Apple advances user security with powerful new data protections





REVIEW: UnionMobile app: Amazing features notwithstanding user difficulties


Union Bank, one of the oldest traditional banks in Nigeria, has blended into the digital banking revolution by opening a series of digital banking channels for its customers. Today, the bank’s mobile app, UnionMobile, stands among one of the most-downloaded bank apps in Nigeria as customers continue to embrace convenient and easy banking through apps.

Like other banks’ mobile apps, the UnionMobile app has some unique features, which include ATM/Branch locator, Instant account statement, weather forecast, manage and save beneficiaries, and personalize profile where one can upload his/her profile picture.

The app also operates a card-less withdrawal system, where a beneficiary can make withdrawals from any of Union Bank ATMs without using a debit card. This can be done after linking your debit card details to your profile.

The latest updates enhanced the features of the app to include payment of utility bills such as DSTV, GOTV, PHCN, etc. It also enables users to buy airtime and data bundles on the app.

Aside from these features, the app looks pleasant to the eyes with its bright blue colour design and a simple-looking interface.

Users’ complaints

  • Despite its great features, some users are not enjoying the app due to one issue or another. Most complaints of the users centre on their inability to log in after updating the app. In fact, many customers said they would wish the bank never updated the app as they now struggle to use the app after updating.
  • For some, registering on the app has become a problem as they keep getting error messages each time they attempt to log in. For this set of people, the app has been unhelpful and frustrating.
  • Secondly, the security features are not enough, hence many users are hesitant to use the app for fear of being hacked. The fact that the app displays a username with no option to hide it is considered a security risk to the users because an unauthorized person with access to the customer’s phone can easily request a password reset using the exposed username.
  • Some of the users are also complaining about their inability to generate receipts after successful transactions.

Positive reviews

On the other hand, amidst the deluge of complaints about the app, its positive reviews are more than the negative ones, which is an indication that some customers are deriving satisfaction from using the app.

Indeed, with a 3.7 rating out of 5 on Google Play, the apple is above average and could be said to be serving the purpose it was designed for. This set of users believe the UnionMobile app is the best.

Summary: 1 million-plus downloads, 60% positive reviews, 40% negative reviews from a total of 12,584 users.



Senator concerned by hackers stealing user data using police email accounts




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The Senate is starting to take notice of reports hackers are forging “emergency data requests” to gain data from tech companies such as Apple, with one starting to investigate the privacy issue.

On March 29, a report surfaced revealing hackers were taking advantage of compromised government and police email accounts, enabling them to pretend to be law enforcement officials. By using the email accounts and connected services, the hackers were able to demand data from tech companies in some instances.

Specifically, the hackers abused “emergency data requests” (EDRs), demanding data on the claim there is the threat of imminent harm or death. EDRs can provide law enforcement with data urgently, without requiring a court order warrant or subpoena.

However, since it is not possible to verify the legitimacy of an EDR quickly, hackers are seeing success with the technique.

Following the initial report, and a follow-up confirmation by Bloomberg on March 30 confirming Apple complied with some requests, the problem has caught the attention of lawmakers.

In a statement to KrebsOnSecurity on Thursday, Senator Ron Wyden said the problem was “an enormous threat to Americans’ safety and national security.” Wyden was further concerned by the prospect some EDRs “may be coming from compromised foreign lawn enforcement agencies and then used to target vulnerable individuals.”

Wyden said he was requesting information from tech companies and federal agencies to learn more about the problem. “No-one wants tech companies to refuse legitimate emergency requests when someone’s safety is at stake, but the current system has clear weaknesses that need to be addressed,” the senator said.

This is not the first time Wyden has looked into the problem of authentication when it comes to court orders. In July 2021, Wyden and other senators introduced the Digital Authenticity for Court Orders Act, which would call for a fund to be provided to state and tribal courts, to help them adopt digital signature technology to potentially cut down counterfeit court orders.

As current EDRs are funneled through compromised legitimate email accounts with no real way to confirm an identity, it is plausible that a similar digital signature system could be employed by law enforcement for a similar effect.



China passes the world’s strictest user data protection law


China has passed one of the most restrictive data protection laws in the world, tightening control over how personal information is collected and used by companies in the country.

The Personal Information Protection Law lays out a comprehensive set of rules around data collection, processing, and protection, the Associated Press reported Friday. Previously, regulations on user data were spread out through patchwork legislation.

It specifically targets how private companies handle user data. The law doesn’t appear to affect the Chinese government’s surveillance efforts.

The law is set to take effect on Nov. 1. It gives specific standards for what type of information private companies in China can collect, as well as standards related to the storage of that data. However, the full text of the law hasn’t been made available, the AP reported.

Additionally, the law mandates that companies get user consent before they collect data and also requires companies to offer customers the ability to withdraw consent at any time. It also bars companies from denying services to customers who refuse to hand over their information.

Shares of Chinese companies like Alibaba sank on news of the law’s passage. The new data protection bill also closely follows antitrust actions taken against companies like Tencent and Alibaba.

The law reflects a new economic strategy from Beijing, which includes wanting technology giants to make money from the digitalization of public services rather than social media data, Rebecca Arcesati, an analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies, told the AP.

Although the legislation is similar to the European Global Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), it differs in that it doesn’t mention anything about limiting the ability of the ruling party or the government to access user information in China.

Violating the law’s regulations could also carry a steep price tag for companies, including fines up to $7.7 million or up to 5% of the company’s business income in the previous year.

Although the law largely targets Chinese-based companies, it does include provisions that dictate how foreign companies can handle Chinese citizens’ data. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that most companies that are compliant with the GDPR will already be mostly ready for the Chinese law.

It’s likely that the regulation will mostly affect companies that deal heavily in customer data. Apple, for its part, has taken steps to minimize the data it collects on users. The Cupertino tech giant also complies with Chinese regulations, including rules that require iCloud data to be stored on domestic servers.



Health apps on Google Play Store collect and track user data, finds study


A study has revealed that nine out of 10 mobile applications based on health and fitness, collect and track user data.

The research published in the British medical journal examined 20,000 mobile health apps on the Google Play Store. The study revealed that such apps were asking users to disclose sensitive health information, such as step and calorie counters, symptom checkers, and menstruation trackers.

Additionally, 88% of such apps were tracking identifiers and cookies to track user activities on mobile devices.

At least 28% of health apps did not provide any sort of privacy statement on Google Play about what was being collected, which is against the store’s terms of service, the study added.

It also found that about two-thirds could collect advertising identifiers or cookies, one-third could collect a user’s email address, and about a quarter could identify the mobile phone tower to which a user’s device was connected.

The study added that only 4% of mobile health apps transmitted data to a third party – usually a user’s name and location information.

As of 2021, almost 2.87 million apps were available on the Google Play store alone.

Despite these statistics, researchers also found only 1.3% (3,609) of user reviews raised privacy concerns.

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Fengdu Novel Launches Audiobook Feature to Further Improve User Experience


SHANGHAI, Jan. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — CooTek (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: CTK) (“CooTek” or the “Company”), a fast-growing global mobile internet company, recently launched Fengdu Audiobook, a new feature of Fengdu Novel. Fengdu Novel is one of the core mobile app products developed and operated by CooTek.

As audiobooks became the latest reading trend in book publishing, CooTek developed Fengdu Audiobook, a new feature incorporated in Fengdu Novel app to meet the evolving needs of readers. Fengdu Novel, as a dark horse in the free online novel app market, is putting more effort into improving the quality of audiobook content production and providing greater enjoyment to its readers.

Exquisite reading and listening experiences come from high-quality content. Fengdu Novel put down roots in producing original content. Through various supporting guides and the establishment of a unique data-driven analytics tool for writers, the output of high-quality online literature remains impressive. There are three main characteristics of Fengdu Audiobook: experienced narrators to ensure a measured tone and vivid delivery; personalized settings such as playback, speed control, and selection of narrators; in addition, Fengdu Audiobook is equipped with AI technology which supports auto-conversion of texts into audiobooks.

Fengdu Audiobook not only broadens the various content forms, but also allows users to fully feel the enjoyments of online literature across multiple scenarios. Audiobook, as a trend of reading, allows readers to enjoy novels without looking at the screen and sets their hands free. It is a convenient option when commuting, working out and doing housework, etc. As Fengdu Audiobook helps to utilize fragmented time and relieve people from pressure, it is becoming more popular among readers.

About CooTek (Cayman) Inc.

CooTek is a fast-growing mobile internet company with a global vision, offering mobile applications. Our mission is to empower everyone to enjoy relevant content seamlessly. The Company’s user-centric and data-driven approach has enabled it to release appealing products to capture mobile internet users’ ever-evolving content needs and helps it rapidly attract targeted users. CooTek has developed and brought to market content-rich mobile applications, focusing on three categories: online literature, scenario-based content apps and casual games. For details, please visit: https://ir.cootek.com/.

For investor enquiries, please contact:

CooTek (Cayman) Inc.
Mr. Robert Yi Cui
Email: [email protected] 

ICA (Institutional Capital Advisory)

Mr. Kevin Yang
Phone: +86-021-8028-6033
E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE CooTek (Cayman) Inc.



Aurora Mobile Partners with Leading New Energy Vehicle Provider WM Motor to Improve User Experience with AI Technologies Nasdaq:JG


SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aurora Mobile Limited (NASDAQ: JG) (“Aurora Mobile” or the “Company”), a leading mobile developer service provider in China, today announced that it has entered into a partnership agreement with WM Motor, a leading emerging provider of new energy vehicle (“NEV”) mobility solutions in China, to support WM Motor’s digital transformation of operations, improve its user experience and deepen exploration of the smart driver services sector.

Since its inception in 2015, WM Motor has focused on leveraging user-centric technologies, adopted a “smart, refined, relaxed, interesting, and inclusive” approach to developing its brand, and is committed to enabling every family to own a smart car and make smart driving a part of everyday life. Through the partnership, Aurora Mobile will leverage its industry-leading artificial intelligence (“AI”)-driven targeted push services as well as its powerful and intelligent operational analytics capabilities to help WM Motor gain comprehensive insights into user needs, conduct real-time decision making, drive sustainable growth and as a result, maximize user value. Both parties are confident that this cooperation will lead to more growth opportunities in the smart driver services going forward.

Aurora Mobile is a leading mobile developer service provider in China. In almost a decade, Aurora Mobile has launched a series of products catering to mobile developers’ needs and helped them to improve operational efficiency, drive business growth and monetization. As of September 2020, Aurora Mobile had provided software development kits to over 1.65 million APPs. In addition, Aurora Mobile launched a Unification Messages System (“JG UMS”), which has integrated seven major messaging channels, including mobile Apps, WeChat official accounts, WeChat mini-programs, Short Message Service, emails, Fuwu Alipay and DingTalk, to enable enterprise customers to reach targeted customers more efficiently through one integrated messaging platform.

About Aurora Mobile Limited

Founded in 2011, Aurora Mobile is a leading mobile developer service provider in China. Aurora Mobile is committed to providing efficient and stable push notification, one-click verification, and APP traffic monetization services to help developers improve operational efficiency, grow and monetize. Meanwhile, Aurora Mobile’s vertical applications have expanded to market intelligence, financial risk management, and location-based intelligence, empowering various industries to improve productivity and optimize decision-making.

Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Among other things, the Business Outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Aurora Mobile’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Aurora Mobile may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Aurora Mobile’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Aurora Mobile’s strategies; Aurora Mobile’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Aurora Mobile’s ability to attract and retain customers; its ability to develop and effectively market data solutions, and penetrate the existing market for developer services; its ability to transition to the new advertising-driven SaaS-model; its ability maintain or enhance its brand; the competition with current or future competitors; its ability to continue to gain access to mobile data in the future; the laws and regulations relating to data privacy and protection; general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and Aurora Mobile undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

For general inquiry, please contact:

Aurora Mobile Limited
E-mail: [email protected]

Christensen
In China
Mr. Eric Yuan
Phone: +86-10-5900-1548
E-mail: [email protected]

In US
Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Phone: +1-480-614-3004
Email: [email protected]



Study reveals how mobile apps grab user attention


Mobile apps do not capture our attention the same way as applications on desktop computers, reveals a new study conducted by Aalto University researchers.

In the study researchers empirically tested how users’ eyes follow popular mobile app elements.

“Apps appear differently on a phone than on a desktop computer or browser: they’re on a smaller screen which simply fits fewer elements and, instead of a horizontal view, mobile devices typically use a vertical layout. Until now it was unclear how these factors would affect how apps actually attract our eyes,” explains Aalto University Professor Antti Oulasvirta.

Samsung may discontinue high-end Galaxy Note smartphones

The research team used a large set of representative mobile interfaces and eye-tracking to assess how users look at screenshots of mobile apps, for both Android and Apple iOS devices.

The previous studies have concluded that when we look at images our attention is naturally drawn towards the center of screens and also spread horizontally across the screen, rather than vertically.

However, this is not true for mobile interfaces.

“It actually came as a surprise that bright colors didn’t affect how people fixate on app details. One possible reason is that the mobile interface itself is full of glossy and colorful elements, so everything on the screen can potentially catch your attention – it’s just how they’re designed. It seems that when everything is made to stand out, nothing pops out in the end,” says lead author and Post-doctoral Researcher Luis Leiva.

Jibran Nasir, others target of WhatsApp OTP scam

Further, the study sheds light on how different design elements grab user attention, Gaze, for example, points to the top-left corner, to explore or scan. Text plays a vital role, users focus on text elements of a mobile app as parts of icons, labels, and logos.

Images containing faces also attract users’ attention however, when posted with text eyes tend to focus more to the location of text. The average length of time users spent looking at images was similar to other app elements.

‘Various factors influence where our visual attention goes. For photos, these factors include color, edges, texture, and motion. But when it comes to generated visual content, such as graphical user interfaces, design composition is a critical factor to consider,’ says Dr Hamed Tavakoli, who was also part of the Aalto University research team.





Why the PUBG Mobile Indian version needs to ensure compliant user data and privacy policies before releasing officially?


PUBG Mobile has established itself as one of the most prominent battle royale titles on the mobile platform. The game has a massive playerbase and has attracted millions of users worldwide. Also, it has found a special place in India.

However, the Indian fans and players were in dismay as the move by the Government of India to suspend the application came in as a bolt from the blue. Ever since then, users have been waiting for the renowned BR game’s comeback in the country and have followed every development related to the game.

The Press Release by PUBG Corporation had eased players as the company announced an exclusive version of PUBG Mobile for the Indian users. Post this, several teasers were released, and a website was set up.

Also read: PUBG Mobile Indian BETA version is yet to launch for early access, claims suggest it’s for influencers only


PUBG Mobile Indian version should ensure compliant user data and privacy policies before the official release

Around 118 applications were suspended by the Ministry of Electronics and Information over data security and privacy reasons. 

Earlier, there were also reports that the government may not allow the game’s return unless the concerns have been addressed. 

For the game’s comeback in the country, the Indian version of PUBG Mobile must ensure that it complies with all the requirements of the Government of India. This primarily includes the user data security and privacy, which have been the key reasons for the ban.

The South Korean company has been working on complying with all the requirements of data privacy and security. A few days ago, Krafton had inked a deal with Microsoft Azure, a cloud computing service. 

As a part of the deal, Krafton and its subsidiaries, including PUBG Corporation, will be using the services of the Microsoft owned company for its products, including PUBG Mobile. This will ensure the safety and security of the data. With this deal, PUBG Corporation has put the seal on privacy as their top priority.

Apart from the announcement, the press release also stated about the company’s plans to establish a subsidiary in the country. A few days ago, PUBG India was registered as a private limited company.

Also read: List of official social media handles of PUBG Mobile India

Published 29 Nov 2020, 17:46 IST





Playstation 5 versus Xbox Series X – which is the best gaming console for the Apple user


The Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X are here. While there isn’t a clear choice of which to buy if you’re an Apple user, there are some pros and cons to each platform, if you own an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Apple doesn’t deal with Sony or Microsoft’s console divisions directly, but both products play an important role in console gamer’s lives. Both gaming companies utilize mobile apps to manage game libraries, purchases, in-game chat, and even second-screen experiences.

The Playstation 4 and Xbox One entered the market when tying apps to gaming experiences was a new concept. Both Sony and Microsoft had to feel out design and feature sets over the years to find exactly what the gamers wanted.

Everything they have learned has been baked into the latest-generation consoles from the start. How each company handles these features and what an Apple user can do with them is now more similar than ever across platforms.

Xbox Series X

Microsoft is releasing two new consoles with different capabilities— the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.

The Xbox Series X is the flagship model capable of 8K HDR gaming, 2160p at 120Hz, and has a disk drive. The Xbox Series S supports 1440p up to 120Hz and is an all-digital console. The distinction between the Xbox models doesn’t affect how they will work with your Apple devices.

Microsoft Xbox Apps available

The Xbox app design aligns with iOS design language

The Xbox app design aligns with iOS design language

There are apps available on iOS and iPadOS made officially by Microsoft for managing and controlling your Xbox.

The Xbox app is the gateway to social and remote management of your Xbox console. From here you can find games to buy and download, manage your download cue, and create party chats with your friends.

The app will also help you set up a console for the first time by pairing with it on your local network. Already set up consoles can be paired in a similar process. Once paired you can view media captured while playing or even play the games remotely.

Remote play is a recent feature which allows users to mirror their Xbox onto their iPhone or iPad and play games over the network. Playing like this can lead to a lot of lag and loss of quality, but its doable. You can even pair an Xbox controller to your device and play that way.

Viewing your screenshots and in-game video recordings on your mobile device is nice too, and not available on Playstation’s app. You can easily see your recent media and share it directly to social media from the Xbox app.

The Xbox Game Pass app exists to allow users to browse and download games to their Xbox console. This can already be done from the Xbox app, but the Game Pass app is built for the purpose of browsing the service’s content.

Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

The Game Pass includes games that exist on iOS as well, and could one day allow users to download or stream versions of these games directly to their Apple devices. Apple makes this complicated, however, and will not let a single app contain an entire streaming library for games.

Xbox lead Phil Spencer said they remain committed to bringing the game pass to iPhone. In its current ruleset, Apple will let developers bring gaming subscription services to iOS under two specific conditions:

  1. The app must be downloadable from the App Store
  2. The streaming service app acts only as a catalog and doesn’t directly launch games

This means that games in the Xbox Game Pass would become downloadable in the iOS App Store for no additional fee. Xbox has not announced a timeline for such a feature.

The third and final app offered by Xbox is called Xbox Family Settings. It is an app meant to give parents the ability to manage their child’s Xbox remotely.

It functions similar to Apple’s Screen Time feature by enabling time limits and requests for access. Parents can see activity reports, choose how long a game can be played, and who their child can communicate with.

Controller Support

Xbox Controller for Xbox Series X

The Xbox Controller for Xbox Series X

The Xbox controller was added to Apple’s supported controller list for iOS 13. Only Xbox controllers with Bluetooth were required previously, as Xbox had their own proprietary pairing system in older controllers.

The Xbox Series X controller has a new design and Bluetooth included, so they will be able to pair with devices easily. The Microsoft website says iOS support is “coming in the future.” To get there, Apple will need to issue an update to add compatibility.

iOS 14 added compatibility with the Adaptive Controller too, so users who have accessibility needs can use the controller across all their devices.

PlayStation 5

Sony is launching two Playstation 5 models, but there is no distinction in performance capabilities, unlike Xbox. The standard console comes with a disk drive for backwards compatibility with PS4 disk titles. The Digital Edition has no disk drive, making it slightly lighter and thinner, but does not affect its performance.

The Playstation 5 is capable of 4K gaming at 120Hz or output up to 8K. The capabilities do not affect how the Playstation will interact with your Apple devices.

Apps available

The Playstation app takes on a unique design style

The Playstation app takes on a unique design style

There are apps available on iOS and iPadOS made by Playstation to manage and control your console.

The Playstation app is a little more hands-off than the Xbox app. Users can text and voice chat, create parties, and join games, but thats about it for social functionality. There is no way to view or share images or video saved on the Playstation.

You can view your trophy list and see what games you’ve been playing. You can see which friends are online and view what game they are playing and their trophy list.

The Playstation Store integration is the best feature of the updated Playstation app. Browsing the store is seamless and allows you to buy a game and send it to your download cue right away.

The Playstation 5 can be turned on and launch a specific game via the app. You can also view and manage your PS5 storage remotely.

Remote play lets you play your Playstation on your iPhone

Remote play lets you play your Playstation on your iPhone

Unlike Xbox, Playstation has a separate app dedicated to remote gaming on iOS. The PS Remote Play app is a single purpose app optimized for gaming on your Playstation when on the same network.

The on-screen touch controls are optimized for the display, though connecting a controller will improve the experience greatly. Depending on network connection speeds, the gameplay can be quite seamless despite being over a network.

The Playstation 5 will be able to stream a full 1080p signal in HDR to your iOS device.

Controller Support

The Dualsense controller for PS5

The Dualsense controller for PS5

The Sony Dualshock 4 for PS4 is compatible with iOS 13 and up. Sony has not announced any official compatibility with the Dualsense controller for PS5, though that could come in a future update.

When gaming on iOS you can pair your Playstation controller for a good experience. The PS Remote app is programmed to work best with the Dualshock 4, so when connected buttons will function as expected.

Game Streaming

Xbox has its project X-cloud and Xbox Game Pass, both of which Microsoft is working to make compatible with iOS. Sony has made no such announcement for iOS.

Playstation Now

Playstation Now

Sony does have a service called Playstation Now, which gives users access to a large library of games which includes Playstation 2 titles. Sony could make some of these games and the service available on iOS given Apple’s current rules, but it has not been announced. Playstation Now content can only be accessed via Remote Play on Apple devices.

Apple TV app

Both Xbox and Playstation will have the Apple TV app at launch and previous generations will get it too. Any movies or TV shows purchased in iTunes, Apple TV+ content, and Apple TV Channels will show up in the app.

The app experience is the same on both platforms, as Apple designed it to look and function similar to the Apple TV app everywhere else.

Playstation 5 or Xbox Series X – Which is best for Apple users?

Sony notoriously does not play well with others. The company’s consoles have been resistant to outside influence or interaction, the Playstation Network has several lock-in effects, and even Playstation exclusive titles cannot be played anywhere else. The same approach has been taken for iOS compatibility with features, meeting the bare minimum of what is expected by gamers.

That being said, the Playstation app experience is not a bad one. While more limited than Xbox, the crucial features are there like remote gaming, game library management, and voice chat in-app. For most gamers this will be enough, but Xbox does have an edge.

Xbox has more family friendly features and an app dedicated to family screen time management. It has better social features with access to the screenshots and video recordings on the console in-app, and its system management is more comprehensive.

Xbox also has a few additional perks due to being owned by Microsoft. The Xbox Game Pass can be used on Windows 10 and has been announced for future iOS capabilities. Sony has not made any such promise for the future of Playstation Now, but they have announced an initiative to bring Playstation exclusives to PC for the first time.

Regardless of which console you choose or the reasons behind it, you’ll have a tightly integrated experience with your Apple devices. Remote console management, remote gaming, and chat tools are available for both app ecosystems. Xbox has a slight lead in terms of family management and future plans for Apple compatibility.

Pricing and availability

The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S launch on November 10 for $499 and $299 respectively. The Playstation 5 consoles launch on November 12 at $499 or $399 for the Digital Edition. Pre-orders for the consoles sold out quickly, but some inventory will be available on launch day to order online.