Huawei says it’ll stop offering bootloader unlock codes

The service is being stopped for all phones on May 24.

If you’re big into the Android modding community, chances are you’ve taken a liking to Huawei. Huawei’s gradually become one of the more developer-friendly companies in the Android space, but that’s all changing.

According to a pop-up found on the company’s unlock page:

To provide better user experience and avoid issues caused by ROM flashing, the unlock code application service will be stopped for all products launched after 2018-5-24. For products released prior to this date, the service will be stopped 60 days after this announcement. Thank you for your understanding. We will continue to provide you with quality services.

In case you don’t know, unlock codes are required for phones to perform deeper system modifications, such as installing a custom recovery like TWRP, flashing custom ROMS, gaining root access, etc. In addition to Huawei phones, this change holds true for Honor ones, too.

This obviously isn’t something that’ll affect the majority of users, but for those that like digging into Android’s more technical side of things, this is disappointing news, to say the least.

Where to buy the Huawei P20 Pro in the U.S. and Canada

YouTube’s infamous algorithm is now breaking the Subscription feed

What did chronological order ever do to you, YouTube?

From missing notifications to videos not showing up on the Home page, it’s becoming harder and harder for YouTubers to make sure their content is seen by their subscribers. A lot of this is due to an algorithm that YouTube uses to determine videos users want to see, and because we can’t have nice things, this is now making its way to the Subscription feed.

One Twitter user reached out to the Team YouTube Twitter account asking why their videos weren’t showing up in chronological order, and upon doing so, got the following response:

Just to clarify. We are currently experimenting with how to show content in the subs feed. We find that some viewers are able to more easily find the videos they want to watch when we order the subs feed in a personalized order vs always showing most recent video first.

— Team YouTube (@TeamYouTube) May 23, 2018

To briefly summarize the words of just about everyone replying to this comment — “WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS BAD YOUTUBE BAD!!!!”

In all seriousness, this is incredibly disappointing news. I understand that algorithms/AI is the future and Google wants to integrate them into as many of its products as possible, but the Subscription feed is the last place where you can see videos from channels you’re subscribed to in a constant, organized layout.

It’s true that algorithms are always learning and get better over time, but ask just about any YouTuber out there and you’ll get an earful about how less and less of their subscribers are getting notified of new uploads. With chronological view thrown out, it’s going to become even more difficult to find new videos you haven’t seen — especially if you follow someone who uploads at a regular time each day.

YouTube may decide to stop with this experiment and not mess with the subscription feed, but then again, it could decide to roll this out to everyone as a mandatory change.

I certainly hope we end up with the former, but who knows at this point.

DIRECTV NOW’s new DVR feature and subscription promo make this the perfect time to sign up

New features like this are always released for free to all users.

DIRECTV NOW is offering three months of service for $30, and just recently the company announced a whole new feature you’ll want to take advantage of. The service has added 20 hours of cloud-based DVR recording to both the Android and Amazon Fire TV apps. That means you’ll be able to stream your favorite shows or record them to watch later for up to 30 days.

The $10 a month promotion is awesome enough, but the ability to record and save shows on your favorite streaming device, including the Amazon Fire TV, should definitely push you over the edge. Normally, the base plan costs $35 a month, but when you enter coupon code YESNOW3 during checkout you can save $25 a month for the first three months.

Don’t forget that DIRECTV NOW is also offering a Roku Streaming Stick when you prepay for one month of service or an Apple TV 4K when you prepay for 3 months of service. While the DVR service is not available on the Roku app just yet, it soon will be.

It’s important to note that after the first three months, DIRECTV NOW will bill you the full $35 plan cost for each month that you continue the service. Getting signed up for the service is extremely easy, and should only take a few minutes of your time. If you decide that it doesn’t meet your needs or you just don’t want to continue the service, it’s super simple to cancel your account as well.

Sign up for DIRECTV NOW

The folks behind Pornhub just created their own VPN called VPNhub

You can download the Android app for free right now.

We live in a very strange world. Some people her an audio clip saying “Yanny” when it clearly says “Laurel”, Elon Musk made a flamethrower and then let people buy it, and now Pornhub created its own VPN. Welcome to 2018, everyone.

Called “VPNhub”, Pornhub’s VPN actually sounds kind of great. You can download the Android or iOS app right now and the service is free to use. There is a paid version for $11.99/month ($6.25/month if you pay upfront for an entire year) that removes ads, increases your browsing speeds, and allows you to select the countries you want to connect to, but even free members have access to unlimited bandwidth.

VPNhub also has desktop apps for Windows and macOS, but those require the premium membership.

Per Pornhub’s Vice President, Cory Price —

Here at Pornhub, with 90 million visitors a day, the vast majority of whom are using devices on the go, it’s especially important that we continue to ensure the privacy of our users and maintain their confidentiality. With the launch of VPNhub, users will have access to the world’s fastest VPN, with over 1000 servers in 15+ countries from which to choose.

While the addition of unlimited bandwidth will certainly be a huge plus for those using VPNhub to watch videos on Pornhub, you can use it for all of your other browsing needs you’d use any other VPN for. It remains to be seen how this will stack up to Android’s current best VPNs, but it’s off to a good start.

If you’re interested, you can download VPNhub from the Play Store right now.

Download: VPNhub (free)

Mophie Launches New Wireless Charging Kit Designed for Travel

Mophie today announced the launch of the Charge Stream Travel Kit, which is a wireless charging kit that’s designed for use while traveling, as the name suggests.

Designed for the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus, as well as other Qi-enabled devices, the Charge Stream Travel Kit includes a 5W Charge Stream Pad Mini, which is a wireless charger that can also be purchased separately, paired with a 2.4A wall adapter, a 2.4A car adapter, and a 1.5-foot USB-A to micro-USB cable.

All of the components for the travel kit come in a handy case that keeps them all together and that can be easily stowed in a backpack or a car.

The Charge Stream Pad Mini is a 5W charger, which means it’s not going to charge the iPhone X, 8, and 8 Plus at the faster 7.5W charging speed. Design wise, the Charge Stream Pad Mini is compact and slightly elevated with a low profile design that works anywhere. It includes a non-slip rubber grip to keep your iPhone in place.

Mophie is charging $49.95 for the Charge Stream Travel Kit on its website and the Charge Stream Mini Pad can also be purchased separately for $24.95.

Tag: Mophie
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Deals: DirecTV Now Apple TV 4K Potential Last Call, Costco iPad and Nest Sales, and More

Since November 2017, AT&T has offered customers the chance to get the 32GB Apple TV 4K at no extra cost when they sign up and pay for either four months or three months of DirecTV Now. Since this means you pay just $105 for an Apple TV 4K (under the current offer), it’s been the best deal available online for Apple’s latest streaming box. According to our affiliate, an end date for this sale is set for one week from today, May 31, but AT&T has been known to extend these expiration dates in the past.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Still, it’s worth a heads up about the potential end of a great offer. If you haven’t yet taken advantage of the savings, follow these steps:

• Visit DirecTVNow.com’s landing page for the deal
• Click “Redeem & Stream”
• Select the “Live a Little” package to get the Apple TV at the lowest possible price
• Choose if you want to add another stream and premium channels, or click “Skip for now”
• Click “Add to plan” under the Apple TV 4K box in the Special offer section
• Click “Continue” and go through the account creation and checkout processes

It’s important to note that the deal is for new subscribers only, but existing subscribers can claim it by using an alternative email address from their original account, or by setting up an iCloud email alias. Once ordered, the Apple TV 4K arrives in the mail within a few weeks, and those who don’t want to continue paying for DirecTV Now beyond the three months offered in this deal can cancel the service before the fourth month is billed and keep the Apple TV 4K.

Other deals today include a collection of Internet and cable bundles from AT&T, a few of which also appear to be ending once June rolls around. Depending on local availability for AT&T’s services, anyone who bundles DirecTV and AT&T Internet, with a 24-month TV agreement, can get up to $300 in Visa Reward Cards. A similar offer is available for AT&T’s U-Verse service (with a 12-month agreement stipulation), and those who simply switch to DirecTV without bundling any other services can still get $200 in Visa Rewards Cards, if they sign a two-year agreement.

There’s also a pair of deals over at Costco kicking off this week, including $120 off Apple’s 10.5-inch iPad from Mid 2017. With the savings, you can get the 256GB model for $649.99, down from $769.99. Additionally, Costco has the 3rd Generation Nest Learning Thermostat for $149.99, down from around $200 and one of the best prices currently available online.

Comparatively, Nest is selling the device directly on its storefront for $50 off for Memorial Day, priced at $199.99, and the Nest Thermostat E has been marked down by $20, to $149.99. Both come with a free Google Home Mini when purchased on Nest.com during the limited sale.

For those looking to discover new Mac gaming deals, The Wet Hot Aspyr Summer Sale has kicked off this May, with a series of notable discounts on many macOS- and iOS-compatible games available now and coming throughout May and June. The company says that it’ll refresh its deals on the Thursday of every week, so be sure to check back with our Deals Roundup for the newest games on sale.

The game discounts listed below will expire on Thursday, May 31:

iOS

• Jade Empire Special Edition – $4.99, down from $9.99

macOS

• Star Wars: KOTOR – $4.99, down from $9.99

• Star Wars: KOTOR 2 – $4.99, down from $9.99

• Star Wars: Force Unleashed – $9.99, down from $19.99

• Star Wars: Jedi Academy – $4.99, down from $9.99

• Star Wars: Empire at War – $9.99, down from $19.99

• Star Wars: Jedi Outcast – $4.99, down from $9.99

• Call of Duty: Black Ops – $19.99, down from $39.99

• Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy – $4.99, down from $9.99

For more of the latest discounts, be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, Apple DealsTag: DirecTV NowBuyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
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Unprotected T-Mobile API Let Anyone Get Customer Data With Just a Phone Number

A security vulnerability in T-Mobile’s website let anyone gain access to the personal details of any T-Mobile customer using just a phone number, reports ZDNet.

An internal T-Mobile employee tool, promotool.t-mobile.com, had a hidden API that provided T-Mobile customer data when a customer’s cell phone number was added to the end of the web address. Data that was available included full name, address, billing account number, and for some customers, tax identification numbers.

Account data, such as service status and billing status was also included, but it does not appear that credit card numbers, passwords, or other sensitive information was compromised. ZDNet says that there were “references to account PINs used by customers as a security question” which could be used to hijack T-Mobile accounts.

The API was used by T-Mobile staff to look up customer data, but it was accessible to the public and not protected by a password. T-Mobile rectified the issue in early April after it was disclosed by security researcher Ryan Stevenson, who ultimately earned $1,000.

In a statement provided to ZDNet, T-Mobile says that it does not appear customer data was accessed using the API, but research suggests the API had been exposed since at least October 2017.

A T-Mobile spokesperson said: “The bug bounty program exists so that researchers can alert us to vulnerabilities, which is what happened here, and we support this type of responsible and coordinated disclosure.” “The bug was patched as soon as possible and we have no evidence that any customer information was accessed,” the spokesperson added.

This is not the first unprotected API issue that T-Mobile has faced. Last year, a similar bug also exposed customer data to hackers.

T-Mobile has more than 74 million customers, and had this most recent bug been exploited, a simple script could have provided hackers with access to data on millions of people.

Tag: T-Mobile
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Amazon’s Alexa Recorded a Woman’s Private Conversation and Sent it to a Contact

A woman in Portland recently had an alarming experience with her Alexa-enabled devices after a private conversation was recorded and sent to a random contact, according to a news report from Seattle’s Kiro7 news.

The woman, Danielle, and her family had Amazon devices situated in each room for home control, and two weeks ago, one of those devices apparently recorded a conversation about hardwood floors and sent it to a person on their contact list. There are no details on how the recording was delivered to the contact.

But Danielle said two weeks ago their love for Alexa changed with an alarming phone call. “The person on the other line said, ‘unplug your Alexa devices right now,’” she said. “‘You’re being hacked.’”

That person was one of her husband’s employees, calling from Seattle.

“We unplugged all of them and he proceeded to tell us that he had received audio files of recordings from inside our house,” she said. “At first, my husband was, like, ‘no you didn’t!’ And the (recipient of the message) said ‘You sat there talking about hardwood floors.’ And we said, ‘oh gosh, you really did hear us.’”

Danielle confirmed that the recordings received by the contact were indeed conversations picked up by her Alexa device, and in no way was she informed that Alexa was sending the recording to a contact. She contacted Amazon and was told that the “device just guessed what we were saying.” Amazon apologized and told her it would fix the issue.

Alexa has an option to send a message to a contact name using a voice recording, but Alexa is supposed to vocally confirm such requests and does not appear to have done so in this instance.

In a statement to the Kiro7, Amazon said that it “takes privacy very seriously” and that the event was an “extremely rare occurrence” that it is taking steps to prevent in the future.

This is not the first strange Alexa behavior that Amazon has had to deal with. Back in March, Alexa made headlines after multiple customers with Alexa-enabled devices reported hearing creepy, unsolicited laughter.

Tags: Amazon, Amazon Echo, Alexa
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Samsung 2018 QLED TVs update adds FreeSync, but limits resolution

Samsung has released a free firmware update for a number of its 2018 QLED TVs (it’s different from OLED) that enables the FreeSync adaptive frame synchronization technology. The option has been added to the TVs’ game mode menu, meaning that Xbox One S and X owners can take advantage of its ability to eliminate screen tearing during times where the system struggles to meet the maximum refresh rate of the display.

Frame synchronization is something that PC gamers have contended with for years, with V-Sync being the classic option for preventing the tearing that often occurs when the frames per second your graphics card is able to pump out doesn’t match the refresh rate of your display. G-Sync and FreeSync are more modern alternatives with far less of a performance overhead and as support grows on consoles and TVs, more gamers than ever can reap the benefits.

Although Samsung does sell FreeSync TVs, they are not something its entire range typically supports. As of firmware update 1103 though, it appears that more of its lineup than ever can now make use of it. According to Rtings, Samsung’s QLED Q6FN, Q7FN, Q8FN, Q9FN, and NU8000 all now support FreeSync technology. If you have your AMD graphics-equipped PC or an Xbox One S or X hooked up to one of those TVs, you should now be able to enjoy FreeSync.

To make use of the new FreeSync mode, you’ll need to head into the TV’s settings menu, followed by General, External Device Manager, Game Mode Settings and ultimately, select “FreeSync.” Set it to “On.” Options include “Ultimate,” which has a range of 48-120Hz, while “Basic,” supports 90-120Hz.

Samsung does warn that the mode isn’t necessarily perfect and there may be some noticeable discrepancies with brightness during FreeSync operation due to frequency variation. It also highlights that at this time, the only resolution supported for FreeSync is 1080P.

While that is a disappointment considering many of the newly FreeSync supporting TVs are natively set to 4K resolution, this does add another notable feature to the QLED displays. As PCPer points out, it makes Samsung one of the only companies selling FreeSync TVs with support for high-end HDR, too.

The justice Department is now cracking down on cryptocurrency scams

The Justice Department is now working with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission to launch a criminal investigation to determine if cryptocurrency traders are manipulating prices using illegal practices. The news arrives by way of four unnamed people close to the federal probe who state that the private investigation is now underway and in its early stages. 

According to the sources, federal prosecutors are determining if traders are using a tactic called spoofing, which is the act of flooding the market with fake orders to increase demand and drive prices upward, and then canceling those orders. Another tactic is wash trading where a cheater trades with himself/herself to artificially inflate market demand, driving up prices. 

The lure of cryptocurrency is that it’s not tied to any bank or government. At the same time, digital coins are not regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), thus traders are essentially on their own, unprotected against a Wild West-like market. There is no real guarantee that cryptocurrency exchanges are actively pursuing cheaters, and there are no means of recovering lost monies stemming from fake cryptocurrency startups. 

A good example of the current cryptocurrency woes is the initial coin offering (ICO). Companies promising to launch a new cryptocurrency platform will offer “valuable” tokens in exchange for early investments — something akin to Kickstarter where projects enlist financial backers that receive a product in the end. In this case, cryptocurrency startups are disappearing with the cash instead of launching their digital coin platforms. 

By March, these ICO-related scams reached to the point that the SEC opened investigations to crack down on companies, lawyers, and advisory firms promoting these ICOs. The government agency believes all virtual currencies should be listed as securities — a tradable financial asset that gains worth over time — and registered with regulators. There are securities laws in place to protect investors against fraud. 

Despite the growing interest in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, the market is considered volatile. For instance, a single Bitcoin was worth $6,897 on November 6, 2017, skyrocketed to $17,549 just over a month later, then dropped back down to $7,964 at the beginning of February. Since then, the value of a Bitcoin has experienced rises and drops resembling mountain peaks. 

The current Bitcoin slump reportedly stems from nations such as Japan and the Philippines now regulating cryptocurrency. China is banning cryptocurrency exchanges altogether. Even more, Microsoft and Google are banning cryptocurrency-related advertisements from their ad networks due to the unregulated, volatile nature of digital currency and the related scams. 

Meanwhile, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) doesn’t regulate the actual trading of digital coins (aka spot markets), but instead deals with futures, which are legal agreements to purchase or sell an item at a set price on a set date in the future. The agency also deals with options, which are contracts providing buyers the right to buy or sell an asset for a specific price on a specified date. 

Still, the CFTC is capable of imposing sanctions if it discovers fraud in spot markets. 

Editors’ Recommendations

• Indian central bank looks to block Bitcoin, while creating its own cryptocurrency
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• Coinbase may register with SEC as brokerage firm
• Companies, lawyers probed for selling cryptocurrency initial coin offerings
• Microsoft Bing joins Google, Facebook in banning cryptocurrency advertisements