Galaxy Note 7 is Still a Voluntary Recall in South Korea

The issues Samsung has been having with the Galaxy Note 7 is certainly not a secret here in the United States. We've watched as the company launched a voluntary recall program for the device. Then they tried to bring enough replacements into the country so they could restart sales. But only to find out that the new shipments of the Note 7 were also having the same issue as the first batch.

During this time the FAA has made it a federal crime to bring the smartphone onto a plane, and threatens a fine of up to $179,933 and up to ten years in prison too. The issue is so bad that Samsung has even come out and said they will not attempt to refurbish the returned units and will simply find a way to "dispose" of them in an environmentally=friendly way. It's clear to most people that the Galaxy Note 7 is not a safe smartphone and that makes this new information so shocking to hear.

A Korean Galaxy Note 7 customer from the /r/Android subreddit has shown that the Galaxy Note 7 recall in South Korea is entirely optional. The person says the average person in South Korea does not know about the issues that Samsung has been having with it all over the world. Then continues to say they're still seeing the smartphone in the hands of so many people while they're riding the bus.

They tell us that they were told by both Samsung as well as the wireless carrier KT Telecom that the Galaxy Note 7 they own is perfectly fine to keep. There is still a replacement program in effect within the country, and they also have a rental service for those who are waiting for the Note 7 to be replaced, but again, they stress that it is only in place for those who "want" it.

Source: /r/Android

from xda-developers http://ift.tt/2dA7VSV
via IFTTT

Google Pixel Uses the Hardware Crypto Engine of the Snapdragon 821

Encryption on our smartphones is more important today than it ever has been. With more government bodies trying to hack into people's personal computers, having the data that is being stored on our devices encrypted can give us the peace of mind that we deserve — at least some extra, anyway. Google has taken this seriously for a while now,  and has been requiring OEMs to enable encryption by default as long as the hardware meets a certain level of performance.

This lets customers who are spending $500+ on a smartphone know that their data is safe, while also letting handset makers continue to produce low-end and mid-range devices that are not crippled by performance issues. With Google's Nexus program, they've had encryption enabled by default for a while now.

We saw Google representatives talk about how the software solution used in the Huawei Nexus 6P was better than what Qualcomm was offering in the Snapdragon 810. So instead of offloading it to that chip, it was all handled with the CPU. This meant that there were some people who felt it was better for performance to disable forced encryption. Doing so did show an improvement when it came to benchmark numbers, but most couldn't tell the difference in real-world usage.

Now though, a Google engineer that helped to develop the Pixel and Pixel XL has shed some light on how things are working with Google's new smartphones. He says the crypto engine in the Snapdragon 820 and the Snapdragon 821 are so good, that they focused on getting it working with Android 7.0's new file-based encryption. They were able to do just that, so this means the encryption of the Pixel and Pixel XL will not use up significant CPU resources when implemented.

Source: @t_murray

from xda-developers http://ift.tt/2egVJaL
via IFTTT

Android SafetyNet Now Reportedly Tripped by Unlocked Bootloaders

It's Bad News Wednesday for developers and power users alike. A pleasant day was punctured by several reports coming in that a new update to Android's SafetyNet not only caused existing su hiding mechanisms to stop working (normal case scenario), but also started giving adverse results on devices which were not even rooted!

Initiating from Reddit's Nexus 6P forums, and then being echoed around at several places including the Reddit Android forums, our own Nexus 6P forums and threads for suhide and Magisk, users are finding that the latest update to SafetyNet is causing devices to fail checks if they have as an unlocked bootloader. Users have tried out different combinations of modification scenarios and masking methods, but the common factor for failure in most cases boils down to the bootloader being unlocked.

Unlocking the bootloader is the first step for unofficial modifications for most devices. If the latest SafetyNet update does indeed check for the bootloader status, this might mean the end of the days where one could run Android Pay and other SafetyNet based apps in conjunction with root and Xposed by employing masking techniques.

Magisk developer topjohnwu commented on the early situation, pointing that SafetyNet might be a lost cause after this update:

"Keep in mind, in the latest update of Safety Net that just happened in a few hours, Google seems to step up the game, and it might got to the point that no modifications are allowed, and might be impossible to bypass.

Currently on my HTC 10, no matter what I did to the boot image, even just a repack of 100% stock boot image, Safety Net will not pass under any circumstances. On the other hand, my Nexus 9 running stock Nougat seems bypass without issues, with root and modules all enabled and working fine. The boot verification might vary from one OEM to another, HTC's implementation might just be one of the first included into Safety Net, but eventually all major OEMs' method will be included, and at that time I think any Android "mod", including custom kernels, will pretty much break Safety Net. These verification should be coded deep into the bootloader, which is not that easy to crack. So the conclusion is that I will not spend that much time bypassing Safety Net in the future."

Back when suhide was released, Chainfire had predicted something along the same lines:

Ultimately, information will be provided and verified by bootloaders/TrustZone/SecureBoot/TIMA/TEE/TPM etc. (Samsung is already doing this with their KNOX/TIMA solutions). Parts of the device we cannot easily reach or patch, and thus there will come a time when these detection bypasses may no longer [be] viable.

Since the situation is still developing, things might be more complex than what they appear on the surface. We will keep our readers posted if there are new developments on the matter.

from xda-developers http://ift.tt/2eiamJu
via IFTTT

Qualcomm announces X16 and X50 modems for next generation Snapdragon 8xx devices and 5G Connectivity

At the Qualcomm 4G/5G Summit in Hong Kong, Qualcomm revealed some new processors, and their roadmap for their upcoming flagship modems, the X16 and X50, and the roadmap towards 5G connectivity.

X16 LTE Modem

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X16 Modem is Qualcomm's flagship modem for 2017. The X16 LTE Modem is the first modem capable of Gigabit download speeds, bringing Category 16 downlink, with 4×20 carrier aggregation, 256-QAM, 4×4 MIMO on two aggregated carriers, and up to 10 LTE data streams at 100 Mbps each. It will also be capable of Category 13 uplink allowing for peak upload speeds of 150 Mbps thanks to 2×20 carrier aggregation, 64-QAM, and up to 2 LTE data streams at 75 Mbps each. Additionally, the X16 Modem will support LTE Dual SIM Dual Active.

The first implementation of the X16 Modem will be in the NETGEAR Mobile Router MR1100, which was produced in partnership with Telstra, NETGEAR, and Ericsson, and will be available in the next few months. Qualcomm has announced that after that, the X16 Modem will appear in the next generation Snapdragon 8xx series chip, potentially named the Snapdragon 830.

X50 5G Modem

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X50 Modem is the first 5G modem announced, capable of 5 Gbps download on the 28 GHz mmWave spectrum, which is also referred to as "Extremely High Frequency" or "millimeter Wave", thanks to it using a frequency with wavelengths measured in millimeters. Due to the restrictions of 28 GHz signals, it will be heavily influenced by line of sight (although Qualcomm is working on solutions to those issues, using technology like adaptive beamforming and beam tracking), and will be used to complement the existing LTE network.  Qualcomm notes that mmWave is not synonymous with 5G, and rather is one potential technology that could fall under the 5G umbrella once standardization is finalized. Sampling will begin in the second half of 2017, with the first devices expected in the first half of 2018.

Qualcomm hopes that the speed increase brought about by 5G networks will allow for substantial changes in the ways we use the internet, making things like instant apps, high resolution streaming, offsite storage that feels as fast as local, and even VR streaming all potentially possible.

Are you excited for 5G networks? What do you hope to do with the increased speed? What new uses of the technology do you think we will see as internet speeds become faster?

from xda-developers http://ift.tt/2eiG7Bj
via IFTTT

Samsung Setting Up Galaxy Note 7 Exchange Booths at International Airports

With the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 being far from a done and dusted chapter in Samsung's year, the company is taking steps to try and salvage as much of its brand reputation and loyalty as it can possibly, keeping in mind the serious nature of the incident.

With the Note 7 production and sales being halted, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) had recently issued the inevitable second recall of the device which makes it illegal to sell the device. Further, the Federal Aviation Administration in the US had also banned the device from being carried onto an aircraft, making it a federal crime to carry the device on an aeroplane. Users who bring the Note 7 onto a plane are "subject to civil penalties of up to $179,933 for each violation for each day they are found to be in violation (49 U.S.C. 5123)," and could be prosecuted, which could "result in fines under title 18, imprisonment of up to ten years, or both (49 U.S.C. 5124)" [Source].

Seeing how this affects fliers in a very substantial manner, Samsung has set up Note 7 exchange booths in a few international airports. The move started off at Seoul Airport in South Korea, with the trade-in booths now being open at several airports across Australia. More such exchange booths and trade-in stands are scheduled to pop up at airports around the globe.

The help desks will help customers who have been unaware of the flying restrictions imposed on the device, or who are unable to fly with it to the place of purchase. Samsung employees at the booth will also assist in transferring data from the Note 7 onto the new exchange device (which we predict likely to be the S7 Edge), although the exact exchange device is unknown.

A last minute exchange of a primary communication device is usually not part of anyone's gameplan in starting off a flight. But in case you have no other choice but to walk in to an airport with a Note 7, at least now you can still fly.

How do you think the exchange booths will help in retaining consumer loyalty for Samsung? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image Credits: Allaboutphones.nl

from xda-developers http://ift.tt/2dkVVWD
via IFTTT

Honor 6X Launched in China with Dual Rear Camera and ¥999 ($150) Price Tag

Huawei's Honor sub-brand, best known for its mid range devices that offer great value at affordable prices, has announced the successor for its budget front-runner lineup.

The Honor 6X succeeds the Honor 5X, and just like the previous device, the aim is to provide a combination of specs that works at prices that people appreciate. The Honor 6X comes with a metallic back with what appear as plastic portions on the top and bottom for radio reception. There's a 5.5″ FHD display on the front with the "honor" branding on the bottom chin.

On the inside, the Honor 6X rocks an octa-core Kirin 655 based on a 16nm process, with 4x cores clocked at 2.1GHz and 4x cores at 1.7GHz. The Mali T830-MP2 handles the GPU department. There are three variants of the device based on memory (LPDDR3) and storage (eMMC 5.1): 3GB + 32GB, 4GB + 32GB and 4GB + 64GB. You can expand the storage up to another 128GB with the help of a microsd card as the Honor 6X does sport a hybrid dual SIM slot. The phone is powered by a 3,340 mAh battery (with fast charging support), and runs on EMUI 4.1 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

In the camera department, the primary rear camera is a 12MP sensor with PDAF. This is aided by another 2MP secondary rear camera which provides depth of field and background blur. There's also an 8MP front-facing camera.

While the specs may not seem stellar against flagships, the pricing of the device is what give the Honor 6X such an appealing option. The base 3GB + 32GB variant comes in at CNY 999 (~$148), the 4GB + 32GB variant comes at CNY 1299 (~$193) and the top 4GB + 64GB variant comes at CNY 1599 (~$237). The device is available for preorder in China right now, and will go on sale from October 25th onwards. Pricing and availability for regions outside of China is unknown as of now, but we can expect the Honor 6X to reach the regions where the Honor 5X was sold at least.

What are your thoughts on the Honor 6X? Would you consider purchasing the device if it is sold in your region? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: FoneArena

from xda-developers http://ift.tt/2eBSH25
via IFTTT

Unlocked Priv From AT&T to Now Receive Updates Directly From BlackBerry

BlackBerry has been very good with their software updates for the BlackBerry Priv since it was released at the end of last year. The company has even beat Google to the punch when it comes to certain security updates this year. Of course, these swift updates were only possible on units that were purchased directly from BlackBerry's own website. AT&T still delays their updates since the carrier chooses to modify the software that is sent to them from BlackBerry.

Still, this hasn't stopped customers from purchasing a factory unlocked BlackBerry Priv from AT&T so they could use it on a different network. However, it was revealed earlier this year that if you didn't have an active AT&T SIM card in the AT&T branded Priv, then you didn't receive any OTA updates at all. This happened with the Galaxy S7 this year as well, but at least you could use Samsung's Smart Switch software to manually download the update directly from Samsung.

Back in May, BlackBerry acknowledged this issue and confirmed they were working with AT&T to get it resolved as quickly as possible. The company didn't tell us when the issue would be resolved, but that changes this week. Today, the company has updated that specific Knowledge Base article and tells us they will be handling OTA updates for AT&T branded BlackBerry Privs that don't have an active AT&T SIM card in the device.

So if you're one of the people who picked up a BlackBerry Priv during one of AT&T's enticing sales, you should have an OTA update waiting for you right now. Not only will this get your Priv completely up to date with all of the security patches that you've missed out on, but BlackBerry will also be handling OTA updates for these unlocked devices in the future.

Source: CrackBerry

from xda-developers http://ift.tt/2epqEOt
via IFTTT