Monday, January 28, 2019

Flexihub Review: Stay connected to your hardware anywhere

Have you ever wanted to create your own personal cloud? There's an app for that!

Flexihub is a unique piece of software that essentially allows you to create your own personal cloud of devices. Anything that you have connected to a device with Flexihub installed is accessible and shareable from anywhere that you have an internet connection.

Now your first reaction is probably going to be, "Isn't basically everything already connected anyway?" To some degree that is certainly true, a lot of printers and other USB based devices offer wireless connectivity, but from personal experience, these connections can be flakey and they also sometimes require that you be on the same network to make use of them. Flexihub gets around both these problems, as in my time with it I haven't had it fail me once and it is essentially instant on the moment you plug a device into a computer or smartphone with Flexihub installed.

Flexihub also offers 256-bit SSL encryption, so even for file transfers which you likely have other options for, this is going to be more secure than most. Need to share some files from an external hard drive or flash drive with a friend or colleague? Just plug it into the USB-C port on your smartphone and you can share access to that drive with them instantly.

Let's take a deeper dive on how Flexihub works and what exactly you can do with it as it is certainly a niche app and at first glance, some won't see the utility, but for those that need it this app is could become an absolutely crucial tool.

How it works

Once you have created your Flexihub account on their site the next step is to install the app on any computers or mobile devices that you will be connecting to the hardware you would like to access remotely. The Flexihub app is available for Windows, Linux, macOS, and of course Android. Just got to the Flexihub download page and you'll find the links for each one.

Once you have the software installed on the hub devices there's really nothing else to the basic functionality of the app. You'll register your account through Flexihub and be on your way. You simply plug the hardware that you would like to connect to or share to one of your hub devices and it will instantly appear in the Flexihub app. From there you can use that hardware exactly as if it were physically connected to your device.

Use Cases

Now there are a couple obvious use cases for this software so we'll cover those quickly and then take a look at a few of the less obvious options. If you have any ideas on potential use cases for Flexihub we'd love to hear from you in the comments too as I'm not going to begin to comprehensively cover everything you could do with Flexihub as it will connect you up to any USB or COM (Serial) port device and the options there are virtually limitless.

Printing

This is the most obvious option and again I'm certain that plenty of you have printers that do offer wireless printing already, but at least with the last few printers I've had I feel like this fails with such regularity that I end up spending more time troubleshooting it than it's worth and I end up plugging a cable back into it. Now obviously this is contingent on your having a device with Flexihub plugged into the printer, but assuming you check that box the printer will work 100% of the time and you can print from anywhere or again conveniently you can let a friend or colleague print by simply sharing the connection rather than getting them set up on the printer too.

Storage

Sure there are countless online storage options, but most of them cost quite a bit for higher storage tiers and of course, you have to upload the content to them first. As someone that uses external drives for my photo and video content on a regular basis, I can absolutely see the value in using Flexihub to share a drive with one of my coworkers when I'm at an event, instead of my uploading it Dropbox or Google Drive only to have them download it again it will go straight to them. Hardly the only way to get the job done, but it's expedient and secure.

Android

The Android app itself is server only, so it is limited to sharing whatever is plugged into it, you can't use it to access other devices that are connected to Flexihub. This would be nice functionality and we'd hope to see it added at some point, particularly with an Android tablet or larger Android phone attached you could get plenty of utility out of that option.

But for now, the Android device makes for an incredibly portable option to share with the laptops or desktops connected to Flexihub. Some of the more interesting use cases are medical, such as the ability to do remote diagnostics on hearing aids or other small personal medical devices.

Desktop/Laptop

 

Most of your use and likely the majority of your connectivity is going to happen via a computer given the limitations of the Android app. Now obviously if you have a desktop or a laptop that lives on a desk somewhere that is the ideal situation if you want constant access to whatever hardware you are connecting to, but again part of what makes Flexihub great is that things are ready to go the instant you plug them into the hub device.

Some examples of hardware that you might want to connect to would be a camera, a CNC machine, a projector, or even an iOS device. Flexihub is a useful tool for developers to do remote debugging without needing a device on site.

Again there's simply too many possibilities to cover them all and no real reason to dwell on them as there simply isn't much to explain about the software once you have it connected, whatever the device is you are simply ready to use it exactly as if it were connected directly to your computer.

Pricing

Now that we've covered what exactly you can do with Flexihub, you probably have a pretty good idea of whether or not this is something that would be a helpful tool for you, and thankfully Flexihub does offer a 7-day free trial for all new annual plan customers so you can take it for a test spin before committing to a full year.

Now given the nature of the app, it isn't likely that you would need it one month and not the next, but given how accustomed most people are to monthly subscriptions, there's probably going to be a little sticker shock on the yearly cost. For one active connection, it is $159.99 per year ($13.33 per month) and for two active connections, it goes to $239.99 per year ($20 per month). After that, it's an extra $120 per year for each additional connection. Now to be clear this is active connections and not devices, you can have the software installed on any number of devices you are only limited by the number of concurrent active connections.

Now if that sounds expensive, but you are still tempted by the functionality, there is a way to save a lot of money if you think this is a long term solution for you as you can purchase a lifetime subscription for the same price as two years of the service for any number of connections. Eltima, the company behind Flexihub has been around for almost 20 years now with a diverse portfolio of apps, so you aren't throwing money at a startup that may disappear in a year.

Verdict

I think I've made it clear from the outset that there's going to be a large number of you that instantly dismiss this app as not relevant for you and that's fine, but I'm equally sure that some of you are going to be ready to throw your money at Eltima because this app can solve some obnoxious connectivity situation in your home or office workflow.

After a week with the app I can say that it's dead simple and it just works, which is about the highest praise I can offer, if there's a problem that Flexihub will solve for you then it's absolutely worth the price.

 

 



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Google for mobile web gains voice search feature

Google's ability to accurately understand the questions asked using voice commands is pretty well known, and as such the voice search feature has found quite a lot of use in Google's various apps and services. However if there was one area that Google seemed to have "forgotten", it was the mobile web version of its search.

If you do use the mobile web version of Google Search, then you will be pleased to learn that Google has since added the feature to the web. As you can see in the screenshot below, all users have to do to access and activate the feature is tap on the microphone icon and you'll be good to go. There might be some permissions popping up and asking you whether you want to allow access to your microphone, which you should grant if you want to use voice search.

Image credit – Android Police

The feature is identical to how voice search normally behaves in Google's other apps and platforms so if you're familiar with it, then the learning curve is pretty much non-existent. If you're not familiar with it, all you have to do is speak into your device's microphone on what you want to search and it will search for you, assuming that it understands your query.

Google's voice search on mobile web seems to be in the process of being rolled out so don't worry if you don't see it yet. It is also only compatible with Chrome and Edge for now, so if you use something like Firefox or Opera you'd be out of luck.

Source: Android Police



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AnTuTu wants to benchmark how smart our smartphones really are

Benchmarks are fun because they tell us how powerful our devices are. AnTuTu's benchmark system has been used to benchmark many a flagship smartphone in the past, and sometimes even revealing phones that have yet to be officially announced. Now it seems that AnTuTu wants to try benchmarking something other than raw power; it wants to benchmark how smart our smartphones are.

The company has recently announced that they will be launching a new benchmarking suite called AI Review. As its name suggests, this is a benchmarking tool used to measure how smart is our phone's AI. Right now the tool is currently in beta and consists of two tests: an image classification test and an object recognition test.

Unlike its other benchmarking tools, AnTuTu's AI Review will actually favor accuracy over speed. This means that while a smartphone's AI might be able to compute the data faster but it is wrong, then it will receive a penalty versus an AI that takes long but is accurate. The tests will be based on 200 images from the the Inception v3 neural network while the second test reviews 600-frame video taken from the MobileNet SSD neural network.

It will be interesting to see if AI benchmarks will play a role in customers deciding which phone to get. So far it seems like every other handset maker wants to develop their own AI system, however not all systems can be tested yet as not all companies have supplied a public AI SDK.

Also the tool is still very much in the early stages of beta which means that there is still quite a bit of work that needs to be done.

Source: AnTuTu (via VentureBeat)



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Nokia’s sets the stage for a big comeback in the US with major carrier support

Buying a phone through a carrier makes sense because it can sometimes soften the blow in terms of pricing. Instead of having to pay full price for a phone, carriers sometimes offer deals that allows users to pay back the cost of the phone over a period of time, or in some cases, even get a phone for free.

If you are a fan of HMD Global's Nokia phones, then you might be pleased with this bit of news as the company has announced collaborations with a couple of carriers in North America in which their Nokia phones will be made available through them. In the US, these carriers include Verizon and Cricket Wireless, and for our readers in Canada, it will be through Rogers.

Unfortunately the phones that will be made available initially – the Nokia 2.1 and the Nokia 3.1 Plus – aren't exactly the most impressive of phones. We're sure that fans and customers would love to see a higher-end model, like the Nokia 8 (which had previously skipped the US market), but we suppose it's a start and hopefully will be a sign of things to come, like the marking of the slow and eventual comeback of the Nokia brand.

HMD Global is expected to officially announce the Nokia 9 PureView at MWC next month, but whether or not the phone will be available through carriers remains to be seen. In the meantime according to HMD Global's Florian Seiche:

"We are extremely excited and committed to build long-term strategic partnerships with the leading carriers in North America. Our Nokia phone promise is distinct and built on consumer insight – European design and craftsmanship, excellent quality, latest Android and purposeful innovation that enhances your everyday user experience. We want consumers in North America to love and trust their Nokia phones."

Source: HMD Global



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Huawei is in big trouble with the US Department of Justice

2018 was not Huawei's year, what with deals with major carriers in the US falling through, retailers dropping their phones, and its CFO (and daughter of its founder) being arrested in Canada. The company had initially expressed optimism heading into 2019, but it seems that reality is a lot harsher.

The US Department of Justice has recently announced that they will be pursuing criminal charges against Huawei with regards to a series of federal crimes, such as a conspiracy to steal trade secrets, wired fraud, and obstruction of justice in which Huawei was accused of allegedly trying to move potential witnesses to its "crimes" back to China.

It also appears that the DoJ is working with Canada to extradite Huawei's CFO, Meng Wanzhou, to the US. According to FBI Director Christopher Wray:

"To the detriment of American ingenuity, Huawei continually disregarded the laws of the United States in the hopes of gaining an unfair economic advantage. As the volume of these charges prove, the FBI will not tolerate corrupt businesses that violate the laws that allow American companies and the United States to thrive."

Even if Huawei should find a way to get out of this, there is also the issue of various bills having been introduced which could effectively prevent Huawei from purchasing US chips and components. We've seen how this had previously affected ZTE in a big way, and we imagine that this will impact Huawei negatively as well. Huawei's founder had previously spoken up about these allegations, insisting that his company would never spy on behalf of China.

Source: Droid-Life (via TechCrunch)



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Android Q could block nosey apps from snooping on your clipboard

Did you know that your clipboard can be read by pretty much any Android app installed on your phone? Unless you have some kind of third-party ROM that blocks such access, any app could in theory read and access your clipboard where you might have copied the usernames and passwords to sites and services you use.

If that sounds worrying, we get it, but at the same time it is also a very good reason to look forward to the Android Q update. According to XDA Developers who have been combing through a leaked early build of the update, they have found a new permission in Android Q that could in theory prevent apps from reading your clipboard unless you grant that app permission to do so.

The permission's protection level is at "signature", which means that only apps signed by the OEM can be granted this permission, which basically refers to apps that come preinstalled on the device. It is not mentioned if this could be extended to third-party apps where users could potentially grant other apps permission to read their clipboard as well (for whatever reason). This sounds like fantastic news since we're sure that no one likes being snooped upon.

We should point out that at this point in time, nothing is official yet. Google has yet to release the developer preview for Android Q so it is possible that if and when they do, the features we've been seeing could have changed. Google I/O 2019 is expected to take place on the 7th of May so perhaps we'll learn more about Android Q and its features then.

Source: XDA Developers



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Samsung Galaxy M10 and M20 unveiled with massive batteries, wide-angle cameras

There's a good chance that if you've seen news about Samsung recently, it revolves around the Samsung Galaxy S10 leaks. While hype is building for the S10 lineup, Samsung announced a new lineup of phones today. We now have our first official look at the Samsung Galaxy M10 and M20, two mid-range devices designed to compete with the likes of Xioami, OnePlus, and Realme in India.

Both the M10 and M20 will use octa-core processors. In the M10, we find the Samsung Exynos 7870, a SoC that features eight Cortex A53 cores clocked at 1.6 GHz. The M20 has a slightly more advances Exynos 7904 which has two Cortex A73 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz and six Cortex A53 cores clocked at 1.6 GHz. Both of these chips are decidedly mid-range and will offer fine performance for activities like browsing Facebook, taking and uploading pictures, and scrolling through Twitter. They may suffer with more demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.

In terms of memory and storage, the Galaxy M10 will come in two variants, a 2 GB/16 GB version and a 3 GB/32 GB version. The M20 is a little bit beefier with either 3 or 4 GB of RAM and 32 or 64 GB of storage. Both devices support expandable storage and support cards up to 512 GB.  The phones will also feature the same camera setup, a rear 13 MP f/1.9 sensor that is flanked by a 5 MP f/2.2 ultra-wide sensor. This is one of, if not the first Samsung device to house a wide-angle lens. As for the selfie cam, the M10 has a 5 MP f/2.0 shooter, and the M20 bumps it up to an 8 MP f/2.0 camera.

If you love great battery life, the Galaxy M10 and M20 should impress. The Galaxy M10 has a generous 3,400 mAh battery, but we're sad to report that it comes with the ancient micro USB connector and does not support fast charging. The Galaxy M20, however, has a gigantic 5,000 mAh battery, a USB type-C port, and fast charging. Helping that battery life are the power-sipping displays. The Galaxy M10 features a large 6.22-inch 1520 x 720 Infinity-V display, while the M20 showcases a 6.3-inch 2340 x 1080 Infinity-V LCD display. It's a bit odd that Samsung is using LCD panels instead of its famed AMOLED displays, but the low resolution should help with battery life nonetheless. Also, in case you're wondering, "Infinity-V" is Samsung's code name for its teardrop notch display design.

Rounding out the specs we find a headphone jack, dual SIM and VoLTE support, and Android 8.1, but no IP rating. The Samsung Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 both come in Charcoal Black and Ocean Blue and will be available via Samsung's website and Amazon India. The starting price of the M10 is 7,990 rupees (~$110) for the 2 GB/16 GB model, while the 3 GB/32 GB model comes in at 8,990 rupees (~$125). The Galaxy M20 starts at 10,990 rupees (~$154) for the 3 GB /32 GB variant and the 4 GB/64 GB model is priced at 12,990 rupees (~$180). We don't have information on when the devices will debut or in what market, but we'll bring you those details as soon as we get them.



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Top 5 apps to help you file your taxes

Tax season is upon us here in the United States and we've pulled together a few apps that help make filing those taxes a little easier. While these apps may have some similar features, they are each unique with their own design and tax preparation costs. Take a look at the list below to get started.

H&R Block Tax Prep and File

Description: H&R Block's tax app once again makes it easy to file your taxes. 1099s can be easily imported and if you are a Stride user, the app automatically imports your self-employment expenses. How about another bonus? Deposit part or all of your return into an Amazon e-gift card and receive a 5% return bonus. Upfront pricing lets you know the exact cost to file your taxes with H&R Block.

  • Price: Free
  • In-app Purchases: Yes
  • Rating: 4.5/5
  • Installs: 100,000+

Install H&R Block Tax Prep and File 

TaxAct Express

Description: TaxAct lets you easily file your taxes and offers to get you the maximum refund. Snap a photo of your W-2 and import it right into the app. Seamlessly switch between the app and the website to complete your return. TaxAct ensures their accuracy and back it up with a $100,000 guarantee.

  • Price: Free
  • In-app Purchases: Yes
  • Rating: 3.9/5
  • Installs: 100,000+

Install TaxAct Express

TurboTax Tax Return App

Description: The TurboTax app is by Intuit, the company behind QuickBooks, proconnect, and mint. This allows you to easily import data directly into the TurboTax app and minimizing manual data entry. The app has a couple nice features such as identifying yourself by scanning the barcode of your Drivers License or ID. Real CPAs are available to answer any of your tax questions within the app giving you 100% confidence. CompleteCheck™ runs an in-depth scan of your return and guide you through any final changes so you don't miss a thing.

  • Price: Free
  • In-app Purchases: Yes
  • Rating: 4.3/5
  • Installs: 5M+

Install TurboTax Tax Return App

TaxSlayer

Description: The TaxSlayer app allows 1040EZ filers to file their taxes for free. If you have a more advanced tax return, TaxSlayer supports all major forms to make filing easy for only $24. You can e-file your state return as well for only $29. Additionally, TaxSlayer also offers complimentary email and live phone support for any questions that may arise.

  • Price: Free
  • In-app Purchases: Yes
  • Rating: 3.8/5
  • Installs: 100,000+

Install TaxSlayer

IRS2Go

Description:  IRS2Go is the official app of the Internal Revenue Service. The app can use your phone's location to find the nearest tax preparation office for you. Once you've filed your tax return, use the IRS2Go app to track the status of your tax return. If you find out you owe money, you can make the payment via the app.

  • Price: Free
  • In-app Purchases: No
  • Rating: 4.1/5
  • Installs: 5M+

Install IRS2Go



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Sunday, January 27, 2019

Facebook wants to unify WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger

WhatsApp and Instagram used to exist as separate companies until Facebook acquired both of them and brought them under the same roof. Facebook, for the most part, kept both apps separate and allowed them to continue operating somewhat independently. This is versus other companies who more often than not fold their acquisitions into their services and products.

According to a report from the New York Times, it appears that Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg is seeking some kind of unification across their products and services. This includes Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger, where the CEO is looking to unify their infrastructure.

What this means is that while the apps will continue to exist as unique standalone apps, their underlying infrastructure will be the same which according to the report, will allow Facebook to have better control over them and how these apps tie in with the social networking platform. For example one of the ways Zuckerberg wants to unify these apps is by making sure that all of them have end-to-end encryption.

These changes are aimed to be completed by the end of the year or possibly early 2020. We're not sure how this could potentially change how we use these apps, so we'll just have to wait and see. Facebook has since responded to the report with a statement of their own that reads:

"We're working on making more of our messaging products end-to-end encrypted and considering ways to make it easier to reach friends and family across networks."

Source: New York Times

Image credit – Christiaan Colen



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Can we all agree that all smartphones need wide-angle lenses?

The cameras on our smartphones have come a long way from back in the day when they were fixed and you couldn't even zoom in. Nowadays we're starting to see phones that have cameras that supports 5x optical zoom, and there are reports claiming that 10x optical zoom could be on the horizon as well! But forget that, how about giving us ultra-wide angle lenses instead?

Speaking as someone who dabbles in photography as a hobby, I get so much more general use out of wide-angle lenses compared to zooms. This is because as a street photographer, a wide-angle lens lets me capture more of a scene at once. This lets me convey how notoriously busy the Shibuya crossing really is in Tokyo, Japan; or how expansive and breathtaking the Great Ocean Road is in Victoria, Australia.

 

How often have we raised our cameras only to realize that we can't quite fit everything we need into the frame? How many times have you seen Instagrammers standing on chairs in cafes and restaurants trying to capture the food on their table? Wouldn't it be a much more elegant solution (and cleaner chairs) if our lenses were simply wider? 

Wide-angle lenses also provide viewers with more context because it can capture everything happening around the object. The example above was captured using the front-facing cameras on the Pixel 3 and the LG G7. Google's smartphone actually features a second front-facing camera which is paired with an ultra-wide lens allowing it to capture more of the scene than the LG G7 does.

On the other side, the LG G7 features an ultra-wide lens on its secondary sensor, offering the same experience with the main camera. LG has actually been using wide lenses on the back of its flagship smartphone since the introduction of the LG G6, delivering images that you can't otherwise capture with most smartphones.

It also has quite a number of uses for commercial purposes, like if you're trying to take photos of your home to put up for a real estate or Airbnb listing. If you're into architecture photography, wide-angle lenses also do a much better job at capturing the entirety of buildings, or cityscapes, or the skyline.

There are also fun things you can do with fisheye lenses as the distortion can create so funny photos, or you could even use it for artistic purposes.

That being said, we're not dismissing the uses of zoom lenses, especially if smartphone makers can create lossless zoom lenses. Telephoto lenses have long been favored when it comes to snapping portraits because of its zoom, it creates a tight crop on your subject's face which is what portraiture is all about. Some even argue that zoom lenses make for great landscape photography too as it can be used to highlight specific portions of the landscape that standout.

We're not saying to not include a zoom lens, but perhaps it could be time for more handset manufacturers to start exploring the potential benefits of including ultra wide-angle lenses on their phones as well.

In the meantime, while we wait for more companies to consider our proposal, there are several third-party lenses and accessories that can help with that.

Brands such as Moment and OlloClip have created add-on lenses that can help widen your camera's lens or add extra zoom to it. They don't come cheap but if you're a photographer looking to up their mobile photography game, it might be worth your consideration.



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Wild foldable smartphone prototype is better than what Samsung has shown us

Earlier this year, famed leakster Evan Blass shared a short video which was allegedly that of a Xiaomi foldable phone. Blass himself could not guarantee that the video was the real deal, but it seems that he didn't have to because Xiaomi's President and co-founder Lin Bin has pretty much confirmed it for him.

In a post made on Weibo, it showed a video of Lin Bin using what appears to be a tablet-like device. It was not shaped like a conventional tablet, but later we find out why. This is because the sides of the device can be folded in, in which the device then transforms into a smartphone.

We say that this is a pretty wild concept because most foldable phones we've seen, such as Samsung's foldable phone, have mainly focused on folding in half, so this really takes the cake in terms of design. Unfortunately, Lin Bin does not mention when the phone is expected to go on sale, so it is possible that we might have to wait quite a bit before it is available. According to his translated post:

"Xiaomi's dual-folding phone is coming! After tackling flexible folding display, four-way folding hinge, flexible cover tech, MIUI adaptation and other technical challenges, we have made the first foldable phone, and should also be the world's first dual-folding phone. This symmetrically dual-outer-folding form factor perfectly merges the experience of a tablet and a phone, it's both practical and beautiful. Even though it's still a prototype, we're showing it to you all. Feel free to share, comment and like. If you all like it, we will consider mass producing it.

Also, we would like to give this prototype a name. What do you think?I have two: Mi Dual Flex, Mi MIX Flex. Suggestions are welcome!"

Many are still understandably skeptical about foldable phones and whether it is merely a gimmick and novelty concept, or if it could truly change the way we see our mobile devices.

Source: Engadget



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Saturday, January 26, 2019

Google I/O 2019 will kick off on May 7th

Every year without fail, Google holds its own event in the form of Google I/O. Leading up to the official confirmation of the dates, Google usually releases a series of puzzles and brain teasers that would allow users to solve and figure out what the dates of the event are, but this year it seems that Google might have let the cat out of the bag by accident.

According to developer Till Kottmann, it seems that Google had a Twitter account called @internaltest189 which actually contained the dates of Google I/O 2019 in plaintext, which was revealed to take place from the 7th to the 9th of May, 2019. The account has since been deleted, but assuming Google wasn't trolling us, that's when this year's Google I/O will be taking place.

For those who are still interested in solving the puzzle out themselves, the puzzle's video is still up so you can go ahead and test your knowledge and skills. At the moment it is unclear as to what will be announced at the event this year. There is a good chance that Android Q could be announced in full where Google will probably highlight the various changes and improvements they've made to it.

We might also learn more about the future of Chrome OS and future builds of the platform. We could also see new products and services announced, but whether or not there'll be new hardware is unclear. There have also been rumors that Google is working on a new operating system called Fuschia, but whether or not it will finally make its official debut at Google I/O 2019 remains to be seen.

Source: Twitter



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Huawei P30 rumored to get periscope-style zoom lens, in-display fingerprint sensor

Last year we saw some phones adopt the use of in-display fingerprint technology, and the Huawei Mate 20 series was one of the phones that used it. Now if the latest rumors from China are to be believed, Huawei is expected to continue that "tradition" of using in-display sensors for its upcoming Huawei P30 series.

The Huawei P30 series will be the company's first flagship phones for the start of the year, and as such it probably doesn't come as a surprise that it would continue to take advantage of such technology. There was a leak from earlier this month of the alleged Huawei P30 in which there was no external fingerprint sensor to be found, suggesting that Huawei could indeed be continuing to use an in-display sensor, and this report backs it up.

In addition to an in-display sensor, the report also claims that the Huawei P30 will adopt the triple camera setup similar to that of the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, and that the P30 Pro will be featuring the use of a periscope-style rear imaging hardware that is said to be capable of lossless optical zoom.

Zoom seems to be something that quite a few smartphone makers are aiming for this year, where Oppo had hinted that they might have a smartphone with 10x optical zoom in the works. Not much else is known about the P30 or P30 Pro right now, but it's probably safe to assume that it will be using the latest Kirin 980 SoC along with 6-8GB of RAM and run on Android 9.0 Pie.

Source: QQ (via Gadgets 360)



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Friday, January 25, 2019

Weird Play Store bug is listing a lot of games as being incompatible with devices

When you think about how varied Android devices are in terms of hardware, safe to say that sometimes there are some apps that aren't compatible with certain devices due to hardware or software. Google's Play Store does a pretty good job at telling users which apps are compatible with their phone, but a weird bug has changed that.

Initially reported by Android Police, it appears that a weird bug is affecting the web version of the Play Store, where quite a few games are now being displayed as being incompatible with all devices. The report points to an example of how they recently purchased Alien: Blackout which they managed to download and install, but when they view the listing on the web Play Store, it says it is incompatible and that the app can't be installed via the Play Store's web interface.

Image credit – Android Police

The good news is that this only seems to affects a subset of games, and that other apps don't seem to have been affected. It also seems to be affecting the web Play Store which means that you can still go ahead and download and install games via the Play Store app on your Android device.

There is currently a thread on Reddit in which multiple users are reporting the same bug, and it doesn't seem to be limited to any particular device as users with newer phones, like the Galaxy S9, have been affected as well. So if you do come across this on the web, just use your phone for the time-being. We expect that Google should probably fix this soon enough.

Source: Android Police



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New LG G8 ThinQ renders leave little to the imagination


For the past few years, LG has been releasing flagships at the start of the year around CES and MWC. This year should be no different and we expect that the company will most likely be gracing us with the LG G8 ThinQ, the successor to last year's LG G7. Now thanks to XDA Developers, a new render of the handset has been leaked.

If you're wondering why this render looks familiar, it is because it is similar in design to an earlier set of renders from OnLeaks and 91Mobiles. This at the very least suggests that the rumors are consistent with each other. It also seems to have dispelled earlier rumors that suggested that the phone might have a waterdrop-shaped notch, and actually the bezels are pretty thick at the top and bottom of the phone.

Image credit – XDA Developers

There is a reason for that, at least as far as the top notch is concerned as it appears to be packing more than just a camera. XDA speculates that LG might have included some new hardware that could provide a more robust form of facial recognition, but whether or not it'll be on the same level as Apple's Face ID remains to be seen.

Other rumored features that we have heard that the phone could possess includes a sound-on display, although judging by the holes for the external speakers, we're not sure how true those rumors might be. It's probably best to take these renders with a grain of salt for now, especially since LG exec Ken Hong had called some of the previous images "speculative rendering", but we should find out soon enough.

Source: XDA Developers



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OnePlus 6T users are reporting abnormally-fast battery drain

The OnePlus 6T is one of the best Android devices from 2018. It's generally considered to have impressive battery life, but a handful of OnePlus 6T users on Reddit are reporting a sudden drop in battery performance. According to u/blamfablam, the battery life on his T-Mobile OnePlus 6T has dropped to about half of what he typically gets. He started noticing the issue about a day ago.

While we were ready to dismiss the issue as yet another user who may have unintentionally installed a new app which is draining the battery faster than it should, the post on Reddit is filled with more than two dozen replies from other OnePlus 6T owners who have noticed the same issue over the past few days.

There are a thousand and one reasons why this could be happening. We hope that by sharing this with a broader community might help shed some light on the situation and allow someone to find a solution. If you've noticed inconsistent battery performance on your OnePlus 6T over the past few days, leave us a comment below and share your experience.

Source: Reddit



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Nokia 9 PureView penta-camera smartphone may have finally gotten its official launch date

We have to admit that the resurgence of the Nokia brand caught us by surprise. Since it was acquired by HMD a few years back, Nokia has done everything in its power to regain consumer confidence and churn out some pretty impressive smartphones. While most of its devices have been geared towards the low end of the market, Nokia appears to be changing its focus with the upcoming Nokia 9 PureView smartphone which will feature a penta-camera on the back.

After months of waiting, it finally looks like we have an official launch date for the Nokia PureView 9. Juho Sarvikas, HMD Global's Chief Product Officer announced on Twitter that the company will be hosting a launch event on February 24 at MWC in Barcelona. There were a few rumors circulating that the Nokia 9 PureView would make its debut at the end of January, but it looks like HMD has decided to keep its flagship device under wraps for a few more weeks.

The spec sheet of the Nokia 9 PureView is pretty impressive. A leaked promotional video highlights its Snapdragon 845 SoC, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, an in-display fingerprint sensor and its penta-camera on the back. The phone will also be an Android One device with Android Pie right out of the box. This means that users will get timely security patch updates and shouldn't have to wait more than a month or two for the latest version of Android once Google makes it available. Add in the fact that the phone's price should sit between 749-799 euros, the Nokia PureView 9 appears destined for success. 

Based on what we've seen so far, do you think the Nokia PureView 9 will be an adequate alternative to flagship devices from Samsung, LG and Sony?

 



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Rumor claims Samsung Galaxy S10+ battery to be larger than previously expected

Since the Samsung Galaxy Note 7's battery debacle, the company has been playing it safe when it comes to battery capacity in its phones. Battery life in its Note devices has been scaled back from what it used to be and even the Galaxy S line seems to have suffered a bit last year. The standard Samsung Galaxy S10 is expected to have a 3500 mAh battery, but a new rumor claims that the Galaxy S10+ will have a 4100 mAh battery cell which is 100 mAh more than the previous rumor.

For those keeping track, that's a 17% increase over last year's Galax yS9+ which only had a 3500 mAh battery. Granted, this year's Samsung Galaxy S10+ is expected to have a larger 6.4-inch display, but the bump in battery capacity should more than compensate for the added battery consumption of the larger AMOLED panel. Keep in mind that the Samsung Galaxy S10+ will be running a more efficient Snapdragon 855, so users should be able to get at least an extra 2-3 hours of use on a single charge.

While it's nice to see that battery life shouldn't be a concern for those who will be buying the Samsung Galaxy S10+, the 3500 mAh cell inside the regular S10 is a bit disappointing considering the size of its display. In our opinion, any device with a 6-inch display should be packing at least a 3800 mAh battery to ensure that it'll deliver at least 14 hours of use in a day.

 



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The Alcatel ONYX delivers mid-range specs to Cricket customers for only $120

In an age when smartphone prices are constantly going up, Alcatel has somehow managed to release a smartphone that costs less than a pair of wireless headphones. Say hello to the new Alcatel ONYX, a $120 mid-range smartphone which is available exclusively from Cricket Wireless. The Alcatel ONYX is pretty similar to the Alcatel 1X 2019 which was unveiled at CES 2019, but the phone does come with 32GB of storage rather than 16GB. 

Other specifications include a MediaTek MT6739ww Quad-Core (4 x 1.5GHz) SoC, 2GB of RAM, a 5.5-inch 18:9 1440×720 display protected by Dragontrail 2.5D glass, 13MP main camera with a f/2.0 lens, a secondary 2MP depth sensor for a digital bokeh mode, 5MP front-facing camera with an f/2.4 lens, 3,000 mAh battery, read-mounted fingerprint sensor, NFC, 3.5mm headphone jack, FM radio and an old fashioned microUSB 2.0 port to charge the phone.

While the Alcatel ONYX may not be the phone for you, it's certainly a great buy when you consider that most other phones in this category cost $180 or more.

We actually got a chance to play around with the ONYX a bit at CES (sorry, the device was under embargo until now). The phone's soft-touch polycarbonate finish is reminiscent of older HTC smartphones and the overall design is quite nice when you consider how much Alcatel is charging for it. The ONYX even has a decent rear camera and we expect battery life to be phenomenal considering that the MT6739ww chipset is extremely efficient.

The Alcatel ONYX is available starting today, so make sure you stop by your local Cricket Wireless shop to get a feel for it in person. Who knows, it could be the perfect starter smartphone for your kids!

Source: Cricket



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Thursday, January 24, 2019

Alien: Blackout is the scariest smartphone game we’ve seen in a long time

When we think about games for your smartphone, we typically imagine casual fun titles like Clash Royal, Uncharted or even Fortnite Mobile. All of these titles are quite entertaining and allow you to sit back for a few minutes or even an hour of fun. Aline: Blackout is a beast of its own. The developer describes it as a "fear-inducing horror" title which "will test the inner nerves of both Alien and horror fans alike, where life can end in an instant. "

Sound like fun!

The game is a bit different than most other titles you're probably played since you play the game from secure communications center as you watch the people you're communicating with fight for their lives through the video feeds scattered throughout the station. While your character isn't technically in any danger (at least that we know of), the fear and horror portrayed by the characters you are trying to help can be felt and every decision you make has an impact on whether they live or die.

"Using only the space station's limited power supply to operate a holographic map, surveillance cameras, and motion tracker, attempt to remain hidden and protect your crew from the perfect hunter in seven fear-inducing levels."

Alien: Blackout is available through the Play Store for Android devices for $4.99, but iOS users can pick it up as well through the App Store.

Source: Googe Play Store



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Vivo’s Apex 5G concept takes smartphone design to the next level

Vivo might not necessarily be a brand of smartphone that you think of when you want to buy an Android phone, but you might want to rethink that. The company has recently taken the wraps off their latest smartphone concept dubbed the Apex 5G. If you're wondering why the name sounds familiar, it is because back in 2018 the company launched the Apex smartphone concept, so this seems to be the follow up to that.

Based on its design, it is in line with some of the earlier leaks in which the phone is sporting some serious curves. The use of a shiny material makes it looks spaceship-like in nature. Some of the renders even suggest that the material used can actually repel water. What's interesting is that the phone also does not seem to be sporting any kind of notch or a hole-in display, and similar to the recently announced Meizu Zero, the phone has done away with any and all buttons and ports.

Vivo is also boasting that this phone will use a full-display fingerprint scanner, which means that you could put your finger anywhere on the screen and you should be authenticated. This is a massive step up to what Xiaomi had previously shared where they stated that they were working on a larger in-display fingerprint scanner.

Other specs of the Vivo Apex 5G include the use of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset, 12GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, a 12MP + 13MP dual camera setup on the back, and as its name implies, yes, there will be support for 5G. The phone is currently a concept which means these specs might not necessarily make the final cut, presumably depending on how much it would cost, but we are definitely interested from a design standpoint.

Source: Engadget



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Huawei keeping up with security patches, January update launches with Super Macro Mode

Huawei is not known for its particularly fast updates or dedication to security patches, but the company has been doing better with the Mate 20 Pro. Security updates haven't been instant or monthly, but a current update every two months isn't so bad. The company is now rolling out the latest update, version 9.0.01.83, featuring the January 2019 security patch, bringing it in line with Google's Pixel devices.

Also included with the update is a dedicated Super Macro Mode (this mode was automatically enabled before if you had Smart AI on, but now you can manually trigger it), an improved zoom button, improved gesture navigation, and various other fixes.

It's good to see Huawei focusing on keeping their flagship up to date, but we can only hope that they keep it up. The update is now rolling out so if you have a Mate 20 Pro, keep an eye for its arrival!

Source: XDA-Developers



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DEAL: Buy Amazon’s Echo Dot Kids Edition, get a second one for free!

Amazon is offering a great deal on the Echo Dot Kids Edition, giving you a chance to pick up two for the price of one. The normal price for one is $69.99, significantly more expensive than a standard Echo Dot, but it gives you some perks that make up for the price.

That extra $20 gives you a kid-friendly case in one of three colors,  a two-year warranty covering damage you're at fault for (kids can be rough on tech), and a year of FreeTime Unlimited. This is a service that offers audiobooks, ad-free radio stations and playlists, and more to entertain your child. After a year this will cost you $2.99 a month plus tax, but you'll get a whole year free.

You can pick two of them up right now, add them both to your cart and you should see the price drop down to $69.99 at checkout. And if you're not into the kids version, you can also pick up a standard 3rd gen Echo Dot on sale for $29.99, though it won't ship until after February 10th by this point. Hit the links if you want to grab one during the sale!



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Apple hires senior Samsung exec to help with battery development

Apple has been pushing hard to remove suppliers from the equation. While suppliers are likely always going to be part of building Apple's products, the company has done a great job building some critical parts in-house.

The latest part may be batteries, as the company has hired the former Senior VP of next generation batteries and materials innovation at Samsung SDI, Samsung's battery subsidiary. His new position is global head of battery developments and it's not hard to guess that Apple is working on improving battery tech and maybe even moving it in-house.

It's easy to make an exploding battery joke after the Galaxy Note 7 had issues venting and igniting, but netting a four year veteran of Samsung SDI will likely benefit Apple.

Source: Bloomberg
Via: Engadget



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First 5G-enabled smartphone from LG and Huawei to be unveiled next month

5G networks are still in their infancy, but it looks like consumers will be able to get their hands on 5G-enabled smartphone earlier than we expected. While Samsung, OnePlus and a few other manufacturers aren't expected to unveil their first 5G devices until Q2 or even Q3 of this year, LG and Huawei are nearly ready to show the world first very first 5G devices.

During Huawei's pre-MWC briefing, the company revealed that it will show off a 5G device at MWC which will be using the Kirin 980 and its new Belong 5000 5G radio. The device in question will also sport a foldable display. Huawei announced last year that the company was working on a smartphone with a foldable display, Richard Yu, the company's CEO said in October that the device still needed a lot of work. It's unclear if the 5G smartphone and its foldable display will be a working product or simply a prototype shown off behind glass by the time the doors open at MWC at the end of next month.

As for LG, the issued a press release which gives up some indication as to what we can expect from its first 5G smartphone. The unnamed device will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC and will have a 4,000 battery. LG says that those two components are key to delivering a great 5G experience since the 45% improvement in performance of the Snapdragon 855 is necessary to handle the increased 5G speeds and that the massive 4,000 mAh battery will allow users to use the increased speeds without having to worry about battery life.

LG also showed off pretty large vapor chamber which will be inside its first 5G smartphone. The LG V40 did use a heat pipe inside the LG V40 to help keep the device cool, but it looks like that simple design simply won't be enough to keep LG's first 5G smartphone from overheating.

Source: Android Police, LG via Engadget



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DEAL: pick up AUKEY’s innovative rotating USB Wall Charger for 50% off

There's a good chance that you've accumulated a collection of smartphone chargers over the years, but we can guarantee you that you don't have one that's as cool as the AUKEY PA-X07 which features an integrated power outlet and three USB ports for charging your electronics. One of those USB ports features Quick Charge 3.0 so you'll be able to charge up your supported smartphones or tablets 2-3 times faster than if you were using a regular USB charger.

But the innovative feature of the AUKEY PA-X07 is its rotating body which allows it to swivel up to 180-degrees so that its body doesn't block access to adjacent outlets on the wall or power strip. The charger typically costs $26, but AUKEY will cut the price in half when you buy it using the AUKEYX03 coupon code!

If you're looking for a wireless charger for your smartphone, the AUKEY LC-C6 Qi Wireless Charger is also on sale for $12.99 when using coupon code 9TYDSJF2 at checkout.

Source: Amazon



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Pictures of real Samsung Galaxy S10, S10+ reveal all their design secrets

There's been no shortage of Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy SD10+ leaks over the past few weeks, but this is the first time that we've seen photos of what the final design of the two phones. Renders and blurry images have given us a good idea of what the two smartphones would look like, but this new collection of photos leaves no room for the imagination, revealing every last secret of the final design Samsung will be going with.

As you might expect the hole punch cutout in the displays on both phones are the most notable design changes when compared the Galaxy S9 variants from last year. The larger Samsung Galaxy S10+ features a double-wide cutout in its display in the top right corner which allows for its dual front-facing cameras to capture images without any obstruction. The regular Galaxy S10 has a hole punch cutout in the same corner, but since the phone only has a single camera up front, the hole punch cutout resembles that of the Honor View 20.

You'll likely also notice that the curved edges of the display are a bit more subtle than they've been in the past. Every year, Samsung appears to be reducing the curve radius. They've likely realized that a display that curves over the edge of the phone isn't as useful as they initially thought.

The frames on both devices appear to be metal with a glass back panel as we've seen on previous Samsung Galaxy devices. The photos show that both the Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10+ will have a triple camera module on the back which is flanked by an LED flash and the usual heart rate sensor that Samsung has been including on its flagship smartphone for years.

Noticeably missing on the back panel is the fingerprint sensor. The Samsung Galaxy S10 and its larger sibling are rumored to be the first devices to market with Qualcomm's in-display, ultrasonic fingerprint sensor which should be a lot faster and more accurate than the in-display sensors we've seen on devices like the OnePlus 6T. And lastly, the Samsung Galaxy S10 and the S10+ are shown to have a 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom edge, right next to the USB-C charging port and bottom speaker grill.

Needless to say, there's a lot to be excited about with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S10 smartphones. Samsung is expected to unveil its 2019 lineup at a launch event scheduled for February 20, but we're sure that we'll see at least another dozen leaks regarding new features, pricing and the official retail launch date between now and then.

Source: All About Samsung



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What’s new on Netflix in February 2019

Now that we're well into 2019, Netflix will be rewarding up with a great selection of new TV shows and movies in February. A few of the highlights include a stand-up special from Ray Romano, a series based on Dark Horse Comics' The Umbrella Academy, a new series of episodes of Chef's Table, the entire JAWS collection and Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj: Volume 2 which will stream a new episode every Sunday starting on February 10.

As usual, Netflix has pulled together a highlights trailer for the month which we've included below, but you'll also find a complete list of every TV show and movie that will be added to the Netflix catalog organized by release date.

Which upcoming movie or TV show are you looking forward to the most?

February 1

  • About a Boy
  • American Pie
  • American Pie 2
  • American Wedding
  • As Good as It Gets
  • Billy Elliot
  • Dear Ex– NETFLIX FILM
  • Final Destination
  • Free Rein: Valentine's Day (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • Hairspray
  • Hostel
  • Jaws
  • Jaws 2
  • Jaws 3
  • Jaws: The Revenge
  • Personal Shopper
  • Pretty in Pink
  • Russian Doll (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • Siempre bruja (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • The Edge of Seventeen (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • Velvet Buzzsaw (Netflix Original, Movie)

February 2

  • Bordertown: Season 2 (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • Romance is a Bonus Book (Streaming Every Saturday) (Netflix Original, TV Show)

February 3

  • Disney's Beverly Hills Chihuahua

February 5

  • Ray Romano: Right Here, Around the Corner (Netflix Original, TV Show)

February 6

  • The Soloist

February 8

  • ¡Nailed It! México (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • El árbol de la sangre (Netflix Original, Movie)
  • High Flying Bird (Netflix Original, Movie)
  • Kevin Hart's Guide to Black History (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • One Day at a Time: Season 3 (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants: Season 2 (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • Unauthorized Living (Netflix Original, TV Show)

February 9

  • The Break: Season 2 (Netflix Original, TV Show)

February 10

  • Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj: Volume 2 (Streaming Every Sunday) (Netflix Original, TV Show)

February 11

  • Flavorful Origins: Chaoshan Cuisine (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • Little Women

February 14

  • Dating Around (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • Ken Jeong: You Complete Me, Ho (Netflix Original, TV Show)

February 15

  • Larry Charles' Dangerous World of Comedy (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • The Breaker Upperers (Netflix Original, Movie)
  • The Dragon Prince: Season 2 (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • The Umbrella Academy (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • Yucatan (Netflix Original, Movie)

February 16

  • Black Sea
  • Studio 54
  • The 40-Year-Old Virgin

February 21

  • The Drug King (Netflix Original, Movie)

February 22

  • Chef's Table: Volume 6 (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • Firebrand (Netflix Original, Movie)
  • GO! Vive a tu manera (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • Paddleton (Netflix Original, Movie)
  • Paris Is Us (Paris est à nous) (Netflix Original, Movie)
  • Rebellion: Season 2 (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • Suburra: Season 2 (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • The Big Family Cooking Showdown: Season 2 (Netflix Original, TV Show)
  • The Photographer of Mauthausen (Netflix Original, Movie)
  • Workin' Moms (Netflix Original, TV Show)

February 25

  • Dolphin Tale 2

February 26

  • Our Idiot Brother

February 27

  • Unsolved: Tupac & Biggie

February 28

  • Jeopardy!: Collection 2
  • The Rebound


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OnePlus parent company hints at foldable phone reveal at MWC 2019

While foldable phones might be associated with Samsung, it seems that quite a few Chinese OEMs have plans to get on that bandwagon as well. Huawei is said to be one of them, Xiaomi has also recently shown off a foldable phone concept, and now it looks like OPPO is teasing that they could also have something in the works.

A post made on OPPO's official Twitter account has hinted that the company could share details about a foldable phone at MWC 2019 which kicks off next month. While the company does not come right out and say it, the caption of their post has certainly helped to fuel speculation.

Previously we have heard rumors that OPPO could be looking into foldable phones as well, and this would not be the first time. There was even a patent filed a couple of years ago that showed that the company was exploring the idea, which could potentially be coming into fruition at MWC 2019.

We expect that 2019 will be filled with quite a few foldable smartphones and it will be interesting to see how the different manufacturers will position these devices. We also don't expect them to come cheap either given that this is new technology, and since it is still unproven, we're not sure how many customers would be willing to shell out potentially close to $2,000.

Either way we will have the details at MWC 2019 where based on OPPO's poster, it should be officially announced on the 23rd of February, 2019.

Source: Twitter



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Meizu reveals the smartphone of the future with no buttons, charging port, SIM card slot

Foldable smartphones are expected to challenge the way we view and use our smartphones, but it seems that Meizu could be looking to challenge us in a very different way with the launch of the Meizu Zero. As its name implies, this phone has zero physical buttons, it does not come with a charging port, and there is no SIM card tray either.

We know, it sounds pretty wild! However there is a reason for its design in which Meizu wanted to make sure that the phone IP68 certified, meaning that it will be able to withstand immersion underwater without worrying about water seeping through any of the ports. It relies on wireless charging to juice it up, and also an e-SIM which does away with the need for a physical SIM card slot.

As for its specs, the Meizu Zero actually packs some pretty decent hardware. It uses last year's Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and a 5.99-inch AMOLED display. There will also be an in-display optical fingerprint scanner which is something we're starting to see more of these days.

It also has some rather nifty features such as pressure-sensitive edges where users can press down on to activate the power or to adjust the volume, which reminds us of the HTC U11 which was actually the first smartphone to introduce such a feature. There is also an under-display sound technology called mSound 2.0 which allows the phone to emit sounds without a external speaker.

Meizu has yet to officially confirm when the phone will be launched or how much it will cost, but it is definitely a very interesting concept.

Source: Lowyat.net



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Wednesday, January 23, 2019

LG teases smartphone with touchless gestures

Touch has primarily been the way we interact with our phones. There are digital assistants where we can use our voice to do certain tasks, but at the end of the day, touch is still very much king. LG wants to challenge that notion because in a teaser video that they uploaded for MWC 2019, the company is teasing that touchless gestures could be the next big thing.

The teaser is rather brief, as you can see for yourself in the video below, but basically it involves a piece of paper, a hand hovering over it, and with a swiping gesture made in the air, words appeared. Presumably this is the concept that LG plans on introducing to one (or some) of their phones at MWC 2019.

The company is largely expected to debut the LG G8 at the event which will serve as one of the company's flagship smartphones for 2019. This is actually a new feature that we have yet to hear about. Previously there were rumors that the LG G8 could feature a 3D camera and a sound-on-display technology, but there was no mention of touchless gestures, so this is actually quite a nice surprise.

It is possible that the 3D camera could be what is used to help pick up on these touchless gestures, but we're speculating here. This is also not the first time that we've seen a company attempt touchless gestures. Back in the day, Sony had a similar-ish feature called "floating touch" which was admittedly rather gimmicky, so hopefully LG can change our minds.



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Pixel 3 versus Honor View 20 camera comparison

The all-new Honor View 20 is probably one of the hottest new smartphones of 2019. Sporting a hole punch cutout for its 25MP front-facing camera and an impressive 48MP sensor on the back, the device can capture some pretty stunning images. But how does it fare when compared to the ruling king of smartphone photography, Google's Pixel 3?

In this smartphone camera comparison, we've matched up the Honor View 20 against the Pixel 3 to see how both devices fare. From a hardware standpoint, the honor View 20 does has a bit of an advantage. The smartphone is equipped with a 48 MP main camera with an f/1.8 lens. It also has a TOF 3D stereo camera which is capable of calculating how long it takes for light to hit the sensor form different objects. The front-facing camera is a beast as well with a 25MP sensor. On the other side, we have the Pixel 3 and its pretty basic 12.2MP camera on the back and 8MP sensors on the front, one of which is paired with a wide-angle lens.

On paper, the Honor View 20 should come out on top, but Google's software may be enough to give it the upper hand. Check out the video and images below to see what the Pixel 3 and Honor View 20 are capable of. Images from the Pixel 3 are on the left and those from the Honor View 02 are on the right. Don't forget to jump down to the comments to let us know which device you'd rather take pictures with.

 



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