Over the last several months, we’ve seen a ton of leaks about the upcoming Galaxy S21 FE. The leaks have given us a good look at the affordable flagship’s design and an overview of its specifications. We’ve also learned that Samsung might unveil the device alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Flip 3, and the Galaxy Watch 4 series in August. However, recent reports suggest that Samsung might not launch the Fan Edition device in August due to supply constraints.
According to South Korean publications Financial News and Maekyeong, Samsung initially planned to launch the Galaxy S21 FE in August this year. However, due to the global semiconductor shortage, the company has pushed the launch to the fourth quarter. The reports further reveal that Samsung may also switch the Snapdragon 888 on the phone with an Exynos chip because Qualcomm is facing production setbacks.
Early last month reports alleged that Samsung had shelved the hotly anticipated affordable flagship altogether. But the company later released a statement claiming that it hadn’t decided to suspend production of the Galaxy S21 FE. It now seems like the company will go ahead with the launch, albeit a bit later in the year. Currently, it’s believed that the device will hit the market sometime in October, but we have no official word from Samsung yet.
While the reports don’t specify the Exynos SoC Samsung will use on the Galaxy S21 FE, we believe it could be the Exynos 2100. The reports further add that Samsung might end up launching the phone in the US and Europe only, with a limited number of units on offer.
At the moment, we have no further details about Samsung’s plans regarding the Galaxy S21 FE. We’ll make sure to let you know as soon as we learn more.
Featured image: Leaked render of the Galaxy S21 FE
When Samsung launched the Galaxy S20 FE last year, it said the new Fan Edition lineup was a tribute to Galaxy fans that set “a new standard of making uncompromising flagship innovations accessible to as many people as possible.” During the launch event, the company also promised it would launch “Fan Editions of our flagship devices in the years to come.”
So when Samsung reached out to send over a review unit of the new Galaxy Tab S7 FE, I expected to receive an affordable version of the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus with perhaps a few missing features. However, the device I’ve been using for the last ten days is anything but that.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE only has a total of three features in common with the flagship Galaxy Tab S7+ — the display size, battery capacity, and One UI — and in my opinion, it doesn’t deserve the FE moniker. Samsung should have just called it the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite (as previous leaks and rumors suggested) because the “FE” tag will only mislead fans.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE: Specifications
Specification
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE
Dimensions & Weight
185.0 x 284.8 x 6.3mm
608g
Display
12.4-inch FHD+ TFT LCD
2560 x 1600 (244 PPI)
16:10 aspect ratio
60Hz refresh rate
SoC
Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G
Adreno 619
RAM & Storage
4GB + 64GB
6GB + 128GB
microSD card slot (up to 1TB)
Battery & Charging
10,090mAh
45W fast charging support
15W charger included
Security
Face unlock
Rear Camera
8MP, AF
Video: 1080p @30fps
Front Camera
5MP
Video: 1080p @30fps
Port(s)
USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C
Audio
Dual speakers tuned by AKG
Dolby Atmos support
Connectivity
4G LTE
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 5.0
GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
Software
One UI 3.1 based on Android 11
Other Features
S Pen (not active, <30ms latency)
Samsung DeX support
6-month Clip Studio Paint subscription
30-day Canva Pro trial
Noteshelf
About this review: I received the 6GB/128GB version of the Galaxy Tab S7 FE (LTE) from Samsung India for this review. Samsung had no inputs in any part of this review.
Design & Display
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE looks quite like the flagship Galaxy Tab S7+. It has a similar metal chassis with square edges, a tiny pill-shaped camera module in the top right corner on the back, antenna lines on the left and right edges, and Samsung branding in the top left corner. The only obvious difference between the two is that the Galaxy Tab S7 FE doesn’t feature a glass strip next to the camera module. That’s because the flagship model came with an active S Pen that charged wirelessly when placed on the glass strip. Since the Galaxy Tab S7 FE’s S Pen is just a glorified stylus, Samsung has removed the glass strip from the tablet.
Over on the front, the tablet features a 12.4-inch TFT LCD (2560 x 1600) that has a 16:10 aspect ratio, 60Hz refresh rate, and minimal bezels on all sides. While the display is great for content consumption and gets bright enough for outdoor use, it’s a bit underwhelming for the asking price. I expected to see a 60Hz AMOLED panel or a high refresh rate LCD at this price point, but that’s sadly not the case.
The power button, volume rocker, and SIM tray on the Galaxy Tab S7 FE all reside on the top edge, while the USB Type-C port can be found on the right edge. The tablet features a dual speaker setup tuned by AKG, another downgrade from the flagship models. It features the same proprietary keyboard connector at the bottom edge, which is compatible with the keyboard accessories designed for the Galaxy Tab S7+. The tablet features a front-facing camera, which resides in the center of the top bezel.
Overall, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE feels just as premium as the flagship Galaxy Tab S7+. But it lacks a few crucial features you would expect to see on a tablet that costs over ₹45,000 (~$600), such as a fingerprint scanner. Yeah, you read that right. The Galaxy Tab S7 FE doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner. Software-enabled Face Unlock is the only mode of biometric authentication on the tablet — and we all know how secure that is.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE: Performance & Battery Life
While the Fan Edition label might lead you to believe the Galaxy Tab S7 FE packs a flagship SoC, it doesn’t. The tablet features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 750G, which is a mid-range chipset found on affordable devices like the OnePlus Nord CE. The SoC is paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage on the base model, while the higher-end variant gets 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Since I recently reviewed the OnePlus Nord CE, which also packs the same SoC, I was expecting the tablet to perform just as well, if not better. But it didn’t.
Performance-wise, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE is just good enough for light workloads and media consumption. So if you’re planning on getting some serious work done or play demanding games on the tablet, then you should probably look elsewhere. While using the tablet over the last two weeks, I noticed a couple of issues with the Galaxy Tab S7 FE that may turn buyers away. The tablet stuttered quite often when I had more than a couple of Chrome tabs open for work, it froze while playing demanding games like COD: Mobile at medium to high graphics settings, and it took far too long to switch to DeX mode.
While playing videos on YouTube, the tablet worked fine as long as I stuck to the auto or 1080p video quality preset. But the video stuttered as I switched to a higher quality preset. It’s also worth noting that the tablet’s speakers, while pretty decent for the most part, crackled at high volume in some situations. Here’s a sample:
I’m not sure if the issue is limited to my review unit or not.
If you care about synthetic benchmarks, here’s a quick look at the results posted by the Galaxy Tab S7 FE:
In Geekbench 5, the tablet got a single-core score of 650 and a multi-core score of 1,882. In 3DMark’s Sling Shot Extreme OpenGL test, it got an overall score of 2,320, and it scored 33.3 in Browserbench’s Speedometer 2.0 web benchmark. In Androbench, the tablet delivered sequential read speeds of 899.63MB/s and sequential write speeds of 487.62MB/s.
I have no complaints about the Galaxy Tab S7 FE’s battery life. It performed reasonably well, with a four hour Netflix binge session at full brightness consuming around 50 percent of the battery. While doing only browser-based tasks, the tablet lasted just about two days on a single charge.
While the tablet’s battery performance was decent, its charging speeds were atrocious. That’s because it ships with a 15W charger in the box, even though it supports 45W fast charging. The charger took well over three hours to charge the 10,090mAh battery on the tablet from 0-100%, which is rather unacceptable. I’m disappointed that Samsung still doesn’t ship a faster charger with its tablets, but that was to be expected as the company ships the same 15W brick with its flagship Galaxy Tab S7.
S Pen & Keyboard Folio
As mentioned earlier, the S Pen that comes with the Galaxy Tab S7 FE isn’t the same as the one you get with the flagship models. It’s just a glorified stylus that doesn’t support any of the premium features you get with the active S Pen. In addition to that, it doesn’t offer the same 9ms ultra-low latency as the active S Pen you get with the Galaxy Note 20 or Galaxy Tab S7 series. Instead, it promises <30ms latency, which isn’t all that great for writing or drawing.
The keyboard folio case for the Galaxy Tab S7 FE is also a downgrade. While it’s similar to the keyboard folio for the Galaxy Tab S7 in terms of design and build quality, it doesn’t feature a trackpad. This makes working on the tab a bit annoying, as you have to use the touch screen for all the tasks you would otherwise perform with a mouse or trackpad.
Conclusion
I don’t see which “uncompromising flagship innovations” the Galaxy Tab S7 FE makes more accessible for buyers. It’s just a mid-range tablet with a large screen and a large battery, and it fails to justify the Fan Edition moniker. In my opinion, Samsung should’ve offered the Galaxy Tab S7 FE with an older flagship chip. That would’ve addressed the performance issues while keeping the cost low.
Speaking of which, the Galaxy Tab S7 FE’s price tag also makes it hard to recommend. You can get a regular iPad or the iPad Air for a similar price. Both of those options undoubtedly offer better performance and they’re significantly better tablets overall. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is also a much better purchase, and it’s often available at attractive discounts that bring its price down to the same level.
I honestly expected Samsung to offer users better value with its Fan Edition devices. I hope upcoming Fan Edition phones or tablets aren’t as disappointing as the Galaxy Tab S7 FE.
Twitch now lets you join watch parties from an Android or iOS device starting today. Watch Parties launched late last year and lets streamers host viewing parties for movies and TV shows that are available on Amazon Prime, but until today, they could only be joined from a desktop.
Watch Parties are now rolling out on an Android or iOS device near you.
It’s important to keep in mind that Twitch streamers and viewers who want to watch along will need to have an Amazon Prime subscription in order to join the party. However, you don’t need to be a Twitch affiliate or partner to start a watch party. When joining a watch party for the first time, you’ll be asked to authorize the device you’re on for Prime Video playback.
Virtual watch parties have become quite popular thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic pushing people to find socially distant ways to watch their favorite movies and TV shows with their friends. Twitch has taken quite a while to get watch parties working on mobile, though its parent, Amazon, has yet to roll out watch parties support in the Prime Video app for mobile users.
Watch parties in Twitch is an awesome feature and one that a lot of people will end up using at some point. They’ve already become quite popular on Twitch, with many variety streamers taking to hosting them with their fans live on stream. There’s even a dedicated section for watch parties so that you can pick any random streamer to join and watch with if you’re feeling bored.
Back in October, Google released an update to the Google Photos app for iOS that added a homescreen widget. This widget cycles through the “Memories” albums that Photos automatically generates. On Android, Memories are visible at the top of the “Photos” tab, but Google is preparing to let users see them on the Android homescreen through a widget — just like on iOS.
An APK teardown can often predict features that may arrive in a future update of an application, but it is possible that any of the features we mention here may not make it in a future release. This is because these features are currently unimplemented in the live build and may be pulled at any time by the developers in a future build.
Version 5.49 of the Google Photos app is rolling out on Android, and a quick look through the APK reveals that a widget is being prepared. New strings reference a “Google Photos widget” that lets you “rediscover moments from Google Photos.”
<string name="photos_widget_account_not_found">Account not found</string>
<string name="photos_widget_description">Rediscover moments from Google Photos</string>
<string name="photos_widget_label">Your memories</string>
<string name="photos_widget_loading">Loading…</string>
<string name="photos_widget_no_logged_in_account">Please add your Google Account before setting up the Google Photos widget</string>
<string name="photos_widget_one_year_ago_title">1 year ago</string>
<string name="photos_widget_select_an_account">Select an account</string>
<string name="photos_widget_this_week_subtitle">This week</string>
While the strings and widget preview image suggest the Memories album will only show photos from this week last year, it’s possible that the widget will behave the same way as it does on iOS. That is, you’ll be able to add a widget that cycles through all of your auto-generated Memories albums.
Although the requisite receiver and activities are listed in the app’s Manifest, I’m unable to actually add the widget to the homescreen as it seems to be dynamically disabled. Perhaps Google will enable the feature through a future update or by toggling a server-side flag. Once the widget becomes available in the Google Photos app for Android, we’ll let you know. You can download the latest version of the app from Google Play, though version 5.49 may not have rolled out to everyone just yet.
If you’ve found yourself working from home or using your personal computer as a work machine, you’re not alone. Many people have changed their work environment since the beginning of the pandemic, which shifts the responsibility of cybersecurity from your company to you. If you’re looking to beef up the internet security on your computer, this simple Chrome extension can help.
WOT is designed as an advanced browsing security and privacy shield. It’s a chrome extension that is able to protect users from scams, malware, phishing, and identity theft. When you visit a website, the WOT security will run a safety check based on user ratings, reviews, and ML algorithms. This is especially important for anyone who uses a personal computer for work. Clicking on the wrong website, or downloading the wrong file, could give an intruder access to your work email and documents.
Safer browsing is also applied to search engines. WOT supports all popular search engines including Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yandex, and more. Search engine results will display a security rating next to each link. You’ll be able to avoid any risky links, before you even click on them. If WOT detects any security threats, you will receive malware and virus alerts. You’ll be able to act quickly to avoid these security risks and keep your computer safe.
WOT gathers data from its userbase to help determine in websites are harmful or safe. Users are able to leave reviews and mark websites as a security threat. As a user, you will also be able to mark specific websites as unsafe, helping everyone browse with fewer risks.
WOT is a cross-platform solution that will work on any computer that is able to run Google Chrome. Adding the extension to your browser is easy.
Click Add WOT to chrome to see the chrome web store page
Click Add to Chrome
A popup will ask you if you’d like to add the extension. Click Add extension
Premium Features
For more advanced security, the premium WOT plan can protect you from online scams, popups, and adult websites. Some scams can be complex, and bypass typical security tools. WOT is able to detect these types of scams which include phishing attacks. The blocking of adults websites not only covers porn, but can protect users from gambling sites as well.
The premium version is available as a service that can be canceled at any time. Users have a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can get started with WOT by adding the Chrome extension here.
We thank WOT for sponsoring this post. Our sponsors help us pay for the many costs associated with running XDA, including server costs, full time developers, news writers, and much more. While you might see sponsored content (which will always be labeled as such) alongside Portal content, the Portal team is in no way responsible for these posts. Sponsored content, advertising and XDA Depot are managed by a separate team entirely. XDA will never compromise its journalistic integrity by accepting money to write favorably about a company, or alter our opinions or views in any way. Our opinion cannot be bought.
Google is working on a new HTTPS-only mode for Google Chrome that will automatically upgrade all your connections to the secure HTTPS protocol. The mode is currently available in the latest Chrome Canary release. It should roll out on the stable channel in the coming weeks.
Google introduced a new change in Chrome 90 for desktop that altered the address bar’s behavior to use https:// by default. Along with improving security and privacy, the change aimed to improve the initial loading speed of websites that support HTTPS. Now, Google is taking things a step further with the new HTTPS-only mode, which will automatically upgrade all connections to the HTTPS protocol.
(Image: Chrome Story)
According to Chrome Story, the HTTPS-only mode appears as a new “Always use secure connections” option in the browser settings on the latest Chrome Canary release. Its description states: “Upgrade all navigations to HTTPS and warn you before loading sites that don’t support it”.
At the moment, we’re not sure how Chrome will handle resources within websites that aren’t available over HTTPS. Mozilla Firefox, which received a similar feature late last year, fails to load the resources when the mode is enabled. Due to this, some websites malfunction when the HTTPS-only mode is enabled. To resolve the issue, users have to disable the HTTPS-only mode and reload such websites. Chrome’s HTTPS-only mode might handle such scenarios similarly.
If you wish to try the new HTTPS-only mode, you can download the latest Chrome Canary build for desktops by following this link. You will then have to enable the “HTTPS-Only Mode Setting” experimental flag to enable the new option.
Currently, we have no further information about the upcoming HTTPS-only mode in Google Chrome. We’ll update this post with additional details as soon as we learn more.
Android has, over many years, become a platform where you can now play games that are not just Candy Crush re-skins. This means FPS and fast-paced titles such as Call of Duty: Mobile, PUBG Mobile, and Fortnite are all playable on your smartphone, and emulation also allows users to play older games from older consoles as well. In all of these scenarios, while you can use touch buttons and gestures to play these games, it’s not really ideal. If you’re really into gaming on your Android smartphone, you obviously need a good smartphone. But it also makes sense to get a controller for your phone, relieving your fingers from hot touchscreens and accidental swipes. If you’re thinking about that, here are some of the best controllers you can grab for your Android smartphone right now.
From known options to more dedicated ones, Android-compatible game controllers come in all shapes and forms.
The Razer Kishi goes in first as one of the best controllers for Android simply because it’s made from the ground up with smartphone gaming in mind. It features a similar format and layout to the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons. There are separate left and right controllers that hook on the sides of your phone, allowing you to use your smartphone like you would use a Nintendo Switch. It also connects to your smartphone via USB-C, meaning that latency should be greatly reduced compared to a regular Bluetooth controller.
It’s one of the best controllers you can get for Android if you’re looking into either going after a Switch-like look or simply something that integrates with your smartphone seamlessly.
The Razer Kishi's Switch-like form factor makes it ideal for mobile gamers who want to be able to clearly see the action as they play and move forward.
Further complementing the Switch look is the GameSir X2. GameSir is a brand that’s currently making a name for itself in the gaming gadgets space, and the GameSir X2 puts up a good fight to the Razer Kishi while managing to undercut it in pricing. With Razer, you’re going for a known brand in the gaming space, but if you don’t really care about that, the GameSir X2 provides a similar feature set, including connection over USB-C for lower latency.
If you’re debating on getting a controller for Android, this is definitely one of the best options to have in mind.
For everything that’s not a console, SteelSeries is usually among the top tier of controller makers, and we can sure see why. Unrivaled compatibility and excellent build quality are just some of the reasons SteelSeries controllers are so great, especially for smartphones.
The SteelSeries Stratus Duo is a top competitor that often shows up in a lot of recommendation lists. There’s several reasons for that — excellent battery life, support for both Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless (although we’re more interested in Bluetooth here), and more. It’s a fine controller that gets the essentials right, which is why it makes our list of the best controllers for Android.
The Razer Raiju was initially conceived as an e-sports focused controller for the PlayStation 4. The Razer Raiju Mobile keeps most of the DNA from that particular device, including the same overall shape and build quality, making up for a splendid controller for e-sports and fast-paced titles such as first-person shooters.
Since it’s made to work with smartphones, it also features a docking clip where you can put your phone while you play, connects to your phone via Bluetooth, and is made by Razer, so you can expect the same quality from this controller as you would get from their other products. It’s an amazing game controller for people invested in the Razer ecosystem and for people looking for a “pro” controller for their smartphones.
The Razer Raiju Mobile is Razer's entry into pro mobile gaming controllers, with a familiar Xbox-like layout, Bluetooth connectivity, an integrated phone dock, and more.
Sometimes the best options come in the shape you would least expect, or if you’re a console gamer, it may even come from what you already have. The Xbox Core Controller is the standard Xbox controller that’s bundled with the Xbox Series S and the Xbox Series X. But it’s also a surprisingly solid controller for both PC gaming as well as any device that’ll take a Bluetooth controller. And that includes Android.
The Xbox Core Controller is as barebones as an Xbox controller can get, but it includes a slightly tweaked design from the Xbox One. Most of all, it’s fully compatible with any game that supports it, and you can even get mount clips for mounting your phone to the controller. It’s one of the best controllers you can get right now unless you’re looking for something more specific for your device.
The Xbox Core Controller is the controller that ships with the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X, and it comes with all the familiar features you might expect from an Xbox controller.
PlayStation controllers are also solid options for other devices as well, despite some of its features being proprietary to their consoles, and the DualSense is no different. The successor to the DualShock 4 is included in the PlayStation 5 and comes with a handful of new features, most notably, things like adaptive triggers and sublime haptics to enhance your experience in games.
Most of these features won’t be directly working on an Android phone, but you end up with a controller with an amazing new ergonomic design and refreshed look over the aging DualShock 4, a controller that was also a solid option for Android gaming. It’s one of the best controllers out there, and given that it still gives you the ability to hook it up to an Android smartphone via Bluetooth, it’s a nice bonus.
The Sony DualSense is the controller that ships with the long-sought-after PlayStation 5 console, and it's fully packed with tech, from adaptive triggers all the way to top-of-the-line haptics.
The MSI FORCE GC30’s best feature is it’s nothing special. That’s pretty much all there is to it. It’s not bad, but it’s not particularly good either compared to the other options in this list. But it’s cheaper than most of those other options in this list, and it does the job in a pinch, which is pretty much its intended purpose.
The FORCE GC30 features an Xbox layout (and the shape is also eerily similar to that of the Xbox 360’s controller) with the company’s logo, black and red accents, and Bluetooth support for connecting to a smartphone. It’s the best game controller available if all you’re looking for something that’s a step up from touch buttons, and you don’t want to spend that much on a controller.
The MSI FORCE GC30 is an unremarkably remarkable gaming controller for Android smartphones, and for its price point, it sure delivers a big punch compared to other similarly priced options.
If you’re the kind of person who plays retro games on an emulator, you’ll know that with some games, such as platformers, touch controls can quickly get annoying. Modern controllers will sometimes not translate as well as you’d think to an older title. This is where the 8BitDo Sn30 Pro+ comes into play.
Think of it as a Super Nintendo controller on steroids — it’s wireless, it features two joysticks, and it’s a tad bit more ergonomic. It’s actually very similar to the Nintendo Switch’s Pro Controller in a lot of ways, including button layout and joysticks. If you’re going to do a lot of retro gaming on your smartphone, the 8BitDo Sn30 Pro+ is probably the best game controller to get.
The 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro+ is a controller that not only reeks of nostalgia, but it's also pretty good for both modern titles as well as retro games, making for one of the best options in this list.
If the retro gaming you’re planning on doing involves SEGA consoles, particularly consoles like the SEGA Genesis, then the 8BitDo M30 is a better option for you. This is because of the console’s unique 6 button + d-pad layout that doesn’t really translate well to other controllers.
The 8BitDo M30 keeps the same layout and looks like a super-powered SEGA Genesis controller with wireless Bluetooth support. This should give you way better compatibility with your games, allowing you to play them the way you’re supposed to. It’s quite likely the best game controller for SEGA fans.
The 8BitDo M30 is just as good of an option as the Sn30 Pro+, but it features a SEGA Genesis button layout, making it ideal to play games from SEGA consoles from that era on your smartphone.
On the Razer side, Razer includes several products, including the Razer Kishi and the Razer Kaiju Mobile, that will sit in perfectly with whatever use case you’re looking for. If that’s a little bit on the expensive side for you, the SteelSeries Stratus Duo looks like an amazing option, while the controllers you probably already have in your household can also be a nice improvement over trying to get kills in Call of Duty: Mobile using the tiny buttons showing up on your screen. Note that some controllers would need a clipping mount as well, and here’s a clip that is compatible with the Xbox One Controller.
T-Mobile is offering a new way for iPhone users to test-drive its network for free for a month. The best part: you don’t need a second device or additional gear. You can try out T-Mobile’s network from your existing phone while still keeping your current line.
This is made possible by T-Mobile (via CNET) tapping into the built-in eSIM of the iPhone. All you have to do is download T-Mobile’s new Test Drive app for iOS and follow through with on-screen instructions. The app will ask you to fill in your name, email, mobile number, and zip code. In the next step, the app will download a virtual SIM profile on your device to activate your eSIM, and you’re all set. You’ll need an unlocked iPhone XS or later running iOS 14.5.
If you have the iPhone 12, you can also try out T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G network. T-Mobile is offering 30GB of free data for 30 days along with unlimited voice and texts. The trial will automatically expire after 30 days or as soon as you exhaust the 30GB limit. It also doesn’t ask you to enter your credit card details. This is definitely a great initiative as it removes the need to lug around a secondary device or a Wi-Fi hotspot while still allowing you to use your existing carrier. Android users or older iPhone users can also take advantage of this offer, but they’ll have to do this the old way: via a hotspot device.
T-Mobile’s Test Drive program has been around since 2014. Back then, T-Mobile used to loan iPhone 5S units with free unlimited data, talk, and text for a week. Nowadays, it sends you a Wi-Fi hotspot that has a T-Mobile SIM built-in.
If you’re interested, you can download the T-Mobile Network Test Drive app on your unlocked iPhone from here.
An unidentified carrier in Australia is suspected of injecting advertisements into two-factor SMS messages, according to Chris Lacy, the developer of Action Launcher. The text shows a Google sign-in verification code in the Google Messages app, which funnily enough, even flagged the text as spam.
I just received a two factor authentication SMS from Google that included an ad. Google’s own Messages SMS app flagged it as spam.
This is possible because SMS messages are unencrypted, and therefore, your carrier can read all of them. Injecting advertisements into 2FA texts ensures that the end-user will actually see the advertisement, as it’s assumed they’ll need to use the code to access whatever service they are trying to log in to. While it’s absolutely a scummy move, it’s made possible because of how poorly protected SMS is. A number of employees from Google have chimed in to say that this is definitely not done by Google and that it’s likely the work of whatever carrier Chris Lacy is using. Mark Risher, Director of Product Management on Identity and User Security at Google, took to Twitter to say that “these are not Google ads and we do not condone this practice.” Furthermore, he says that Google is “working with the wireless carrier to understand why this happened and ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
To close the loop, these are not Google ads and we do not condone this practice. We are working with the wireless carrier to understand why this happened and ensure it doesn’t happen again.
While using SMS for two-factor authentication is technically insecure, for most people, it really does not matter. It’s an extra level of security that’s easily accessible and simple to use for most people, and it’s better than nothing. Most people will not be able to conveniently use hardware-based two-factor authentication, which is why SMS-based 2FA is still so widely used. While SIM swap attacks exist, for most people, they aren’t something they will ever need to worry about. If anything, though, it’s impressive that the Google Messages app still managed to pick up that the message was spam, even though it was sent from a Google phone number.
We have reached out to Google for comment as it was their two-factor message that was tampered with, and we will update this article if we get a response. Chris Lacy is electing not to name the carrier “for privacy reasons”, but it’s important to note that this could happen on any carrier if you’re using SMS. Once RCS is widely adopted and end-to-end encryption for text messages becomes the norm, this will no longer be possible as carriers won’t be able to determine which messages contain two-factor codes and which do not.
Having a dual monitor setup is super convenient as it helps boost your productivity, especially if you have to deal with multiple apps. Today you’re no longer limited to large clunky monitors planted on your desk as there are quite a few portable options that can be carried around for an on-the-go dual monitor setup.
Today we’re looking at some of the best portable monitors for Mac devices. Whether you have an old Intel-based Mac or one of the latest M1-based Macs, all of the options below should work without any issues. However, if you’re planning to hook up more than one display, it’s advised to check on how many monitors your Mac device supports. For instance, the new 24-inch iMac with M1 can support only one external monitor with up to 6K resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. Using more than one external screen will only end up mirroring the display. In short, read the documentation of your Mac before planning to buy any of the portable monitors below.
The ViewSonic TD2230 is a 22-inch IPS touchscreen monitor that comes with its own kickstand. You can't really toss it in a backpack, but it can be easily moved from one desk to another rather easily.
ASUS has a portable version of its ProArt Display for customers who seek color accuracy. It features a 14-inch full-HD IPS panel with capacitive 10-point multitouch, 100% sRGB and 100% Rec. 709 color gamut, and Calman Verified with factory pre-calibrated Delta E < 2. It even has an intuitive dial-based OSD control.
The HP EliteDisplay S14 is one of the slimmest portable monitors featuring a 14-inch 1080p panel and a USB-C port for a seamless single cable connectivity solution.
The ThinkVision M14 is an excellent portable monitor featuring a 14-inch full-HD panel and dual USB-C ports embedded into the foldable kickstand for a seamless connectivity experience.
AOC offers one of the most affordable portable monitors featuring a 15.6-inch full-HD (1920x1080) IPS panel along with USB-C connectivity option that can be used to power the display and offer video connectivity.
This isn't a popular brand but it's one of the only decent 4K portable monitors on the market. It comes with touch support, USB-C connectivity, built-in speakers and is claimed to offer 400-nits brightness with HDR and FreeSync support.
During our research to find the best portable monitors for Mac, we noticed there are a number of portable monitors but only a handful of them come from reliable brands. So our recommendation would be the Lenovo ThinkVision M14. It looks good, comes with a solid foldable kickstand, dual USB-C ports, and a reliable 1080p panel.
If you’re new to the Mac ecosystem, it might take a while for you to get accustomed to the system. Check out our simple guides that can help you overcome hurdles on macOS like how to force quit an unresponsive app on a Mac or how to uninstall an app on Mac and clear all junk files. We also have a list of the best MacBook Pro cases if you want some extra protection for your notebook.
There has been almost no competition in the PC webcam space for years, with Logitech being the only company releasing new models, and even Logitech was mostly just adding minor changes to its existing products. The uptick in working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic finally convinced technology companies that many people are interested in high-quality webcams, and now Dell has released its own model with a high-quality 4K sensor and other helpful features.
The Dell UltraSharp Webcam has a price tag of $199.99, placing it in the same category as the Logitech Brio. Just like Logitech’s webcam, the Dell UltraSharp has a maximum resolution of 4K and support for Windows Hello (so you can log into Windows with face scanning). The camera also has a magnetic mount, a 4K Sony Starvis CMOS censor for higher image quality, three field of view settings, a detachable privacy shutter, auto-framing, and a USB Type-C port.
Design was also an important factor for Dell. “This Dell UltraSharp webcam,” the company said, “delivers a sleek design and premium all-aluminum cylindrical body. While most traditional webcams are rectangular, the UltraSharp Webcam’s thoughtful circular form factor and slim monitor mount ensures minimal front-of-screen distractions so you can focus on your presentation – not your equipment.”
Early reviews for the webcam appear to be mostly positive. PCMag rated it 3.5/5 stars, noting that the video quality is excellent, but exposure can be tricky and there’s no built-in microphone. ShortCircuit (owned by LinusTechTips) also liked the Dell UltraSharp. Still, $200 is a lot for a webcam, especially when the compression on most video chat platforms is the limiting factor for image quality, not the hardware.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is launching in just a few weeks, but we don’t know a lot of specific details about the new clamshell foldable. While we’ve seen some leaks that have mentioned a potential launch date (that we’re still not sure of) and a teaser image of it in its folded state, we don’t know much about its specs, pricing, or availability. We do know it could be up to 20% cheaper than the previous model, and we have a good idea about what the device will look like. Now, a new leak gives us an even better look at the Galaxy Z Flip 3, and it also reveals some new colors, too.
The renders come courtesy of GizNext and give us our best look yet at the new Galaxy Z Flip 3. From the renders, there appears to be a dual-camera setup on the device, with a much larger outer screen than before as well. The color options that seem to be on offer include dark green, light violet, beige, grey, black, pink, dark blue, and white.
Interestingly, Samsung leaker Max Jambor has said that if these renders are correct, then Samsung Unpacked will take place on August 11th rather than the previously rumored August 3rd. In one of the leaked images, a date can be seen on the device showing August 11th. Companies will often match the date shown on press renders with the actual launch date, as they’re intended to be distributed on that date. It wouldn’t make sense to have dates of the 11th of August in the renders if the unveiling is on the 3rd of August.
If today’s leaked renders of the Z Flip3 are correct, they’ve changed Unpacked from Aug 3 to Aug 11
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is expected to launch alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 3, Samsung’s other foldable phone, though the launch date, as I mentioned, hasn’t been confirmed yet. The leaked colors for the Z Fold 3 include yellow, black, purple, and dark gray. Samsung is going all-in on foldables, and what we’re seeing of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 so far has us excited.
Microsoft released the first Windows 11 Insider Preview build the other day. Other than an early leak, it’s our first real look at Windows 11, and there’s a lot more here than there was on that original leaked build.
A couple of weeks ago, we already looked at some key things. The most notable addition in Windows 11 is the new Start Menu, which is now floating and centered. The taskbar is centered now too. Another thing we got an early look at was Snap Layouts and Snap Groups, which let you snap apps to more positions, something that was only possible in Windows 10 with a utility like PowerToys.
One of the things that’s new in this build is the new Settings app. It’s completely redesigned, similar to what we see on iPadOS. There’s a navigation panel along the left side, with a main page on the right. On content pages, there are various submenus that go to deeper levels of settings. There’s also a breadcrumb trail so you can easily find your way back to a different page in the hierarchy, or you can just use the navigation panel to go somewhere else.
The new Microsoft Store has arrived as well. It’s an entirely new UX to play around with, although it doesn’t have actual new features yet. There are more Windows apps, as there are fewer restrictions, but Android apps aren’t here yet. The Amazon Appstore and all Android support is coming in some future preview build.
That’s not all, because there’s a lot of new stuff. There are new Touch Keyboard customization options. This was something that was discovered a while back, but didn’t make its way into the leaked build. Similar to SwiftKey on Android and iOS, you can set themes and backgrounds for the Touch Keyboard.
Widgets were in the leaked build, but now we know a little bit more about them. You can move them around, customize them, and add more, but they don’t seem to be open to third-party widgets yet. Instead, you have a selection of stuff made by Microsoft, such as photos from OneDrive and Microsoft To Do. For the most part, it seems like a reworked News and interests.
The new File Explorer is finally here, and it’s familiar yet different. It has the new, colorful icons that debuted in Windows 10 testing a while back, but it’s also got a simplified ribbon and also, simpler context menus. You’ll see menu items to show more options, so if you’re looking for something more advanced, you’ll be able to find it.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Check out the video below for our first look at Windows 11 Insider Preview build 22000.51.
