Zoom 5.0 Launched, Features Data Routing Control, Improved Encryption

Zoom Video Communications said on Wednesday it was upgrading the encryption features on its video conferencing app to better safeguard meeting data and offer protection against tampering. The new version of the app, Zoom 5.0, will release within the week, the company said in a statement. The new features include improved encryption, data routing control, improved host controls, and more.

Zoom, which has soared to 200 million daily users from 10 million in less than three months, had faced backlash from users after security researchers found bugs in its codes and the company failing to disclose that its service was not end-to-end encrypted.

The app's issues, including "Zoombombing" incidents where uninvited guests crash meetings, led to several companies, schools and governments to stop using the platform.

The company, which competes with Microsoft Teams and Cisco's Webex has responded by plugging the gaps in security, launching a 90-day plan to improve the app and appointing former Facebook security chief Alex Stamos as an adviser.

Zoom said it has made several changes to its user interface, including offering password protection and giving more controls to meeting hosts to check unruly participants. The biggest change is the switch to AES 256-bit GCM encryption standard.

To account for criticism that the company had routed some data through Chinese servers, Zoom said an account admin can now choose data centre regions for their meetings, via new data routing control. Other changes include a security icon to access Zoom's security features, a default-on Waiting Room, passwords for cloud recordings, secure account contact sharing, a dashboard enhancement, and more. Then company says many of the new features are already available.

“I am proud to reach this step in our 90-day plan, but this is just the beginning. We built our business by delivering happiness to our customers. We will earn our customers' trust and deliver them happiness with our unwavering focus on providing the most secure platform,” said Eric S. Yuan, CEO of Zoom.

Asus is bringing Marshmallow to ZenFone Zoom and ZenFone Selfie

As far as Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates go, Asus is a laggard. Eight months after Marshmallow was released, Asus only rolled out the update to two of its phones – the ZenFone Laser, in May, and the ZenFone Max in early June. In contrast, Samsung, LG, or even HTC have updates out for a ton of their devices.

Better late than never, Asus is now bringing Marshmallow to the ZenFone Zoom and the ZenFone Selfie.

The updates are described on Asus’ ZenTalk forums(ZenFone Zoom and ZenFone Selfie), though the “changelog” is largely just a list of apps that Asus had decided to remove from the devices.

The ZenFone Zoom will lose Asus Backup, Google Play Books, Games, and Newsstand, Google+, and ZenFlash. You can still get these apps from the Play Store, if you wish. Factory-resetting the device will rid you of Asus Email, Asus Calendar, Asus Messaging, Asus Browser and Asus Music. Asus points you to Google’s homologous apps for alternatives.

The list of bloatware coming off the ZenFone Selfie after the update is even longer, and includes apps like Mirror, Omlet, and Dr. Eye. Just from their names, it doesn’t sound like you’ll lose much with the update.

We have a full listing of Marshmallow features here, but highlights include Google Now on Tap, Doze mode for improved battery life, and the granular permission model that gives you control over exactly what apps can access on your phone.

ASUS NEW ZENFONE

Asus zenfone Go, Selfie and Zoom to be launched in India in August 2015

Asus has been teasing its ZenFestival 2015 to be held in India in August 2015 for a while now. The ZenFestival 2015 will play host to a global product launch alongside two other Zenfones in the country. The exact details about the time of the event to be held hasn't been disclosed but all that we know is that something big is coming as Asus has booked a whole stadium for the event.

It is being learnt that the Taiwanese manufacturer will launch the rumoured Zenfone Go in the country at the event which would mark its Indian as well as the global debut. The smartphone will probably be the cheapest one to go on sale in the Zenfone lineup. The Zenfone Go (model number ZC500TG) has had itself leaked before and is expected to come with a 5-inch display (1280 x 720 pixels), MediaTek chipset with 2GB of RAM, 8GB of expandable internal storage, 8-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel front camera.

The report which has emerged further suggests that the other Zenfones will come with "amazing photopgraphy" , thus hinting towards the launch of Zenfone Selfie and Zenfone Zoom. Let us quickly go through their specifications:

Asus Zenfone Selfie specifications

• 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels
• Octa-Core Snapdragon 615 processor with 2GB/3GB LPDDR3 RAM variants
• Android 5.0 Lollipop
• 16GB/32GB internal storage, further expandable up to 64 GB via microSD
• 13MP rear camera and 13MP front camera
• 4G LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS
• 3,000 mAh battery

Asus Zenfone Zoom specifications

• 5.5-inch IPS LCD display, 1920 x 1080 pixels, Gorilla Glass 3 with Oleophobic coating
• Android 5.0 Lollipop with new Zen UI
• Intel Atom Z3580 SoC, 64-bit 2.3GHz quad-core processor, PowerVR G6430 GPU, and 2GB/4GB of RAM
• 16GB internal storage and a microSD card slot
• 13-megapixel PixelMaster primary camera, laser autofocus, 10-element lens, 3x optical zoom, dual-tone dual-LED flash, and 1080p video recording
• 5-megapixel secondary camera and 1080p video recording
• 4G LTE Cat. 4, Wi-Fi ac/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth v4.0, and GLONASS A-GPS
• 3,000 mAh battery with fast charging

The event date would be out soon and we'll have all the details about it for you then.