New Android malware virus puts millions of devices at risk
Android has yet another malware issue, this one being nearly impossible to fix.
The new malware puts nearly all Android devices at risk. The malware will attempt to bury itself within the OS, making it hard to locate and then remove. The virus software will gain root-like access to your device. As of now the only way to fully remove the virus software is to boot on a clean ROM or comletely remodel the device’s system files, which can only be done through ADB. If you were thinking full system restore, this will only temporarily resolve the issue, but will then come back. If you’re not very experienced in remodeling your phone/tablet, it may easier to just buy a new phone or send in for a replacement if need be the case. According to Lookout, over 20,000 apps have already been infected with the virus, so be cautious on what you download. To find more information on this vulnerability, check out the source link down below.
Source: Lookout
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You can now order the LG G Vista 2 through AT&T
As anticipated, AT&T has now started taking orders for LG’s latest oversized, mid-range smartphone, the G Vista 2. The handset is available to purchase from the operator’s online portal and from any of its nationwide stores for $499 off-contract.
Just in case you missed its announcement, the G Vista 2 packs a 5.7-inch Full HD IPS display, a Snapdragon 617 octa-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable internal storage, a 13MP rear-facing camera, a 5MP selfie shooter and a 3,000mAh removable battery.
The handset runs the latest build of Lollipop unboxed and comes equipped with LG’s full suite of additional features, including Knock On, Knock Code, QSlide and Quick Memo.
Do you like the sound of the G Vista 2? Are you planning to pick one up? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Source: AT&T
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Google Wallet app adds support for multiple bank accounts in new update
Version 11.0 of Google Wallet brings support for linking multiple bank accounts and some other nice features as well.
Google Wallet, although its own application, has gotten much of its attention taken away now that Android Pay is out. But if you’re like me, and you still use Google Wallet, here are some good reasons to update to the latest version.
The newest version of the Google Wallet application allows users to add multiple bank accounts. So if you have a checking account and savings account, which most do, you can now add both of them to make money transfers all within the app. Google Wallet is also bringing a new lock button for an added security. This comes into play right after one uses the Google Wallet app, but has not ended the task. What this will do, is rather than keeping it in your device’s memory, users can click the new lock button to return to the pin entry screen. This will ensure that nobody gets into your account if you happen to leave the app open. You can find it at the bottom of the navigation bar once logged in. Google hasn’t started pushing the update to the Play Store just yet, but it should be arriving shortly. If you’re impatient to get it, you can download via the safe APK download below. Just enable “unknown sources” in your settings and you’re good to go. Happy updating!
Via: Android Police [APK Download]
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Rumored A10 Production Win for TSMC Could Be Tied to Device Packaging Advances
According to a recent report from Taiwan’s Commercial Times, via EE Times and a separate research report from KGI Securities’ Ming-Chi Kuo, Taiwan-based TSMC may have won sole production rights on the A10 chip slated for the next-generation iPhone 7.
This is in contrast to the split production of the A9 processor between Samsung and TSMC featured in the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. Apple’s decision to revert back to TSMC as a single supplier, as was seen in A8 chip production, could be motivated by advanced device packaging techniques offered by TSMC that may not have equivalents in Samsung’s packaging offerings.
The Commercial Times report mentions TSMC’s integrated fan-out wafer-level packaging (InFO WLP) technology as one of the key inclusions in the production contract. InFO WLP is one of many competing 3D IC technologies that promise higher levels of component integration in a single package with better electrical characteristics.
Among those improvements is the possibility for higher-width memory buses that support lower-power operation necessary for mobile devices, which for consumers means better performance and efficiency. 3D IC technologies are just beginning to emerge in the consumer space, with AMD‘s use of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) in its Fiji XT line of discrete graphics cards being one of the first implementations.
According to a paper abstract from TSMC engineers, InFO WLP also allows for better thermal performance as well as superior performance for radio frequency (RF) components such as cellular modems. We reported last year about Apple hiring more engineers to potentially bring RF component development in house, so this packaging technology could serve as additional motivation to Apple for packaging in the future. Even if Samsung could offer Apple a comparable technology, the challenges of verifying a design on two new manufacturing flows may be a motivating factor for Apple to stick with one supplier for its next processor.
In the near term, the thermal advantages and potential increased memory bandwidth are the more immediate sources of improvement for Apple’s potential next chip. Many 3D IC technologies have seen slow adoption due to increased costs and processing steps, but the simpler InFO WLP technology offers an easier, cheaper entry point for Apple, which also has the luxury of uncommonly high margins on its devices.
Comparison of packaging technologies offered by TSMC
TSMC’s InFO WLP differs from many competing 3D IC solutions in that it does not require an additional silicon interposer along with the existing package substrate used for component integration. Though they do not feature active components, silicon interposers are made on silicon wafers just like the application processors featured in mobile devices, making them a costly addition to the device assembly.
InFO WLP allows multiple flip chip components to be placed side-by-side on a package substrate resembling a traditional assembly, but with the ability to interconnect to one another through the package substrate. This is in contrast to traditional methods which feature stacked packages (package on package, or PoP) interconnected with tiny wires. As mobile memory technologies advance, with LPDDR4 being the latest iteration, electrical signaling becomes an increasing technological challenge which begins to make 3D IC technologies more attractive for enhanced performance.
The list of included components would not be limited to memory, however, so future device teardowns will be interesting as mobile devices begin to include these technologies. More information on TSMC’s packaging technologies can be accessed via this PDF.
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Instagram Begins Testing Ads That Use 3D Touch and Apple Pay
Instagram has begun testing various ads that will allow users to shop for everything from clothing to menu items at local restaurants, integrating new iPhone features like 3D Touch and Apple Pay as well (via Digiday). The social network has had ads appear in users’ feeds for a while now, but hopes that more unobtrusive shopping experiences that keep users in the app itself will attract bigger brands to the service.
“From an innovation standpoint, Instagram is where a lot of brands are putting the most eggs,” said an ad agency executive familiar with the tests. “Force touch gets interesting, because instead of quickly tapping Shop Now to buy this one thing, you can choose from two or three offers. It makes for more frictionless shopping.”
3D Touch integration will let users press harder on the ad to toggle between various selections from a clothing brand, for instance. The addition of Apple Pay aims to add to the “frictionless shopping” experience by letting users purchase something they see directly within Instagram, without having to visit the brand’s own app or Safari to complete the purchase.
Instagram, owned by Facebook, is attempting to get a cut from the sales of many of the products that its service generates naturally, according to Digiday‘s sources. Some of those sources fear Instagram’s commercialization due to the heavily-marketed advertisements being tested on the platform, suggesting the photo-focused service is best left as a “branding opportunity” for companies and leaving the sales portion to its parent site, Facebook.
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Google to offer discounts to Play Music subscribers?
If you’re a fan of Google’s Play Music service, you may be in for a treat. Reddit user Thomas79 pointed out that when he purchased an app, he received what looks to be a 10% Play Music subscriber discount. While this may turn out to be a glitch, it is also possible that Google is readying a discount for its existing Play Music customers, which would be a nice bonus for the holiday season. It is worth mentioning that Thomas79 lives somewhere in Europe, and this discount was not applied when we attempted to purchase the same app here in the U.S.
We also have no indication as to which apps this discount would apply to in the Play Store, or if it would apply to books, movies, or other content. It’s not clear when (or if) this will be rolling out to all users, but we will definitely keep our eyes open for future discounts.
The post Google to offer discounts to Play Music subscribers? appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google finds security bugs in Galaxy S6 Edge, Samsung promises update fix
A team of researchers at Google’s Project Zero have tested the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge’s security chops, and they found quite a few substantial holes. After testing the device in the U.S. and Europe, researchers found a total of 11 bugs, including one that allowed them to execute code on the device after it had been wiped. Google’s researchers seemed alarmed, since it didn’t take long for them to find and exploit these bugs. Given Samsung’s reputation with its Knox security program, it is interesting to see that one of their flagship devices has so many security gaps.
Samsung did address eight of those bugs in an update released in October, and another update will supposedly be released sometime in November to deal with the remaining three. The Google team tested this statement, and found that eight of the issues were indeed fixed. The other three issues relate to memory corruption of photos and execution of JavaScript embedded in an email. It is worth noting that the most severe issues were fixed in the October update, so at least emphasis was placed on the serious holes. It is not clear if these bugs are present on the other flagship devices like the Galaxy S6 and Note 5, although those devices will likely receive the November update as well.
As of writing this article, we actually received an update notification on a Galaxy S6 (Sprint) that appears to be the security update Samsung mentioned. If you have a Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, Note 5, or S6 Edge+, you may be receiving the same update in the next few days. While security issues are a big deal to many users, it is good to see that Samsung is working to address them as quickly as possible.
Source Time
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Here’s another “In-Between Moments” LG V10 ad, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt
LG last week launched one of their ads for the V10 handset in collaboration with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. This comes after LG announced a partnership with the actor and his online collaborative production company, HitRECord.
What’s particularly interesting about the ad is that it was shot entirely on the LG V10. There’s obviously some post-production happening, but this ad still demonstrates the quality of video that the V10 can shoot.
Click here to view the embedded video.
This ad is the first video in a short film Gordon-Levitt is dubbing the “In-Between Moments,” which was an idea submitted to HitRECord by an artist from their community. With that in mind, HitRECord searched out the talent and creativity from its community to put this film together.
“The ‘In-Between Moments’ happen all throughout the day and can be beautiful, or spontaneous, or fleeting – but they give life its texture,” Gordon-Levitt said.
LG designed the V10 with content creators in mind, making this collaboration with Gordon-Levitt and his production company the perfect partnership. With a 16-megapixel rear sensor, 4K video capabilities, and an arsenal of manual video controls, LG hopes that the V10 will be the go-to smartphone for creators. And don’t forget, LG is still offering free goodies for those that purchase a V10 anytime between now and November 15.
Anyone plan on picking up a LG V10? Could you put its professional video capabilities to use?
source: LG (YouTube)
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Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update is now available for the Honor 4X in the UK
It’s always a great feeling finding out that your handset has an update waiting for it, meaning that Honor 4X owners in the UK are in for a treat. @UKHonor has just announced via Twitter that the Lollipop update is now available for the Honor 4X, which means that the handset will no longer have to languish on Android 4.4.2 KitKat.
The 4X Lollipop update will bump the firmware all the way up to Android 5.1.1, with EMUI version 3.1 in tow. For the moment, the Lollipop update is a manual install only, which means you must download the firmware package from the Honor site, which comes to around 1.4GB in size. My contact at Honor UK says the Lollipop update will either install, or fail, with no chance of bricking (yes, I have that in writing). So, the big question is, how do you perform the update? Well, here are the instructions that should be followed to the letter, straight from the horse’s mouth.
Before continuing, as always when updating to a new version of Android, it’s good practice to perform a full backup, with Honor UK recommending the Huawei Backup tool that can be found on your device which will backup all the apps, settings, and media from the handset. The contact said the update shouldn’t wipe the device in the process, but sometimes things can go pear-shaped, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Instructions:
- Ensure the handset has at least 30% battery and at least 4GB of space on the SD card before continuing
- Download the update from here (the Honor 4X CherryPlus L11C432B310 package)
- Copy the update over to the SD card
- Make a new folder on the SD card called dload, and then extract the update.app file to the newly created dload folder
- Navigate to the Update section in Settings, select Local Update from the menu and then select the UPDATE.APP file you have previously extracted
- The Honor 4X will then reboot into recovery and automatically find and flash the Lollipop update
Source: @HonorUK (Twitter)
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Huawei Nexus 6P now available to buy at Carphone Warehouse
The Huawei-made Nexus 6P is now available to purchase through Carphone Warehouse in the UK. Those of you that are interested can pick up the latest and greatest from Google, starting at £34.99 per month in addition to an up-front fee of £29, administered both in-store and online.
Alternatively, those that want to ditch the contracts can pick up the Nexus 6P from Carphone Warehouse outright for £439.99. As far as pricing goes, there’s definitely some savings in buying it outright in the long-term picture.
Keep in mind that if you purchase the 5.7-inch device, you’ll not only be rocking the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system, Android 6.0, but you’ll also get three months of free Google Play Music, which is something Carphone Warehouse is offering on any Android smartphone through the end of the year.
As a quick refresher, the Nexus 6P is featuring a 5.7-inch display, an Octa-core Snapdragon 810 CPU, 3GB of RAM, and a gorgeous 13-megapixel rear camera. Google has recently been frustrating customers, saying that Nexus 6P orders are being shipped out on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Nexus 6P is undoubtedly one of the hottest smartphones to launch this season, and due to the popularity, there’s no telling when customers will begin receiving their new devices on a normal shipping basis.
source: Carphone Warehouse
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