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Huawei Mate 10 Pro teardown (Source: iFixIt)

Huawei Mate 10 Pro gets a 4/10 from iFixIt

The teardown of the Huawei 10 Pro by iFixIt revealed that replacing the display involves the removal of almost every component, and fixing the front camera requires switching the whole display, including its frame.

Codrut Nistor, 05 Dec 2017 14:55

BLU Life One X3 with MediaTek MT6753 (Source: BLU Products)

BLU Life One X3 silently debuts with a 5,000 mAh battery onboard

While many users with bricked phones are still waiting for an official solution to their problem, BLU Products forgets about the mayhem caused by its latest OTA update and silently intros the Life One X3 mid-ranger.

Codrut Nistor, 04 Dec 2017 17:50

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 "Deep Sea Blue" Android flagship (Source: Samsung)

There is no such thing as a "Microsoft Edition" Galaxy S8 or Galaxy Note 8

Although the so-called "Microsoft Edition" Galaxy S8 has been available in the Microsoft Store for a few months, Samsung finally decided to let the world know that these flagships sold by the Redmond giant's store are not special ...

Codrut Nistor, 01 Dec 2017 23:10

Lock screen advertising on Android (Source: Android Police)

Google Play removes most apps with lock screen ads

A few years after removing apps that showed ads as push notifications, Google takes one more step in the right direction and forbids apps that display ads in the device's lock screen from being distributed via Google Play.

Codrut Nistor, 30 Nov 2017 23:59

System76 to disable Intel Management Engine on its notebooks

While Intel is working with the big brands to patch the major security holes recently discovered in its Management Engine firmware, System76 plans to take it all to the next level by disabling IME entirely via a firmware update.

Codrut Nistor, 30 Nov 2017 23:45

Skyforge MMORPG now available on Xbox One (Source: My.com)

Skyforge now available on Xbox One

After five years in development, Skyforge entered the open beta stage in early 2015. This free-to-play MMORPG was released for PlayStation 4 in April, and now the time has finally arrived for the Xbox One console to get it as well...

Codrut Nistor, 30 Nov 2017 11:05

Samsung Galaxy S8 Android flagship has camera focus problems

Shake your Samsung Galaxy S8 to help its camera focus properly

As strange as it may seem, Samsung recommends a "gentle tap to the back" or "a small shake" of their Galaxy S8 to those who complain that their phone's main camera is taking blurry photos and has problems focusing.

Codrut Nistor, 29 Nov 2017 22:50

BLU Products releases phone-bricking OTA update

The latest OTA update for the phones of the popular US-based BLU Products apparently managed to brick a lot of phones and a lot of people are (very) angry about it. Sadly, there is no official solution for this problem that does n...

Codrut Nistor, 29 Nov 2017 12:58

They may take everything but never our freedom. Never our right to choose.

The fight for Net Neutrality is on...you should take action today

The US Federal Communications Commission is set to cast a vote that will repeal the Net Neutrality laws that keep the Internet fun for everyone. American or not, it's time you had a say in this matter. Let your voice be heard toda...

Ricci Rox, 26 Nov 2017 10:19

A new set of Intel Management Engine vulnerabilities confirmed

Not long after a few security research groups discovered new vulnerabilities in the Intel Management Engine remote administration subsystem, the chipmaker confirmed these issues in a new security advisory that also lists other bug...

Codrut Nistor, 21 Nov 2017 14:10

Surface Book 2 suffering from performance throttling, charging issues, and heavy ghosting

Surface Book 2 suffers from performance throttling, charging abnormalities, and slower response times

Though a visual delight, the new Surface Book isn't doing anything to buck the trend of notorious hardware headaches that has become the norm across the Surface lineup.

Allen Ngo, 18 Nov 2017 21:05

Yet another Android exploit. (Source: Pixabay)

New Android security flaw allows screen recording without direct user permission

A security research firm has revealed an Android exploit which allows a rogue application to record all on-screen activity without the user's permission. This has been fixed in Android 8, but users on older versions are still vuln...

Craig Ward, 18 Nov 2017 19:16

Smartwatches targetted at children, like the VTech Kidizoom, are now banned in Germany. (Image: VTech)

Germany bans smartwatches marketed at children

Children's smartwatches have been found to have glaring security holes, some of which can present a serious threat to the safety of the children that wear them. These security issues, along with privacy concerns, have led German o...

Sam Medley, 18 Nov 2017 04:09

The mask that turned Face ID into Farce ID (Source: Bkav Corp on YouTube)

Face ID tricked using a mask

A Vietnamese security firm managed to trick Apple's Face ID into unlocking the new iPhone X with the help of a custom mask that was created for a cost of around US$150. Perfecting the whole process took them about a week.

Codrut Nistor, 13 Nov 2017 18:25

Saygus V Squared crowdfunded Android smartphone (Source: FCC)

Saygus V Squared surfaces online once again

Back in August, the Saygus team revealed that the long-awaited V Squared flagship had finally reached the FCC. It took "just" a few months to get the agency's certifications, but at least now we know that this phone is not vaporwa...

Codrut Nistor, 08 Nov 2017 12:55

IDC analytics point to 3-year decline in tablet sales

Marking the twelfth straight quarter of year-over-year decline, the third quarter of 2017 saw the tablet market slump 5.4%. Despite a bump in sales growth from 4 of the top 5 tablet retailers, the market as a whole continues its d...

Sam Medley, 06 Nov 2017 21:15

Pixel 2 XL, ask more of your phone. (Source: Google)

Google replacing Pixel 2 XLs sent to customers without Android installed

Continuing the trend of the Pixel 2 XL, a small number of users have complained on Reddit and the Ars Technica forums about receiving devices which are completely missing the operating system. Google reports that they have fixed t...

Craig Ward, 04 Nov 2017 02:05

Assassin's Creed Origins is another example of DRM gone wrong

Publishers need to protect their game from piracy, and gamers should pay for the games we play. But there is a problem when the method of DRM implementation degrades the experience of those who obtained the game legitimately.

Craig Ward, 30 Oct 2017 23:20

The Samsung J7 smartphone. (Source: Samsung)

Samsung J7 catches fire in an Indian flight causing a mid-air scare

A Samsung J7 smartphone caught fire on a Jet Airways flight bound to Indore from New Delhi causing mid-air panic. The flight staff were unable to extinguish the fire and had to drop the phone in a tray of water to put off the flam...

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 21 Oct 2017 14:52

Macbook Pro: Does Apple have a problem with defective keyboards due to dust getting stuck?

Since 2015, Apple has one by one changed the keyboards on its Mac-products to the new Butterfly-design, a precess accompanied with much interest but also criticism. The new design helped Apple in their pursuit for thinner and thin...

Benjamin Herzig, 18 Oct 2017 18:18

The wolf in sheep's clothing which snuck into thousands of unsuspecting digital pens. (Source: SwiftOnSecurity)

A fake Adblock Plus extension has infected about 37,000 Google Chrome users

Posing as the world's most popular ad-blocking software, a fraudulent extension made it onto the Chrome Web Store and tricked tens of thousands of victims into installing what turned out to be a very annoying piece of adware.

John Garcia, 10 Oct 2017 21:42

A more fitting name if this trend of fails continues. (Source: CHEIL India)

OnePlus is collecting user data without permission, and you should be scared

OnePlus has dropped the ball yet again, with a user discovering a data siphon that sends his private phone information and logs to a remote OnePlus server.

Ricci Rox, 10 Oct 2017 12:33

All 3 billion Yahoo user accounts were involved in the 2013 data breach

If you held a Yahoo account in 2013, then you were almost certainly involved in the data breach. At 3 billion user accounts affected, this announcement sets the record for the largest known data breach.

Craig Ward, 04 Oct 2017 02:26

The Ataribox is an under-powered Linux PC priced to compete with the PS4 and Xbox One

In a newsletter sent out today, Atari gave some more information about the upcoming Ataribox. The console will be running a version of Linux, and users will have full access to the underlying operating system. No word on games yet...

Sam Medley, 29 Sep 2017 22:05

CBS-owned 'Showtime' joins The Pirate Bay and rogue chrome extensions in using your CPU to mine cryptocurrency

CoinHive's cryptomining JavaScript has been found embedded in the site code of two of Showtime's websites, causing increases CPU usage. The script has now been removed, but silence from Showtime leaves the question open on whether...

Craig Ward, 26 Sep 2017 17:15

All this considered, this is about par for cyber information control in most parts of the world. (Source: The Verge)

Your private data isn't so private after all, Wechat confirms

It's been a good week for privacy intrusions, with GO Keyboard being reported to siphon user data. This time out, it's the Wechat app on all the headlines, as the app's new privacy policy sheds light on how public, private user da...

Ricci Rox, 24 Sep 2017 09:56

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) facing charging bug after Nougat update (Source: Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) with Nougat plagued by charging bug

More Galaxy A3 (2016) users who upgraded their handsets to Android 7.0 have been complaining that they cannot load the battery more than 87 percent. Even worse, it looks like none of the usual bug-fixing methods works.

Codrut Nistor, 22 Sep 2017 23:05

Equi-fail: Equifax directs customers affected by hack to fake phishing website

In another major misstep for Equifax, an employee of the credit services company responded to customer tweets with a link to a fake phishing website. The site, which was styled to look like the official Equifax site dedicated to t...

Sam Medley, 21 Sep 2017 23:58

SafeBrowse's 4.4 start rating is starting to drop. (Source: Chrome Webstore)

A Chrome extension now takes your CPU cycles to mine cryptocurrency for the developer

Following on from The Pirate Bay's 24-hour trial of using a cryptomining script to generate revenue rather than using advertising, we now have a Chrome extension which is trying the same thing. Unfortunately for the developer, the...

Craig Ward, 19 Sep 2017 21:22

Motorola flips again, promises Android O for Moto G4

People complained, and Motorola listened. In a statement issued today, Motorola has promised to make good on its marketing and update the Moto G4 Plus to Android Oreo. Unfortunately, there is currently no time frame on when the up...

Sam Medley, 18 Sep 2017 23:00

Equifax security breach blamed on known web vulnerability in Apache Struts

One week after announcing a major data breach affecting over 143 million consumers, Equifax is pointing blame at a security vulnerability in the Apache Struts web framework. However, the vulnerability was publicly announced in Mar...

Sam Medley, 14 Sep 2017 22:15

Swelling batteries in the XPS 15 9550 have caused displacement of trackpads rendering them useless. (Source: User Crashnorun on the Dell Support Forum)

PSA | Dell offers to replace swelling XPS 15 9550 batteries for free, even if out-of-warranty

There were problems with batches of 84Wh batteries in the XPS 15 9550 that led to the battery bulging and pushing against the trackpad. Once the swelling was bad enough, it not only hindered the trackpad function but also posed a ...

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 10 Sep 2017 17:17

Android 8 'Oreo' bug can cause large amounts of mobile data use

A bug in Android 8 'Oreo' is causing the operating system to ignore any connected WiFi networks and default to using mobile data.

Craig Ward, 08 Sep 2017 23:57

Equifax announces major security breach affecting 143 million customers in the U.S.

Equifax announced today that the personal information of over 143 million American consumers was compromised in late July. Items such as birth dates, social security numbers, and even drivers licenses were stolen by hackers, in ad...

Sam Medley, 07 Sep 2017 23:57

Does that budget smartphone actually use both cameras on the back? (Image: Mrwhosetheboss, YouTube)

Dual-camera dupe: some smartphones with dual-camera setups only have one camera enabled

A few videos recently posted to YouTube took a closer look at the Doogee Mix and found that the dual-camera setup actually uses one camera and some software tricks to simulate effects that would otherwise require two camera module...

Sam Medley, 06 Sep 2017 16:14

Lenovo has been fined US$3.5 million and had restrictions placed on pre-installed software on their systems in the United States. (Source: Geralt/Pixabay)

Lenovo fined US$3.5 million for pre-installing adware on some laptops in 2015

The saga about some Lenovo laptops coming pre-installed with adware in 2015 has now come to an end with the results of their court case being announced a few hours ago. Lenovo must pay a fine of US$3.5 million and has had some res...

Craig Ward, 06 Sep 2017 01:07

Promotional material showing the cancelled Microsoft Surface Mini. (Source: Twitter | @evleaks)

More pictures plus official specs for the ill-fated Surface Mini, well, surface

The Microsoft Surface Mini never saw the light of day, but a pair of leaked images have, and they show the device from a trio of angles, as well as its specs in detail.

John Garcia, 02 Sep 2017 21:46

Andy Rubin issues apology for Essential customer privacy debacle

After a massive privacy foul-up, Essential's Andy Rubin has issued a formal apology to customers that had their personal information emailed to other customers. Essential will provide affected individuals with a one-year subscript...

Sam Medley, 31 Aug 2017 15:34

NY Mayor Bill de Blasio with NYPD deputy commissioner for IT, Jessica Tisch. (Source: NY Post)

NYPD contemplating on replacing 36,000 odd Windows Phones with iPhones

In the continuing habitual setback for Microsoft in its mobile endeavors, the NYPD will soon be scrapping its 36,000 odd smartphones running Windows Phone 8.1 for iPhones. The department is taking the decision in the wake of Micro...

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 29 Aug 2017 08:20

Latest XPS 13 9360 1.0.7 BIOS update purportedly bricking systems

In what could be another potential PR headache for Dell, the latest 1.0.7 BIOS update for the XPS 13 may be accidentally rolling back systems. It's recommended that XPS 13 owners do not install this latest update until Dell either...

Allen Ngo, 23 Aug 2017 04:57

Hacking your phone through the touchscreen? Yes, it can be done. (Image: Shattered Trust)

New research paper demonstrates smartphone security hole in replacement hardware

A research team has successfully compromised a smartphone by injecting malicious code into the drivers for the touchscreen. The code allows full access to the device, including the ability to alter files, use the phone's camera, d...

Sam Medley, 22 Aug 2017 23:36

Nokia 8 Android flagship will not reach the US market via official channels

Nokia 8 to skip China and the US

While the Nokia 8 is an interesting flagship that would surely gain quite a few fans in China and the US, HMD Global has revealed that this handset will not arrive in these two markets.

Codrut Nistor, 21 Aug 2017 21:55

Google Nexus 6 Android handset gets 7.1.1 Nougat once again

Nexus 6 gets Android 7.1.1 for the second time

After releasing this update back in January and then rolling back to Android 7.0 due to various bugs, Google finally upgrades the firmware of the Nexus 6 to Android 7.1.1 Nougat.

Codrut Nistor, 17 Aug 2017 11:30

Recall issued for Samsung Galaxy Note 4 batteries

Replacement batteries shipped as part of AT&T's Insurance program have now been recalled due to concerns about the batteries overheating and creating a fire hazard. Samsung has placed blame squarely on FedEx Supply Chain.

Sam Medley, 16 Aug 2017 23:35

Saygus V Squared Android phone might finally launch in 2017

Saygus V Squared hits FCC

After countless delays, the crowdfunded Saygus V Squared handset was labeled by everyone as vaporware, but this might have been wrong. The phone has apparently cleared the FCC and might finally reach the market.

Codrut Nistor, 15 Aug 2017 11:15

MIUI security flaws allow uninstallation of security apps and easy copying of data

eScan, a software security company, has reported on a number of vulnerabilities in Xiaomi's MIUI. The two principal ones allow the uninstallation of security apps and the transferring of phone data without prompting for the user p...

Craig Ward, 12 Aug 2017 17:58

The Surface Pro has faces issues with power management, throttling, backlight bleed, and even noise.

Microsoft defends Surface family after Consumer Reports labels Surface products "unreliable"

Microsoft executive Panos Panay has attempted to defend the reliability of Microsoft's Surface family of products following Consumer Reports's failure to recommend the Surface products based on surveyed high rates of failure.

Douglas Black, 11 Aug 2017 14:31

25 percent of Surface Pro owners will experience reliability issues, claims Consumer Reports

Meanwhile, Apple is sitting happily at first place for having the most reliable laptops and tablets.

Allen Ngo, 10 Aug 2017 19:35

A PlayStation 4 controller utilising DualShock 4 vibration technology. (Source: Sony)

Immersion CEO claims Sony's DualShock technology lags behind Microsoft and Nintendo

The President and CEO of Immersion Corporation, a company which develops game controller vibration features, is claiming that Sony's DualShock is using 90's technology, putting it well behind the competition. Immersion currently l...

Craig Ward, 09 Aug 2017 23:58

Oppo R11 smartphone gets Android 7.1.1-based update that removes the status bar notifications

ColorOS update leaves Oppo R11 without status bar notifications

While the Marshmallow-based ColorOS 3.0.0i firmware for the Oppo R9s and R9s Plus shows notifications in the status bar, the Nougat-based ColorOS 3.1 update for the R11 comes without this popular feature.

Codrut Nistor, 08 Aug 2017 16:20

Fail

Huawei Mate 10 Pro gets a 4/10 from iFixIt

BLU Life One X3 silently debuts with a 5,000 mAh battery onboard

There is no such thing as a "Microsoft Edition" Galaxy S8 or Galaxy Note 8

Google Play removes most apps with lock screen ads

System76 to disable Intel Management Engine on its notebooks

Skyforge now available on Xbox One

Shake your Samsung Galaxy S8 to help its camera focus properly

BLU Products releases phone-bricking OTA update

The fight for Net Neutrality is on...you should take action today

A new set of Intel Management Engine vulnerabilities confirmed

Surface Book 2 suffers from performance throttling, charging abnormalities, and slower response times

New Android security flaw allows screen recording without direct user permission

Germany bans smartwatches marketed at children

Face ID tricked using a mask

Saygus V Squared surfaces online once again

IDC analytics point to 3-year decline in tablet sales

Google replacing Pixel 2 XLs sent to customers without Android installed

Assassin's Creed Origins is another example of DRM gone wrong

Samsung J7 catches fire in an Indian flight causing a mid-air scare

Macbook Pro: Does Apple have a problem with defective keyboards due to dust getting stuck?

A fake Adblock Plus extension has infected about 37,000 Google Chrome users

OnePlus is collecting user data without permission, and you should be scared

All 3 billion Yahoo user accounts were involved in the 2013 data breach

The Ataribox is an under-powered Linux PC priced to compete with the PS4 and Xbox One

CBS-owned 'Showtime' joins The Pirate Bay and rogue chrome extensions in using your CPU to mine cryptocurrency

Your private data isn't so private after all, Wechat confirms

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016) with Nougat plagued by charging bug

Equi-fail: Equifax directs customers affected by hack to fake phishing website

A Chrome extension now takes your CPU cycles to mine cryptocurrency for the developer

Motorola flips again, promises Android O for Moto G4

Equifax security breach blamed on known web vulnerability in Apache Struts

PSA | Dell offers to replace swelling XPS 15 9550 batteries for free, even if out-of-warranty

Android 8 'Oreo' bug can cause large amounts of mobile data use

Equifax announces major security breach affecting 143 million customers in the U.S.

Dual-camera dupe: some smartphones with dual-camera setups only have one camera enabled

Lenovo fined US$3.5 million for pre-installing adware on some laptops in 2015

More pictures plus official specs for the ill-fated Surface Mini, well, surface

Andy Rubin issues apology for Essential customer privacy debacle

NYPD contemplating on replacing 36,000 odd Windows Phones with iPhones

Latest XPS 13 9360 1.0.7 BIOS update purportedly bricking systems

New research paper demonstrates smartphone security hole in replacement hardware

Nokia 8 to skip China and the US

Nexus 6 gets Android 7.1.1 for the second time

Recall issued for Samsung Galaxy Note 4 batteries

Saygus V Squared hits FCC

MIUI security flaws allow uninstallation of security apps and easy copying of data

Microsoft defends Surface family after Consumer Reports labels Surface products "unreliable"

25 percent of Surface Pro owners will experience reliability issues, claims Consumer Reports

Immersion CEO claims Sony's DualShock technology lags behind Microsoft and Nintendo

ColorOS update leaves Oppo R11 without status bar notifications

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