Will flying cars take off at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show? Well, sort of. The prototypes won't be soaring over the Las Vegas Strip during the technology extravaganza which runs from January 8-11. But a number of flying car designs will be on display, portending what many see as an inevitable airborne future for short-range transport with vertical takeoff and landing, or VTOL. NFT Inc. co-founders Maki and Guy Kaplinsky, a couple developing a flying vehicle in Israel and California, will have their vision on display at show, with a media session on Sunday. "We believe we have a winning design that will enable us to make the Model T of flying cars—a low-cost production model," Guy Kaplinsky told AFP in a Silicon Valley office park where a prototype model was being assembled. A doorway to the rear of the NFT office in Mountain View opened onto large blue tarps hung from the ceiling to hide the workshop. A team of veteran aviation engineers is focused on research at the startup's facility in Israel, and the founders plan to expand the staff of 15 people. The startup is designing hardware and software, while enlisting original equipment manufacturers to crank out products at scale. "We learned from Tesla that Elon Musk spent too much time on the production side," Guy Kaplinsky said. "We are spending our time on the technology side and will partner with companies on assembly." The NFT vehicle with a projected price tag of $50,000 will function as a car, but be able to take off or land vertically and fly on auto-pilot. NFT co-founder Guy Kaplinsky poses with a model propeller before a curtain concealing work the startup is doing on a flying car NFT co-founder Guy Kaplinsky poses with a model propeller before a curtain concealing work the startup is doing on a flying car in the Silicon Valley city of Mountain View, with a presentation expected at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Regular Joes ? Several companies, including Uber and start-ups backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, are working on people-carrying drones or similar flying vehicles. In Japan, volunteers in a "Cartivator" group are out to build a "Skydrive" flying car and have set their sights on using one to light the flame at the opening of the Olympic games in Tokyo in 2020. The crowdfunded effort has gotten backing from Japanese auto giant Toyota, where some Cartivator members work. A scaled-down replica of "Toyota's flying car" is to be shown at CES. "Our team consists of people with diverse professional backgrounds and is working hard every weekend towards developing the flying car," the group said at a cartivator.com website. "We aim to build a prototype, establish theory of flight control, as well as form alliances with major corporations to make mass production of the flying car a reality." Door-to-door solution NFT is working to marry a plane with a car, meaning no airports or heliports would be needed. "We believe door-to-door is the solution," Kaplinsky said. "Our approach is more for the mom and three kids; you load everyone in the car one time and get where you need to go." A smartphone mapping application could be paired to a navigation center hosted in the internet cloud, routing drivers to takeoff points and providing instructions to auto-pilots in cars. A number of designs for flying cars have been unveiled including the "Pop.up next" by Audi, italdesign and Airbus seen A number of designs for flying cars have been unveiled including the "Pop.up next" by Audi, italdesign and Airbus seen at the Geneva International Motor Show on March 6, 2018 The electric powered NFT vehicle is targeting ranges of 310 miles flying (500 km) and 60 miles driving (100 km). Kaplinsky said the startup seeing US Federal Aviation Administration approval as early as 2024. He expected to have a drive-fly vehicle ready to demonstrate late next year. Kaplinsky felt it likely that, in the long run, flying cars would be part of ride-sharing fleets to make better use than those owned by individuals. Gartner automotive analyst Mike Ramsey says autonomous flying vehicles are coming, but won't disrupt the way people travel. Ramsey said cost, regulation, and battery life are just a few of the hurdles for flying vehicles. "There still has to be a limit to the number of these things that can be in the air at once," he said/ While one person with a flying car may be amazing, 500 people in a city darting about in flying cars could bode airborne mayhem. "It's really cool, and it will have applications, but they are unlikely to be regular Joes like you and me jumping over all the traffic," Ramsey said. The analyst said flying vehicles could catch on as lower cost options to medical helicopters, military transport, or accessing rugged rural areas. "I do think the technology will happen," Ramsey said.

Archaeologists in Mexico have found the first temple to the pre-Hispanic deity Xipe Totec, a god of fertility and war who was worshipped by sacrificing and skinning captives. Evidence indicates that priests ritually sacrificed their victims on one of the temple's two circular altars, then flayed them on the other and draped themselves in their skin, Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History said in a statement. Historians have long known that Xipe Totec ("the flayed god") was worshipped by numerous peoples across what is now central and western Mexico and the Gulf coast. But the discovery—made among the ruins of the Ndachjian-Tehuacan archeological site in the central state of Puebla—is the first time a temple dedicated to the god has been found, the institute said. The artefacts uncovered at the site include three stone sculptures of Xipe Totec: two skinned heads and a torso, whose back is covered in engravings representing the sacrificial skins worn by the god. "Sculpturally speaking it's a very beautiful piece. It measures approximately 80 centimeters (30 inches) tall and has a hole in the belly, which according to historical sources is where a green stone was placed to 'bring it to life' for ceremonies," said Noemi Castillo Tejero, the lead archaeologist on the project. The skulls measure about 70 centimeters tall and weigh some 200 kilograms (440 pounds). The temple would have been used from around the year 1000 until about 1260, the institute said. The Spanish takeover of Mexico began in 1519 with the arrival of the conquistador Hernan Cortes. The institute said Xipe Totec was one of the most important gods in pre-Hispanic Mexico, and was worshipped in a ceremony called Tlacaxipehualiztli, which in the indigenous Nahuatl language means "to wear the skin of the flayed one." Sacrificial victims were killed either through gladiatorial combat matches or by being shot with arrows, then flayed to glorify Xipe Totec, it said. Their skins were then buried at the foot of the altars. Two holes filled in with earth were found in front of the altars at the Ndachjian-Tehuacan site, it said.

Crouching near a wooden shed in his snowy backyard, Prokopy Nogovitsyn lifts up a grey tarpaulin and takes out a vertebra the size of a saucer: part of a mammoth skeleton. "Some friends found this in the north and wanted to sell it," says Nogovitsyn, who lives in a village in the northern Siberian region of Yakutia. "But it lacks tusks, so nobody wanted it." Mammoth bones are widespread in Yakutia, an enormous region bordering the Arctic Ocean covered by permafrost, which acts as a giant freezer for prehistoric fauna. But over the last few years this part of the world has experienced something of a mammoth rush: after China banned the import and sale of elephant ivory, its traditional carvers turned to the tusks of the elephants' long-extinct ancestors. Russian exports amounted to 72 tonnes in 2017, with over 80 percent going to China. Some Chinese buyers come to Yakutia to buy tusks directly, while some Russians also export them. Thousands of woolly mammoths roamed the Pleistocene-era steppe tens of thousands of years ago and their remains are preserved in Yakutia's permafrost. Authorities estimate that 500,000 tonnes of mammoth tusks—known as "ice ivory"—are buried here. Local hunters and fishermen have long picked up mammoth bones along river banks and sea coasts but prices dramatically increased over the last decade, leading fortune-seekers on arduous Arctic quests. The new industry has created a new source of revenue and led to an increase in paleontological discoveries. Valery Plotnikov, a palaeontologist at the Yakutia Academy of Sciences, stands among mammoth tusks confiscated from collectors w Valery Plotnikov, a palaeontologist at the Yakutia Academy of Sciences, stands among mammoth tusks confiscated from collectors who operate illegally While tusk hunters can obtain licences, the trade is still not fully regulated and some complain of pressure from the authorities and confiscation of their finds. 'Tusks to the people!' Collecting tusks is a complicated affair prepared months in advance. Equipment has to be shipped hundreds of kilometres (miles) to the north. Yakutia covers three million square kilometres (1.2 million square miles), an area five times the size of France, much of which has no roads. Collectors purchase licences for particular areas. Some use powerful water jets to burrow prospecting tunnels into river banks, creating labyrinthine icy mines. Good-quality mammoth ivory can sell in China for over $1,000 (877 euros) per kilogram and locals see it as the only way to achieve financial security in northern Yakutia, where jobs are scarce and the climate makes agriculture impossible. "There is a mammoth rush now," said one collector, who has worked with a licence for over a decade but requested anonymity due to the industry's current vague status. A bill to fully regulate prospecting and the trade in tusks was introduced in the Russian parliament in 2013 but inexplicably has still not been voted on, he complained. Exporting tusks from Russia has lately become more difficult. "Ordinary people should know that they can pick something up off the ground, sell it, pay a tax, and live in peace," he said. Valery Plotnikov, a palaeontologist at the Yakutia Academy of Sciences, studies a rare prehistoric cave lion cub Valery Plotnikov, a palaeontologist at the Yakutia Academy of Sciences, studies a rare prehistoric cave lion cub Last year, collectors staged a protest in the region's main city of Yakutsk, accusing authorities of confiscating their ivory haul even though they had the necessary permits. They held up placards saying: "Return tusks back to the people!" "The situation is at a dead-end" as long as Yakutia can't persuade Moscow to pass the proposed bill, says regional lawmaker Vladimir Prokopyev. He argued that while digging up the permafrost is harmful, 90 percent of collectors simply pick up tusks from the ground and Yakutia's proposed bill forbids the damaging use of water jets. 'Mammoth oligarchs' Collectors are especially worried after a recent documentary on state television painted them as millionaire poachers. The documentary called "Island of Skeletons", shown on Rossiya 24 channel, accused Yakutia authorities of turning a blind eye to prospectors' "criminal" trade. Prokopyev alleged the film was "ordered by (Russian) mammoth oligarchs who used to be monopolists" in buying up tusks from locals and reselling them to China, but have now lost out to Chinese dealers who come to buy them direct. The film claims that prospectors "barbarically" destroy archaeological sites. But Valery Plotnikov, a paleontologist at the Yakutia Academy of Sciences, said that the mammoth rush had been beneficial to science by providing specimens that the academy could not otherwise afford. A rare prehistoric cave lion cub was found by a collector last summer A rare prehistoric cave lion cub was found by a collector last summer He was studying a rare prehistoric cave lion cub that a collector found last summer. "We have a symbiosis with licensed collectors," he said, adding that they provide researchers with valuable items for free but remain owners of specimens and stand to profit when their finds are exhibited abroad. He also receives tusks confiscated from collectors who operate illegally, without a licence or in protected areas. Those who have a licence and pay a customs levy should be able to export, he said. Yakutia governor Aisen Nikolayev said he hoped the bill regulating tusk collectors would be finally passed in 2019, though he acknowledged "there is some resistance" to it. Without a national law classifying mammoth ivory as a special natural resource, the trade remains in a "grey zone," he said. For some in Yakutia, however, it's a source of pride that the region helps stop the hunting of elephants for tusks. "Our dead bones are saving living elephants," said Nogovitsyn. "Being able to gather them is important both for us and for Africa."

Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn is likely to appear in a Japanese court next Tuesday to hear the reasons for his detention, after his lawyers deployed a little-used article of the Constitution. The shock move was the latest in a series of unexpected twists in a case that has gripped Japan and the business world since the once-revered auto tycoon was arrested on his private jet at a Tokyo airport on November 19. The Tokyo District Court said his hearing would start at 10:30 am (0130 GMT) in its court room, with Ghosn expected to appear. "Mr Ghosn today submitted a request for the disclosure of the reasons for his detention," the court said. Article 34 of Japan's Constitution stipulates that "no person shall be arrested or detained without being at once informed of the charges against him or without the immediate privilege of counsel." "Nor shall he be detained without adequate cause; and upon demand of any person such cause must be immediately shown in open court in his presence and the presence of his counsel," it says. Ghosn is spending the beginning of 2019 in detention after the court on New Year's Eve extended his detention through to January 11 on allegations of aggravated breach of trust. He was re-arrested over these allegations on December 21, dashing his hopes of being home for Christmas. Since his shock arrest on November 19, the case has shone a light on the Japanese legal system, which has come in for some criticism internationally. 'CEO reserve' Authorities are pursuing three separate lines of enquiry against the 64-year-old Franco-Lebanese-Brazilian executive, involving alleged financial wrongdoing during his tenure as Nissan chief. They suspect he conspired with his right-hand man, US executive Greg Kelly, to hide away around half of his income (some five billion yen or $44 million) over five fiscal years from 2010. They also allege he under-reported his salary to the tune of four billion yen over the next three fiscal years—apparently to avoid criticism that his pay was too high. They are also investigating a complex third claim that alleges Ghosn sought to shift a personal investment loss onto Nissan's books. As part of that scheme, he is also accused of having used Nissan funds to repay a Saudi acquaintance who put up collateral money. Prosecutors have pressed formal charges over the first allegation but not yet over the other accusations. Ghosn denies the allegations but has not had the chance to defend himself in public. The once jet-setting executive, who denies any wrongdoing, was initially held in a tiny single cell at the detention centre in the north of the Japanese capital but has now reportedly been moved to a more comfortable room. He has complained about the cold and the rice-based menu, sources say, though he has told embassy visitors he is being well-treated although he has shed a lot of weight. He has been stripped of his leadership roles at Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors but the third member of the auto alliance he helped forge, French automaker Renault, has kept him as nominal head while he fights the charges. Ghosn's detention has also laid bare tensions in the alliance he created, which together sells more cars than any of its rival groups. Meanwhile, fresh claims against Ghosn appear almost daily in the Japanese media. According to Friday's edition of the Nikkei business daily, Ghosn paid nearly $50 million to businesses run by two Middle Eastern acquaintances from the "CEO reserve", a pot of cash that the boss was able to use at his discretion.

A Chinese lunar rover began exploring the terrain Friday in the world's first mission on the surface of the far side of the moon. Jade Rabbit 2 drove off a ramp and onto the soft, snow-like surface after a Chinese spacecraft made the first-ever soft landing Thursday on the moon's far side. A photo posted online by China's space agency showed tracks left by the rover as it headed away from the spacecraft. "It's a small step for the rover, but one giant leap for the Chinese nation," Wu Weiren, the chief designer of the Lunar Exploration Project, told state broadcaster CCTV, in a twist of U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong's famous comment when he became the first human to walk on the moon in 1969. "This giant leap is a decisive move for our exploration of space and the conquering of the universe." Previous moon landings, including America's six manned missions from 1969 to 1972, have been on the near side of the moon, which faces Earth. The far side has been observed many times from lunar orbits, but never explored on the surface. China's space community is taking pride in the successful landing, which posed technical challenges because the moon blocks direct communication between the spacecraft and its controllers on Earth. China has been trying to catch up with the United States and other nations in space exploration. Chinese rover beings exploring 'dark' side of moon This photo provided on Jan. 3, 2019, by China National Space Administration via Xinhua News Agency shows an image taken by China's Chang'e-4 probe during its landing process. A Chinese spacecraft on Thursday, Jan. 3, made the first-ever …more "The landing on the far side shows China's technology is powerful," said He Qisong, a space expert at the East China University of Science and Law in Shanghai. While China's space program still lags America's, He said "China has already positioned itself at least as good as Russia and the European Union." The news cheered people on the streets of Beijing, many of whom said it showed that China can now achieve or even surpass what the United States has done. Chinese rover beings exploring 'dark' side of moon In this photo provided on Jan. 3, 2019, by the China National Space Administration via Xinhua News Agency, an image taken by China's Chang'e-4 probe after its landing. A Chinese spacecraft on Thursday, Jan. 3, made the first-ever landing on …more "I think it has huge groundbreaking significance for our country, in the space industry and related industries, as well as research and possible exploration of the moon in the future," businessman Zheng Xu said. The Chinese rover has six powered wheels, allowing it to continue to operate even if one wheel fails. It has a maximum speed of 200 meters (220 yards) per hour and can climb a 20-degree hill or an obstacle up to 20 centimeters (8 inches) tall. "The surface is soft and it is similar to that when you are walking on the snow," rover designer Shen Zhenrong of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation said on CCTV. Exploring the cosmos from the far side of the moon could eventually help scientists learn more about the early days of the solar system and even the birth of the universe's first stars. The far side is popularly called the "dark side" because it can't be seen from Earth and is relatively unknown, not because it lacks sunlight.

High up in the Bolivian cloud forest, a woman tends to her bees, smoker in hand, working from hive to hive under a canopy of leaves to delicately gather panels of honeycomb. It's a bucolic scene that experts say won't last, for the bees are dying. The culprit—as in so many other cases across the world—is pesticide. The difference in Bolivia is that pesticide use, along with the coca plantations it is being used to protect, is on the rise. Environmentalists and beekeepers like Rene Villca say the bee population is being decimated by massive and intensive use of chemical pesticides to protect the region's biggest cash crop. Here in the idyllic Nor Yungas region north of the cloud-high capital La Paz, the pesticides are taking a toll on Villca's hives. "Of the 20 hives I have, 10 are producing normally and 10 are not." On another part of the mountain where Nancy Carlo Estrada tends to her bees, a canopy of protective netting around her head, Exalto Mamami wades through a waist-high coca plantation, pumping out liquid pesticide from a canister on his back, face covered with a long cloth against harmful blowback from the spray. He is all too aware of the pesticide's toxicity, but has other priorities. "We use pesticides because the pests eat through the coca leaves and this affects our income. The plants can dry out and that way we as coca farmers lose out economically," said Mamani. The sale of coca leaves—the base component of cocaine—is legal in this part of Bolivia. They are sold openly for traditional use in the local towns. It is chewed, used for making teas, and in religious and cultural ceremonies. According to the latest survey by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Bolivia has 24,500 hectares under coca cultivation, an increase of 7.0 percent in a year. The government is collaborating with the UNODC in alternate development programs but despite this, between 35 and 48 percent is destined for cocaine production. Coca cultivation expanding On the steep slopes of the region's valleys, the lush forest is pockmarked with small plots of coca arranged in terraces. "The area of coca cultivation has expanded and the native forest has been reduced to alarming levels," said Miguel Limachi, an entomologist at La Paz's San Andres University. Limachi says the expansion of coca cultivation has helped to destroy other plants that provide a natural defense against the coca-leaf pests, particularly the Tussock Moth. In other parts of the Andes, the pale moth has been used as a biological weapon against coca cultivation. "A monoculture is more at risk from pests or fungi because there is no longer native vegetation—there are no natural controllers," Limachi explained. "And then more pesticides are used in higher concentrations." Harmful organophosphates in the pesticides mean the bees—"a social insect and extremely organized," according to Limachi—become disorganized, and less able to feed and care for larvae. In recent years across the globe, bees have been mysteriously dying off from "colony collapse disorder" blamed party on pesticides, but also on mites, viruses and fungi. The danger of increased pesticide use in the Bolivian highlands is that they "remain in the soil, on the surface of the plants and obviously contaminate all the organisms present—both the growers themselves, their children and their families, and the wildlife," Limachi told AFP. Pesticides are also used to protect other crops in the country such as coffee plantations and some tropical fruits. 'Growers have no choice' For Exalto Mamani, there is no other option but to use pesticides. "Many of the coca growers are aware that we are affecting the environment with these chemicals, but we have no other alternative because the coca supports us and gives us the economy to support our family," he said. He says climate change has meant coca leaf pests are on the increase. Limachi agrees that climate change has played a role in reducing bee populations. "Very dry years and other years that have too much rain change the availability of flowers from which the bees use to feed the hives," he said. Other human factors also play a role, he said. "Electromagnetic pollution, the emission of cellular waves, microwaves, radios, television...all that can affect their communication and the operation of the hive because they interrupt processes such as food collection, care of the larvae or cleanliness of the colony," said Limachi. On the lush steep slopes around Coroico, beekeeper Villca has no doubt about the immediate threat to his bees. "We hope that the coca producers realize the value of this golden insect," he said.

Behind Apple's disconcerting news of weak iPhone sales lies a more sobering truth: The tech industry has hit Peak Smartphone, a tipping point when everyone who can afford one already owns one and no breakthroughs are compelling them to upgrade as frequently as they once did. Some manufacturers have boosted prices to keep up profit. But Apple's shortfall highlights the limits of that strategy. The company said demand for iPhones is waning and revenue for the last quarter of 2018 will fall well below projections, a decrease traced mainly to China. Apple Inc.'s $1,000 iPhone is a tough sell to Chinese consumers unnerved by an economic slump and the trade war with the U.S. They also have a slew of cheaper smartphones from homegrown competitors such as Huawei, Xiaomi and Oppo to choose from. Apple's shares dropped 9 percent Thursday on the sales slump forecast as the company lost about $71 billion in market value. The news also reinforced investors' fears that the world's second-biggest economy is losing steam: The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down more than 550 points at midafternoon and the broader S&P 500 index was down 2 percent. The fact that even Apple's iPhone juggernaut is suffering cements a larger trend for all major smartphone makers. After a steady rise for a decade, worldwide smartphone shipments fell 3 percent to 1.42 billion in 2018, the first annual drop, according to International Data Corp., which tracks such movements. IDC estimates that shipments will rebound 3 percent in 2019 to 1.46 billion, but that still falls short of 2017 levels. Apple's news is a "wakeup call for the industry," said analyst Dan Ives of research firm Wedbush Securities. And it's not just Apple. Demand has been lackluster across the board, Ives said. Samsung, long the leading seller of smartphones, has been hit even harder, as its phone shipments dropped 8 percent during the 12 months ending in September. With slump in iPhone sales, are we post Peak Smartphone? The Apple logo is displayed at the Apple store in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Apple's shock warning that its Chinese sales are weakening ratcheted up concerns about the world's second largest economy and …more "The smartphone industry is going through significant headwinds, "Ives said. "Smartphone makers used to be like teenagers, and the industry was on fire. Now it feels like they're more like senior citizens in terms of maturity." Tech innovations in phones grew in leaps and bounds earlier in the 2010s, with dramatic improvements in screen size, screen resolution, battery life, cameras and processor speed every year. But the industry is a victim of its own success. Innovation began to slow down around 2014, once Apple boosted the screen size with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models. While phones kept improving, new features tended to be incremental, such as a new flash technique to already excellent phone cameras. It's the stuff consumers won't typically notice—or want to shell out for. "Since the iPhone 6 you've seen it has been tough to innovate to continue to raise the bar," Ives said. Apple customers now upgrade every 33 months on average, longer than the 24 or 25 months three years ago, Ives said. It doesn't help that top phones come with four-digit price tags—such as $1,100 for the iPhone XS Max and $1,000 for Samsung'a Galaxy Note 9. The top-end Max model sells for $1,450 in the U.S. With slump in iPhone sales, are we post Peak Smartphone? Customers leave the Apple store in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Apple's shock warning that its Chinese sales are weakening ratcheted up concerns about the world's second largest economy and weighed heavily on …more "They're getting more and more expensive while offering fewer and fewer new, innovative features that I'll actually use," said Zachary Pardes, a tech-savvy 31-year-old in Fairfield, Connecticut. "I'll upgrade when the battery stops working. When I'm forced to buy a new phone, I'll buy a new phone." Vivian Yang, a manager at a Beijing technology company, also balked at the price. "Nobody needs such a phone," she said. IDC analyst Ramon Llamas said the cycle might bottom out and start growing again in 2021 or 2022, when people's current phones start reaching the end of their useful life. "People will still replace their phones. It's going to happen eventually," he said. But there's no "silver bullet" that will spur growth to levels seen in the past when the industry was less mature. Foldable smartphones , with screens that unfold like a wallet to increase display size, are one thing that could spur excitement, but they're expensive and not due out until at least the end of the year. Another thing that might spur growth: 5G, the next-generation that telecom companies are currently in the process of building, expected to be faster and more reliable than the current 4G network. The first 5G compatible phones are due out this year. With slump in iPhone sales, are we post Peak Smartphone? The Apple logo is displayed at the Apple store in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Apple's shock warning that its Chinese sales are weakening ratcheted up concerns about the world's second largest economy and …more "There's more pressure on 5G as the next-wave smartphone," since sales are so lackluster, said Ives. "There will be a battle royale for 5G phones." But 5G will take years for broad, nationwide deployment, so the new 5G smartphones coming out this year are not likely to make much of a splash immediately either. Analysts say smartphone makers need to push into under-saturated areas like Africa and elsewhere, and also sell more services like cloud storage, streaming music and phone software. But the glory days of untrammeled growth appear to be over. "It's going to be a slow slog," Llamas said. "By no means is this the end of the smartphone market. But this is an indication that the smartphone market can be a victim of its own success."

Data and documents belonging to hundreds of German politicians have been hacked and posted online via Twitter, a German broadcaster reported Friday. The leak, which saw the data posted in daily batches before Christmas on a Twitter account that has been active since mid-2017, affects all parties in parliament except the far-right Alternative for Germany, public broadcaster RBB reported. It said there appeared to be no system to what was posted. Although it reportedly includes personal information such as cellphone numbers, addresses, internal party communications and in some cases bills and credit card details—some of the data years old—there seem to be no politically sensitive documents. There was no immediate information on who was responsible or on the source or sources of the data, and whether they were all authentic. News agency dpa reported that the information included a fax number and email address belonging to Chancellor Angela Merkel and several letters to and from Merkel. Alexander Dobrindt, the conservative Christian Social Union's top lawmaker in Berlin, said that authorities were working to establish "what data are affected and to what extent."

US internet giant Google used a legal mechanism to transfer almost 20 billion euros from the Netherlands to Bermuda in 2017 for tax purposes, a Dutch newspaper report said Friday. Google, which is owned by US parent company Alphabet, moved 19.9 billion euros ($22.7 billion) with a tax evasion strategy dubbed "Double Irish, Dutch Sandwich", according to 2018 financial documents cited by the financial daily FD. The technique consists of shifting revenues from an Irish subsidiary to a Dutch shell company, which transfers the funds to another Irish subsidiary based in Bermuda, where it pays no income tax. Google's transfer for 2017 was about four billion euros more than compared to 2016, based on annual accounts filed by Google Netherlands Holding with the Dutch chamber of commerce at the end of last year. "We pay all of the taxes due and comply with the tax laws in every country we operate in around the world," Google said in statement. "Google, like other multinational companies, pays the vast majority of its corporate income tax in its home country, and we have paid a global effective tax rate of 26 percent over the last ten years," it added. Apple, Facebook and Amazon have also been singled out for sophisticated use of fiscal loopholes to pay as little tax as possible. In Europe, they often benefit from advantageous rates in Ireland and Luxembourg.

For many modern technical applications, such as superconducting wires for magnetic resonance imaging, engineers want as much as possible to get rid of electrical resistance and its accompanying production of heat. It turns out, however, that a bit of heat production from resistance is a desirable characteristic in metallic thin films for spintronic applications such as solid-state computer memory. Similarly, while defects are often undesirable in materials science, they can be used to control creation of magnetic quasi-particles known as skyrmions. In separate papers published this month in the journals Nature Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, researchers in the group of MIT Professor Geoffrey S.D. Beach and colleagues in California, Germany, Switzerland, and Korea, showed that they can generate stable and fast moving skyrmions in specially formulated layered materials at room temperature, setting world records for size and speed. Each paper was featured on the cover of its respective journal. For the research published in Advanced Materials, the researchers created a wire that stacks 15 repeating layers of a specially fabricated metal alloy made up of platinum, which is a heavy metal, cobalt-iron-boron, which is a magnetic material, and magnesium-oxygen. In these layered materials, the interface between the platinum metal layer and cobalt-iron-boron creates an environment in which skyrmions can be formed by applying an external magnetic field perpendicular to the film and electric current pulses that travel along the length of the wire. Notably, under a 20 milliTesla field, a measure of the magnetic field strength, the wire forms skyrmions at room temperature. At temperatures above 349 kelvins (168 degrees Fahrenheit), the skyrmions form without an external magnetic field, an effect caused by the material heating up, and the skyrmions remain stable even after the material is cooled back to room temperature. Previously, results like this had been seen only at low temperature and with large applied magnetic fields, Beach says. Predictable structure "After developing a number of theoretical tools, we now can not only predict the internal skyrmion structure and size, but we also can do a reverse engineering problem, we can say, for instance, we want to have a skyrmion of that size, and we'll be able to generate the multi-layer, or the material, parameters, that would lead to the size of that skyrmion," says Ivan Lemesh, first author of the Advanced Materials paper and a graduate student in materials science and engineering at MIT. Co-authors include senior author Beach and 17 others. A fundamental characteristic of electrons is their spin, which points either up or down. A skyrmion is a circular cluster of electrons whose spins are opposite to the orientation of surrounding electrons, and the skyrmions maintain a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. "However, on top of that, we have also discovered that skyrmions in magnetic multilayers develop a complex through-thickness dependent twisted nature," Lemesh said during a presentation on his work at the Materials Research Society (MRS) fall meeting in Boston on Nov. 30. Those findings were published in a separate theoretical study in Physical Review B in September. The current research shows that while this twisted structure of skyrmions has a minor impact on the ability to calculate the average size of the skyrmion, it significantly affects their current-induced behavior. Fundamental limits For the paper in Nature Nanotechnology, the researchers studied a different magnetic material, layering platinum with a magnetic layer of a gadolinium cobalt alloy, and tantalum oxide. In this material, the researchers showed they could produce skyrmions as small as 10 nanometers and established that they could move at a fast speed in the material. "What we discovered in this paper is that ferromagnets have fundamental limits for the size of the quasi-particle you can make and how fast you can drive them using currents," says first author Lucas Caretta, a graduate student in materials science and engineering. In a ferromagnet, such as cobalt-iron-boron, neighboring spins are aligned parallel to one another and develop a strong directional magnetic moment. To overcome the fundamental limits of ferromagnets, the researchers turned to gadolinium-cobalt, which is a ferrimagnet, in which neighboring spins alternate up and down so they can cancel each other out and result in an overall zero magnetic moment. "One can engineer a ferrimagnet such that the net magnetization is zero, allowing ultrasmall spin textures, or tune it such that the net angular momentum is zero, enabling ultrafast spin textures. These properties can be engineered by material composition or temperature," Caretta explains. In 2017, researchers in Beach's group and their collaborators demonstrated experimentally that they could create these quasi-particles at will in specific locations by introducing a particular kind of defect in the magnetic layer. "You can change the properties of a material by using different local techniques such as ion bombardment, for instance, and by doing that you change its magnetic properties," Lemesh says, "and then if you inject a current into the wire, the skyrmion will be born in that location." Adds Caretta: "It was originally discovered with natural defects in the material, then they became engineered defects through the geometry of the wire." They used this method to create skyrmions in the new Nature Nanotechnology paper. The researchers made images of the skyrmions in the cobalt-gadolinium mixture at room temperature at synchrotron centers in Germany, using X-ray holography. Felix Büttner, a postdoc in the Beach lab, was one of the developers of this X-ray holography technique. "It's one of the only techniques that can allow for such highly resolved images where you make out skyrmions of this size," Caretta says. These skyrmions are as small as 10 nanometers, which is the current world record for room temperature skyrmions. The researchers demonstrated current driven domain wall motion of 1.3 kilometers per second, using a mechanism that can also be used to move skyrmions, which also sets a new world record. Controllable fast, tiny magnetic bits Lucas Caretta (left) and Ivan Lemesh, graduate students in the lab of MIT professor of materials science and engineering Geoffrey Beach, each had a cover article in a peer-reviewed journal article in December. Their work is pioneering new …more Except for the synchrotron work, all the research was done at MIT. "We grow the materials, do the fabrication and characterize the materials here at MIT," Caretta says. Magnetic modeling These skyrmions are one type of spin configuration of electron spins in these materials, while domain walls are another. Domain walls are the boundary between domains of opposing spin orientation. In the field of spintronics, these configurations are known as solitons, or spin textures. Since skyrmions are a fundamental property of materials, mathematical characterization of their energy of formation and motion involves a complex set of equations incorporating their circular size, spin angular momentum, orbital angular momentum, electronic charge, magnetic strength, layer thickness, and several special physics terms that capture the energy of interactions between neighboring spins and neighboring layers, such as the exchange interaction. One of these interactions, which is called the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI), is of special significance to forming skyrmions and arises from the interplay between electrons in the platinum layer and the magnetic layer. In the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, spins align perpendicular to each other, which stabilizes the skyrmion, Lemesh says. The DMI interaction allows for these skyrmions to be topological, giving rise to fascinating physics phenomena, making them stable, and allowing for them to be moved with a current. "The platinum itself is what provides what's called a spin current which is what drives the spin textures into motion," Caretta says. "The spin current provides a torque on the magnetization of the ferro or ferrimagnet adjacent to it, and this torque is what ultimately causes the motion of the spin texture. We're basically using simple materials to realize complicated phenomena at interfaces." In both papers, the researchers performed a mix of micromagnetic and atomistic spin calculations to determine the energy required to form skyrmions and to move them. "It turns out that by changing the fraction of a magnetic layer, you can change the average magnetic properties of the whole system, so now we don't need to go to a different material to generate other properties," Lemesh says. "You can just dilute the magnetic layer with a spacer layer of different thickness, and you will wind up with different magnetic properties, and that gives you an infinite number of opportunities to fabricate your system." Precise control "Precise control of creating magnetic skyrmions is a central topic of the field," says Jiadong Zang, an assistant professor of physics at the University of New Hampshire, who was not involved in this research, regarding the Advanced Materials paper. "This work has presented a new way of generating zero field skyrmions via current pulse. This is definitely a solid step towards skyrmion manipulations in nanosecond regime." Commenting on the Nature Nanotechnology report, Christopher Marrows, a professor of condensed matter physics at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom says: "The fact that the skyrmions are so small but can be stabilized at room temperature makes it very significant." Marrows, who also was not involved in this research, noted that the Beach group had predicted room temperature skyrmions in a Scientific Reports paper earlier this year and said the new results are work of the highest quality. "But they made the prediction and real life does not always live up to theoretical expectations, so they deserve all the credit for this breakthrough," Marrows says. Zang, commenting on the Nature Nanotechnology paper, adds: "A bottleneck of skyrmion study is to reach a size of smaller than 20 nanometers [the size of state-of-art memory unit], and drive its motion with speed beyond one kilometer per second. Both challenges have been tackled in this seminal work. "A key innovation is to use ferrimagnet, instead of commonly used ferromagnet, to host skyrmions," Zang says. "This work greatly stimulates the design of skyrmion-based memory and logic devices. This is definitely a star paper in the skyrmion field." Racetrack systems Solid-state devices built on these skyrmions could someday replace current magnetic storage hard drives. Streams of magnetic skyrmions can act as bits for computer applications. "In these materials, we can readily pattern magnetic tracks," Beach said during a presentation at MRS. These new findings could be applied to racetrack memory devices, which were developed by Stuart Parkin at IBM. A key to engineering these materials for use in racetrack devices is engineering deliberate defects into the material where skyrmions can form, because skyrmions form where there are defects in the material. "One can engineer by putting notches in this type of system," said Beach, who also is co-director of the Materials Research Laboratory (MRL) at MIT. A current pulse injected into the material forms the skyrmions at a notch. "The same current pulse can be used to write and delete," he said. These skyrmions form extremely quickly, in less than a billionth of a second, Beach says. Says Caretta: "To be able to have a practical operating logic or memory racetrack device, you have to write the bit, so that's what we talk about in creating the magnetic quasi particle, and you have to make sure that the written bit is very small and you have to translate that bit through the material at a very fast rate," Caretta says. Marrows, the Leeds professor, adds: "Applications in skyrmion-based spintronics, will benefit, although again it's a bit early to say for sure what will be the winners among the various proposals, which include memories, logic devices, oscillators and neuromorphic devices," A remaining challenge is the best way to read these skyrmion bits. Work in the Beach group is continuing in this area, Lemesh says, noting that the current challenge is to discover a way to detect these skyrmions electrically in order to use them in computers or phones. "Yea, so you don't have to take your phone to a synchrotron to read a bit," Caretta says. "As a result of some of the work done on ferrimagnets and similar systems called anti-ferromagnets, I think the majority of the field will actually start to shift toward these types of materials because of the huge promise that they hold."

DNA regions susceptible to breakage and loss are genetic hot spots for important evolutionary changes, according to a Stanford study. The findings may lead to new understanding of human evolution. Regions of DNA susceptible to deletion during replication may have allowed vertebrates to successfully adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions during evolution, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The research suggests that some critical evolutionary changes are likely to have occurred in leaps and bounds through the abrupt loss of stretches of DNA, rather than through the slow accumulation and additive effects of many small mutations. The researchers, who studied a tiny fish called the threespine stickleback, found that such "fragile" DNA regions create genetic hot spots that mutate much more rapidly, and dramatically, than neighboring sequences. The resulting changes can help an organism vault far ahead of its peers in the evolutionary arms race. Although similar findings have been described in bacteria, this is one of the first studies to show that the same process has occurred in vertebrates to create dramatic changes in body structure. It also addresses a long-standing mystery in evolutionary biology. "There is a lot of evidence that the same genes across different populations or species are often responsible for similar evolutionary changes," said David Kingsley, Ph.D., professor of developmental biology. "What hasn't been clear is why this is happening. This study describes at a biochemical level, down to the atoms and sequences in DNA, how a particular type of mutation can arise repeatedly, which then contributes to a complex skeletal trait evolving over and over again in wild fish species. It's a great example of how DNA fragility can sometimes contribute to favorable traits rather than diseases in natural populations, and it may give us important insights into the process of human evolution." Kingsley, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, is the senior author of the study, which was published Jan. 4 in Science. Graduate student Kathleen Xie is the lead author of the work. Large changes, large effects Many mutations involve a change in just a single nucleotide, or letter, of DNA. Few of these "point" mutations will confer an evolutionary advantage on their own. Instead, significant change often requires the gradual accumulation of several such mutations. In contrast, sudden, large changes in the genome can have large effects—changing body structure through skeletal modifications or affecting metabolism or brain function, for example. Often, these changes are deleterious, decreasing the chances of an animal's survival. Occasionally, however, the changes are advantageous. When the last Ice Age ended, about 10,000 years ago, pockets of migratory ocean threespine sticklebacks colonized newly formed lakes and streams in coastal regions, and then evolved independently in response to their new local environments. As a result, many of these populations show significant differences in body structure. Marine sticklebacks, for example, have a hind fin with a large spine projecting down from their pelvic structure. In contrast, dozens of freshwater populations have lost that hind fin; its absence likely reduces their need for calcium and chances of being nabbed and eaten by hungry insects. Previous studies in the Kingsley laboratory have identified the loss of a specific DNA regulatory region, called the Pel enhancer, as the repeated cause of the missing hind fins in many populations of the freshwater fish. The Pel enhancer drives the expression of a protein necessary to trigger hind fin development. In this study, Xie used marine stickleback DNA to investigate the Pel region that is missing in its freshwater brethren to learn why that region was particularly susceptible to loss. Xie found that the DNA sequence of the Pel region is unusual in several ways. Unlike surrounding regions, which exhibit the normal, more-stable helical twist associated with most DNA, the Pel enhancer region that was lost formed an alternate DNA structure predicted to be highly flexible and likely to be unstable during DNA replication. The sequence also contains long strings of repeated pairs of nucleotides, like a kind of genetic stutter. Previous studies in bacteria, mice and humans have indicated that these repeats are often associated with deletions of stretches of DNA. More frequent chromosome breaking When Xie tested the stability of the missing Pel region by inserting it into artificial yeast chromosomes, she found that the chromosome broke about 25 to 50 times more frequently than typical DNA sequences. When Xie and her collaborators then tested similar DNA sequences in mammalian cells, they observed that the key dinucleotide repeat sequence often led to the deletion of sections of DNA more than 100 nucleotides long. The increase in the rate of chromosome breakage observed by Xie, coupled with the likelihood that this damage causes deletions of entire sections of DNA, may have been a key factor in allowing the prominent hind fin skeletal trait to emerge over and over again in many different young stickleback populations. Elevated mutation rates may play a similar role when advantageous traits arise in other organisms, the scientists believe. "Many vertebrates, including early humans, are dealing with a small population size and relatively long generation times," said Kingsley, who is the Rudy J. and Daphne Donohue Munzer Professor in the School of Medicine. "There aren't that many generations available in which to evolve new, potentially advantageous traits. Under these conditions, it may be particularly important for mutations to occur at elevated rates, and to have sweeping effects." When the researchers investigated known instances of adaptive changes in humans, they found that about half were due to mutations that also arise at elevated rates compared with more typical DNA letter changes. "What we're learning is that 'arrival of the fittest,' or the relative speed with which a potentially favorable mutation arises, can sometimes be as important as 'survival of the fittest,'" Kingsley said. "The mutation process itself has an important effect on the outcome, and the arrival of the mutation interacts with its effect on the fitness of the organism to bring about major changes in vertebrate evolution."

Since electric vehicles use no gasoline, their drivers pay no gasoline tax. And as more people drive EVs, gas-tax revenue for road repairs is dwindling. So how can California and the rest of the country avoid road-funding shortfalls and ensure that EV drivers pay their share of needed repairs? A research report submitted to the California Legislature this week by the University of California, Davis' Institute of Transportation Studies proposes an innovative solution: Switch EVs to a mileage fee while continuing to have gasoline-powered cars pay gasoline taxes. Gas tax or mileage fee? Many states, including California, have opted for the easy way out—charging an extra registration fee for electric vehicles. But that is not a sustainable or effective solution, according to report author Alan Jenn, a UC Davis research scientist with the Plug-In Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Research Center. "The California zero-emissions vehicle registration fee doesn't support the long-run funding of transportation infrastructure, nor is it equitable for drivers of electric and hydrogen vehicles," said Jenn. Others argue that the gas tax must be replaced by a mileage-based fee as soon as possible to avert increasing shortfalls in road funding. But switching from the gas tax to a mileage fee would be technically and administratively difficult. "California now has the opportunity to support alternative funding mechanisms," Jenn said. "Our study finds that a per-mile road charge, designed specifically for zero-emission vehicles, is a relatively low-cost and sustainable solution to funding our roads." The proposed transition is expected to cost less, be easier to administer and provide a smooth transition away from gas taxes. The report concluded that a mileage-based user charge would be the easiest and least costly way of addressing the long-term decline of gas taxes. The report, "Assessing Alternatives to California's Electric Vehicle Registration Fee," was requested by the California Legislature.

Farmers spend a lot of time and money controlling weeds and other pests, and often have to turn to chemical fumigants to keep the most destructive pests at bay. Farmers also wrestle with what to do with low-value byproducts of crop production, such as skin, seeds and hulls from fruit, vegetable and nut processing. What if those agricultural waste streams could generate alternatives to chemical fumigants and make farming more productive, profitable and environmentally friendly? Maybe they can. Researchers at the University of California, Davis, are encouraged by early results from collaborative experiments with "biosolarization," a process that combines the sun's heat with soil amendments to manage weeds and other soil-borne pests. "It looks promising," said food science and technology professor Christopher Simmons, who is testing biosolarization with various crops and working with farmers throughout the state. "We still have a lot of work to do, but biosolarization is showing real potential as a safe, sustainable way to control pests while improving crop quality and yield." Strengthening solar power Many backyard gardeners know the power of solarization. When you lay a clear plastic tarp over moist soil, you can trap solar radiation and heat the soil enough to kill weeds and other soil-borne pests. It's effective, but can take four to six weeks, which is often too long for commercial fields to lay fallow. Biosolarization can accelerate and improve the process. Simmons and his team are adding organic amendments such as grape and tomato skins or ground nut hulls to the soil before they tarp it, which promotes growth of beneficial bacteria. The helpful microorganisms compete with pests and temporarily make the soil more acidic and therefore less hospitable to weeds and other pests. Together, the soil-heating and microbial activity can reduce the treatment time to days, not weeks. "And by activating beneficial microbes in the soil, biosolarization has the potential to improve soil health over the long term," Simmons explained. Testing under commercial conditions Chemical fumigants are expensive, and many have been identified as carcinogenic by state and federal regulatory agencies. But when it comes to killing soil-borne pests, they are very effective. "Fumigants are broadly biocidal, meaning they affect beneficial microorganisms along with the pests," Simmons said. "Biosolarization allows more innocuous and beneficial microorganisms to persist in the soil." But for farmers to adopt biosolarization as an alternative to chemical fumigants, the treatment must be effective, predictable and economical. So the team is testing biosolarization with a wide variety of crops, amendments and soils against different pests in various locations at commercial scale throughout the state. "We have field trials underway with lettuce, tomatoes, melons and various cover crops," Simmons said. "And we have a long-term, 10-acre trial with almonds at a conventional orchard in Chico." In Chico, Simmons and his team are collaborating with almond grower Rory Crowley at Nicolaus Nut Company with funding support from the Almond Board of California and the Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety. They are one year into a 25-year experiment to see if almond-processing residues and the sun can boost soil health and reduce weeds and other soil-borne pests. So far, Crowley is impressed. "It's been great for the soil," Crowley said. "Using biosolarization and a mustard cover crop, we've increased organic matter by 1.25 to 1.75 percent, which is a huge jump. That's good for carbon sequestration and the overall health of the soil." It's too soon to tell if the soil improvements will translate to greater crop yield, but Crowley thinks biosolarization could become a good pest-management tool and a valuable use for what would otherwise be agricultural waste. "We need to find a home for the co-products of almond processing, so why not see if we can use them to improve soil health while controlling pests?" Crowley asks. Field tests continue Simmons and his team are testing biosolarization on several annual and cover crops in plots on the UC Davis campus using agricultural waste streams from tomato and wine processing. Soon they will begin tests with strawberries, which are commonly treated with fumigants each season as farmers plant berries anew. Simmons' hope is to demonstrate to farmers that biosolarization can be effective and economical under a wide range of conditions against a broad number of pests. "We're making significant ground," he said. "We're hopeful biosolarization can help farmers return food and agricultural waste back into the system to control pests and improve crop production."

Diet choice of animal species is highly variable. Some species are specialists feeding only on one food source, such as a sugar-rich fruit or protein-rich meat. Other species, like humans, are generalists that can feed on multiple types of food sources. Because of these differences, animal species ingest varying amounts of macronutrients like carbohydrates and amino acids. It is conceivable that the metabolism has to match the diet choice of each species. However, the evolution of animal metabolism is poorly understood—what are the underlying genetic changes, and how do these changes define the optimal nutrient composition for a given species? The research group led by Associate Professor Ville Hietakangas at the University of Helsinki has studied the evolution of metabolism by using two very closely related fruit fly species. The first one is a generalist, Drosophila simulans, which feeds on fruits and vegetables typically containing high levels of sugars. The second one is Drosophila sechellia, which has specialized to feed on one fruit, Noni, Morinda citrifolia, which has low sugar content. "We found pretty dramatic metabolic differences between these species. D. sechellia larvae that are not exposed on sugar in nature were not able to grow when placed on a sugar-rich diet, while D. simulans had no problems handling dietary sugar," explains Hietakangas. The close relatedness of the fruit fly species allowed the scientist interbreed the species, making hybrids that were largely genetically like D. sechellia, but containing those genomic regions of D. simulans that were needed for sugar tolerance. "The ability to analyze hybrid animals was the key advantage of our study. This way, we could not only rely on correlating the findings but were able to identify genetic changes that were causally important. We could also tell that sugar tolerance comes with a cost. D. simulans and the sugar-tolerant hybrids survived poorly on a low nutrient diet. This suggests that D. sechellia has evolved to survive on a low nutrient environment, which has required rewiring the metabolism in a way that has made feeding on high sugar impossible," says Hietakangas. This study opens up many interesting questions, also related to humans. In the future, it will be interesting to explore whether human populations with different dietary histories, for example, experiencing extremely limited nutrition for many generations, may respond differently to modern diets rich in sugars.

MICROSOFT HAS had a much-needed bit of good news to start the new year: after three-and-a-half years, Windows 10 has finally become the most used operating system in the world. Figures from Netmarketshare show that, as we suspected, Windows 10 ended the year ahead of Windows 10 with a desktop/laptop market share of 39.22 per cent (+1.08) against Windows 7 with 36.90 (-1.99). When mobile operating systems are taken into account including Android and iOS, both operating systems faced a drop in usage in December, suggesting a lot of new phones under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, Windows 10 has overtaken overall there too, with 16.04 (-0.27) against Windows 7 with 15.09 (-0.99). Despite assurances, many businesses who had been bitten in the past, had refused to upgrade, holding steadfastly onto the venerable Windows 7, and there's a fair bet that the majority of remaining Windows 7 machines are in offices. The latest stats, which are echoed, give or take, by rival service Statcounter, are a digest of the state of the entire computing ecosystem. Whilst overall desktop market share is shrinking as the options available for the expanding range of devices and form factors grow, they remain the most popular way to compute, and Windows remains the most popular way to consume. Elsewhere in desktop, the most recent version of macOS (10.14) is in third place, with 4.73, followed by Windows XP which just keeps on going with 4.54, ahead of Windows 8.1 with 4.45. However, adding in the tiny proportion of users still on Windows 8.0 pushes it into third on a combined total of 5.33. Linux holds steady at exactly two percent of the market, not including Ubuntu and Chrome OS which are measured separately. Overall, Windows has 86.2 per cent of the market, with Mac OS holding 10.65, Linux (all versions) at 2.78 and Chrome OS on 0.32. Year on year, Windows has lost market share. This time last year it stood at 88.51 per cent, whilst Mac OS gains from 9.02. Linux and Chrome have held steady, with slight drops that can be explained away through margin of error. Windows 7 is due to reach end of life in just over a year, on the 14th January 2020. Now critical mass has been reached, it's likely we'll see Windows 10 charge ahead in the coming months. μ

THE GALAXY S10 looks set to be Samsung's most interesting smartphone yet, with talk of 5G support, an in-display fingerprint scanner and a ludicrous quad-camera setup. And some rumours speculate that there could be as many as four Galaxy S10 models, including an 'ultra-premium' Plus-branded variant and a cut-price 'budget' version. We've rounded up everything we know about Samsung's incoming Galaxy S10 lineup so far, and will update this article as we hear more. Release date Samsung will reportedly unveil the Galaxy S10 ahead of next year's MWC at a standalone event on 20 February. The phone will be available for preorder from that date, and will then be released on 8 March. Price According to a report at Gizmodo, the so-called 'budget' Galaxy S10 will offer 12GB storage and retail for £699, the regular S10 will offer 128GB or 512GB storage for £799 and £999, respectively, and the S10 Plus will offer 128GB, 512GB and 1TB variants priced at £899, £1,099 and an eye-watering £1,399. Latest news 2/1/19: The so-called Galaxy S10 Lite has been shown off in a high-quality render, courtesy of tipster Ice Universe (below). This is a conceptual diagram of the Galaxy S10 Lite from the phone case manufacturer. pic.twitter.com/2FxRiMJyG1 — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) December 28, 2018 The leak confirms that the handset, which is expected to be the cheapest in the S10 lineup, will sport a near bezel-free display, complete with a small cutout for the front-facing camera, making use of Samsung's 'Infinity-O' display. The image also reveals that the S10 Lite's volume rockers are situated on the left edge of the device and the USB Type-C port sits on the bottom edge, alongside the speaker grille and the 3.5mm audio jack. 21/12/18: UK retailer Mobile Fun has started flogging cases for Samsung's Galaxy S10 lineup, which it claims will comprise of the S10 Lite, S10 Plus and S10 Edge, with the firm set to revive the 'Edge' monitor which it hasn't used since the Galaxy S8. The retailer also claims that all S10 handsets will ship with a screen protector installed as standard, and says the handsets will be available in a number of colours, including Berry Pink, Yellow and Green. 19/12/18: The Galaxy S10 might have just suffered its first in-the-wild leak, after allegedly being sighted on a South Korean subway. The device was spotted by Twitter user inss0317 and first reported by WCCFtech, which asserts that the leaked image (below) shows off the S10 with its barely-there top and bottom bezels and its in-screen camera located in the top right corner. 17/12/18: UK retailer MobileFun has prematurely showcased its range of Galaxy S10 accessories, adding weight to rumours that the flagship could offer a triple-lens camera setup. The cases (below), made by Olixar, show that the S10 will look somewhat similar to its Note 9 sibling with its bulky dimensions and horizontal camera array. However, they also appear to show an additional camera lens, adding credibility to recent leaks that pointed to standard/wide/tele camera setup for the Galaxy S10. 14/12/18: The latest Android Pie beta has added weight to rumours that the Galaxy S10 will boast an 'ultra-wide' camera. As reported by SamMobile, the beta includes a toggle switch in the camera settings that will see ultra-wide images are saved without distortion. However, the report notes that this lens correction feature may just be for the A7 (2018) and A9 (2018), and Samsung has yet to comment. 12/12/18: Gizmodo, citing a source at a "major tech retailer", has revealed Samsung's Galaxy S10 launch plans. Three models - the regular S10, a Plus model and a cheaper 'flat'' model - will launch ahead of next year's Mobile World Congress at an Unpacked event on 20 February, according to the report. The phone will be available for preorder from that date, and will then be released on 8 March. Gizmodo also has the skinny know how much the device will cost; the so-called 'budget' model will offer 12GB storage and retail for £699, the regular S10 will offer 128GB or 512GB storage for £799 and £999, respectively, and the S10 Plus will offer 128GB, 512GB and 1TB variants priced at £899, £1,099 and an eye-watering £1,399. There's not much info on the rumoured 5G variant, but Gizmodo notes that 5G services won't be available on the S10 at launch, with its source claiming that they won't arrive until "late Q2 at the earliest." 10/12/18: An alleged prototype of the Galaxy S10 Plus has surfaced offline, suggesting that it could adopt a corner notch. Posted by SlashLeaks (below), the image suggests that rather than an Honor View 20-esque cutout, the flagship could adopt a chunky notch in the top right corner to house what looks like a dual camera setup. Evleaks doesn't agree, however, as he posted images over the weekend that depict three Galaxy S10 models with centrally-placed 'punch-hole' cutouts. A case manufacturer's expectations for the Galaxy S10 lineup: pic.twitter.com/lrExjvalcb — Evan Blass (@evleaks) December 8, 2018 5/12/18: A mega-leak courtesy of 91Mobiles and OnLeaks has given us a full rundown of the Galaxy S10 Plus. Leaked renders of the flagship show off the handset's near bezel-less screen, quad camera setup and Samsung's front-facing camera cutout, which looks set to house two front-facing cameras to facilitate the firm's improved face recognition technology. 91Mobiles also ‘confirms' that the S10 Plus will pack a 6.4-inch dual-curved edge AMOLED display, an ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint scanner similar to that seen on the OnePlus 6T, and a 3.5mm headphone jack alongside its USB-C port. The handset will measure in at 157.5 x 75.0 x 7.8mm, according to the leak, but will bulk-out to 9mm thanks to its protruding rear camera setup. 3/12/18: At least one variant of the Samsung Galaxy S10 could pack a whopping 12GB RAM. That's according to a report from Hong Kong's GF Securities, which claims that Samsung's incoming flagship will be the first to pack 12GB RAM; more than the 10GB RAM set to be stuffed inside the McLaren edition OnePlus 6T. The same report claims that Samsung will increase internal storage to 1TB; the kind of spec you'll usually find on a high-end laptop. GF Securities doesn't tell us much else we don't already know but notes that the Galaxy S10 will be available in white, black, yellow and green versions, some of which will be Huawei-a-like gradients. 30/11/18: The Galaxy S10+ has been spotted on AnTuTu, packing Samsung's newly-announced Exynos 9820 processor. Shown-off earlier this month, Samsung's next-gen Exynos SoC is its first to come with a neural processing engine (NPU) onboard, which means AI-centric tasks can be carried out on the chip itself. The firm also boasted that the processor will offer a 20 per cent boost in single-core performance compared to its predecessor, and a 40 per cent improvement in power efficiency. At the time, Samsung didn't say when we'd first be seeing its Exyos 9820 in the wild, but a new benchmark result from AnTuTu suggests it'll be making its debut inside the Galaxy S10. The benchmark, shared by Ice Universe (below), is allegedly for the Exynos-powered version of the Galaxy S10+ kitted-out with 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage. The device scored a respectable 325,076 on the benchmarking platform, trumping the Huawei P20 Pro's score of 273,295 but failing to match the iPhone XS, which tops AnTuTu's rankings with a score of 352,405. This is the first score（325076） of the Galaxy S10+, using the Exynos9820 processor from AnTuTu Bemchmark. pic.twitter.com/IRYlAvtVgL — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) November 27, 2018 The Galaxy S10+ will likely also launch with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855 chip in certain markets, and this variant could topple Apple's flagship. A device running the next-gen flagship SoC has been spotted on AnTuTu with a score of 362,292. 23/11/18: The Galaxy S10 could eliminate bezels completely and won't adopt an iPhone-style notch, if a leaked screen protector is to be believed. The screen protector was leaked in a video shared by Ice Universe (below), and if legit, shows that the bezels on Samsung's Galaxy S10 will be almost non-existent. Galaxy S10 Screen Protector！ pic.twitter.com/LPn6OSOBAd — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) November 22, 2018 It won't adopt a screen cutout like the majority of new Android flagships, and despite recent rumours that the S10 would be among the first to feature a 'punch hole' selfie camera - adopting Samsung's recently-teased 'Infinity O' display technology - there's no sign of the camera hole in this latest leak. 21/11/18: Samsung is prepping a variant of the Galaxy S10 with 5G support and six cameras, according to the Wall Street Journal. The newspaper, citing "people familiar with the matter", reports that Samsung is planning to launch four variants of the Galaxy S10, including a 6.7in model - codenamed Beyond X - that will support 5G and pack six cameras; two in the front and four around the back. Adding weight to rumours of an MWC unveiling, the WSJ notes that Samsung will unveil this model in mid-February, but notes that its release will depend on the availability of 5G networks. It's unclear if the model handset will make it to Blighty, though; the report notes that Samsung is in talks with AT&T, T-Mobile and South Korean networks. The other three Galaxy S10 models won't be quite so ridiculously-specced, as the WSJ reports that they'll offer screens between 5in and 5.4in, and will offer between three and five cameras. However, the handsets might add a reverse wireless charging feature that would allow the handsets to wirelessly juice other devices, similar to Huawei's Mate 20 Pro. The WSJ also has some info on Samsung's barely-teased foldable 'Galaxy F' smartphone, which it claims could launch as the 'Galaxy Flex'. 13/11/18: The incoming Samsung Galaxy S10 will feature both a selfie camera and fingerprint scanner embedded into its display. At least that's according to notorious tipster Evan Blass, who tweeted on Tuesday (below) that the Galaxy S10 will be the first to feature a 'punch hole' selfie camera - adopting Samsung's recently-teased 'Infinity O' display technology. Instead of the controversial notch, this display will include a small hole in the top-left corner that houses the front-facing camera. Few preliminary Galaxy S10 details: - "Punch hole" style selfie cam cutout (sounds like Infinity-O display). - Ultrasonic, in-display FPS - Three rear cameras (standard/wide/tele) - One UI over Android Pie — Evan Blass (@evleaks) November 13, 2018 If Blass' latest predictions are on the money, the Galaxy S10 will also be the first Samsung flagship to feature an in-display fingerprint scanner. This will be an ultrasonic sensor, like that found on the OnePlus 6T and Huawei Mate 20 Pro. Elsewhere, the tweet adds weight to earlier rumours that the S10 will feature a triple-camera setup on its rear and Samsung's new 'One' UI served on top of Android Pie. Samsung's Galaxy S10 lineup, - which will reportedly include standard, plus-sized and budget models - is expected to make its debut at MWC next year, with a 5G model to follow in March. 27/10/18: Samsung will launch three Galaxy S10 models next year, according to a report at Bloomberg. Backing up earlier predictions by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Bloomberg's sources tell it that the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus will pack curved OLED screen with "almost no bezel" and an embedded fingerprint sensor. There won't be a notch, the report claims, with the front camera visible and tucked under the screen. Around the back, the S10 models will pack a Huawei-rivalling triple camera setup, and on the bottom, there won't be a 3.5mm headphone jack. Samsung is also plotting a "cheaper" variant of the S10, according to Bloomberg's sources, which won't boast the curved 'edge' screen that has been a hallmark of Samsung's phones since the Galaxy Note Edge in 2014. However, it might come with an in-display fingerprint sensor "depending on costs", the sources add. And backing up recent rumours out of Korea, the report claims that the Galaxy S10 will be Samsung's first 5G-capable smartphone. The firm is reportedly in talks with Verizon to launch a 5G version of the Galaxy S10 to the US, although it's unclear the model will be offered here in Blighty. The Bloomberg report also spills the beans on Samsung's long-rumoured foldable smartphone, codenamed 'Winner'. Despite speculation that the device could launch at Samsung's Developer Conference next month, the firm is reportedly still deciding whether the device will fold out vertically or horizontally. The device, tipped to arrive as the Galaxy X, won't feature an in-screen fingerprint scanner due to "technical difficulties|, but will offer users' an extra 4in display that can be used when the phone is closed. Samsung, naturally, didn't remark on the rumours, instead saying in a statement: "We're continually evolving our smartphone portfolio to provide our customers with new and exciting innovations and experiences. At this time, we don't have anything to share about future devices. Please stay tuned." 12/10/18: The Galaxy S10 could be the last Samsung flagship to retain the 3.5mm headphone jack. So says ET News, which reports that while the Galaxy S10 will likely keep the port, Samsung is planning to remove the headphone jack on either the Galaxy Note 10 or Galaxy S11. Instead, the company will rely on a combination of the phone's USC Type-C port and a bundled headphone dongle, according to the report. ET News doesn't say why Samsung would want to get rid of the headphone jack but speculates that, like other manufacturers, the company simply wants to save space for other parts. 3/10/18: A new report has detailed the triple camera setup that Samsung will shove onto the Galaxy S10. As per the report, seen by SamMobile, the Galaxy S10 will feature the same 12MP f1.5/2.4 variable aperture lens as the Galaxy S10, alongside a "super wide-angle" 16MP f/1.9 lens with a 123-degree field of view and a 13MP f2.4 aperture sensor. The report notes that the wide angle lens won't feature optical image stabilization and autofocus. This triple-camera setup looks set to feature on the highest-spec Galaxy S10 model, according to SamMobile. An "affordable" model will feature a single camera lens, while the standard Galaxy S10 will reportedly boast a dual camera setup. 24/8/18: A slip-up by Samsung has hinted that it'll be launching four different versions of the Galaxy S10. According to XML files hidden inside the firm's Android 9.0 update, spotted XDA-Developers, the four devices are codenamed 'beyond 0', 'beyond 1', 'beyond 2', and 'beyond 2 5G'. This adds weight to recent rumours that Samsung is planning to launch a 5G variant of the S10. According to online murmurs, this model will pack near-identical specs to the Galaxy S10 Plus (or 'beyond 2') but will feature additional sensors to facilitate 5G comms. While the leak doesn't tell us much else about the devices, XDA notes that all four handsets will likely launch with next-gen silicon from Samsung or Qualcomm (the Exynos 9820 or Snapdragon 8150), while the 5G model likely will pack either Qualcomm's Snapdragon X50 or Samsung's own Exynos 5100 modem. 17/9/18: The Galaxy S10 could pack a 19:9 aspect ratio display, according to leaked benchmarks. The HTML5test benchmarking tool published results of an SM-G405F running Android 9.0 Pie. While it's unconfirmed that this model number related to the Galaxy S10, SamMobile reports that the benchmark lists a resolution of 412 x 869 pixels, higher than the 412 x 846-pixel resolution listed for the Galaxy S9, suggesting the mysterious device will join Samsung's flagship S-Series lineup. While the listing doesn't tell us much else, these figures do suggest that the Galaxy S10 could pack a taller, 19:9 display, as opposed to the 18:5.9 aspect ratio on the Galaxy S9. This is backed up by recent rumours that the flagship will boast noticeably reduced bezels compared to its predecessor. These leaked benchmarks come hot on the heels of DJ Koh, CEO of Samsung's mobile biz, confirming that design changes to the Galaxy S10 will be "very significant". Speaking to Chinese media, Koh suggested that the firm's 10th-anniversary smartphone will be more than an incremental update - as the S9 was to the S8 - adding the S10 would be offered in "amazing" new colours. 10/9/18: The Galaxy S10 will reportedly be Samsung's "most expensive" smartphone yet, thanks to its added 5G tech. So says Korean website The Bell, which reports that Samsung will release a 5G version of the Galaxy S10 that could make the iPhone XS look cheap. The report notes that the model, which will feature the same specs as the S10 Plus, will require "four to five more antennas" than current 4G handsets, before concluding that "price of the series can be the most expensive." Besides its added 5G modules and high-end price-tag, The Bell reports that the S10 model will feature a 6.44in display and will be - along with the S10 Plus - the first S-series smartphone to arrive equipped with a dual camera on the front and a triple camera on the rear. The S10 lineup, set to be revealed at next year's CES, could be released "before and after March 5, when domestic mobile operators start 5G service", the report notes. 28/8/18: Samsung will equip all three Galaxy S10 models with an in-display fingerprint sensor, according to a report at The Investor. While earlier reports had suggested that the 'entry-level' S10 model would miss out on the scanner, it's now being reported that all three models will feature the in-screen tech. According to The Investor, the two high-end models will reportedly have an ultrasonic display-based fingerprint sensor, while the entry-level model will get an optical fingerprint sensor. "The two high-end Galaxy S models will come fitted with an ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint scanner while the other one will house an optical fingerprint sensor beneath the screen," an official from the display industry told the website. The ultrasonic sensor, which likely will be supplied by Qualcomm, will create 3D mapped fingerprint to scan a users' digits, making it more accurate than traditional scanners. It's not affected by grease, sweat or light, according to the report. The optical sensor, which will be 'three times cheaper' than the ultrasonic alternative, works like a digital camera, capturing a two-dimensional image of a fingerprint. It's not as accurate as the scanner set to debut on the two high-end S10 models, and will struggle to scan fingers if they're dirty, too wet or too dry, or if external lights get in the way. 25/7/18: Samsung is reportedly designing its own GPU that will sport an "entirely new design" and could make its debut in the Galaxy S10. The news, first broken by Graphic Speak and later corroborated by reliable tipster Ice Universe (below), claims that Samsung is developing an in-house GPU that delivers "leading performance/watt" in simulations. Samsung's self-designed GPU is the first new GPU design in the industry in 10 years. The GPU sports a novel architecture that could make it broadly useful from smartphones to supercomputer, with the best formance/watthttps://t.co/8IugvzR9HL — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) July 24, 2018 The GPU will sport an all-new architecture that could make it work in everything smartphones to supercomputers, according to an analyst briefed on the work. "This is really a big deal — it's the first new GPU design in 10 years," said Jon Peddie, principal of Jon Peddie Research. The Samsung GPU could "put it on par with Apple," Peddie added. "This design is so good, they could deploy it in every platform — it's a function of their ambition. If I owned it, it would be in everything including cockpits and supercomputers." The GPU, developed by Samsung newbie Dr. Chien-Ping Lu, a graphics veteran who previously worked at Nvidia and MediaTek, is expected to first appear in a Samsung Exynos smartphone processor - a sign that it could crop up in the firm's 10th anniversary Galaxy S10. The company has not decided whether it will license the technology, according to the report. 20/7/18: The Samsung Galaxy S10 will have significantly smaller bezels than its S9 predecessor, according to the latest rumours. While the Galaxy S9 was pretty much a carbon copy of the Galaxy S8 before it, despite rumours that it would boast significantly smaller bezels, it looks like Samsung has been saving these big upgrades for its 10th anniversary Galaxy S release. According to Twitter tipster Ice Universe, the Galaxy S10's screen to body ratio will be "greatly improved" compared to the S9. There's no word on specifics, but it's likely the Samsung will eliminate the bottom bezel on the device to achieve a screen to body ratio of around 90 per cent. Galaxy S10's screen to body ratio will be greatly improved. — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) July 20, 2018 Currently, the Galaxy S9 has a screen-to-body ratio of around 84 per cent. In a follow-up tweet, Ice Universe also suggests that the S10 will offer improvements in the battery department, saying: "If you use the more sophisticated packaging technology SLP, then the battery is definitely bigger than the S9, and the Samsung president said that he is working hard to solve the charging speed problem." 18/7/17: Qualcomm has shown off an early prototype of its ultrasonic fingerprint scanner that's expected to debut on the Galaxy S10. According to Twitter tipster Ice Universe, Samsung will be among the first to work with Qualcomm's in-display fingerprint scanning technology. He quotes Samsung CEO Dj Koh as saying that the S10 won't adopt an optical fingerprinting solution because "optical fingerprinting can cause a bad user experience." DJ Koh said that the Galaxy S10 does not use an optical fingerprinting solution because optical fingerprinting can cause a bad user experience. Otherwise, Samsung could adopt it two years ago. We will bring a better screen fingerprinting experience for S10. — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) July 16, 2018 Qualcomm's ultrasonic tech, tested by CNET, "uses sound waves to generate a map of your fingerprint, with the wave of pressure bouncing off the contours of your skin." The technology, which could spell the end of the physical home button, also offers a number of advantages over optical scanners, the report notes. It can scan a finger if it's wet, has a lag time of just 250 milliseconds, boasts a one per cent rejection rate and is measures in at just 0.15mm, so it won't result in chunky smartphones. Qualcomm has confirmed that the tech will start showing up in smartphones next spring. 17/7/18: Apple guru Ming-Chi Kuo has turned his attention for Samsung and is predicting that the Galaxy S10 will come in three sizes. In a report seen by Business Insider, Kuo says he expects the Galaxy S10 to be made available in 5.8in, 6.1in and 6.4in models - almost identical to the sizes that Kuo expects Apple's 2018 iPhones to come in. Adding weight to recent rumours, Kuo expects the larger two S10 models to include in-display fingerprint sensors, and the smaller model to include a fingerprint sensor on the side. Kuo adds that Samsung will "aggressively" promote the on-screen fingerprint scanning - likely because it's a feature Apple's not planning to include on its incoming iPhones. Kuo predicts Samsung could ship 40 million Galaxy S10 phones next year, mostly the two larger models - no doubt the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus. Samsung could also ship 14 million to 16 million Galaxy Note 10 phones next year, according to the report. 10/7/18: Samsung's Galaxy S10 Plus will arrive kitted out with five (five!) cameras, The Bell reports. Samsung is reportedly planning three Galaxy S10 models for 2019, with earlier rumours claiming the highest-spec Galaxy S10 Plus will include a P20 Pro-rivalling triple-lens rear camera setup, much like Apple's incoming iPhone X Plus. Korean website The Bell is now reporting that the S9 Plus successor will also feature a dual-camera setup on its front, likely to enable face-scanning tech similar to Apple's Face ID. Earlier rumours claimed Samsung's easily-fooled iris scanner will be replaced by a 3D-sensing camera on next year's S10 lineup. The report also has some more information on the S10 Plus' rumoured triple-lens setup, which will allegedly comprise a wide-angle lens, a telephoto lens, and a new 16MP, 120-degree ultra wide-angle lens. The standard Galaxy S10 (codenamed 'Beyond 1') and entry-level ('Beyond 0') models aren't expected to offer such high-end camera credentials, though. The S10 will offer the same tri-camera setup on the back but only one on the front, according to the report, while 'Beyond 0' will reportedly come with a standard two cameras - one on the front and one on the back. 9/7/18: Samsung is planning a 'budget' version of Galaxy S10 that won't feature an in-display fingerprint scanner, according to The Bell. Adding weight to earlier rumours (below), the Korean website reports that Samsung is developing three variants of the Galaxy S10, codenamed 'Beyond 0', 'Beyond 1' and 'Beyond 2'. The Bell states that while the latter two will be high-end devices that will feature screen-embedded fingerprint sensors, Beyond 0 will the first "entry-level" device in Samsung's S series lineup. This model won't feature an in-display fingerprint scanner, according to the report, and will instead feature a side-mounted sensor similar to that seen on Moto Z3 Play and past Sony devices. If legit, this will be the first time that Samsung adopts such positioning for a fingerprint sensor, with The Bell noting that it's likely to be located along on the right edge of the user's thumb. The decision to exclude an in-display fingerprint sensor on the Beyond 0 variant has been reportedly made, unsurprisingly, to cut costs. The Fingerprint on Display (FOD) tech on the S10 series, set to be supplied by chipmaker Qualcomm, costs $15 per module, according to the report - seven times more expensive than the $2 module currently found on Samsung's flagship phones. 26/6/18: Samsung might be planning to release three new Galaxy S10 devices next year, according to Korean website ET News. The report, which cites "multiple industry officials participating in the development of the next Galaxy S series", claims that Samsung is planning to follow in the footsteps of Apple, which will also allegedly launch three new devices later this year. The first device, codenamed 'Beyond 0', will reportedly feature a 5.8in screen and a single-lens camera setup, much like the current Galaxy S9. This will be joined by the ‘Beyond 1', which will also feature a 5.8in screen but will sport an upgraded dual camera setup. The 'Beyond 2', ET News claims, will pack a larger 6.2in screen, and likely will arrive as the Galaxy S10 Plus. It'll also sport a triple-lens camera similar to that seen on the Huawei P20 Pro if the report is to be believed. ET News doesn't have much else to say about the trio of incoming S10 models, but notes that Samsung is not yet ready to launch its first foldable smartphone - the Galaxy X - and is "rushing to develop it". According to recent rumours, it'll arrive at next year's MWC, with the S10 set to launch a month earlier at CES. 25/6/18: Samsung's Galaxy S10 will reportedly ditch the iris scanner in favour of an Apple-style 'Face ID' sensor. So says a report from South Korean website The Bell, which has heard from unnamed sources that the Galaxy S10 will adopt a 3D-sensing camera on its front that will replace the current, easily-fooled iris scanner. This won't be the only form of authentication on the device, as the report claims Samsung will also equip the S10 with an in-display fingerprint sensor. This, The Bell claims, is being developed by Qualcomm, Synaptics and the Taiwanese Institute of Technology, although the report notes that Samsung might "revise its strategy" should the tech not be ready in time for the smartphone's rumoured January launch. The report doesn't give much else away, but does note that - like the firm's previous releases - there will be two variants: the 58in Galaxy S10 and 6.3in Galaxy S10 Plus. 21/6/18: An alleged prototype of the Samsung Galaxy S10 shows that the flagship could adopt an iPhone X-schooling all-screen design. An image of the prototype was posted to Twitter by notorious tipster Ice Universe (below). While he doesn't specifically mention the Galaxy S10, his use of the word 'beyond' - believed to be the codename for Samsung's upcoming flagship - all but gives it away. This may be a design beyond. pic.twitter.com/lViQUsW1Jv — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) June 20, 2018 The hands-on picture shows that, if legit, the Galaxy S10 could adopt a full-screen design similar to that seen on the Oppo Find X - which would give it a 93 per cent-ish screen-to-body ratio, up from the 83.6 per cent ratio found on the Galaxy S8 and S9. Like the Oppo Find X, there's no sign of a front-facing camera - or indeed any sensors - on the front of the device, suggesting that Samsung could be next in line to adopt a pop-up front-facing camera rather than an iPhone X-style notch. Earlier this month, we heard that Samsung might avoid adopting an display cutout by equipping the S10 with futuristic, sound-emitting display tech. Before you get your hopes up, though we find it hard to believe that the so-called ‘prototype' shows gives a legitimate picture of the Samsung's 2018 flagship given that the launch of the flagship is at least six months away. According to recent rumours (below), the Galaxy S10 is likely to make its first official appearance at next year's CES in Las Vegas. 14/6/18: Samsung will avoid sticking a notch on next year's Galaxy S10 by adopting to futuristic, sound-emitting display tech, says ETNews. The Korean publication report that Samsung, along with LG, is gearing up to debut 'sound-emitting displays' on its smartphones starting next year, having previously shown off prototypes of the technology at the SID expo last month. This display tech will allow sound through to be emitted through a phone's screen, removing the need for a front-facing earpiece and, in turn, an iPhone X-style display cutout. This means that Samsung, if it was to adopt a pop-up selfie camera like the recently-announced Vivo Nex, could push the screen on the S10 all the way to the top edge of the device. 16/5/18: Samsung is reportedly planning to equip next year's Galaxy S10 with a ridiculously-sharp display that'll blow the iPhone X out of the water. According to Twitter tipster Ice Universe, the Galaxy S10's screen resolution is going to exceed 600ppi - trumping the iPhone X's 458ppi and the Galaxy S9's 570ppi screen. Rumored that the screen resolution of the Galaxy S10 will exceed 600PPI — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) May 14, 2018 It remains to be seen the display will match the eye-popping brightness of the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, though, which packs a 5.8in 3840x2160 4K screen with a pixel density of 760ppi. As well as a souped-up screen resolution, the Galaxy S10 is also expected to feature a screen to body ratio of 93 per cent - improving on the Galaxy S9's 83.6 per cent ratio. Further, it's looking, it's looking increasingly likely that the Galaxy S10 will the first Samsung's phone to feature an in-screen fingerprint reader after Ice Universe tweeted that the ultrasonic tech won't make it to the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. "It is almost certain that Note9 has no FOD [Fingerprint-reader On Display]", read the tweet. 4/5/18: Rumours claim Samsung will launch its Galaxy S10 flagship in January 2018, with plans to launch its long-awaited foldable smartphone at MWC in February. Korean newspaper The Bell, naturally, reports that the Samsung Galaxy S10 is likely to see an official unveiling at CES in January, with the "procurement of parts" to begin in October. While this isn't the first time we've heard that Samsung might launch its next flagship smartphone ahead of schedule, this rumour has a bit more meat. The Bell claims that the S10's launch has been pushed forward to make room for its long-rumoured foldable 'Galaxy X' smartphone. Samsung has reportedly asked suppliers to start supplying component for the smartphone this November, with plans to unveil the handset at MWC. The so-called Galaxy X will feature a"fold-in structure", The Bell notes, comprising three 3.5in OLED panels. The front of the product will reportedly be equipped with two 3.5in panels to create a 7in screen, with an additional 3.5in display on the rear. 3/5/18: Samsung's Galaxy S10 is codenamed "Beyond" and will be the first to feature a screen-embedded fingerprint sensor, according to Korean news outlet The Bell. Citing the "parts industry" as its source, the website claims that Samsung's 'Beyond' codename is fitting for the firm's 10th-anniversary flagship, with the firm aiming to "go beyond" what it has already achieved in the smartphone market. To do that, the Galaxy S10 will be the first Samsung smartphone to be kitted out with Fingerprint on Display (FOD) tech, according to the report, which notes that the firm has attempted to introduce the feature since the Galaxy S8 but failed due to "technical difficulties". Samsung will manage to embed a fingerprint sensor into the Galaxy S10's AMOLED screen, The Bell claims, although it's unclear who will be providing the firm with the futuristic tech. It is not currently known if the Galaxy S10 will also feature iPhone X-a-like 3D sensing technology on the front. "Unlike FOD, partners in the 3D sensing module are not detecting mass-production movements," one electronics industry official said. 18/4/18: The Galaxy S9 may be just weeks-old, but Samsung has reportedly finalised the design of next year's Galaxy S10. So says Korean website The Bell, which claims that Samsung's 10th-anniversary Galaxy S series phones will arrive early next year equipped with an in-display fingerprint scanner and a 3D sensing camera, similar to that found on the iPhone X. The handset's under-screen fingerprint sensor, the report claims, is currently being developed by Qualcomm and Synaptics in the US, and Aegis Tech in Taiwan. The Galaxy S10 and S10+ will likely be the first Samsung smartphones to come equipped with the tech, with recent reports noting that, despite earlier rumours, the Galaxy Note 9 is unlikely to carry the feature. The Galaxy S10's rumoured 3D-sensing module is being developed by camera firms Mantis Vision and Woodgate, The Bell notes. Further details about this feature remain vague, but it likely will offer iPhone X-style face-unlock functionality, improving on Samsung's current, and somewhat lacklustre iris-scanning solution. Elsewhere, the Korean report debunks speculation that the Galaxy S10 will feature the foldable AMOLED screen that we've heard so much about, and instead claims that Samsung will stick to same curved Infinity displays found on this year's S9 and S9+. The screens are allegedly getting bigger, though, with the S10 and S10 Plus tipped to feature 5.8in and 6.3in panels, respectively, 0.03in and 0.08in larger than their predecessors. That's all The Bell has to give, but an earlier report claimed that - somewhat unsurprisingly - the Galaxy S10 and S10+ will be powered by Samsung's as-yet-unannounced Exynos 9820 SoC, that's expected to debut inside the Galaxy Note 9. Samsung's Exynos variants are typically released in Europe, with Qualcomm's next-gen Snapdragon 855 processor set to power its US-bound version. Samsung, naturally, hasn't commented on the rumours. µ

APPLE HAS GOT fanbois hot under the collar with the unveiling of the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR. The iDevice trio had few surprises in store thanks to the huge number of leaks building up to Apple's launch event; the iPhone XS and XS Max pack 5.8in and 6.5in OLED screens, respectively, while the "low-end" XR features a 6.1in LCD 'Liquid Retina' screen. All three models are the first to feature Apple's homegrown A12 Bionic CPU, the first commercially available 7nm processor, and all come adorned with the notched display that first debuted on last year's iPhone X. We've rounded up everything you need to know about Apple's iPhone XS, XS Max and XR below. Release date Apple's iPhone XS, XS Max and iPhone XR are now available to order. The latter has sold out in Blighty, with shipping times slipping beyond Apple's promised 26 October release date to "31 October to 7 November". Price Apple is taking pre-orders for the iPhone XS and XS Max. Here in Blighty, the XS will fetch £999, £1,149 and £1,349, while the XS Max will set you back £1,099, £1,249 and £1,449, respectively. The iPhone XR, which is being offered with 64GB, 128GB or 256GB storage, is priced at £749, £799 and £899, respectively, when it goes on sale next month. The handset is also available to order across all UK operators: BT: iPhone XS (from £70 per month with £25 upfront cost), iPhone XS Max (from 75 a month with a one-off fee of £35). EE: iPhone XS (from £68 per month, plus £70 upfront), iPhone XS Max is (from £78 per month, plus £70 upfront), iPhone XR (from £54 per month with £100 fee). O2: iPhone XS (for £29.99 on a £63.50 per month tariff), iPhone XS Max (£29.99 on a £66.50 per month contract), iPhone XR (from £46.66 per month). Sky Mobile: iPhone XS (from £43 per month), iPhone XS Max (from £47 per month), iPhone XR (from £34 per month) Three: iPhone XS (from £51 per month with a £99 upfront cost), iPhone XS Max (from £54 per month with £99 fee), iPhone XR from £42 per month with £99 fee). Vodafone: iPhone XS (from at £54 per month with a £199 upfront cost). iPhone XS Max (from £58 per month with a £269 one-off fee), iPhone XR (from £50 per month with £29 upfront fee). Virgin Mobile: iPhone XS (from £41 per month), iPhone XS Max (from £46 per month), iPhone XR (from £32 per month). In the US, the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR can be ordered at AT&T, Best Buy, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. Latest news 2/1/19: A three-week-old iPhone XS Max reportedly caught fire and exploded while in the pocket of its owner, according to a new report from iDrop News. The victim, Josh Hillard, said he was carrying his new iPhone in his pocket when it spontaneously caught fire; he noticed a "strange" smell and felt a "large amount of heat", after which green and yellow smoke emitted from his pocket. "Left no other option, I had to exit the room since there was a female in the break room with me and remove my pants," Hillard said. "I ran to the boardroom where I got my shoes and pants off as fast as possible. A VP of our company put the fire out with a fire extinguisher because he heard me yelling." After the incident, Hillard found a hole in his clothing and had "pain/irritation in my buttocks region where the pocket of my pants was located." He went to the Apple Store that night, and employees there took his phone and told him that they couldn't do much more for him. He called Apple to complain and was ultimately offered a new handset. That's not enough for Hillard though, who says he wants Apple to replace his burnt clothing and to cover the cost of his wireless service during the period when he didn't have a working iPhone. He's also considering whether to take legal action against Apple. 12/12/18: Sales of Apple's iPhone XR might not be as bad as speculation had suggested. Bloomberg reports that Apple's top two manufacturing partners, Foxconn and TMSC, both reported strong revenues for November; both saw revenues surge by around 5.6 per cent last month, reversing a recent trend of Apple suppliers reducing production or revenue outlooks to reflect 'lacklustre' demand for Apple's latest smartphones. 5/12/18: Apple is reportedly re-assigning marketing staffers in a bid to boost 'lacklustre' sales to the iPhone XS. So says Bloomberg, which reports that company execs shifted some marketing employees from other projects to work on bolstering sales of its latest handsets. A person familiar with the mater described the move as a "fire drill", and a "passable admission" that the devices have been selling below expectations. 30/11/18: Apple has debunked claims that its iPhone XR is a flop, touting the handset as its "best-selling" model. Despite chatter that the firm had been forced to cut-back iPhone XR orders, a company exec told CNET that the handset has been the best-selling model every day since it went on sale in mid-October, although failed to provide exact numbers. 28/11/18: Apple has slashed orders for the iPhone XS and XR for the second time this month, according to Digitimes, which claims the handsets are still suffering from weaker than expected sales. "Apple has reportedly enforced a second wave of order reduction in the wake of weaker-than-expected sales for its new iPhones, many other Taiwan supply chain partners are beginning to feel the pinch in November," sources told Digitimes. This has caused Apple's suppliers to readjust monthly revenue estimations; camera lens supplier Largan Precision has said it expects November revenues to fall from October, and flexible PBC supplier Career Technology has reportedly laid off 110 dispatched workers to cope with order cuts by Apple. 19/11/18: The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple has reduced orders for the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, following rumours that Apple suppliers were cutting forecasts amid weak demand for the new devices. The move, which is said to be frustrating suppliers, is being blamed on the overall slowdown of the smartphone market and seemingly weak Chinese demand, according to the WSJ. It remains unclear how dramatically orders have been slashed, but the report backs up earlier claims that iPhone XR orders have been reduced by up to a third. 13/11/18: Apple shares have plummeted after suppliers issued warnings that point to lacklustre demand for the firm's latest iDevices. Lumentum Holdings, the main supplier of Face ID for the latest generation of iPhones, wiped $70m off of its revenue forecasts; while screen maker Japan Display cited lower smartphone demand while cutting its own outlook. This suggests that Apple's latest iPhones - the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR - aren't selling as well as the company had hoped, as suggested by earlier reports that Apple is cutting orders for the iPhone XS. Analysts commenting on the nosedive, which saw Apple shares to fall by more than four per cent, claim that consumers, particularly those in emerging markets, after shunning iDevices in favour of cheaper devices from the likes of Huawei and OnePlus. 8/11/18: Earlier this week, reports claimed Apple had cut orders for the iPhone XR due to weaker than expected sales. However, Apple 3.0, citing Rosenblatt analyst Jun Zhang, claims the production cuts could be due to quality issues with the iPhone XR's PCBs. In the words of Zhang: "We believe some Printed Circuit Board (PCB) supplier shipments of HDI boards were quickly dropped this week. This may be attributable to quality issues from Skyworks PAs. We believe this potential round of iPhone XR production cuts by Apple may be attributable to the recently found PA quality issues." 6/11/18: Apple has cancelled a so-called "production boost" for the iPhone XR, suggesting the smartphone isn't selling as well as the firm had anticipated. So says Nikkei Asian Review, which reports that Apple has told Foxconn and Pegatron to halt plans for additional production lines. A source familiar with the matter said: "For the Foxconn side, it first prepared nearly 60 assembly lines for Apple's XR model, but recently uses only around 45 production lines as its top customer said it does not need to manufacture that many by now". According to the report, Apple is instead ordering more iPhone 8 and 8 Plus models from its manufacturing partners, with the firm expecting to flog 25 million units during this quarter, up from 20 million previously. 29/10/18: The iPhone XR went on sale last week, and iFixit has picked up one of the devices to, naturally, take it apart. The teardown reveals that the "internals of the iPhone XR look like a cross between an iPhone 8 and an iPhone X". iFixit notes that the XR's 11.16 Wh battery is bigger than the 10.13 Wh battery inside the iPhone XS, adding that the LCD display is bigger, thicker and heavier than the OLED panel on Apple's more expensive flagship. iFixit gave the iPhone XR an overall repairability score of six. A broken display can easily be replaced with minimal hardware removal, but Pentalobe screws and waterproofing make things difficult. 18/10/18: Sky Mobile has become the first UK operator to reveal iPhone XR tariffs before pre-orders kick off in Blighty on Friday. It'll offer the 'affordable' iDevice from just £34 per month with 1GB data and unlimited calls and texts. Data can be upped to 4GB, 5GB or 15GB for £40, £43 and £48 per month, respectively. 9/10/18: Apple has pushed out iOS 12.0.1, which fixes a handful of early bugs plaguing users of the iPhone XS and XS Max users. This includes the WiFi and LTE issues, with users complaining that connectivity is sub-par compared to the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, and an issue affecting the handsets' charging. According to those suffering the glitch, Apple's new iPhones won't recognise their lightning cable unless their phone is unlocked when plugging it in. 4/10/18: Apple is reportedly investigating 4G LTE issues affecting owners of its new iPhone XS and XS Max handsets. According to early adopters of the handsets, they are experiencing slower WiFi speeds and a poorer signal on the XS compared to the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. One Twitter user claims that Apple has reached out to him for more information and asked him to install a baseband logger so that it can monitor his phone's connections to cellular towers. @reneritchie Apple just reached out to me to see if I could answer some questions about my Xs Max reception issues they're doing an outreach to some affected users and are asking to install a baseband logger to track my connection to the tower — Devin Meredith (@Devmer11) October 3, 2018 Apple still hasn't spoken publicly about the issue, but it could push out a fix in iOS 11.2, which will also sort a problem related to the charging of the two new iPhones. 3/10/18: Apple's next software update, iOS 12.1, will fix the charging issue plaguing iPhone XS and XS Max handsets. The update, which also brings with it 70 new emoji, is currently available in beta and will arrive on all iPhones and iPads later this year. 1/10/18: Some iPhone XS and XS Max units won't charge if the handsets' screen is turned off. That's according to a number of forum posts and YouTube videos detailing the issue, with users complaining that their spanking new iPhone won't recognise their lightning cable unless their phone is unlocked when plugging it in. Apple, naturally, has yet to speak out about the issue, but some are speculating that it's related to Apple's new law enforcement-defying USB Restricted Mode feature. 27/9/18: The iPhone XS Max is Apple's most-expensive smartphone yet, but it doesn't cost the company that much to make. TechInsights, an Ontario-based firm that pulls apart smartphones yo analyse their contents, said on Tuesday that the iPhone XS Max model with 256GB storage - and a starting price of £1,249 - costs Apple around $443 (£337) in parts and assembly costs. Last year's 64GB iPhone X, by comparison, cost (£300) to put together. According to TechInsights, the XS Max's priciest component is its $80.50 (£61) display, compared to $77.27 (£58.20) for last year's iPhone X, which featured a smaller 5.8in screen. This small increase, despite the Max's hefty 6.5in screen, was because Apple removed its 3D Touch system. 26/9/18: The battery performance of the iPhone XS and XS Max fail to match that of last year's iPhone X, despite Apple's claims to the contrary. While the firm says that the iPhone XS should last 30 minutes longer than last year's flagship and the XS Max up to 90 minutes longer, Tom's Guide's battery endurance test seems to debunk these claims. The website found that the iPhone XS managed 9 hours and 41 minutes before shutting down, while the iPhone XS Max lasted 10 hours and 38 minutes, above an industry average of 9 hours and 48 minutes. However, by comparison, the iPhone X lasted 10 hours and 49 minutes in an identical test. The publication noted that "the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max simply don't have the staying power of the best Android phones," pointing to Huawei, Google, Samsung, and OnePlus flagships with better battery performance. 25/9/18: Early adopters of the iPhone XS and XS Max have been quick to complain of issues with LTE and WiFi connectivity. Over on Reddit, owners of the smartphones claim that there are experiencing slower WiFi speeds and a poorer signal on the XS compared to the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. While some are speculating that lacklustre 4G performance could be due to Apple's switch from Qualcomm to Intel modems, WiWavelength's testing has shown that the new iPhones feature disappointing radio frequency performance compared to previous iPhone models. The networking blog notes that the performance problems some users are experiencing are caused by an "antenna issue," specifically related to weak antenna gain. Apple has yet to comment, and it remains unclear if a software update could rectify the borkage. 24/9/18: The teardown team at iFixit has pulled apart Apple's new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Plus, revealing the handsets' unusually-shaped batteries and Intel-supplied modems. While the engineers struggled to get into the devices due to their proprietary screws, souped-up waterproofing protection and breakable glass cases, they found some interesting tidbits once they were inside. Apple's "battery origami" sees the iPhone XS Max stuffed with two batteries, for example, with Apple equipping the duo of cells with an, er, notch to reduce the stress on the corners of the battery. The teardown also reveals that the new iPhones come kitted out with Intel modems, with Apple ditching Qualcomm's tech due amid the firm's ongoing legal battle. Elsewhere, iFixit uncovers a new Apple-branded power management chip in the iPhone XS Max, a heftier wide-angle camera sensor and louder speakers. Overall, iFixit gives the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max an overall repairability score of 6/10, the same score given to last year's iPhone X. 20/9/18: A filling at China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, otherwise known as TENAA, has revealed more details about the new iPhones' internal specs. Shared by MyDrivers, the filing reveals that the run-of-the-mill iPhone XS packs a 2,658mAh battery, around 2 per cent smaller than the 2,716mAh battery inside the iPhone XS, while the XS Max packs a heftier 3,174mAh offering. The iPhone XS, Apple's lower-spec offering that launches next month, is a battery capacity of 2,942 mAh, roughly 8 per cent larger than in the iPhone X, and more than 10 per cent larger than in the iPhone XS. Elsewhere, the filing confirms that the iPhone XS and XS Max each pack 4GB RAM, while the iPhone XR has 3GB. 17/9/18: Apple oracle Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed that demand for the 5.8in iPhone XS has been lower than expected. In a research note seen by Apple Insider, Kuo estimates that the 5.8in flagship has so-far seen "lacklustre demand", accounting for just 10 to 15 per cent of new iPhone shipments. The iPhone XS Max, however, has been selling in line with expectations, accounting for 25 to 30 per cent of new iPhones sold. While the handset's 'one to two-week' shipping times is shorter than the 'two to three-week' dates seen by last year's iPhone X, this is likely due to improvements within the supply chain rather than relaxed demand, according to Kuo. 13/9/18: Apples not-yet-day-old iPhones have been shown up in Geekbench (via LetsGoDigital), revealing the performance you can expect from the firm's 7nm A12 Bionic chip. The lowest-spec iPhone XR, which the listing reveals features 3GB RAM, earns itself a single-core score 4,754 and a multi-core score of 9,367. While the run-of-the-mill iPhone XS hasn't yet been listed on Geekbench, its bigger Max-branded sibling, which comes with 4GB RAM, ranks with a single-core score of 4,813 and a multi-core score of 10,266. In comparison, last year's now-defunct iPhone X reached a Geekbench score of 4,055 in single-core and 10,375 in multi-core. 12/9/18: Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR at its much-hyped 'Gather Round' event. The 5.8in iPhone XS is the direct successor to last year's iPhone X, while the Max model, which offers the same footprint as Apple's previous 5.5in smartphones despite its larger 6.5in OLED display, essentially replaces Apple's now-defunct Plus-branded models. Both the XS and XS Max feature Super Retina resolution screens, which offer HDR, Dolby Vision and carry the notch that debuted on last year's flagship. This is to accommodate Apple's souped-up Face ID tech, which the firm is now touting as the "most secure facial authentication ever in a smartphone". Both also come crafted from surgical-grade stainless steel and the "most durable glass ever in a smartphone", with the new iDevices now boasting souped-up IP68 certification. Under the hood, the new iPhone XS models pack Apple's A12 Bionic CPU, the first commercially available 7nm chip. The processor, which comprises of a four-core CPU, six-core GPU a next-gen eight-core neural engine, promises to deliver a 15 per cent performance boost compared to last year's A11 chip, 40 per cent lower power consumption and support for real-time machine learning. On the photography front, the iPhone XS and XS Max pack a dual 12MP camera setup, which boasts a larger sensor than that found on the iPhone X and an improved TrueTone flash. There's a bunch of new Camera software features incoming too, including a new 'Smart HDR' mode and the ability to adjust a photo's depth of field after it's been taken. Around the front, you'll find the same 7MP TrueDepth camera as last year's model, but - according to Apple, at least - the sensor is "twice as fast" as before. The iPhone XS and XS Max are also the first iPhones to support dual SIM, with a physical SIM card and Apple's own eSIM. For China, Apple is specifically making a phone with two physical SIM slots. In terms of battery life, Apple boasts that the iPhone XS will last, er, 30 minutes longer than the iPhone X, while the iPhone XS Max will deliver an extra hour and a half. The iPhone XS and XS Max will be available with a choice of 64GB, 256GB, 512GB of storage, and in Gold and Silver, Space Grey colour options. Apple also showcased the iPhone XR at its 12 September launch event, which arrives as the spiritual successor to last year's iPhone 8. It hasn't escaped the notch treatment, though, with Apple equipping the lower-end smartphone with a display cutout to accommodate its previously iPhone X-exclusive Face ID tech. The handset, which takes cues from the iPhone 5C with its jazzy colour options, comes crafted from aluminium and glass, which houses its 6.1in LCD 'Liquid Retina' display and offers IP57 certifications. While the iPhone XR packs the same A12 Bionic CPU as the XS and XS Max, it lacks the dual-camera setup of its more expensive siblings and instead touts a single 12MP wide-angle lens on its rear. You'll find the same 7MP TrueDepth camera around the front, though. The iPhone XR also offers dual SIM support with one physical card slot and a digital eSIM and, in terms of battery life, Apple claims you'll get an hour and a half more than the iPhone 8 Plus. The iPhone XR will be available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB configurations and white, black, blue, coral, red and yellow colour options. 12/9/18: Apple's iPhone XS, the direct successor to last year's iPhone X, has been exposed in hands-on images (below) with just hours to go until its official unveiling. A Weibo user posted images of the soon-to-be-unveiled smartphone, confirming that it'll look almost identical to its predecessor with its notched display and chamfered edges. The leak doesn't tell us much else about the iPhone XS, but we don't have long to wait until all is revealed. 11/9/18: Apple's low-cost iPhone will reportedly be available in short supply at launch due to "quality issues of assembly and display". That's according to Ming-Chi Kuo (via 9to5Mac), backed up by Bloomberg, who claims that the so-called iPhone XR will launch in "late September-early October" due to issues attaching backlights to the LCD screen. These manufacturing problems will lead to supply constraints at launch, according to the two reports. 10/9/18: The incoming entry-level 6.1in LCD iPhone could arrive as the iPhone XC, according to a presentation from carrier China Mobile, via Macotakara. The slide also casts some doubt over the name of Apple's incoming 6.5in OLED model, suggesting it'll be called the iPhone XS Plus, rather than the XS Max. The leak also claims the so-called iPhone XC will fetch around £540 at launch, while the iPhone XS and XS Plus will fetch around £700 and £775, respectively. 7/9/18: Apple's incoming 6.1in LCD iPhone, tipped to arrive as the iPhone 9, has leaked in a series of images that confirm it'll be available in three colour options: white, red and blue. In contrast, the iPhone XS and XS Max are expected to launch in white, gold and black variants. The leaked images, which come courtesy of SlashLeaks, also confirm that the iPhone 9 will pack a dual-SIM tray, confirming rumours that the handset will be made available in a. dual-SIM variant. 6/9/18: Apple is widely expected to launch two new OLED iPhone models next week - an upgraded 5.8in model set to launch as the iPhone XS and a heftier 6.5in version that's going to be called the iPhone XS Max, according to 9to5Mac. This backs up an earlier report from Bloomberg, which claimed that Apple planned to drop the 'Plus' label from its 2018 iPhones. 9to5Mac's report, which has compiled info from multiple sources, adds that both the iPhone XS and XS Max are likely to include 4GB RAM, up from 3GB in last year's iPhone X, alongside a new A12 chip and dual-SIM options in some countries. 3/9/18: A mega-leak courtesy of 9to5Mac has revealed that Apple's new OLED iPhones will arrive as the 'iPhone XS', and will be made available in 5.8in and 6.5in versions. The incoming iPhones, previously referred to as the iPhone 11 and 11 Plus, will also be made available in a new gold colour option (above), according to the leak, and both will be released before the end of September. 30/8/18: Apple's 'affordable' iPhone 9 will be delayed beyond September, according to - who else - Ming-Chi Kuo. In a research note seen by Apple Insider, Kuo claims that while the high-end OLED models will be available to buy next month, the 6.1in LCD model will be made available later in the report. There is some good news, though, as Kuo expects the device to be powered by the same A12 SoC that will be found in the higher-spec models. The 7nm chip will reportedly offer '20 to 30 per cent' performance gains compared to Apple's A11 chip, and will offer better battery efficiency. Contrary to earlier reports, Kuo also predicts that the new iPhone models will not support the Apple Pencil, as the accessory "does not currently offer a good user experience." 29/8/18: Apple looks set to ditch 3D Touch from all of its 2018 iPhones. That's according to Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis, via MacRumours, who claims that it's "widely understood" that 3D Touch will be removed from iPhones with OLED displays in 2019. This contradicts with earlier rumours from Apple oracle Ming-Chi Kuo, who said that 3D Touch won't be a feature on the rumoured 6.1in iPhone, and could suggest that all three incoming models won't feature the haptic screen tech. 28/8/18: Apple's 2018 iPhones looks set to offer a hefty performance boost, according to Macworld, which has taken a look at what we can expect from TSMC's incoming 7nm A12 chip. Based on TSMC's own claims, and some educated guessing, Macworld says it expects the A12 processor to offer 20 to 30 per cent performance gains compared to last year's A11 Bionic CPU, along with a 40 per cent reduction in power consumption. It expects the 7nm processor to stick to a six-core design, which will earn it a multi-core performance score of around 13,000 in Geekbench 4. For single-core performance, it's likely to increase the A11's 4217 score to around the 5,000 mark. 21/8/18: Apple's 2018 iPhones will be available to pre-order in less than a month's time on 14 September, according to German publication Macerkopf. The website, citing two unnamed German carriers, reports that networks are preparing to start taking pre-orders on 14 September, suggesting that Apple is planning an announcement later that week, likely on 12 September. Last year, we saw new iPhones announced on 12 September, pre-orders kicking off on 14 September and then an official release on 22 September. 17/8/18: Taiwanese publication Economic Daily News has backed up reports that Apple's 2018 OLED iPhones will ship with Apple Pencil report. The site, which got its information from "industry insiders", claims that the second-gen iPhone X and 6.5in iPhone X Plus will both be compatible with the Apple Pencil, but notes that the 6.1in LCD model won't be compatible with the stylus. 15/8/18: Apple's 2018 iPhones will offer Apple Pencil support and up to 512GB built-in storage, according to research firm TrendForce. It's unclear whether these features, similar to those found on Samsung's newly-launched Galaxy Note 9, will be available on all three incoming iPhones or reserved for Apple's higher-end OLED models. These OLED models will, unsurprisingly, be more expensive than the "budget" 6.1in LCD iPhone 9, which Trendforce expects to have a starting price of around $699 to $749. The so-called iPhone X (2018) and iPhone X Plus will have starting prices of $899 to $949 and $999, respectively, according to the research firm. The report confirms that the two OLED models are already assembled, while the budget LCD model will begin assembly in mid-September, in line with the smartphones' rumoured September and October release dates, respectively. 14/8/18: Yet another video showing off Apple's 2018 iPhones has cropped up on YouTube (below), courtesy of DetroitBORG. The seven-minute video shows off new dummy units obtained by Sonny Dickson, and refers to the incoming devices as the iPhone 9, iPhone X (2018) and iPhone X Plus. The clip doesn't have many surprises in store, but the "fairly accurate" models show that all three new iPhones will feature a notched design to accommodate Face ID. The 'cheap' LCD iPhone 9 will sport a single-lens camera on its rear, while its presumaly more expensive siblings will retain the iPhone X's dual camera system. 9/8/18: Well-known phone reviewer Marques Brownlee has given us our best look at Apple's 2018 iPhones yet - although he, presumably accidentally, refers to them as 2019 models. In a video posted to YouTube (below), Brownlee goes hands-on with dummies of the so-called iPhone X2, iPhone X Plus and iPhone 9, confirming that the notch will be the same size on all of the three models, and that the 6.5in iPhone X Plus will boast a smaller design than Apple's current iPhone 8 Plus. He also gives us a good look at the protruding camera lenses on the three iPhones, with the iPhone X2 and X Plus both packing dual camera setups, while the LCD model sticks with a single-lens rear-facing camera. This 'cheaper' model will also stick with Apple's first-gen Face ID tech, according to Browlee, while the duo of iPhone X-branded models will be upgraded to the firm's second-gen tech. 7/8/18: We've seen plenty of mock-ups of Apple's incoming iPhones, but thanks to a new leak courtesy of Slashleaks, we may have caught a glimpse at a 6.1in iPhone 9 in the flesh for the first time. The image (above), which appears to have been taken in a factory, gives us a somewhat blurry look at the rear of the so-called iPhone 9. If legit, the leak confirms that the 6.1in LCD iPhone will feature a larger camera sensor paired with a repositioned dual LED flash. 6/8/18: Apple's rumoured dual-SIM iPhone will be exclusive to China, according to a report from Economic Daily News. The Chinese news outlet, citing a source at Foxconn, reports that the 6.1in LCD iPhone will be the only model to support the functionality, with the handset to be made available in both single and dual-SIM models; the latter which it claims will be made available exclusively in China. According to the report, Apple's made the decision because it's common for people in China to have more than one mobile phone number, with as many as three to four billion consumers using dual SIM cards. 3/8/18: Apple won't bundle a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter with its 2018 iPhones, according to Cohen analyst Matthew D Ramsay. Cirrus Logic, which makes audio hardware for iDevices, posted its fiscal quarter guidance this week, which Ramsey claims "all but confirms that Apple will not bundle the DAC headset converter 'dongle' in its new iPhone models". As per Apple Insider, Ramsay notes that the dongle will continue to ship with older iPhone models, just not with Apple's incoming iPhone 9, iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Plus. 1/8/18: Apple's latest iOS 12 beta has spilt yet more secrets, with references spotted to the 6.5in iPhone X Plus. Brazilian Apple news site iHelpBR has uncovered evidence in the fifth iOS 12 beta that appears to confirm that the device will feature a screen resolution of 1242x2688 and support for iPad-esque landscape app design. According to the website's digging, stock apps such as Calendar, Contacts, and Messages are already being optimised for a landscape layout. "Apple released the fifth test version of iOS 12 for developers yesterday. To our surprise, when running the new build with the supposed resolution of the iPhone XS Plus, it was possible to view the applications in landscape mode as they are displayed on the larger models," iHelpBR noted. 31/7/18: Apple released the fifth developer beta of iOS 12 on Monday, which appears to have confirmed that the company is planning a dual-SIM iPhone model to be released this year. Spotted by 9to5Mac, a component of the system responsible for the generation of diagnostic reports includes new references to "second SIM status" and a "second SIM tray status", while another component references a "dual sim device". This all but confirms that a dual-SIM model will debut this year, although it remains to be seen whether it will make its way to Blighty. 30/7/18: Twitter tipster Benjamin Geskin has shared images of what he claims to be dummy units of the 6.5in iPhone 11 Plus and the 6.1in LCD iPhone 9 (below). 2018 iPhone X Plus (6.5-inch) and iPhone (6.1-inch) Dummy Models. pic.twitter.com/QrgkT6u0vS — Ben Geskin (@VenyaGeskin1) July 29, 2018 The images, if legit, don't tell us much we don't already know, but 'confirm' that the LCD iPhone features a single rear camera, while the iPhone 11 Plus uses a dual-camera layout similar to that on the iPhone X, not a triple-lens camera as previously speculated. As expected, they also show the so-called iPhone 9 with larger bezels than its higher-spec sibling. 26/7/18: Qualcomm, fresh from calling off its NXP merger, has confirmed that Intel will be the sole supplier of modem chips for Apple's 2018 iPhones. Confirming an earlier report from Ming-Chi Kuo, Qualcomm's CFO George Davis said on Wednesday confirmed that: "Apple intends to solely use our competitor's modems rather than our modems in its next iPhone release. We will continue to provide modems for Apple's legacy devices." Davis didn't mention Intel by name, but the rival chipmaker is the only other supplier of that component for Apple's smartphones. Apple's decision to ditch Qualcomm likely comes as a result of escalating tensions between the two firms, which have been embroiled in a legal battle for more than a year. 25/7/18: The cheapest of Apple's 2018 iPhones, the 6.1in LCD iPhone 9, will be made available in six different colours, according to Macotakara. Apple guru Ming-Chi Kuo has already had a similar prediction and last month claimed the LCD iPhone would come in gold, grey, white, blue, red and orange colour options. Macotakara, on the other hand, predicts the colours will be white, black, flash yellow, bright orange, electric blue and taupe - all colours of cases that Apple currently flogs. There's no red in Macotakara's prediction, which makes sense given that this colour is typically reserved for Apple's (PRODUCT)RED launches. This iPhone 5C-esque colour lineup will likely be reserved for the iPhone 9, with rumours claiming that the 5.8in and 6.5in iPhone 11 and 11 Plus will only be made available in three colours: gold, grey and silver. 19/7/18: Apple's incoming USB-C fast charger will be exclusive to 2018 iPhones, despite offering backwards compatibility. So says Japanese blog Macotakara, which reports that the 18W charger will come with a USB-C to Lightning connection, won't be available to purchase seperately due to supply constraints. The initial supply will only meet Apple's needs for 2018 iPhones, so buyers will have to wait until next year to purchase the accessory. 17/7/18: Apple's entry-level 2018 iPhone won't feature an edge-to-edge screen on par with the iPhone X, according to leaked glass panels. Images posted by Twitter tipster Benjamin Geskin (below) has given our first look at glass panels that will allegedly feature Apple's so-called iPhone 9, iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Plus. 2018 Apple iPhone, iPhone X, iPhone X Plus front panels pic.twitter.com/fGlzRH5Q6x — Ben Geskin (@VenyaGeskin1) July 17, 2018 If legit, the images confirm that low-cost, 6.1in LCD iPhone 9 won't feature a completely bezel-free display of the 5.8in and 6.5in OLED models, despite Apple's plan to adopt new backlight-reducing chips order to achieve a full-screen design. The leak doesn't give much else away, beyond confirming that all three models will adopt a notched design to facilitate Apple's Face ID tech. 13/7/18: Apple will adopt backlight-reducing chips for its upcoming LCD iPhone in order to equip it with a full-screen design. A report out of Digitimes claims that Apple will "exclusively" use Japanese manufacturer Nichia's 0.3t LED chips for its 6.1in LCD iPhone, which will equip the device with similar brightness to previous LCD models but also with the same super-thin bezel as the iPhone X. "While LTPS-LCD smartphone screens with backlights using 0.4t LED chips have bottom bezels of 4.0-4.5mm, use of 0.3t LED chips can reduce them to 2.0-2.5mm, enhancing LCD screens' competitiveness against OLED all (bezel-free) screens panels," the report explains. Digitimes notes that while the use of 0.3t LED chips comes with greater technical risk, especially when it comes accuracy and stability, Nichia "successfully started production" in the first half of 2018. According to earlier rumours, Apple's LCD iPhone - which is expected to be the cheapest of the firm's three incoming iPhones with a starting price of $700 - will allegedly be made available in grey, white, blue, red and orange colour options. 5/17/18: Apple is reportedly planning to introduce as many as five new colour options with its 2018 iPhone line-up. At least that's according to a report from renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, seen by 9to5Mac. He claims that the 6.5in OLED iPhone, expected to arrive as the iPhone X Plus, will be offered in black, white and a new gold option. The 'entry-level' 6.1in LCD iPhone will allegedly debut in more out-there grey, white, blue, red and orange flavours, according to Kuo. As noted by 9to5Mac, the reference to 'grey' and 'white' models could be a nod to Apple's current Space Grey and Silver finishes, while the rumoured red model could arrive as part of Apple's PRODUCT(RED) lineup - although these typically arrive months after an iPhone has been launched. There's no word yet as to whether the 5.8in iPhone X successor will be offered in any new colour variations. In his research note, Kuo is also raising his prediction for iPhone sales. He expects the cheaper, LCD iPhone to account for 55 per cent of sales when the new iPhones launch, and take even more share through 2019. He's clearly expecting a burst of demand, too, and expects that Apple will see significant growth with sales of 70 million iPhones in the fourth quarter. 4/7/18: Images posted on Chinese blog Chongdiantou claim to show off the USB-C charger that will ship with this year's iPhones. The images allegedly give us a glimpse at an "engineering sample" of the 18-watt USB-C charger, which is also expected to be bundled with Apple's incoming iPads. While the labelling looks different to Apple's usual style - suggesting this could be a third-party accessory from China - the design of the charger matches up with earlier leaks, which suggested that the 18W accessory would be oval-shaped and offer a USB-C input. While the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X all offer support for wireless charging, Apple doesn't currently offer the accessories to enable it. With third-party accessories, though, USB-C fast chargers can just an iPhone from empty to 50 per cent in less than half an hour. 3/7/18: The iPhone X Plus has cropped up on Geekbench, confirming that it'll offer a decent upgrade under the hood. The handset, referred to as the 'iPhone 11,2' in the Geekbench listing first spotted by BGR, will come equipped with a new six-core CPU (D321AP), 4GB RAM (1GB more than the iPhone X) and Apple's iOS 12 software, which has a major focus on performance. The aforementioned CPU will likely be Apple's homegrown A12 chip, built by TSMC, which is expected to be the industry's first 7nm chip, which will - in theory, at least - offer more speed and better efficiency than the 10nm chips found in current iDevices. That rings true in the Geekbench scores, as the so-called 'iPhone 11,2' trounced Apple's current iPhone X flagship with a single-core score of 4673 and a multi-core score of 10,912. The iPhone X, for comparison, scored 4206 and 10,123, respectively. 2/7/18: A video showing alleged dummy models of Apple's 6.1in 'iPhone 9' and 6.5in 'iPhone X Plus' has surfaced online. The video (below), sent to 9to5Mac by tipster @shaimizrachi who has shared accurate dummies for iPhones in the past, shows off the duo of incoming devices next to current iPhone models, including the flagship iPhone X. Cases from accessory maker Sketch are also shown in the video, suggesting that case companies are already started making designs ahead of an official announcement from Apple in September. Probably, at least. The iPhone 9, as expected, appears to have a single camera on its rear, adding weight to rumours that it'll be Apple's entry-level offering this year. Earlier rumours also point to a 6.1in LCD screen, with Apple opting against OLED in order to keep the cost of the handset low. The iPhone X Plus appears to be the same size as the iPhone 7 Plus it's stacked up against, despite packing a larger 6.5in screen. This is because Apple has ditched the large bezels seen on its Plus-sized model in favour of its notch-equipped, iPhone X design. The audio-less video also appears to show a dual camera setup on the rear of the so-called iPhone X Plus, despite some rumours pointing to a Huawei P20-esque triple-camera setup. The video does not show the expected 5.8in OLED model, but Mizrachi has teased that "another surprise" is coming. 29/6/18: Apple has reportedly roped in LG to supply OLED screens for its 2018 iPhones in a bid to lessen its reliance on Samsung. The South China Morning Post reports that LG Display will initially supply Apple with between 2 and 4 million OLED screens, small fry compared to how many tens of millions of iPhones the firm likely will produce, as it "continues to work on ramping up capacity". However, LG - which is reportedly considering opening a new OLED production factory in the Chinese port city of Guangzhou - has bigger ambitions though, and is reportedly looking to secure all OLED orders for one of Apple's 2018 iPhones, likely the 6.5in iPhone X Plus. Such a move would help Apple to lessen its reliance on Samsung, which is currently the sole supplier of displays for the iPhone X and has been linked to the smartphone's £1,000 starting price. However, on the other hand, LG's OLED displays have previously received lacklustre reviews - particularly when it comes to the bork-ridden screen on Google's Pixel 2 XL. "Securing a second supplier for OLED screens is crucial for Apple as it will allow the company to reduce its reliance on Samsung, which is currently the sole supplier," said Jerry Kang, a senior principal analyst at IHS Markit. "At the same time, it will help accelerate a broad adoption of OLED screens. More suppliers means more volume, and in turn, lower pricing." 27/6/18: Apple's 6.1in LCD iPhone will arrive in September despite "difficulties" in mass production, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a new research note, Kuo - now of TF International Securities after leaving KGI Securities - reiterates his previous predictions that the mid-sized iPhone will be a "popular option" thanks to its iPhone X-a-like features and lower price-tag. He writes that the 6.1in iPhone will feature an LCD display with an all-screen (read: notch-equipped) design similar to that seen on the iPhone X. Because of the decision to switch to LCD, Kuo claims that mass production is "more difficult" and will unlikely kick off until later this year, but notes that the model will be ready for release in September. And it'll be cheaper than first thought, too. Kuo says that he expects the LCD iPhone to retail for $600-$700 (around £450-£530), despite previously predicting a $700-$800 starting price. This price is afforded by the handset's cheaper LCD panel, the removal of 3D Touch and the decision to stick with a single rear camera, Kuo notes, adding that Apple will also release an LCD phone in 2019 - despite earlier speculation of a shift to a full OLED line-up. New iPhones aren't the only new Apple products to expect this year either, according to Kuo. He notes that the firm will also launch a cheaper MacBook Air, iPad Pro models with Face ID and new Apple Watch models with larger displays. 22/6/18: The largest of Apple's incoming 2018 iPhone trio, the iPhone X Plus, is expected to be the most popular model. Korean website The Bell reports that the so-called iPhone X Plus, which will allegedly pack a 6.5in OLED display, is likely to be Apple's best-seller, with the firm ordering more screen panels for the plus-sized handset than any other model. It claims that Apple has ordered 45 million 6.5in panels, compared to around 25 million panels for the 5.8in iPhone X successor, and 30 million 6.04in LCD screens for the new lower-priced flagship. The Bell notes, however, that these orders could be readjusted "depending on future sales", noting that Apple scaled-back parts orders earlier this year due to lower-than-expected demand for the iPhone X. 19/6/18: Chipmaker Intel has begun production of modem chips for Apple's next-generation iPhones. Thanks to escalating tensions between Apple and Qualcomm, Intel is expected to supply the majority, if not all of the modem chips for Apple's 2018 iPhone line-up. Nikkei reports that Intel has started production of the XMM 7560 modem chips, the first that the chipmaker has produced in-house. "XMM 7560 [modem chips are] now in the process of being deployed… It is in trial and mass production", Intel's VP of Technology, Systems Architecture and Client Group, Asha Keddy, was quoted as saying by Nikkei as saying. Keddy added that the XMM 7560 modem chip is a milestone for Intel as it is the company's first with CDMA support, which means iPhones equipped with the new Intel modem chips will finally be available on all major carriers. Built on the 14nm process, the XMM 7560 is also the first modem chip by Intel to offer download speed of up to 1Gbps with support for 35 LTE bands. The report claims that Intel is also working with Apple to develop the XMM 8000 series of 5G modems which are expected to debut in the iPhone models set to arrive in 2019. 14/6/18: Apple's 2018 iPhones will offer improved fast charging technologies, according to new rumours. Following recent chatter that the incoming iPhone trio would be the first to ship with a USB-C cable, Rosenblatt Securities analyst Jun Zhang claims that Apple might team up with new suppliers who can provide higher-powered charging components. In a research note seen by AppleInsider, Zhang says he expects Apple to upgrade from 5V 2A to 9V 2A and 5V 3A charging circuitry in its upcoming iPhones, thanks to a partnership with a company called Power Integrations who will allegedly replace ON Semiconductor and NXP as the "the main provider for the charging solution for all new iPhone and iPads." This shift will allow the iPhone to "support more applications, provide a quicker recharge, and better compete with Android OEMs," Zhang said. 12/6/18: Apple's new iPhones will reportedly ship with a Lightning to USB-C cable as Apple prepares to add a USB-C port to its 2019 iDevice lineup. The unlikely rumour comes via Digitimes, which claims that Apple will bundle 2018 iPhones with a Lightning to USB-C cable and a new 18W charger, enabling users to take advantage of Type-C fast charging without needing to buy additional accessories. More interestingly, Digitimes claims that Apple will be ditching its proprietary Lightning connection, first introduced in 2012, with USB-C in 2019. The shift, which will see Apple joining the rest of the smartphone world. was allegedly considered for the 2018 iPhones but left too late in the process to implement. Although such a move seems unlikely, it also makes a lot of sense. Apple has already adopted USB-C in its MacBook devices, and USB Type-C is more robust than the firm's own Lightning connector in terms of bandwidth. What's more, adopting USB-C would allow Apple device users to use the same cables and charging accessories across all of their devices, albeit bad news for those who have forked out for Lightning headphones or other accessories. 11/6/18: Leaked schematics have given us a closer look at Apple's incoming iPhone X Plus and LCD 'iPhone'. The schematics were obtained by Forbes from accessory maker Ghostek, and there's a fair chance the latter has access to design information ahead of the handsets' September launch. It'd also provided Forbes with accurate schematics before, most notably ahead of the launch of the Galaxy S9. First on show is the iPhone X Plus (above) which Forbes claims will come with a 6.5in OLED screen, corroborating earlier rumours. The handset will allegedly measure in at 157x77x78, making it slightly smaller than the iPhone 8 Plus. However, it's expected to boast a steel chassis, which will likely make it weightier than its aluminium-clad, plus-sized predecessor. The schematics also show what Forbes claims is a triple-lens camera on the rear of the iPhone X Plus, similar to that seen on the Huawei P20 Pro. However, one of the three cutouts is likely a flash, as Apple isn't rumoured to be switching to triple-lens cameras until next year. Next up is Apple's long-rumoured "affordable" LCD handset (below), which Forbes claims will be called the, er, 'iPhone'. This will have a 6.1in screen, according to this latest leak, and will measure in at 147.12x71.52 mm - longer and wider than current iPhones with 5.8in displays. The report notes that the 'iPhone' will come with the same Face ID tech as first seen on the iPhone X, while the iPhone X Plus will boast 'second generation' mug-scanning tech. 7/6/18: Apple's incoming trio of iPhones might be cheaper than expected. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, famed for his accurate Apple forecasts, said in a recent research note (via MacRumours) that pricing for Apple's incoming iPhones could start at just $600 (£465). That will bag you the 6.1in LCD model, according to Kuo. Apple's 5.8in iPhone 6 successor will cost between "$800-$900" (£600-£670), Kuo claims, which means despite offering similar specs to the current iPhone X, it could be Unsurprisingly, the rumoured 6.5in OLED iPhone will be the most expensive of Apple's 2018 smartphones, with Kuo predicting a starting price of between $900 and $1,000 (£670-£745). Kuo said in his research note: "We forecast that Apple will adopt a more aggressive price policy for the following reasons: (1) concern over the negative impact of a higher price in a mature smartphone market on selling momentum, (2) improved cost structure, which is mainly attributed to assembly yield improvements of end product & 3D sensing and cost reduction of components, and (3) increasing users of Face ID benefiting the promotion of the Apple service and ecosystem." Kuo also believes that Apple will announce and release all three 2018 iPhones in September, including the LCD model which recent reports claimed won't start shipping until November. 4/6/18: Apple's long-rumoured 'affordable' LCD iPhone has reportedly been delayed due to issues with its display. So says Korean news site The Bell, which reports that the LCD display - which will have a notch cutout akin to the iPhone X' OLED display - is suffering production issues. Both Japanese firm JDI and LG Display are "struggling to secure yields", with the redesigned screen said to be causing light leakage that can affect the readings of Apple's Face ID-enabling TrueDepth camera. "There is a problem with the yield of the added process and the light leakage problem due to the application of the notch design, and it is expected that mass production will be possible by the end of the year," an industry analyst told The Bell. This means that the LCD iPhone, expected to be the cheapest in Apple's upcoming 2018 lineup, will unlikely be released until November. "Apple will release the three kinds of LCDs in September," an industry source added, noting that "it is predicted that the LCD iPhone will be released and shipped in November." 23/5/18: TSMC has reportedly started production on the processors set to debut inside this year's lineup of new iPhones. So says Bloomberg, which reports that the processor - likely to be called the A12 chip - will use a 7-nanometer (7nm) design that will enable smaller, faster and more efficient processors than the 10nm chips found in current iDevices. And while specifics details have yet to emerge, TSMC claims on its website that its 7nm processor allows for a 20 per cent improvement in performance and around 40 per cent power reduction. The Taiwanese chipmaker confirmed to Bloomberg that production had begun, but declined to disclose Apple as its customer. The report arrives just hours after Samsung announced today that it'll start producing 7nm chips at scale next year. The company has manufactured iPhone chips in the past and shared production with TSMC on the A9 chip in the iPhone 6S, but TSMC has been Apple's exclusive SoC partner ever since. 10/5/18: The iPhone X Plus will feature the same footprint as the iPhone 8 despite packing a larger 6.5in display, according to Macotakara. The website, citing a "reliable supplier source,", claims that Apple's supersized iPhone X Plus will be the same size as the iPhone 8 Plus - which packs a much smaller 5.5in display - thanks to its dramatically smaller bezels. However, Macorakara claims that the handset will be slightly thicker (0.2mm) than the iPhone 8 Plus due to a "different implementation" of the rear-facing camera, which means it likely will measure in around the 7.7mm mark. Seperately, the report claims that Apple's second-gen 5.8in iPhone X will feature a larger camera sensor than the original model, although specifics were not mentioned. It also notes that the next version of Apple's mobile OS, iOS 12, will bring support for horizontal Face ID unlocking. Currently, Face ID can only recognize you while you hold the phone vertically, but horizontal unlock makes sense for the near tablet-sized iPhone X Plus. 1/5/18: Apple reportedly won't bundle a Lighting to 3.5mm dongle with its 2018 iPhones as the firm looks to eliminate the headphone jack completely. Ever since Apple decided to drop the headphone jack on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, the company has included a Lighting to 3.5mm adaptor in the box. However, a research note from Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis, seen by AppleInsider, claims that this will stop this year, with the analyst noting "we currently model no dongle this year". Curtis didn't provide any evidence, but his claims are backed up by earlier reports that Apple wants to lower the cost of its upcoming iPhones, and getting rid of the adaptor would push down the company's expenses. Such a move, while frustrating, wouldn't be the end of the world, as Apple the adaptor as a standalone accessory for £9, which is cheap by the company's standards. 27/4/18: Apple's upcoming 6.1in might scrap 3D Touch due to 'cost constraints', according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. According to Kuo, the entry-level 6.1in iPhone will use a new technology called 'Cover Glass Sensor' (CGS) that will see the handset's touch control module relocated from the display panel to the actual glass. This CGS glass will reportedly make for a lighter and more shock resistant display, according to the note seen by Chinese site Feng In addition to the in-glass sensor, Apple will also equip the glass with a 'touch film sensor'. While the purpose of this remains unclear, Kuo notes that it will make the cost of the touch panel 15 per cent more expensive - with Apple set to pay $26 per touch panel, compared to $23 currently. In order to offset the cost of the new display tech, Kuo claims that Apple will get rid of the 3D Touch functionality on the 6.1in iPhone. However, it'll remain intact on Apple's 5.8in and 6.5in OLED iPhones, Kuo notes. These might be the last two iPhones to offer the functionality, though, as the research note claims that Apple plans to incorporate the CGS tech into future iPhones, including OLED models starting in 2019, 3D Touch could potentially be removed from all future iPhones. 26/5/18: Intel will supply 70 per cent of LTE chips for Apple's upcoming 2018 iPhones and could soon become the firm's sole supplier, Fast Company reports. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously hinted that Intel might become Apple's sole supplier of LTE modems this year, as tensions between the iPhone maker and Qualcomm escalate. However, a source with knowledge of Apple's plans told Fast Company that Intel will supply the majority of the firm's modem chips in 2018, noting that this is the first year that the chipmaker is fabricating its own chips using the 14nm process. "There's also a chance that if Intel can produce enough chips on time and on budget it could get more than the planned 70 per cent," the report notes. Despite the friction between the two firms, Qualcomm will reportedly provide the remainder of the chips. However, the firm could soon be kicked to the curb, as Fortune notes that Apple will transition solely to Intel for its 2019 iPhone lineup if all goes to plan this year. 25/4/18: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has reportedly started production of the A12 processor that will debut inside Apple's next-generation iPhones. The chip is being produced using TSMC's 7-nanometer (nm) production process, according to Digitimes, making it the first A-series chip to use this process. The A11 Bionic chip used inside the iPhone X and iPhone X was suit on the 10nm process. The A12 chip - which will reportedly be the first processor based on the 7nm processor, likely followed by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855 - looks set to equip Apple's iPhone X2 with a boost in both speed and a better battery life. TSMC claims on its website that its 7nm processor allows for a 20 per cent improvement in performance and around 40 per cent power reduction. Separately, Digitimes notes that TSMC will be the sole producer of A12 chips, despite rumours that Samsung was competing with the firm for A12 production. 22/3/18: Apple plans to start a trial production run of its 2018 iPhone lineup in the second quarter, Digitimes reports. The move comes as Apple looks to avoid the manufacturing delays that plagued the original iPhone X, which were said to have been caused by low yield rates on the production of its 3D sensor modules. Digitimes' source claims that "the trial production will help push ahead the delivery schedules for 2018 iPhone devices so that they will rekindle its smartphone momentum", noting that sales of the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X have all been "lower than expected." 21/3/18: The next-generation iPhone X will cost "much less" than Apple's current £1,000 flagship, according to reports. Apple is expected to launch three iPhone variants this year - a 6.5in OLED model, a 6.1in LCD model, and a 5.8in OLED model. According to a new report from Digitimes Research senior analyst Luke Lin, the 5.8in variant of the second-gen iPhone X will be much cheaper to manufacture than the current model, despite its expensive OLED display. Lin, citing information from Apple's upstream supply chain, claims the new device's manufacturing bill of materials (MBOM) will be more than 10 per cent lower than that for the original iPhone X, which reportedly costs Apple $400 to build. This cost-saving will be passed along to the customer, claims Lin, who says the 5.85in iPhone X will be the cheapest of Apple's 2018 iPhones. Interestingly, Lin adds that Apple had previously planned to bring an LCD version of the 5.85in iPhone to market this year, but scrapped the project in mid-February. 27/2/18: Just a day after the first images of alleged iPhone X Plus parts surfaced online, Bloomberg is reporting that Apple's "biggest smartphone yet" will make its debut this year. Mark Gurman, notorious for legitimate Apple leaks, reports that the iPhone X Plus will see an official launch later this year and will be just one of three new iPhones in 2018. According to Gurman, the so-called iPhone X Plus will arrive alongside "an upgraded handset the same size as the current iPhone X and a less expensive model with some of the flagship phone's key features." The iPhone X Plus, codenamed 'D33', sounds like it will be the most interesting of the three, with its 6.5in OLED display set to fit into a device with the same physical footprint as the iPhone 8 Plus thanks to its lack of physical home button and edge-to-edge display. It's OLED display will pack a 1242x2688 display, according to the report, making it "about as sharp" as the 5.8in screen on the original iPhone X. The iPhone X Plus, along with the 5.8in iPhone X successor - codenamed 'D22' - could be made available in a gold colour option for the first time, the report claims. Bloomberg notes that Apple tried to develop a gold version of the current iPhone X handset, but abandoned it because of "production problems". All three incoming models, including the more-affordable LCD-equipped model, will pack Apple's next-generation A12 processor, the report adds, alongside iOS 12 and a built-in Face ID sensor. There's no word as to when the smartphones will be making their debut, but it's likely Apple will hold its launch event in September. 26/2/18: A leak alleged to have come from an LG display production facility in Vietnam has given us our first glimpse of Apple's iPhone X Plus. A pair of images posted on MacX forums show what appears to be an iPhone X-shaped pane of glass. It's clearly bigger than the panel found on the current-gen iPhone X, and looks like it could have a smaller notch too - matching up with earlier rumours that claimed that Apple will downsize the notch on future iPhone X models. Although unclear whether the leak is legit, MacRumours notes that the flex cable looks authentic, as does the part number printed on it. Also adding weight to the leak is the fact that earlier rumours also claimed that, while Samsung currently uses Samsung as its supplier for OLED displays, it's planning to use LG's OLED facility for its 2018 iPhone models. 16/2/18: Apple will release a 6.1in iPhone this year that will resemble the iPhone X and cost just $699 (around £500) according to KGI. In a note seen by 9to5Mac, KGI is predicting that Apple's mooted 6.1in iPhone will "use slightly less premium components" than the iPhone X, such as an aluminium frame instead of stainless steel. Despite this, it will reportedly look nearly identical to Apple's notch-equipped flagship. This all sounds like a winning formula to KGI, which expects the 6.1in LCD-screened model to be Apple's "most popular" 2018 device, and expects it to see total sales of around 100 million units. In comparison, KGI's Ming-Chi Kuo expects the current iPhone X to ship a total of 62 million units in its lifetime. Alongside the 6.1in iPhone, Apple is also expected to launch a new and improved iPhone X with souped-up internals and a larger iPhone X Plus with a 6.5in OLED display. While KGI expects the lesser-specced model to retail for $699, pricing for the other two models is not yet known. 5/2/18: Apple will reportedly make Intel its sole supplier of cellular modems for its 2018 iPhones, eliminating its reliance on Qualcomm. So says KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, naturally, who reports via 9to5Mac that: "Intel will be the exclusive supplier of baseband chip for 2H18 new iPhone models, while Qualcomm may not have a share of the orders at all." According to Kuo, Intel can meet Apple's technical requirements and offers more competitive prices. The modem which Apple may be using is Intel's XMM 7560 modem which supports 4×4 MIMO technology. This move comes amid escalating tensions between Apple and Qualcomm. One of the firms' most recent legal squabbles saw the chipmaker accuse Apple of sharing proprietary code with Intel, including confidential information about its chips. Despite this ongoing hostility between the two firms, Kuo doesn't rule out Qualcomm returning to the supply chain, perhaps as concessions in the patent lawsuit settlement. He adds that there's also a risk that Intel may not be ready for 5G as quickly as Qualcomm, which may also force Apple's hand. 26/1/18: Apple will launch a single OLED iPhone this year with a 6.5in screen, according to Digitimes, despite earlier speculation that it was also planning a 5.8in successor to the iPhone X. Digitimes' report, which we'd advise to take with a pinch of salt, claims that Apple plans to abandon the 5.8in OLED iPhone form factor after just one generation, and plans instead to launch just the 6.5in iPhone X Plus later this year. It notes, however, that Apple has "not yet made the final decision" and notes that the firm has been testing four different iPhone designs for 2018. Still, it seems pretty confident that Apple'' 2018 lineup will comprise of 5.8in LCD, a 6.1in LCD and the 6.5in OLED phone iPhone models. Elsewhere in its report, Digitimes also claims that an iPhone SE successor with wireless charging, and no 3D Touch, will make its debut later this year. 19/1/18: A new report from KGI, via 9to5Mac, reaffirms previous speculation that Apple will launch a three-tier iPhone lineup this year, including a 6.1in LCD model with a "similar design to the iPhone X", a sequel to last year's iPhone X and the 6.5in iPhone X Plus. This comes despite KGI's claims that the iPhone X hasn't sold as well as first thought. The analyst outfit expects Apple to ship 18 million iPhone X units in the current quarter, significantly below other estimates in the 20-30 million range. With these lacklustre figures in mind, KGI expects the iPhone X to hit end of life status around mid-2018 with sales of 62 million units in total, lower than its previous forecast of 80 million. 30/11/17: Apple is reportedly developing in-house power management chips that could debut in next year's iPhones, according to a report at Nikkei. The report claims that the chip "would be the most advanced in the industry" and could dramatically extend the battery life of iPhones. Nikkei says that while a timeframe is not yet locked down, Apple is hoping to debut the chips in its 2018 iPhones. This could be bad news for UK outfit Dialog, which currently designs the power management chips for iPhones. If Apple - which last year accounted for 74 per cent of Dialog's revenue - was to switch to in-house circuitry, it would no longer be required to hand over royalty payments. The company's stock has already fallen by 15 per cent following Nikkei's report, although neither Apple nor Dialog have commented on the rumours. Earlier this year, Apple told UK-based Imagination Technologies that it would stop licensing its GPU designs. This news saw the company's stock tumble more than 70 per cent in a single day, and the two firms are now embroiled in a legal battle. 14/11/17: Apple will reportedly release three new iPhones next year and all of them will come with a notched display, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo expects Apple to release three iPhones in 2018, including 5.8in and 6.5in models with OLED displays and a cheaper 6.1in handset with an LCD display, according to a research note seen by MacRumours. "Two new OLED models target high-end market; new TFT-LCD model aims at low-end & midrange markets," Kuo said. "The new TFT-LCD model will differ significantly from the OLED models in hardware and design specs (for instance, the PPI will be lower). The primary selling points of the TFT-LCD model may be the innovative user experience of an integrated full-screen design and 3D sensing with a lower price tag (we expect it will likely be US$649-749)." Kuo goes on to say that all three models will likely come equipped with a full-screen notched design and TrueDepth camera system like that seen on the iPhone X, with all three handsets tipped to dump Touch ID in favour of Apple's new, crackable Face ID system. Earlier rumours also claimed that next year's iPhone(s) could ship without modem chips from Qualcomm, with Apple said to be testing modem chips from Intel and MediaTek to potentially include in its 2018 hardware line-up. There's also talk of the so-called iPhone 11 packing a Samsung-built A12 chip. Kuo also suggested that Apple will have a lot more of the 'new' iPhones available at launch when compared to the 80 million iPhone units shipped in the second half of this year. While Kuo predicts the cheaper LCD model to fetch around $700, there's no word yet as to how much Apple's next-gen OLED models are likely to cost. We're going to go out on a whim and predict that the new iPhones will probably be announced in September next year. µ

NOKIA'S FRANKLY LUDICROUS-LOOKING five-camera smartphone is very nearly upon us, if a new leaked video is to be believed. The Nokia Whack-A-Mole (or Nokia 9 PureView as the company insists on calling it - we prefer our name) has leaked in a new video released by MySmartPrice, which shows a handset betting the house on the concept that five camera lenses are automatically better than four or fewer. In fact, the other specs are more run of the mill, so Nokia leaves them to the end. We'll get on to them in a minute, but why are five cameras supposedly better than one, two, three or four? The Zeiss-branded camera array can capture "life in impossible detail" apparently, which is suitably nonsensical for a marketing video, suggesting the leak is 100 per cent genuine. Taking five shots simultaneously allows the phone to capture ten times as much light, the video claims, for "incredible texture and detail" and "stunning crisp HDR technology." The five lenses also allow easy refocusing after the shots have been taken. So in short, five cameras makes for better photography. We probably could have worked that one out for ourselves, with hindsight. Elsewhere, though, the specifications look a little limp for a 2019 flagship. Like 2018's Nokia 8 Sirocco, the Nokia Whack-A-Mole will be packing the previous year's technology: in this case, the Snapdragon 845 processor. At the time of writing that's still the most powerful Android chip around, but it won't be for long. Still, it should offer very good performance all the same, with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage in the mix too. The 5.99in screen has a 2K resolution, and it has nice little extras such as Qi wireless charging and an in-display fingerprint reader, as recently seen on the OnePlus 6T. It's an Android One device, too, which means it not only launches with Android 9 Pie, but is guaranteed two years' worth of security updates. No idea how much all this will cost, but we'll likely know in a few weeks if Nokia has already cracked out the stock music tunes for a promo video. Watch this space. µ

BORKAGE INVOLVING outsourced cloud services are more of a problem for CIOs' reputations than internal issues. That's the opinion of several CIOs at a recent Dining Club hosted by the INQUIRER's sister site Computing, where they discussed the cloud and how best to exploit it. One CIO cited this as a risk when discussing how to build a strategy around which services to outsource. "If you outsource to the cloud and it blows up you look stupid. Getting it wrong when you've outsourced looks worse than if it goes wrong when you're managing it yourself." The CIO conceded that cloud suppliers are likely to have more security expertise than other organisations, but maintained that the risk remains. "Cloud vendors are more secure because they've got more experience, but if a cloud vendor gets it wrong there's more comeback on the CIO." Greg Hanson, CTO at Informatica, explained that these risks can be minimised with a good outsourcing strategy and an understanding of what cloud vendors can offer. "There are many different descriptions of getting it wrong. Costs can rapidly spiral without good management, and with a lack of governed cloud adoption, you will find that. "Sometimes there's also a lack of understanding around working with vendors, and seeing how best to utilise their services for the best return. "You can find costs spiralling as cloud is so easy to consume. It's like giving a child a bag of sweets and being surprised later when all the sweets are gone. You need to plan, execute and govern properly. " The event was run under Chatham House rules, so the first CIO is not named. µ

CHIPMAKER Intel looks set to imminently fatten up its 9th-gen Coffee Lake Refresh CPU lineup with new SKUs aimed at enthusiast systems. That's according to a number of fat-fingered retailers, including Data-Systems.Fi, Newegg, and distributor Synnex, which all listed the new processors ahead of their likely CES unveiling. Screenshots of the since-yanked listings obtained by Anandtech confirm that there are four new SKUs incoming, including the eight-core Intel Core i9-9900KF and Core i7-9700KF and six-core Core i5-9600KF and Core i5-9400F CPUs. All four processors, which likely will be based on Intel's 14nm process, end with an F designator, something that Intel typically uses to specify chips that lack integrated graphics. As noted by Anandtech, this marks the first time that Intel has launched integrated graphics-free processors in its mainstream processors for many years, and suggests the CPUs will take aim at enthusiast systems that rely on discrete graphics cards; something that Intel is also tipped to launch at CES next week. The premature listings confirm that all the chips will support existing 300-series mainboards, and gives us a glimpse at the CPUs' specifications: Core i9-9900KF: eight cores, 95W TDP, clock frequencies of 3.6/5.0 GHz, and 16MB L3 cache Core i7-9700KF: eight cores, 95W TDP, clock frequencies of 3.6/4.9 GHz, and 12MB of L3 cache Core i5-9600KF: six cores, 95W TDP, clock frequencies of 3.7/4.6 GHz, and 9MB L3 cache Core i5-9400F: six cores, 65W TDP, clock frequencies of 2.9/4.1GHz, and 9MB L3 cache Naturally, Intel has remained tight-lipped on the existence of these CPUs, but the retailers' listings suggest that a launch is imminent; Intel has a CES presser scheduled for 7 September, and INQ will be there to bring you all of the latest. µ

HUAWEI AND ZTE could find themselves banned from the US after reports claimed that Donald Trump plans to hit them with an executive order. The two companies have faced much scrutiny over their links to the Chinese government, with speculation that their devices may present a risk to national security. As such, it's expected that struggling young actor, Donald Trump, best known for his role as 'Forbes Cover Billionaire' in 2011 film 'Horrorween', will bypass the House and ban the companies equipment from the rollout of the forthcoming 5G networks that are set to girdle the country in 2019. Reuters reports that any such ban could be imminent and would be enacted by declaring a 'national emergency' under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This would give Trump direct control over where telecoms hardware is sourced; these Hollywood types can be such drama queens. In the event of such a ruling, it's likely that existing equipment may also have to be ripped out, with small-scale operators in rural areas being worst hit, with experts debating whether or not such operators could even expect compensation. It's thought that any such order would not specifically identify Huawei and ZTE, but refer in general to companies that present a threat to national security. This comes despite a recent billion dollar payment by ZTE to keep trading in the country. This isn't the first time that such a move has been mooted, with rumours of a plan to scupper Chinese tech ambitions stretching back to last May, as a preamble to the ongoing trade war between the two countries. Hua Chunying, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry was guarded in her response, pending any official announcement, but added: "Some countries have, without any evidence, and making use of national security, tacitly assumed crimes to politicize, and even obstruct and restrict, normal technology exchange activities," she added. "This, in reality, is undoubtedly shutting oneself off, rather than being the door to openness, progress and fairness." Neither ZTE or Huawei has commented as yet. μ

IT MAY be a new year, but when it comes to Windows 10, the issues are same-old, same-old. The spectacular borkage that has been affecting users who have updated to the latest version of Windows-as-a-Service - specifically the October 2018 Update - has produced a new issue and this time, it's FLAC support. The lossless music codec favoured by audiophiles was added natively in Windows 10 but has never been fully operational, and now it appears to be well and truly jiggered. It appears that for some reason Windows is truncating metadata (artist names and so on) in the new version, whilst native players (Groove, Windows Media Player) are skipping about all over the shop like a pirate radio station in a Force Nine gale - missing the first minute of songs and ignoring short ones entirely. Whilst it has always been true that Windows doesn't like tags of over 64 characters, this seems to be a much more of a bork than any attempt at a fix. Also spotted, for those power users who sometimes access the hidden Administrator account, is that it will have been automatically deactivated after upgrade, meaning you have to set it all up again. There's no harm done, but ultimately, this is Windows 10 messing with the holiest-of-holies without actually warning the user. Whilst neither problem is of the extent of the original issue - that of user files being chewed up and spat out, this is nevertheless another example from the growing list of things that you would have expected Microsoft to have spotted before this update went anywhere near the public. The October 2018 Update is now more widely available but remains blocked on certain machines with known issues. We are now almost halfway through the current update's tenure, and yet still more issues are being discovered. The concern now is whether or not this version can be fixed before the next, codenamed 19H1 is due to arrive. μ FURTHER READING

A CYBER ATTACK thought to involve Ryuk ransomware halted the production of a number of US newspapers belonging to the Tribune Group late last week. The attack was first noticed on Thursday night at the San Diego Union-Tribune, when some editors found they were unable to send completed pages to the printing facilities. On Friday and Saturday, print editions of other papers were also affected, including Union-Tribune papers in Florida, Chicago and Connecticut, and the West Coast editions of the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, many of which were forced to put out editions of reduced size. All titles belonging to the Tribune Group are reported to have been hit to some extent, with papers previously owned by the Group also seeing some impact as a result of sharing some backend systems with their former parent. The publisher has not confirmed that it has been affected by Ryuk or any other ransomware, but the LA Times claims to have received a screenshot of the ransom demand, which is similar to that seen in previous attacks involving Ryuk. First identified by security vendor Check Point in August, Ryuk shares some features with HERMES ransomware, a strain associated with the North Korean APT Lazarus Group. Unlike other strains, Ryuk is used exclusively for targeted attacks with infection and distribution carried out manually, Check Point says, which may mean the attackers were present on Tribune Group's systems for some time. While it is almost impossible to identify the creators and deployers of Ryuk - it could be Lazarus Group, an offshoot or some other group that has adopted the code - previous campaigns are thought to have netted attackers around $640,000 in ransom payments from targets that included the Eastern International Bank in Taiwan. While the actual payouts have been much less than the original demands, companies with time-sensitive business models may be tempted to pay up rather than risk further downtime. As of Monday, production of Tribune Group newspapers had returned to normal. µ

IN PRECISELY 86 DAYS - unless something dramatic happens - Britain's 73 MEPs will lose their hard-earned (citation needed) European Union salary. For those that want one more hit of EU gravy after handing in the door pass, there is another way: finding bugs in open source software. Bug bounties are nothing new, but they tend to be offered by companies with deep enough cash reserves to fund them, for obvious reasons. Facebook, Google, Microsoft and many others essentially pay people to find flaws in their software, so they can patch them before somebody else uses it to cause them bigger headaches further down the line. So why is the EU getting in on the act? Simply because it uses open source software, and said programmes rely on the community to catch potential exploits. That's proved pretty efficient in the past, but with the EU representing the interest of 28 countries - well, 27 and one putting on its coat to leave - one small exploit could cause a lot of big problems. As such, German Pirate Party MEP Julia Reda has unveiled the bug bounty program for 15 pieces of software favoured in Brussels and beyond: 7-zip, Apache Kafka, Apache Tomcat, Digital Signature Services (DSS), Drupal, Filezilla, FLUX TL, the GNU C Library (glibc), KeePass, midPoint, Notepad++, PuTTY, the Symfony PHP framework, VLC Media Player and WSO2. "The issue made lots of people realise how important Free and Open Source Software is for the integrity and reliability of the Internet and other infrastructure," Reda said in her announcement. "Like many other organisations, institutions like the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission build upon Free Software to run their websites and many other things." Bounties range from €25,000 (~£22,500) for poking holes in DSS, all the way up to €90,000 (~£81,000) for moulding PuTTY to your will. It may not be enough to warrant one of those little blue EU funding plaques for your front door, but it's still a decent wodge of cash. µ

A YEAR AGO, hearing that Android apps were gossiping about you to Facebook would have barely elicited a shrug. After a year of damage control which saw Facebook dealing with multiple data slips, leaked emails and a congressional summons, people are far less okay with Zuckerberg being a perpetual third wheel. So a report from Privacy International is disappointing, even if it isn't entirely surprising. After spot testing 34 popular (10-500 million users) Android apps, the group found that 23 of them were sending data over to Facebook without any kind of user consent - and even for those without a Facebook account. For good measure, the apps also included the user's Google advertising ID just to really hammer home the creepiness. The level of information shared varied from app to app, but special marks go to the Kayak travel booking app, which told on users every time they made a search. The time of the search, the departure and arrival city, the airport, the date, and the number of tickets searched for were all diligently sent over to Facebook for… reasons. While individual apps probably can't tell you that much about an individual (the link between Candy Crush addiction and being a simpleton is only correlative for now), connecting multiple apps really does begin to paint a full picture of someone. If a user was using Qibla Connect, Period Tracker Clue, Indeed and My Talking Tom - all apps tested by Privacy International - you could hazard a fair guess that the phone belonged to a job-seeking Muslim mother, for example. "Facebook offers analytics and advertising services to app developers, which help them receive aggregated information about how people engage with their apps -- this is a common practice for many companies," Facebook told Privacy International. "We also wanted to note that many companies offer the types of services you cover in the report and, like Facebook, they also get information from the apps and sites that use them in a similar manner. Amazon, Google and Twitter all offer login features. Likewise, many of these companies, as well as others like Adobe, Flurry, and Mixpanel, provide analytics services for app developers. More generally, most websites and apps send the same information to multiple companies each time you visit them." There's a slim chance you may find that reassuring. You most likely don't, though. On the bright side, at least one company has cleaned up its act in the wake of the report. Skyscanner told Privacy International: "Since receiving your letter, we released an update to our app as a priority which will stop the transmission of data via the Facebook SDK." Now Facebook will just have to figure out you've taken a flight by the airport check-ins and braggy photographs you upload when overseas. How ever will they cope? µ