Microsoft acknowledges that it detected a malicious version of software from SolarWinds in its own system
The hackers sponsored by the Russian government who breached US software provider SolarWinds also compromsed Microsoft’s internal network, and then used Microsoft’s own products to further the attacks against other companies. Microsoft admitted to finding trojanized SolarWinds Orion apps in its environment but denied this report and alleged that its investigation so far showed no evidence hackers had used the company’s systems to attack customers.
You can read more here.
WhatsApp is testing voice and video call support for Web and Desktop in beta
Whatsapp mobile apps on Android and iOS already have Voice and Video call feature since 2015 and 2016 respectively. On desktop, the options to make audio and video calls have started appearing for some beta users, beside the search button at the top of the chat window. WhatsApp is apparently going for a gradual rollout and is prioritizing the desktop app over its website.
More info are available here.
New products
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Galaxy S21 Ultra will have a 6.8-inch display, Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 processor and a 5,000 mAh battery. It will be launched on January 14.
More info here.
Oppo A53 5G
The phone has a 6.5-inch display, Dimensity 720 processor, 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It come with a 4,040 mAh battery.
More info here.
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The European Commission has approved Google’s acquisition of Fitbit
Google has agreed to keep health data from Fitbit and other wearables separate from its ad business, and will let European Economic Area users deny access to their health data for other Google services like Assistant and Maps. It will also maintain free access to health and fitness data through Fitbit’s web API. Google will pay $2.1 billion for the wearable tech company.
You can read more here.
Google will shut down Android Things in January 2021
Originally announced as a platform for IoT devices, Google refocused Android Things in February 2019 towards OEMs building consumer smart devices like speakers and displays. At the moment, there’s an Android Things Dashboard that is used for managing devices. On January 5, 2021, the dashboard will stop working and users won’t be able to accept new devices or create new projects.
More info can be found here.
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