OnePlus reassures that Android 9.0 for the OnePlus 3, OnePlus 3T still coming

In the world of Android, when it comes to major Android updates, handset makers typically keep their devices updated for two generations, sometimes three. There are many reasons why a company might choose to not update older devices, such as maybe hardware incompatibility, or maybe not enough resources to dedicate to these older products.

That is one of the main advantages of a company such as OnePlus, where their relatively smaller portfolio and range means that they have the flexibility of keeping older handsets updated, such as the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T where the company has recently confirmed that Android 9.0 is still in the works for these devices.

OnePlus had promised its customers back in 2018 that instead of updating these devices to Android Oreo, they would be skipping one version of Android to focus on bringing Android 9.0 Pie instead. For a set of phones that was released back in 2016 (making them roughly 3 years old), it's actually pretty reassuring to see that the company has not forgotten about them.

According to the post in the OnePlus forums by staff member David Y., he notes that the next update for the phone will come in the form of a security update, and then following that it will be the Android 9.0 Pie update. No specific dates were mentioned, but as we said, if you're still holding onto these phones until today, the Android Pie update could be worth looking forward to as it should breathe some new life into the phones.

Source: OnePlus

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Samsung Galaxy S10+ receiving first software update ahead of shipping

Pre-orders for the Galaxy S10 have been open for a while and begin shipping on March 7, and it seems Samsung is preparing the final software that the public will use with the first update released.

For a company that is notoriously slow with pushing software updates to its devices, Samsung has bundled a number of bug fixes, stability improvements, and some new features in the first software update for the Galaxy S10+.

In addition to enabling the option to remap the Bixby button to launch another app, the update also fixes five critical and a number of high-risk vulnerabilities relevant to the Android OS, with some bugs also fixed that are relevant to One UI.

Samsung Galaxy S10+ update changelog

• The stability of the Camera has been improved.
• The performance of Fingerprint Recognition has been improved.
• Added feature to set the application or function which runs when the Bixby key is pressed.
• February Security Patch
• Instagram Mode

The biggest feature brought by this new update is Instagram Mode, which uses the new Open Camera API. The exclusive feature allows users to upload and share pictures to their Instagram stories directly from the native Samsung Camera app. For those watching the Unpacked live stream, it was something DJ Koh was particularly excited about demoing.

Since the Galaxy S10+ hasn't yet shipped, only those who are lucky enough to have a review unit or early access will get the update and we suspect the update will come pre-installed when the device ships.

Source: SamMobile

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How to send text messages from your computer

Sending and receiving text messages on your mobile device is something we've all done and experienced. There are times, though, when reaching for your phone might not be as convenient. For example, you could be on a call with someone, or you're working on your computer and you don't want to get your phone. This where sending text messages via your computer can come in handy.

Android Messages

You will need:

1. The latest version of Messages on your Android smartphone.
2. A compatible browser on your computer which includes: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
3. An internet connection

To send text messages from your computer:

1. Head on over to the Messages for web website. You will be greeted with a QR code and a set of instructions.
2. You will then need to launch the Messages app on your phone.
3. Tap the three dots and select "Messages for web"
4. It will launch the QR code scanner which you will then point it at your computer screen to scan the QR code displayed in your browser. This will link your smartphone to Messages for web, thus allowing you to send and receive (and also synchronize) your messages from your phone to your computer.

WhatsApp

You will need:

1. The latest version of WhatsApp on your Android smartphone.
2. A compatible browser and/or;
3. The latest version of the WhatsApp for your computer (Windows or Mac).

To send WhatsApp messages from your computer:

1. Head on over to the WhatsApp for web's website or launch the desktop app. You will see a set of instructions and a QR code that you will need to scan.
2. Open WhatsApp on your Android device.
3. Tap the three dots menu and select "WhatsApp Web"
4. A QR code scanner will launch in which you will then scan the QR code displayed on the website, after which WhatsApp on your mobile device should be synchronized with the version of the browser/desktop.

Pushbullet

You will need:

1. The latest version of the Pushbullet app on your phone.
2. Sign up for a Pushbullet account via its website if you haven't done so already.

To send text messages from Pushbullet:

1. Sign into your Pushbullet account by choosing the same service (if you signed up using Google, choose Google).
2. You will then be able to choose between either using Pushbullet directly from its website; via its browser extension (supported by Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Opera); or by downloading its desktop app.
3. Navigate to the SMS tab and you should be good to go.
4. Note that Pushbullet can be used for more than just texting as it will let you send files from your phone to your computer as well, so there's that added advantage to consider.

Bonus Apps

In addition to Android Messages for web, there are several other mobile messengers that also have a desktop counterpart. This is not an exhaustive list and only covers apps that started off as a mobile app before its desktop counterpart was created. This includes:

1. KakaoTalk
2. LINE
3. Telegram
4. WeChat
5. BBM

Note that in some instances, some messenger apps will require that both your phone and computer be connected to the same network, while other apps will simply require you to log into the same account, so your mileage may vary from app to app.

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5 reasons you should root your Android smartphone

Last week we talked about some of the reasons why you shouldn't root your smartphone. While those weren't reasons designed to discourage you from rooting your phone, they are simply a precautionary tale for those who are planning to root their phones and who might need to understand some of the risks involved.

Now if you've read that article and if you think you can take some of the risks and live with some of the downsides to rooting, then here are five reasons why you should root your Android smartphone.

Get tools and features that can't be found in Android

While Google has done a great job with Android over the years, where with every update they are introducing new features and tools that were previously only available to rooted handsets, there are still quite a number of tools that aren't available to users unless they root their devices.

Some of these tools include apps such as the FK Kernel Manager which allows users better control over their phone's hardware, such as CPU frequencies, GPU frequencies, color temperature presets for their displays, and so on. Then there are apps like Adblock Plus which works without root but will work better with root.

There are also automation tools such as Tasker which for the most part does not require root to run but will be more useful and powerful if your device has been rooted.

More comprehensive system backup

Google already allows users to backup their Android devices. Usually what this involves is the backing up of content like your message history, photos and videos, contacts, apps, and so on. In case that isn't enough, rooting will allow users to use backup tools such as Titanium Backup that offers more comprehensive backup features.

This includes the ability to have multiple backups per app, the ability to backup your system settings, control which apps get backed up and what gets backed up, and also schedule weekly or monthly backups, depending on your needs.

Better security and privacy

As we had pointed out in our previous article on why you shouldn't root your Android devices, security is one of the reasons we cited. At the same time, if you know what you're doing and are using the right apps and ROMs, you can actually improve on the security and privacy of your phone.

LineageOS (formerly known as CyanogenMod) is such a ROM where they have a feature called Privacy Guard that gives users better control over individual apps, such as preventing certain apps from being launched at boot, running in the background, and so on.

Keep your older devices updated

Android device manufacturers typically only keep their products updated for two Android generations worth of updates, anything more and you might be considered lucky. That's where rooting and the flashing of custom ROMs comes into play, where depending on the ROM that you're using, it could be updated for three or maybe even four generations worth of Android updates.

This is largely due to the fact that development of ROMs is usually done by the community who don't have investors to answer to and who develop for mostly out of passion. Also sometimes members of the community pick up the slack when someone else drops out. Exactly how long your device stays updated for will also largely depend on its popularity, so if you're using a particularly obscure handset then maybe you won't be as lucky with updates compared to a flagship from a mainstream brand.

Stop using Google's products and services

It is ironic that while Google is responsible for developing Android, they have also made it in such a way that users can potentially download ROMs that would free the user from all of Google's products and services completely. If you're not a fan of how Google collects and uses your data, rooting your phone lets you download and flash a custom ROM that does not use any of Google's products or services.

Granted this could end up being very limiting as it means no access to the Play Store or YouTube, but at the very least the option is there for those who think that they can live without Google's products or services.

Conclusion

Rooting your phone these days isn't quite as common a theme as back in the early day of Android. This is largely thanks to Google who has improved Android leaps and bounds, and also device manufacturers who have realized that their users don't want flashy and overcomplicated UIs, which was one of the main reasons why users rooted their handsets back in the day.

Android has also gotten a lot more customizable in recent years, and the rise in the number of third-party lockscreens and launchers have also made it easier for Android users to customize their handsets without the need for root.

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Everything new coming to Netflix in March 2019

You may not have caught all the new shows and movies Netflix put out in February, but that's not stopping the company from releasing a butt load of new content in March! Netflix is kicking things off with a big push on March 1 with more than 20 new movies and shows for your viewing pleasure. Included in the initial rush you'll find Apollo 13 (one of my personal favorites), Disney's Saving Mr. Banks, The Notebook, Stuart Little and the new Netflix sports documentary Losers.

But the real fun starts later in the month with the debut of season one of The Order, Arrested Development (Season 5 B), The Highwaymen, The Dirt and much, much more. We've embedded a handful of trailers for shows and movies that may not be on your radar yet, but we also encourage you to take a look at Netflix's official teaser video for its March lineup.

Let us know which show or movie you're looking forward to the most this month.

March 1

• A Clockwork Orange
• Apollo 13
• Budapest (France) Netflix Film
• Cricket Fever: Mumbai Indians Netflix Original
• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
• Disney's Saving Mr. Banks
• Emma
• Junebug
• Larva Island (Season 2) Netflix Original
• Losers Netflix Original
• Music and Lyrics
• Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
• Northern Rescue Netflix Original
• River's Edge (Japan) Netflix Film
• Stuart Little
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Netflix Film
• The Hurt Locker
• The Notebook
• Tyson
• Wet Hot American Summer
• Winter's Bone
• Your Son (Spain) Netflix Film

March 2

• Romance is a Bonus Book (Korea) Netflix Original

March 3

• Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (Volume 2) Netflix Original

March 5

• Disney's Christopher Robin

March 6

• Secret City: Under the Eagle (Season 2) Netflix Original

March 7

• Doubt
• The Order Netflix Original

March 8

• After Life Netflix Original
• Bangkok Love Stories: Innocence Netflix Original
• Blue Jasmine
• Formula 1: Drive to Survive Netflix Original
• Hunter X Hunter (Seasons 1-3)
• Immortals Netflix Original
• Juanita Netflix Film
• Lady J (France) Netflix Film
• Shadow Netflix Original
• Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams
• The Jane Austen Book Club
• Walk. Ride. Rodeo. Netflix Film

March 12

• Jimmy Carr: The Best of Ultimate Gold Greatest Hits Netflix Original
• Terrace House: Opening New Doors (Part 6) Netflix Original

March 13

• Triple Frontier Netflix Film

March 15

• A Separation
• Arrested Development (Season 5 B) Netflix Original
• Burn Out (France) Netflix Film
• Dry Martina (Argentina) Netflix Film
• Girl (Belgium) Netflix Film
• If I Hadn't Met You Netflix Original
• Kung Fu Hustle
• Las muñecas de la mafia (Season 2) Netflix Original
• Love, Death & Robots Netflix Original
• Paskal (Malaysia)  Netflix Film
• Queer Eye (Season 3) Netflix Original
• Robozuna (Season 2) Netflix Original
• The Lives of Others
• Turn Up Charlie Netflix Original
• YooHoo to the Rescue Netflix Original

March 16

• Green Door Netflix Original

March 19

• Amy Schumer Growing Netflix Original

March 21

• Antoine Griezmann: The Making of a Legend Netflix Original

March 22

• Carlo & Malik Netflix Original
• Charlie's Colorforms City Netflix Original
• Delhi Crime Netflix Original
• Historia de un crimen: Colosio  Netflix Original
• Mirage (Spain) Netflix Film
• Most Beautiful Thing Netflix Original
• ReMastered: The Miami Showband Massacre  Netflix Original
• Selling Sunset Netflix Original
• The Dirt Netflix Film

March 26

• Nate Bargatze: The Tennessee Kid Netflix Original

March 28

• Ainori Love Wagon: Asian Journey (Season 2) Netflix Original

March 29

• 15 August (India) Netflix Film
• Bayoneta (Mexico) Netflix Film
• Osmosis Netflix Original
• Santa Clarita Diet (Season 3) Netflix Original
• The Highwaymen Netflix Film
• The Legend of Cocaine Island Netflix Original
• Traitors Netflix Original
• Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

March 30

• How to Get Away with Murder (Season 5)

March 31

• El sabor de las margaritas Netflix Original
• The Burial of Kojo
• Trailer Park Boys: The Animated Series Netflix Original

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Nokia PureView 9 heading to the US on March 3 with a special launch price

The Nokia PureView 9 was unveiled at Mobile World Congress this week, finally giving us a close look at its new crazy penta-camera. Despite leaks which showed that the phone would be heading to North America, Nokia only announced pricing and availability of the phone for European markets at its launch event. Fortunately, for those who live on this side of the pond, the Nokia 9 PureView will officially be coming to the US.

Nokia has just announced that the 9 PureView will make its US debut on March 3 for $599. The sad news is that the $599 price point is a launch promotion which will only last through March 10th. Those who decide to purchase the Nokia 9 PureView after that will been to shell out the full $699 retail price for the phone.

Nokia is partnering with Best Buy for its US retail launch, but Amazon and B&H Photo will sell the phone soon after its debut. As of now, Nokia has not announced if Verizon or any other US service provider will be offering the 9 PureView through their distribution channels.

For those unfamiliar with the Nokia 9 PureView's specs, the phone is pretty unique. It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, a 3,260 mAh battery and a 5.99-inch QHD+ OLED notch-less display. It has a single 20MP front-facing camera, but when you flip the phone around the 9 PureView reveals a 5 camera array. Each sensor on the back captures images in 12MP with f/1.8 lenses from Carl Zeiss. Three of the sensors are monochrome, allowing each one to capture 2.9x more light than the two regular RGB sensors. This allows the phone to capture five images at once and then stitch them together to create a simple image with more light and details than you'd get from a single sensor.

On top of all that, the Nokia 9 PureView is also an Android One device which means that the software experience is more Google than Nokia.

We're excited that the Nokia 9 PureView is making its way to the US, but we're more excited to see that the brand is making a comeback globally. What are the chances that you'll be buying a new Nokia device this year?

 

 

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Motorola confirms that their foldable-display smartphone is in the works

Back in January, there was a report from the Wall Street Journal that claimed that Motorola could be looking to revive its iconic RAZR phone with a modern twist by giving it a foldable display. A subsequent patent later gave us an idea of what we might be able to expect from such a device.

Patents and rumors are hardly the best gauges to determine if a product may or may not be coming, but now it seems that we have official confirmation. Speaking to Engadget, Motorola VP of Global Product Dan Dery has essentially (but not explicitly) confirmed that they are indeed working on a foldable smartphone. Dery states that the company has been working on foldables for a long time and have since come up with various iterations.

While Dery did not dive into any specifics, some of the comments he made certainly seems to point towards the design spotted in the patent being a possible contender for the final product. He claims that while the use of displays on the outside like the Huawei Mate X looks good, it could present a problem in terms of durability as it would make it prone to scratches.

"We have been testing a plastic OLED device with plastic film on top. The fact that you're touching [that kind of display] with your nails is scratching it. It has a short life right away; it starts dying the day you unpack it. But it's beautiful. That first day, it's beautiful."

That being said, we have no idea when the device will launch, but according to Dery, Motorola has "no intention of coming later than everybody else in the market," which unfortunately is rather vague.

Souce: Engadget

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Samsung Galaxy Fold video shows why everyone needs a foldable-display smartphone

Foldable devices like the Samsung Galaxy Fold seek to combine the portability of a smartphone with the functionality of a tablet. This creates some very interesting questions as to how we should use them. Should we be treating the different modes as separate from each other, or is there a seamless way to blend them together?

Samsung has recently published a cute infomercial that shows us some of the possible uses of the Galaxy Fold. In the video, some of the interesting uses of the phone include using mapping applications on it. For example, users could launch a mapping application in smartphone mode, but then unfold their handset where the app automatically expands to fill up the entire screen, giving users more context on their location.

Another possible use as demonstrated in the video shows how it can be used for productivity, where you could be on a video call with a colleague where thanks to the larger display, you can not only see them, but you could pull up files like spreadsheets and documents so that you have a better idea of what they could be talking about.

These are just some of the ways Samsung has suggested that we can use the phone. On paper, it does sound fantastic, but as we have said in the past, whether or not this will become a new standard in smartphones or if it could simply be mere novelty still remains to be seen. For now, we reckon that the price tag of $1,980 is a bit too high for most people to take a chance on technology that has yet to be proven.

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OnePlus has no current plans for a foldable-display smartphone

Samsung has launched its foldable smartphone. Huawei has done the same as well. The potential in such devices is great as it could be the game changer that the industry needs where it challenges not just what we think a phone should look like, but how it is used both physically and also in terms of software.

Despite such potential, some companies are holding off on it for now, and one of those companies is OnePlus. In an interview earlier this week with CNET, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau revealed that his company would be passing up on foldable phones for now. It's not that Lau does not see the potential in such devices, but for a company that made a name for themselves by creating affordable phones, the costs of a foldable phone are simply too high. Lau was quoted as saying:

"With this technology, costs are high. But the value to the end user doesn't seem to correlate."

Lau also notes that OnePlus has been exploring foldable phones and see them as a "very much a different product" and that they are also "very interesting". At the end of the day, it boils down to the dollars and cents, where it is simply too rich for the company's tastes. With foldable devices priced (close to) $2,000 and higher, we imagine that it would be hard for OnePlus to justify such price tags to their customers used to paying around $500 for a smartphone.

OnePlus is also not alone in holding off on foldable phones for now. Previously LG had also decided to adopt a "wait and see" approach where they will assess the demand for such devices before committing more resources to it. Even OPPO, who shares the same parent company as OnePlus, has also stated that while they do have a foldable phone prototype, they too will be assessing the demand for such devices before jumping in with both feet.

Source: CNET

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Huawei P30 Pro camera samples show off the phone’s 10x zoom capabilities

Huawei recently made a wise decision to skip on MWC for its upcoming P30 flagship smartphones, choosing instead to focus entirely on themselves at their own event in March. The invite to the event hinted that one of the main features of the handsets would be lossless zoom, a feature of which seems to have been confirmed.

This is according to a series of photos shared on Weibo by Huawei product manager Bruce Lee, where he shared some sample photos of the lossless zoom capabilities of the company's upcoming flagship smartphone. We're not sure if these photos were taken by the P30 or the P30 Pro, but regardless, the ability to retain details while zoomed in looks pretty impressive.

Early rumors of the P30 series claimed that it might have 5x zoom, but now a post from WinFuture.de claims 10x zoom instead. It is possible that 5x zoom could be a feature in the P30 while 10x zoom could be for the P30 Pro, the higher-end of the two models. The post also shared new renders of the upcoming handset where from what we can tell, it seems that Huawei will be sticking with that iridescent finish on the back similar to last year's models.

What makes this particular rumor interesting is that at MWC 2019, Oppo showed off their 10x lossless zoom tech which was mighty impressive, but Huawei's upcoming P30 series could end up being a worthy challenger. We'll definitely need to check the devices out for ourselves to get a better idea, but for now, color us impressed.

Source: Weibo (via Liliputing)

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I’m starting to miss two-year carrier contracts

Guys and gals, I'm exhausted. No, it's not my marathon training, chasing around my six-year-old daughter, or the in-laws that are wearing me out, it's these damn phones. Let me explain.

I am absolutely in love with technology. Before I walk into any situation, I always try to properly outfit myself with the required tech. Going on a camping trip? Better bring the tablet and a big old battery to make sure we stay entertained while it's raining. Going for a walk through downtown? Bring the phone with a really good camera and Otterbox case just in case someone bumps into me while taking pictures. Long car ride? Nintendo Switch, obviously.

You get the point.

Despite being in love with tech and having plenty of it to suit every situation, I'm really getting tired of it. Not because it's boring, slow, or frustrating, but because they cost so damn much these days. Android flagship prices have risen dramatically over the last couple of years and it has killed a lot of excitement I have for tech in general.

When smartphones were just getting their start, it wasn't uncommon to see flagships start between $500 and $650. I remember balking at that price tag when I went to pick up my first iPhone. Sure, I was excited for how it was going to change my life, but $500 out of pocket, hurt. I look back on that now and laugh.

With the introduction of the Apple iPhone X and the Samsung Galaxy Note9, phone manufacturers now have license to charge whatever they want and people will seemingly pay it. There have been studies that consumers are tiring of the high prices, but that didn't stop Samsung from releasing two new premium-priced devices recently. The Samsung Galaxy S10 starts at $899, while the larger Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus starts at $999. Both of these devices have variants that reach well past $1,000. Hell, even the "budget" Samsung Galaxy S10e is $750, or about $200 more than the OnePlus 6T.

All of these ridiculous prices make me long for the days of two-year carrier contracts. Back then, we gave Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or Sprint our $200, agreed to stick with them for a couple of years, and walked out the door with our brand new phone. At the time, it was a great deal. Sure, there were downsides too. If you broke that phone without insurance you were pretty screwed. Want to leave Verizon for AT&T? Pay $350 or so per line.

But are we in any better spot now? We still have de facto two-year contracts through equipment payoff plans, and T-Mobile even stretches these to three-year agreements to lock people in longer. If you want to switch carriers, you better have your phone paid off or you're on the hook with to the carrier for the rest. How is that any different than the situation that we used to be in? And now instead of a $350 penalty per line, it could be upwards of $1,000, or whatever you have left on your payment agreement for that device.

No, I don't like carriers having as much power as they do, but I do long for the days when I wasn't on the hook for a thousand dollars for a device. Sure, there are cheaper devices and mid-range and budget devices are getting better every day. They're a real alternative to paying flagship prices, but I want the latest and greatest. It's just a shame that Android OEMs are more worried about milking every dollar they can out of their customers because they're pricing a lot of people out of the market.

When Motorola released a $500 mid-range phone in the Moto Z lineup the last couple of years, I laughed. I wondered what they were smoking over there in Chicago to charge "almost flagship" prices for a mid-range device. It turns out that Motorola wasn't crazy, they were just ahead of the curve. Now with $1,000 flagships, half the cost for 90% of the phone almost looks sane. And maybe that's the strategy here. Raise prices across the board and consumers really will have no choice if they want a phone that will last a couple of years without being a frustrating mess.

And don't even get me started on software updates.

We do have some great options for budget flagships, but they all have some pretty limiting factors. OnePlus is one of my current favorites, and the 6T is my pick for the best overall phone of 2018. But they're still pretty unknown to most US customers and only sold in stores through T-Mobile. I see big things in the future for OnePlus, but right now they're still not even close to the level of Samsung or Apple. The Huawei View 20 is another fantastic option but with the controversy around the parent company and accusations of spying and corporate espionage, pretty much everyone I know is shying away from them.

Maybe I'm just too old or holding too tightly onto my money but I'm getting pretty frustrated with the current state of things. Looking to the future, I don't think it's out of the question to see a $1,099 or $1,199 Samsung Galaxy Note 10. And really, who knows what Apple is going to do next. As these two companies go, so does the rest of the industry. LG has raised its prices and Huawei isn't that far behind, if at all.

So, my question to you, dear reader, is when does it stop? How much are you willing to pay for a flagship device? $1,000? $1,250? $1,500? Sound off down in the comments, we want to hear what you have to say.

And get off my lawn.

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Is this the Xiaomi Black Shark 2 gaming smartphone?

Last year Xiaomi launched the Black Shark gaming smartphone, and more recently the company had confirmed that a second-gen Black Shark smartphone is in the works. Now thanks to an alleged leaked hands-on image that was shared on Twitter, we have an idea of what the Xiaomi Black Shark 2 gaming smartphone looks like.

To be honest based on what we're seeing, and assuming that it is accurate, we're not too impressed. For the most part, Xiaomi seems to have reused the same design it did on the previous model which features green lines running through its back. The main difference seems to be in its camera where their orientation appears to have been changed.

One lens also seems to be larger than the other, hinting that one of them could be a wide-angle lens. Other than that it looks pretty much identical to its predecessors. Not much is known in terms of specs, but if it is going to be a gaming smartphone in 2019, it will most likely feature the use of the Snapdragon 855 chipset and anywhere between 6-8GB of RAM.

Xiaomi will also most likely continue to feature the use of the "Shark Space" mode that frees up RAM on the device and blocks notifications to ensure a smoother gaming experience.

We're still not sure if gaming smartphones are truly necessary since apart from a few features here and there, they don't feel too different. More recently there has been speculation that the Razer Phone 3 might have been canceled, suggesting that maybe the demand for such devices isn't as hot as one might think.

#Xiaomi #blackshark
Xiaomi Black Shark 2 leak pic.twitter.com/1IPPT8qTgi

— Xiaomishka (@xiaomishka) February 27, 2019

Source: Xiaomishka

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Buying the Samsung Galaxy Fold will be a red carpet experience

At MWC 2019, Samsung announced their foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold. While many are undoubtedly ooh-ing and ah-ing over the foldable display, many are also balking at the price tag of the phone where Samsung has slapped at $1,980 premium on the handset, making it one of the most expensive smartphones to date (that honor goes to Huawei's Mate X).

To justify its hefty price tag, Samsung plans to make the buying process feel like you're purchasing a luxury item. Speaking to The Verge in an interview, Samsung UK's director of product, services, and commercial strategy Kate Beaumont hinted that the phone could be exclusive to certain stores and that they plan to offer up a concierge-like experience when buying it.

"This is a super premium device, and we want to make sure it has a concierge-like service and experience, so it's not going to be on display in all stores. You're not going to see it on the stands, we want to make sure it's a very personal experience. There will be quite intensive aftercare that goes with it as well."

If this sounds familiar, it is because this is a similar approach that Apple had taken in the past with the gold Apple Watch Edition, where it was exclusive to certain high-end departmental stores. Beaumont also confirmed a rumor that we had heard in the past, which is that Samsung will be producing a limited supply of the Galaxy Fold. We can only assume that this is because they are unsure of how well the phone will be received and would rather avoid sitting on a ton of unsold inventory.

In the meantime, if you're trying to decide if you should get the Samsung Galaxy Fold or the Huawei Mate X, you can check out our comparison article here (spoiler alert: the Mate X is our preferred model despite it being more expensive).

Source: The Verge

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The top 5G smartphones and device shown off at MWC 2019

5G was definitely the buzzword of MWC 2019, where handset makers and carriers were talking it up. As was the case with 4G, it'll probably take a while before 5G becomes as ubiquitous, but in the meantime, early adopters who don't mind hopping on the 5G bandwagon, here are all the 5G devices that were announced at the event.

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

In addition to launching the "normal" Samsung Galaxy S10 handsets, Samsung also announced a 5G variant. This is pretty much the best of what Samsung has to offer where in addition to 5G, the phone will also be packing a larger 6.7-inch display, a bigger battery, and a quad camera setup on the back versus the triple camera found on the Galaxy S10+.

Pricing & Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G is set for a release in the first half of 2019. It will be initially exclusive to Verizon but will eventually be released to other carriers. There is no mention of pricing yet.

Samsung Galaxy Fold

The Samsung Galaxy Fold pretty much represents the best of what Samsung has to offer in terms of tech right now. It sports the latest hardware and also a foldable display, and to top it off, there will also be support for 5G.

Pricing & Availability

Samsung plans on launching the Galaxy Fold April 26 where it will be priced starting at $1,980. It is unclear if the 5G variant will be priced higher than the LTE version, so we'll have to wait and see.

LG V50 ThinQ

LG certainly opted for a different approach this year by launching its flagship G-series and V-series at the same time. The main difference between the LG G8 and the LG V50 is that the latter will support 5G. For the most part aside from the design, the larger display, and the secondary screen accessory, it isn't too different from the LG G8. Support for 5G will most likely be its main selling point.

Pricing & Availability

The LG V50 ThinQ will be sold on Sprint and Verizon at launch. Verizon expects to begin carrying the phone this summer, while Sprint has yet to offer up any dates. There is also no mention of pricing at the moment.

HTC 5G Smart Hub

While HTC seems to have passed on announcing any smartphones at MWC, they did announce the HTC Smart Hub which seems to be a mixture of a smart speaker similar to the Google Home Hub and a 5G hotspot. It sports a display that lets users watch videos, and as we said, it also acts as a 5G hotspot that will let you connect other non-5G devices to it to experience 5G speeds.

Pricing & Availability

The HTC 5G Smart Hub will be released in Q2 this year where it will be available for purchase from Sprint.  No word on pricing at the moment, but HTC has cautioned that it will not come cheap as it is aimed at customers who want to own the latest and greatest technology, and who will probably not mind paying for the privilege of being an early adopter.

Huawei Mate X

The Huawei Mate X is the company's take on the foldable smartphone. It packs all the hardware features we might expect from a flagship phone in 2019, a foldable display, and also support for 5G.

Pricing & Availability

The phone is priced at an eye-watering €2,299 which puts it well out of the reach for many. There is no word on whether Huawei will sell the phone stateside, but for those living outside of the US, the Mate X will be going on sale this June in several regions which have yet to be specified.

Huawei Mate 20 X

The Huawei Mate 20 X was launched last year but at MWC, the company announced that they will be relaunching the handset with 5G capabilities. Presumably, this means that the phone could be sporting the use of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset as well, but Huawei was mum on the details.

Pricing & Availability

The company has yet to confirm when the Huawei Mate 20 X with 5G will launch or how much it will cost, but it should be more reasonable than the 5G enabled Huawei Mate X.

ZTE Axon 10 Pro

While ZTE isn't necessarily a name we might be too familiar with in the US, the company has tossed its hat into the 5G ring with the ZTE Axon 10 Pro. This is the company's flagship smartphone and as such, will come with all the trimmings such as a triple camera setup, the use of the Snapdragon 855, and also support for 5G. ZTE is also boasting the use of AI that can automatically adjust the phone's CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage based on the situation at hand.

Pricing & Availability

No mention of pricing, but ZTE claims that the phone will be available in Europe and China in the first half of 2019.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G

Xiaomi announced two smartphones at MWC 2019: the Mi 9 and the Mi Mix 3 5G, with the latter being the company's first 5G smartphone. Both the Mi 9 and Mi Mix 3 5G are flagship handsets and for the most part share similar specs with each other, with the main differences being a slide-out front-facing camera and 5G on the Mi Mix 3.

Pricing & Availability

Xiaomi has partnered with carriers such as Orange, Sunrise, Three, Telefonica, Tim, and Vodafone over in Europe where the phone is expected to launch in May. It is unclear if these carriers will have 5G ready by then, but the phone will have all the necessary parts to make it happen when it does. It will also be priced at €599, making it one of the more affordable 5G smartphones we've seen so far.

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More Android smartphones will get a dedicated Google Assistant button

Android smartphones could begin to get a dedicated button to launch the Google Assistant after an announcement by the company at MWC. OEM's such as LG, Nokia, Xiaomi, TCL and Vivo will take a leaf out of Samsung's book and launch devices with a button that will launch the virtual assistant.

We've already seen the commitment from OEM's to build smartphones with this dedicated button in the form of the LG G8 ThinQ, LG K40, Nokia 3.2, and 4.2, as well as the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G, and Mi 9.

Samsung has included a button its devices since the Galaxy S8 to launch its version of a virtual assistant called Bixby. The company has since opened up the button to be remapped to Google Assistant as it was found to be a pretty handy feature. Google seems to agree and has partnered with various manufacturers to bring a similar button that it expects will see over 100 million devices feature.

The button, with a single tap, will launch Google Assistant, similar to what a long tap on the home button does today. A double tap of the button will bring up the feature of Assistant that provides contextual information based on what is currently on the screen. A long press of the button will launch a walkie talkie feature, which triggers Assistant to listen for longer queries aimed at composing emails.

It is likely that the new dedicated button for Google Assistant will also feature on the upcoming Pixel 4, and hopefully, we see it adopted across the Android platform.

Via: TechCrunch

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OnePlus is making a hard pass on wireless charging

OnePlus is expected to unveil their OnePlus 7 this year and it will represent the company's latest smartphone efforts to date. Unfortunately, it seems that if there is one feature that fans have been asking for that has yet to make an appearance, it would be wireless charging in which OnePlus seems to still be insistent on not including.

Speaking during an interview at MWC 2019, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau cites how the company believes that their wired charging solution is better compared to the "far inferior" wireless charging.

"OnePlus charging is one of the best. Wireless charging is far inferior."

According to Lau, it seems that wireless charging is still not quite at the place OnePlus would like for them to introduce it to their phones. The company is instead working on helping to develop wireless charging technology to help deliver more power to make it charge faster without producing too much heat, but when exactly OnePlus' solution will appear on the market is unclear as Lau himself has stated that he doesn't have a date yet.

It is true that OnePlus does have one of the faster wired charging solutions in the market to date. It is also true that wireless charging in its current state isn't quite as fast as many would like, although companies such as Xiaomi have made some inroads by offering 20W wireless charging support for its recently launched Mi 9.

There are benefits to wireless charging such as not having to plug and unplug your device, but for now, it appears that OnePlus believes that the cons outweigh whatever pros current wireless charging has to offer, so don't expect to see the feature make its way into the OnePlus 7.

Source: CNET

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How to use Google Duo video calling from your computer

Google's Duo video calling app has been around for a few years now and is regarded as being one of the best options for Android if you're looking for a quick and easy video calling platform. It's technically been cross-platform for a while now with the iSO app, but good luck getting your Apple-using friends to install it.

Today, Google expanded its reach with Due by making it available on computers through a web browser. Due is currently compatible with Windows and Mac devices and will work in Chrome, Firefox and Safari. Microsoft Edge isn't currently supported, but we could see that browser added to the list in the future. Similar to the Android and iOS apps, Duo for the web allows you to place and receive voice or video calls, just as long as both users are already registered with Duo.

Follow the instructions below to make or receive a Duo video or voice call from your computer's web browser

How to place a Duo video or voice call from the web on your computer

• Open your web browser (Chrome, Safari or Firefox) and navigate to duo.google.com
• Log into your Google account
• When prompted, select yes to allow Duo to send notifications to your browser
• Select a contact and choose voice or video call

To receive Google Duo calls on your computer, you simply need to have your web browser open. When someone calls you through Duo, a browser notification will appear, allowing you to answer the call through the computer browser. Duo will also ring your phone at the same time, so you will have the option to choose which device you want to answer the voice or video call with.

 

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Light wants to bring its crazy camera tech to future Xiaomi smartphones

It used to be that having a single camera on the back of our phones was good enough, but Light decided that they would kick things up a notch with the Light L16, a phone that packed a whopping 16 cameras on its back. It was not quite the revolution the company had hoped for, but it certainly sparked something.

The company has recently announced that they will be entering into a partnership with Chinese smartphone maker (and ranked number four in the world) Xiaomi, where they will be jointly developing "new imaging solutions for smartphones". If this is what we think it is, don't be surprised to see future Xiaomi handsets packing more than a triple camera on its back. According to Zhu Dan, VP, smartphone division, GM of camera department, Xiaomi:

"We are thrilled to partner with Light to leverage their advanced imaging solutions for our future devices. Xiaomi works tirelessly to remain at the forefront of smartphone innovation, and perfecting smartphone photography is a key focus for us. We are excited to work on devices using Light's technology so our users can produce even more amazing photos."

Xiaomi is not the only company that Light has partnered with so far. The company had previously worked with HMD Global on the Nokia 9 PureView with its penta-camera array. Unfortunately, based on our brief hands-on, it was rather disappointing. The rep at MWC attempted to pass it off as an "R&D project", but hopefully its release will see the kinks ironed out.

In the meantime, Xiaomi has launched the Mi 9 at MWC in Barcelona whose camera actually surprised us in a good way.

Source: Light

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5 reasons you should buy the Huawei Mate X over the Samsung Galaxy Fold

In the space of a week, the world now has two foldable smartphones. Both Samsung and Huawei have entered a market that seemed like a futuristic dream with the Galaxy Fold and Mate X, respectively.

While the devices share a common theme of foldable displays to reveal a larger screen, that's about where the similarities end. The Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X are two very different implementations of a folding phone, and here are 5 reasons why we think Huawei has taken the lead over Samsung.

No notch

In order to have a camera on the larger screen when the device is unfolded, Samsung has created what can only be described as the largest notch every produced. The off-center cut-out would appear to make watching a full-screen video an unnecessary obstacle. This has to be caveated with the notion that we've not had hands-on with the Samsung Fold, but the obtrusion suggests the experience will be worse than current notches.

The Huawei Mate X, on the other hand, has a notch-less display because Huawei decided that to take selfies, one would use one of the existing cameras on the other side of the device in folded mode. This is a much better implementation and means the Mate X has a better display experience.

Full-screen displays

Because of the lack of a notch on the Huawei Mate X, the device achieves a full-screen 8-inch unfolded display at a resolution of 2480 x 2200, compared to the Galaxy Fold's 7.3-inch 1536 x 2152 display. The display on the Mate X is much more aligned to what you would expect from a foldable screen experience for immersive media consumption.

Folding design

The way in which the two devices fold is the area in which the Mate X and Galaxy Fold differ most. Samsung opted for, what looks like, a very sturdy mechanical mechanism that locks in place, much like a laptop hinge. This means that the Galaxy X folds inwards like a book, which means that the two screens never actually touch and rest with a small gap between the screens at the hinge. The Mate X folds the other way, truly bending the display in half. This creates an actual foldable display but creates a very real concern for the longevity of the screen folding in half to create creases, whereas the Galaxy X doesn't fold the display directly. However, as far as the implementation of a foldable display goes, assuming Huawei have addresses the durability concerns, the Mate X does it in a way more consistent to what is expected with a foldable smartphone.

Bigger battery

More displays mean a larger drain on the battery, so the larger capacity on the Mate X will help that screen on time. The difference is minimal, but the Galaxy Fold has a 4380mAh battery, while the Mate X has a 4500mAh battery. Also, the Galaxy Fold technically has three displays to power, whereas the Mate X has a larger but single screen, so arguably will draw less power.

Design

While both foldable smartphones feel like beta devices that will naturally mature as the years' progress, when compared directly, the Mate X is more consistent with how a device of this type should look. The slimmer profile of 10.8mm when folded compared to the 17mm of the Galaxy Fold would suggest the Mate X is much easier and pleasant to hold. Huawei also seems to have put more thought into how a foldable device should be used, providing a superior media experience with the larger display and omitting the camera in favor of the hardware on the back of the device.

Roundup

The launch of the Mate X showed that Samsung hasn't got the market cornered, and while the Galaxy Fold is an incredible showcase of engineering, the Mate X definitely will give it a run for its money. As mentioned, both devices are nothing more than beta releases for the company to claim it was first to market, and I wouldn't recommend running out to buy either at well over $2000 a piece, but it gives a good insight into where companies are going, and I'm excited.

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Xperia 10, 10 Plus and 1 first impressions: one screen ratio to rule them all

When I think Sony, I think Bravia. I think OLED rich color TVs and cinematic sound even thousands of colorful bouncy balls in San Francisco. But in 2019 I wouldn't have necessarily thought, mobile phones. My last Sony device was the Sony Ericsson W810i, the World's first Walkman phone. It was the first product to combine a mobile phone, a high-quality digital music player with up to 30 hours' battery life, and a 2 Megapixel camera. All of this was packaged in a slim, lightweight device (for the time) with an ultra-stylish design. It was one of my first proper camera phones. I also got dumped by text message in 2007 on that thing, ah memories!

Memories fade, but today I had a welcome blast from the past. Sony seems to have content creators and cinematographers at the forefront of their new 21:9 aspect ratio displays. Yes, you heard right, 21:9 across the range of new Xperia handsets. The 10, 10 plus and the higher end Xperia 1.

We'll delve into the specs of the handsets in a more in-depth post, but in the meantime here are my initial thoughts on the new Xperia range.

Sony introduces the world to its 21:9 smartphone cinematic display

The Xperia 10 is unsurprisingly the 10 plus's smaller counterpart. From the outset, the device appears tall, very tall! The matte tactile body feels great in the hand and the software is not laggy or sluggish. Everything works as it should. The sound is pretty crisp and the video playback appears quite smooth. The screens are vibrant as you'd expect from a Sony handset. Dual rear camera arrays on both flash and subtle NFC logo.

Not much changes from the outside with the 10 Plus, just an all-important extra half inch in height and a lovely brushed aluminum back. Both the 10 and 10 Plus are nice and light, leaving no fatigue in my hands during the 20 mins of intense playing around.

Next up is the Xperia 1, very different in comparison to its siblings. It's Glass sandwich, with a triple camera on the back, a gorgeous 21:9 cinematic 4K display. During the demo there was a side-by-side comparison between Sony's Xperia 1 and its Bravia TV range, showing how close the two are tuned. What really had me enthusiastic to learn about the Xperia 1 was the sheer amount of R&D and attention to detail that Sony has put into this new device. I got the sense that they want everything to be perfect before it goes on sale.

It has the potential to be a creator-centric masterclass from Sony, one of the world's leading creative entertainment company. Think of this as your one-stop-shop "Pocket Studio." Everything about this device screams "Make great things! and tell them you did it on a Sony Xperia 1!"

Sony Xperia 10 & 10 Plus camera test

The results of the Xperia 1's Eye Auto Focus and Studio Modes were really impressive and gaming was also a prominent part of the pitch.  I'm not a gamer in any sense of the term, but the cinematic screen felt like it went on forever when held in the horizontal plane. My lumpy thumbs didn't get in the way of the screen and the gameplay felt very natural with the ultra-wide display.

The sound was loud and punchy with the inclusion of a haptic bass engine that you can adjust on the screen along side the volume slider. There was some sound distorted at full volume and full bass, but i won't hold it against them, it's not final software and there is quite a way to go before they get that cinematic sound perfected.

I was not allowed to use that camera since the software isn't ready. In fact, all demo units were locked to a background with no icons or menus. Disappointing? Yes. Understandable? Of course. I'm just hoping to get the opportunity to test this one out when it's ready.

All in all, I was pleasantly surprised with the Xperia 10 and 10 plus and really impressed with the Xperia 1 on paper. I hope everything works out for Sony on this one since it could change the game for the next generation of content creators amd cinematographers.

 

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Sony Xperia 10 & 10 Plus camera test: good, but not great

Sony showed up at Mobile World Congress with three new phones, the Xperia 1, Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus. While the Sony Xperia 1 is the flagship device of the company's 2019 lineup, the phone wasn't running final software at the show. We did get a chance to play around with the Sony Xperia 10 and 10 Plus for a bit, so we snapped a few pictures and recorded some video clips to see what the quality is like.

The camera specifications were pretty simple by today's standards. The Sony Xperia 10 has a dual-camera setup featuring a 13MP main sensor that's paired with an f/2.0, 27mm lens, a 5MP depth sensor for portrait shots and then an 8MP selfie camera which has an f/2.0, 24mm lens. The Sony Xperia 10 Plus has the same selfie camera, but its dual-camera setup on the back has an upgraded 12MP sensor with an f/1.8, 27mm lens and a second 8MP sensor with an f/2.4, 53mm telephoto lens.

The two cameras did deliver several respectable shots in the harsh lighting of the demo room, but the results were a bit lackluster. Check out the embedded video or the gallery below to see the images for yourself and let us know what you think in the comment below.

Sony Xperia X10 Photos

Sony Xperia X10 Plus Photos

 

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The Nubia Alpha wraps a flexible-display smartphone around your wrist

So we've seen foldable smartphones that have the ability to fold in half, but what about a device whose display can be wrapped around your entire wrist? That's what ZTE's Nubia has been working on as the company has since unveiled their latest product: the Nubia Alpha.

This is actually not the first time that Nubia has hinted at their plans for a flexible display device. They unveiled a concept back at IFA 2018 and launched a teaser for it ahead of MWC 2019, and now it looks like it has become a reality. The Alpha is a smartwatch which features a 4-inch 960×192 OLED display where the screen is manufactured by a company called Visionox. They are boasting that this is the largest wearable flexible screen in the industry, which from what we can tell, seems to be a pretty accurate claim.

The Alpha is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 where it will be accompanied by 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, and a 500mAh battery. There will also be Bluetooth, WiFi, and 4G eSIM support, which means that when used together with its own data plan it can run independently of your smartphone, and in theory can also be used to place and make calls. Nubia has even managed to stuff a 5MP camera if you want to take some selfies.

Given that this is a wearable, the Alpha will feature the standard fitness tracking capabilities such as sleep, exercise, and heart rate monitoring. The basic Bluetooth-only model will be sold priced at €449 while the eSIM model will retail for €549 when they are released later this year.

Source: Engadget

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