Technology

The cryptocurrency has risen after its inclusion in investment funds and following the results of November's presidential election.

Small phones basically don't exist, but these are the smallest ones that are worth your time.

This two-in-one cable supports 140W power delivery, 480 Mbps data transfer and it's currently 23% off for Prime members.

• Expressive Captions add feelings and [gasp] emotions to Android's Live Captions
• Google Lookout gets new Gemini enhancements
• Gemini on Pixel phones will now remember more information about you and your interests

Google has released a number of new AI features for most Android phones, plus a couple that work only on its Pixel range of devices.

Some of the new features work in Google Gemini, Google’s AI app, but most of them work throughout the whole Android operating system, which means there will be some big changes for Android users. Let’s break it down.

Expressive Captions

Here's how the same football game looks with Expressive Captions turned off and on (Image credit: Google)

First up are Expressive Captions, which are a way of bringing more emotions into the rather dull and lifeless world of subtitles and captions. Google introduced Live Captions to Android back in 2019, so if anything plays audio on your phone, it also has captions. They work much the same way that automatic subtitles do on YouTube videos – your phone generates them live, based on what it interprets the person is saying.

Live Captions, however, remain rather lifeless. With Expressive Captions, Google is utilizing the power of AI to help you get more of the context of what's happening. You’ll see comments in square brackets like [whispers] and [cheers and applause] appearing amongst captions, giving you a better understanding of the feelings and emotions being conveyed.

Intense vocalizations will be written in [ALL CAPS], while vocalizations like [sighing], [grunting] and [gasping] will also appear. Ambient background sounds will also be tagged. Because Live Captions are part of the operating system you’ll now get Expressive Captions with most things you watch, so look out for them.

Gemini in Lookout

(Image credit: Google)

Google Lookout is an assisted-vision app that’s available on Android devices via the Play Store. It uses AI to help people with low levels of vision, or sight loss, explore the world around them using their phone’s camera. You can use it for reading out text, scanning food labels, currency identification, and even scanning your surroundings to identify things like doors and windows and find out how far away they are.

Now Gemini AI is part of the Lookout app, which means it has much richer, more helpful descriptions. If you take a photo in the app you’ll now hear its description read aloud in a natural-sounding voice, and you can ask Loopout follow-up questions about it.

New Gemini extensions

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

The more extensions that Google Gemini has, the more apps it can bring its AI magic to. Now Gemini has a new Spotify extension, which means you can play your favorite songs or discover playlists from within Gemini.

Gemini will now also connect to your phone and messages app, meaning you can call contacts and send messages from within Gemini. Google says that “soon” you'll be able to use Gemini to control your smart home devices. Finally, Gemini will now also connect to Maps, which means you’ll get more information about places.

More Android features

Pizza-themed sticker combos available in Emoji Kitchen. (Image credit: Google)

Also in the December update you’ll find new pizza-theme sticker combos that you can share with friends using Emoji Kitchen in Gboard, Google’s keyboard app. You can also use QR codes in Quick Share, which makes it easy to share pictures, videos and documents without having to add people as contacts or verify devices. Now you just generate a QR code for people to scan. Documents you scan using your phone will also now be improved, with better contrast and white balance.

Pixel-only features

Circle to search on a Pixel phone. (Image credit: Google)

If you’ve got a Google Pixel phone then you get some extra features in the December Android update. There are a lot of small updates to things like the camera and security settings, but the most important feature is Gemini Saved Info. This means you can ask Gemini to remember more about you, what you’re interested in, and what you like, so that it can tailor its responses to more of what you’ll be interested in.

Pixel users will also get some updates to the Pixel-exclusive app, Pixel Screenshots. Pixel Screenshots uses Gemini to analyze and recall the information embedded in your screenshots. Now you can use Pixel Screenshots to save things when you’re using Circle to Search with just one tap.

You might also like...

• Google’s AI podcast creator NotebookLM could be coming to the Gemini app on your phone
• Gemini is coming to supercharge Google Assistant on smart displays and speakers – and here's how it will work
• The best Android phones 2024: from high-performance to highly affordable

The feature uses AI to convey details like intensity of speech and background sounds in videos and livestreams.

• iVerify has asked volunteers to scan devices for spyware
• Of the 2,500 scanned, 7 were infected
• The Pegasus spyware found is notoriously used against high-value targets

Spyware risks have been rising fast in recent years, and although security firms always advise caution, the consensus has been that only a very small number of people are affected by the attacks.

However new research from iVerify claims high-powered Pegasus spyware may be more common than previously thought.

The mobile security firm scanned the devices of 2,500 users who volunteered to use the iVerify Mobile Threat Hunting feature - and seven instances were discovered. This might not seem like a high number, or even a high percentage, but at a rate of 2.5 infected devices per 1,000 scans - this is "far higher than any previously published reports," iVerify confirmed.

High risk targets

Given the nature of the spyware and threat detection users, Mobile Threat Hunting software users are more likely to be those who are at a higher risk of spyware, such as government officials, journalists, and corporate executives.

The Pegasus software was developed by the Israeli NSO group in 2011, and can be used to remotely surveil individuals on both Android and iPhone devices. The spyware has been linked to so many instances to target political opponents, journalists, and dissidents, that the US halted the visas of anyone involved in its misuse earlier in 2024.

By offering a mobile threat scanner, iVerify is working to ‘democratize’ the mobile threat landscape, hoping to reveal the true scope of malware and protect mobile users.

“Traditional security models fail to capture the nuanced threats facing mobile devices,” iVerify confirmed in a statement.

“In the past, Pegasus detections have been rare due to a lack of effective detection solutions, but with improved detection and remediation methods, we believe there is more compromise than is currently understood.”

You might also like

• Take a look at our pick of the best antivirus software around
• What is spyware? And how do you protect yourself from it?
• Check out our choices for best malware removal software

Google is rolling out new features for Android and Pixel devices, including a new memory capability for Gemini and the ability to generate expressive captions for nonspoken audio elements in videos.

The company is rebranding its same-day delivery service under the new name Uber Courier.

• Samsung's first One UI 7 beta is rolling out to Galaxy S24 devices
• It ushers in some major Galaxy AI updates, including call transcription
• Beyond AI, One UI 7 also makes some UX changes

At long last, Samsung has begun rolling out a beta version of its One UI 7 software update for Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra devices.

Based on Android 15, One UI 7 – which will debut in finished form alongside the Samsung Galaxy S25 series next year – overhauls several key Samsung UI elements, including default app icons, the Quick Settings tray, and the Galaxy camera interface.

Galaxy S24-owning Samsung users in the US and South Korea can download the One UI 7 beta now, with other regions set to follow in the coming days. Below, we’ve rounded up five new features to check out once you’ve installed it.

Advanced writing assist tools

(Image credit: Samsung / Future)

Samsung kicked off the Great Smartphone AI Craze of 2024 with its Galaxy AI feature suite in January, and the company has continued to improve its AI features with each new update to One UI.

That trend continues in One UI 7, with AI-powered writing tools (Chat Assist, etc.) proving the subject of the latest software-based facelift. Galaxy AI users can already summarize content, check spelling and grammar, and automatically format notes into bullet points, but One UI 7 now “allows users to boost their productivity where texts can be selected, without needing to switch between applications,” Samsung says.

We’ve reached out to the company for confirmation on exactly what that means, but it sounds like One UI 7 will make Samsung’s existing AI-powered writing tools more readily available (i.e. useable) in more apps.

AI-powered call transcription

(Image credit: Samsung / Future)

Owners of the best Samsung phones have had access to a built-in phone call recording tool since Android 9, but until now, there’s been no native method for transcribing phone calls on Galaxy devices.

One UI 7 finally introduces an AI-powered call transcription feature, meaning users can now choose to have their recorded calls automatically transcribed for reference later on. Apple rolled out a similar Apple Intelligence-based feature in iOS 18.1, as did Google for the Pixel 9 series, so we’re glad to see Samsung joining the pack.

At launch, Samsung’s AI-powered call transcription feature will support 20 languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean.

The Now Bar

(Image credit: Samsung / Future)

The most interesting new One UI 7 feature of the bunch is the Now Bar, a new notification system that “highlights relevant activities across various features like Interpreter, Music, Recording, Stopwatch and more.” Samsung says this new widget – which is accessible from your phone’s lock screen – “reduces the need to constantly unlock the device and allows users to engage with key information effortlessly.”

Think of the Now Bar as Samsung’s version of Apple’s Dynamic Island, but bigger and capable of displaying a larger number of notifications.

A redesigned camera UX

(Image credit: Samsung / Future)

Good news, photography fans: One UI 7 introduces a redesigned camera UX. Samsung says camera buttons, controls, and modes have been “reorganized [in One UI 7] to make it easier to find the features you need and to give you a clearer preview of the picture you’re taking or the video you're recording.”

The manual settings layout has also been simplified in Pro and Pro video shooting modes, meaning it should be easier to focus on your subject, and a new zoom control has been added, too, to help you control the zoom speed for smoother transitions. Neat!

Streamlined home screen

(Image credit: Samsung / Future)

In addition to bringing changes to notifications, Galaxy AI features, and the Camera app, One UI 7 also streamlines the Galaxy home screen. The update brings a “significant new look” and a “simple, impactful, and emotive design” to One UI widgets, app icons, and the lock screen, which Samsung hopes will encourage customization and de-clutter previously mess-prone pages.

In the past, we’ve been critical of Samsung’s approach to app and menu presentation, so we’re glad to see the company taking a leaf out of Apple’s book in this regard. Indeed, Samsung executive Patrick Chomet told TechRadar back in January that his “dream for Galaxy AI [is to reach a point where he doesn’t] ever need to go to settings,” and One UI 7 brings the Galaxy ecosystem one step closer to that utopian vision.

You might also like

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – 5 of the biggest expected upgrades
• Samsung Galaxy S25 predicted colors: every rumored shade
• Best Samsung phones: top Galaxy handsets ranked

Spotify Wrapped continues to prove a challenge for parents of young children. Here's how to take your year-end music playlist back.

• 'Fix problems using Windows Update' is a handy tool for solving issues
• It lets you quickly reinstall Windows 11
• It's only available in Windows 11 22H2 or newer

Windows 11 has been having a rough time of it recently, with Microsoft releasing a series of controversial and sometimes faulty updates – but to be fair, it’s also been releasing tools to help its users who encounter problems, and one of the most promising is called, with a refreshingly straightforward name, ‘Fix problems using Windows Update.’

As Neowin reports, while the tool first appeared for testing back in 2023, it’s now officially been added to Windows 11, and Microsoft has released support documentation explaining what the tool does, saying it “will reinstall the current version of Windows on your device.”

Over my many years of helping friends, family, and - most importantly of all - TechRadar readers fix their PCs, one sure-fire way of getting things running normally again is to reinstall Windows. In the past, this was usually left as a last resort due to how time consuming reinstalling the entire operating system was.

To Microsoft’s credit, reinstalling Windows 11 is now a much easier process, as you don’t need to dig out a DVD or product key, and there are options to ‘reset’ your PC while keeping your personal files (rather than having to back them up to external storage).

It looks like ‘Fix problems using Windows Update’ will be another easy way to reinstall Windows 11 with (hopefully) minimal disruption to users. Windows 11's Settings app says the tool will “Reinstall your current version of Windows (your apps, files, and settings will be preserved).”

I’ve not tried it yet (thankfully I’ve not needed to) but when it mentions preserving your apps, hopefully that means your applications remain installed, rather than what currently happens when you reset Windows 11, which removes all programs, but gives shortcuts to redownload apps from the Microsoft Store.

Not for everyone

The tool can be found by going to Settings > System > Recovery, and will also appear if an update fails to install.

This does seem to be a genuinely useful tool that is sadly increasingly necessary as more Windows 11 problems emerge. The issue Microsoft has, which Apple doesn’t face with its macOS operating system, is that there are essentially an infinite range of PCs it needs to support with a mixture of hardware from different companies, and this means that issue-free releases for Windows can be rare. Making it easier to reinstall important files and fix problems is a good step in the right direction.

However, not everyone with Windows 11 will be able to use the tool – you’ll need to have Windows 11 22H2 or newer installed with the February 2024 optional update also installed. People on older versions of Windows 11, or use Windows 10, are out of luck.

You might also like...

• Microsoft doesn’t care if your unsupported PC can run Windows 11 – it wants you to stop using it right now
• Windows 11 remains an unloved OS – but why won't people upgrade?
• Microsoft’s claim that Arm-based Copilot+ PCs are “fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs” is debunked on X

Order now and not only will you save 63%, you'll have this delightful little coffee machine in time for the holidays.

• Longmire will move from Netflix to Paramount Plus on January 1, 2025
• Paramount Plus is becoming the home of contemporary western dramas
• The author of Longmire novels shared desires for the series to be revived

Over the years, Paramount Plus has built up a packed library of neo-Western dramas. It's not just responsible for the behemothYellowstone, along with its two prequels 1883 and 1923, but it's also home to other modern Westerns like Joe Pickett and Deadwood.

The streaming service has added another hit Western to its sprawling catalog with Longmire, which is set to leave Netflix after a decade on the US platform on January 1, 2025, according to What's On Netflix.

Longmire is Netflix's version of Yellowstone if you will, and premiered on A&E Network in 2012, before being added to the best streaming service where it completed its six-season run in 2017. Longmire is regarded as one of the best Western shows of all time by ScreenRant, so it's a shame to see it leave Netflix especially since the genre has had a resurgence thanks to the likes of Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone.

While Longmire is still a popular series with an 88% Rotten Tomatoes score from the critics, it was ahead of its time as it was released before Yellowstone rode onto the scene and made cowboys popular again. However, it is a relief to hear that Longmire has found a new home on Paramount Plus, which could give the series a new lease of life and attract a wider audience.

What is Longmire about?

Based on the Walt Longmire Mysteries novel series by Craig Johnson, Longmire follows Sheriff Walt Longmire (Robert Taylor), who investigates major crimes in a small town in Wyoming with the help of his staff, friends and daughter following the death of his wife.

With the news that Longmire was being moved to Paramount Plus, author Craig Johnson took to social media (see below) to share his hopes that the series would be revived and what he thought about the show leaving Netflix.

Posted by OfficialCraigJohnson on 

We can only hope that Paramount Plus will bring back another season of one of the best Netflix shows, especially since there's plenty of source material to inspire more seasons. After the show came to an end, Johnson published eight new books including Depth of Winter, Land of Wolves, Next to Last Stand, Daughter of the Morning Star and more.

You might also like

• Paramount Plus is getting another price hike in the UK and Ireland, and I'm starting to wonder if it's worth it
• Yellowjackets is claimed to have ‘copied’ its concept from a thriller movie you can stream on Tubi
• Paramount Plus is the latest streaming service to offer an ad-supported tier and I can't help but feel like we're going back to cable TV

If you snagged some new gadgets for Black Friday, this is the perfect chance to grab all the necessary accessories for less.

• Former PlayStation chief Shawn Layden thinks hardware innovation "is starting to plateau"
• Layden doesn't think there will be another PS1 to PS2 jump in performance
• He says the real competition is "content"

Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden has said there likely won't be another major jump in hardware performance as it's already been 'maxed out'.

Speaking in a recent interview with Eurogamer, Layden discussed the future of PlayStation amid the company's 30th anniversary, as well as the technological advancement of today's current consoles compared to that of the PS1.

"I think we're at a point where the console becomes irrelevant in the next... if not the next generation then the next next generation definitely," Layden said.

When asked if he thinks consoles could see another major leap in performance ever again, like the recent release of the PS5 Pro, the ex-PlayStation chief said he isn't sure what that would look like.

"I don't think so. I mean, what would that leap look like? It would be perfectly-realized human actors in a game that you completely control. That could happen one day. I don't think it's going to happen in my lifetime," he said.

"We're at a point now where the innovation curve on the hardware is starting to plateau, or top out. At the same time, the commoditization of the silicon means that when you open up an Xbox or PlayStation, it's really pretty much the same chipset. It's all built by AMD. Each company has their own OS and proprietary secret sauce, but in essence [it's the same]. I think we're pretty much close to final spec for what a console could be."

Layden went on to discuss the release of PlayStation's consoles over the years and how each improved upon the other in some way, however, he doesn't think the market will see something as significant as the jump from PS1 to PS2 again.

"If you look at it from my lens, which is of course the PlayStation lens, the leap from PS1 to PS2 was dramatic..." Layden said, before touching on the following generations.

He explained that the jump from PS2 to PS3 was "remarkable" with HD standard and the introduction of 60 FPS gameplay and network capability.

"Then PS3 to PS4 was just, like, getting the network thing done right. Then to PS5, which is a fantastic piece of kit, but the actual difference in performance... we're getting to the realm, frankly, where only dogs can hear the difference now," Layden added.

"You're not going to see another PS1 to PS2 jump in performance - we have sort of maxed out there. If we're talking about teraflops and ray-tracing, we're already off the sheet that most people begin to understand."

Layden concluded by saying that the "real competition" will be "content", which "should be the competition for publishers, not which hardware you get behind."

You might also like...

• PS5 Pro users should find the PS5 data transfer process much easier thanks to the latest system update
• PlayStation's Head of Indies Shuhei Yoshida announces he will retire from the company in January: 'PlayStation is in really good hands'
• Sony is reportedly getting ready to release black versions of several PlayStation accessories, including the DualSense Edge controller, Pulse Elite, and Pulse Explore

With their health care before the Supreme Court and president-elect Donald Trump about to take office, trans Americans are seeking to move to states where they feel safest.

• MirrorFace pivoted to spear phishing to target high-profile Japanese
• The group is looking for information regarding China-US relations
• It is using backdoors not seen in years

MirrorFace, a Chinese state-sponsored threat actor also known as Earth Kasha, has been observed stepping away from its usual practice to target specific individuals, with even more specific backdoors.

Cybersecurity researchers from Trend Micro recently observed MirrorFace engaging in spear phishing attacks, targeting individuals in Japan.

Previously, the group was focused on business entities, and abused vulnerabilities in endpoint devices such as Array Networks and Fortinet for initial access.

Targeting individuals

This time around, MirrorFace seems to be particularly interested in topics around Japan’s national security and international relations, the researchers stressed. They came to this conclusion after analyzing the victims, and the lures used in the spear phishing emails. The lures were mostly fake documents discussing Japan's economic security from the perspective of the current US - China relations.

"Many of the targets are individuals, such as researchers, who may have different levels of security measures in place compared to enterprise organizations, making these attacks more difficult to detect," Trend Micro said. "It is essential to maintain basic countermeasures, such as avoiding opening files attached to suspicious emails."

Those who failed to spot the attack, ended up getting two backdoors - NOODPOOR (also known as HiddenFace) and ANEL (also known as UPPERCUT). Trend Micro said the latter was particularly interesting, since it was basically nonexistent for years.

"An interesting aspect of this campaign is the comeback of a backdoor dubbed ANEL, which was used in campaigns targeting Japan by APT10 until around 2018 and had not been observed since then," they said. APT10 is likely MirrorFace’s umbrella organization.

Earth Kasha is quite an active group these days. In late November, researchers saw the group targeting organizations in Japan, Taiwan, India, and even Europe, through holes in Array AG, ProSelf, and FortiNet. They were also seen using SoftEther VPN, a legitimate open-source VPN tool, to bypass a target’s firewall and blend into legitimate traffic.

Via The Hacker News

You might also like

• US government agencies told to patch these critical security flaws or face attack
• Here's a list of the best antivirus
• These are the best endpoint protection tools right now

The company said the model provides "superior predictions," including tracking tropical cyclone paths up to five days ahead.

Amazon allegedly delayed package deliveries in areas it deems unsafe for drivers.

Cornell chicken enjoys icon status in upstate New York and some consider it the gold standard.