Google unveils selective features for foldables, discovers Russian cyberattacks, and enhances Wear OS Weather app
Top 3 Key Points:
- Selective Foldable Support: Google’s new dual-screen mode for Live Transcribe works only on Google and Samsung foldables.
- Russian Cyber Espionage: Google uncovered Russian hackers using commercial spyware through Chrome for Android.
- Wear OS Weather Upgrade: Google’s Wear OS weather tile now provides more glanceable information.
Google’s recent tech advancements highlight both the company’s innovation and its ongoing battle against cybersecurity threats. At the Made by Google event, the tech giant introduced its second-generation foldable, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, alongside an update to Live Transcribe featuring a dual-screen mode.
This feature, however, only functions on foldable devices from Google and Samsung. The reason? A lack of standardized APIs across other foldables, with only these two brands integrating the necessary Jetpack WindowManager Extensions. Consequently, users of non-Google or Samsung foldables cannot access this mode, limiting app developers’ incentive to innovate for these devices.
In parallel, Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) uncovered a sophisticated cyber espionage campaign orchestrated by Russian hackers, specifically the APT29 group, also known as “Midnight Blizzard.” These attackers exploited vulnerabilities in Chrome for Android and Apple’s WebKit, targeting Mongolian government websites through malicious “watering holes.” This attack underscores the importance of regularly updating software to guard against evolving cybersecurity threats.
On a lighter note, Google has also enhanced its Wear OS platform, refining the Google Weather forecast tile to display more detailed weather information at a glance. This update provides users with timely weather insights without needing to open the full app, emphasizing Google’s commitment to improving user experience on smartwatches.