Idyllic photo of a mountain lake surrounded by trees actually bricks Android phones, and in some cases only a factory reset will restore the device
News Android
Latvia Set To Release Covid-19 App Based On Tech Companies’ Framework
Latvia is aiming to be one of the first countries to release a Covid-19 contact-tracing app based on Apple and Google’s API, released only last week
Android Hit By ‘Incredibly Sophisticated’ Malware
Malware found on Google Play looks innocent at first, then downloads additional capabilities that allow it to take over targeted devices
One Billion Android Phones At Hack Risk – Which?
Which? report warns hundreds of millions of Android phones are now at risk because they are no longer receiving security updates
Andy Rubin’s Essential Phone Venture Closes Down
Father of Android Andy Rubin closes down Essential smartphone venture after releasing just one phone in a five year period
Critical ‘BlueFrag’ Bluetooth Vulnerability In Older Android OS
Security researchers ERNW identity critical vulnerability affecting the Android Bluetooth subsystem, which it is calling ‘BlueFrag’
WhatsApp Stops Working On Millions Of Android, iOS Phones
Phones using Android 2.3.7 ‘Gingerbread’ and earlier or iOS 8 and older are no longer able to run WhatsApp as company blocks older devices
Huawei To Expand Harmony OS To More Devices Next Year
Huawei plans to use its Android alternative operating system in more gadgets next year, as it produces its first smartphones without US-made parts
Unpatched Android Flaw Exploited To Steal Banking Logins
Unpatched ‘StrandHogg’ vulnerability found to be targeting at least 60 financial institutions, but could also be used to carry out range of other attacks
Microsoft Granted ‘Mass Market’ Export Licence For Huawei
Sign of a thaw? Huawei will be still be able to utilise Microsoft software after US Dept of Commerce grants export licence
Microsoft Pulls Plug On Cortana Mobile App For Some Users
Microsoft is set to end support for its Cortana iOS and Android apps in some regions as it integrates the digital assistant into Office 365
Google Calls In Security Firms To Help Scan Play Store Apps
ESET, Lookout and Zimperium to help scan Android apps before their publication on Google Play Store as malware continues to spread on the platform
Bill Gates Claims Windows Mobile Could Have Beaten Android
Windows Phone predecessor operating system, should have been the leading mobile OS, not Android, if not for DoJ antitrust probe claims Bill Gates
US Promises Huawei Licences Coming ‘Shortly’
Licences allowing US firms to circumvent national security blacklist are ‘forthcoming very shortly’ as end of temporary reprieve looms
Google Touts Radar Control With New Pixel 4
Launch of next generation flagship smartphone to challenge the iPhone comes with radar chip for gesture control
Google Wins Android Phone Maker Backing In EU Antitrust Appeal
Appeal against 4.3 billion euro antitrust fine sees Google gaining valuable support from two phone makers
AI Powered Mei Messaging App Arrives On iOS
Crush Analyser. Messaging app that includes an AI assistant to improve personal relationships, arrives on iOS
US Commerce Department ‘Has Received 130 Huawei Exemption Requests’
Applications pile up, but department has yet to issue a single licence allowing US firms to get around Huawei blacklist, amidst US-China deadlock
Android 10 To Arrive Next Week
Google support staff let slip the release date for Android 10, previously known as Android Q
Google Announces End Of Dessert Names For Android
No more internal codenames like Jellybean, Lollipop or Marshmellow for Android releases, Google confirms
Adware Hidden In Play Store Apps Infects 8 Million Users
Malware found in 85 apps posing as games or photography utilities displays full-screen ads and takes ‘unique’ steps to avoid detection
Google Shuts Down Android Data Programme ‘Over Regulatory Fears’
Mobile Network Insights service provided aggregated, anonymised user data to mobile operators to help them spot network weaknesses
Huawei Ready To Switch Phones From Android To HarmonyOS ‘At Any Time’
Chinese smartphone giant readies open source Android replacement as White House toughens stance on trade ban
Google To Charge Search Providers To Appear On Android ‘Choice Screen’
Android antitrust remedy comes at a cost for rival search providers, which will have to take part in an auction to appear on list of alternate providers
Huawei To Sell HongMeng OS-Powered Smartphones This Year
Chinese manufacturing giant develops HongMeng as a possible Android alternative amidst ongoing trade tensions between US and China
Huawei Says Hongmeng OS Will Not Replace Android
Chinese firm insists that Android will continue as smartphone OS, and that Hongmeng is not a replacement
Google Faces Play Store Challenge From Tinder – Report
Dating app is latest to challenge app store fees, with payment system that entirely avoids Google Play store
Skype To Lose SMS Connect Feature In August
Ability of Android users to receive and respond to SMS messages in Skype to be phased out next month
Chinese Border Guards Install Spy App On Tourist Phones – Report
Surveillance state. Android phones belonging to tourists reportedly have spy app secretly installed
Google Restricts Huawei’s Access To Android After US Blacklisting
Google says it is ‘reviewing the implications’ of the US ban but that current Huawei Android devices will retain access to the Google Play store and Google security services