Author: user

While you’re wrapping presents or spending time with friends and family at Christmas, hackers are busy looking for ways to steal your data. Reuters reported that several companies have seen Chrome browser extensions hijacked by cybercriminals in recent times, such as data protection company Cyberhaven on December 24.

“On December 24, a phishing attack compromised Cyberhaven employees’ credentials to the Google Chrome Web Store,” Cyberhaven CEO Howard Ting said on the company’s blog. “The attacker used these credentials to publish a version of our Chrome extension (version 24.10.4). Our security team detected this compromise at 11:54 PM UTC on December 25th and removed the malicious package within 60 minutes.

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Our team has confirmed a malicious cyber attack that occurred during Christmas, affecting the Cyberhaven Chrome extension. Here’s a post about the incident and the steps taken: https://t.co/VTBC73eWda

Our security team is available 24/7 to assist affected customers and…

— Cyberhaven (@CyberhavenInc) December 27, 2024

Ting said only Chrome-based browsers that automatically updated when the malicious code was active from 1:32 AM UTC on December 25 to 2:50 AM UTC on December 26 were affected. All users affected by the hack were notified by Cyberhaven on December 26, and the team has since released a secure version of the extension.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident for Chrome extensions.

Nudge Security co-founder Jaime Blasco tells us Reuters that hackers have hijacked other browser extensions, showing this is part of a larger attack. In X, Blasco pointed to several other extensions with malicious code found in the Chrome Web Store:

• Internxt VPN – Free, Encrypted & Unlimited VPN (10,000 users)
• VPNCity – Fast & Unlimited VPN | Unblocker (50,000 users)
• Uvoice (40,000 users)
• ParrotTalks (40,000 users)

Even that is just the tip of the iceberg. In a lengthy blog post that is still regularly updated, cybersecurity practitioner John Tuckner found more extensions containing known malicious code (via Computer Bleeps): Bookmark Favicon Changer, Castorus, Wayin AI, Search Copilot AI Assistant, VidHelper, Vidnoz Flex, TinaMind, Primus, AI Shop Buddy, Sort by Oldest, Earny, ChatGPT Assistant, Keyboard History Recorder, and Email Hunter.

If you use one of these extensions, you should check to see if they have been updated recently and if the developer is aware of this attack. Either way, you might want to reset all of your passwords if you think there’s a chance you’ve been compromised.

Here’s an idea for my friends in the media business who run news properties with reduced readership: You can always take a page from Meta, and just… increase your customer base with AI-generated users. I’m kidding, like, but that’s actually what Facebook and Instagram are going to do – specifically, they’re reportedly launching AI-generated accounts that will share content and interact with real human users, even if the accounts are bots. as real as the Easter Bunny.

To be honest, it confuses me whether this is a real idea, dreamed up by a human being, but it really is in the Meta life cycle. Bots will be the new influencers on Facebook and Instagram. “We expect this AI to actually, over time, be on our platform, in the same way as accounts,” said Connor Hayes, Meta’s vice president of product for generative AI, in an interview with Financial Times. “They’ll have bios and profile pictures and be able to generate and share AI-powered content on the platform . . . that’s where we see all of this going.

Like every major tech company these days, parent Facebook is getting involved with AI – and to be honest, it’s launching or teasing some interesting offerings down the line that range from text bots like ChatGPT and a variety of video creation and photo editing. gear. That said, I can’t help but feel incredibly cynical about all these fake user ideas. Seriously, how about calling investors with analysts during a monthly earnings presentation, if this idea takes off? “It was another great quarter, with user engagement through the roof – and next quarter, we expect to add even more users.”

already- right now! – I see so much AI-generated slop on Instagram and Facebook that is another factor dampening the experience for me. It took me two seconds to come up with the various drawbacks to this idea of ​​AI-created user accounts, from the account causing misinformation to the AI ​​spreading propaganda, fake news, fraud, or even just nonsense that makes people want users. Facebook and Instagram are lacking.

To that last point, the only way I can use Facebook now without wanting to tear my hair out is to immediately ignore the main News Feed, which is overflowing with recommended posts that I don’t care about, and go to the “Feed” tab to check on the page that I have liked and people I connected. Imagine, users who (wait for it!) only want to follow things they like. I can hear the condescending laughter of Meta executives here, all the way from the company’s executive suite in California.

I am a long time MacBook user, and I have never felt the need to buy a Magic Mouse from Apple. It has nothing to do with the Lightning (now USB-C) port on the bottom. And, by the way, yes, it’s an annoying design decision, but the outrage is blown out of proportion here.

I really like the trackpad and use it in a way that I never did on my Windows PC before I moved from Windows. The only time I get a mouse is when I try to play a game on my Mac. Magic Mouse is not an option.

I know many people, especially professionals, work with certain workflows that require more precision than a trackpad can offer. Mouse Magic for buyers. They might be excited to get the next-generation Magic Mouse, which should be released in 2026 and feature a novel design and revamped charging port.

The strange thing about the Magic Mouse is that there are rumors that the wireless gadget will have support for voice commands. Yes, we are approaching the era of AI-first computing, where voice control and AI agents will help you manage your computer like never before. When Magic Mouse launches, Apple Intelligence may get more agent-like features, matching ChatGPT and Gemini.

But why would people talk to a mouse instead of a nearby computer or mobile device?

Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman mentions voice control for the upcoming Magic Mouse in X, reiterating past coverage of unreleased products.

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The voice control on the new Magic Mouse I wrote about this month is a perfect match for AI — and the fact that Apple is in a decade-plus cycle. From what I’ve heard, the big focus is on ergonomics and movement (as well as USB-C being moved). I’m also looking forward to the new keyboard. https://t.co/FtUcR2Yqdj

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) December 30, 2024

He said that Apple’s main focus is on ergonomics and movement. Voice control will have something to do with AI.

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As @ChanceHMiller point out, the rumor making the rounds today is simply an incorrect back-and-forth translation of this line from my initial report: “In today’s computing world filled with touch screens, voice commands and hand gestures…”

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) December 30, 2024

Gurman responded to the rumor from a well-known Apple leak source from Korea. eyes1122 posted an update on it Navermentions the Magic Mouse redesign with a clear reference to Gurman’s previous coverage. There, the voice command feature for the next generation Magic Mouse reappears.

Again, I can’t imagine why I would want to give voice commands to a mouse or in what scenario the feature would work.

I saw telling the AI ​​to select an area on the screen, a collection of documents or files, and move it to a specific task. This will include mouse pointer movement. But this is a feature that will eventually work thanks to macOS’s built-in AI agents or third-party AI tools from OpenAI and Google. It doesn’t matter if you’re operating a Magic Mouse, a third-party mouse, or the MacBook’s built-in trackpad.

If Apple plans to launch an updated Magic Mouse in 2026, we will learn more about it next year. If real, the voice control feature should see more leaks.

Rumors about the next-generation iPhone SE have been spreading like wildfire for months, but according to a new leak, the rumors are missing a key detail. On Tuesday, leaker Majin Bu said on X that Apple will eliminate the SE brand next year, potentially good, and will call the next budget model the iPhone 16E.

Aside from the name, the leaked report is consistent with what we’ve been hearing for the past few months. They claim that the design of the iPhone 16E will be similar to the iPhone 14, complete with an OLED display. He also noted that the new budget model will use the Action button introduced in the iPhone 16 and will be available in black and white.

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Based on what my sources have told me, it seems that the new iPhone that Apple will launch in 2025 will not be called the iPhone SE4, but the iPhone 16E. It should feature the same design as the iPhone 14, with an OLED display and action buttons. Available colors will be white and… pic.twitter.com/Vm8DCh1Xo0

— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) December 31, 2024

After the iPhone SE 3 is launched in 2022, some reports suggest that the lower-priced model is not selling as well as Apple had hoped. Three years later, the company could try to increase interest by not only updating the design to match the flagship phone but also repositioning it as a more affordable member of the iPhone 16 lineup.

This actually aligns with other recent leaks about the new phone’s price.

According to the prolific blog yeux1122, the 4th generation iPhone SE (or iPhone 16E) will cost less than $500. It’s worth noting that the iPhone SE 3 will cost $429 when it arrives in 2022, so there’s a good chance Apple will charge more for its successor. Changing the name may help offset the slight price increase.

Apple has not made the new budget iPhone official, but some sources suggest that Apple will announce the iPhone 16E in March 2025.

The long-delayed and missing iOS 18 Apple Intelligence feature is Apple’s current focus when it comes to iPhone software, with the next AI addition coming via iOS 18.4 this spring. It’s not surprising, as Apple has been teasing this release schedule.

Even more surprising is the side effect of the development of Apple Intelligence mentioned in a more recent report. Insiders say that iOS 19 will see feature release delays similar to what Apple did with iOS 18.

For example, a Siri LLM chatbot like Apple’s ChatGPT may be announced at WWDC 2019 next summer, but the announcement will not be released until spring 2026. This is because Apple software engineers are still working on other Apple Intelligence features that are not yet ready. .

As a result, some iOS 19 features may be delayed, although reports do not give any indication. But what I am sure of is that Apple will also build non-AI functions for iOS 19 to improve the usability of the platform and provide new features for millions of iPhone users with devices that do not support Apple Intelligence.

While we wait for a more useful leak of iOS 19, we already have a concept video from a designer who imagines the type of features that Apple can bring to the iPhone in 2025. As always with concept videos, I will note that it does not show confirmed or existing products.

But I like both tricks of the designer Oofus made for iOS 19 video that: A better way to share images via AirDrop, and Apple Intelligence support for iPhone images.

The video is just 77 seconds long, mimicking the kind of iOS presentation that Apple might prepare for a new software release. The concept covers a variety of ideas that are relevant to the evolution of iOS, especially in terms of customization.

Apple has added some new ways for iPhone users to customize the UI in iOS 18, similar to what Android has offered for years. It’s easy to assume Apple will expand the customization options it offers iPhone users.

Designers envisioned a way to add stickers to the Lock Screen, a trick that some iPhone users may appreciate. In addition, the concept envisions support in iMessage for custom backgrounds, which other chat applications offer. Interestingly, these customization options will change the typical blue message for iMessage to any color option. I’m not sure Apple will lose that button design element.

Oofus then it presents iOS 19 features that will be more useful than the above UI customization options. The designer envisioned a gesture called Flick, which allows you to flick images from one iPhone to another via AirDrop. Flick looks like the NameDrop contact sharing feature that Apple has added to iOS.

As someone who shares a lot of content via AirDrop between Apple devices, I’d love to see Flick-like gestures in iOS 19. Just select a file or group of files and flick it to the other device. A confirmation screen will still be required to avoid accidentally sharing it with others.

Finally, the concept video shows Apple could add Apple Intelligence support to the image. I also often take pictures of things I find online on my iPhone, and organizing or even remembering them can be a chore. That’s where AI can help. Apple Intelligence can store information and open it when I need it.

Microsoft developed it with that in mind, the well-known Recall feature. Google created a new Screenshot app for Pixel phones that takes a different and more useful approach.

The concept video imagines Apple Intelligence being able to extract information from images, like QR codes, without using deeper functions.

That said, I’m definitely glad Apple developed iOS 19 features similar to what the designers envisioned, especially the Flick trick and smarter images.

We are a few weeks away from the official launch of the Galaxy S25. Samsung is likely to announce its Unpacked event on January 22 in the coming days.

However, like its predecessor, the Galaxy S25 is no longer a secret. We already know many details about the upcoming flagship phone, including design options and specs. We also know about bad news. Samsung may increase the price of the Galaxy S25 compared to the S24 series.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra may be particularly affected. The shrinking of wins affects prices, as does Samsung’s deal with Qualcomm to supply its Snapdragon 8 Elite flagship chip. The processor will be more expensive than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in Samsung’s flagship this year.

Any price increase will likely be offset by preorder deals that Samsung and its carrier partners will launch after the Unpacked event. But there are new leaks that suggest another deal that will make the price hike bearable. All Galaxy S25 phones will reportedly get free access to Gemini Advanced, Google’s premium AI subscription.

Found by Android Authority (by CNET), the Galaxy S25 AI offer information comes from the latest Google app beta (v15.52.37).

According to the app teardown, Samsung partnered with Google to offer Galaxy S25 buyers free access to Gemini, depending on the variant of the smartphone purchased.

The Galaxy S25 can get three months of Gemini Advanced for free, the Galaxy S25 Plus for six months, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra a full year of Google’s premium AI.

Gemini Advanced costs $20/month and comes with premium Google Cloud access. If the deal is valid, users will save between $60 and $240 on the Gemini AI, depending on the phone purchased.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra will offer the best savings, which makes sense. These are the three models most likely to get a price increase in a given market.

Considering the partnership between Samsung and Google, which will only grow with the introduction of Project Moohan, Samsung’s smart glasses, and the Android XR platform, the offer makes a lot of sense. All these devices will have Gemini at their core.

Additionally, Google is offering Pixel 9 buyers the same Gemini Advanced deal.

Note that Samsung sells the phone as an AI device. The Galaxy AI is likely to get some significant upgrades. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip not only makes the phone faster and improves battery life; it will also support more AI processing on devices. Free Gemini AI access will be another benefit.

Galaxy S25 buyers who don’t care about AI or who don’t want Gemini Advanced might want to consider this offer. But, again, remember that Gemini Advanced comes with Google’s highest level of cloud storage. You get 2TB of Google One storage for free during the promo, even if you don’t use Gemini Advanced AI capabilities.

Apple’s Vision Pro is easily one of the most exciting products of 2024, and it’s been a long time coming. Apple’s limited launch and delayed release in Europe finally made me reconsider. I’m still testing the device when it’s finally available in the EU, and while the Apple Store demo blew my mind, I’m still not ready to make a purchase.

The biggest limitation is the Apple Account limitation. Add in the starting price of $3,499, and the Vision Pro doesn’t look that appealing.

I still think the spatial computing experience that Apple has created is a key building block of the AI ​​computing experience to come. Apple still needs to add Apple Intelligence to Vision Pro, but that will happen soon.

Meanwhile, with 2024 just around the corner, Apple may stop producing new Vision Pro units. The spatial computer is still in stock, but with production discontinued or about to be discontinued, the Vision Pro may sell out in some regions in the next few months.

Apple could not confirm that the Vision Pro manufacturing line is closed. But MacRumors considering recent reports from Information that said Apple has reduced production abruptly back in October. The company is said to be planning to stop making the first generation device by the end of 2024.

Apple reportedly began cutting production during the summer, but not before making sure it would have enough stock until the end of 2025. The report also said some suppliers may stop making new components sooner, until May 2023.

Parts suppliers may have supplied Apple with enough components to produce between 500,000 and 600,000 Vision Pro units. As for last fall’s production capacity, Luxshare is believed to have assembled around 1,000 Vision Pro headsets per day in October, half of the company’s peak level.

Assembly lines will not be dismantled immediately, Apple is reportedly ready to restart production if sales pick up. I don’t see how that can happen, though. Apple made improvements to visionOS that make spatial computing more interesting. Apple Intelligence should also come soon, but I can’t see how the demand for Vision Pro can increase at this time.

After all, Apple is also reportedly working on a cheaper Vision Pro variant. It is unclear when the device will be launched or whether it will precede the next flagship model. The Vision Pro 2 refresh featuring updated hardware could launch in spring 2026.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Vision Pro 2 uses some of Apple’s already available parts inventory. The company could also use its existing production line for the new device as much of the hardware should be the same as the first generation model.

Regardless of Apple’s plans for new hardware, the company still needs to understand why spatial computing should be a must-have device for end users. If that happens, and the price goes down, the Vision Pro demand can be met.

We’re a few months away from the launch of Apple’s next flagship iPhone, the iPhone SE 4, which should launch in early spring. I have been looking forward to the new model since it became clear that Apple really will replace the old tired iPhone SE 3 with a more modern version. With that, we see many rumors from separate reliable sources that mention the arrival of the iPhone in the middle distance.

Like I said, the iPhone SE 4’s design, specs, and starting price make the handset an incredible value. Then, a new rumor made me realize that the only thing missing from the package was the name. Apple is reportedly going to use the new iPhone 16E name for the iPhone SE 4, and I think it’s a smart move that could make the device more appealing to some people.

When it was first launched, the first iPhone SE model sold better than its mid-range Android rivals. They have the latest Apple chips and features but are packed in an older design. However, the iPhone SE 3 is no longer a good value in 2025. It has a small screen and hardware that cannot support Apple Intelligence.

All rumors point to Apple using the same strategy for the iPhone 16E. The phone will feature the old iPhone design. It won’t be the iPhone 8 chassis that the iPhone SE 3 uses, but the newer iPhone 14 form factor. That means the iPhone 16E will get an all-screen display with a Face ID notch at the top.

Real updates on phone components. The iPhone 16E should pack the same A18 chip as the base iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, paired with 8GB of RAM. It’s a massive upgrade over the iPhone SE 3, ensuring the iPhone 16E can open the Apple Intelligence feature in iOS 18. The phone is also likely to support the new Apple AI feature in iOS 19 and other future releases.

Apple’s requirement to provide Apple Intelligence support for all products is what ensures the iPhone 16E will have access to Apple’s latest chips and memory. This upgrade also makes the iPhone 16E more attractive than the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models that Apple still sells. Neither can run Apple Intelligence, and it will cost more than the rumored $499 iPhone 16E.

With all this, the iPhone 16E will be served with a name like “iPhone SE.” So much more capable and powerful than the previous SE model.

Also, a name like iPhone 16E tells buyers that this device is part of the same iPhone 16 generation. It will have a single-lens camera on the back instead of two on the non-Pro model and won’t have the Dynamic Island notch, but it will have the same high-end specs as the regular iPhone 16.

Long-time iPhone users like myself already know why the iPhone SE 4 is so appealing. But buyers who aren’t always on top of the latest iPhone developments won’t be. Calling the iPhone 16E fixes that problem. The name will refer to the new phone instead of some SE versions from the past.

Nothing is confirmed, but the iPhone 16E moniker makes me understand. Besides, the more I think about it, the iPhone SE name should be retired for good. However, Apple may add iPhone E variants to its lineup every few years moving forward.

The iPhone 17 isn’t out yet, but we already have early rumors about the next generation of iPhones. The iPhone 18 series may have a foldable device next year, and the iPhone 19 may bring a big design change, Apple’s first zero-bezel screen.

It’s not just the big changes that have started to leak, as some reports also mention the main components of the iPhone that most people wouldn’t consider. The iPhone’s camera module is one such feature, and Apple is said to be making a significant upgrade with the iPhone 18 series.

Apparently, Apple will replace the Sony sensor with one made by Samsung. The Korean giant has a well-documented love-hate relationship with Apple. On the one hand, Samsung has never been able to surpass the iPhone, which is the fiercest competitor in the mobile business. On the other hand, other divisions of Samsung supply key components to Apple without which the iPhone would not be possible.

The move from Sony isn’t necessarily surprising, as it has been shown in several reports this past summer. Ming-Chi Kuo said in mid-July that the iPhone 18 series will get a new 48-megapixel sensor made by Samsung.

The insider did not provide additional details about the supposed deal on the iPhone 18’s ultra-wide camera:

Samsung is expected to start sending 1/2.6-inch 48MP ultra-wide CMOS image sensor (CIS) to Apple for iPhones as early as 2026, breaking Sony’s years of monopoly to provide CIS to Apple. For this purpose, Samsung has created a special team to serve Apple.

Now we get an idea of ​​what Samsung can do for Apple thanks to an update from a reliable leaker Jukanlosreve in X:

Exclusive: Samsung is now developing a “3-layer stacked” image sensor in a PD-TR-Logic configuration for Apple.

This sensor is more advanced than Sony’s existing Exmor RS, and I believe it cannot be rejected as a potential candidate for the main sensor.

Samsung is working on a 3-layer stack image sensor for Apple while developing a 500MP sensor for its own Galaxy devices.

The “3-layer stacked” image sensor features a pixel array (PD), a logic layer, and a temporary storage (TR) chip. The latter is a new one, compared to the sensors that only have two.

Then again, the technology isn’t that new, as Samsung introduced its 3-stack Isocell camera sensor in early 2018. At the time, Samsung focused on slow motion with its 3-layer stack image sensor. That takes better slow motion video. The TR layer will allow the sensor to handle high-speed data, the type suitable for such shooting modes.

Sony has its own 3 layer stack sensor. It’s unclear why Apple would switch to Samsung or for what purpose. Smooth slow-motion video doesn’t work, of course.

Separately, another big camera upgrade is coming to the iPhone 18 series. According to an early November report from Kuo, the iPhone 18 Pro model will feature a camera with a variable aperture. Analysts did not mention Samsung’s camera sensor in the same report.

But if both claims are true, the iPhone 18 series may have a wide-angle camera with a Samsung-made sensor and a variable aperture lens.

iPhone 16 or 16 Plus owners may not like the iPhone 17 rumors that claim the base iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air models will support 120Hz refresh rate (ProMotion).

This is one of the features that many people want from Apple’s cheaper iPhones, which they have been waiting for years. Some people buy iPhone Pro or Pro Max phones just for ProMotion.

They probably think Apple is keeping ProMotion exclusive to the more expensive models to get more bang for their buck. No one would blame them as many mid-range Android phone displays support a full 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate.

But the real reason Apple didn’t bring ProMotion to the non-Pro iPhone 16 model but plans to do it with the non-Pro version of the iPhone 17 isn’t just about selling Pros. It’s also something that not all iPhone buyers think about: Apple’s complex supply chain and the availability of a large supply of screens to suit their needs.

A new ETNews reports say that LG Display has increased its smartphone OLED production plan for 2025 to 70 million units by the end, from 55 million in 2023 and 70 million units this year.

LG will supply LTPO OLED panels to Apple, including the iPhone 17 model. The LTPO OLED makes the iPhone’s dynamic 120Hz refresh rate possible. This is the screen technology that Apple uses in the iPhone Pro models to ensure battery life is not affected.

The report says that only LG and Samsung Display can manufacture LTPO OLED panels according to Apple’s specifications for the iPhone. BOE’s LTPO OLED technology does not meet the standard, so the Chinese screen manufacturer was left out of the supply of the iPhone 17.

As a result, LG and Samsung will increase the supply of LTPO for iPhone 2025. That’s why LG decided to increase OLED production for that year.

There are other important details in the report. ETNews said that LG supplies OLED panels for the iPhone 16 series without production problems, so LG can increase production to meet Apple’s needs.

My guess is that Apple might want to move all iPhones to LTPO OLED technology that supports ProMotion before the iPhone 17 series. It just doesn’t have enough supply. Samsung, LG, and BOE are iPhone-only OLED panel makers. The latter could not match the quality of its Korean rivals, and LG continued to increase its output over the years.

Some people might say that Android vendors ship mid-range products with 120Hz panels. But the comparison is unfair. Apple sells more than 200 million iPhones each year, up to 40% of which are the latest generation models. Therefore, Apple needs more than 200 million LTPO OLED panels per year.

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will record tens of millions of smartphone units sold during their lifetime. Same with iPhone 17 and 17 Air. A flagship like the Galaxy S24 might sell around 30 million units a year, but that doesn’t match the number of basic iPhone models Apple sells each year.

A mid-range Android phone with a 120Hz panel may not match the year-to-year sales figures for non-Pro iPhones.

Finally, not all devices that support 120Hz displays get the best LTPO OLED panels. Remember that Apple iPhone screens are always praised for their quality. Apple uses a top-of-the-line expensive screen that is not available to all smartphone vendors.

Apple’s supply ecosystem is vast. The company must ensure that the parts meet the standards and that the supplier can produce them in the required quantity. It also means reaching the cost point Apple needs to keep iPhone prices stable and maintain profit margins.

Of course the cheapest iPhone 16 model does not have ProMotion support and why the iPhone 17 will get a 120Hz screen.