OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro's display and camera details surface

Yesterday we saw renders of the OnePlus 7 OnePlus 6T. The source also said that the images of a OnePlus smartphone with pop-up selfie camera we were treated to earlier were actually showing the OnePlus 7 Pro. Today, that same source has shed some more light on how these smartphones will differ. The OnePlus 7 will feature a 6.4-inch waterdrop notch display and sport a dual camera setup at the back with a 48MP main sensor. The Pro variant, on the other hand, will be built around a tad larger 6.64-inch notch less screen with curved edges. The smartphone will have a triple camera setup at the back, which too, will include a 48MP primary unit. The other two snappers in the system will be equipped with a telephoto and an ultra-wide angle lenses. The source also reveals that the third smartphone in the lineup will be called OnePlus 7 Pro 5G. We don't have any details about this one, but it's safe to say that it will just be a 5G-supporting version of the Pro variant having Snapdragon X50 modem under the hood. OnePlus is said to unveil these smartphones on May 14, and until then, we will likely hear a lot more about them.
which revealed that this 2019 OnePlus flagship will look a lot like last year's 

Google Maps to inform you about traffic jams more quickly

Google Maps may be doing a pretty decent job at indicating the amount of congestion on your route. It is, now, reportedly adding a new feature that will tell you about traffic jams more quickly.

A new option, called Slowdowns, has been spotted on the app. Using the feature; people can report slowdowns, allowing Google Maps to gather this data more quickly and with increased accuracy, 9 to 5 Google reports.

The feature is labelled as either ‘congestion’ or ‘slowdown’ depending on your location. The feature is tucked in the new incident reporting button in the Google Maps app. 

Realme 3 Pro set to take on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro, key specifications revealed

Realme has already announced it will launch a Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro-competitor this month. Dubbed as Realme 3 Pro, the smartphone is expected to be an upgraded version of Realme 3 with better processor and camera.

Company CEO Madhav Sheth on Monday confirmed the company will be launching the phone at Delhi University stadium this month.

Ahead of its official launch in India, Realme 3 Pro key specifications have been revealed. According to reports, the smartphone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 processor. It’s worth noting that Snapdragon 710 SoC is considered to be an upgraded chipset over Snapdragon 675 SoC that runs on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro.

Realme’s next smartphone will be available in multiple RAM and storage combinations starting at 4GB of RAM and 32GB built-in storage. Realme 3 Pro is also expected to sport a 48-megapixel rear camera. The latest reports, however, suggest the phone will have Sony IMX519 camera sensor. Redmi Note 7 Pro offers 48-megapixel camera resolution via Sony IMX586 sensor.  Other expected features from Realme’s new phone includes Vooc fast charging support.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro full specifications include 48MP Dual camera, Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor, 6.3-inch dot notch display, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, Type-C Port, 4,000mAh battery, and up to 6GB of RAM. The smartphone is available at a starting price of Rs 13,999.

How To Record WhatsApp Calls On Android

WhatsApp is a great messenger app with a number of features including both video and audio calls. But there is one feature that has been missing for a while (even in modded apps) and that is call recording. Of course, there is a major concern of misuse with call recordings, but sometimes we desperately need it.

If you want to record WhatsApp calls there are a few workarounds, but it’s not fool-proof as it also depends on the smartphone you are using. That being said, this is your best bet right now. So, here is how you can record WhatsApp calls on Android.

How to record the calls

1. Install Cube Call Recorder app ( its free) and open it. Grant all the necessary permissions and you are good to go.

2. Now open WhatsApp and make a call, a widget should appear on your screen indicating it’s recording your WhatsApp call. If the widget doesn’t appear then manually tap on the microphone icon in the Cube Recorder app. It will start recording your call thereafter.

3. In some cases, the recordings don’t have audio from the other side. To fix this issue, tap on the menu and open “Recording”. Change “VoIP recording” audio source to “Microphone”.

4. You are good to go, you can now record your calls. Besides WhatsApp calls, you can use this app to record cellular calls as well. In my testing, WhatsApp call recording worked flawlessly on my ZTE BA602 without changing the default settings.

The Different types of "CROSS-SITE SCRIPTING."

Cross-site scripting (XSS) a common vulnerability that is carried out when an attacker injects malicious JavaScript into a website, which then targets the website’s visitors. By doing so, the attacker may gain access to users’ cookies, sensitive user information, as well as view and/or manipulate the content that is shown to the user.

Reflected XSS

Reflected XSS means that the payload is reflected, i.e. the server reads it from the request and includes it as part of the response as well.

An attack like this requires getting the user to click on a link that includes the payload. There are several ways to achieve this; sending the link as an email or buying advertisements on a website that you know the victim is going to visit are two potential ways.

Stored/Persistent XSS

Persistent or Stored XSS means that the payload is saved on the actual page, not in the request that is then reflected.

As the malicious JavaScript is saved on the page, this attack does not necessarily require you to send the victim any specific link. It depends on where on the page it is saved. If the XSS is in the latest searches you can just wait until the victim uses the search function by themselves. However, if it is stored in a specific forum thread you might need to send the victim a link to that post.

DOM XSS

When you visit a website, the server generates some HTML and JavaScript which it sends back to your browser. Your browser will then interpret all this and you will see the result on your screen. JavaScript can modify what you see and this is also called modifying the DOM (Document Object Model).

DOM XSS is the catch-all term for when the attacker’s JavaScript is not interpreted directly as a result of the source you get from the server, but rather ends up being interpreted after existing JavaScript on the page has modified the DOM to include it.

DOM XSS could be much more complex than this. The JavaScript does not have to read the value from the URL, there are lots of other potential sources. Two examples would be postMessage or that the JavaScript sends a xhr-request to another API.

If a DOM XSS reads the value from the URL this similarly to reflected XSS requires you to share a specific link with the victim to exploit it. However, if it is caused by the server sending an API request to get the latest search terms, the impact would be similar to the persistent XSS.

Samsung sees lowest quarterly profit in more than two years

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said on Friday it was heading for its lowest quarterly profit in more than two years as a glut in memory chips, slowing panel sales and rising competition in smartphones hit margins.

The South Korean tech giant said first-quarter operating profit likely slid 60 per cent from a year earlier, missing market expectations and putting it on track for its weakest quarterly profit since late 2016.

Samsung supplies memory chips and screens for its own smartphones and Apple Inc, and server chips for cloud companies such as Amazon. Its semiconductor business is the main profit driver.hares in Samsung rose briefly before paring gains to trade flat following the guidance, as many investors are already looking ahead to an earnings recovery on the back an improvement in chip prices in the second half of the year.

“In the second half, memory chip prices will have a soft landing, so falls will slow, and the release of new iPhones later seems like a good sign for Samsung’s display and memory chips,” said Kim Yang-jae, an analyst at KTB Investment and Securities.

The world’s biggest maker of smartphones and memory chips said in a filing January-March profit was likely 6.2 trillion won ($5.5 billion), missing the 6.8 trillion won estimate from analysts according to Refinitiv SmartEstimate.

Revenue likely fell 14 per cent from a year earlier to 52 trillion won. The firm will disclose detailed earnings in late April.

Samsung shares were flat as of 0120 GMT, while the broader market up 0.2 percent.

The firm earlier had warned the quarter could be disappointing due to falls in memory prices, and slowing demand for display panels used in Apple’s iPhones.

Samsung’s premium Galaxy smartphones meanwhile are struggling to be profitable due to rising costs of innovation, competition from Chinese rivals and the reluctance of consumers to upgrade, analysts have said.

HIT BOTTOM

Samsung’s share price has leapt more than 25 per cent since sinking to a two-year low in early January as some investors bet on a recovery in chip demand.

SK Hynix Inc, Micron Technology Inc and Samsung - which dominate the global market for dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, chips used in personal computers, smartphones and servers - recently have issued upbeat assessments of the prospects for a recovery in chip prices.

Hopes were buoyed further when data showed the manufacturing sector in China, the world’s biggest smartphone market, unexpectedly returned to growth for the first time in four months in March.

Samsung is betting a new line-up of smartphones including a foldable handset and a 5G-enabled model will help boost its market share in China, which crashed with the advent of cheaper Chinese rivals like Huawei Technologies Co Ltd.

But its latest phones are expensive to make, weighing on profitability even as its sells faster than its predecessor, analysts say.

“New smartphones coming out in the second half won’t necessarily help its smartphone business, but will be a plus for Samsung’s chip side as those phones require high density chip adoptions,” said Park Sung-soon, an analyst at BNK Securities.

Apple watch with OLED screens

Japan will begin to supply organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens for the Apple Watch later this year, two sources said, a breakthrough for the cash-strapped company whose late shift to OLED has cost it orders from Apple.

The supply deal would mark Japan Display’s foray into the OLED display market, the two sources familiar with the matter said, declining to be identified because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

Japan Display’s mainstay liquid crystal display (LCD) business has been slumping due to Apple Inc’s recent shift away from LCD, and disappointing sales of the iPhone XR, the only LCD model in Apple’s 2018 line-up. Aspokesman for Japan Display said he could not comment on specific customers.

The OLED display market is dominated by Samsung Electronics unit Samsung Display and LG Display, with Chinese players quickly catching up. OLED displays are generally thinner and allow more flexibility than LCD screens.

Samsung Display is currently the exclusive supplier of OLED panels for iPhones, while LG Display provides a majority of panels for the Apple Watch.

Hiroshi Hayase, senior director at IHS Markit, said it is a positive step for Japan Display, but added that the company would face a tough road ahead.

“Hurdles would be high to win orders for iPhones,” Hayase said. “Samsung Display has built up its experience, technologies and production capacity over more than a decade. Can Japan Display really compete with such a rival and make ends meet?”

Shares of Japan Display jumped as much as 7.6 percent in Tokyo trade on Wednesday after the Reuters report. The stock finished up 6.3 percent at 84 yen.

Japan Display, which gets more than half of its revenue from Apple, has a small OLED pilot line at a smartphone screen plant in eastern Japan.

It is seeking investment from a group that includes China Silkroad Investment Capital (CSIS), sources have told Reuters. The company has said it is aiming for as much as USD 990 million in fresh financing.

The Nikkei business daily reported on Wednesday the company board would vote on investment plans by the start of next week.

Japan Display and the group are planning to build an OLED panel plant in China using Japan Display’s technology to produce smartphone panels, which need a larger line that normally costs 200 billion yen (USD 1.8 billion) or more to launch, the sources told Reuters.

Japan Display’s technology uses a slightly different manufacturing method and equipment from Samsung to avoid infringing patents held by the industry leader.

Global smartwatch display shipments increased by 42 percent to reach 149 million units in 2018, driven by better synchronization functions with smartphones, according to IHS Markit.

BITCOIN JUMPS 20 PERCENT, MYSTERY ORDER SEEN AS CATALYST

The original cryptocurrency soared as much as 20 percent in Asian trading, breaking USD 5,000 for the first time since mid-November. Bitcoin soared to its highest in almost five months on Tuesday, pulling smaller cryptocurrencies up with it, after a major order by an anonymous buyer set off a frenzy of computer-driven trading, analysts said. The original cryptocurrency soared as much as 20 per cent in Asian trading, breaking USD 5,000 for the first time since mid-November. By mid-afternoon, it had settled around USD 4,800, still up 16 per cent in its biggest one-day gain since April last year.

Today’s gain was probably triggered by an order worth about USD 100 million spread across US-based exchanges Coinbase and Kraken and Luxembourg’s Bitstamp, said Oliver von Landsberg-Sadie, chief executive of cryptocurrency firm BCB Group. Bitcoin surged to near USD 20,000 in late 2017, the peak of a bubble driven by retail investors. But last year prices collapsed by three-quarters, with trading dominated by smaller hedge funds and crypto-related firms.

“There has been a single order that has been algorithmically-managed across these three venues, of around 20,000 BTC,” he said.

“If you look at the volumes on each of those three exchanges – there were in-concert, synchronized, units of volume of around 7,000 BTC in an hour”.

Still, analysts could not point to any specific developments that could explain the mystery buyer’s big order. Cryptocurrency markets had until today seen a period of relative calm through the year, with bitcoin trading around USD 3,300 and USD 4,200. Big institutional investors have largely stayed on the sidelines. Concern over security breaches and regulatory uncertainty were cited as reasons for the lack of mainstream enthusiasm in digital coins. In a sign of bitcoin’s failure to gain an equal footing with conventional markets, Cboe Global Markets - which offered the first US bitcoin futures contracts in 2017 - said last month it would no longer offer bitcoin futures contracts. CME Group Inc continues to list its futures product, which launched soon after Cboe. Outsized price moves of the kind rarely seen in conventional markets are common in cryptocurrency markets, where liquidity is thin and prices opaque. Big orders tend to spark buying by algorithmic traders, said Charlie Hayter, founder of industry website CryptoCompare. As bitcoin surged, 6 million trades occurred in an hour, Hayter said - three to four times the usual amount, with orders concentrated on Asian-based exchanges. Bitcoin’s surge sent smaller cryptocurrencies, known as “altcoins,” trading higher. Ethereum’s ether and Ripple’s XRP, respectively the second- and third-largest coins, both jumped by more than 10 per cent. Price moves of smaller coins tend to be correlated to bitcoin, which still accounts for just over half of the value of the cryptocurrency market. "Usually bitcoin is the leader of the market and altcoins tend to follow, as far as direction and sentiment is concerned,” said Mati Greenspan, an analyst at eToro in Israel. “Today bitcoin is in the driving seat.”

Smart pajamas to help you sleep

Scientists have developed ‘smart’ pajamas embedded with self-powered sensors that provide unobtrusive and continuous monitoring of heartbeat, breathing and sleep posture – factors that play a role in how well a person slumbers. The garment called ‘Phyjama’ could give ordinary people, as well as clinicians, useful information to help improve sleep patterns, said researchers from the University of Massachusetts in the US.

“Our smart pajamas overcame numerous technical challenges,” said Trisha L. Andrew, who led the team.

“We had to inconspicuously integrate sensing elements and portable power sources into everyday garments, while maintaining the weight, feel, comfort, function and ruggedness of familiar clothes and fabrics,” Andrew said in a statement. Getting enough quality sleep can help protect people against stress, infections and multiple diseases, such as heart and kidney disease, high blood pressure and diabetes, researchers said. Studies have found that quality sleep also increases mental acuity and sharpens decision-making skills. Yet most people do not get enough sleep -- or the right kind, they said. Although some manufacturers of smart mattresses claim the products can sense movement and infer sleep posture, they do not provide detailed information to the sleeper and are not portable for travel. Commercially available electronic bands worn on the wrist give information about heart rate and monitor how much total sleep the wearer gets. However, there has not been anything that a typical consumer could use to monitor posture and respiratory and cardiac signals when slumbering. The key to the smart pajamas is a process called reactive vapour deposition, researchers said. “This method allows us to synthesise a polymer and simultaneously deposit it directly on the fabric in the vapour phase to form various electronic components and, ultimately, integrated sensors,” Andrew said.

“Unlike most electronic wearables, the vapour-deposited electronic polymer films are wash-and-wear stable, and they withstand mechanically demanding textile manufacturing routines,” she said. The Phyjama has five discrete textile patches with sensors in them. The patches are interconnected using silver-plated nylon threads shielded in cotton. The wires from each patch end up at a button-sized printed circuit board placed at the same location as a pajama button.

BlackBerry forecasts higher revenue as bets on new tech pays off

BlackBerry Ltd beat estimates for quarterly profit and forecast fiscal 2020 revenue above analysts’ expectations on Friday as its focus on fast-growing markets like autonomous cars and cybersecurity pays off, sending its shares up as much as 15 per cent on Friday.

The company forecast revenue growth of 23-27 per cent for the year, implying total revenue of between USD 1.13 billion and USD 1.16 billion. Analysts on average were expecting USD 1.09 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

BlackBerry, which dominated the smartphone market nearly a decade ago before losing out to Apple Inc’s iPhones and Android devices, has switched to selling software to corporations and government agencies under Chief Executive Officer John Chen. 

“This was the first time in many years ... that (we) overcame the quarter-to-quarter decline in handset revenue and services fee,” Chen said on a call with analysts, indicating the transformation was now complete.

Revenue from BlackBerry’s technology and solutions segment rose nearly 20 per cent in the quarter, supported by the company’s focus on QNX, a software used by carmakers to provide infotainment and other services to customers. QNX is used in more than 120 million cars worldwide.

“We are winning the lion’s share of the deals” in the market for embedded software in auto, Chen told Reuters.

BlackBerry had 14 design wins in automotive in the fourth quarter, of which only three were for infotainment. The rest included non-infotainment applications such as software used in autonomous vehicles.

“It’s good to see them getting design wins away from infotainment ... seeing those design wins in autonomous driving is a good indicator for them,” CIBC Capital Markets analyst Todd Coupland said.

The company’s fourth quarter also benefited from a 71 per cent rise in revenue from its patent licensing division.

BlackBerry currently has over 100 patents in the application, with more from Cylance, a cybersecurity company it bought for USD 1.4 billion in February.

Licensing and intellectual property revenue was USD 99 million in the quarter.

The Waterloo, Ontario-based company’s net profit was USD 51 million, or 8 cents per share, in the quarter ended Feb. 28, compared with a loss of USD 10 million, or 6 cents per share, a year ago.

Excluding one-time items, the company earned 11 cents per share, beating the average analyst estimate of 6 cents, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

Revenue rose 9 percent to USD 255 million.

BlackBerry’s shares were up 13 per cent at CUSD 13.47 in midday trading after touching a high of CUSD 13.71.