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Google removed nearly 600 ‘disruptive’ Android apps from the Play Store

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Google is perpetually on a mission to clean up its Play Store, taking down dodgy apps as best it can, and the latest sting by the tech giant has seen nearly 600 apps removed from its storefront.

According to Google, the reasoning for banning these specific apps was that they breached two of the companies policies regarding how they advertise – the disruptive ads policy and disallowed interstitial policy.

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In short, Google defines a 'disruptive ad' as one that is “displayed to users in unexpected ways” and “results in inadvertent clicks”. Commonly, the tech giant was seeing pop-ups that took up the entire screen of the device, showed no clear means of dismissal, and would show up even when users weren't actively using the app in question.

In the blog post related to these new app removals, Google claims they were able to be discovered thanks to “an innovative machine-learning based approach” that the company has recently developed.

The apps in question have been removed from the Google Play Store and have been banned from the AdMob and Ad Manager monetization platforms.

The blog post ends, as always, with a promise that Google will continue its prevention of threats on its platform by investing in new technologies to detect them and adapting its policies to better prevent bad behaviour.

  • How to change your location in Google and Google Play using a VPN

Fujifilm X-T4 revealed in full ahead of launch

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The clock on the Fujifilm website is still counting down to the February 26 launch, but pretty much everything there is to know about the upcoming X-T4 has now been revealed. 

Despite shutting its doors last year, prolific and reliable Japanese camera news leaker Nokishita is still very active on Twitter, where a document listing what appears to be the entire spec sheet of the Fujifilm X-T4 has been shared. 

It seemingly confirms some of the rumors we've already heard, like a faster burst speed and bigger battery, along with in-body image stabilization.

With this new reveal, there are not going to be any surprises left when Fujifilm officially announces the camera later this month – images of the X-T4 have already leaked, as has the US price of the upcoming camera.

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All things new

While the X-T4 will use the same 26.1MP X Trans 4 APS-C CMOS sensor and fourth-generation X processor as the Fujifilm X-T3, it's getting image stabilization of up to 5 stops of compensation – a feature that its predecessor doesn't possess. When paired with a stabilized lens, that can go up to 6.5 stops of stability.

As reported previously, continuous shooting speed has also been given a boost, if the leaked spec sheet is real. When using the viewfinder (which, it seems, will be inherited from the X-T3 without any upgrades), the upcoming camera will be able to shoot at 15fps – up from the current model's 11fps. That should be plenty for both sports and wildlife photography, although it does have a lower buffer depth of 110 JPEGs as opposed to 145 in the older shooter.

However, the camera is also apparently capable of going up to 30fps when using the electronic shutter (as is the X-T3), but that comes at the cost of a 1.25x crop.

Where the NP-W126S battery currently in use on the X-T3 was rated for up to 390 shots on a single charge, the new NP-W235 battery is apparently rated for 500 shots (or up to 600 when using the camera in economy mode). That's a massive boost to the camera's battery life and should easily keep most trigger fingers happy.

Despite its bigger battery, the X-T4 will only be marginally larger than its predecessor, if the leaked dimensions prove to be correct. The X-T4 measures in at 134.6 (W) x 92.8 (H) x 63.8 (D) mm, compared to the 132.5 x 92.8 x 58.8 mm dimensions of the X-T3, but will weigh 607g with card and battery (68g more than the current camera).

The new specs leak also confirms that the X-T4 is getting a higher 1.62 million-dot resolution as compared to its predecessor's 1.04 million-dot touchscreen. However, no mention of a vari-angle display has been made in the specs sheet that was shown in previously leaked images.

If the leaked specs are correct, then pretty much everything else will be inherited from the 18-month-old X-T3 and, as far as we're concerned, that's no bad thing at all.

  • Best mirrorless cameras to buy in 2020



Adobe Acrobat now works with Google Drive

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Working with PDF files in the cloud just got a whole lot easier as Adobe has announced that Adobe Acrobat is now integrated with Google Drive.

This means that the over one billion people who use Google's cloud storage solution to store more than 2tn digital files can now use Acrobat's PDF tools to create, view, annotate, modify, share and sign PDFs right from within Google Drive.

Existing Acrobat users who also use Google Drive benefit as well as they'll no longer need to switch between apps just to use Adobe's PDF tools.

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Acrobat for Google Drive integration

With Adobe's new Acrobat for Google Drive integration, anyone can view, search and annotate PDFs for free.

Acrobat DC subscribers though, will be able to crate PDFs in Drive, modify and organize existing PDFs, combine multiple file types into a single PDF, send a document for e-signature and track its progress, export PDFs into editable Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint or RTF files and more.

Google Drive is not only popular with individuals but many businesses rely on Google's cloud storage service as well. If you have an IT admin at your office, they can easily flip the integration switch on for you and your team so you can begin working with PDFs directly from Drive.

According to Adobe, in just a few short weeks, IT admins have already enabled the integration for over 200,000 employees at both large and small businesses.

Interested users can install the Adobe Acrobat for Google Drive integration from the G Suite Marketplace now.

  • We've also highlighted the best cloud storage

A Borderlands movie is on its way from horror director Eli Roth

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Making films based on video games is often a career death wish for filmmakers, so what better director to tackle a live action adaptation of 2K Games' loot-shooter series Borderlands than Death Wish director Eli Roth?

As reported by Deadline, Roth will direct the adaptation for Lionsgate with production set to start later in the year. The director has proven quite adept at portraying on-screen torture in the past, making him an ideal choice to recreate Borderlands' unbearable comedy stylings.

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A first draft has already been turned in by Craig Mazin (Chernobyl), with Erik Feig (I Know What You Did Last Summer), Avi Arad and Ari Arad (Iron Man) on producing duties alongside Gearbox Interactive founder Randy Pitchford and Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick as executive producers.

“I’m so excited to dive into the world of Borderlands and I could not be doing it with a better script, producing team, and studio," said Roth of the project, further stating that "Randy Pitchford and everyone at Gearbox have been incredibly supportive of my ideas – it really feels like a perfect storm of creators coming together."

While Roth is best known for his gruesome work in the horror genre, including such splatterriffic fare as Cabin Fever and Hostel, the director has branched out in recent years, directing the aforementioned Bruce Willis actioner Death Wish and the fantastical family film The House with a Clock in Its Walls.

Now, if Roth decides to throw a little Hostel-style torture towards the game's deservedly-maligned robot sidekick Claptrap, we won't hold it against him…

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AMD's Radeon RX 5950 XT might arrive sooner than expected

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We may see the AMD Radeon RX 5950 XT, dubbed “the Nvidia killer,” before very long. While it’s been speculated that AMD might hold off on Big Navi for now, it looks like Christmas might just come early for gamers.

As Wccftech.com reports, a family of AMD GPUs has just passed RRA certification on February 19, 2020, including one called AMD ATI-102-D32310 GPU. This could be the AMD Radeon RX 5950 XT we’ve long been anticipating.

AMD RRA certification

Every consumer application-specific integrated circuit (ASICs) has to pass RRA certification in South Korea before it hits the market. But, more importantly to those of you who’ve been itching to get your hands on the Big Navi, passing RRA certifications is usually a good indication of when products will get released.

In the past, AMD’s Radeon RX 5700, RX 5700 XT, RX 5500 XT and RX 5600 XT were each released a month after passing their own certifications. This means that we could see a fresh batch of AMD Radeon graphics cards before the end of March, the Radeon RX 5950 XT front and center. 

If we’re lucky, AMD might even showcase its prowess at its Financial Analyst Day on March 5. It’s the perfect opportunity to show off its fabled “Nvidia killer.”

  • Could Big Navi be a monster GPU that'll seriously worry Nvidia?

But is this really the Big Navi?

Of course, we’re not 100% sure that one of these GPUs is the RX 5950 XT. They could very well be the more powerful refresh to the existing Navi series, just not Big Navi. Plus, AMD could be saving its big release for Computex 2020 in June.

However, it’s more likely possible that the RX 5950 XT family will be AMD’s big next release. The Radeon RX 5950 XT was already spotted in an EEC filing, which mentions three other GPUs alongside it: Radeon RX 5950, Radeon RX5900 and the Radeon RX 5800.

In addition, its patent number, D32310, is similar to the ones previous Navi cards got. The Radeon RX 5700 and Radeon RX 5700 XT were codenamed D16302 and D18206, respectively, while the Radeon RX 5500 XT was registered D18902. Finally, AMD’s latest release, the Radeon RX 5600 XT, had the codename D32501.

If it is the AMD Radeon RX 5950 XT, then we might have our hands on the first RDNA2-based full Navi die to support ray tracing – and finally beat Nvidia at its own game.

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Organizations remain highly vulnerable to IoT-based attacks

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New research from Extreme Networks has revealed that more IoT devices are making their way to the enterprise but organizations still remain highly vulnerable to IoT-based attacks.

The firm surveyed 540 IT professionals across industries in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific to compile its report which found that 84 percent of organizations currently have IoT devices on their corporate networks.

Of those organizations which have deployed IoT devices on their networks, 70 percent are aware of either successful or attempted hacks though more than half do not employ security measures beyond default passwords.

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Extreme Networks' report also found 9 out of 10 IT professionals are not confident that their network is secured against cyberattacks or breaches. IT professionals working in the financial services industry were the most concerned about security with 89 percent saying they are not confident that their networks have proper security followed by those in the healthcare industry (88%) and professional services (86%).

Increased IoT adoption

One of the main reasons that IoT-based attacks have increased is due to increased global IoT adoption which has quickly expanded the attack surface. The survey found that 83 percent of organizations in EMEA are now deploying IoT devices compared to 85 percent in North America.

Director of product marketing at Extreme Networks, David Coleman provided further insight on the report's findings in a press release, saying:

"Enterprise adoption of IoT, coupled with the fast rise of cloud and edge computing, is massively expanding the attack surface. But the single greatest cybersecurity threat today is inertia. This data shows that across sectors, IT professionals are not confident in their own network security. Yet so many organizations still rely on the same legacy security tools they've been using for decades. It's critical for enterprises to demand multi-layered network security solutions purpose-built for the modern, hybrid enterprise."

  • Also check out our roundup of the best antivirus software

Microsoft will bring its antivirus software to iOS and Android

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Microsoft has revealed its plans to bring its Defender antivirus software to both Android and iOS later this year.

The software giant is currently developing apps for both mobile operating systems which will provide antivirus prevention along with a “full command line experience”.

However, Microsoft has not yet shared any details regarding the functionality of the apps yet but it does plan to preview them at the upcoming RSA conference.

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Defender apps

Microsoft's mobile Defender apps will likely be quite different than their desktop counterparts and this is partly because Apple doesn't allow apps to scan for malware on iOS.

On Google's mobile operating system however, there are already a number of Android antivirus apps that are capable of detecting malware in apps that have been sideloaded onto a user's device.

Phishing prevention will likely be one of the main features for Defender on iOS and Android as Microsoft looks to protect businesses from having their employees reveal their usernames, passwords and other account information to potential attackers.

Defender for mobile will be part of the company's enterprise security platform and as of now it is still unclear as to whether or not Microsoft will make its antivirus apps available to consumers.

  • Keep your devices protected with our top picks for the best antivirus software

Via The Verge

The best student laptops 2020: all the best options for school

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Finding the best laptops for college students requires a bit of scouting. That’s because they need to fit a few criteria. Whether you’re heading back to school yourself, or you’re sending your kid off to school, there are a few things to keep in mind when selecting the ideal laptop for school.

Budget laptops tend to be great candidates, especially since price is always a huge consideration when someone’s off to college. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that such portables are always going to be the best laptops for college students. While students might not need all the bells and whistles a professional might appreciate more, they still need laptops that can deliver performance-wise. At the same time, the best laptops for college students should be able to handle streaming and a bit of light gaming in addition to the coursework students will be dealing with. 

From the best Chromebooks that offer a great price without sacrificing performance, to heartier devices equipped with powerful operating systems like Windows 10 and macOS, we gathered the best laptops for college students for you. So you can skip all that tedious researching and get right to learning.

The best student laptops 2020 at a glance:

  1. Huawei Matebook 13
  2. Dell XPS 13
  3. Google Pixelbook Go
  4. Surface Laptop 2
  5. Microsoft Surface Go
  6. Acer Swift 3 (2019)  
  7. HP Envy x360 13 (2019)
  8. Microsoft Surface Pro 6
  9. Apple MacBook Air (2019)
  10. MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)

Huawei Matebook 13

The Huawei Matebook 13 strike a balance between price and performance.

We’re massive fans of laptops that can skillfully strike a balance between price and performance with hardly any compromises, and the Huawei MateBook 13 comes closer to than anything else in 2019 so far. It’s light and compact, perfect for carrying in your backpack while you hurry from class to class; but it’s fast and affordable as well. This stunning 13-inch Ultrabook will make sure you’ll get all your work done in style, without burning a hole in your pocket. Sure, you might need to keep that charger on hand if you want it to last you the whole day, as the battery life is underwhelming. However, there’s still no doubt that the Huawei Matebook 13 deserves its lofty spot on the best laptops for students list.

Read the full review: Huawei MateBook 13 

Dell XPS 13

The Dell XPS 13 is affordable enough for college students once again. 

Dell’s flagship laptop has always been rated as one of the best laptops for students, not to mention among the most ideal devices for professionals and casual, everyday users. This time around, the Dell XPS 13 2019 welcomes back the entry-level model, making it affordable enough for college students once again. Dell has also addressed our biggest frustration with the XPS lineup – the webcam. It has finally been moved back above the display where it belongs. This means that your family and friends won’t have to stare up into your nostrils when you’re video chatting ever again.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 

Google Pixelbook Go

The Google Pixelbook Go has earned our coveted “Editor’s Choice” award in the Chromebook category.

Have you been waiting for the day you can finally afford the premium price of Google Pixelbook? Well, with Google releasing Pixelbook Go, your wait is finally over. Granted, it isn’t quite the actual luxury device you’ve been dreaming of. However, rest assured, you will love this Chromebook, just as we have during our time with it. We love it so much, in fact, that it earned our coveted “Editor's Choice” award in the Chromebook category. It boasts incredible battery life, an even more impressive keyboard and a 1080p webcam, which you don’t see often in the more budget-friendly laptops even in 2019. And, that’s just to start.

Read the full review: Google Pixelbook Go

Surface Laptop 2

The Surface Laptop 2 has considerably improved on its predecessor. 

While the Surface Laptop was arguably one of the 10 best laptops for students, it was still held back by its below average performance, a lack of ports and Windows 10 in S Mode. Luckily, the Surface Laptop 2 has considerably improved on its predecessor – with the exception of the ports. It’s now packed with 8th-generation Intel Kaby Lake Refresh processors, full-fat Windows 10 Home and a black color option. We only wish it included even a single USB-C port. Still, you will get all your tasks done in style with this laptop with little to no effort, making it deserving of a high spot on this list.

Read the full review: Surface Laptop 2

Microsoft Surface Go

The Microsoft Surface Go is one of the most beautiful devices on the market.

Even if you’re only in the market for a laptop for school that strikes a balance between cost and performance, it can’t hurt to factor in a splash of style. The Microsoft Surface Go isn’t just one of the best Windows tablets, but it’s also one of the most beautiful devices on the market. Better yet, it also gets our vote as among the best laptops for students, especially from a value perspective. Don’t be duped by the low-power components: Microsoft engineered this tablet to take on all your general schoolwork and more without breaking a sweat.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Go 

Acer Swift 3 (2019)

The Dell Inspiron Chromebook 11 2-in-1 is the best laptop for students on a very limited budget. 

Budget consumers looking for an Ultrabook that delivers great performance at a great, affordable price, you can’t go wrong with the Acer Swift 3 (2019). This 13-inch laptop from Acer is powerful enough for productivity tasks, which makes it a great tool for traveling and working at the same time. However, it can also handle a bit of casual gaming as well as some photo editing, perfect for some post-work computing. It’s far from perfect – that battery could use a boost, the keyboard could be better, and don’t even get us started on the speakers. But, for how much it’s worth, you’re definitely getting a great deal.

Read the full review: Acer Swift 3 (2019)

HP Envy x360 13 (2019)

The HP Envy x360 13 (2019) has premium build, delivers up to 9 hours of video playback. 

There are so many compelling reasons why the HP Envy x360 (2019) belongs to our best laptops for students like, and its slim, sleek design is the least of them. This 13-inch 2-in-1 has premium build, delivers up to 9 hours of video playback and a performance that will get you through most of your schoolwork and project, all without burning a hole in your pocket.

Read the full review: HP Envy x360 (2019)

Microsoft Surface Pro 6

The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 boasts a beautiful display, excellent performance and an impressive battery life. 

The Microsoft Surface lineup has made a name for itself for being among the best Windows devices on the market, with beautiful touch displays, excellent performance and a battery life that lasts a long time. The Surface Pro 6 continues that tradition, even if it doesn’t improve much on its predecessor. You’re getting a fast Windows tablet that can effortlessly turn into a laptop with the addition of the Surface Type Cover. What does that mean for you? Simply that you can get your work done then effortlessly transition into Netflix time, making it one of the best laptops for students.

Read the full review: Surface Pro 6

Apple MacBook Air (2019)

The Apple MacBook Air has been refreshed for 2019.

Apple takes the MacBook Air (2018) and gives it a bit of refresh, adding True Tone technology to its display and an even more reliable keyboard. Unfortunately, it hasn’t upgraded the specs, but seeing as the 2018 version has already made our list of the best laptops for students, this improved version is just as deserving because of the improved hardware. But the best part is yet to come: this refresh is even cheaper, so you’re definitely getting more value for less.

Read the full review: MacBook Air (2019)

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)

The MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019) is juiced-up. 

Apple’s most powerful MacBook in existence has just juiced-up, which means that the 15-inch Cupertino powerhouse is faster than ever. Whether you’re doing school projects, photo editing or light gaming, this will blow you away as one of the best laptops for students. What’s behind this refresh? To start, an improved keyboard, as well as some of the latest and most powerful processors from Intel. Now, you not only have the option to take one home with an 8-core Intel Core i9, but also configure one to rock a Radeon Pro Vega 16 or Pro Vega 20 GPU to give you a boost in graphics.

Read the full review: MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)

Bill Thomas, Michelle Rae Uy and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article.

Images Credit: TechRadar

  • Want more choices? Check out our list of the best laptop 2019
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Now there's a Lego Baby Yoda

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Somehow, another wave of Baby Yoda toys based on Disney Plus' The Mandalorian has been revealed, and among them is arguably the biggest treat yet: a Baby Yoda Lego minifigure. He comes with the $129.99 Razor Crest set, the ship commanded by the titular Mandalorian. And yes, he's adorable.

The set is a pretty elaborate thing, and it comes with minifigures of Greef Karga and IG-11 from the show. Fans of The Mandalorian, though, may be wondering where Gina Carano's Cara Dune and Nick Nolte's Kuiil are. Hey, maybe they'll turn up in a future set. It's unclear if this set includes Baby Yoda's broth bowl. 

Check out the full set below, which starts shipping from September 2020: 

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Somehow, that's not the only Baby Yoda on the way in Lego form. You'll be able to pick these two up in stores this August, too, as the Baby Yoda merch train lurches into full force (no pun intended):

Baby Yoda is unstoppable

The Mandalorian also took over Good Morning America in the US today, as Baby Yoda wares were shown off for the whole of America (who happen to be watching TV in the morning) to enjoy. The entire thing might remind you of that Simpsons episode with Funzo, but the talking Baby Yoda toy does look kind of cute.

Anyway, enjoy all of this until the internet turns on Baby Yoda later this year, as is the inevitable fate of all memes. 

  • Star Wars in 2020: what to look forward to this year

Google to evaluate Android apps requesting background location data

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Google will introduce one-time permissions for location data in the upcoming release of Android 11 but the search giant also plans to roll out a new Google Play policy which will require developers to get approval if they want to access a device's location data in the background.

Even users whose devices won't receive the update to the latest version of Android will benefit from the policy change as it is aimed at older versions of the mobile operating system and will be applied across the Play Store.

In a post on the Android Developers Blog, director of product management and trust & safety at Google Play, Krish Vitaldevara explained the reason behind the policy change, saying:

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“As we took a closer look at background location usage, we found that many of the apps that requested background location didn’t actually need it. In fact, many of these apps could provide the same user experience by only accessing location when the app is visible to the user. We want to make it easier for users to choose when to share their location and they shouldn't be asked for a permission that the app doesn't need.”

Getting approval from Google

Going forward developers will be required to get approval from Google if they want their apps to be able to access a user's location data in the background.

To assess whether or not an app will be granted authorization to access a user's location data, the company's app store review team will consider whether the feature delivers clear value to the user, if users would expect the app to access their location in the background, is the feature important to the primary purpose of the app and if an app can deliver the same experience without accessing location data in the background.

In his blog post, Vitaldevara pointed out that apps which send emergency or safety alerts as well as social networking apps would have a strong case to access location data in the background while an app with a store locator feature would be better of only accessing location data when opened.

The new Google Play policy will go into effect in April but enforcement for new apps won't begin until August and existing apps will have until November to comply.

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Via 9to5Google