Whatsapp introduces Video Calls for Android- Beta Version

Some users are reportedly getting the video call feature for WhatsApp.The world’s most used instant messaging service has been getting new features recently. The updated GIF support, document sharing and different emoji for example.

These quality of life changes were not in a particularly high demand, unlike video calling.

The Most Demanded Feature: 

WhatsApp users have demanded video calling ever since the option to call other WhatsApp users has become available. It had some issues at the beginning but they were eventually resolved or diminished to some extent.

The small changes mentioned earlier have been coming to the instant messaging app over the past few weeks. However these changes didn’t warrant as much attention as video calling is getting now.

Available for Beta Users:

The video calling feature is becoming available for users at random. It is limited to the recent beta version of the app only. This requires that both of the people have video calling enabled on their version of WhatsApp. If they do not have video calling enabled they just get a regular call instead.

The video calling UI shows up even if the other person does not have the video calling enabled for them. They will also see a video calling option in their call logs but tapping it would just get you an error.

If you have video calling option available, when you tap the call icon on top of a chat, both video call and regular call option are available. Only a few lucky users seem to have access to this new feature however there is a way to get it running on your WhatsApp as well.

How to enable video calling:

According to Android Police,

We’ve had success forcing video calling to activate by wiping app data and logging in again. You can try this, but make sure you back up your chats first.

Remember this only works for the beta version of the app. We do not recommend trying this on the regular Google PlayStore version of WhatsApp.

For those who want to try out the beta, here’s the Android APK for sideloading.

Google to Launch Hybrid (Android+Chrome) OS called Andromeda

Google's long-rumored Android-Chrome hybrid operating system is expected to debut at the company's upcoming hardware event on October 4.

The company has been working to merge the two OSes for roughly 3 years with a release planned for 2017, but an "early version" to show things off to the world in 2016.

Android + Chrome = Andromeda

The hybrid OS, currently nicknamed 'Andromeda,' could be come on a new Pixel laptop as well as Huawei Nexus tablet from Google by Q3 2017, if not sooner, according to new leaks from 9to5Google and Android Police.

Android + Chrome = Andromeda

The laptop, officially codenamed "Bison" and nicknamed "Pixel 3," is a reference to the "Chromebook Pixel," but since this edition is not running Chrome operating system, one can not call it a "Chromebook" anymore.

Andromeda is separate from the company's Fuchsia OS, which is focused on Internet-of-Thing (IoT) devices. Moreover, the report also makes it clear that Andromeda "is [an entirely] distinct effort from Google's current campaign to bring Android apps to Chromebooks." So, don't get confused.

Rumored specs suggest Bison is expected to pack a 12.3-inch display with a 'tablet' mode and stylus and reportedly powered by an Intel M3 processor like Apple's 12-inch MacBook, or an Intel Core i5.

Bison is expected to have two models with 32GB or 128GB of internal storage, and 8GB or 16GB of RAM.

Other features could include two USB-C ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, a backlit keyboard, quad microphones, a glass trackpad, and a battery that lasts around 10 hours.

For more details about the new hybrid operating system, you need to wait for two more weeks for Google's October 4 event that is set to launch a Google's new hardware product line, including "Google Wi-Fi" router, Google Home, the refreshed 4K-capable Chromecast rumored to be called Chromecast Ultra, and a "Daydream" VR headset.

Google introduces new Alert Feature on Android - Login Activity Notification

Google has rolled out a new feature for Android users to keep its users account more secure: Native Android Push Notification when a new device accesses your Google account.

Google has already been offering email notification for newly added devices, but since people usually ignore emails, the tech giant will now send a push notification to your device screen, giving you a chance to change your password immediately before an intruder gets in.

Although it's a little change, the company believes people pay four times more attention on push notifications on their devices compared to email notification.

The new feature "increases transparency to the user of what actions they've performed and allows them to flag any suspicious activity they may be seeing on the device," the company says in its official blog post.

So, from now on, when a new device is added to your Google account, or, in other words, when a new device accesses your account, you will receive a push notification on your current Android device, asking:

"Did you just sign in?"

If yes, you can just ignore the notification. But if the activity appears suspicious, you just have to tap the "Review account activity" button to know about the details of the new device.

You can immediately change your password and add two-factor authorization (2FA) if you are worried someone else has accessed your account.

The new feature is rolling out to users gradually, and it may take over two weeks to reach all the users across the world.

Recently, Google is taking several measures to secure its users' account privacy. Google also introduced "Google Prompt" that makes 2-Step Verification (2FV) process much easier for you, allowing you to log in with just a single tap instead of typing codes.

Google Imposed Strictly Enforced verified Boot in Android 7.0 Nougat

As far as security is concerned, Google is going very strict with the newest version of its mobile operating system.

Until now, Google has not done more than just alerting you of the potential threats when your Android device runs the check as part of the boot process.

Android Marshmallow 6.0 does nothing more than just warning you that your device has been compromised, though it continues to let your device boot up.

1. Android Nougat 7.0 Getting Strictly Enforced 'Verified Boot'

In Android Nougat, Google has taken the security of its Android operating system to the next level by strictly enforcing verified boot on devices.

Among multiple layers of security protection, Android uses verified boot - since Android version 4.4 KitKat - that improves its device's security by using cryptographic integrity checking to detect if your device has been tampered with.

Now, Android Nougat will strictly enforce the boot check, giving you far more than just a warning.

2. Android 7.0 Verified Boot Protects Device from Rootkits and Malware

Enforcing verified boot on a device is a good idea.

If any Android malware or rootkit made its way onto your Android device and made deep system changes to critical kernel files, your device will either start in a limited-use mode (presumably similar to safe mode) or refuse to start at all, protecting your data.

In addition to strict verified boot, Android Nougat also features forward error correction that is capable of repairing some errors on devices without any user input.

And, of course, Nexus devices will be the first to get these features.

This will prevent your Android device from becoming a playground for malware and viruses, at least after you restart it.

That sounds really great. Right?

3. If Modified, Corrupt or Tampered, It won't let your phone Boot

For most users the strict verified boot would be helpful, however, for some, it's bad news.

According to Google, some non-malicious corruption of data could cause Android devices to fail to boot up because verified boot process runs into issues that it can not correct.

This data corruption could be the result of some software flaws or hardware issues.

Here's what the Android Developer blog explains: "This means that a device with a corrupt boot image or verified partition will not boot or will boot in a limited capacity with user consent. Such strict checking, though, means that non-malicious data corruption, which previously would be less visible, could now start affecting process functionality more."

Since corrupted data may not always be malicious, even a single-byte error could prevent the device from booting.

However, Android Nougat brings additional code designed to protect against data corruption.

"In the changes we made to dm-verity for Android 7.0, we used a technique called interleaving to allow us to recover not only from a loss of an entire 4 KiB source block, reads the blog, "but several consecutive blocks, while significantly reducing the space overhead required to achieve usable error correction capabilities compared to the naive implementation."

4. Verified Boot Has Made It Harder to Root Android 7.0 Nougat

Like I said, data corruption could not always be due to malicious reasons.

Strictly enforcing verified boot could also make it tougher for you to tweak your Android Operating System (especially with locked bootloader) using custom ROMs, mods, and kernels.

Since this involves circumventing the locked bootloader, verified boot process will detect any changes, making it harder for users to play with their devices when Nougat rolls around.

The bottom line:

Enforcing strict verified boot in Android Nougat is a good idea, because most users root their devices with custom firmware but forget to take important security measures, which leaves their devices open to malicious software and rootkits.

What do you think of the additional security Google provides to the boot process in Android Nougat?

Let us know your views in the comments below!

5 Reasons I’m Excited By Nokia’s Upcoming Android Phones

Nokia's Return To The Mobile Space With Android WILL Be IMMENSE. God! I've Missed Nokia So Much...

Nokia used to be the world’s biggest phone maker. When you thought of mobile phones you thought of Nokia. The brand was synonymous with mobile technology, just as Apple iand Samsung are right now.

But things went sour quickly for Nokia after the arrival of Apple and Android. Like BlackBerry, Nokia moved too slowly and failed to spot the threat to its control of the mobile market and, between the years of 2007 to 2012, the Nokia brand effectively died.

Then came Windows Phone and, well, we all know how that played out…

But Nokia will return in 2016 and this time it will be using Google’s Android platform, apparently. As a long standing fan of Nokia, its approach to design and its thirst for innovation, I am really rather excited about this. And below are six points on why you should be too!

The Nokia Brand Is Still Strong

Check around online. Read comments on articles about Nokia’s return. Hell, you can even read old Lumia reviews. Do this and you will see a trend — Nokia’s brand appeal, despite a good few years in exile, is still very strong inside the hearts and minds of A LOT of consumers.

Unlike BlackBerry, Nokia has always been a consumer-facing brand. A lot of its phones are classics. Take the 3310, for instance. Most people, at some point in their life, have owned a Nokia phone. People trust Nokia. People remember Nokia. And I think a strong return in 2016 with Android, as well as some core USPs, will jog people’s memory about Nokia and see people out in droves to check out their new hardware.

I know — this sounds like wishful thinking. But I have faith that Nokia can design its way into contention on the already packed Android space. It has great people and a better understanding than most about what makes a great phone. Throw in all the benefits you get with Android Nougat and, well, a flagship Nokia phone in 2016 starts to sound very compelling.

Nokia Knows How To Design The Hell Out of Things

Nokia has produced hundreds of phones over the years, phones of all shapes and sizes. Nokia knows how to design handsets that stand out from the crowd. Even the phones during its Lumia campaign were notable for their robust, unique styling; things only came apart on the software front, and that was all Microsoft's doing. The Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1020 immediately spring to mind; these handsets still look cool today, despite their age. Nokia's also one of only a small group of manufacturers who know how to build in plastic and still make a phone feel like a quality, £400+ price tag worthy product.

I cannot wait to see what Nokia’s designers come to the fray with in 2016. I hope it is something original; there is a lot of room for some innovation with design in the Android space. Most phones look and feel the same these days — rectangular, slim slabs — so it’d be nice to see Nokia inject some je ne sais quoi into things in this regard.

Android Solves All Previous Issues

Windows Phone as an ecosystem couldn’t keep up with Android and iOS. It lacked applications, content and services. This is one of the many reasons why Microsoft scrapped it. The platform itself was plenty powerful and well optimised, but when most people — like 90% — are used to Apple’s App Store and Google Play, an understocked Windows Store simply don’t cut the mustard.

With Android Nougat at the core of its phones, Nokia simply doesn’t need to worry about software. It can focus on what it does best — hardware.

Price — Nokia Will Go For Competitive Angle

Word on the street suggests Nokia will release a range of phones which will include a flagship device and a couple of more affordable units. What I hope doesn’t happen is that Nokia just goes after the budget space — this would suck. If Nokia is returning to the phone space it needs to do so with a BANG.

Also, things have changed quite a bit since it departed from the phone market. OnePlus has shown you can run a viable business with network support and lower cost hardware. Wouldn’t it be nice if Nokia’s return took a few plays from OnePlus’  handbook and championed cutting edge hardware at uber-competitive prices?

Nokia Loves To Innovate

Whether you’re talking about camera technology or the overall physical design of a phone, Nokia has excellent pedigree in both. It was the first to really popularise the camera phone format and then it debuted its PureView camera technology at MWC 2012. In between this Nokia consistently pushed the boundaries with the design, build materials and integral nature of its phones.

I miss Nokia’s balls-out approach to things. I’d also love to see its PureView technology re-jigged for 2016/17. Beyond this Nokia is well placed to do some innovating in a space where most simply attempt to keep up with Apple and Samsung. LG and HTC have done a lot in 2016 to add in value to their releases, but I believe Nokia’s approach to things and its talented team will go one better and give us something to really look forward to.

I know this is a rather gushing post on Nokia. But I do believe the mobile space is a duller place without the firm. I always remember getting excited by the arrival of a new Nokia phone back in the day, whether the N8 or N900, it didn’t matter, as I always knew it’d be something different. 

I just hope Nokia hasn’t lost the magic it once had! 

Beware ! it could be Malicious to download Pokemon Go Game for Android

"Pokémon Go" has become the hottest iPhone and Android game to hit the market in forever with enormous popularity and massive social impact. The app has taken the world by storm since its launch this week.

Nintendo's new location-based augmented reality game allows players to catch Pokémon in the real life using their device's camera and is currently only officially available in the United States, New Zealand, UK and Australia.

On an average, users are spending twice the amount of time engaged with the new Pokémon Go app than on apps like Snapchat. In fact Pokémon Go is experiencing massive server overload in just few days of launch.

Due to the huge interest surrounding Pokémon Go, many gaming and tutorial websites have offered tutorials recommending users to download the APK from a non-Google Play link.

In order to download the APK, users are required to "side-load" the malicious app by modifying their Android core security settings, allowing their device's OS to install apps from "untrusted sources."

Pokémon Go is Installing DroidJack Malware

Security researchers have warned users that many of these online tutorials are linked to malicious versions of the Pokémon Go app that install a backdoor on Android phones, enabling hackers to compromise a user's device completely.

Security firm Proofpoint has discovered the malicious app, or APK, that has been infected withDroidJack – a Remote Access Tool (RAT) that can hack any Android device by opening a silent backdoor for hackers.

Just less than 3 days after Nintendo initially released the game in Australia and New Zealand on July 4, the malicious app was uploaded to an online malware detection repository.

Since Android core security settings normally prevent the installation of untrusted third-party apps from "unknown sources," side-loading should have never been done by a user.

"This is an extremely risky practice and can easily lead users to install malicious apps on their own mobile devices," researchers at Proofpoint wrote in a blog post. "Should an individual download an APK [Android application package] from a third-party that has been infected with a backdoor, like the one we discovered, their device would then be compromised."

Here's How to Prevent Yourself

Fortunately, there are several ways to check if you have downloaded the malicious version of the Pokémon Go app.

The infected version of the Pokémon Go app would have been granted more system permissions, so one way to differ between the two is to compare the permissions of your app to those of the legitimate one.

To do so, Go to the Settings → Apps → Pokemon GO and check the game's permissions.

If you find that the game has asked for permissions like directly call phone numbers, edit and read your SMSes, record audio, read Web history, modify and read your contacts, read and write call logs, and change network connectivity, then you should uninstall the game right away, since it is infected with DroidJack.

You can also compare the game's SHA-1 hash – a long string of characters used to verify if a file was infected with or modified by a malicious third-party – to make sure the game matches the hash of the legitimate version.

The Bottom Line:

Instead of downloading available applications from unknown third party stores, wait for the Pokémon Go app to launch in your country.

However, downloading apps from third parties do not always end up with malware or viruses, but it certainly ups the risk. So, it's the best way to wait in order to avoid compromising your device and the networks it accesses.

Google Names Android N as Nougat

It isn’t Nutella and certainly not Naan Khatai, but instead Google has named the next version of Android, “Nougat”.

For the very first time, Google had asked Android fan community to suggest names for the upcoming version.

Millions of people, including myself, submitted their favorite “sweet names” and many were confident that it will be called Nutella, considering Google’s partnership with KitKat in the past.

However Google decided to go with the sweet candy.

It is still unclear about the version number that Google will assign to Nougat, it could be 7.0 or just an increment to Android 6.0.

To make it official Google also unveiled the new Android Nougat statue at its headquarters in California.

Android Nougat will bring performance and security updates and is likely to be released in September this year along with a new Nexus device.

Facebook Messenger now let you send text messages - Android only

Today the Vice President of Messaging products at Facebook, David Marcus, announced that the Messenger is getting a brand new feature for the Android version.

SMS integration

The new feature is the ability to send SMS messages from the Messenger. This will allow users to focus all of their messaging on one app instead of using separate apps for SMS and instant messaging.

David commented,

“Very excited to announce a major new feature for Messenger on Android today! From now on, you’ll be able to send and receive your SMS messages from Messenger, which means you now have one integrated place for all your messaging!

Aside from the usual options in SMS apps, the Messenger will allow sending voice clips, stickers and let you share your location via SMS. All of this is done on the client side and none of the SMS are sent to Facebook’s servers, if you were wondering about the security aspect.

He added that a lot of texting apps for Android did not have enough features and options for the users, which led them to design the Messenger so it works as a texting app as well, killing two birds with one stone.

The app will include Messenger exclusive features as well such as chat heads and more. It’s limited to Android for now.

The update is expected to be released today and will be available for most countries by Friday including Pakistan. 

This Case for the iPhone Runs Android

You may have seen dozens of hacks that put Google’s Android on every Apple iPhone out there (and in desperate cases, a cheap Chinese copy) but hardly any solution is as easy or convenient as the one which comes courtesy of developer Nick Lee, who has made a special case which brings Android brains to a traditionally iOS phone.

Nick Lee, who is already known for undertaking adventurous procedures such as when he made it possible to run Windows 95 on an Apple Watch, made the case so that he did not have to choose between two great platforms all the time.

The case may not win a lot of casual users because of its bulky design but that is not without reason. (You can argue that Apple itself has a case quite reminiscent to this one and that only holds a tiny battery pack.)

It contains its own SoC, which is Huawei’s Kirin 620 (no slouch), 2 GB worth RAM and 8 GB internal storage. He also made it possible to boost connectivity through options including HDMI, USB ports, Lightning port and a microSD card slot. He 3D printed these into a case along with a battery and the result is one of the coolest looking, if not the most attractive case that you have ever seen.

The version of Android which can run as a result is the version 6.0.1 Marshmallow, which appears to be running adequately if not completely smoothly. It is launched via a custom-built app courtesy of Nick Lee’s employer, Tendigi, which allows the circuitry in the board to interact with the display of the iPhone 6S.

Before he came up with this remarkable case, Lee also streamed Android on the iPhone through a microUSB cable from the Nexus 5, thanks to the Android Open Source Project to make sure that the concept worked.

Projects like these make sure that the smartphone industry remains open to all sorts of intervention from the hacking community. The project may not be very polished and certainly not practical for day-to-day use, but has a sort of sophistication that begs to be acknowledged.

Now, if only someone puts the circuitry into a transparent case and brings it out into the market that would be awesome.

Samsung introduces its first ever cord free earbuds - For ANDROID ONLY

Samsung showed off its first-ever cord-free earbuds Thursday, extending its line of wearable fitness gadgets.

The Gear IconX has built-in heart rate and distance monitoring that works by using an optical sensor and accelerometer.

The earbuds can play music with or without a phone, and they can take calls when paired with a phone by acting as a Bluetooth headset. They have 4 GB of internal storage and can stream Spotify, Google Music and Pandora (P) through a Bluetooth-connected smartphone. There's also a cool ambient sound feature that lets outside noise blend in with the audio.

I spent a little time wearing them and found the earbuds to be very comfortable and secure. I ran on a treadmill at about 6 mph for two minutes and they felt securely tucked in my ear -- after I found right size plugs. (One of the earbuds fell out about halfway through on my first attempt.)

The sound quality is rich and full, and volume and menu options are accessed through touch control.

The Gear IconX earbuds come in a charging case that can hold two additional full charges. Samsung says battery life should run around one and a half hours if the earbuds are paired to a phone and three hours if they're not.

Cordless earbuds aren't a new concept, but current models tend to be either too expensive with too few features, or inexpensive and questionable quality.

At $200, the Gear IconX isn't exactly cheap, but Samsung will likely offer promotions for the device in the third quarter when they become available. There are three colors -- black, white and blue.

I stopped listening to music at the gym last year after I crushed my iPhone between the pedals of an elliptical machine. Luckily, only the charging port was dented, but it was enough for me to understand that cords and swinging arms don't mix.

Still, cords and wires at least make it easier to find headphones in a bag, and if you lose one of these earbuds, you'll have to buy a whole new set.

Samsung also introduced an update of its Gear Fit activity tracker Thursday.

The Gear Fit2 now has GPS, a much wider screen that displays text vertically and a curvier shape for better fit. The Gear Fit2 also comes in a smaller size.

Like the Gear IconX, the new Fit has 4 GB of storage and Spotify is built in to play play music without a phone. The Gear Fit2 is also waterproof for up to half an hour.

Pre-orders for the Gear Fit2 start Friday for $179.