Month: November 2024

Google Pixel 9, and Google Pixel 6 and later, updates leaked early by Verizon.

The next Pixel update has been accidentally teased early by a Verizon support page that detailed all the fixes coming to the Google Pixel 9 line-up – and older Pixel 6,7 and 8 devices.

First spotted by 9to5Google the patch should have supposedly launched on November 5 according to the Verizon page, however, the update isn’t yet live at the time of writing. That said, we expect it’ll roll out sometime soon to bring the following improvements to your Pixel 9 smartphone via version AP3A.241105.008:

SecurityProvides the most up-to-date Android security patches on your device.BluetoothAddressed an issue with Bluetooth range under certain conditions.CameraAddressed an issue with camera tilt when zooming between cameras under certain conditions.SensorsAddressed an issue that occasionally prevented Adaptive brightness from activating in certain conditions.TouchAddressed an issue when pressing the keyboard dismiss button in certain conditions.User interfaceGeneral improvements for performance and stability in certain UI transitions and animations.Display & GraphicsResolved an issue that caused white dots to flash under certain conditions.

(Image credit: Google)

The AP3A.241105.007 update for the Google Pixel 6, Google Pixel 7, and Google Pixel 8 devices includes fewer stability fixes and instead just includes these details:

The most up to date Android security patches on your device.General improvements for performance and stability in certain UI transitions and animations.

So nothing too major for any of the Pixel phones unlike the arrival of Android 15 last month. However, if your Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, or Pixel 9 Pro Fold has had problems with any of the listed issues, you’ll appreciate that they’ve finally been addressed.

As for non-Pixel updates, Samsung users are still waiting for the full Android 15 launch, though a One UI 7 beta has been tipped to land later this month with new icon styles, lock screen live widgets, and math and physics support in Circle to Search among other tools. The non-beta rollout is expected sometime in early 2025.

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The amount of RAM on offer in the Galaxy S25 units may closely match what we got with the Galaxy S24 phones.

RAM specs for the Galaxy S25 have been predictedThe standard model could lose its 12GB option16GB of RAM is expected on the S25 Ultra model

The Samsung Galaxy S25 leaks aren’t showing any signs of stopping – with the flagship series expected to make an appearance in January – and the latest rumor suggests we won’t be getting much of a RAM upgrade this time around.

This is a tip from well-known leaker @Jukanlosreve, who suggests that the standard Galaxy S25 will have 8GB of RAM, the Galaxy S25 Plus will have 12GB of RAM, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra will have either 12GB or 16GB of RAM.

For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S24 that launched in January 2024 features either 8GB or 12GB of RAM, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus has 12GB of RAM, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with 12GB of RAM.

In other words, the Ultra model may be getting a bump in terms of what’s available, if you go for the 1TB storage option, but there’s no change elsewhere – and the standard model might even lose the 12GB RAM option.

To be confirmed

While this source has a decent record as far as leaks go, they do add that these specs are “not confirmed” – so take them as possibilities rather than certainties for the time being. It could be the case that Samsung is still finalizing its plans.

Earlier rumors suggested that the standard Galaxy S25 model would be getting a bump up to 12GB of RAM across all variants, and a 16GB of RAM option for the Ultra model is also something that we’ve heard talk of before. The 12GB for the Plus model has been mentioned more than once as well.

While we’re still unsure about the RAM that’s going to be on offer here, it should be a clearer picture when it comes to the processor inside: it’s almost certain that all three Galaxy S25 models will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, in every region.

The only sliver of doubt is that some Geekbench 6 listings for an international variant of the Plus model, spotted by X user @sondesix, have suggested it may get a 10-core Exynos chip instead.

As far as aesthetics go, don’t expect too much in the way of design changes. While the Galaxy S25 Ultra could well have a more rounded look than its predecessor, there are unlikely to be many design tweaks elsewhere.

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Valve continues to push forward with gaming experiences on Steam, with the Game Recording feature now out of beta and available for everyone.

Steam’s Game Recording feature is out of beta and available to everyone It automatically records the last 120 minutes of gameplayThe feature leverages the video encoding chops of AMD and Nvidia GPUs

The recent Steam Families update proved beneficial for many PC gamers, and Valve has taken another step in the right direction with Steam’s Game Recording functionality exiting beta, and now being available to all users.

This fresh innovation allows Steam gamers to have their gameplay recorded automatically with titles that support the platform’s overlay feature. As VideoCardz reports, when set to ‘Background Recording’ mode, it will capture the last 120 minutes of gameplay (temporarily, in case you need it). Or alternatively you can initiate a manual ‘On Demand Recording’ and start, then stop, the recording yourself.

Game Recording also allows game developers to hook up with the official API, so devs can implement the ability to add markers for specific events in a recording (like when a boss battle happens, for example) to help you better navigate the recorded footage and find what you want.

This could be a game-changer (literally) for many content creators, with the convenience of running both a game and the recording feature seamlessly together on Steam.

That said, it’s important to note that running Game Recording could meaningfully impact in-game performance (especially on handheld gaming PCs or weaker desktop configurations), but there are options for both lower quality recordings which could help soften any potential performance drops.

Game Recording will use the video encoding chops of your AMD or Nvidia GPU, if you have one, or rely on the CPU if your PC lacks graphics capabilities. In the latter case, that’s likely to cause more in the way of performance hiccups, as you might imagine.

(Image credit: Valve)

An eventual dream team of Steam streaming integration?

While Steam’s Game Recording is a notable enhancement for all users on the platform, Valve is yet to implement any streaming capabilities. OBS Studio and StreamLabs both feature manual recordings and streaming, which are ideal for social platforms like YouTube and Twitch.

Fortunately, Game Recording on Steam has different bitrates to choose from within its video settings (and also low and high presets) – if you were only using the aforementioned streaming platforms for manual recording, you can make the move to Steam without much worry. More broadly, this is a significant move in allowing the huge number of PC gamers using Steam to get easy access to game recording right there, directly within Valve’s platform, without having to install anything else.

If Valve can integrate streaming services on Steam and possibly improve streaming directly to friends, we could very well be looking at new competition in this particular facet of the gaming arena (up against Discord too).

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Samsung Galaxy Watch users are reporting phantom vibrations on the new Watch 7 and Watch Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy Watch owners are reporting phantom vibrationsThe problem affects Watch 7 and Watch Ultra owners, with no clear causeSome suggested fixes include uninstalling WhatsApp or a factory reset

Samsung Galaxy Watch owners are reporting phantom vibrations on their wrist, with no clear cause apparent.

As reported by SamMobile, numerous users are reporting random haptic feedback being triggered on their wrist for no reason – often one tap followed by three in quick succession. The report points to a post in the Samsung Community forums from as early as August. One user reported random vibrations on one of the best Android smartwatches, the new Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, and other users have reported similar problems on this device and the Galaxy Watch 7, as well as a host of possible causes and fixes.

According to the report, possible causes include a loss of connectivity between Galaxy Watch and phone, Google Maps mirroring, and WhatsApp. If you’ve been experiencing these phantom taps for yourself, here are some things you can try.

Fix random vibrations on Samsung Galaxy Watch

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

Based on reports, it seems that one of these three issues above could be causing these random taps. According to SamMobile, the disconnection issue seems unlikely because other users have confirmed the taps happen even when their watch and phone remain connected.

If you think Google Maps mirroring might be the issue, you can open Google Maps on your Watch, swipe up to Settings, and turn off Mirror on Phone. However, some users have reported that the issue persists even after doing this.

If the problem is WhatsApp, one possible solution is uninstalling the app from your watch for a while.

Finally, if in doubt, you can always try a factory reset from the General section of Settings. This one is a bit of a pain but is usually a good last resort for issues like this.

Unfortunately, these solutions are all guesses at this stage. TechRadar has reached out to Samsung for comment, and we’ll update this story with any new information.

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A huge cyberattack took out security subcontractor’s tracking devices

A cyberattack targeted tracking device provider MicroliseUK Government contractor Serco affected in the incidentPrison van tracking devices and panic alarms taken offline

A cyberattack targeting telematics and technology solutions firm Microlise has taken tracking software used for prisoners offline.

The software is used by outsourcing giant Serco to provide protection for employees and to monitor prisoners, keeping track of their whereabouts.

Microlise provides a ‘seamless eco-system around remote assets for operators’ to a number of large corporations with lorry fleets, and the attack also affected panic alarms inside Serco prison vans and express mail courier DHL, whose fleets were left without tracking capabilities.

Outsourced security

Microlise told the London Stock Exchange it was, “working hard to quickly bring the affected services back online” in its notification of the incident. Crews were said to have been sent out without proper security for staff members.

The contingency plans outlined by Serco included crews contacting base every 30 minutes, staff using ‘paper maps and guidance’ and ensuring mobile devices are charged.

“We are aware that one of our subcontractors has been impacted by a cyber incident. We have put in place mitigation plans and we have continued to provide prisoner escorting services uninterrupted for the Ministry of Justice,” said Serco.

Microlise has since confirmed some systems have now been restored, and that it has appointed external cybersecurity specialists to fully restore all affected systems.

Serco came under scrutiny earlier in 2024 for failing to fit hundreds of prisoners with electronic tags after they were released early as part of Starmer’s plan to ease overcrowding. This was not the first time Serco has been criticised, as a previous tagging scandal led to a Serious Fraud Office investigation.

“Serco has a long history of poor performance and negligent conduct on tagging contracts and needs to be held to account by the MoJ [Ministry of Justice]” said Chair of the Justice Select Committee, Andy Slaughter.

Serco holds a number of government contracts, and recently opened Britain’s first ‘smart prison’, HMP Fosse Way. The ‘resettlement prison’ boasts smart technology such as in-cell devices and robust security, including ‘cutting edge body scanners’ to prevent contraband.

Via Financial Times

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