Calling all audiophiles: Moondrop teases its first Hi-Fi smartphone with new image (Update)

Moondrop phone

Credit: Moondrop
  • Audio product maker Moondrop has released a teaser image of its first phone.
  • The phone is described as a 5G Hi-Fi mobile audio device.
  • It is said to feature 3.5mm and 4.4mm interfaces.

Update: April 23, 2024 (7:29 PM ET): Moondrop has now shared additional photos and details on its social media account. According to the post, the smartphone’s screen will feature a 6.7-inch flexible OLED display with curved edges, 1080p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and 1920Hz PWM dimming.

Getting an Oura Ring in the US just got way easier

A user holds and Oura Ring 3 between two fingers, displaying the devices sensors.

Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
  • The Oura Ring is now available for purchase at select Target stores and on Target’s website.
  • Customers can find their perfect fit by trying on sizes in-store or ordering a sizing kit online.
  • Oura recently made its products available on Amazon, expanding its online presence.

Oura, one of the most popular names in the smart rings market, continues its strategic push into mainstream retail with a newly announced partnership with Target. Select Target locations across the U.S. will now carry the popular health-tracking wearable, and it’s also available on Target’s website.

This move comes on the heels of Oura’s recent availability expansion to Amazon. Previously, Oura’s products were only available through its own website and Best Buy.

Pixel 8a spotted in the wild, showing off its bold new colors

google pixel 8 pro rear all colors

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
  • A seemingly real-world photo of Pixel 8a units has surfaced online, showcasing its blue and green color options.
  • The colors are a significant departure from the similarly named options on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

While Google remains tight-lipped about the Pixel 8a, a steady stream of leaks continues to reveal key aspects of the upcoming smartphone. After a series of high-quality renders, we now have seemingly real-world photo and video footage of two Pixel 8a units, which have appeared for sale in Moroccan markets ahead of the official launch.

First spotted by DroidReader (h/t: 9to5Google), the image offers a clear look at the seemingly frosted back panels of two Pixel 8a devices and their retail boxes. Additionally, X/Twitter user @MysteryLupin has shared a separate video showcasing the box contents of those same units and listing the selling price in Moroccan Dirhams.

Samsung offers free screen replacement for Galaxy phones with green line issue

Green line issue on Samsung phone

Credit: Harley Maranan / Android Authority
  • Samsung is giving Galaxy users a free, one-time display replacement for phones affected by the infamous green line issue.
  • For now, the replacement benefit is only available in India on select Galaxy phones.
  • The deadline to claim the offer is April 30, 2024.

Samsung India is reportedly offering a free, one-time screen replacement to users with select Galaxy phones experiencing the green line issue.

Why is ChatGPT so slow? Here’s how to speed up the chatbot’s responses

Siri versus ChatGPT

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

ChatGPT has become an indispensable creative tool for many of us. Cutting-edge as it is, however, ChatGPT still suffers from occasional slowdowns that can leave you waiting for seconds or even upwards of a minute between responses. Switching to the paid ChatGPT-4 model won’t necessarily speed things up either. All of this begs two important questions: why is ChatGPT so slow and what can we do to improve it?

Why is ChatGPT so slow? A technical overview

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TikTok ban passes in the House, could become law in a matter of days

TikTok featured image

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority
  • Legislation that would force ByteDance to divest its ownership stake in TikTok to remain in the US has passed in the House of Representatives again.
  • The legislation is now headed to the Senate, included in an aid package for Ukraine and Israel.
  • The Senate is expected to vote on the bill next week, with President Joe Biden expected to sign it when it reaches his desk.

TikTok is now one step closer to facing a ban in the US if parent company ByteDance chooses not to divest its ownership stake. The ban could take effect as soon as in the next few days.

Despite massive lobbying efforts to keep TikTok in the US, the House of Representatives passed legislation today that would ban the app in the country, according to NBC News. The bill passed after 360 representatives voted in favor of the ban, with 58 saying no.

Samsung Galaxy A35 deal offers big price cut and free Best Buy gift card   

galaxy a35 5g awesomelemon back

Credit: Samsung
  • Best Buy is currently running a deal for Samsung Galaxy A35 purchases.
  • Buying the handset will get you a free $40 gift card.
  • If you activate the unlocked phone, you can get $100 off of your purchase.

Samsung announced the launch of the Galaxy A35 in the US only a day ago. If you haven’t picked one up yet but are planning to, one place you may want to consider getting it from is Best Buy to take advantage of its current deal.

At the moment, the electronics retailer is offering quite a deal for the Galaxy A35. If you head over to the Best Buy website, you’ll notice a promotion offering a free $40 gift with the purchase of an unlocked Galaxy A35. In addition to that gift card, you’ll also get a one-month subscription for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Meta’s supercharged AI assistant is taking over its apps across the world

Meta logo on smartphone stock photo (13)

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
  • Meta has dramatically upgraded its AI assistant, powered by the new Llama 3 language model.
  • The enhanced Meta AI is available on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and its new standalone website.
  • Meta also announced the rollout of an upgraded image generator, where images change in real-time as you type text descriptions.

The battle for AI supremacy between ChatGPT and Gemini just turned into a three-way race as Meta has unveiled a significantly upgraded version of its AI assistant. The new-and-improved Meta AI, powered by the cutting-edge Llama 3 language model, is boldly proclaimed by CEO Mark Zuckerberg to be “now the most intelligent AI assistant that you can freely use.”

Meta first introduced Meta AI last year, but it was limited to the US, and its capabilities were not on par with those of competitors like ChatGPT and Gemini. However, the integration of the Llama 3 model, also announced today, represents a seemingly quantum leap for Meta’s AI. Benchmark tests conducted by the company indicate that, with Llama 3 at its core, Meta AI has the potential to outperform other top-tier AI models, particularly in areas like translation, dialogue generation, and complex reasoning.

Android 15 can tell you how long your phone’s storage chip will last

  • Android 15 is preparing a new feature that will tell users the remaining lifetime of their device’s internal storage.
  • Like other hardware components, storage chips have a limited lifetime that’s affected by how much they’re used.
  • Android routinely runs maintenance on storage chips to extend their lifespan, but users currently cannot know how much life their device’s storage chip has left.

With smartphone companies pushing longer and longer phone update policies, it’s become increasingly important to consider factors like aftersales parts availability and ease of self-repair when making a new phone purchase. After all, even if your phone maker promises to deliver seven years of software support, will your phone’s hardware even last that long? There are easy steps you can take to maximize battery life, but there’s not much you can do to extend the lifetime of your phone’s storage chip. For starters, there isn’t even a way for you to find out the remaining lifetime of your phone’s storage chip. Fortunately, that’ll change in the Android 15 update.

Since late last year, Google has been working on surfacing useful information about your phone’s hardware. It started with battery health-related information such as the manufacture date, cycle count, and state of health, which are all useful factors in knowing when it’s time to replace your phone’s battery. Some of this information was briefly shown under the Settings > About phone > Battery information page before it was removed in March’s Android 14 QPR2 update, since the page is supposedly intended to only be enabled on the upcoming Pixel 8a and onward.

Report: These Samsung phones are developing a green line issue after software updates

Green line issue on Samsung phone

Credit: Harley Maranan / Android Authority
  • Some older Samsung phones, especially from the Galaxy S21 series, are developing a thin green line on their displays.
  • The exact cause is unclear, but it might be a hardware defect potentially worsened by heat from software updates.

Multiple reports are surfacing online about a display issue plaguing some older Samsung Galaxy devices. Dubbed the ‘green line issue,’ it manifests as a slim, vertical green line that disrupts the screen, potentially hampering phone functionality. This problem seems to primarily affect Galaxy S21 series phones, with the Galaxy S21 Ultra and S21 FE models being the most frequently cited.

Some users seem to have encountered the green line randomly, while others are attributing it to software updates or intense usage, like gaming sessions. An X/Twitter user reported noticing the line immediately after installing a software update on their Galaxy S21 FE, while another encountered it after installing the April patch to their Galaxy S21 Ultra (model number SMG998B).

Google Photos could redesign the Library tab and give it a new name

Google Photos app with photo stack edited

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
  • Google appears to be working on a redesign of the Library tab.
  • An APK teardown has revealed that the Library tab could renamed to “Collections.”
  • The redesign could remove the carousel and add square cards for People, Albums, Documents, and more.

The Library tab in the Google Photos app is where you can go to look at your albums, check your on-device folders for images, and access shortcuts (Favorites, Utilities, Archive, and Trash). But it looks like the Library tab could undergo a big shift that will change the tab’s name and its UI.

In an APK teardown of the Photos app, conducted by 9to5Google, it was discovered that Google may be working on a redesign for the Library tab. The outlet was able to enable the redesign, which appears to relabel the Library tab to Collections.

Understanding CAT Culture in Cybersecurity: Collaboration, Awareness, and Training

In the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, organizations are increasingly recognizing the importance of fostering a robust security culture to mitigate risks and safe-guard sensitive data. One such approach gaining traction is the implementation of CAT culture, which emphasizes Collaboration, Awareness, and Training as foundational pillars in fortifying defenses against cyber threats.

Collaboration: At the heart of CAT culture lies collaboration – the cohesive effort of all stake-holders within an organization to collectively defend against cyber threats. This entails breaking down silos between different departments, such as IT, security, legal, and human resources, to foster open communication and information sharing. By promoting collaboration, organizations can more effectively identify vulnerabilities, respond to incidents promptly, and implement comprehensive security measures that align with business objectives.

Moreover, collaboration extends beyond internal boundaries to encompass external partner-ships with industry peers, government agencies, and cybersecurity experts. Engaging in information sharing initiatives, participating in threat intelligence sharing platforms, and collaborating on joint cybersecurity exercises can enhance situational awareness and bolster collective defense capabilities against common adversaries.

Awareness: In the context of CAT culture, awareness refers to cultivating a culture of cybersecurity consciousness among all employees, from top executives to frontline staff. It entails educating personnel about the evolving threat landscape, common attack vectors, and best practices for safeguarding against cyber threats. By raising awareness, organizations empower employees to recognize suspicious activities, report potential security incidents, and adhere to security policies and procedures.

Key components of cybersecurity awareness initiatives include regular security awareness training sessions, simulated phishing exercises, and the dissemination of security advisories and alerts. Additionally, fostering a culture where employees feel comfortable seeking guidance and reporting security concerns without fear of reprisal is essential for maintaining a vigilant workforce.

Training: Comprehensive training programs are essential for equipping employees with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to fulfill their roles in defending against cyber threats. Training should be tailored to the specific needs and responsibilities of different departments and personnel roles within the organization. This may include specialized training for IT administrators, security awareness training for non-technical staff, and incident response training for designated response teams.

Furthermore, ongoing training and professional development opportunities are vital for keeping pace with emerging cyber threats, evolving technologies, and regulatory requirements. Certifications such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and CompTIA Security+ provide validation of expertise and demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning in the field of cybersecurity.

In conclusion, embracing CAT culture – Collaboration, Awareness, and Training – is para-mount for building a resilient cybersecurity posture in today’s digital age. By fostering collaboration, raising awareness, and investing in comprehensive training initiatives, organizations can empower their workforce to become active participants in the defense against cyber threats and adapt to the evolving cybersecurity landscape effectively.

The post Understanding CAT Culture in Cybersecurity: Collaboration, Awareness, and Training appeared first on Cybersecurity Insiders.

Cyber Threat from Remember Me Checkbox

When logging into various online accounts, we often encounter a “Remember Me” checkbox, allowing us to stay logged in until we close and reopen the tab. This feature streamlines the login process and enhances convenience for users.

However, what happens when a device is shared among multiple individuals in a household?

Recent findings from cybersecurity researchers at Zen Shield reveal a potential cyber risk associated with the seemingly innocuous “Remember Me” option. If not managed with caution, this feature could lead to significant security vulnerabilities, granting unauthorized access to personal information, financial data, or other sensitive details. For instance, if User A accesses a device and User B subsequently gains access, User B can simply open the bookmarked page to access all the stored information.

According to the 2024 IBM Cyber Security Intelligence Index Report, a staggering 95% of security breaches stem from human error, with 11% attributed to sheer negligence.

To mitigate these risks, adopting additional security measures such as two-factor authentication (2FA), utilizing password managers with a master password, and implementing biometric authentication can provide an added layer of protection. Alternatively, users can opt to leave the “Remember Me” checkbox unchecked, thereby avoiding potential security pitfalls. It’s worth noting that from a browser’s perspective, stored cookie data also poses a potential threat, though this aspect warrants separate consideration.

In response to the evolving cyber threat landscape, many companies, including online marketplaces, gaming platforms, and e-commerce websites, are enhancing their security measures by offering a “Remember Me” feature coupled with double verification options such as biometrics or 2FA.

As such, both seasoned and novice online users are urged to remain vigilant and informed, either through past experiences or through future interactions with the web. By prioritizing security-conscious practices, individuals can safeguard their digital identities and sensitive information in an increasingly interconnected online environment.

The post Cyber Threat from Remember Me Checkbox appeared first on Cybersecurity Insiders.

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