it had information Apple may have restricted online payments for the purchase of goods and services made via merchant apps or websites, in breach of EU antitrust rules.

Apple Resumes Human Reviews of Siri Audio With iOS 13.2 Update

Apple is resuming the use of humans to review Siri commands and dictation with the latest iPhone software update.

Apple AirPods Pro Vs Rivals: Lightest Buds, Longest Battery Life & Noise Cancellation

Apple is expected to sell as many as 110 million AirPods by the year 2021. Perhaps then, the expansion of the line-up was necessary to start off with.

WhatsApp Sues Israel's NSO for Allegedly Helping Spies Hack Phones Around the World

WhatsApp alleges that NSO helped government agencies deliver malicious software through seemingly harmless WhatsApp video calls, even if the targets never answered their phones.

YouTube Music Gets Siri Integration on iPhone, a Widget For Android And a Desktop App

YouTube Music now has a desktop Progressive Web App and Android widgets that show album art along with music playback control options.

WhatsApp Update For iPhone is Great News if You Like to Keep Annoying Groups on Mute

WhatsApp and the endless conversations it brings to the table, can be a tad less annoying now.

WhatsApp Sues Israeli Tech Firm for 'Using' Its App to Spy on Journalists, Activists

WhatsApp head Will Cathcart said the lawsuit was filed after an investigation showed the Israeli firm's role the cyberattack, despite its denials.

Apple Takes Down Clickware Apps Created by India-Based Company

Wandera had released a list of 17 apps for iOS which are infected with clickware meant to increase advertising revenue.

WhatsApp in the Arab World: An Essential but Controversial Tool

WhatsApp remains the most popular social media programme in terms of usage in the youthful, tech-savvy region.

Google Pixel 4’s Display Refresh Rate Falls Below 90Hz While Running Four Blacklisted Apps: Reports

Google Pixel 4 users are reporting yet another refresh rate throttling issue caused by four blacklisted apps that include Google Maps and Waze.

Sony PlayStation Vue TV Streaming Service Being Considered for Sale: Report

Sony is reportedly looking at selling its live TV streaming service PlayStation Vue as it struggles to turn a profit.

Call of Duty: Activision Set for Another Billion-Dollar Hit With 'Modern Warfare' Launch

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, the reboot of the widely popular first-person shooter game, will launch on Friday and is set to become another billion-dollar hit for publisher Activision.

Windows 10 Could Finally Get a New and Improved File Explorer

A report said that while Windows 10X will come with Modern File Explorer, there is no clarity whether Microsoft will update the older version or build a new one.

OnePlus 7 Pro 5G Android 10 Update Expected to Begin in the First Quarter of 2020

OxygenOS 10 (based on Android 10) was unveiled for the OnePlus 7 Pro and OnePlus 7 non-5G devices about a month ago. However, the update was was not launched for the 5G variant.

Moto G8 Plus Goes on Sale in India: Price, Features, Offers and More

The new budget handset from Motorola comes with a 48-megapixel camera and a dedicated 16-megapixel wide-angles action camera.

The Complete Air Purifier Buying Guide: Here is How to Beat The Delhi Pollution

The quality of filters defines the performance of an air purifier for homes. While it’s impossible to judge efficiency, there are still some giveaways too.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Google Owner Alphabet Said to Be in Bid to Buy Fitbit

There is no certainty that the negotiations between Google and Fitbit will lead to any deal, the sources said.

Waymo Looks Beyond Robo-Taxis, Tests 'Rider Only' Service in Arizona

Waymo is working with Renault, Nissan Motors, Fiat Chrysler, and Jaguar iPace SUV to develop self-driving vehicles for its Robo-taxi fleet.

Instagram Bans Fictional Snippets Showing Suicide

Instagram early this year clamped down on images of self-injury after a British teen who went online to read about suicide took her own life.

Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro With 108-Megapixel Penta-Camera, 5X Optical Zoom to Launch on November 5

The upcoming Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro reportedly runs a Snapdragon 730G processor and Android 10.

Google Play Music Crosses 5 Billion Downloads on Play Store

Google Play Music was recently replaced by YouTube Music as the default music app in all Android 10 devices.

Sounds 2.2 Update Brings Over 100 New Ringtones to Pixel Smartphone Owners

Google Sounds version 2.2 is being introduced to all Pixel phones and includes over 100 tunes in six categories.

Google Hit by Australian Regulator Lawsuit Over Data Collection

Eye on Market for Fitness Trackers, Google Owner Alphabet in Bid to Buy Fitbit: Report

Fitbit shares rose 27% on the news, giving the company a market capitalisation of $1.4 billion.

WhatsApp for iPhone Update Hides Notification Badges for Muted Chats, Takes Group Privacy Settings Globally

Google's Newest Phone Is Literally Just a Piece of Paper

Google's Paper Phone is the latest in a string of offerings attempting to grab the attention of an audience weary of the ever-expanding presence of tech in our lives, as well as the feeling of being chained to your phone.

Spotify Says It Grew Rapidly in India in Q3, Reaches 248 Million Monthly Active Users Globally

Spotify's premium subscribers globally grew 31 percent in the third quarter of this year to 113 million.

BSNL’s Rs 1,699 Annual Prepaid Plan Gets Extra Benefits under Diwali Festive Offer

BSNL's Rs 1,699 annual prepaid plan will now include 90 days' extra validity and 1GB extra data per day for November. The offer is valid only till October 31.

Instagram's Self-Harm Imagery Ban to Now Include Memes, Cartoons

Instagram's policy changes came after British teenager Molly Russell committed suicide because of viewing graphic content about anxiety, depression, and self-harm.

Spotify Performs Better Than Expected in India in Q3, Monthly Active Users Grow 30 Percent

Spotify said that they were adding about twice as many monthly subscribers as Apple music in India.

Google's Search for Sales in Cloud, Hardware Clip Alphabet Profit

Google parent Alphabet reported quarterly results on Monday that show costs continue to rise faster than revenue as the Web search leader seeks to broaden its business.

Apple iPhone Users Rejoice as iOS 13.2 With Deep Fusion Photography Is Out Now

Apple has also rolled out iPadOS 13.2, watchOS 6.1, tvOS 13.2, or macOS Catalina 10.15.1 updates.

Apple iPhone Might Use Apple Watch's LTPO Display For Better Battery Life

If Apple uses its LTPO display on the iPhone, it will reduce the power consumption by 15 per cent.

Microsoft Messes Up Again With Windows 10 Updates, But it Wouldn't Harm Your PC

The Windows 10 KB4523786 update was pushed by Microsoft on Windows 10 Home PCs, and Pro machines.

Apple AirPods Pro With Noise Cancellation Are Probably What You Were Waiting For

Apple says this has been achieved with the new H1 chip, which has 10 audio cores and powers all the functionality of the AirPods Pro.

Apple Takes Down Clickware Apps Created by India-Based Company

Wandera had released a list of 17 apps for iOS which are infected with clickware meant to increase advertising revenue.

PUBG Mobile: All New Weapons and Armoury on Payload Mode

Have you tried the new Payload Mode on PUBG Mobile yet?

Gmail Finally Gets Dark Theme for Android 10 and iOS 13

Gmail's Dark Mode is now extensively rolling out to Android 10 and iOS 13 users.

Five Upcoming WhatsApp Features You Should Look Out For

WhatsApp's one billion users might have to wait a bit more for the much-awaited Dark Mode which is still under development.

The RED Hydrogen Smartphone is Now Officially Buried For Good

Super ambitious and hyped but eventually underwhelming, acclaimed camera maker RED's smartphone never came close to producing what it initially aimed for.

WhatsApp in the Arab World: An Essential but Controversial Tool

WhatsApp remains the most popular social media programme in terms of usage in the youthful, tech-savvy region.

PUBG Mobile: Payload Mode All New Weapons and Armoury Explained

Have you tried the new Payload Mode on PUBG Mobile yet?

Buy Your Ticket to Space: Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic to go Public Today

Virgin Galactic plans to take paying tourists to suborbital space in the first half of 2020, aboard the SpaceShipTwo spacecraft for $250,000 per ticket.

Google Pixel 4’s Display Refresh Rate Falls Below 90Hz While Running Four Blacklisted Apps: Reports

Google Pixel 4 users are reporting yet another refresh rate throttling issue caused by four blacklisted apps that include Google Maps and Waze.

Google Pixel 4’s Display Refresh Rate Falls Below 90Hz While Running Four Blacklisted Apps: Reports

Google Pixel 4 users are reporting yet another refresh rate throttling issue caused by four blacklisted apps that include Google Maps and Waze.

Updated Google Search Algorithm Uses Machine Learning for More Relevant Results

The new Google Search algorithms use machine learning and new neural networking techniques to better understand a query word in a sentence and its context.

Donald Trump Dislikes the Loss of iPhone's Home Button, Tweets to Apple CEO Tim Cook

Apple removed the home buttons on its smartphones with the introduction of its iPhone X in 2017. The iPhone 8 is the only model which retains the home button.