Software

A Samsung Community forum moderator has stated that the company is reportedly working on delivering the One UI update to Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 users. Unfortunately, there is no word about when the firmware will be available for download, but it is reassuring to know that it will make its way to the devices eventually.

A particular string of characters in the Sindhi language seems to be wreaking havoc on iOS devices worldwide. Upon receiving the text in question, iOS crashes completely. A force restart is required to get the iPhone/iPad operational again. The only workaround is to disable notifications for all instant messaging applications until Apple rolls out a fix.

Mobvoi - the OEM behind the TicWatch line of wearables - has unveiled its latest product, the Cololight. It consists of hexagonal LED panels that can be connected and thus arranged into a variety of patterns at the user's discretion. Its starts at a pack of 3 lights and their necessary components for US$59.99.

A security group has reported the detection of 267 million Facebook profiles on a server being offered in exchange for £300 (~US$340). The users in question are apparently mostly located in the United States. This allegedly hacked info includes their names and phone numbers.

Huawei's latest tablet is the MatePad 10.4, a slate with a 2K display with the diagonal length it is named for. It is powered by the Kirin 810 and has 4GB or 6GB RAM options, which come in Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi or LTE SKUs. The OEM has revealed that its starts at 1899 yuan (~US$269).

The Mi A3 has already received three Android 10 updates but both were filled with bugs. Xiaomi is now sending out yet another build to the phone with the version number "V11.0.14.0.QFQMIXM", and it appears to fix most of the bugs from previous updates.

There is good news for those considering an upgrade from their existing rigs with a Noctua cooler and that are based on an Intel 300-series chipset to one with certain newer 400-series options instead: they may be able to switch the former from one to another. Some of this brand's products are even compatible with Comet Lake-S processors out of the box.

The latest version of Vivaldi now includes a tracker blocker developer by DuckDuckGo. The tool, which is powered by DuckDuckGo's Tracker Radar software, makes browsing the Internet a bit more private out of the box. However, other privacy-focused extensions should still be used.

Some owners of the most expensive Galaxy S20 variant have reportedly complained to its maker, Samsung, that its rear cameras cannot focus over very short distances. The same users have called for a firmware upgrade that might fix this. However, this problem may be due to the physical constraints of the phone's image sensor.

To start the celebration of the upcoming anniversary properly, Wargaming has updated World of Tanks to 1.9, a version that comes with quite a few noticeable changes: a completely reworked tech tree without some hardware that has been placed into a separate tab as Collectors' Vehicles, increased HP for the low tiers, and more.

Facebook's Dark Mode is just around the corner. Various online sources have been able to enable the feature, showing a questionable design choice. Instead of using blacks in the theme (like most other dark modes), Facebook's Dark Mode utilizes various shades of dark grey.

There has been a rumor that the operating system for the PlayStation 5 will be considerably more streamlined than the one used for the PS4 system, freeing up some vital storage space. More details have been offered about the DualSense’s Create button that will allow real-time editing, and it seems a new Crash Bandicoot game could be a PS5 launch title.

Update: Amazfit has finally announced a launch date for the X: April 28, 2020. This 92-degree curved wearable was first introduced as a concept device in 2019. Now, however, it is ready to become a reality via its upcoming Indiegogo campaign.

Sony has announced details on its latest TVs, including their MRSPs in USD and where to get them. They include 8K LED models, which are of course the most expensive on this new list. However, there are also 4K BRAVIA OLED and LED options at more reasonable prices.

A new exploit discovered in iOS 13.4.1 on A13 devices may lead to an eventual Jailbreak method for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max running the latest version of iOS. While the bug itself is not able to Jailbreak affected devices, it is an important first step.

The leaks just keep coming from Jon Prosser at the moment and this new one is a big one, particularly if you’re a developer. However, it also has possibilities for the introduction of pro apps on the iPad which will only serve to widen its already considerable audience.

Xiaomi botched the first Android 10 update to the Mi A2 Lite. A new update "V11.0.4.0.QDLMIXM" was sent out last week in an extremely limited rollout, but now appears to have headed global, with users around the world confirming receipt.

Canon has yet to launch what is to be the "most advanced" full-frame mirrorless unit it has ever made, the EOS R5. In the meantime, the OEM aims to keep enthusiasm for this camera going with a deeper dive into its full specs. They include more on its 8K recording capabilities and the memory it will support.

A device with a completely new Huawei model number has appeared on Geekbench 5. It is described as having 8GB of RAM and running on the 5G version of the premium Kirin 990 chipset. This has led to speculation that it is the Nova 7 Pro - or possibly 7 Pro+.

Xiaomi has sent out the Android 10 update to quite a number of its phones, but the Redmi Note 7 and Redmi Note 7 Pro remain on Pie. There appears to be light at the end of the tunnel, though, if new information is anything to go by.

The iQOO Neo series' next generation is the 3, a phone touted to combine the highest-end of flagship phone specs at the lowest price. Its model number has appeared as the title of new listings on Geekbench 4, which may help set some of them further in stone. This "Neo3" has posted healthy scores for its conformation.

The Tor Project has announced that it has had to let go 13 employees, which counts for one-third of its core workforce. Entirely funded by donations, the team has been forced to make the layoffs due to the effects of COVID-19.

Owners of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra have complained about a bug that makes their displays assume a green tint when brightness is reduced. It also appears to be present on the regular S20 and S20+. Thankfully, though, Samsung has promised to fix it.

Adequate hand hygiene is one of the everyday measures recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to help combat Covid-19. Accordingly, Samsung has developed the ‘Hand Wash’ app for its watches. It promotes this activity through regular reminders, a tracker and a corresponding watch-face.

Late 2019 saw rumors that Google was developing a type of Apple Card-competitor in partnership with certain financial institutions. Now, there may be more evidence that this new instrument is indeed nearly a reality. It is to be a debit card rather than a credit card, and will be tied into and controlled through an app.

MacOS 10.15.5 Catalina will bring a new battery health tool that can reduce the maximum charge of a MacBook's lithium-ion battery. The tool aims to lengthen the overall longevity of a laptop's battery, but it may reduce battery life between recharges.

Rejoice, Galaxy S9 series owners, you may just be set to receive the One UI 2.1 update after all. A Samsung chat rep has confirmed that the Galaxy S9 Plus—and the S9 by proxy—will receive the One UI 2.1 update that has already been sent out to the S10 and Note 10 phones.

Qualcomm has launched the 212 modem, a new chipset for NB2 bands that needs as little as 2.2 volts (V) to function. This may be advantageous for internet-of-things devices that need to keep going on ultra-low power in the long term. It is also small enough to allow for connectivity modules measuring 100 square millimeters or less.

The display specialist TCL has reported its sales performance for the first quarter of 2020 (1Q2020). This company sold 6.73 million of its TVs during this period. This figure was down by approximately 20% year-on-year (YoY), however, which was attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic situation.

The Mi Note 10 series, and by extension the Mi CC9 Pro, are the forgotten children of Xiaomi. Announced after the launch of Android 10, Xiaomi released the Mi Note 10 and Mi Note 10 Pro on Android 9.0 Pie. Five months on, the latest update for both devices has left people reeling.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite is now receiving the One UI 2.1 update. Apart from all the standard One UI 2.1 features such as Quick Share and Single Take Mode, the update also comes with the April 2020 Android security patch. The software is now available in Spain and the United Arab Emirates, and will be available in other regions soon.

A future version of WhatsApp will allow more than four users to participate in group audio and video calls. There is no word about what the revised upper limit will be just yet. Since the feature is still in development, it will be a while before it is available to everyone.

Normally, part of the object of a Raid Battle in Pokemon GO is that the player physically visits a Gym in order to take part in such an event. However, for those still under lockdown as a result of Covid-19, this is obviously impossible. Niantic will address this by rolling out new Remote Passes that can be used at home.

Two new zero-day vulnerabilities have been found for the popular teleconferencing software Zoom. The exploits, one of which affects the Windows client and the other of which affects the macOS client, are currently up for auction on the Dark Web. The Windows exploit is particularly nasty as it allows for Remote Code Execution, or RCE.

iQOO is currently setting its latest Neo-series smartphone up for launch on April 23, 2020. It has been through the AnTuTu benchmark beforehand, which reveals a decently high score as may be expected of a Snapdragon 865-powered device. It is also touted as having a 144Hz display, which may have come into play during this test.

New leaks point to the imminent debut of a new smartphone by OPPO called the PDKM00, or A92s. This device has also recently acquired renders that suggest quad rear cameras found in a square module. It may also have popped up on Geekbench 4 with a novel MediaTek processor that could be a mid-range Dimensity variant.

There is still hope for Galaxy Note 9 owners who are eagerly anticipating the arrival of One UI 2.1 on their devices. A Samsung Community moderator said the process is under review, but it'll be a while before the update is rolled out.

Although not a visual feast in the past, Minecraft finally gets ray-traced shadows, impressive reflective water, real-time caustics, and multiple atmospheric effects thanks to NVIDIA's RTX technology and the new levels that add a whole new level of depth and detail to the Windows version of this popular game.

The Surface Pro 7 is one of Microsoft's latest 2-in-1s. Some people who have bought it have subsequently gone back to the Redmond giant's product forum reporting a bug in which the tablet shuts off without warning. The issue may be addressed with some work-arounds, but the OEM is apparently yet to issue an official fix.

Nokia 8 Sirocco is finally receiving its highly-anticipated Android 10 update. It is rolling out now and will be available to users in batches. Nokia says that everyone should get the software by April 20th.

Motorola is currently linked to an upcoming smartphone series with the name of Edge. One of its variants may have surfaced on Geekbench 5. It is not the rumored Snapdragon 865-powered flagship, but does apparently run the powerful upper-mid-range SoC, the 765G.

The latest variant of the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ are hailed as some of the best non-ANC TWS earbuds out there. However, they are also affected by the potential for severe wind-noise during voice calls. Their latest firmware update is touted to fix this problem.

According to a ZenTalk forum moderator, Android 10 will be the last major OS update for the popular Asus ZenFone 5/5Z. Further updates will only focus on security and bug fixes, although the possibility of a ZenUI 7 feature update for Android 10 is not being completely ruled out.

Xiaomi seems to have leaked a small portion of its MIUI 12 user interface by accident. It’s widely believed that the Chinese OEM is busy working on the latest version of its Android overlay and there has even been a recent leak listing which smartphones will be supposedly first to receive MIUI 12. The latest user interface seems to have a darker appearance overall.

As Huawei kicks off the rollout of EMUI 10.1 to its current and last-gen flagships, its Honor sub-brand isn't forgotten. The update comes in the form of Magic UI 3.1 and is now slowly becoming available on Honor flagships like the Honor 20 Pro and Honor V20.

OnePlus has unleashed new versions of its wireless earphones alongside its new 8-series of flagship phones. This new generation has an improved range of color options compared to its predecessors. It also features low-latency connections and a battery that can support up to 20 hours' worth of playback.

After incessant requests from owners, Xiaomi finally the released Android 10 update for the Mi A2 Lite over a month ago. The update was disastrous, however, and bricked a number of devices. The company has now released a new Android 10 build.

The latest firmware update for the Nintendo Switch (version 10.0.0) brings a bevy of new features, including the ability to completely remap the Joy-Con and Pro controllers and the ability to transfer data (including games) from the Switch's internal storage to an SD card.

OPPO has announced that the mid-range A91 smartphone will become available in Europe. It brings the combination of a MediaTek Helio P70 SoC, high-res quad rear cameras with a monochrome sensor and a 20:9 aspect ratio to the German market. It may be aimed at younger consumers, with a price to match.

The LG G7 ThinQ is billed to start receiving the Android 10 update in South Korea sometime this quarter. There appears to be some good news for owners of the flagship in the US, however.