Google Maps receives Wi-Fi only mode and microSD map saving

Google is rolling out a rather large update for Google Maps this week, which introduces the long sought after Wi-Fi only offline mode and the option to save offline maps to microSD card storage.

First up, enabling the Wi-Fi only mode means that Maps goes offline when you're not in range of a Wi-Fi, and will only work in areas where you have saved offline maps. This will be particularly handy if you suffer from questionable network coverage or are travelling abroad. Directions and navigation will still work when you're offline, but obviously you'll have to connect to a network at some point to find destinations and download map data.

To enable Wi-Fi only mode, head into Google Maps > Settings and you'll see the toggle as the second option down. You'll then be presented with an option to save some offline areas so that Maps will work.

To supplement the new offline mode, Google has also introduced the option to pick whether to save your offline areas to the phone's internal storage or a microSD card, if your phone supports one. This will be particularly handy if your phone only has a small amount of internal storage. Google Maps will also show you how much space is free on both storage devices, so you can pick the best place.

As part of the same update, Grab will now also be featured in the cab tab of Google Maps, alongside Uber, in 24 cities throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Google is also adding GO-JEK rides in three Indonesian cities, with 10 more on the way soon.

The Google Maps update is already rolling out and should be live on your phone. If not, just sit tight and the new features will come very soon.

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Google ‘Verify Apps’ already blocks QuadRooter exploit

QuadRooter sounds like another serious Android security exploit. One which can apparently allow a malicious app to gain root access on Qualcomm based Android phones and tablets, enabling the app to then to pretty much what it pleases. According to Check Point, the research group that discovered QuadRooter, up to 900 million Android devices could be affected. However, the issue probably now isn't as problematic as first thought, as Google has confirmed that it's 'Verify Apps' security feature will block and remove applications that attempt exploits of this very sort.

Verify Apps is essentially a last line of defence designed by Google to offer protection from malicious apps, even if they are installed from outside of the official Play Store. Google states that QuadRooter is exactly the sort of exploit that Verify Apps is designed to protect against. Importantly, this feature has been enabled by default on devices since the introduction of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, providing that the phone has Google Play Services installed. A quick glance at the Android platform statistics reveals that 92.4 percent of devices are running Android 4.2 or newer, and most users will have been very unlikely to have disabled this feature.

See also: Quadrooter: the latest Android security flaw58

What should happen on devices that attempt to install a malicious piece of software is that a Verify Apps pop-up will appear displaying the message "Installation has been blocked". It won't present a way for the user to continue with the installation either. Older devices, such as those running Gingerbread, can also manually enable this extra security. Customers simply have to go into the Google Settings app, click on the Security tab, and enable the feature.

Combined with the fact that QuadRooter can only begin to operate by installing an infected app from outside of the Google Play store, which itself requires users to switch on the install from Unknown Sources option, and the number of truly vulnerable devices falls to a tiny percentage of all of those out there. Certainly we're not looking at anything close to 900 million devices right on the verge of being infected.

"We appreciate Check Point's research as it helps improve the safety of the broader mobile ecosystem. Android devices with our most recent security patch level are already protected against three of these four vulnerabilities. The fourth vulnerability, CVE-2016-5340, will be addressed in an upcoming Android security bulletin, though Android partners can take action sooner by referencing the public patch Qualcomm has provided. Exploitation of these issues depends on users also downloading and installing a malicious application. Our Verify Apps and SafetyNet protections help identify, block, and remove applications that exploit vulnerabilities like these." – Google

Not that this excuses such a flaw and the lack of quick OEM patches to shore up the hole. But at least most Android users are already protected from the problem. This being said, it's worth noting that phones in some regions don't come with Google Play Services installed, Chine being a notably large market, and therefore these won't feature Verified Apps security.

All in all, QuadRooter is an issue, but one that is very unlikely to affect the vast majority of Android users, as there are several security steps already in place to project most of us. Only customers who install apps from questionable third party resources and disable Verify Apps security are at risk, so rest easy.

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Google Search app now allows users in India to order food, book a table

The next time you want to order food or book a table at a restaurant in India, you can just use the Google Search app on Android and iOS. Google has entered into a partnership with Indian service providers that will allow its users in the country to reserve a table at their favorite restaurant or order food right from the search results.

Regular updates to Google Search have been introducing improvements and adding new functions to the feature. For instance, a recent update suggests users the amount of time they should spend at popular locations. Another update now allows users to switch between English and Hindi results.

With the latest update, Indian users can now turn to Google Search to order food, as well as book a table at their favorite restaurant, right from the search results. A search query for a restaurant will now show you if the place is listed on Zomato or Swiggy, along with a "Place an order" button automatically displayed alongside. You'll also be able to view other information such as the restaurant's address, timings, and contact details in a widget.

Upon clicking the "Place an order" button, you'll be forwarded to the restaurant's page on Zomato or Swiggy where you can select the dishes in the menu list. If you plan to dine at your favorite restaurant, but don't like waiting, the new update to Google Search also allows you to book a table in advance from within the Google Search results. All you need to do is click on the Google partner link in the search results to be taken to the respective website and then confirm your reservation.

You can start using the feature right away, but keep in mind that the service is now available only for select restaurants in select locations in India. You can currently access more than 11,000 restaurants across 10 cities in India, including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Chandigarh. We can expect the availability to continue to extend across India soon though.

For now, you can use the feature to order food only through Swiggy and Zomato, or reserve a table using Bytplus and Dineout, but Google plans to soon add more partners, as well as change the user interface. It's also worth mentioning that the feature is currently limited to mobile search, but could be rolled out to web searches as well.

If you've been able to try out this new and useful feature, do let us know how it has worked for you in the comments section below!

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This is the first person that caught all 145 Pokémon available worldwide

The world is a giant rock, so all of its weirdest and most dangerous creatures are holed up down under in Australia, according to the misguided logic of Ricky Gervais' pal Karl Pilkington. While there isn't an ounce of truth to that theory, it turns out that Pokémon Go legend Nick Johnson had to travel to Australia to find the last four Pokémon missing from his Pokedex.

See also: Pokemon Go update: speed warnings, XP bug fixes, grass and more6

Johnson had captured all of the Pokémon available in the US, 142 out of the 146 pocket monsters currently available globally. So when he got down to the last four Pokémon, travel site Expedia put him on a plane so that he wouldn't have to leave any stones unturned.

Pokémon Go actually has 151 Pokémon in it, but five of them are still yet to be released. And for Johnson's sake, we're hoping developer Niantic doesn't limit the range of the five remaining characters to outposts at one of the poles or on the moon.

Almost as impressive as Johnson's collection of unique characters is the total number of Pokémon in his Pokedex. He has collected more than 5,000 so far. Going by the game's June 6 release date and the Aug. 8 announcement of his achievement, that's at least 156 Pokémon bagged and balled each day.

And while you don't have to look far to find memes disparaging Pokémon Go players, Georg Ruebensal, managing director of Expedia for Oceana, chooses to look at the good the game is doing.

Pokémon Go is "encouraging people to become tourists in their own cities by getting players outside and exploring local landmarks they may have not seen before," said Georg Ruebensal, Managing Director of Expedia Brand for Australia and New Zealand. "Pokémon Go is now another way to travel, meet new people and explore the world."

See also: Pokémon Go hits 100 million installs on Android, made $200 million in its first month7

During his two-week quest, Johnson lost between eight and ten pounds from walking. Other highlights of his trip include playing Pokémon Go at the iconic Sydney Opera House, catching Pokémon in New York's Central Park with Justin Bieber and a bunch of Beliebers, and fattening his Pokedex under the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

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Facebook is testing its new Wi-Fi service in India

Dubbed "Express Wifi," Facebook's new Wi-Fi service will allow users to surf the web on local providers' data. Facebook has launched a test version with state-run carrier BSNL, to offer 125 Wi-Fi hotspots in rural areas in India.

This isn't the first time that Facebook has tried to bring readily accessible internet to India, but that attempt didn't go so well. While the goal of bringing affordable internet hasn't changed, the key difference is that this time around, it won't be free. Facebook is working with local carriers and internet service providers to give users in India access to Wi-Fi hotspots, and according to Facebook, it will work with local entrepreneurs so that they can use Facebook's software to connect their communities.

With Express Wifi, we're working with carriers, internet service providers, and local entrepreneurs to help expand connectivity to underserved locations around the world. We're currently live in India, and are expanding to other regions soon.

Facebook's efforts to bring affordable internet access to India has a complex history. It all started with Internet.org: way back in 2013, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg unveiled his vision to bring internet access for people around the world. Often compared to Google's Project Loon, Internet.org is a partnership between a handful of companies – including Samsung and Qualcomm – that seeks to provide affordable web access in developing countries.

In September 2015, Facebook launched an app called Free Basics in India, which let users access certain websites for free, including Facebook of course. However, things went sour pretty fast, and after just five months since its launch, regulators in India banned Free Basics.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) ruled that Free Basics violated the tenets of net neutrality, a practice known as "zero rating." Essentially, TRAI thought Facebook's service had an unfair advantage, and rightfully so: other social media websites in India that use data wouldn't have a fair chance to compete with Facebook.

With Express Wifi, Facebook is giving it a second try. Although it won't be free this time around, it will undoubtedly give Facebook an edge over its competitors without violating net neutrality. The logic is that when a user accesses the web via a Facebook initiative, he or she will be more likely to join Facebook.

Free Basics wasn't much of a success in India not only because it violated net neutrality, but also, as some pointed out, it didn't solve the fundamental problem of connectivity. According to TRAI, India only had 131 million broadband connections at the end of 2015. That is, 131 million in a nation of 1.25 billion people. Therefore, Free Basics' free but limited internet access didn't really mean much for most Indian users. Only time will tell if Facebook's second attempt, this time with a larger focus on building the infrastructure, will prove itself to be more contextually appropriate and effective.

Do you think Express Wifi will be more effective in connecting people in India? Let us know in the comments below!

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“LeMall For All” in India offers freebies with LeEco Superphones today

Chinese conglomerate LeEco is welcoming the coming Indian festival season, which starts from Independence Day on August 15 and goes on till New Year's Eve, with its own festive season sale at its e-commerce marketplace, LeMall.com. The company's one-day shopping carnival, "LeMall for All," kicked off at midnight last night, and will continue till 11:59 PM tonight, and includes some nice offers and discounts.

Start shopping now

Among LeEco's second generation Superphones, the Le 2 is the base model, and comes with a metal unibody, a 5.5-inch 1080p IPS LCD display, Snapdragon 652 processor, 3GB RAM, and a 3,000mAh battery. The handset sports a 16MP rear camera along with an 8MP front facing shooter, and also offers a fingerprint sensor.

On the other hand, the Le Max 2 is clearly the company's flagship smartphone featuring a metal unibody, 5.7-inch Quad HD display, and Snapdragon 820 processor is available in 4GB RAM/32GB storage and a massive 6GBRAM/64GB storage options. The Le Max 2 packs a 21MP rear camera along with an 8MP front facing camera and fingerprint sensor. Both the devices are powered by Android 6.0 Marshmallow and run on LeEco's Ecosystem UI, which allows them to access all of the company's services, such as the cloud, sports, movies, or original content.

While there are no discounts on the phones themselves, for the next 24 hours, you can get CDLA Type – C Earphones worth Rs. 1990 (~US$30) absolutely free  with the purchase of the Le 2, which is priced at Rs 11,999 (~US$180). The deal gets sweeter if you buy the Le Max 2 4GB RAM/32GB model for Rs 22,999 (~US$345), which comes with a CDLA earphone, Golden Flip Case, Screen Protector, Ring Bracket worth Rs 3,787 (~US$57).

Also on offer at the "LeMall for All" shopping carnival are Leme bluetooth headphones, Letv all-metal earphones, Letv reverse in-ear headphones, and Letv bluetooth speaker with up to Rs 500 (~US$8) off. If lady luck decides to smile upon you, then you could be among the winners of attractive prizes, such as the just-launched Super 3 X55 TVs, Le 2 and Le Max2 handsets, and LeMall Coupons worth Rs 250 (~US$4) to Rs 2500 (~US$38) that LeEco is giving away to its Superphone buyers today.

Oh yes, if you're an HDFC Bank customer, you can get an additional 10 percent cashback on all your purchases worth more than Rs 5000 (~US$75), and also pay in easy installments without any extra cost using an HDFC credit card. The "LeMall for All" shopping carnival ends on 23:59 on August 9, so hurry!

Start shopping now

Let us know in the comments below if you plan to buy the Le 2 or Le Max 2 Superphones at the "LeMall for All" shopping carnival!

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Redmi 3S, Redmi 3S Prime on sale in India today

Xiaomi unveiled their ultra-affordable Redmi 3S and Redmi 3S Prime at a launch event in Delhi last week, and as promised, both variants will be available from Flipkart and mi.com shortly, at 12 PM local time.

Buy now from Mi.com Buy now from Flipkart

As a refresher, the Redmi 3S and Redmi 3S Prime succeed the Redmi 3, but borrow a lot of its design elements from its bigger sibling, the Redmi Note 3, including a full metal unibody construction. Both smartphones feature the same 5-inch HD display, are powered by a Qualcomm's new 64-bit class Snapdragon 430 processor and Adreno 505 GPU, and come with the same, huge, 4,100 mAh battery. The camera setup is also identical, with a 13 MP rear camera, and a 5 MP front-facing shooter on both.

As far as differences are concerned, the Redmi 3S comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage, which falls short of the Redmi 3S Prime, that features 3GB RAM and 32GB of onboard storage, but both do offer expandable storage, via microSD card, for up to and additional 256 GB. The Redmi 3S Prime is the only one that comes with a fingerprint sensor.

True to its reputation of aggressively pricing its products, Xiaomi is offering the Redmi 3S just for Rs 6,999 (~$105) and the Redmi 3S Prime for Rs 8,999 (~$135). When you consider how affordable the devices actually are, the Redmi 3S and Redmi 3S Prime are certainly very impressive.

You can pick up these great deals at the flash sale which kicks off on Xiaomi's India website, as well as at the sale on Flipkart that kicks off on August 9 starting 12 PM IST.

Buy now from Mi.com Buy now from Flipkart

Hit the comments below to let us know if you are okay with paying more for the Redmi 3S Prime and prefer it over the Redmi 3S!

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