Counterfeit products are literally everywhere in the market. Besides the complete final product itself, counterfeit spare parts and components are also way too common. And as such products bear a lot of similarities with the original ones, unsuspecting buyers could go home with subpar products. Thankfully, there’s now an app that lets you spot counterfeit and fake products. Alitheon, a US-based company has developed an app known as the FeaturePrint to tackle the mushrooming growth of counterfeit products.
FeaturePrint App Overview:
This app uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify counterfeit products. Simply take a picture of a part, product, or component and the app will determine whether it’s genuine or not.
How does it work?
The app relies on patented AI algorithms allowing automatic identification of unique features and attributes of a product. It enables human biometrics without the risk of profiling and establishes the unbreakable object link required for blockchain security and the operation of smart contracts.
Basically, the app doesn’t identify counterfeit products but instead uses the digital fingerprint or “FeaturePrint” to identify original products. It gets the new FeaturePrint of the testing product and compares it to the authentic one. This becomes the basis for tracing and segregating duplicate products from the original ones. And it also eliminates the need of identifying objects through QR codes, RFID tags, or barcodes.
Another thing to mention is that FeaturePrint works for a single object only, not a class of objects. In a general sense, the app is only able to extract the characteristics of a specific object, not its entire class. For example, the app can represent a specific AMD Ryzen 7000 series processor, but not the entire Ryzen 7000 family.
The FeaturePrint app can be a one-stop solution for businesses to tackle counterfeit issues in production. But genuine parts or products must register their “FeaturePrint” in the app for it to work. So, it might take a longer time for a full implementation around the world.
Unfortunately, this app is exclusively available to businesses only. Which means you can’t just download it from an app store and get to it. The B2B modality is aimed to reach a larger platform for companies to produce genuine products for end consumers. And reports suggest FAST Sneaks and London Bullion Market Association have already begun using Alitheon’s solution.
Meanwhile, check our picks for best midrange phones in 2023
Samsung Nepal has been launching a bunch of budget and midrange phones lately. And the new Galaxy F54 has arrived in Nepal as well. It’s a lot similar to the Samsung Galaxy A54 which is already available globally, by the way. Let’s learn more about the Samsung Galaxy F54, including its features, specs, availability, and official price in Nepal.
Samsung Galaxy F54 - Silver Color
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Samsung Galaxy F54 Overview:
Design and Display
Samsung Galaxy A54 Vs Galaxy F54
Besides its familiarity with the Galaxy A54, the Galaxy F54 is actually a rebranded Galaxy M54 that launched a couple of months ago. That means this phone has a plastic back and frames, with a metallic finish for the protruding camera lenses. Available in either Silver or Dark Blue colorways, the phone weighs 199 grams and measures 8.4mm thick. Samsung has also embedded a fingerprint reader into the power button. To compare, the Galaxy A54 has a more premium glass sandwich body and IP67 rating too.
As for the display, you’re looking at a Gorilla Glass 5-protected 6.7″ Super AMOLED Plus screen with an FHD resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Its peak brightness is rated at 800 nits under High Brightness Mode (HBM), whereas the phone also supports Samsung’s “Vision Booster” technology for enhanced outdoor visibility.
Performance-wise, Galaxy F54 5G comes with Samsung’s in-house Exynos 1380 5G (5nm) chip. It’s the successor to last year’s Exynos 1280 and is the same processor used in the Galaxy A54. The Exynos 1380 brings an octa-core CPU with four Cortex-A78 (@2.4 GHz) and four Cortex-A55 (@2.0 GHz) cores. And handling the graphics side of things is the Mali-G68 MP5 GPU.
Other than this, the phone arrives with 8GB RAM and 128 or 256GB of internal storage that can be expanded via a microSD card. Galaxy F54 runs on Android 13-based One UI 5.1 out-of-the-box. And just like Galaxy A54 and M54, Samsung has committed to 4 generations of OS and 5 years of security updates for this guy too.
Camera
Getting to the cameras, Galaxy F54 packs a 108MP f/1.8 primary (with OIS), an 8MP f/2.2 ultrawide, and a 2MP f/2.4 macro sensor at the back. On the front, it has a 32MP f/2.2 selfie shooter inside the hole-punch cutout. Both the front and back cameras here can shoot up to 4K 30 fps videos. For better low-light photography, it brings Samsung’s “Nightography” feature as well.
Battery and others
Galaxy F54 gets its juice from a massive 6000mAh battery that supports 25W charging. But like most Samsung phones these days, you won’t be getting a compatible power brick inside the box itself. In terms of wireless connectivity, you get WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3.
Software& UI: One UI 5.1 on top of Android 13 (upgradeable)
Rear Camera: Triple (108MP main with OIS, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro)
Front Camera: 32MP sensor (hole-punch)
Security: Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted)
Battery: 6000mAh with 25W charging
Samsung Galaxy F54 Price in Nepal and Availability
The official Samsung Galaxy F54 price in Nepal is NPR 52,499 for the 8/256GB variant. You can buy Galaxy F54 from Samsung-authorized stores like Hukut, where the first 5 buyers will also be getting a 25W charger for free.
It looks like the recent price war between Internet Service Providers (ISPs) is finally coming to an end. The competition that started with CG Net’s aggressive entry into the market is practically over after ISPs agreed against the unhealthy competition by undercutting themselves. ISPs are now increasing the price of low Mbps internet plans or abandoning them altogether.
ISP Price War in Nepal
How the ISP Price War really started
CG Net initiated its service in the Kathmandu Valley with residential 120Mbps home plans costing as low as Rs. 999 monthly in 2021. Back then, the said speed and the price it came with were both unheard of in Nepal. This compelled other mainstream ISPs like Worldlink and Vianet to level up. Many introduced new plans and even updated the existing ones to higher speed for free. As a result, high-speed internet plans over 100Mbps became the new norm, with some ISP offerings even going over 1Gbps.
While these high-speed plans offered better value than the plans they were replacing, their popularity took a hit as most subscribers realized they didn’t need all the speed. There was a gap in the market for low-priced home internet plans with moderate speeds. CG tried to capitalize it with its 50Mbps “Super Sasto Packages” for Rs. 649/month. However, then came Wi-Fi Nepal with its 30Mbps package at just Rs. 333/month, which was unheard of before.
Is ISP Price War finally coming to an end?
But it looks like the ISP price war in Nepal has finally come to an end. A recent rumour suggested that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Nepal are gradually increasing the price of their packages to avoid competition within themselves, and we are seeing the results.
Wi-Fi Nepal burst into the ISP scene with super affordable internet packs, which has increased the price by nearly 100%. Likewise, CG Net has completely abandoned the 50Mbps package. You won’t also find the low-cost Purple and Mini Packs on Vianet’s official site either. And in the latest move, DishHome has also raised the rate of its internet plans.
This is what NTA has to say about the increased internet price war
As all of this unfolded, Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) released a notice urging ISPs not to increase the price and to abide by the existing law. It also denied any involvement in the rumoured agreement between ISPs to end the price war. The regulatory authority has said that no directions about internet pricing increases have been issued. Instead, service providers can only change their prices with the approval of the regulatory authority.
The authority has instructed ISPs not to raise their internet price. They must first approve tariffs according to Section 42 of the Telecommunications Act of 2053 and the permit conditions.
But this is where things get confusing. Turns on at the height of the price war when ISPs were introducing low-cost options, and none of the plans were approved by NTA. NTA had even released a notice prior to putting an end to unapproved internet packages.
Meanwhile, check out our picks for the best phone under Rs. 25,000.
Xiaomi has refreshed the Civi series with the new “Civi 3” smartphone. It comes with a powerful Dimensity 8200 Ultra chip, dual 32MP selfie cameras, and more. In this article, let’s walk through the specs, features, and expected price of the Xiaomi Civi 3 in Nepal.
Xiaomi Civi 3 Overview:
In case you didn’t know, Xiaomi’s “Civi” lineup is exclusive to the Chinese market, although these phones do arrive with a different name in the international arena with a slight makeover. For example, last year’s Xiaomi Civi 2 arrived as Xiaomi 13 Lite. So we might see Xiaomi Civi 3 hit the global market as “Xiaomi 14 Lite” later this year.
Design and Display
In terms of design, the front of the phone has a curved screen with a pill-shaped cutout for dual selfie cameras. Just like on the Civi 2. Whereas Xiaomi has made some noticeable changes at the back. The Civi 3 now adapts a dual-tone design with a lighter color on the top half and a darker color tone on the bottom half. Also, the camera module gets a slight redesign. Xiaomi ships the phone in four color options: Rose Purple, Mint Green, Adventure Gold, and Coconut Ash.
Upfront, you are greeted with a 6.55-inch OLED curved display with an FHD resolution and Gorilla Glass 5 protection. Offering a 120Hz refresh rate and a touch sampling rate of up to 240Hz, this screen also supports 1920Hz PWM dimming, 12-bit colors, DCI-P3 color gamut, and 1500 nits of peak brightness.
Performance
For the first time in this lineup, Xiaomi has opted for a MediaTek chip for the Civi 3. It is powered by a Dimensity 8200 Ultra processor, which is fabbed under a 4nm process. However, this “Ultra” variant doesn’t seem to be any different from the regular Dimensity 8200 in terms of CPU or GPU. Xiaomi says it has used a 4000mm² VC liquid cooling technology to keep the thermals in check.
The chip is coupled with 12GB LPDDR5 or 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 3.1 storage. Likewise, Xiaomi Civi 3 boots on MIUI 14 based on Android 13.
Camera
Moving to the optics, this phone sports a triple-camera setup at the back. The trio includes a 50MP Sony IMX800 f/1.77 sensor with 2x lossless zoom and OIS. And accompanying it is an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide and a 2MP macro sensor.
On top of that, Xiaomi and MediaTek co-partnership for the Dimensity 8200 Ultra features a dedicated IMG BXT 6E Gen 1 ISP and a MediaTek APU 580 AI engine for better photography and faster processing on the Civi 3. As for videos, its main camera is capable of recording at up to 4K 30 fps.
Camera
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Rear
Selfie
Getting to the selfie camera, Xiaomi Civi 3’s pill-shaped cutout includes a 32MP f/2.0 main shooter with autofocus and a 32MP f/2.4 ultrawide camera with 100° FoV and EIS support. Also, the Civi 3 finally breaks the tradition of 1080p video recording from the front cameras as it supports up to 4K 30 fps recording.
Fueling the smartphone is a 4500mAh battery that supports 67W PD fast charging. As for the connectivity options, Civi 3 has WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C port.
Software& UI: Android 13 with Xiaomi’s MIUI 14 on top
Rear Camera: Triple (with LED flash);
– 50MP Sony IMX800 primary sensor, f/1.77, OIS
– 8MP Sony IMX355 ultrawide sensor, f/2.2, 120° FoV
– 2MP macro sensor, f/2.4, 4cm focus
Front Camera: Dual (with two LED flash)
– 32MP primary sensor, f/2.0, autofocus
– 32MP ultrawide sensor, f/2.4, 100° FoV
Audio: Dual stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos Audio
Security: In-display fingerprint sensor (optical), Face unlock
Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient light, E-compass, Flicker, Gyro, Proximity, IR blaster
Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 6 (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS / AGPS / Beidou / Galileo / Glonass, USB Type-C, 5G
Battery: 4500mAh with 67W wired PD charging (67W power adapter provided)
Color Options: Rose Purple, Mint Green, Adventure Gold, and Coconut Ash
Xiaomi Civi 3 Price in Nepal and Availability
The official price of Xiaomi Civi 3 starts at CNY 2,499 (around USD 350 / INR 29,200) in China for the base 12/256GB version and goes up to CNY 2,999 (around USD 425 / INR 35,000) for the top-end model. We expect the Xiaomi Civi 3 price in Nepal to begin from NPR 57,999 when it launches here.
After back-to-back introductions of innovative features, whether be a ChatGPT integration or a freshly built version of the flagship browser that supports the generative AI contents (Opera One), Opera has now introduced an AI tool of its own, Aria, further expanding its AI-driven capabilities. Aria represents a significant milestone for Opera users as it is natively built into the browser, promising a new browsing experience.
This article will discuss its design architecture, explore its capabilities, highlight any limitations, and touch upon other relevant features. By the end, you’ll clearly understand what Aria brings to the table.
Opera Aria Overview:
Aria is based on Opera’s underlying “Composer” framework and utilizes OpenAI’s GPT technology. This helps it connect to numerous AI models leading to further expansions in functionalities like search and live web results. Unlike ChatGPT, Aria is not limited to contents prior to 2021. Hence it can provide free-of-cost generative up-to-date content. Opera has ambitious plans to expand Aria’s capabilities and transform it into an AI tool that performs cross-browser functions seamlessly, enhancing the browsing experience for users.
AI is rapidly changing how we work, browse the web, and naturally, how we think about browsers and the part they can play in users’ online experience. Fittingly, Aria is our first product that named itself.
Availability and Accessibility of Opera Aria
Aria is currently available in over 180 countries and is accessible for some OS like Windows, MacOS, Linux, and Android. To use Aria, just simply create an Opera account. When done, Opera will notify you of your allowlist status through email or any other medium, and then you will have access to Aria and its features.
For Desktop: First, download the development version of Opera, i.e., Opera One. Install the browser and then tap on the Aria browser AI icon located on the left sidebar of the screen.
For Android: Download the Browser’s current beta version from the Google Play Store, and you are good to go.
The chat history in Aria remains saved for 30 days or until the individual manually deletes it. Once deleted, users cannot recover chats. There are no specific limitations on the number of queries an individual can have within a particular chat or the number of chats they can initiate. However, if the user excessively interacts with Aria in a short period, there might be temporary unavailability of the system until the following day.
Are information provided by Aria and other AI tools reliable?
Since AI tools like Aria are still in the initial stages, they rely on publicly available sources, which can create inaccurate information or present biased perspectives. Because of the same reason, Aria can sometimes generate biased, harmful, misleading, and inaccurate content. Aria cannot outsource content except from the one user enters. Hence it can sometimes fail to provide supportive background on the information it generates. It is always a good idea to fact-check the information that the Aria gives.
Possibilities and Prospects of Opera Aria
One advantage that Aria gains from its native development within the browser is that it has full access to Opera’s database of support documentation. This allows it to derive answers to customer queries straight from the company’s existing product knowledge. It helps users generate textual content, find information on the internet or resolve queries by parallelly collaborating with AI.
Aria offers numerous possibilities for users. Since it is based on several large language models, any user can access generative AI content in natural language. This includes summarizing or elaborating on a particular topic, writing emails, letters, and tweets, and even adapting the writing style to match different tones, such as formal, informal, or humorous.
Meanwhile, check out our video on The Best Phones Under Rs.25000.
If you are a student or a fresher looking for a reliable daily driver laptop on a budget, Aspire series from Acer has always been one of my first recommendations, as they always offer balanced specs at a budget-friendly price. Since this year’s no exception, let’s talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly best of the Acer Aspire 5 (2023) in this review. Before we begin, here’s a brief list of what the Aspire 5 has to offer in terms of specifications.
Acer Aspire 5 2023 (A515-58) Specifications:
Design & Build: Aluminum lid/plastic chassis, 362.9 (W) x 237.8 (D) x 17.9 (H) mm, 1.8 kg
What’s inside the box: Laptop, power adapter, quick start guide
Price: Rs. 87,000
My unit powered by the Intel Core i5-1335U alongside 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD retails for justUSD 600 in the US, around INR 55000 in India, and NPR 85000 here in Nepal. If you want something cheaper, there is also a Core i3 variant, but it’s better to stick with the Core i5 for the sake of future-proofing.
Acer Aspire 5 2023 (A515-58) Review:
362.9W x 237.8D x 17.90-mm, 1.8 kg
Aluminum lid, plastic chassis
Design
First, let me start with the design. Like other budget notebook manufacturers, Acer has cut some corners when it comes to the build of the Aspire 5. It has a plastic chassis with an aluminum-clad top and thick bezels all around the display (similar to last year). The overall laptop does have a little bit of flexing here and there, too, but I would say it’s nothing deal-breaking.
Luckily, the alarming issue of “the gap” between the screen and plastic bezels in last year’s model doesn’t seem to be a thing anymore. So good on Acer for fixing their mistakes with the newer Aspire 5.
Keyboard and Trackpad
Moving on, there is some Keyboard flex, but it is hardly noticeable in day-to-day work. The keys do have this gritty texture, though, which some may find appalling. But I didn’t mind it much since you get used to it over time. Unfortunately, my unit lacked backlight, so if you’re someone who works in dim-lit environments or late at night, you would want to get the one with the backlight option.
Acer has, however, included a number pad here for those who love cranking numbers on their laptop. The trackpad here is good for the price too. It’s large, centered, and works well with multi-finger gestures. It’s not only quick but precise as well.
Display
15.6″ non-touch matte FHD panel
45% NTSC, 220 nits of brightness
The display is probably one of the weaker aspects of this laptop. Here you get a 15.6” IPS LCD panel with just 45% NTSC color coverage and 220 nits of brightness.
It should fare just fine doing your everyday tasks like browsing or watching videos, but I wouldn’t trust it with things like color correction or graphic designing. Likewise, its subpar viewing angles and the low max brightness make it difficult to use outdoors too.
I’d have also loved it if Acer had provided a larger 16:10 ratio for that extra screen estate. That tiny bit of vertical space can really be a blessing when reviewing long lines of code or reading an article.
Speaker and Webcam
As for the speakers, they are decent too. They get reasonably loud and don’t distort at high volumes. However, since they are down-firing speakers, they sound neither very open nor very rich, but again they are very reasonable for the price. The webcam is also good enough for conference or work calls. So you shouldn’t have any trouble attending Zoom, and Meet calls if you’re in a well-lit room.
Performance
Intel Core i5-1335U CPU (10C/12T, up to 4.6GHz)
Integrate Intel Xe graphics (80 EU)
8GB DDR5 RAM, 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
Let’s talk about the most exciting part of the Acer Aspire 2023: the performance. This guy is powered by the latest Intel Core i5-1335U chip. This processor may not have the largest leap in performance from the previous gen i5-1235U (5% increase), but it is a pretty capable CPU. It even performs neck and neck with the M2 Mackbook Air in Cinebench R23 even beating the Mac’s single-core score.
Thus, you’ll probably have no complaints about doing everyday tasks. With my workflow involving multiple Chrome tabs, photoshop in the background, and Microsoft Word, I didn’t notice any stutter or lag here, which is great for a budget laptop.
The fans also stayed silent throughout all this, which was an added bonus. Do keep in mind that they will get audibly loud when playing games or doing any sort of heavy tasks, say light video editing.
As for coding and such too, the i5 13th gen is a good choice for IT students and beginner programmers. It had no trouble running a few C projects with ChatGPT and Stack Overflow open in the background.
Gaming Performance
Aspire 5’s gaming performance is impressive for a budget laptop. You can get away with casual gaming on low settings, especially in games like CSGO and Valorant, which mainly rely on the CPU. The cooling setup also works well without any complaints. The fans do get audibly loud when gaming but remain silent under normal stress.
With CS: GO on low settings, I was getting 100 fps on average, with 32 fps, 1% low. I did notice a few stutters here and there, but it was nothing major. Valorant followed suit with similarly smooth gameplay. I got 139 fps on average, with a 1% low of 59 fps on low graphics.
Battery Life
3-cell 50Wh Li-ion
65W AC power adapter (round-pin)
Lastly, the battery life on the Acer Aspire 5 is decent too. I got about 5 hours of screen time under normal load at about 70% brightness. But if you opt to go for the battery efficiency mode, you might even be able to get a bit more. You can charge it with this compact 65W adapter provided in the box, which takes about 2 hours to fully charge the laptop.
Connectivity and I/O
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1
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Right Ports
Left Ports
As for the ports, you have your charging port, HDMI, and a USB 3.2 Type-A port on the left, while the right side houses a USB A slot and the headphone jack. One thing to note is that models sold in other markets, like the US, do feature a Thunderbolt 4 port, but that was missing on my unit here.
Acer Aspire 5 2023 Review: Conclusion
In conclusion, the Acer Aspire 5 2023 Edition is an excellent budget notebook for anyone who’s looking for reliable performance at a budget price point.
The Intel Core i5-1335U, coupled with fast DDR5 RAM, exudes confidence in its capability. But despite having that, Aspire 5 does have its drawbacks in design, build, and display quality. This is where something like the IdeaPad Slim 3 thrives but again you’d be making a different set of tradeoffs there. But paired with good battery life and freedom for future upgrades, Aspire 5 (2023) is still an appealing option for those looking for value. So, this can be a good option for college students, office workers, or any general user looking for a powerful day-to-day laptop without breaking the bank.
That being said, since this laptop isn’t very different from the 2022 model and the performance bump is minor, I‘d recommend you buy that at a discount instead.
Acer Aspire 5 2023 (A515) Review: Pros and Cons
Pros:
Fast Performance (Intel 13th-Gen CPUs and DDR5 RAM)
Apple is preparing to launch its next-generation CPUs which will use the latest 3nm (nanometer) manufacturing node from TSMC. This new manufacturing method significantly improves the performance, power efficiency, and capacities of the company’s future processors.
What does “nm” really mean?
“nm” stands for Nanometer, a unit for measuring minute lengths. In the semiconductor world, it is primarily used to define the process behind chip manufacturing. Simply put, Nanometer(nm) is the distance between two transistors in a chip.
The smaller the transistor size, the higher the transistor density and the higher the power. Also, the shorter the distance between two individual transistors, the faster electrons move between them, and the less energy is wasted in transmission—making the chip even more efficient. A lower nm process node translates to more speed with less power usage.
Thus, nanometers simply serve as terms that make it simple to advertise products. And as many things in advertisements, it can sometimes be misleading. Chip manufacturers have deviated from process nodes representing the distance between the transistors. That said.
For instance, Apple and TSMC want you to believe the recent A16 Bionic is a 4nm chip; however, the N4 process they used is just a more advanced version of the 5nm N5 process.
The transition to 3nm will be a significant step ahead. The smaller node size allows for a larger density of transistors on the device, which results in improved multitasking and faster processing rates. Furthermore, this improvement allows the chips to run more effectively while using less power.
Apple’s silicon benefits from the move to 3nm technology in a number of ways. For example, it opens the door to advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and better graphics capabilities. In particular, there are speculations that future Apple CPUs may feature built-in ray-tracing capabilities, resulting in improved visual experiences.
Although lowering chip sizes brings challenges in terms of power density, heat production, and manufacturing difficulty, the benefits of 3nm technology overcome these drawbacks. It provides for up to 35% reduced power consumption than Apple’s existing 5nm technology.
According to forecasts, Apple’s future 3nm chips could include up to four dies and support up to 40 compute cores. This development has the potential to improve multi-core performance dramatically and open the path for more powerful technology.
Production and challenges
Apple’s chip manufacturer, TSMC, has been scaling up tests for 3nm production since 2021. 3nm chip commercialization was scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2022. However, rumors claim that meeting Apple’s demand for 3nm chips has proven difficult due to tool and production concerns, perhaps creating slight delays in introducing certain devices. Apple has occupied about 90% TSMC’s 3nm capacity of its next-gen mobile and laptop SoCs.
Apple might announce the A17 Bionic chip this year, which will most likely show up in the iPhone 15 Pro. Additionally, we can expect the M3 processor to appear in upcoming products, such as an enhanced MacBook Air (15″ and 13″), iMac, and iPad Pro. Apple has made a huge investment in engineering resources to ensure the success of these powerful processors.
In conclusion, Apple’s use of 3nm silicon in its next-generation components signifies a huge technological jump. The reduced node size improves performance, power efficiency, and the potential for advanced features significantly. As Apple continues to innovate, it commits to provide an exceptional user experience that goes beyond basic processing power, allowing it to differentiate itself in the increasingly competitive smartphone and computing fields.
Fingerprint scanners have been an integral part of our smartphones, with almost every new model featuring one for biometrics. However, a recent study has revealed a security vulnerability in fingerprint scanners in many popular Android smartphones that can be exploited within 40 minutes with a new method called BrutePrint. In this article, I will provide a detailed understanding of the BrutePrint attack, its mechanism, the required conditions for success, and an analysis of the smartphones that are most vulnerable to this technology.
BrutePrint Overview:
Unlike password authentication, where an exact match is required between the entered password and the stored one, fingerprint authentication can be compromised by meeting a certain similarity threshold rather than an actual value. Researchers from Tencent Lab and Zhejiang University have introduced a new method called “BrutePrint” that allows unauthorized access to a smartphone with a fingerprint authentication security mechanism using a low-cost device priced at $15.
Basically, BrutePrint means is the process of attempting to unlock a smartphone with a fingerprint lock without the actual owner’s fingerprint. This action involves repeatedly comparing the data stored in the phone’s internal components with a collection of breached fingerprints-trying to find a match.
Required Equipment to carryout BrutePrint
The actual essentials involved in cracking the fingerprint security (applying BrutePrint):
STM32F412 microcontroller
RS2117, a dual-channel analog switch
8GB SD flash card
A connector that connects a phone motherboard to the fingerprint sensor circuit board.
To hack into the phone using a BrutePrint technique, the attacker must have uninterrupted physical control of the target phone for at least 45 minutes. This can happen when the phone is lost, left unattended, given up willingly, or in similar situations.
The BrutePrint attack involves attaching a circuit board with a pre-loaded fingerprint database to the targeted phone’s processor, converting the database into a phone-compatible fingerprint dictionary, exceeding attempt limits, and exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities in the smartphone’s fingerprint authentication framework, i.e., Cancel-After-Match-Fail (CAMF) and Match-After-Lock (MAL).
CAMF: It is a security measure that halts the authentication process when a fingerprint match fails. This allows potential attackers to attempt an unlimited number of fingerprints without triggering the security system.
MAL: The MAL bug enables attackers to avoid the lockout mode, which typically activates after a certain number of failed authentication attempts and allows them to unlock the system infinitely.
The method as a whole manipulates the reference fingerprint criteria to match it to that stored in the phone’s database.
iPhones are supposedly immune to attack. When researchers tried the BrutePrint technique on iPhone models like the iPhone SE and iPhone 7, which have the Touch ID feature, they were unable to unlock these phones because of the strong data encryption provided by iOS.
Factors Affecting Unlock Process Time
The unlock process using the technique can take anywhere from 40 minutes to 14 hours. It depends on factors like database size, software optimizations, the phone’s security framework, and other variables.
Recommendations to Enhance Fingerprint Security
To reduce attacks, the researchers who developed the approach have suggested the following adjustments at the hardware and software levels:
Checking if the attempt limits can exceed in any case.
Encrypting data flow between the fingerprint sensor and device processor.
Creating consistency in the way fingerprints are collected, whether the fingerprint matches or not.
Asus recently refreshed its Zenbook 14 lineup with AMD’s latest Ryzen 7000 series CPUs. And I’ve been using the new Asus Zenbook 14 2023 (UM3402) as my daily driver for a couple of weeks now to prepare this review. This thin-and-light laptop starts at NPR 122,222 for the Ryzen 5 model with 512GB storage; while the one I have is configured with a Ryzen 7 CPU and 1TB SSD, and it goes for NPR 144,444. It’s also available with an OLED display in the international market but that’s not available here in Nepal.
A quick overview of Zenbook laptops
But before I discuss it any further, I feel like a quick refresher on Asus’ Zenbook series is necessary because this lineup has gotten so big over the years that it’s almost challenging to figure out which one’s which. So kicking things off is the regular Zenbook laptops, which usually have power-efficient “U” or “P” series chips.
Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED
You’ll also find “Zenbook X” Ultrabooks that bring sacrifice portability a bit to make room for better thermal design and can even include high-performance “H” series CPUs. Then there’s the “Zenbook S” series that goes the exact opposite way; slimmer devices with relatively more premium build quality.
And if you fancy 2-in-1 laptops, the “Zenbook Flip” lineup is where it’s at; whereas the most premium Asus Zenbook laptops fall under the “Zenbook Pro” series. Besides high-performance CPU and GPU, these machines also boast some signature features like a physical dial pad, raised keyboard, and even dual screens! The company recently launched its first laptop with a foldable display as well—but that’s simply out of reach for the vast majority of laptop buyers.
Asus Zenbook 14 (2023) Review: Specifications
Design & Build: Aluminum build, 12.35 x 8.69 x 0.67-inches (W x D x H), 1.39 kg
I/O Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (Power Delivery, DisplayPort), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1 TMDS, 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack, 1x micro SD card reader
Price in Nepal:
Ryzen 5 7530U: NPR 122,222 (8GB RAM, 512GB SSD)
Ryzen 7 7730U: NPR 144,444 (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD)
What’s Inside The Box: Laptop, 65W power adapter, Asus laptop sleeve, USB-A to RJ45 adapter, User manual and other documents
Asus Zenbook 14 (2023) Review:
Performance
AMD Ryzen 7 7730U CPU (15W TDP)
AMD Radeon Vega Graphics (Integrated)
16GB LPDDR4X RAM, 1TB PCIe 3.0 SSD
Okay, let’s now get back to the new Zenbook 14 itself. And besides a new flavor of processor, Asus hasn’t done much here coming from its predecessor. “Maybe that’s not a bad thing entirely since 2022’s Zenbook 14 was already a pretty great everyday Ultrabook”, is what I thought when I first received this laptop.
And let me say it right away: I think Asus could’ve chosen a better CPU this time.
Before I explain why, we need to know a little about this gigantic mess called the “Ryzen 7000 series”. It’s not so much the naming scheme for me—I think AMD’s new naming style does make some sense—but the way AMD has laid out CPU options in this lineup is super confusing. Normally, you’d think newer processors mean better performance. And normally, you’d be right. But not in this case.
You can actually end up with a couple of generations older CPUs just… rebranded under Ryzen 7000 series if you don’t know what you’re looking for. So while the highlight of this lineup is AMD’s new Zen 4 CPU and RDNA 3 GPU architecture, Zenbook 14’s CPU choices are based on the older Zen 3 and GCN5 architecture.
Which means you’re not getting fresh new processors here, and the Ryzen 5 7530U and the Ryzen 7 7730U practically fall under Ryzen 5000 series. I guess all this was somewhat difficult to follow so let me clarify it with a few benchmark scores and you’ll see exactly what I mean. The thing is, Ryzen 7 7730U is just Ryzen 7 5825U with a new name, and they score similar results in all tests—be it CPU or GPU-based.
Ryzen 7 5825U vs Ryzen 7 7730U
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Cinebench R23
Night Raid 1.1
Time Spy 1.2
What does this all mean for the actual user experience then? Well, I definitely didn’t have much of a problem with Zenbook 14’s performance under casual everyday usage. But on a few occasions, I noticed it slowing down when I was working with a few Chrome tabs alongside light photo editing.
Soldered RAM
It’s got 16GB of LPDDR4 RAM after all, so this extent of multitasking shouldn’t have been much of an issue. That reminds me—as it is with most Ultrabooks these days—Zenbook 14’s RAM is also non-upgradeable so keep that in mind. Likewise, apps that heavily rely on the GPU would also take a few seconds to catch up every once in a while. This was quite noticeable when running image scripts or the object selection tool on Photoshop.
Intel Core i7-1250U vs Ryzen 7 7730U
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Cinebench R23
Night Raid 1.1
Time Spy 1.2
To compare, the “new” Ryzen 7 7730U also scored lower than Intel’s last-gen i7-1250U processor in most benchmarks I ran. And this Intel CPU has AMD beat (only slightly) in terms of gaming as well.
Intel Core i7-1250U vs Ryzen 7 7730U: Gaming
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CS: GO
Asphalt 9: Legends
Fall Guys
So yeah, I think Asus could’ve actually made the Zenbook 14 2023 a perfect thin-and-light Ultrabook by going with true new-gen CPUs instead of these rebranded ones.
Ryzen 7 7730U
Ryzen 7 7840U
Process
TSMC 7nm FinFET
TSMC 4nm FinFET
CPU architecture
Zen 3
Zen 4
GPU architecture
GCN5 (announced: 2017)
RDNA3 (announced: 2022)
Cores / Threads
8/16
8/16
Max Frequency
4.5 GHz
5.1 GHz
Graphics
Radeon Vega
Radeon 780M
Cores
8 (2.0 GHz)
12 (2.7 GHz)
TDP
15W
15 – 30W
Like the Ryzen 5 7540U and Ryzen 7 7840U, which are indeed Zen 4 and RDNA 3-based. Apart from the extra raw power itself, these processors also support the newer and faster DDR5 memory, PCIe 4 SSDs, and USB4 standard—making them much more futureproof than these older CPUs.
Given their higher power ratings, you might argue that the Zen 4 processors might not be a good fit for this slim laptop, but no. Alongside Ryzen 7000 series, the Zenbook 14 (2023) is also available with Intel’s 13th Gen CPUs. Besides the CPU and some minor visual differences, these two are effectively the same laptops, by the way. And with the Intel variant, since Asus has gone with “P” series chips that have much higher power requirements, we can just put the thermal headroom debate to rest.
Design and Build
12.35 x 8.69 x 0.67-inches (W x D x H)
1.39 kg, Aluminum build material
Anyway, let’s now get into the design side of things. And as always, the Zenbook laptops from Asus don’t disappoint on this front. This thing is sleek, sturdy, premium, lightweight, and comfortable to carry around in my backpack without a worry in the world; the whole nine yards. But there’s not much to talk about the color options though since the Zenbook 14 is only available in this “Jade Black” finish.
Now, I’m a big fan of such… dark, brooding finish on laptops, I really am. Especially when it’s complemented with a clean look and minimal brandings. But the way this thing catches fingerprint smudges so easily—especially on the lid—is rather frustrating. And getting them off takes quite a bit of effort as well.
I’m honestly a little surprised with this because Asus has been nailing it lately with its unique kind of coating process in other Zenbook machines in 2023.
Ports
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Left
Right
Anyway, the Zenbook 14’s port selection is pretty decent for a 14” laptop. You won’t find the latest USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 connectors here but I’m sure that’s not a big miss for an everyday laptop like this. And what you get are a couple of USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports on the right, both capable of display output, power delivery, and up to 10 Gbps data transfers. Then there’s a full-sized HDMI 2.1 port and a micro SD card reader, while the left frame houses a single USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port.
Display
14″ anti-glare 2.5K IPS display
60Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB color gamut
400 nits brightness, TÜV Rheinland certified
And even though the Asus Zenbook 14 2023 doesn’t have an OLED display or anything, this is a pretty nice screen in and of itself. Matter of fact, it solves one big issue I have with most OLED laptops out there. No, not burn-in—I haven’t been worried about OLED burn-ins in quite some time. It’s reflectiveness, actually.
You see, my usual office space catches a lot of ambient light so I often have to adjust such glossy displays for better readability. And you can probably already imagine the struggle in open outdoor conditions. So the anti-glare coating on this 2.5K screen has definitely saved me from a lot of that haggle. Matte displays have a few downsides of their own (of course) but considering the target audience for this laptop, I think its benefits easily outweigh the drawbacks.
Besides, the color levels and viewing angles on the Zenbook 14 is decent as well. With 99% sRGB and 78% DCI-P3 color gamut, it is even workable for light photo editing and such. And I’m not sure if I lucked out or something but our Zenbook 14 is hitting way higher brightness levels than advertised. Maxing out at 493 nits versus the 400 nits that Asus claims. As a result, I’ve had no trouble getting my work done on this laptop indoors or outdoors.
I may have lucked out with the brightness level here but that seems to have been followed by some gnarly backlight bleeding.
Display Properties
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Color Gamut
Gamma
Brightness
It’s obviously not noticeable in a well-lit room, but when watching some shows or movies with particularly dim lighting in a relatively darker room, you can tell it right away. I was also hoping Asus would bump to a 90 or 120Hz refresh rate this time, but this is still a 60Hz display. Not that it matters a lot for an Ultrabook but a higher refresh rate sure would’ve been nice.
Keyboard and Trackpad
Full-size backlit chiclet keyboard (1.4mm travel)
Glass trackpad (with NumberPad 2.0)
Moving on. The keyboard on this Ultrabook is a familiar one. Asus makes some of my favorite chiclet-style keyboards and the one on Zenbook 14 2023 is no exception. I absolutely love how these keys have soft feedback with a nice travel distance, which makes typing really, really enjoyable.
And since its noise profile is on the down-low too, this is essentially an A+ keyboard in my books.
Not to mention, Zenbook 14 has also got the “ErgoLift” hinge that literally elevates your typing experience. But perhaps the most exciting thing about this keyboard for me is its well-put backlighting. It seems that Asus has finally taken a page out of Apple’s MacBooks this time in terms of lighting up the keyboard and I couldn’t be happier.
Just like the keyboard, this glass trackpad feels right at home to me. It’s smooth and sufficiently large for all my multi-finger gestures or scrolling actions. It also doubles as a digital Numpad—which is something I’ve never found that useful, to be honest—but I’m sure someone who works in accounting which involves a lot of number-crunching doesn’t feel the same way. So I’ve turned it off altogether. Not just because I have little use for it, but because it is also super sensitive to accidental touches.
Audio
Down-firing stereo speakers
Dolby Atmos audio
Over the years, Asus has really stepped up its speaker game. The Zenbook 14 Flip OLED (2023) that I recently reviewed had a fantastic set of stereo speakers and I’m happy to see that this guy borrows the same audio setup.
I still believe Asus has the potential to give MacBooks a run for their money by fitting front-firing speaker units but the way things are, I can’t complain about how they sound. They get loud, they sound balanced, and there’s not much distortion at the highest volume either. And that’s it, that’s basically all I’m looking for in a solid speaker.
Webcam
FHD (1080p) camera (no privacy shutter)
Built-in array microphone
As for the webcam, Asus has been generous enough to switch to a 1080p camera on this year’s Zenbook 14. So naturally, the clarity and sharpness side of things are notably better here and I had no issue attending video calls on this thing.
But I’m a little disappointed to see that AI-enabled camera features like background blur and motion tracking—which I enjoyed so much on Zenbook 14 Flip—are a no-show here. To be fair, Asus isn’t 100% to blame for this since those camera-centric features are a part of the “Intel Evo” platform and this Zenbook 14 has an AMD processor inside. So although team red has been catching up (and at times even surpassing) Intel in terms of performance, I hope AMD looks into improving the user experience on such formerly overlooked aspects like web conferencing as well.
Battery
75 Watt-hour 4-cell Li-Ion battery
65W USB Type-C AC Adapter
At least the battery life on this thing is pretty sweet. I was averaging around 7 hours of screen-on time with my everyday chores on the Zenbook 14, under the “Balanced” battery mode with the screen’s brightness set to 70%. That’s pretty great!
The 65W AC adapter that Asus ships is also pretty sleek to complement this laptop’s portability, and it takes a little over two and a half hours for a complete refill. Or you can use any other 65W or higher PD-compatible charger as well since it supports USB power delivery.
Asus Zenbook 14 (2023) Review: Conclusion
So that was all for my full review of the new Asus Zenbook 14 (2023). For the most part, I’d say this laptop nails that premium Ultrabook experience at.
And for students or business folks who don’t need that much horsepower and just want a lightweight laptop that runs cool and quiet and has a good battery backup, I could certainly see this being a viable option. That being said, I can’t help but think there are some major missed opportunities here—mostly thanks to that new but old AMD processor. The true Ryzen 7000 chips that I recommended earlier could’ve worked wonders here without any significant impact on battery life or the cooling system. But unfortunately, it is what it is.
Watch our video review of the Asus Zenbook 14 (2023)
Netflix has finally begun implementing its long-awaited paid-password-sharing plan to combat annual losses of $6 billion (as explained in 2021) caused by widespread password sharing. With over 100 million viewers using shared accounts, Netflix aims to address this issue by charging an additional fee for users streaming outside their households. This initiative aims to make sure that people who share passwords contribute to the revenue and help recover the losses faced by the streaming platform. In this article, we will address all your questions about Netflix’s crackdown on password sharing.
Netflix’s Strategies to crackdown on Password Sharing
In order to encourage subscribers to use their own profiles instead of sharing their passwords, Netflix has planned multiple strategies:
Netflix introduced the “paid sharing” scheme, which allows users who are using the same Netflix account from different households to be able to use it while adding an extra cost to the account holders. (Not stopping the password sharing but instead generating revenue from it).
A feature dubbed “Profile transfer” lets any user transfer their profile to a new account without any hassle while still being able to relocate the favorites, viewing history, recommendations, and other saved data.
Netflix’s introduction of the “Basic with Ads” subscription tier at £4.99 has gained nine million worldwide subscribers. This option includes four to five minutes of ads per hour, lasting 15 to 30 seconds each. It is the cheapest subscription on Netflix, allowing freeloaders to have their own accounts.
Extra member slot on Netflix necessitates payment of additional fee by the account owner. Once purchased, a new member can join the account using one of the available slots.
It’s worth noting that the new member must utilize the account within the same country where it was originally created.
The cheapest subscription tier, which includes ads, does not allow adding extra members.
Actions Netflix might take to the account with unpaid extended membership
Netflix password sharing is, without a doubt, a copyright violation and is illegal after the subscriber checks right on the terms of services while initially creating the account. That said, the company has publicly encouraged password sharing in the past making its recent crackdown a contradiction. While Netflix has the option to take legal action, they may initially try other approaches to encourage compliance.
One possible approach Netflix can take is to repeatedly send notifications and emails to the shared account in an attempt to encourage them to pay for additional access. If this method proves ineffective, Netflix may resort to blocking devices after issuing warnings.
Netflix Paid Sharing Plan Pricing
The paid sharing plan implemented by Netflix will not affect accounts used within the same household. The paid password-sharing plan was first tested in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru, with $3 added for each out-of-household password. In South America, it was typically an additional £2 to £3 per profile per month in addition to the regular account bill. The exact pricing details for the extended membership globally are not certain, although it’s $7.99 in the US.
