Google Messages APK teardown shows app eventually won’t work on “uncertified” devices

A new APK teardown of the Google Messages app version 7.2.203 for Android revealed a strong of text that suggested some change is coming to the default SMS client for Android. Google took charge of the next generation of SMS called RCS and the latest effort was offering end-to-end encryption for the instantaneous messaging service. Perhaps it is due to this new secure feature of Google Messages that Google might be disabling the app from working on “uncertified devices” this is according to an APK teardown by XDA-Developers that revealed a string of text, suggesting that phones not...

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Nokia 1.4 leaks in full, reveals basic specs, low price tag

HMD Global is planning to launch a new ultra-affordable smartphone, and it looks like a successor of the Nokia 1.3 is on its way. It will be called Nokia 1.4 and will have basic specs and a low-low price of under €100. The new phone will have a quad-core CPU at 1.3 GHz rates. That looks like the very same Qualcomm QM215 platform for affordable phones, but Nokia might have decided to go with something different. Aside from that, there are updates pretty much everywhere else - the camera on the back is said to be a dual setup, the battery got a massive increase to 4,000 mAh, and the screen...

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Amazon offers its resources for new Biden Administration’s vaccination efforts

Amazon is the second largest employer in the United States with over 800,000 employees and has a massive transport and logistics network with reach all over the US. In a letter addressed directly to the newly inaugurated President Joe Biden, Amazon offers its resources to assist in Biden’s goal of vaccinating 100 million Americans during his first 100 days in office. Additionally, we are prepared to leverage our operations, information technology, and communications capabilities and expertise to assist your administration's vaccination efforts. Our scale allows us to make a meaningful...

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Sony Xperia 10 III leaks in official looking renders

New year, new Roman numerals for Sony. In 2021 we're all anxiously waiting for the company's IIIrd generation of its smartphones, and today one of these has been uncovered. It's the Xperia 10 III, successor to the Xperia 10 II from last year, and virtually indistinguishable from it as you can see from the leaked renders below. The Xperia 10 III will sport a 6-inch screen, and Sony is sticking with huge bezels all-round. The phone's dimensions are said to be 154.4 x 68.4 x 8.3 mm (9.1mm where the camera bump is), and that makes it quite compact for this day and age. It's also marginally...

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Chrome 88 checks for compromised passwords, adds tab search

Google has pushed out v88 of Chrome for desktop, which includes a handful of important changes. The browser will now check if your saved passwords have been compromised, a feature standard to most dedicated password managers. If it finds a compromised password, it will then provide you with an alert to change it to something more secure. v88 also adds the tab search feature that was previously found in v87 on Chrome OS. If you have too many open tabs, you can use this to search for any of the open tabs. However, the feature isn't readily available yet and has to be...

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OnePlus 7 and 7T series get OxygenOS 11 beta

OnePlus has released the OxygenOS 11 public beta firmware to the OnePlus 7 and 7T series so those wanting to give Android 11 a try as quickly as possible can now do it. The beta firmwares are available for the OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro, as well as the 7T and 7T Pro. There are some known issues you should be aware of. Brightness adjustment might lag in some cases, some Bluetooth-connected devices may not produce sound occasionally, there's a chance of higher power consumption and decreased stability. In turn the devices will get the new overhauled OxygenOS 11 with host of features (new...

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Shield TV adds support for PS5 and Xbox One controllers

Nvidia has updated its Shield TV media streaming box to add support for the Bluetooth enabled PlayStation 5 DualSense and the Xbox Series X|S controllers. These controllers can now be paired with the streaming device through the latter's Bluetooth settings. The Shield TV is a media streaming box but it can also play Android games from the Google Play Store. On top of that, the device is compatible with the Nvidia GeForce Now service, which allows you to play games from Nvidia's cloud service. The Shield TV devices are compatible with other wireless controllers and Nvidia also...

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Some Galaxy S21 units only support NFC terminals for Samsung Pay, MST is getting phased out

Some Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra units do not support MST for Samsung Pay. It looks like availability of the feature varies by country – some get it, others do not, and not in a way that makes much sense. MST allows the phone to work with point of sale terminals that only support old-school magnetic stripe cards. This is a big deal in the US where such terminals are quite common, less so in regions where NFC terminals are abundant. Unfortunately, the S21 phones sold in the US are in the group that does not have MST. Phones sold in the UK do have it. Is this because of the different...

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Android 12 will let you share Wi-Fi passwords with nearby devices

Android 12 isn't exactly around the corner but it's nice to get bits and pieces that tell us what to expect from the future OS. The nearby share of Wi-Fi passwords, for example, is a neat new functionality that awaits and solves one of the worst "first-world problem" we have. Currently, Android 10 users and above can share Wi-Fi passwords using the generated QR code. With Android 12, you won't even have to do that. The password will be integrated in the Nearby Share feature will be introduced allowing you to share the Wi-Fi password of the network you are connected to. However, for...

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Netflix paying subscribers surpass 200 million with record-setting year

Cinemas may be struggling, but Netflix had a record-breaking year. The streaming service has amassed 200 million paying subscribers, adding a record 37 million over the course of 2020. For comparison, Netflix’s subscriber base grew by 28 million users in 2019. This rapid growth means that Netflix went from 111 million paying members in 2018 to over 200 million last year. Revenue per user grew as well, from $9.88 on average in 2018 to $11.2 now. Most of the new subscribers (83%) came from outside of the US and Canada. About half of the newcomers are from Europe, the Middle East and...

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Rugged Ulefone Armor 12 with Dimensity 1200 chipset incoming

The Ulefone Armor 12 could be the first rugged phone to use the new Dimensity 1200 chipset. It will launch in June and will be the most powerful Ulefone yet. The 6nm chipset will be paired with 12GB of RAM, while current models from the company typically top out at 8GB. And it will have 256GB of storage, which is double what previous models offer. The Ulefone Armor 12 may become the first rugged phone to use the Dimensity 1200 The Dimensity 1200 has fast 5G connectivity (up to 4.7Gbps) and a Cortex-A78 core that runs at 2.6 GHz. That will put it well ahead of the company’s...

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vivo could unveil its first tablet at tomorrow's X60 Pro+ event

Last year vivo trademarked several product names under its own brand, NEX and iQOO. Talk around the Weibo watercooler suggests that one of them, the vivo Pad, will be unveiled at tomorrow’s event alongside the vivo X60 Pro+. The vivo Pad will become the company’s first tablet. We don’t actually know much about the tablet as the slate has successfully avoided major leaks. We do know that it might soon have company. Among the trademarked names were the iQOO Pad and NEXPAD, though there’s no word on either coming out anytime soon (and almost certainly not during the vivo X-series...

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Sony seeding stable Android 11 to Xperia 5 II

A week after the Xperia 5 got its Android 11 update, its successor the Xperia 5 II is also getting the latest update. The new firmware bears the 58.1.A.1.178 build number and is seeding across Europe, Russia and Asia. The new update comes in at just 710MB in size. Android 11 update for Xperia 5 II You should be getting the standard Android 11 additions like chat bubbles, overhauled notifications management and one-time permissions among others. Like with the Xperia 5 update, the changelog here does not reveal the full list of changes, nor does it confirm the security patch...

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Oppo Find X3 Pro certified with a 4,500 mAh battery with 65W fast charging

Oppo will introduce the Find X3 series in March and a device from the lineup with the model number CPH2173 has appeared at the US FCC and the Chinese Compulsory Certification (also known as CCC or 3C). The phone will have two equally sized cells with 2,200 mAh minimal charge, meaning the whole battery capacity will hold a typical charge of around 4,500 mAh. On top of that, the phone that we believe is the Find X3 Pro will have a 65W charger, which shouldn’t be a surprise, since the Oppo Find X2 series also had it. Oppo CPH2173 certifications The phone will come with...

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LG might pull out of smartphone business after all

LG introduced a rollable smartphone at CES 2021, clearly indicating that the company has not run out of great ideas for its smartphone business. At the turn of the year LG also refuted the rumors about exiting the smartphone business saying these assumptions are “completely false and without merit.” However in a dramatic turn of events, the company CEO has sent an internal memo, hinting there would be a major change in the mobile division's operation. LG Twin Towers HQ in Seoul, South Korea Kwon Bong-seok, Chief Executive at the Korean company, said “regardless of any change...

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Xiaomi to bring Redmi Note 10, Redmi Note 10 Pro to India next month

Xiaomi is preparing for a busy first quarter in India. The latest rumor quoting insiders has it that company will introduce the Redmi Note 10 and Redmi Note 10 Pro to fans in the South Asian country in February. It also reveals spicy details about the Mi 11 series, but nothing on the actual launch date. The Redmi Note 10 series will have an aggressive price tag for two reasons - the Redmi Note 9 lineup did not match company expectations, and the competition in the face of Realme. The Redmi Note 10 might arrive with Snapdragon 750G chipset, four cameras, and a 6.67” LCD, while the Pro...

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Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra teardown reveals hard to swap screen and battery

After the Galaxy S21 got disassembled on video earlier this week, PBKreviews has switched their focus to the flagship of this year’s S-lineup - the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Taking the glass back off reveals the camera lens cover is made from metal just like the frame of the device. It’s held by adhesive to the glass panel and should be substantially more durable compared to the glass camera covers of the previous S-series models. Since this is the international version of the S21 Ultra, the phone is missing the mmWave antennas which would be located on the left and right sides. The actual slots...

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More Honor V40 specs surface, a 3D ToF camera to be on the front

The Honor V40 is going to be the company's debut as an independent entity and the phone shapes up to be a feature-packed beast. The latest report from the so-called "Digital Chat Station" (Google translated) on Weibo gives us a little bit more insight into the front-facing camera and the battery. Honor V30 Pro He says that the dual punch-hole that we saw in the official poster houses a standard 16MP selfie camera alongside a 3D ToF sensor, which also means that the V40 will feature an advanced face unlocking. A 4,000 mAh battery will be powering up the handset but only the higher...

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vivo shares X60 Pro+ camera samples, teases upgraded dual camera gimbal system

vivo will unveil the X60 Pro+ tomorrow, in the meantime, the company is flexing its new camera by posting photos, all of which were shot in very challenging conditions. The Pro+ is expected to introduce the second generation of the gimbal stabilization system that made its debut last year with the X50 series. The post on Weibo that shared the photos mentions the pan-tilt mechanism of the gimbal system is now featured on two cameras. The main camera will make use of the 50 MP ISOCELL GN1 sensor, which has fairly large 1.2 µm pixels that grow to 2.4 µm with 4-in-1 binning. Also, notice...

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vivo shares X60 Pro+ camera samples, teases upgraded dual camera gimbal system

vivo will unveil the X60 Pro+ tomorrow, in the meantime, the company is flexing its new camera by posting photos, all of which were shot in very challenging conditions. The Pro+ is expected to introduce the second generation of the gimbal stabilization system that made its debut last year with the X50 series. The post on Weibo that shared the photos mentions the pan-tilt mechanism of the gimbal system is now featured on two cameras. The main camera will make use of the 50 MP ISOCELL GN1 sensor, which has fairly large 1.2 µm pixels that grow to 2.4 µm with 4-in-1 binning. Also, notice...

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Acer annouces two new Chromebook Spin 2-in-1 models

The latest Chromebook additions in Acer’s fleet are the Spin 511 and Spin 512. Both are 2-in-1 convertibles that are targeted at the education market though you will be able to pick them up for personal use as well. Both new laptops are powered by Intel chipsets, come with Wi-Fi 6 connectivity offer 8GB RAM and up to 64GB eMMC storage. The Spin 511 packs an 11.6-inch touchscreen IPS LCD with HD resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio. Spin 512 ups the size to 12” and offers HD+ resolution in a 3:2 aspect ratio. Both new Chromebooks are MIL-STD 810H certified to withstand daily wear and tear...

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New vivo Y31 announced with Snapdragon 662, 48MP triple camera, and 5,000 mAh battery

Yesterday vivo announced the Y20G in India and today the company further expanded its Y series with the vivo Y31. vivo launched a Y31 back in 2015 with a 4.7" screen and a single rear camera, so we'll refer to the new one as vivo Y31 (2021). The vivo Y31 (2021) is powered by the Snapdragon 662 SoC, runs Android 11 with Funtouch OS 11 on top, and comes with 6GB RAM. The smartphone has 128GB storage onboard, but it also comes with a microSD card slot for storage expansion by up to 1TB. The Y31 (2021) is built around a 6.58" FullHD+ LCD that has a notch for the 16MP selfie camera. The back...

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Indian government asks WhatsApp to withdraw new Privacy Policy

WhatsApp, the messaging service owned by Facebook, started pushing a new Privacy Policy earlier this month. It stated that some user data will be shared with other Facebook companies but due to the backlash, the changes were postponed from February 18 to May 15, and now the company is facing legal challenges. One of them comes from India, where the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued a strongly worded letter, as some Indian outlets put it, saying “unilateral changes are not fair and acceptable”. The Indian government reminded that the South-Asian country...

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Realme X9 Pro will be one of the first Dimensity 1200-powered phones

Realme has confirmed that it will be one of the first smartphone makers to leverage the power of MediaTek’s new Dimensity 1200 chipset. This is the first 6nm chipset from MediaTek and it will be Realme’s first 6nm chip as well, so the company is equally excited about the power savings it will enable in and the the extra speed. And this will certainly be faster. Previous Dimensity chips used Cortex-A77 core (at least the 1000-series did) and they topped out at 2.6GHz. This one gets the new Cortex-A78 core and it will run it at 3.0GHz (according to ARM’s official numbers, this means 20%...

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MediaTek unveils the Dimensity 1200 and 1100 - a pair of 6nm chipsets with Cortex-A78 CPU

Until today, the entire Dimensity series was fabbed on a 7nm process, but that just changed – the Dimensity 1200 and 1100 are MediaTek’s first 6nm chipsets. And they are the first to use the Cortex-A78 core. The two are based on the same raw hardware, but target slightly different bins. The Dimensity 1200 is the premium offering. Its CPU has a 1+3+4 configuration with a A78 core is running at 3.0GHz, plus three more A78 cores at 2.6GHz and the usual quartet of power-efficient A55 cores running at 2.0GHz. For comparison, the Dimensity 1000+ used an older A77 core that topped out at...

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