As the sale season progresses in the country, reputable websites like Flipkart and Amazon are providing attractive and authentic offers and discounts. However, some websites, like Meesho, are offering false deals to entice and scam customers, such as where they are selling the Galaxy Buds 2 and the latest Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for Rs 1,188.
Available on the Meesho website, the Galaxy Buds 2 and the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are available for Rs 1,188 which may look one of the most appealing deals ever. However, it’s not true. Even though they have mentioned the correct colour names for the models and the features in the model name as well, the mentioned model name in the product details page of Galaxy Buds 2 says BoAt Airdopes 161 while that on the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro product page says BoAt Airdopes 153.
Even the photos of the products used are genuine ones which can easily trick customers into thinking that it is an authentic deal. However, one has to make sure that they check all the details on the website thoroughly to prevent from getting scammed. For Meesho, it could be the case for other products as well if the e-commerce platform is offering a scam deal for Galaxy Buds 2 series but we cannot say for certain.
The current sale price for the Galaxy Buds 2 on Flipkart is Rs 7,399 at the time of writing this article while on Tata Cliq, its selling for Rs 5,999. These are still genuine prices for the product. As for the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, they are selling for Rs 9,990 on Amazon, and for the same price on Samsung’s website too.
While customers may be eager to make new purchases this sale season, we urge our readers to stay aware of such scams taking place alongside. It is always best to check seller details, the reputation of the website you are purchasing the product from and other details before you spend your heard earned money.
Vivo has expanded its Y-series in India with the launch of two new smartphones including the Vivo Y18 and the Vivo Y18e. The new Vivo Y18 series smartphones have a price tag of sub-Rs 10,000 and have a 90Hz display, MediaTek Helio chipset and more. Here’s what they have to offer.
Vivo Y18 Series: India Price, Availability
The Vivo Y18 comes in 4GB + 64GB and 4GB + 128GB variants, priced at Rs 8,999 and Rs 9,999 in the country. The Vivo Y18e comes in a single 4GB + 64GB model priced at Rs 7,999. Both of them are available in Gem Green and Space Black shades and can be bought via the Vivo e-store.
Vivo Y18 Series: Specs, Competition
The Vivo Y18 series smartphones come with a 6.56-inch HD+ display with 1612 × 720 pixels resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, and 528 nits peak brightness on Y18e and 840 nits on Y18. The display panels have 269 ppi. They are powered by MediaTek Helio G85 Chipset which is coupled with 4GB of LPDDR4x RAM. The phones come with up to 128GB of eMMC 5.1 storage. The storage is expandable via a dedicated microSD card slot up to 1TB.
The phones come equipped with a dual camera setup. The Y18 camera setup comprises of a 50-megapixel main sensor with an f/1.8 lens and a 0.08MP sensor with f/3.0 aperture. In addition, there’s an 8MP f/2.0 front-facing camera for selfies.
The Y18e has a 13MP f/2.2 main sensor, plus a 0.08MP sensor with f/3.0 Aperture at the rear. In addition, there’s a 5MP f/2.2 front-facing camera for selfies. The phones pack a 5000mAh battery that supports 15W fast charging. The Vivo Y18 series runs on FunTouch OS 14 based on Android 14 out of the box.
The Y18 gets a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for security while the Y18e doesn’t have one. They have face recognition support and are also IP54 rated. Connectivity options on the devices include Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS, and a USB-C port for charging.
As for the competition, both these devices have a similar set of competitors to beat. One of them is the Itel S24, priced at Rs 9,999, which gets you a better chipset, more RAM, and a better rear camera sensor. In most ways, the Itel S24 is a better pick over the Vivo Y18 series.
Then there’s also the Lava O2, that has a similar chipset in terms of numbers but gets you more RAM, faster storage, and a fingerprint sensor for a cheaper price tag than Vivo Y18 and just Rs 500 more than the Y18e. Other better devices include Lava Blaze 2 5G and the Moto G24 Power as well.
Foldable smartphones are here to stay and brands like Samsung, Oppo, OnePlus, Motorola, etc., are the reason these smartphones have gone mainstream. However, the pricing of these flagship foldables hasn’t exactly been cheap and affordable. It is only during sales when we see an appealing price drop on these devices and it has now happened with the 2021 flip foldable from Samsung, the Galaxy Z Flip 3, where it’s available for Rs 37,999 in India. Should you buy it for that price during the Flipkart Big Savings Day Sale or should you skip it? We have our thoughts outlined below.
Galaxy Z Flip 3 at Rs 37,999: Should You Buy?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 launched for Rs 84,999 in India in August 2021 and we were also able to review it shortly after its launch. No doubt, the display panels on the Galaxy Z Flip 3 were top-notch. The cover screen you will interact with once the phone is folded is a 1.9-inch Super AMOLED panel with 260 x 512 pixels resolution. Once unfolded, you will interact with the foldable dynamic 6.7-inches AMOLED 2X display. There’s a 120Hz Refresh Rate with HDR10+ support and 1200 nits peak brightness.
The phone also had an incredibly premium feel. However, after two months, the hinge started becoming loose, and it wouldn’t hold the upper half of the phone at most angles. The device would either close at lower angles or just open at higher ones and won’t stay rigid in between.
Coming to performance, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 came with preloaded OneUI 3.1.1 based on Android 11. It gets 8GB of RAM with 128GB or 256GB of storage options and has the Snapdragon 888 under the hood. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 will get updates till Android 15 so the software situation is sorted for another year as One UI in itself is a feature-rich and practical Android skin. You will notice some heating during sustained workloads, which does throttle the device, and on top of that, the Snapdragon 888 also doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to efficient heat management.
The battery was the weakest link of the smartphone. The device gets a 3300mAh battery. It further supports just 15W Fast charging which is a bummer. Moreover, you get fast wireless charging support with 10W of speed and reverse wireless charging support also at 4.5W. These stats suggest what the Flip 3 was lacking, and it was clear in real-world use, too. During my review, the max I could squeeze out from it was up to 4 hours of screen-on time and the device couldn’t even last a full day of use. On top of that, the device took 2 hours to charge which is a huge disappointment in today’s time.
Battery backup is quite an important aspect in today’s world as tasks become more power-hungry. While software can help to some extent, a larger physical battery is essential, too, and is needed more than software optimization. The cameras on the Flip 3 were decent, and we didn’t have any major complaints.
Answering the question we are here for, we think there are better options available than the Galaxy Z Flip 3 at this price point. The Processor in this device is outdated, and you’ll only receive one major OS update after purchase, both of which aren’t ideal considering the price. Other options not only have a better chip but also offer longer software support and far better battery backup.
If you primarily want the foldable form factor and that too in a device from Samsung, you may consider it but keep in mind that you’ll always have to carry a power bank with you because the battery life on the Galaxy Z Flip 3 just doesn’t cut it, and it can be a hassle at a lot of times.
Security researchers over at Microsoft have detected a new emerging threat targeting Android applications that have millions of installs, with known names such as Xiaomi’s File Manager. Dubbed the “Dirty Stream” attack, this vulnerability pattern poses a significant threat to Android users worldwide.
What Is The Dirty Stream Attack?
Explained in a blog post by Microsoft Threat Intelligence team, the Dirty Stream attack exploits a vulnerability arising from the improper use of Android’s content provider system. This system is designed to manage access to structured data sets that are meant to be shared between different applications, incorporating security measures like data isolation, URI permissions, and path validation to prevent unauthorised access and data leaks.
However, when these security measures are incorrectly implemented, they can be bypassed. The attack involves malicious apps sending files with manipulated filenames or paths to another app using custom intents. The receiving app, misled into trusting the filename or path, may execute or store the file in a critical directory, leading to potential arbitrary code execution and secrets theft.
It can be executed via the Android’s share-sheet dialog box that pops up whenever you try to share a file to third-party apps. “This type of guided file-sharing interaction itself may not trigger a successful attack against a share target, a malicious Android application can create a custom, explicit intent and send a file directly to a share target with a malicious filename and without the user’s knowledge or approval”, read the blog post.
The Dirty Stream attack presents a massive attack surface, affecting apps installed over four billion times. Two notable apps that were affected by the issue included Xiaomi’s File Manager application, with over a billion installations, and WPS Office, with around 500 million installs. Both companies have since collaborated with Microsoft to deploy fixes to mitigate the risks posed by the vulnerability.
Upon discovering the vulnerability, Microsoft engaged in responsible disclosure, notifying application developers and working with them to address the issue. This collaborative effort extends to Google, who has also updated its app security guidance to highlight common implementation errors that allow security bypasses.
What to do if you are affected?
For end users, the best defence is to keep their apps up to date and avoid downloading APKs from unofficial third-party app stores. Microsoft urged the developers to check their apps for similar issues and ensure that such vulnerabilities are not introduced into new apps or releases. It also outlined some ways developers can adopt to bypass the vulnerability.
Google Search has dominated the search engine industry for years and OpenAI’s ChatGPT may now be coming to challenge it and that too, as soon as next week. While competitors like Microsoft’s Bing have tried to overtake Google Search, they haven’t entirely been able to,
A Reddit user has spotted the creation of SSL certificates for the domain ‘search.chatgpt.com’. For those unaware, SSL certificates are what enable websites to use HTTPS, which is more secure than HTTP. An SSL certificate is a data file hosted in a website’s origin server. SSL certificates make SSL/TLS Encryption possible, and they contain the website’s public key and the website’s identity, along with related information.
In addition, a tweet by an AI podcast host has also surfaced online further fanning the fire. The post reads, “Search (dot) ChatGPT (dot) com May 9th,” hinting at a potential release date. The subdomain displays a cryptic “Not found” message if you visit it, instead of showing a usual 404 or domain error, further adding to the speculation that a ChatGPT search engine is indeed coming.
A few months ago, a report by The Information suggested that OpenAI has been developing a web search product which is partially backed by Bing. OpenAI’s ChatGPT has already been touching new heights with each new model release and landing a dedicated search engine in the market that’s backed by Microsoft’s Bing who specialises in the area only makes sense for OpenAI.
As of now, there’s no word on how the search engine will work and there are no specifics to be seen. Considering we aren’t far off from the release on the basis of leaked information, we won’t have to wait for long before seeing what OpenAI has in stores for us. For all we know, it’s possible that it may work in a similar fashion as Google’s SGE, that shows AI-generated summaries for the search query for a quick glance.
Google has always been stringent with its policies, both for the consumers and government alike, resulting in overall transparency. Now, to further help consumers identify which apps are legitimate government apps, Google Play Store is rolling out a ‘Government Apps’ badge that will be shown in an App listing.
Rolling out in countries including Australia, Canada, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Brazil, Indonesia, India, and Mexico, the new Government Apps badge is available across more than 2,000 apps in the mentioned countries. In case of India, apps like mAadhaar, DigiLocker, etc., now have the new badge once you open their respective app listing. In the US, examples include apps from NASA, FEMA, IRS2Go, among others.
We were also able to verify the same on Play Store version 40.7.29-31. The company first teased the feature back in November 2023 when it also announced new rules for app developers. Once you tap on the badge, a pop-up appears displaying a message that says, “Play verified this app is affiliated with a government entity.” The badge also shows up in lists like “Top Charts” for apps or when you search for an official government app.
According to Google, it has worked with governments and their developer partners to onboard apps with badges. Google claims that it asks developers to submit proof if they have sufficient permission to process government documents for safety reasons. It also encourages the government to use official email IDs to create developer accounts on Google Play to publish apps.
“Completing the government declaration requirements also allows your app to become eligible for official endorsement signified by a clear visual treatment on the Play store, provided further eligibility criteria is also verified”, says Google on a support page.
The new Government apps badge in Google Play Store is mainly helpful to the consumer so he/she can identify which apps are legitimately published by the government. A common violation includes “apps that falsely claim affiliation with a government entity or to provide or facilitate government services for which they are not properly authorized,” Google’s rule about violations read.
Google further makes it clear that doesn’t allow apps that contain false or misleading information or claims, including in the app description, title, icon, or screenshots. In addition, apps must provide an accurate disclosure, description and images/video of their functionality in all parts of the metadata. Apps must not attempt to mimic functionality or warnings from the operating system or other apps. Any changes to device settings must be made with the user’s knowledge and consent and be reversible by the user.
While Spotify may have been one of the first music streaming apps to introduce AI capabilities with features based on it, there’s still the Lossless streaming feature the App hasn’t got since almost 2.5 years after it first got announced. A new leak sheds light on how Spotify is working on the HiFi paid add-on for lossless streaming of music, a feature apps like Tidal and Apple Music already offer.
Posted by a user on Reddit (via Android Authority), Spotify seems to be testing Spotify HiFi, or “Enhanced Listening,” as the leak suggests Spotify may have changed its naming scheme. The post has a number of screenshots showing how the service would work and what all options would be available to the consumer once the add-on goes live in the app
The first set of screenshots are from Spotify on desktop, where the music streaming service will also be able to perform a compatibility check, letting you know the compatibility status with of the device you are listening on, your connection, and your internet bandwidth. There are also some advisories present, suggesting users to download the music in lossless quality so they can listen in that quality even when offline, and that listening to Lossless over Bluetooth could affect the quality of the music.
Spotify currently streams music at a 320kbps rate but with HiFi coming, one can go up to 2,117kbps, with as much as 15.9MB of data being consumed per minute. Spotify also mentions that even 24-bit lossless is available on limited songs that can be played via the FLAC audio format.
The leaked screenshots from the mobile app hint that the feature introduction prompts will tell users that they can stream wirelessly in “up to 24-bit” on compatible devices through Spotify Connect. In addition, a “Lossless” label will be shown to indicate that lossless streaming is in progress.
It’s still unclear what Spotify will finally end up calling the plan, a HiFi add-on, a Supremium plan as leaked once before, or just lossless. Whatever the case may be, the leak shows proof that Spotify could be in the final stages of completion with the feature but who knows what could happen considering the streaming service has already delayed the feature announcement once by a couple of years already.
Ferrato, which is a premium brand of Okaya EV, has launched a new electric motorcycle named ‘Disruptor’. The company is claiming that this bike is redefining the sports bike experience while costing only 25 paise per km. This new motorcycle is equipped with a 3.97 kWh battery, comes with a 3-year warranty and has many other features.
Ferrato Disruptor: Price, Availability
The Disruptor is available for pre-booking on Ferrato’s official website, and deliveries will begin in 90 days. It is ex-showroom priced at Rs 1,59,999 and available in Inferno Red, Stealth Black, and Thunder Blue shades.
Ferrato Disruptor: Features, Range
The Ferrato Disruptor offers a range of 129 km on a single charge and features a PMSM centre motor chain-driven system capable of delivering a peak power of 6.37 kW. It can reach a top speed of 95 km/h and has three dynamic drive modes: Eco, City, and Sports.
Its advanced lithium-ion LFP battery further complements the latest Electric bike’s capabilities. With a capacity of 3.97 kWh, it is equipped for higher thermal runaway at 270 °C, making it suitable for India’s weather conditions. Bolstered with a longer life cycle compared to NMC technology, the battery is also IP67-rated for enhanced durability and reliability. The motorcycle is backed by a comprehensive 3-year/30,000 km warranty.
The Disruptor also features a host of innovative features designed to enhance control, stability, and convenience. These include disc brakes, alloy wheels, telescopic front suspension, mono-shock rear suspension, and digital hybrid display.
Connectivity options on the EV include integrated Bluetooth and GPS connectivity, geo-fencing, and Find My Vehicle functionality, ensuring seamless integration with modern lifestyles. Riders can stay connected, easily navigate, and track their bike in real time. The bootspace stands at 16 litres, and the battery charges in approximately 5 hours.
A considerable number of Samsung smartphone users know the power of Good Lock, Samsung’s popular customization app. While it was only available for download via the Galaxy Store, that changes today as the app has made its debut on the Google Play Store. Here are the details about the new development.
Previously exclusive to Samsung’s Galaxy Store, Good Lock is now accessible to a wider audience through Google Play Store, offering a suite of personalisation features that allow users to tailor their Samsung smartphone experience to their liking. Some of the users who were previously unaware of the existence of Good Lock will now be able to download it from the same app that majorly handles the rest of the downloads on their Samsung device, and that’s Good Lock.
The development was first spotted by X user @Litto31102469 and upon checking, we were able to verify that the listing does exist. The app was also installable on our Galaxy S23 Ultra and was being shown in “Early Access”. This also means that Samsung hasn’t widely made it available yet but is still in the testing phase of doing so. The version of the app is 2.2.04.95 and requires Android 8.0 or up on your Samsung device to work.
Alongside the main Good Lock app, the One Hand Operation + module is also available on Google Play Store. It might be hinting towards the arrival of other modules on the platform as well, however, there’s no official confirmation from Samsung regarding the same as of now.
With the introduction of Good Lock on the Google Play Store, Samsung has made it easier for users to access and enjoy the app’s powerful UI customization and convenience features. The move is a testament to Samsung’s commitment to providing users with tools to make their smartphone experience as personalized and user-friendly as possible.
The market for AI companion devices is growing, but initial reviews of the Human AI Pin and the Rabbit R1 suggest they have a long way to go. Now, a new brand called Tap is entering the segment with its first hardware product, also called Tap. It is an AI wearable companion. How does it compare to the other two devices already available, and should you consider buying it? We have our thoughts on the matter, which are outlined below.
What is Tap?
Tap is a sub-brand of Hole Systems, and their wearable companion is the company’s first venture into hardware. To understand Tap, it’s important to know the goal of Hole Systems. According to the company, they aim to create an operating system that not only captures data but also understands user intentions, respects preferences, and adapts to unique needs. They envision this system as a true companion in the digital realm, and it’s what they call Hole Systems. This represents the brand’s vision for the future of computing.
The company is currently developing AI-based software named Operator, which can function as a personal AI assistant or a chatbot. According to Hole Systems, this software is the first step towards a future where devices will act as curators of essential information, collaborators in thought, and creators of solutions.
Coming back to Tap, the device is set to be loaded with an “Operator” at some point in the future. One can communicate with the operator with inputs. Think of them as your bridge to command and interact, translating your text, voice, or file commands into actions seamlessly. In return, the output is designed to be more tailored to your needs and personality because that’s what the operator does when it thinks and remembers before replying.
Instead of static memory limitations, the Operator employs dynamic Brain Functions that evolve with user interaction. This creates a memory system that anticipates needs and aligns with intentions, making interactions contextually relevant and intuitively connected.
As of now, Tap is powered by OpenAI’s GPT 4 AI model. The device hooks onto you with a clasp and there’s a button on the front called ‘Tap Toggle’ which you’ll have to press before speaking to the wearable. Once you are done with your query, it’ll give you a reply through your smartphone’s speaker. Batch one devices do not have a speaker while the batch two Tap devices will support a speaker as an additional accessory. The device also has a power button and charges via a USB-C port. It’s available in a single white colour.
Tap AI Wearable Companion: Features
The Tap device has features such as access to GPT 4 and GPT 3.5 models. It supports the memory feature to help you remember what you tell it to and spit out tailored responses. It also has a privacy-based Browser function to browse the web with your voice.
The device only activates upon your command. It does not have an “always listening” feature, and while its active, the privacy light indicator also turns on. As its a privacy-focused device, all data transmissions, including voice interactions, operate within the 2.4 – 2.48GHz frequency, ensuring secure communication within a 10M range.
You can customize your interaction settings, giving you control over what information the device remembers or forgets. Tap says that its device and software are designed to minimize data collection and maximize user control, aligning with privacy-by-design principles.
Tap can tell you about the weather, has a built-in translator, and supports more than 60 languages. There’s also an interpreter mode, different custom voices, and an alert messages feature. It doesn’t support a SIM card and connects wirelessly via Bluetooth LE. It supports fast charging, has a total charge time of 1 hour, and has a runtime of up to 17 hours.
Tap AI Wearable Companion: Price, Availability, Roadmap
The Tap AI device will be available for $59 on Product Hunt, and the company will initially sell a total of 400 units during batch 1. Simultaneously, the brand will also launch the Tap application. In the next phase, the Operator app will go live and be integrated within Tap devices, which will facilitate AI memory recall feature.
Then, batch 2 of Tap devices will go live with modifications along with accessories. Finally, in the last phase, the Operator web portal will be made live so you can download and view your operator’s data.
Tap AI Wearable Companion: How is it different (or the same as) from Humane AI Pin & Rabbit R1?
Both the Humane AI Pin and the Rabbit R1 have been met with disapproval from consumers and professional reviewers, who have described them as half-baked products that aren’t ready for consumer use.
The Tap AI takes a slightly different approach with its affordable price tag and that’s one of the main differences between its own device and that of Humane and Rabbit. The Humane AI Pin costs $699 plus a subscription while Rabbit R1 costs $199. Despite there being other differences apart from price between the three devices, Tap is confident that its AI wearable companion can give the other two a run for their money.
So much so that it explicitly compares its price with that of the other two companies’ products, as shown in the screenshot above. Humane and Rabbit’s devices do have superior hardware, which is why their prices are on the higher side. This includes a projector in the Humane AI Pin and better build materials, a display on the R1, and more.
Tap and a similar product share the same purpose – to provide users with an accessible AI companion that can replace a smartphone. Tap believes that an AI wearable can be closer to the user than a phone in their pocket, allowing it to learn and adapt to the user’s needs without being intrusive. It can blend into the background when necessary, and appear when needed. This level of integration enables the AI to understand the user’s intentions and preferences more accurately, resulting in a more personalized experience.
Tap’s approach is a more acceptable one because of the affordable price. Moreover, it isn’t trying to train and implement its own model into the Tap device as of now and is powering it with the much trusted model, which is GPT 4. That leads us to believe that its responses, in theory, should not only be quicker but also more accurate and consistent than the terrible performance we have seen from Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin.
Max Jacob, co-founder at Hole Systems, has been posting videos of the device in action on his X social media account and from the looks of it, the device does seem to give users responses quickly.
If Tap were to meet the same fate as Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1, only time will tell. However, given that the Tap device is significantly more affordable than the other two, we believe it has the potential to excel in its intended purpose. While replacing a smartphone may still not be a near-future goal, as a standalone AI wearable companion, the Tap device might prove to be superior to its competitors.
