ANDROID AND HEALTH

Earlier this year, ahead of its I/O developer event, Google revealed a new update for Android Auto, featuring many improvements to the interface. Today, the Mountain View giant has announced that the update will begin rolling out to cars with support for Android Auto over the coming weeks.

The new Android Auto experience includes a series of improvements, starting with a new app drawer that makes it easier to get to your favorite apps faster. You'll also notice the Google Assistant badge next to some apps, which means you can tap them and interact with the app using your voice. For example, you can add a calendar event using the Assistant.

Android Auto will do a better job of resuming your experiences, too, so whenever you start the car, you'll be right back where you left off, so you can continue listening to a podcast or a specific playlist. it can also present you your preferred navigation app as soon as you connect to your car, and if you already have directions ready to go on your phone, your car's display will show you those, too, and start guiding you to your destination.


Other UI improvements include the new navigation bar at the bottom, providing quick access to playback controls or navigation directions, while also giving you access to your notifications, app drawer, and Google Assistant. Speaking of notifications, there's a new place to view and manage them, and you can use voice activation to send messages, make calls, or ask to hear your notifications. Finally, the UI will also adapt to wider in-car screens, using the additional space to house playback controls, for instance.

Most of these enhancements had been announced already, and the real news is that it's rolling out in the coming weeks. Additionally, Google has revealed that this Android Auto experience won't be on your phone's screen. Instead, Android Auto on your phone is evolving into the new driving mode for Google Assistant, which was also announced at I/O this year.

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Nvidia has put out a hotfix driver update for the 431.60 WHQL Game Ready drivers that were released last week. According to the release notes that accompany the hotfix, the reason for the updated driver is because the "Mouse cursor may render incorrectly after exiting a game." which is pretty important, and as far as we can see, the bug only appears to have affected Windows 10 devices.

The driver update is being offered in two flavors: the Windows 10 64-bit Standard Driver and the Windows 10 64-bit DCH variant, with Nvidia further pointing out that the the method of packaging the driver is the only difference.

In addition, the hotfix, which is based off last week's 431.60 drivers, is optimized for Wolfenstein: Youngblood, Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot, Madden NFL 20, as well as the first DLC for Metro Exodus. The Madden game also has an updated SLI profile. Those drivers also included support for three new G-SYNC Compatible monitors from HP and AOC.

You can grab the hotfix at the links below, this doesn't appear to be coming through GeForce Experience yet, and the driver is also not listed when you search for it at Nvidia drivers page, so if you're affected, update.

GeForce Hotfix Driver Version 431.68: Windows 10 - Standard / DCH

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In recent months, we've reported on a couple of Cortana-related Microsoft patents being published. These include a patent for silent voice commands, and one that envisions voice-input integration for the digital assistant with third-party apps.


In other Cortana-related news, a new app for the digital assistant was discovered on the Microsoft Store last month, and it began working for Insiders last week. The big difference it offers in terms of experience is that its not attached to the Taskbar, as in its current form, and that it will be updated separately from Windows 10.

Now, a newly published patent may offer some insight as to what features Microsoft plans to introduce to the digital assistant. The patent describes an automated quick task notification system that can make it much easier for users to respond to task requests. Notably, however, a number of references have been made to the tech being leveraged through a personal digital assistant, though its usage isn't only limited to that.



Microsoft believes that managing tasks on any device can be quite an inefficient process since there's no single user interface that can help users quickly attend to the growing backlog of pending tasks. For this reason, the tech giant has patented an an audio channel quick task system that essentially handles notification and subsequent actions for all tasks that need to be performed.

It initially extracts quick task from a variety of digital content, that could include emails, text messages, social media posts, to-do lists, word-processing documents, and the like. Users are then informed through an audio message that a certain item requires their attention, and depending upon the response, various actions could immediately be executed. Microsoft has specifically noted its usage alongside digital assistants. As an example, one technique that could be employed would be Cortana prioritizing tasks based upon pre-decided metrics and presenting users with higher-ranked tasks first. It could also provide these services based on the information it has gathered regarding a user, making the actions more personalized.

The major difference to note here is, that while some applications or digital assistants do already offer the capability to remind users about tasks, and to perform actions based on the reminders, there's no single system that not only recognizes required engagements from a variety of applications, but also enables user to respond to them using the same interface. A description of how this process would occur can be observed in the diagram below.


However, this doesn't simply serve as a solution for handling of all possible tasks. The system will itself only select the ones that can be further processed upon by users in the form of a limited amount of actions, or in other words, quick tasks. Other metrics that could satisfy this threshold include the amount of data that would need to be presented. For example, a report that requires approval may also need the user to thoroughly review an accompanying document. In this case, the audio quick task system obviously won't be a suitable tool to help perform this task.

A slightly similar idea was patented by Microsoft a couple of days ago, though that had more to do with collaborative work, rather than a system incorporated with personalized digital assistants. In any case, this patent was filed last year, and it may still end up getting integrated with the new Cortana app. But, there's currently no guarantee that the company is working upon or plans to work upon it any time soon.

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Today, Apple released a round of minor updates for all of its supported devices, including iOS 12.4, macOS 10.14.6, watchOS 5.3, and tvOS 12.4. As it turns out though, some older devices - devices that aren't supported by the latest updates anymore - are getting some love as well.


According to MacRumors, iOS 9.3.6 and iOS 10.3.4 are now available. The report states that the former is only available for cellular models of the iPad mini, iPad 2, and iPad 3, all devices that used an A5 processor or a variant of it. It's worth noting that the third-generation Apple TV also got an update today, as that also included an A5 chipset.

As for iOS 10.3.4, that was made available for the cellular variant of the iPad 4 and the iPhone 5. Notable devices left out would be the iPhone 4s, which had an A5, and the iPhone 5c, which was nearly identical to the iPhone 5.

According to the report, the new updates fix an issue with GPS that could lead to the date and time being incorrect. As you'd expect, you can download the updates by heading to Settings -> General -> Software Update.

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While Xiaomi provokes with photos of the Moon , Huawei works not to be called a "cheater" anymore and still wants to improve the quality of its images that record the Earth's natural satellite.

The Chinese manufacturer has patented a new method to leave the lunar photos captured by its most vivid and sharp devices. The order number is 201910134047.X, made on February 22 of this year, at the Patent Office of China.

The new Huawei patent captures images of the Moon in various frames and processes them all in a single photo

The document features a technology that allows you to recognize the natural satellite automatically in the preview interface. After this step, the camera would enter the special capture mode, in which the lens is focused on the star and would show a clear outline in the image of the Moon.

As can be seen from the sketch accompanying the patent, the photo would come with pictures collected under different exposures. The result, after processing, is a clearer, brighter-looking lunar image like the photo shown below:


It is worth noting that a patent exists does not mean that its content will be used by the manufacturer someday. Many companies record only to have control over a particular product or method. However, having intellectual property shows that the idea is on the radar for the future.

What is your assessment of this new Huawei patent? Leave your opinion for us in the comments below.


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IOS 13 is still in beta for both the public and developers, and therefore many bugs appear - which is normal. But a specific security breach caught the attention of some users. This vulnerability made it easy to access site and application passwords in the Settings menu without the need for authentication via Face ID or Touch ID.


When running beta 3 of iOS 13 for developers (or the second public beta), it's incredibly easy to ignore the Face ID or Touch ID authentication prompt in Settings when trying to access your iCloud Keychain passwords. This problem was first noticed by a Reddit user.


As detailed by iDeviceHelp in YouTube, you can access all usernames and passwords saved in Settings by repeatedly tapping the "Website & App Passwords" menu and avoiding the request of the IDs. After several attempts, iOS 13 will display all your passwords and logins even if you have not authenticated with Face ID or Touch ID to do so.

The 9to5Mac site personnel confirmed that this vulnerability is present in the latest iOS 13 beta for developers. THEApplewas informed about the issue through the Feedback app, but has not done anything yet. The bug is also present in the last betaOS of the iPadOS 13.

When running a beta version of iOS, it is normal for the user to be aware that system crashes can occur and this vulnerability is a good example. However, it is surprising that such a large security gap is present in a public beta of iOS 13.

Apple released iOS 13 beta 3 for developers on July 2nd. That means we're probably only a day or two away from the release of iOS 13 beta 4. It's possible Apple will fix this by then.


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Nearly a month ago, Microsoft announced that it was beginning the staging process of automatically upgrading users from Windows 10 version 1803 to version 1903. Today is the day that the automatic updates begin.

Here's how it works. When Microsoft releases Windows 10 feature updates now, it doesn't force them on you anymore. You'll be given an option to download and install the update via Windows Update, and if you ignore it, it doesn't install. The only time that the firm will automatically update your machine to a feature update is if your current version is nearing the end of support.

And that scenario applies to Windows 10 version 1803, which will no longer be supported after November 12. Naturally, Microsoft wants those users to be on a newer version after support ends. This is important, because according to the latest AdDuplex report, 58% of all Windows 10 users are still on version 1803. Few users have taken the time to upgrade to 1809 or 1903.

According to Microsoft though, you'll still be able to pause the update for up to 35 days, and this applies to both Windows 10 Home and Pro users. This is something that you'll want to turn on if you don't want to get version 1903 right away.


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Canonical, earlier this month, announced that Ubuntu 18.10 Cosmic Cuttlefish will be reaching end-of-life status this Thursday, making now the ideal time to upgrade to a later version. As with all non-Long Term Support (LTS) releases, 18.10 had nine months of support following its release last October.

When distributions reach their end-of-life stage, they no longer receive security updates. While you may be relatively safe at first, the longer you keep running an unpatched system, the more likely it is that your system will become compromised putting your data at risk. If you’d like to move on from Ubuntu 18.10, you’ve got two options; you can either perform a clean install of a more up-to-date version of Ubuntu or you can do an in-place upgrade.

Upgrading Ubuntu is relatively easy, you can find detailed instructions in the Ubuntu help pages, but generally you just need to install any available updates and then press the upgrade button that should be visible in the software updater tool. Normally, in-place upgrades should work fine, but it’s still recommended that you back-up all of your information to an external drive first.

The most recent version of Ubuntu is Ubuntu 19.04 Disco Dingo, which includes a new version of the GNOME desktop and a newer kernel. The next update due is Ubuntu 19.10 Eoan Ermine in mid-October, and it will be the first release to drop support for 32-bit computers.


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At the end of June, Huawei introduced its MediaPad M6 tablet with Kirin 980 and 2K screen . Now the device has received an update with the Ark Compiler feature , which arrives as a successor to ART and aims to increase the level of the Android experience.

In practice, the compiler brings improvements related to the responsiveness and smoothness of the system - also acting on applications. In addition, it is considered the first of the segment to have multilingual optimization.

This means that developers can compile multiple languages ​​into a single machine code simultaneously. The action would occur without having to create additional consumption in different languages.

The new update for the MediaPad M6 still contains enhancements to points such as fingerprint unlocking performance, voice assistant features, user interface - for third-party apps -, touch sensitivity and pen experience.

It is worth remembering that the tablet was released in two versions, with differences in screen size: one with 8.4 inches and the other with 10.8 inches.

What is your assessment regarding the inclusion of the Ark Compiler for the Huawei tablet? Tell us!


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The Huawei Mate 20X 5G , the Chinese manufacturer's special model that was launched in Europe on July 9 as an option for the new mobile networking standard, has just been viewed with its first software update.

We are talking about firmware 9.1.1.123 (C431E2R2P1) , which weighs about 689 MB and brings the 9.1.1 version of the proprietary interface of the brand, EMUI, based on Android 9 Pie. The update is already being released in Italy and as for the new features, there is not much to say.

Basically the upgrade consists of improvements and refinements to the usage experience, especially with regard to performance when using 5G connections.


One of the novelties for the first Huawei 5G smartphone in China is the possibility of replacing HiVoice by Google Assistant, as well as the removal of the Microsoft Translator app - which comes pre-installed on the device.

We remind you that it is always recommended to perform a backup of the important system information before any type of update, to ensure that no data will be lost.

It is also important to make sure that the device is plugged in or at least 50% or more to avoid unexpected shutdowns during the installation process.

The Mate 20X 5G comes in European stores costing 1099 Euros , and features technical specs including a 7.2-inch Full HD AMOLED screen, Stylus M-Pen pen with 4096 pressure levels, Kirin 980 processor, ARM Mali- G76, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage.

In the part of the cameras we have in the rear three sensors (40 + 20 + 8 MP) and in the frontal one module of 24 MP.


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This week's Windows 10 build for the Fast ring came a little later than usual, after last week's was earlier than Microsoft's typical schedule. Build 18936 includes a handful of improvements to Your Phone, the calendar flyout, and more, but there's also a fairly long list of fixes, as well as some known issues to be aware of.

Among the small improvement in today's build is the ability to run Windows Sandbox without administrator privileges, as well as a fix for an issue that could prevent users from installing games through the Xbox app. Here's the full list:

• We fixed an issue that was causing failures when installing games via the Xbox app in the previous flight.
• We fixed an issue resulting in the Photos live tile potentially drawing outside the bounds of the tile.
• We fixed an issue where the emoji panel would crash when high contrast was enabled.
• We updated the disk type text in Task Manager’s Performance tab to now match the size of the other subtext on that tab.
• We fixed an issue resulting in items not launching in the foreground when selected from the taskbar jump list of certain apps.
• We fixed an issue that could result in the virtual desktop thumbnail in task view not updating after moving a window to a different desktop.
• Running Windows Sandbox no longer requires Administrator privilege.
• We fixed an issue resulting in the composition string not being shown in certain apps when typing with the Japanese IME.
• We fixed an issue resulting in certain apps crashing when typing with the Chinese Pinyin IME.
• We fixed an issue resulting in certain games unexpectedly just showing a black screen when run in full screen mode on some devices recently.

Of course, even with those fixes, there are a few known issues with this release, many of which are new. One of them might actually bar you from installing the build, and there's no workaround, so you'll need to wait for a fix.

• A limited number Insiders attempting to install Build 18936 may experience install failures with error code c1900101 due to a compatibility bug with a storage driver on their device. The device will attempt to install, fail, and successfully roll back to the currently installed build on the device. Attempted re-tries to install the build, either manual or automatic, will not bypass this issue. A fix is forthcoming, but there are no known workarounds currently. Note: By default, the update will attempt to install (3) times. Users may pause updates if they experience this issue and want to bypass the re-try attempts.
• Insiders may notice some changes in Magnifier with today’s build. These aren’t quite ready yet for you to try, but we’ll let you know once they are in an upcoming flight.
• There has been an issue with older versions of anti-cheat software used with games where after updating to the latest 19H1 Insider Preview builds may cause PCs to experience crashes. We are working with partners on getting their software updated with a fix, and most games have released patches to prevent PCs from experiencing this issue. To minimize the chance of running into this issue, please make sure you are running the latest version of your games before attempting to update the operating system. We are also working with anti-cheat and game developers to resolve similar issues that may arise with the 20H1 Insider Preview builds and will work to minimize the likelihood of these issues in the future.
• Some Realtek SD card readers are not functioning properly. We are investigating the issue.
• Tamper Protection may be turned off in Windows Security after updating to this build. You can turn it back on. In August, Tamper Protection will return to being on by default for all Insiders.

As we always note, this build is part of the 20H1 development cycle, and it's leading up to a feature update to be released in the first half of next year. That means we're still fairly early into the development cycle, and the new features may not justify the bugs you might find. If you'd rather try the upcoming 19H2 feature update, that one is now in the Slow ring, and it should be less problematic.

If you're running Apple's beta software, it might be time to check for updates. If you're running the public beta, the second builds of iOS 13, iPadOS 13, tvOS 13, and macOS Catalina are out. They contain a range of fixes over the first one, which came out two weeks ago and was based on Developer Beta 2.

But today, Apple also released refreshed builds of iOS 13 Developer Beta 3 and iPadOS 13 Developer Beta 3. Obviously, not a lot has changed, but this build is also available for the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus. Those devices were omitted from the original release of Developer Beta 3.

iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 are still pretty early on in development, so while these builds are definitely better than the last ones, it's still wise to be skeptical. Apple's next range of major feature updates, including iOS 13, iPadOS 13, watchOS 6, tvOS 13, and macOS 10.15 Catalina, are due to be generally available in late September.

Recently, Google began the rollout of ChromeOS v75 to the users and the new update was supposed to bring a bunch of new features including the support for third-party cloud services.

Google, however, has now paused the rollout of ChromeOS update. Google usually maintains a two-week gap between Chrome and ChromeOS rollout which means the company was already behind schedule. Unfortunately, users will have to wait a little longer as the rollout has been further delayed. Google hasn’t released an official statement to confirm and justify the action but posts on forums have confirmed that the rollout has been paused due to stability issues. According to users who did receive the update, the new update is acting up and users are experiencing random freezing, icons disappearing and issues with the internet connection.

At this point, there is no word from Google so we don’t know the exact reason for the pause but any of the above-mentioned reasons could be the culprit. It is usually a good idea to wait for a couple of days before installing a major update as those might come with fatal bugs. If you’re one of the unfortunate users then there’s a thread on the Chromebook Forum which should help you revert back to v74.


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The Fuchsia is real. Well, as real as we might suspect it to be, as this week has quietly released a website dedicated to operating system developers. Although Google itself remains firm in its policy of absolute silence about the system, the arrival of the dedicated page adds even more weight to rumors that the internet giant would be working on the new operating system.

The site does not have a lot of stuff: a few links related to the documentation, the template that follows the standards of most Google pages, and the company's terms of use and privacy, as well as registration of the domain with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). However, the page is still "raw," with no guidance on what Fuchsia really is, or what he has so different about Android and Chrome OS.

At least there is an official character behind the new operating system: after years refusing to comment on its mere existence, Google finally recognized Fuchsia at the last Google I / O in May. The new site, however, contains material that can excite developers - especially those specializing in Linux - by mentioning Zircon, the microkernel that pervades the entire operating system.

Google is in no hurry to speak publicly about Fuchsia, recognizing that while it does exist and has its mark, the operating system is now more for an application development environment that synergizes the experience between Android and Chrome OS than a system itself.

Anyway, the arrival of an inviting page to developers adds more fuel to the debate of its operation. Interested parties can access the site directly to start playing with their features, but it is recommended to use machines that bring features supported by the tools: some examples include the Acer Switch Alpha 12, the Intel NUC, plus of course the Google Pixelbook.


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If you're using Boot Camp on a Mac to run Windows 10, you might have trouble getting the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, according to a new Microsoft support document. Specifically, the issue affects Macs that came out prior to 2012 and newer Macs that have older versions of Boot Camp or Windows Support Software drivers.


It's an issue with the Mac HAL Driver (MacHALDriver.sys), if it's dated September 24, 2011 01:57:09 or older. Upon attempting to upgrade to the May 2019 Update, you'll get a message that says, "Mac HAL Driver - machaldriver.sys: Your PC has a driver or service that isn't ready for this version of Windows 10."

There are some workarounds though. Obviously, the best solution is to update your Windows Support Software, which you might find by checking for updates in the Mac App Store. Apple also has a support page with instructions.

That doesn't solve the problem for Macs that came out before 2012 though. Remember, those PCs can't even be upgraded to the latest version of macOS. Microsoft says that it's working on a fix though, so those devices won't be left out in the cold. The fix for the issue is estimated to be made available later on this month.

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If you've got a Windows phone that's running Windows Phone 8 or 8.1, there's some bad news. As of today, Microsoft won't be distributing app updates through the Microsoft Store on those platforms, as was announced last August. On those versions of the OS, the Store is pretty much dead. Not distributing app updates should also mean that you can't download apps at all.

There's good news and there's bad news here. The good news is that if you're on Windows 10 Mobile, you'll still get app updates that are supported for your build. Every Windows Phone 8.1 device that was eligible for an upgrade is now officially unsupported, with the Lumia 640 and 640 XL getting Windows 10 version 1703 and everything else getting 1607, so the apps will need to support Windows 10 builds 15063 and 14393, respectively, to get the update.

The bad news is that to get to Windows 10 Mobile, you actually need to install an app from the Microsoft Store. At the time of publishing this article, that's still possible. You'll need to get the Upgrade Advisor app, which will let you activate your phone for Windows 10 Mobile.

Also ending today is the distribution of app updates on Windows 8; however, Windows 8.1 apps will still get updates through July 2023. Once again though, you'll need to use the Microsoft Store to jump from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1.

If you want to continue to receive any kind of app support through the Microsoft Store, you'll need to upgrade your devices now if you're on Windows Phone 8.x or Windows 8. The reason it has to be now is because the only upgrade paths are through the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft has released new firmware updates for some its Surface devices, including the Surface Pro 4, Book, Book 2, Laptop, and Laptop 2. The updates are available on devices running Windows 10 version 1803, or the April 2018 Update, and later.

The updates bring the Surface firmware to different versions depending on your device, but they all contain the same security fixes. The Surface Pro 4 gets version 108.2706.768.0, the Surface Book gets 91.2706.768.0, Surface Book 2 gets 389.2706.768.0, and both Surface Laptop models get 137.2706.768.0.

The security vulnerabilities addressed in this update are listed in the Microsoft security advisory 190013, which have to do with Microarchitectural Data Sampling. Specifically, it includes the following vulnerabilities:

• CVE-2018-12126 - Microarchitectural Store Buffer Data Sampling (MSBDS) 

• CVE-2018-12130 - Microarchitectural Fill Buffer Data Sampling (MFBDS)

• CVE-2018-12127 - Microarchitectural Load Port Data Sampling (MLPDS)

• CVE-2019-11091 - Microarchitectural Data Sampling Uncacheable Memory (MDSUM)

In certain situations, these vulnerabilities could allow attackers to access privileged information that would otherwise be off-limits.

Microsoft warns that these vulnerabilities can affect other operating systems and vendors too, so you may want to see if your computer's manufacturer has issued any updates for this purpose. Google included similar fixes in its latest update to Chrome OS.


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Microsoft continues to make improvements to the new Chromium-based version of the Edge browser, and now, the company has announced that the browser is getting built-in tracking protection settings. The capability was first announced at this year's Build but is now available in a hidden flag for those willing to test it.

Microsoft isn't the first company to implement such a feature in its browsers, but it's a welcome addition nonetheless. To enable tracking prevention, you'll need to go to edge://flags#edge-tracking-prevention, and change the flag to Enabled. Once you restart the browser, tracking protection settings will show up the in the Privacy and services section of the Edge settings page.

The default setting is balanced, which will block malicious trackers and "some third-party trackers", but you can change it to basic or strict, depending on your needs. The basic setting only blocks malicious trackers, such as fingerprinting and cryptomining trackers. The strict setting, as you'd probably guess, blocks the most trackers, but it may break some websites.

To apply these protections, Microsoft has added a new component to Edge, called Trust Protection Lists. These lists contain organizations that may be known for tracking, and URLs you visit are then checked against that list to see if it's necessary to enforce tracking protection. If that's the case, then trackers can be blocked from storing the user's data and loading resources on the page.

If you want to test out the built-in tracking prevention features in Microsoft Edge, you'll need to be running version 77.0.203.0 or higher, which is now available in the Canary ring for Windows. It'll come to macOS in the next Canary build and should then make its way to the Dev channel next week.


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AdDuplex released its monthly report today, showing Windows usage based on usage of apps that run the AdDuplex SDK v2 or higher on the date of June 26. AdDuplex runs on over 5,000 Microsoft Store apps.


Only 6.3% of Windows 10 users are on the latest version, the May 2019 Update. This actually isn't very surprising news, and while the rollout timing is similar to 1809, it's for a completely different reason. The Windows 10 October 2018 Update had a bunch of issues that caused it to get pulled from Windows Update servers, and it never really gained traction after that.

As part of preventing things like that from happening again, Microsoft won't be pushing feature updates on users and forcing them to upgrade. With the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, or version 1903, you have to go into Windows Update and choose to download and install it. That's why the number is still so low.

It will go up soon though. The only way that Microsoft will automatically install an update on your machine is if the one you're on is near its end of support. That includes Windows 10 version 1803, the version that the bulk of users are still on. Last week, Microsoft began the process for auto-updating people from 1803 to 1903.



The rollout is once again slow, on paper looking a lot like Windows 10 version 1809. The truth is, gone are the days of a new Windows 10 feature update being released and it immediately being installed on the majority of Windows 10 PCs. Microsoft is taking a more cautious approach these days.


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