If you wanted to buy a game for your Xbox console, you'd have to either buy a physical copy or buy a digital copy, usually through Microsoft's own storefront on the console or on the web. But starting next month, Xbox gamers will have another option, and that is through the Xbox app on Android phones.

 

If you're wondering why this wasn't possible before, it is because of a US judge ruling earlier this week which basically said that Google would need to present alternatives to its Play Store on Android devices. Microsoft plans on taking advantage of the ruling by giving Xbox users an alternative means of buying games.

 

This was announced by Microsoft's President of Xbox gaming business, Sarah Bond, who made a post on X about it. One of the reasons why Microsoft held back on allowing gamers to buy games through the Xbox app was due to the cut that they would have to give Google. Companies like Google and Apple take a cut from app sales as well as in-app purchases.

 

This amount can vary, but ultimately it can represent quite a substantial amount of money. Prior to this, Xbox gamers could download their games to their consoles through the app on their phones, but could not actually purchase it. At the very least this gives users alternative options that they can explore. It also gives users a way to enjoy Xbox Cloud Gaming even while on the go.

 

While modern smartphone chips usually have some form of protection against malicious software attacks, there are times when the unexpected still happens. This time it's Qualcomm who's in hot water, following a hacking exploit which targeted vulnerable Android devices running on Qualcomm's chipsets.

 

Referred to as a "zero-day" vulnerability, the security flaw allowed hackers to abuse an opening previously unknown to Qualcomm. At the moment however, it's still generally unknown who is responsible for exploiting the vulnerability, which users were targeted and why. Google's Threat Analysis Group as well as Amnesty International's Security Lab have also looked into the matter.

 

In relation to this, Qualcomm listed over 64 different chipsets affected by the vulnerability, including the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, which is found in a large number of Android phones from brands including Motorola, Samsung, OnePlus, Oppo, Xiaomi, and ZTE.

 

Speaking to the folks over at TechCrunch, Qualcomm representative Catherine Baker praised the teams from Google Project Zero and Amnesty International Security Lab "for using coordinated disclosure practices." The company has since worked on fixes for the exploit.

 

With the Dimensity 9400 on the horizon, we're bound to see a wave of new smartphones arrive with MediaTek's latest flagship SoC inside - this includes the highly-anticipated Oppo Find X8 series, which will also arrive with a few other tricks, including - you guessed it - generative AI.

 

In addition to the Dimensity 9400, the Find X8 series will also feature Color OS 15, which will come with several new AI-based software features as well as a user interface based on Android 15. This includes new features such as adjustments to notification syncing for different devices, multitasking for tablets and foldables, and a whole lot more.

 

There are some rumors though that the Find X8 Ultra variant will come with a Snapdragon chip, although nothing's official at the moment. As for the Dimensity 9400, MediaTek's 3nm chip features an "All Big Core" design built on Arm's v9.2 CPU architecture, and integrates one Arm Cortex-X925 core operating over 3.62GHz with 3x Cortex-X4 and 4x Cortex-A720 cores.

 

In other Android 15 news, it's expected that Google will unveil its Android 15 update for supported Google Pixel devices on October 15, a bit later than the launch of the Pixel 9 series.

 

Online sportsbooks are extremely popular across the globe. They allow you to make wagers on matches, events, and tournaments. In the following text, we discuss how to get the right welcome bonus when signing up.

 

Are you on the hunt for a new online sportsbook? With so many on the market, finding the perfect one can seem almost impossible. When welcome bonuses are brought into the equation, it can be even more confusing. We try to break down the barriers and help you decide which is right for you in the following article.

 

What Is a Welcome Bonus?

It is expected that the global online sports betting market will have 181.3 million users by 2029. The industry has grown from a niche pursuit to one embraced by a wide range of demographics and it is now used as a main source of entertainment. From twenty-year-old males in the US making football bets to seventy-year-old women playing bingo in Brazil, online betting and gambling are here to stay.

 

The industry has worked hard to get to this point by using a range of techniques. These have included improving safety and security, customer service, the range of markets, and accessibility. The major providers have allowed people to play through browsers or mobiles, running concurrently with the rise in popularity of mobile gaming. As an example, you can select a Bet app download and make a wager in minutes while you are on the move or even at the game itself.

 

One of the most innovative ways the industry has expanded has been by attracting new players, and one technique they have used is the welcome bonus. This is an offer, or package of offers, to entice new customers. It can take the form of credit given to make bets or play games. Very often, it will also have free spins to be used on casino games. Some operators will even let you choose a welcome bonus to suit your personal needs.

 

What Considerations Should You Make When Choosing a Welcome Bonus?

Welcome bonuses differ considerably and not everyone will suit you. Thus, it pays to consider the following factors before you begin the search.

 

What Do You Want to Bet On?

The first step is to look beyond the bonus at the service provided. Make sure it has plenty of markets for the sport you will be betting on. For example, if you want to bet on the Premier League you can probably use most operators. Yet if you desire to place bets on obscure leagues in various countries, you may need to check to see how far their market stretches.

 

Some providers will also have niche betting markets. This can include sectors like eSports or current events betting on elections or entertainment awards.

 

Is the Bonus Useful to You?

Next, decide if the bonus is useful to you. If you are using the service purely to bet, then you need bonuses that provide matched deposits and free bets. You may see offers for free spins, but unless you plan to play slots they don't matter.

 

Diving into the terms and conditions is also useful. Offers for free bets may only be redeemable on certain sports such as football, basketball, and other major markets. If you have signed up to bet on eSports, these offers may not be applicable.

 

What Is Offered Beyond the Welcome Bonus?

Finally, take a look at what is offered beyond the welcome bonus. Quality sportsbooks will not just provide offers for new players, but for those who continue to wager with them. This can include everything from VIP schemes to weekend special wagers on the most popular sports.

 

What Offers Are Usually in a Welcome Bonus?

A welcome bonus can consist of one offer or several in a bundle. Below are the offers you are most likely to encounter.

 

Matched Deposit/Matched Bet

This is where credit is given to you by the operator to place bets. They will match the amount that you deposit with them. So a matched deposit of £30 means if you deposit that amount, they will match it giving you £60 in total to bet with. Sometimes they will be expressed as a percentage, so you may get a 50% match of the amount you deposit.

 

Matched deposits and bets will be capped. This is so people can not deposit thousands and expect the provider to give them the equivalent amount.

 

Free Bets

Free bets do exactly what they say. They provide you with credit that can be used to place on wagers.

 

Free Spins

Free spins are free attempts at playing slot games. If you plan to use these for recreational activities then they can be very useful, letting you get to grips with games without using your bankroll for a short period of time.

 

By knowing these rules and considering what you want, you should find the right sportsbook. You can always change if you don't get it right. However, many will reward your loyalty so finding the right place to wager now can pay dividends in the future.

 

Samsung recently announced that it has begun production on the PM9E1, a PCle 5.0 SSD built with Samsung's own in-house 5nm-based controller and eighth-generation V-NAND (V8) technology. Samsung claims that the PM9E1 provides improved performance and power efficiency for on-device AI PCs.

 

The PM9E1 supports different storage options including 512GB, 1TB, 2TB and 4TB configurations. An eight-channel PCIe 5.0 interface allows for double the read and write speeds on the new SSD, reaching up to 14.5 gigabytes-per-second (GB/s) and 13GB/s, respectively. Samsung says that this works well even with resource-heavy AI applications.

 

Samsung adds that it has applied Security Protocol and Data Model (SPDM) v1.2 to the PM9E1 for security. The SPDM specification provides ‘Secure Channel,' ‘Device Authentication' and ‘Firmware Tampering Attestation' that can help prevent supply chain attacks such as data manipulation or forgery. YongCheol Bae, Executive Vice President of Memory Product Planning at Samsung comments:

 

Our PM9E1 integrated with a 5nm controller delivers industry-leading power efficiency and utmost performance validated by our key partners. In the rapidly growing on-device AI era, Samsung's PM9E1 will offer a robust foundation for global customers to effectively plan their AI portfolios.