Technology

Facebook seems to have learnt from its mistakes. After a stressful year, which was plagued with several controversies, the social media giant looks to work upon the privacy and safety of the people that it serves. At the annual F8 conference, company CEO Mark Zuckerberg reiterated his previous stance stressing on privacy-focussed social platform. The event saw the announcement of several features that will let users “interact privately.” “I believe the future is private. I know that we don't exactly have the strongest reputation on privacy right now, to put it lightly. At the end of the day, this isn't just about building some new products. It's a major shift in how we run this company,” Zuckerberg said as he set the tone for new new announcements regarding Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. The conference saw updates in areas that have already been talked about previously, like privacy, integration of three platforms into one, among others. “For the last 15 ye

Facebook seems to have learnt from its mistakes. After a stressful year, which was plagued with several controversies, the social media giant looks to work upon the privacy and safety of the people that it serves. At the annual F8 conference, company CEO Mark Zuckerberg reiterated his previous stance stressing on privacy-focussed social platform. The event saw the announcement of several features that will let users “interact privately.” “I believe the future is private. I know that we don't exactly have the strongest reputation on privacy right now, to put it lightly. At the end of the day, this isn't just about building some new products. It's a major shift in how we run this company,” Zuckerberg said as he set the tone for new new announcements regarding Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. The conference saw updates in areas that have already been talked about previously, like privacy, integration of three platforms into one, among others. “For the last 15 ye

Facebook made a whole bunch of announcements last evening at its F8 developer conference in San Jose, California, including the much-rumoured integration of Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp messaging services. One of them is that the company’s “Portal” video-calling devices will be sold in Canada and Europe starting sometime later this year. In addition, the devices are expected to support WhatsApp calls, which means the calls will be end-to-end encrypted. The Mark Zuckerburg-led American social media company launched its Portal video-calling devices in the US in early October last year. At the time of launch, the Portal was priced at $199 (Rs 14,700 approx) and the Portal+ was priced at $349 (Rs 25,900 approx). The company also offered both devices as a bundled offer at $298 (Rs 22,000 approx). Facebook announced the Portal devices in a renewed effort to assure its customers of complete data privacy inside the Facebook world while calling and messaging. A few months before launchi

Facebook made a whole bunch of announcements last evening at its F8 developer conference in San Jose, California, including the much-rumoured integration of Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp messaging services. One of them is that the company’s “Portal” video-calling devices will be sold in Canada and Europe starting sometime later this year. In addition, the devices are expected to support WhatsApp calls, which means the calls will be end-to-end encrypted. The Mark Zuckerburg-led American social media company launched its Portal video-calling devices in the US in early October last year. At the time of launch, the Portal was priced at $199 (Rs 14,700 approx) and the Portal+ was priced at $349 (Rs 25,900 approx). The company also offered both devices as a bundled offer at $298 (Rs 22,000 approx). Facebook announced the Portal devices in a renewed effort to assure its customers of complete data privacy inside the Facebook world while calling and messaging. A few months before launchi

Instagram announced some new features at Facebook’s ongoing F8 developer conference, where the main Facebook app also received a fresh coat of paint and a bunch of new features were announced for Messenger. For Instagram, the first big change comes in the form of a redesigned camera with a new Create Mode. The new camera design and the Create Mode will appear on the Instagram app in the coming weeks. This new camera will make it easier to use popular creative tools like effects and interactive stickers. Create Mode will help users make stories more easily. All story creation tools will be available in a single tray at the bottom of the Instagram camera, making them accessible easier than before. Secondly, Instagram users will also get the ability to shop from creators and influencers without leaving their posts.  “Today, creators tag the brands they are wearing, add details in the caption and respond to countless comments and DMs. With the ability to tag exactly what they're wea

Instagram announced some new features at Facebook’s ongoing F8 developer conference, where the main Facebook app also received a fresh coat of paint and a bunch of new features were announced for Messenger. For Instagram, the first big change comes in the form of a redesigned camera with a new Create Mode. The new camera design and the Create Mode will appear on the Instagram app in the coming weeks. This new camera will make it easier to use popular creative tools like effects and interactive stickers. Create Mode will help users make stories more easily. All story creation tools will be available in a single tray at the bottom of the Instagram camera, making them accessible easier than before. Secondly, Instagram users will also get the ability to shop from creators and influencers without leaving their posts.  “Today, creators tag the brands they are wearing, add details in the caption and respond to countless comments and DMs. With the ability to tag exactly what they're wea

At Facebook’s annual developer conference, F8, the company has announced a slew of big changes that are aimed at making all of its platforms - Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Facebook itself - more social, yet private. Facebook will transition into a more “privacy-focused communications platform,” Mark Zuckerberg told audiences at F8. To this effect, the main Facebook platform, both the app and the desktop, are receiving a major redesign, with Groups and Events at the centre of it all. Facebook is rolling out FB5 (Facebook 5), a fresh design that’s aimed at being simpler and faster, with an emphasis on communities. Groups are now front and centre with the new Groups tab. The tab now shows a personalised feed of activity across all groups a user is a part of. A new discovery tool provides recommendations that help users find groups they could be interested in. “Today, more than 400 million people on Facebook belong to a group that they find meaningful,” Facebook said in a press s

At Facebook’s annual developer conference, F8, the company has announced a slew of big changes that are aimed at making all of its platforms - Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Facebook itself - more social, yet private. Facebook will transition into a more “privacy-focused communications platform,” Mark Zuckerberg told audiences at F8. To this effect, the main Facebook platform, both the app and the desktop, are receiving a major redesign, with Groups and Events at the centre of it all. Facebook is rolling out FB5 (Facebook 5), a fresh design that’s aimed at being simpler and faster, with an emphasis on communities. Groups are now front and centre with the new Groups tab. The tab now shows a personalised feed of activity across all groups a user is a part of. A new discovery tool provides recommendations that help users find groups they could be interested in. “Today, more than 400 million people on Facebook belong to a group that they find meaningful,” Facebook said in a press s

Facebook has made a bunch of announcements at its ongoing F8 annual developer conference. While the keynote opened with CEO Mark Zuckerberg stressing on a privacy-focussed platform, there were a lot of new developments shared as far as all of Facebook’s products are concerned. Starting with Messenger, Facebook finally shared plans about integrating the chat app with Instagram and WhatsApp. It was rumoured for a long time that Facebook will make all the three apps interoperable and that’s exactly what’s coming - the ability to chat and make calls across Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram. "We believe people should be able to talk to anyone anywhere," Messenger's Head of Consumer Product, Asha Sharma, said while announcing all the new features coming to Messenger 5. Watching Videos together in real-time on Facebook Messenger One of the biggest changes coming to Messenger is that it will now be a faster and lighter app. Facebook is re-building the architecture of the Mes

Facebook has made a bunch of announcements at its ongoing F8 annual developer conference. While the keynote opened with CEO Mark Zuckerberg stressing on a privacy-focussed platform, there were a lot of new developments shared as far as all of Facebook’s products are concerned. Starting with Messenger, Facebook finally shared plans about integrating the chat app with Instagram and WhatsApp. It was rumoured for a long time that Facebook will make all the three apps interoperable and that’s exactly what’s coming - the ability to chat and make calls across Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram. "We believe people should be able to talk to anyone anywhere," Messenger's Head of Consumer Product, Asha Sharma, said while announcing all the new features coming to Messenger 5. Watching Videos together in real-time on Facebook Messenger One of the biggest changes coming to Messenger is that it will now be a faster and lighter app. Facebook is re-building the architecture of the Mes

ACT Fibernet subscribers with 1Gbps plan can get Rs 500 off on monthly Netflix subscription bill, a media report has said. Those who have subscribed to this plan will get a monthly cashback of Rs 500 only by subscribing to six-month or 12-month plans. ACT Fibernet is currently offering ACT Giga broadband plans with 1Gbps speeds in Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru cities, and also operates in 17 other cities. Apart from the Netflix offer, customers will also be eligible for other offers as well. In Bengaluru, the company is giving additional 1500GB data on top of the existing pack’s data benefit. Additionally, users will also be eligible for up to two months of free service on long-validity subscription. ACT Giga plan costs Rs 5,999 in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, and Rs 2,999 in Chennai. The Netflix offer is valid in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Delhi. In Bengaluru city, the Netflix offer is applicable on ACT Storm, ACT Lightning, ACT Incredible and ACT Giga broadband plans. In Hyde

ACT Fibernet subscribers with 1Gbps plan can get Rs 500 off on monthly Netflix subscription bill, a media report has said. Those who have subscribed to this plan will get a monthly cashback of Rs 500 only by subscribing to six-month or 12-month plans. ACT Fibernet is currently offering ACT Giga broadband plans with 1Gbps speeds in Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru cities, and also operates in 17 other cities. Apart from the Netflix offer, customers will also be eligible for other offers as well. In Bengaluru, the company is giving additional 1500GB data on top of the existing pack’s data benefit. Additionally, users will also be eligible for up to two months of free service on long-validity subscription. ACT Giga plan costs Rs 5,999 in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, and Rs 2,999 in Chennai. The Netflix offer is valid in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Delhi. In Bengaluru city, the Netflix offer is applicable on ACT Storm, ACT Lightning, ACT Incredible and ACT Giga broadband plans. In Hyde

Huawei’s HiSilicon Kirin 985 chipset will be manufactured with 5G modem using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC's) new 7nm fabrication process, and it will go into mass production from the third quarter of this year, a media report in CNMO.com has said. TSMC will use 7nm Extreme UltraViolet (EUV) process (called N7+), along with the Flip-Chip Package-on-Package (FC-PoP) process that allows vertical stacking of transistors. A combination of EUV (which increases the accuracy of transistor placement) and FC-PoP manufacturing processes means that the transistor density on the chip will be increased by 20 percent resulting in better performance and lower energy consumption. The news comes almost two weeks after a report in Chinese news outlet Commercial Times claimed the Kirin 985 chipset will enter into mass production in the second half of 2019. Further, it has been reported that Huawei will bring the HiSilicon Kirin 985 in the Mate 30 series of phones. The firs

Huawei’s HiSilicon Kirin 985 chipset will be manufactured with 5G modem using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC's) new 7nm fabrication process, and it will go into mass production from the third quarter of this year, a media report in CNMO.com has said. TSMC will use 7nm Extreme UltraViolet (EUV) process (called N7+), along with the Flip-Chip Package-on-Package (FC-PoP) process that allows vertical stacking of transistors. A combination of EUV (which increases the accuracy of transistor placement) and FC-PoP manufacturing processes means that the transistor density on the chip will be increased by 20 percent resulting in better performance and lower energy consumption. The news comes almost two weeks after a report in Chinese news outlet Commercial Times claimed the Kirin 985 chipset will enter into mass production in the second half of 2019. Further, it has been reported that Huawei will bring the HiSilicon Kirin 985 in the Mate 30 series of phones. The firs

The OnePlus 7 launch is looming large over us and every few days, a new feature of the upcoming flagship is being disseminated by the brand to create hype leading up to the launch. After announcing that the OnePlus 7 Pro’s display has been rated A+ by DisplayMate, and confirming triple cameras on the back via a newspaper ad, it was revealed the latest cover photo of Harper’s Bazaar magazine was shot using the OnePlus 7 Pro. The magazine announced on social media that the cover photo of their latest issue featuring actor and activist Jameela Jamil, was shot using the OnePlus 7 Pro. The actor insisted that the photos required no digital retouching or airbrushing. The photograph was shot with Jameela in Los Angeles, on a rooftop terrace, according to an ANI report. “It’s a picture-perfect camera, and the output was amazing. I could not believe we had an option to shoot RAW images without having to connect it to an app or computer. We used the photo to capture behind-the-scenes clips a

Realme is expanding its services and products to the Chinese market and it recently posted a new teaser video on its Weibo page. The video also showed off a new phone that is the company’s first handset to feature a nearly bezel-less design and a pop-up front facing camera. The phone was linked to the Realme handset featuring model number RMX1901, which showed up on a TENAA listing as the images on the registration website closely resembles the handset shown in the video. Now, the company’s Chief Marketing Officer, Xu Qi Chase, has confirmed via a Weibo post that the company’s upcoming phone would be called the Realme X.  It is highly possible that the smartphone with a pop-up camera in the Realme promo video is the Realme X. Qi’s post also suggests that the Realme X is a bezel-less display that delivers a full-screen experience. As per the TENAA listing, the handset might come equipped with a 6.5-inch display OLED display that sports a Full HD+ resolution. The images hint at the abse

US-based firm vpnMentor's research team has discovered a hack that has exposed a database of 80 million (nearly 65 percent) American households. The unprotected 24GB database, hosted on Microsoft Cloud servers, includes the number of people living in each household with their full names, their marital status, income bracket, age, and more. While some information is available freely, other data like title, gender, etc are coded. What’s interesting is that the database is still unidentified, however, given the terminology used (like “member_code” and “score”), it appears that this database belongs to some kind of service that has members in it and they get scores. vpnMentor believes that it is the first time a breach of this size has included peoples’ names, addresses, and income, and dubs the open database as a goldmine for identity thieves and other attackers. How can this impact users?   This type of open database can give access to users’ full name that can be used to guess the

The OnePlus 7 launch is looming large over us and every few days, a new feature of the upcoming flagship is being disseminated by the brand to create hype leading up to the launch. After announcing that the OnePlus 7 Pro’s display has been rated A+ by DisplayMate, and confirming triple cameras on the back via a newspaper ad, it was revealed the latest cover photo of Harper’s Bazaar magazine was shot using the OnePlus 7 Pro. The magazine announced on social media that the cover photo of their latest issue featuring actor and activist Jameela Jamil, was shot using the OnePlus 7 Pro. The actor insisted that the photos required no digital retouching or airbrushing. The photograph was shot with Jameela in Los Angeles, on a rooftop terrace, according to an ANI report. “It’s a picture-perfect camera, and the output was amazing. I could not believe we had an option to shoot RAW images without having to connect it to an app or computer. We used the photo to capture behind-the-scenes clips a

Realme is expanding its services and products to the Chinese market and it recently posted a new teaser video on its Weibo page. The video also showed off a new phone that is the company’s first handset to feature a nearly bezel-less design and a pop-up front facing camera. The phone was linked to the Realme handset featuring model number RMX1901, which showed up on a TENAA listing as the images on the registration website closely resembles the handset shown in the video. Now, the company’s Chief Marketing Officer, Xu Qi Chase, has confirmed via a Weibo post that the company’s upcoming phone would be called the Realme X.  It is highly possible that the smartphone with a pop-up camera in the Realme promo video is the Realme X. Qi’s post also suggests that the Realme X is a bezel-less display that delivers a full-screen experience. As per the TENAA listing, the handset might come equipped with a 6.5-inch display OLED display that sports a Full HD+ resolution. The images hint at the abse

US-based firm vpnMentor's research team has discovered a hack that has exposed a database of 80 million (nearly 65 percent) American households. The unprotected 24GB database, hosted on Microsoft Cloud servers, includes the number of people living in each household with their full names, their marital status, income bracket, age, and more. While some information is available freely, other data like title, gender, etc are coded. What’s interesting is that the database is still unidentified, however, given the terminology used (like “member_code” and “score”), it appears that this database belongs to some kind of service that has members in it and they get scores. vpnMentor believes that it is the first time a breach of this size has included peoples’ names, addresses, and income, and dubs the open database as a goldmine for identity thieves and other attackers. How can this impact users?   This type of open database can give access to users’ full name that can be used to guess the

Global smartphone shipments continue to decline and phone manufacturers have realised that there’s a dire need for innovation in their offerings. Samsung is one of the companies that is working on a foldable phone with the hope of offering a new take on the same old form factor. While the super expensive Samsung Galaxy Fold is off to a rocky start, it seems like the South Korean tech company might soon look into other ideas. As per a new patent filed by the company, reported by LetsGoDigital, it might be working on a handset where the display wraps around an edge and extends to the device’s back. The patent is titled 'Electronic Device Having Plurality of Display and Method for Controlling Same'. The patent images suggest Samsung could be working on a design that is somewhat similar to the Vivo Nex Dual Display smartphone. However, while the Vivo Nex features a secondary display on the back, the Samsung patent suggests that there could be three edges that sport a display. The

Global smartphone shipments continue to decline and phone manufacturers have realised that there’s a dire need for innovation in their offerings. Samsung is one of the companies that is working on a foldable phone with the hope of offering a new take on the same old form factor. While the super expensive Samsung Galaxy Fold is off to a rocky start, it seems like the South Korean tech company might soon look into other ideas. As per a new patent filed by the company, reported by LetsGoDigital, it might be working on a handset where the display wraps around an edge and extends to the device’s back. The patent is titled 'Electronic Device Having Plurality of Display and Method for Controlling Same'. The patent images suggest Samsung could be working on a design that is somewhat similar to the Vivo Nex Dual Display smartphone. However, while the Vivo Nex features a secondary display on the back, the Samsung patent suggests that there could be three edges that sport a display. The

A day after Xiaomi sub-brand Redmi officially teased a device said to be a flagship phone with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 under the hood, the company’s top executive has said that abundant stocks of the phone are already being prepared. This suggests that Redmi is forecasting big order numbers for the phone and wants to be well-prepared for the high-demand. A person asked Redmi General Manager Lu Weibing about the stock of the flagship model on Chinese social media website Weibo (via mydrivers.com). The executive apparently replied that the company is preparing enough stock of the device. Lu also said that the phone will be competitively priced. Xiaomi’s other sub-brand Pocophone did something similar when it launched the Poco F1 for Rs 20,999 in India last year. The Redmi phone is not only the first flagship by the now-independent brand that operates under Xiaomi, but it will be the first to offer a pop-up selfie camera. The tech is not new and several phones-makers have already l

Chrome is one of the most widely used browsers on mobile phones and is generally considered safe as it is developed and maintained by Google. However, developer Jim Fisher has found a new exploit, which showcases how an attacker could emulate the browser’s address bar to impersonate a legit website. While this might not sound scary, the way Fisher demonstrated its application in a proof of concept video might make some privacy-centric users double check the address bar before entering any personal information on a website. Using few web designing skills and tricks, the developer created a website that replaces Chrome’s address bar and its UI.  Fisher calls the new phishing method ‘The inception bar'. One can visit the developer's website on mobile phones here to experience how someone could modify their site to lock a user in. He explains that when one scrolls down on a webpage in Chrome, the URL bar is hidden and reappears when one scrolls back up. However, a phishing site ca