Google Play Store Removes 813 Apps That Qualified as ‘Creepware’, Research Claims

Google has removed a batch of 813 apps from Google Play app store that were identified as ‘creepware’ by a group of researchers who study stalkerware-like apps. The creepware were identified by the researchers via a newly developed algorithm called, CreepRank that detects creepware-like behaviour within mobile apps. The algorithm then gives ‘creep score’ to apps that are analysed and the researchers found over 1,000 apps that qualified as creepware. The researchers describe creepware as apps that can be essentially be used for interpersonal attacks. Creepware apps aren’t necessarily spyware or stalkerware but they can be used used to stalk or threaten another person, directly or indirectly.

The findings were published in an academic paper from the New York University, Cornell Tech, and NortonLifeLock Research Group and were first reported by ZDNet. The research paper notes that the research aims to initiate a larger study of creepware – an area that the authors believe remains “unstudied.” These can be beneficial to improve security on platforms such as Google Play store.

“In this paper, we initiate a study of creepware using access to a dataset detailing the mobile apps installed on over 50 million Android devices. We develop a new algorithm, CreepRank, that uses the principle of guilt by association to help surface previously unknown examples of creepware, which we then characterise through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods,” the paper highlighted.

Continue reading “Google Play Store Removes 813 Apps That Qualified as ‘Creepware’, Research Claims”

Samsung Galaxy Fold Lite Price, Specifications Leaked, Galaxy Fold 2 Colour Options Tipped

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Samsung Galaxy Fold Lite may see a mix of 2018, 2019, 2020 parts
  • The foldable phone is tipped to offer 256GB of storage
  • The exterior display may be small like the one on the Galaxy Z Flip

Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 is widely reported to launch alongside the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series in the second half of 2020. This new foldable phone is expected to see a large exterior display, a more durable foldable screen, and a shift in camera placements, among other things. A new leak suggests that Samsung is working on another foldable device – the Samsung Galaxy Fold Lite – and this one will be a more affordable foldable phone with a price tag somewhere at $1,099 (roughly Rs. 82,800). The specifications and design details of this new model have surfaced online, alongside the possible colour options for the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2.

Starting with the new Samsung Galaxy Fold Lite, tipster Max Weinbach has leaked that the company is working on this new foldable phone that may be powered by the Snapdragon 865 SoC but lack support for 5G. Codenamed Winner2, the Samsung Galaxy Fold Lite is tipped to offer 256GB storage. It should be made available in Mirror Black and Mirror Purple colour options at launch, and be priced at $1,099 (roughly Rs. 82,800). The foldable device is expected to be built out of aluminium and glass on the outside, and is reported to integrate a mix of 2018, 2019, and 2020 parts. The main foldable display is said to not come with ultra-thin glass (UTG), so it may be something similar to what the original Samsung Galaxy Fold offered. Also, Weinbach notes that the secondary outside display will be small in size – similar to that on the Galaxy Z Flip. He cautions that all of the above mentioned information should be taken more as a rumour than a leak, as the information around this phone could change quickly, given that this is the first time we are hearing about it.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold 2, on the other hand, seems to take a step forward from the predecessor with better hardware and a more durable display. The foldable device will retain the book-like form factor, but is rumoured to come with a larger external display with an Infinity-O panel for housing the selfie camera. A new SamMobile report suggests that the phone will arrive in Black and Brown colour options. There may be more options at launch, especially including the ones that the Galaxy Fold was launched in. Past leaks suggest that the phone will support an S Pen and the camera setup at the back is expected to be identical to the Samsung Galaxy S20.

Nokia 9.3 PureView Rumoured to Offer 8K Video Recording, ‘Exclusive’ Zeiss Camera Effects

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Nokia 9.3 PureView is rumoured to have 8K recording support at 30fps
  • The phone is said to have Pro mode with AI algorithms
  • Nokia 9.3 PureView launch could take place in 2H 2020

Nokia 9.3 PureView is one of the anticipated smartphones of 2020. While Nokia mobile brand licensee HMD Global hasn’t yet announced any details about the new model, it has surfaced online — once again — with details such as 8K video recording support. The Nokia 9.3 PureView is already rumoured to come with a 120Hz display and a 108-megapixel primary camera. The new Nokia phone was initially expected to debut at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2020 in Barcelona in February. However, since the trade show was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, the handset didn’t get its official announcement.

Citing people familiar with the development, Nokia-focussed blog NokiaPureUser reports that the Nokia 9.3 PureView will be capable of recording 8K videos at a frame rate of 30fps. The new phone is also said to have two camera modes, namely “Pro” and Night.

The Pro mode on the Nokia 9.3 PureView is reported to offer enhanced controls and refined algorithms to improve shots, while the Night mode would uplift shots captured in dark environments. The latter is also likely to take an advantage from the optical image stabilisation (OIS) and large pixel size of the Nokia 9.3. Further, the new Nokia phone is said to have “exclusive” Zeiss effects.

Nokia 9.3 PureView specifications (rumoured)
If we look at the details churned out from the rumour-mill so far, the Nokia 9.3 PureView will have a 120Hz display and come with up to 108-megapixel primary camera. The phone would also include an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC. Some reports in the past have claimed that HMD Global has made over ten prototypes of the Nokia 9.3 PureView to test its performance before making an official announcement. Moreover, the phone would be the successor to the Nokia 9 PureView that was unveiled in February last year.

Oppo Reno 4 Live Image Leaked, Tips Quad Rear Cameras and 5G Support

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Oppo Reno 4 live image has been leaked
  • The photo tips the design and camera setup of the Oppo Reno 4
  • 5G support and two colour options also spotted

Oppo Reno 4 smartphone has been leaked in a live image on Weibo. The live image not only shows the rear side of the phone but also the name. Additionally, the live image also suggests that Reno 4 is going to be a 5G phone and with quad cameras at the back. Oppo had launched the Reno 3 and Reno 3 Pro back in December last year and the Reno 3 Vitality Edition later in February, all supporting 5G connectivity and quadcamera setup.

As per the live image shared by a tipster on Chinese social media website Weibo, the Oppo Reno 4 will have four camera sensors at the back along with an LED flashlight. Three cameras can be seen stacked vertically while the fourth one is sitting on the right of the third sensor at the bottom and the LED flash is lying beside the first sensor on the top. The phone’s rectangular design appears to be more pronounced than that of the Reno 3 series. Oppo branding can be seen at the bottom-right corner, although it’s not very clear. The image also suggests that the phone will come with 5G support. White and black colour variants of Reno 4 were visible in the photo.

Not many details of the phone or the launch date were revealed in the image but, the Weibo post says that Reno 4 series is “about to be released” (translated) and indicates that the Reno 4 phone (or phones) will provide better night-time camera performance.

As mentioned above, Oppo’s Reno 3 series phones also came with 5G connectivity and a quad-camera setup. Reno 3 and Reno 3 Pro were launched in December last year but only the Reno 3 Pro came to India with an octa-core MediaTek Helio P95 SoC, although without 5G support. There is no information on the price of the Reno 4, but the Reno 3 was priced starting CNY 3,399 (roughly Rs. 36,000) and Reno 3 Pro started at 3,999 (Rs. 29,900 in India).

Oppo A5 2020, A9 2020, Reno 3 Pro, More Phones Listed With Cashback, Telecom Offers: All Details

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Oppo A5 2020 buyers will get Jio benefits worth Rs. 7,050
  • Oppo A31 users get extended warranty of one year
  • Oppo Reno 2Z is listed with a one-time screen replacement offer

Oppo has started selling its smartphones online after the lockdown restrictions were partially lifted by the Government of India. It has introduced cashback of up to Rs. 2,599 and telecom offers on a range of its phones including the Oppo A5 2020, Oppo F15, and the Oppo Reno 3 Pro. Some phones offer extended warranty of up to one year, while others offer one-time screen replacement till up to 180 days from purchase. To encourage social distancing, Oppo has announced a new contactless service as well, which includes delivery and after sales service. Consumers can order or avail customer service on WhatsApp or via SMS.

Talking about the offers first, the Oppo A5 2020₹ 12,490 and Oppo A31 buyers will get an extended warranty of one year. Telecom offers with over Rs. 7,050 worth of benefits from Jio will also be listed. The Oppo A5 2020 is priced at Rs. 12,490 for the 3GB RAM option and Rs. 13,990 for the 4GB RAM model. The Oppo A31 is listed with the same benefits and is priced at Rs. 12,490 for the 4GB RAM option and thee 6GB RAM option is listed for Rs. 14,990.

Similarly, the Oppo A9 2020, Oppo F15, Oppo Reno 2F, Oppo Reno 2Z, and Oppo Reno 3 Pro are listed with a one-time screen replacement offer of up to 180 days and Airtel Double Data offer on Rs. 249 and Rs. 349 prepaid plans. All Oppo phones mentioned will be listed with a 5 percent cashback offer from Bank of Baroda or Federal Bank (including EMIs). EMI options will be offered by Bajaj Finserv, Home Credit, ICICI Bank, IDFC First Back, HDFB Service, HDFC Band, and Kotak Mahindra Bank. The company notes that all of these offers will be live till May 31 only.

The Oppo A9 2020 4GB RAM is priced at Rs. 15,990 while the 8GB RAM option is listed for Rs. 18,490. The Oppo F15, on the other hand is priced at Rs. 21,990 for the 8GB RAM model. The Oppo Reno 2F is priced at Rs. 23,490, the Oppo Reno 2Z is priced at Rs. 27,490, while the Oppo Reno 3 Pro is priced at Rs. 31,990. You can view all the offers on the company site. There is also the Oppo A1k₹ 7,179 and Oppo A5s₹ 8,990 that have been listed with the 5 percent cashback offer.

Talking about the new contactless service, Oppo customers can order deliveries or raise service requests on WhatsApp or via SMS. The WhatsApp chat number is +91 9871502777, while the SMS number is +91 9540495404. The company notes that 22 percent of its retail stores have also opened in permitted zones. However, only 17 percent of staff is present on-ground.

Huawei Y9s With 6GB RAM, Triple Rear Camera Setup Launched in India: Price and Specifications

HIGHLIGHTS;

  • Huawei Y9s has a 4,000mAh battery with 10W fast charging
  • Huawei Y9s has three cameras on the back
  • It has 128GB of onboard storage which is expandable

Huawei Y9s has been launched in India as a new mid-range offering by the company priced at under Rs. 20,000. It comes with a triple rear camera setup and a glass body. It is powered by an octa-core chipset and comes in a single RAM and storage configuration. There are two colour options to choose from and Huawei says the phone will be exclusively sold through Amazon. For now, delivery will be limited to the Green and Orange zones as per the latest lockdown guidelines.

Huawei Y9s price

The Huawei Y9s is priced at Rs. 19,990 for the single 6GB RAM and 128GB storage option. The phone comes in two colours namely, Breathing Crystal and Midnight Black. It will go on sale exclusively through Amazon starting May 19. Until guidelines are modified by the government, the delivery of non-essential items will only be possible in Green and Orange zones across the country.

Huawei Y9s specifications

The dual-SIM (Nano) Huawei Y9s runs EMUI 9.1 based on Android 9 Pie. It features a 6.59-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,340 pixels) LCD FullView display with a pixel density of 391ppi. Under the hood, the phone is powered by the octa-core Kirin 710F SoC with four Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.2GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.7GHz. It comes with 6GB of RAM.

For photos and videos, the Huawei Y9s has three cameras on the back including a 48-megapixel sensor with an f/1.8 lens, an 8-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide-angle f/2.4 lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor with an f/2.4 lens. On the front, you get a 16-megapixel sensor with an f/2.2 lens. The front camera has a pop-up design giving a full screen display, with no notch or hole-punch.

The Huawei Y9s comes with 128GB of UFS2.1 onboard storage that is expandable via microSD card (up to 512 GB). Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/A-GPS, Glonass, and a USB Type-C port for charging. The Huawei Y9s is backed by a 4,000mAh battery that supports 10W charging. The sensors present in the phone include Ambient Light Sensor, Gyroscope, Compass, and a Gravity Sensor. There is also a side mounted fingerprint sensor on the Huawei Y9s. The phone measures 163.1×77.2×8.8mm and weighs 206 grams.

Samsung Galaxy M51, Galaxy M31s With 128GB Storage Tipped, India Launch Expected

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Samsung Galaxy M51, Galaxy M31s may also get 64GB storage variant
  • Samsung Galaxy M51 was earlier rumoured to be called Galaxy M41
  • Samsung is yet to confirm this development

Samsung is reportedly developing Samsung Galaxy M51 and Galaxy M31s smartphones for the Indian market. According to a report, both the rumoured Galaxy smartphones will come with 128GB onboard storage. It is also said that the Galaxy M51 is likely to be a rebranded version of Galaxy A51 and will carry the model number SM-M515F. The Galaxy M31s, on the other hand, is said carry the model number SM-M317F. Unfortunately, the report did not highlight the key specifications of the two smartphones. It is also important to note that Samsung has not confirmed this development yet, so all the information should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Samsung Galaxy M51 (rumoured)

Starting with Samsung Galaxy M51, a report by SamMobile speculates that the phone will be a rebranded version of Samsung Galaxy A51 “with some hardware and design changes,” such as a “massive battery.” The report indicated that the phone will arrive in India, however, its exact arrival date was not specified. Last month, a report had also indicated the development of the Galaxy M51. It was rumoured that the phone will feature a 6.5-inch flat display along with triple cameras on the back. Moreover, it was added that the Galaxy M51 may be called the Galaxy M41. However, the current report refuted this rumour and claimed that the particular Samsung phone will be called the Galaxy M51.

Continue reading “Samsung Galaxy M51, Galaxy M31s With 128GB Storage Tipped, India Launch Expected”

Realme Narzo 10 vs Realme 6: Price in India, Specifications Compared

Realme Narzo 10 has finally made its debut in India. The budget smartphone comes in a single storage model and is offered in two colour options. Additionally, the phone packs MediaTek Helio G80 SoC along with a 5,000mAh battery. There’s also a quad rear camera setup on the smartphone. But the phone in terms of its specifications is similar to the Realme 6 that was launched in the country in March. However, in terms of the pricing, the base model of the Realme 6 costs Rs. 2,000 more than the base model of the newly launched Realme Narzo 10.

So, in case you’re wondering how the newly launched Realme Narzo 10 stacks up against Realme 6₹ 13,999, at least on paper, here’s a comparison between the two smartphones.

Realme Narzo 10 vs Realme 6: Price in India compared

The Realme Narzo 10 price in India is set at Rs. 11,999 for the sole 4GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. The smartphone comes in That Green and That White colour options. In contrast, the Realme 6 is priced at Rs. 13,999 for the base 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant. The phone’s other two variants – 6GB RAM + 128GB storage and 8GB RAM + 128GB storage are currently priced at Rs. 15,999 and Rs. 16,999, respectively. Additionally, Realme 6 is offered in Comet Blue and Comet White colour options.

In terms of the availability, Realme Narzo 10 will be available for purchase in India via Flipkart and Realme India website starting May 18. Realme 6, on the other, the hand is currently available on Realme India site and Flipkart.

To recall, Realme Narzo 10 was launched alongside Realme Narzo 10A on Monday, May 11. Realme 6 also has a sibling namely Realme 6 Pro, and both the phones were launched in India in March.

Under the hood, Realme Narzo 10 has an octa-core MediaTek Helio G80 SoC coupled with 4GB RAM. While the Realme 6 is powered by octa-core MediaTek Helio G90T SoC paired with up to 8GB. Coming to cameras, both the phones feature quad rear cameras. The quad rear camera setup on Realme Narzo 10 includes a 48-megapixel main camera along with an 8-megapixel camera and two 2-megapixel cameras. On Realme 6, there’s a 64-megapixel main camera accompanied by an 8-megapixel secondary camera and two 2-megapixel cameras. Both the phones pack a 16-megapixel front camera.

Also see: Realme Narzo 10 set to launch on 11,May

Realme Narzo 10 further packs a 5,000mAh battery that supports 18W Quick Charge. The Realme 6 has a 4,300mAh battery that supports 30W Flash Charge technology. Additionally, the internal storage of both the smartphones is expandable via a dedicated microSD card slot.

In terms of connectivity, the new Realme Narzo 10 includes 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, and a USB Type-C port. Realme 6 comes with the same options. Lastly, the Narzo 10 measures 164.4×75.4x9mm and weighs 199 grams. Realme 6 on the other hand, measures 162.1×74.8×8.9mm and weighs 191 grams.

Microsoft Outlook to Soon Get Gmail-Like Text Prediction, Apart From Email Scheduling Feature

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Microsoft working on text prediction feature for Outlook
  • It will be released sometime this month
  • Microsoft Outlook will also get a mail scheduling feature by end of June

Microsoft Outlook appears set to be soon getting a new feature that will make composing emails a little easier. Both the Outlook on the Web and Outlook.com will get a text prediction feature similar to what is already present in Gmail, a Microsoft support document has revealed. As you type, Outlook will suggest words or phrases, much like Gmail. As of now, there is no fixed release date for the feature but it is expected sometime this month. Additionally, the company is working on a ‘send later’ feature as well.

Microsoft, on its support page, has described what the text predictions feature is and how it will work. Users will get suggestions for words or phrases as they compose their mail. In case the text prediction seems suitable, there will be two ways to accept the suggestion, by pressing the Tab key or the right arrow key. The suggestion can also be ignored by just continuing to type. Doing so will make the suggestion disappear. The company states this feature will come to both the Outlook on the web app and Outlook.com.

Microsoft says this feature can also be turned off by going to Settings > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Compose and reply > Text predictions, and uncheck the Suggest words or phrases as I type check box. As of now, the Text predictions option is not available in the settings menu. But, according to the Microsoft 365 public roadmap, the feature is currently marked as “In development” and will release in “May CY2020”

Additionally, there is another feature that Microsoft is working on, one of which is ‘Send later’ for Outlook on the Web. This will allow users to schedule they want to send an email message. It is also currently “In development” and will release in “Q2 CY2020.” This feature has also been available in Gmail for quite a while now.

Microsoft has also introduced a Reply-All Storm Protection feature for its Office 365 users. This feature aims at helping IT teams reduce the impact of reply-all mail storms that are occur due to the negligence of employees and put pressure on email servers. This can also lead to a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack.

Vivo G1 5G With Exynos 980 SoC and 8GB RAM Reportedly Launched: Price, Specifications

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Vivo G1 5G has been reportedly launched in China
  • The Vivo G1 5G allegedly features dual-domain system
  • Dual-domain system allows users to divide work and personal usage

Vivo G1 5G, a smartphone customised for enterprise customers, has reportedly been launched by the Chinese tech company in China. According to a report, the key feature of the smartphone is the dual-domain system that allows users to switch between a “personal domain” and “work domain” with just one click. It was also noted that the phone is powered by Samsung Exynos 980 SoC coupled with 8GB RAM. The phone is said to pack a quad rear camera setup along with 4500mAh battery. Interestingly, the report also carries photos of the Vivo G1 5G that makes it look identical to Vivo S6 With 5G that was launched in April. More information about the Vivo G1 can be expected from the company soon.

Vivo G1 5G price (rumoured)

As per the report by Chinese publication ITHome, the Vivo G1 5G phone is aimed at government officials and enterprise customers. The phone is said to cost CNY 3,498 (nearly Rs. 37,380) for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. From the photos, published in the report, we can see the smartphone in Black colour option.

The report does not highlight details about the availability of the smartphone, additionally, Vivo G1 5G is not listed on Vivo’s China website. From the photos, we can also notice the oreo-shaped quad rear camera setup along with the waterdrop-notch on the front panel. In terms of design, the phone looks identical to the Vivo S6 5G that was launched in April in China. Vivo G1 5G may be considered to be a rebranded version of Vivo S6 5G since the design and key specifications of the smartphones are quite alike.

Moreover, the development of Vivo G1 5G was also shared by Mobile China Alliance (MCA) – an association representing leading companies in China’s mobile industry. However, the post also did not specify the availability details.

Vivo G1 specifications (rumoured)

As per the report, the Vivo G1 5G runs FuntouchOS 10 based on Android 10. The phone reportedly features a 6.44-inch AMOLED display with a screen resolution of 1,080×2,400 pixels and is powered by the Samsung Exynos 980 SoC coupled with 8GB RAM. The phone also comes with an internal storage of 128GB, according to the report.

In terms of the camera, Vivo G1 5G reportedly includes a 48-megapixel primary camera along with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera. The oreo-shaped quad rear camera setup is also said to include two 2-megapixel cameras. On the front panel, the waterdrop notch reportedly houses the 32-megapixel camera. Notably, the alleged camera setup and the under the hood specifications of Vivo G1 5G are identical to that of Vivo S6 5G.

The report also states that the key difference between Vivo G1 5G and everyday smartphones is the former’s dual-domain system. The dual-domain system allegedly allows users to switch between a “personal domain” and “work domain” with just one click. It was also added that no personal information is stored in the work domain system of the Vivo G1 5G phone and applications cannot be installed at will. However, the users can install various applications in personal domain system.

Additionally, the phone is said to come with NFC support that is absent on Vivo S6 5G. The phone also reportedly supports 5G (as the name suggests) and face unlocking and pack 4,500mAh battery. In terms of connectivity, there’s a USB Type-C port, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.

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