Google is working to improve important feature for users

Google has announced it is working with researchers on new initiative for the platform.

Android is Google mobile operating software that harnessed on devices across the globe. In fact Android is used by most of people worldwide that do not have device made by Apple Inc.

Google has continually emphasised security as one of the biggest areas of development for Android.
The firm releases monthly security updates for compatible devices to ensure they run as smoothly as possible.

But Mountain View firms recently announced it is looking take as step further by partnering with experts to improve the long term security of android.

Google announced it was launching a scheme dubbed Android Security and Privacy Research (ASPIRE) that will impact the android ecosystem in the next two to five years.

Although no exact features were discussed, Google was keen to explain how it conducting the new initiative.
The tech behemoth said: "Customisation is one of android greatest strengths. Android open source nature has enabled thousands of device that cover a variety of use cases."

In addition to adding features to the Android Open Source Project, researchers, developers, service providers and device and chipset manufacturers can make updates to improve Android Security.

Google also declared the plan is focused on changing the long term future of Android meaning users may not see immediate changes in the next version of the operating system.

The firm went on ASPIRE goal is encouraging the development of new security and privacy technology that impact the Android ecosystem in the next 2 to 5 years but is not planned for mainline Android development.

This time frame extends beyond the next annual Annual release yo allow adequate time to analyse develop and stablise research info feature before including in the platform.
To collaborate with security researchers were hosting events and creating more channels to contribute reasearch.

Although Android 9 Pie released back in August and presented users with a shot of new features, it appears Google is equally as concerned with the fundamental security backbone of its platform both immediately and in the future.

Google Play Store Apps filled with Malware, Are You Safe?

Android smartphone users are being warned about over a dozen apps found on Google Play Store that are filled with malware.

Android fans have been put on alert a number of apps on Google Play Store are loaded with malicious software.

Android is one of the most used piece of software in the world. The hugely popular OS has also been subject to a number of high profile security scare the biggest of which being the Judy malware campaign.

That saw up to 36.5million Android smartphone users infected by over 41 apps on Google Play Store.

Android fans are being warned about Google Play Store security scare. Experts have warned that 13 malware filled apps found on Google Play Store have been installed on more than half a million Android devices.

Lukas Stefanko, an IT security researcher with ESET, discovered the malware was found on a number of Android diving game apps.

He tweeted: "Don't install these apps from Google Play - it's malware

"Details: 14 apps, all together 560,000+ installs, after launch hide itself icon, download additional APK and make user install it (unavailable now), 2 apps are #Trending no legitimate functionality, reported."

Stefanko also published a video showing one affending app being installed on android device. When Stefanko tries to open it the app shows a logo for game graphics engine but then after that display a blank screen. And after existing the app the icon for it no longer appears.

Stefanko also tweeted: "Downloaded APK is called Game Center.

"These app os downloaded in the background and requestes user to install it.

Once lanched it hide itself & display ads when device is unlocked."

Responding to the findings, Will LaSaka director of security solutions at OneSpan, said,"Application repackaging has been on the rise for a while now.

"Earlier this year it was reported that applications were being hijacked to install cryptocurrency miners.

"We saw a decline in these attacks when govt started to address the cryptocurrency conversion process and made it harder for anonymous people to cash out.

"However these repackage attacks did not stop instead they got sophisticated and refocused on other valuable data that can be converted to money just as quickly.

"Now repackaging attacks make common or simple apps into nefarious playload delievery applcations.

This allows hackers to get other malware onto victims phones without their knowledge and often by combining screen overlay attacks to help trick users into installing these newly downloaded malware playloads. These malware apps focus on harveting credentials and injecting libraries that can cause applications to deliever sensitive information directly into the hands of the hakers."

Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro and Mi 8 Lite debut

The higher-end device named Mi 8 Pro and seems destined to become the international version of the Mi 8 Explorer. It comes with a pressure-sensitive screen fingerprint scanner, but swaps the 3D structure Face unlock for an IR face unlock and ads two more colors - Blue and Gold (while also being offered with the transparent back the Mi 8 Explorer comes in).

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro comes with 6GB and 8GB of RAM, and not just 8GB as the Explorer edition.

Moving on, the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro has a 6.21-inch 1080x2248px OLED display, a Snapdragon 845 chipset, a 12MP f/1.8 + 12MP f/2.4 main camera and a 20MP front-facing camera.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite uses a 6.26-inch LCD, Snapdragon 660 chipset, a 12MP + 5MP rear camera, a higher-res 24MP selfie camera and a 3,350mAh battery

Unlike the Mi 8 Pro, the Mi 8 Lite has a standard fingerprint scanner on the rear. It comes in two gradient color finishes - Blue and Purple as well as Orange and Yellow.

Both new Xiaomi phones will go on pre-sale on September 19. The Mi 8 Pro will be priced CNY 3,200 (€400) for the 6GB/128GB model and CNY 3,600 (€450) for the range-topping 8GB/128GB and will start shipping on September 21.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite will go for CNY 1,400 (€175) for the 4GB/64GB model, CNY 1,700 (€210) for the 6GB/64GB and CNY 2,000 (€250) for the 6GB/128GB model. They start shipping on September 25.

World's First 512GB Micro SD Card Released

Integral's latest microSD card  breaks the record as the highest capacity microSD card in the world beating out previous 400GB memory cards.
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UK's Integral Memory has unveiled, what it claims to be the world's highest capacity microSD memory card. It has a whopping 512GB memory in a chip as big as your fingernail.

Most of the devices including latest Android phones and tablet as well as PCs like the Surface Pro, will be able to support microSDXC card.

It has a V10, UHS-1 Class 1 specification and is covered by Integral's trusted five years warranty.

Marketing manager of Integral Memory, James Danton,said:

Consumers have been clear in their call for increased storage as mobile dev ices have become essential to many in everyday life. The need to provide extended memory for smartphones, tablets and a growing range of other mobile devices such as action cams and drones has been answered. As a company we are very proud to be the first to achieve the 512GB capacity milestone in microSDXC, worldwide.

Speed:

It supports the Video Speed Class 10 (V10) standard and offers fast data transfer and makes it much easier to capture Full HD videos on smartphone, cameras and other video recording devices.

Integral's latest card manages a peak transfer speed of 80MB/s which is good enough for apps and recording 4K videos at 30fps.

Price and Availability:_
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The company hasn't yet revealed the price of the first ever 512GB card. However, we expect it to cost around $300-$350 because an average 400 GB memory card costs around $250 on Amazon. Integral Memory will start shipping the half the half terabyte microSD card from February, 2018.

Vivo World's first Phone with an underscreen Fingureprints Sensor

Vivo may have unveiled the world's first smartphone with a fingerprint scanner in the display last year, but it is only now that it is making the phone official.
Called Vivo X20 Plus UD the new phone has a synaptic s build clear ID 9500 sensor towards the bottom of the Amoled display, which means that you get a bezelless display without sacrificing a finger print sensor on the front which is where most of us prefer it.

Design and Display:

The display comes with a 6.43 inches AMOLED panel with full HD+ resolution and an 18:9 aspect ratio.
The fingerprint scanner is arguably its biggest feature and despite the display layer it is said to be just as fast as other sensors. It can register data from a thickness of 1.5mm meaning your screen protector ideally needs to be thinner that that.

The phone is only available in Black.

Internals and Storage:

Under the hood you get a mid range Snapdragon 660 processor with 4 GB RAM and 128 GB storage. Even with 128 GB of storage ViVO has included a hybrid microSD/SIM card slot for even more capacity.
Unfortunately for a phone that aims to stand out it still runs ageing Android 7.1 Nougat.

Camera(s):

At the back are dual cameras with 12 MP+5MP sensors on the back with the highers sensor coming with a f/1.8 apertue. The front camera also comes with 12 MP sensor with f/2.0.

Battery:

• The battery under hood is 3905mAh cell with fast charging support.
• Preorders will start in China from February1st
• The smartphone is available in China come the month of February for a price tag of 3698RMB or Rs. 63,000. That's the amount you pay for less intrusive design.

Vivo X20 plus UD specifications:

• CPU: 1.8 GHz quad core + 2.2 GHz quad core.
• GPU: Adreno 512.
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
• OS: Android 7.1.1 Nougat
• Networks: 2G.3G,4G LTE
• Design: Display embedded clear ID 9500 fingerprint sensor, Dual  cameras, Metal Chassis, 18:9 Bezelless display.__

Samsung Gear S4 smartwatch release in next week

Samsung will unveil the successor to the Gear S3 smartwatch at the IFA consumer technology conference next week the company confirmed to CNBC.

The successor to the Samsung Gear S3 will be announced next week

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Samsung will take the wraps off its next generation Gear S smartwatches in next week.
The South Korean company confirmed to US news network CNBC that it plans to use the consumer technology conference to unveil the successor to the Gear S3.

DJ Koh the president of Samsung mobile division would not reveal any specific details about the upcoming smartwatch in the interview with CNBC.

However Koh did allude to health as a growing area for wearables.

Koh said, "if we can put in place properly a smartwatch that can monitor everything for your health and provide the information then market will grow"

Samsung has used the IFA tradeshow in Berlin to launch its Gear S devices for number of years.
Details are still pretty sparse about the new smartwatch. However, it seems pretty likely the new wearable will incorporate Samsung new smart assistant Bixby, which debuted in the Galaxy S8.
Samsung announced a slew of new features for Bixby during the Galaxy Note 8 launch earlier this week. Elsewhere, the new Gear S4 (or whatever the company decides to brand it) will likely ship with a faster processor and battery life.

Holding the announcement at IFA allows Samsung to get the word out ahead of the Apple Watch Series 3 launch which is tipped for mid September at the iPhone event.