OnePlus has been collecting user data without permission

OnePlus seems keen on getting on the bad side of its users. This time, a software engineer named Christopher Moore discovers that the company has been sending not just analytics data of its phones’ users but other personally identifiable pieces of data like IMEI numbers, MAC addresses, mobile network names and IMSI prefixes, serial numbers, and many more. Moore discovered this activity while participating in a hack challenge. His OnePlus 2 was sending time-stamped information about locks, unlocks, and unexpected reboots, too. The code responsible for collecting this data is part of OnePlus’ Device Manager and Device Manager Provider.

Addressing this issue, OnePlus claims you can turn this activity off on your own saying, “We securely transmit analytics in two different streams over HTTPS to an Amazon server. The first stream is usage analytics, which we collect in order for us to more precisely fine tune our software according to user behavior. This transmission of usage activity can be turned off by navigating to ‘Settings’ -> ‘Advanced’ -> ‘Join user experience program’. The second stream is device information, which we collect to provide better after-sales support.” We’re not sure why OnePlus didn’t make this an opt-in feature if all they’re really after is analytics data and supposedly better after-sales support (which we might want to point out is something people have been complaining about). It frankly leaves a bad taste in our mouths. 

Source: Android Authority + Android Police

IKEA to start selling products through unidentified third-party online retailers

Changing the way it has done business, IKEA is planning a different online strategy to keep up with its competitors. IKEA’s CEO Torbjörn Lööf told Financial Times that they would be partnering with a third-party online retailer to start peddling its wares on the internet. He won’t say which one but Fast Company is saying Amazon and Alibaba are prime suspects for this move. Lööf told FT that “this is the biggest development in how consumers meet IKEA since the concept was founded.”

And with the rapidly changing behaviour of shoppers, IKEA seems to understand the need to change. Lööf said, “Traditionally the whole IKEA value chain has been designed to deliver to stores. That is changing, and it is challenging a number of ways of doing business. We are fast learners and we are moving.”

Here’s a new look at ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’

With December 15^th fast approaching, we’re seeing more and more of what to expect from the latest Star Wars film. And there’s a lot happening in The Last Jedi. We see Rey training on Ahch-To with Luke Skywalker and him saying she’s only seen power like hers once (we assume he means Kylo Ren) and that it didn’t scare him enough then but it does now. We get a glimpse of General Organa and Kylo seemingly hesitating to blast his mother’s Resistance ship while talking about having to kill his past. Rey also looks like she’s talking to Kylo Ren asking about her “place in all this.” It’s a lot to take in but we’re excited. The movie also gets a new poster which you can see under the cut.

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Microsoft could’ve started the bezel-less smartphone trend back in 2014

It probably wouldn’t have saved the Windows Phone platform (which we now know is all but gone) but it would’ve put Microsoft ahead of the curve—at least in terms of design. Windows Central got their hands on a Windows Phone prototype device with a codename “Vela.” It was supposed to be the early iteration of the uninspired Lumia 435. It shows the now ubiquitous edge-to-edge display and has predated Xiaomi’s Mi Mix, which is considered the catalyst for the current bezel-less trend. What’s more remarkable was Microsoft was planning to sell this for under US$200.

The phone was going to be modest mid-range device with a 5-inch HD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 5-megapixel rear camera. Of course, its main selling point is still that screen. We can’t say why Microsoft decided to axe the design and we’ll never know at this point. But it does demonstrate what the company has been getting wrong in the mobile hardware space and how they let a good opportunity slip them by to separate themselves from the competition.

Source: The Verge + Engadget