A serious vulnerability has been found in recent builds of the Linux kernel, allowing any local user to gain root access on an unpatched device… which could include a number of Android phones running Linux kernel 5.8 or later.
In other recent tech news from around the web Google is building an Android feature that will let users save space on their devices by “archiving” infrequently used apps rather than uninstalling them, but it’s up to app developers to support the feature. Amazon has launched its Clubhouse competitors… except it’s really not. Microsoft is bringing support for hardware-accelerated H.264 video playback to Android apps running on Windows 11. And now you can run the Linux-based postmarketOS operating system on the F(x)tec Pro1 smartphone with a slide-out keyboard… assuming you have an older model of the phone.
Google is bringing app archiving to Android, allowing users to temporarily free up about 60% of the storage used by some apps by removing *part* of the app rather than uninstalling. User data is preserved for when you use the app next. Opt-in for app devs. https://t.co/qcJaoU17mz
— Liliputing (@liliputingnews) March 8, 2022
“Dirty Pipe” vulnerability in Linux 5.8 and later allows any local users to gain root privileges on Linux-based operating systems (including Android). It’s patched in kernel versions 5.16.11, 5.15.25 and 5.10.102. https://t.co/MXmIycMmp7
— Liliputing (@liliputingnews) March 8, 2022
Mobile Linux distro postmarketOS can now run on F(x)tec Pro1 smartphone models with Snapdragon 835 chips (but not newer models with SD662 chips). The touchscreen is broken, but the slide-out keyboard works. https://t.co/NiUtfUPc7k pic.twitter.com/wP4KUzfyfB
— Liliputing (@liliputingnews) March 8, 2022
Windows Subsystem for Android picks up support for hardware-accelerated video decoding, better integration between Windows email clients and Android apps, networking tweaks, and other changes in the latest Insider preview build. https://t.co/8pM6EgGJfZ
— Liliputing (@liliputingnews) March 8, 2022
Amazon’s Clubhouse is called Amp, and it’s more of a be-a-DJ/live radio app than a real-time conversations app, thanks to a music licensing deal that lets you play songs during or between conversations. Launches in beta today (iOS and US-only). https://t.co/hMW5G0bz76
— Liliputing (@liliputingnews) March 8, 2022
stuff
I’ve noticed that when I uninstall something from android phones it tends to leave a lot of files and folders lying around anyway, so this is mostly just a standardized thing that a bunch of apps already did.
Also, I thought the name “Amp” was trademarked by Google. I can see why Amazon is doing this though, they see tiktok’s success and want money, but I doubt people will be really capable of pulling off the same insufferable smug captions and editing, in real time, that cause stupid people to stare endlessly at the dumb garbage that fills up most of tiktok.
But if for some unforeseen reason it does take off, I feel sorry for the poor kids who are going to have to use it to communicate. People don’t need that kind of pressure to perform and look good in every conversation. It’s been bad enough on social media as it is.