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Best Alternatives for Showbox and Moviebox, but use them with a VPN

Recently, Showbox and Moviebox users went through frustrating times when they tried to access the apps. They discovered that the streaming platforms are not working and this situation went on for days. As you might already know, ShowBox is an app which facilitates the Android users’ access to free movies and TV shows. MovieBox does the same thing for the iOS community.

With all their popularity, Moviebox and Showbox stopped working a few weeks ago. The situation went on for days and of course users didn’t like it. After a while, both apps started to work again, but went down after a few days and so on.

According to an official statement coming from developers, they had to stop the Showbox and Moviebox projects because of the legal issues caused by the unauthorized use of copyright protected content. A coalition of film studios followed a lawsuit action against them for enabling free access to material which should be paid.

What legal alternatives are there?

Even if now both Showbox and Moviebox are back on track, we should avoid using them. There are safer alternatives which work just as well.

  1. Popcorn Time – it’s best to use it with a VPN and it offers access to high-quality online video content right on the viewer’s mobile or desktop;
  2. Kodi – this is one of the most popular IPTV streaming apps. It doesn’t facilitate access to copyright-protected content, but you can install third-party add-ons for Kodi that do. The app can be downloaded on almost every platform, but iOS users need to have jailbroken devices or perform a special setup procedure where they will need a Mac running Xcode 7;
  3. TeaTV – This is an app which can be used on all operating systems, including Android, macOS and Windows. It comes with an updated library of movies and programs for all ages.

Each of these apps is a viable alternative for Showbox or Moviebox. If you want to download one of them, don’t forget to use a VPN as well.

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Sony Releases Android Oreo Update for Older Smart TVs

US owners of Sony Android TVs from 2016 and 2017 will be happy to learn that a new update has been released and it brings the long awaited Oreo features to the devices.

The update has been released gradually in last two weeks and it will become available for more devices in the following days. Sadly EU customers may not receive the update in the foreseeable future as the company has remained silent when it comes to EU TVs.

The main feature of the update is a revised home screen that streamlines the user interface while also improving the overall user experience. New customizations options are also available and select content is now highlighted when the home screen is accessed. In order to benefit from these improvements users will also have to updates their apps.

It is expected that updates for the Android TVs sold earlier in 2018 will also become available.

Are the updates safe for my device?

The answer is mostly yes. Some owners of late 2016 models have complained on the official forums that they have encountered a few problems. Among them users mentioned issues with audio after awakening the device form deep sleep mode, incorrect playback of locally saved 4K content and visible frame drops when HD content is streamed. Fixes should arrive soon but owners that enjoy the previously mentioned functions should wait a little more before installing the device.

Data mining has revealed that the Oreo version offered to the A2TV hardware devices (encountered in the models that received the updates first) employs a dated Linux kernel that can be traced to Android KitKat. The update also lacks support for the Project Treble, an API that aims to make updates easier to develop and deliver.

The update also adds improved support for select Netflix content and fixes a variety of issues.  It seems that Sony won’t offer an update for models that were released prior to 2016, but the situation may change in the future.

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Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus Leaks Show That The Smartphone Would Boast Only Three Cameras On Its Back

According to some recently released rumors, the most extensive and most expensive variant of next year’s Samsung Galaxy S10 line-up, most probably the model dubbed as Galaxy S10 Plus, would come out with four cameras on its back. But, new Galaxy S10 leaks presented by Ice Universe suggest that the South Korean company is not going to release such a feature.

The new leaks from Ice Universe claim that the future Galaxy S10 Plus will be delivered with three cameras instead of four in the back as some rumored indicated. Also, information from Ice Universe suggests that the Galaxy S10 Plus will include three cameras on the back, while the cheaper Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite would only come out with two cameras.

According to Ice Universe, the Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10 Lite will both boast only a single selfies camera, while the Galaxy S10 Plus would come with a dual-camera system on the front, and would be the only one of the lineup to come out with such a feat.

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus Might Eventually Come Out With Three Cameras On Its Back, According To Ice Universe

While many rumors suggested a total of six cameras on the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus variant, Ice Universe claimed that his information is legitimate.

The three-camera configuration will likely consist of a standard lens, a wide-angle lens, and a telephoto zoom lens, although Samsung has not yet confirmed this information.

However, the Samsung Galaxy S10 leaks indicating to an S10 Plus with four cameras on its back are coming out regularly. On the other hand, Ice Universe is a renowned leaker and, so far, he has been correct on many occasions. Only time will tell, so we’ll have to wait until February 2019 when Samsung will reveal the new Galaxy S10 lineup before the MWC 2019 event.

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Tech

Google Chrome To Add A Dark Mode And Tab Grouping Feature

The developers of Google Chrome are already working on new features for the browser, and the latest information points to two important new features, in particular, namely, the arrival of a dark mode and tab grouping function. Recently, Google Chrome is available in a new version that added significant new features for the benefit of users, which are related to misleading advertising and the audio of specific videos on websites.

The two new features already being tested in Google Chrome have nothing to do with those mentioned above, but possibly one of them is of great interest to users, namely a dark mode theme for the most popular Internet browser.

Google Chrome To Add A Dark Mode

The first of the novelties that have been seen in Chromium and Chrome Canary trial versions is the new dark mode. Apparently, Google Chrome would adopt the dark mode it has planned to implement in macOS Mojave to Windows and Linux OSs. That is, the dark mode would reach all three operating systems at the same time through an internal code change in the macOS version, which would enable the official introduction of this dark theme in the Chrome for Windows, Linux, and macOS.

The new design would color the whole browser in black, but with vivid color icons and typographies in white, so that everything is perfectly legible by the user.

It is not known yet when the dark mode for Google Chrome would come out, although, according to some images released online, it is clear that it will soon become a reality. Most likely, the new dark mode would come in Google Chrome in the first month of 2019.

A Tab Grouping Function Would Also Come In Google Chrome

Tabs have been a significant part of Google Chrome since its first version. They offer different options, such as the possibility of duplicating them or silencing them, among other features.

Tabs in Google Chrome have even slightly changed their design over time, but the novelty currently under works at Google would offer users the possibility of grouping tabs of similar content in a single one on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

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WhatsApp Messenger 2.18.380: Update Download Available with New Features

We’ve all heard of WhatsApp Messenger: it’s that free messaging app that’s available for Android, iOS, and others. For you to use it, you need an internet connection, be it Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G or EDGE – this way, you’ll be able to message and call your friends and family. It’s better than your ordinary messaging app since you can also send am receive (besides calls and messages) photos, videos, voice messages, and even documents.

So why should I use it? What are the features?

There are no fees: you use WhatsApp on your phone’s internet connection so that you won’t pay for every message or call, or thing sent. Also, there are no subscription fees – you’re totally free to use it.

You can send and receive different files, such as videos, documents, photos and Voice Messages.

The calls are free: you can call whoever you want, even if you 2 are not in the same country, because the app uses your internet connection, and not your phone’s plan of minutes. However, in this case, you need to keep in mind that data charges may apply. It might be better to call your provider for more details.

You cannot contact 911 or other emergency services through WhatsApp.

Group chat: you can make group chats with your contacts so you can all talk about different topics in the same chat.

WhatsApp web: this one is for your PC or laptop, you can send and receive messages right from your browser.

There are no internal charges whatsoever: you can send messages to persons from different countries, so it’s way easier to talk to your friends around the globe – without having to pay, as you do with the international SMS charges.

No username or password: you don’t have to worry that you’ll have to remember another username and password, cause you won’t need them. WhatsApp works with your phone number, and all of your WhatsApp contacts are your address book contacts.

What’s new?

Stickers: you can send now stickers in the chat. All you have to do is tap the emoji icon, then the sticker icon.

Swipe: you can swipe right on a message to replay it.

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