Important announcements
Hackers could gain control of an Intel-based PC using a USB 3.0 port
Researchers at Positive Technologies have discovered that PCs based on Intel’s sixth and seventh-generation CPUs can be hacked via USB 3.0. The problem is based on Intel’s Direct Connect Interface that links to the Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) debugging interface. Most sixth and seventh-generation Intel-based PCs have the Direct Connect Interface enabled by default and the JTAG debugging interface can be accessed through the USB 3.0 port with a device with a cheap Fluxbabbitt hardware implant running Godsurge.
You can read more here.
Oracle released 270 critical security patches
Its critical patch update for January 2017 addresses a total of 270 vulnerabilities across Oracle’s product portfolio. “A succesful attack against Oracle EBS allows an attacker to steal and manipulate different types of business-critical information, depending on the modules installed in an organisation,” security company ERPscan said.
More info are available here.
Google acquired Twitter’s mobile development platform
Google is buying Twitter’s developer products, including Fabric, which operates crash-reporting service Crashlytics. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but but Fabric, Crashlytics, and any other related products will continue to operate as normal, the only difference is who will be maintaining them. In a blog post, the Fabric team explained that it has a similar mission to Google: “Helping mobile teams build better apps, understand their users, and grow their businesses.”
You can read more here.
Top new products
Vivo V5 Plus
The phone comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD display, an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor and 4GB of RAM. V5 Plus will have a dual front-facing camera with a combination of the 20-megapixel and 8-megapixel sensor and a 16-megapixel rear camera.
More info here.
Apple is planning a MacBook Pro with 32GB RAM
Apple will release a new 15-inch MacBook Pro with Intel’s next-generation Kaby Lake processor. It will be launched later this year and it is likely to feature the same Touch Bar that was introduced on the 2016 version of the MacBook Pro.
More info here.
Fujifilm X100F
The new X100F is the fourth generation release from the series that introduced the first hybrid viewfinder camera for ultimate flexibility, style and premium image quality. It comes with enhanced focus system and 24.3MP X-Trans CMOS III sensor. The camera goes on sale next month for $1,300.
More info here.
Top interesting info
Microsoft patents a device that looks like a tablet, but which can fold in half to about the size of an average smartphone
The patent application reveals the proposed display sizes, which range from a 7.9-inch tablet screen that folds to a 5.5-inch smartphone screen to a 12-inch tablet screen that folds to an 8.3-inch smartphone screen. Microsoft is currently working on its next-generation Surface Phone, and it’ll be interesting to see if this flexible OLED display technology manifests in the final device or not.
More info can be found here.
Samsung SmartCam has security vulnerability that can allow full access to the camera
The remote code-execution vulnerability has been confirmed in the Samsung SmartCam SNH-1011, but researchers say that other models in the same product line may be also susceptible. The flaw allows attackers to inject commands into a Web interface built into the devices. The bug resides in PHP code responsible for updating a video monitoring system known as iWatch.
You can read more here.
Microsoft is beta testing a new way to access Cortana from the Android lock screen
Cortana will function just like any other lockscreen shortcut. There will be a Cortana icon appear near the bottom and all you need to do is swipe that icon to begin using Cortana without unlocking your phone. This obviously could be a problem for some, since anyone with access to your phone is able to view your data in the Cortana app, which you may not want.
You can read more here.
