OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro A Threat to Big Players ?!

24 Mar, 2021

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The OnePlus 9 is the latest flagship from a brand that, despite shifting its phone strategy to compete directly with other premium handsets, had until now kept coming up short in one category: cameras. 

To address this deficiency, OnePlus has partnered with legendary photography company Hasselblad in a three-year plan to improve the photo capabilities of its smartphones. The OnePlus 9 is the first attempt to right the ship, and the improvements are noticeable, with better color fidelity and improved low-light performance. The digital zoom has also been improved, while there are some fun new tricks like the macro-simulating close-range effect on the ultra-wide camera. 

As much as the cameras have changed, the rest of the phone hasn’t: the design is virtually the same, from the placement of the buttons to the display to the size, which is nearly identical to that of its immediate predecessor, the OnePlus 8T, and the OnePlus 8 before that. The display hasn’t changed, either, but there’s no complaining about the sharp 6.55-inch Full HD Plus resolution AMOLED display.

The OnePlus 9 packs the new Snapdragon 888 chipset, and while the 8GB / 128GB or 12GB / 256GB RAM and storage options are the same as for its predecessor, they're on a par with other flagship phones in its price range (most notably, the Samsung S21). What the OnePlus 9 does better is recharge its 4,500mAh battery extremely quickly – from empty to 100% in around half an hour with its Warp Charge 65T charger.

Ultimately, the OnePlus 9 provides great performance and battery life for its price, while shoring up its camera offering, and it all makes for a serious-value package. Sure, the phone inherits a lot from the OnePlus 8T, but with its greatest weakness addressed, the newest affordable flagship makes a strong case to be the best phone at its price tier.

OnePlus 9 price and release date

The OnePlus 9 launched on March 23, and will be available to buy on April 2. In the US, it will be sold by online vendors Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, and on OnePlus.com. Only T-Mobile will carry the phone, though it should work with Verizon and AT&T, although the OnePlus 9 won’t work on the latter’s 5G network  

The OnePlus 9 starts at $729 / £629 for the 8GB of RAM / 128GB of storage model, while bumping that up to 12GB RAM / 256GB storage raises the price to $829 / £729.

Those in the US can't buy the larger storage variant, while in the UK you'll have the option of both. We don't expect OnePlus to sell this smartphone in Australia as it doesn't often bring its phones to that market.

That price makes the OnePlus 9 slightly cheaper than, and competitive with, the Samsung S21, which starts at $799 / £769 / AU$1,249. But it also makes the phone very good value compared to the OnePlus 9 Pro; while it misses out on a couple of key features and flourishes (telephoto lens, 50W wireless charging), it's much more affordable than its pricier sibling, which starts at $969 / £829 . 

The OnePlus 9 comes in three colors: the light-purple Winter Mist with a gradient effect, the light-blue Arctic Sky with matte finish, and the glossy Astral Black.

Design

There’s no getting around it: the OnePlus 9 has a very similar design to its predecessor, the OnePlus 8T, aside from the obviously different camera block. 

It has the same glass-fronted 6.55-inch display and glass back as its predecessor, and the same lock button and signature OnePlus ring/vibrate/silent toggle on the right side and volume rocker button on the left, all of which are in easy reach when you're casually holding the phone. There's also the same USB-C port on the bottom with the speaker to the right, as well as a second speaker out of the earpiece.

There is one difference between the OnePlus 9 and its predecessor: its frame is plastic, not metal. Also, the OnePlus 9 is IP68-rated for dust and water resistance – if you get it from a carrier like T-Mobile, that is; otherwise it's conspicuously unrated, although identical in design, winkingly providing the same protection but without the costly certification.

Inheriting so much from its predecessor isn’t a bad thing: the OnePlus 9 looks much like other flagships in its more affordable tier, like the standard Samsung S21 – that is, the materials are high-quality, but it lacks some of the flourishes of the priciest phones. To wit, both phones have AMOLED displays, but they’re flat, without the 'waterfall' curved edges of their premium siblings.

The OnePlus 9 does have a glass back, unlike the S21’s plastic (or 'glasstic') back, but not all glass is equal: the former phone’s rear doesn’t have the same density and classy feel as the glass backs of other flagships. Tap the back of the OnePlus 9 and it sounds a bit hollow, like plastic backs. This isn’t a major drawback, just something to keep in mind: affordable flagships are made with affordable-flagship materials.

Display

As previously mentioned, the OnePlus 9 has a 6.55-inch AMOLED display, with a Full HD Plus-resolution (2400 x 1080) screen. It produces sharp, vibrant visuals, much like the display on its predecessor. 

The screen is only broken up by a punch-hole in the top-left corner for the front-facing camera. It has an in-screen fingerprint sensor, which we found only read our print reliably when our finger was upright in relation to the phone – don’t be surprised if you have to unlock the phone via face or passcode every so often.

The display has a 120Hz refresh rate, which in practice means a much smoother visual experience when you're browsing apps or scrolling your social feeds. Games that support up to 120fps should also benefit from this feature.

The OnePlus 9 does miss out on a pair of features that are exclusive to the OnePlus 9 Pro. One of these is low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO), a backplate to the display that enables the phone to dynamically set the refresh rate based on what you're doing, dialing it down for low-intensity activities like browsing photos to save battery (a feature first seen in Samsung phones).

The other, Hypertouch, reduces the latency of touch controls by 25-30ms, conceivably improving performance in competitive online games like PUBG; if you're playing on the OnePlus 9 you'll have to rely on your reactions rather than software.

Cameras

The OnePlus 9 has a triple rear camera setup, though you’ll probably only realize that you’re using two of them. The 48MP main camera and 50MP ultra-wide camera are what you’ll use most, while the 2MP monochrome sensor helps with low-light photography, and with black-and-white photos if you set the correct filter.

The big news in the cameras department is OnePlus’ three-year partnership with noted camera brand Hasselblad, with the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro cameras bearing the first fruits of this collaboration. It may be a year (or more) before Hasselblad lenses end up in the company’s phones, though, and its big contribution this time around is in the area of color calibration. As with most tweaks, this is mostly apparent in side-by-side tests, with images showing more vibrant and true-to-life colors.

While we found the color reproduction to be slightly less precise than in images taken on last year's iPhone 12 Pro – still the high-water mark for phone photography in 2021 – the OnePlus 9 unquestionably takes better photos than its predecessors. In side-by-side comparisons (below), the color range is not just more true-to-life, the camera captures more detail in surface textures and shadows. 

This improved color reproduction is evident in images taken with both rear cameras, the 48MP main and 50MP ultra-wide. The latter camera also packs an extra surprise: a specialty macro mode that captures up-close photos that are easily better than those shot on other phones with designated macro lenses, including the OnePlus 8T. It also comes with a freeforming lens, which OnePlus claims corrects barrel distortion – the warping at the sides of images from some ultra-wide cameras – down to 1%, and it appears to work, as we didn’t notice any distortion.

There's also another cute photo mode: tilt-shift, which allows you to keep the center strip of the scene of subject in focus and blur the rest. It's a neat trick, even if it doesn't have too many applications.

There’s also a 16MP front-facing camera that shoots admirable photos, with good color and sharp detail, although these have weirdly narrow dimensions. Portrait selfies are pretty spectacular though, especially given that there's only one camera pointing out of the display.

That’s not all from Hasselblad – the phone’s Pro Mode has been customized to resemble the screen on Hasselblad cameras (even up to the yellow shutter button), and a shutter sound has been added that simulates the sound of a 'proper' camera. There aren’t just cosmetic effects though: the Pro Mode has more controls, allowing you to manually adjust ISO, white balance, shutter speed, focus, and more, although tinkering with them one at a time takes a little bit of finagling. Better still, you can save images in the 12-bit raw format for optimum quality and editing flexibility.

The OnePlus 9’s main camera shoots video in 8K 30fps, providing 16x the pixel count of the standard 1080p. The ultra-wide camera can shoot time-lapse videos, and there’s a low-light video option called Nightscape Video 2.0. 

Camera samples

Performance

The OnePlus 9 packs the same top-tier specs as the OnePlus 9 Pro, and aside from an updated chipset, the same RAM and storage options. It’s fast, running games and loading apps without a hitch. 

The OnePlus 9 has a Snapdragon 888 and 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, which puts it on par with the Samsung Galaxy S21, at least on paper. 

In performance benchmarks, it certainly holds its own with a Geekbench 5 multi-core average score of 3654 - outperforming nearly every other Android phone on the market. 

Frustratingly, the OnePlus 9 doesn’t have expandable storage, meaning you’ll have to live with either 128GB or 256GB and rely on the cloud if you run out of room.

The OnePlus 9 runs Android 11, as well as OnePlus’ UI, presenting the usual combination of clean interface and helpful menu features. The OnePlus 9 is a 5G-capable hone, but it doesn’t support mmWave – only mid and sub-6 bands.

Battery

The OnePlus 9 has a 4,500mAh battery, which is substantial, and should get you through the day, though there are other flagship phones with larger batteries. 

The OnePlus 9’s real advantage lies in its charging speeds. You get the Warp Charge 65T charger in the box, which OnePlus CEO Pete Lau claims will charge the phone to 100% in just under half an hour, and also has 15W Qi wireless charging.

In our tests, we found much the same results for wired charging. These wildly fast recharging speeds are partially due to the battery's construction, as the 4,500mAh unit is actually split into two roughly 2,250mAh cells that are charged in parallel by the 65W wired charger. 

It’s a development that debuted in the OnePlus 8T, which recharged from zero to 100% in just under 40 minutes with its Warp Charge 65 charger – the OnePlus 9 shaves nearly 10 minutes off that time with improvements to the power brick, hence the ‘T’ in the Warp Charge 65T name. 

Buy it if…

You want top specs at the most affordable price
The OnePlus 9 packs the best Android specs you can get in its price range right now, and it's a great-value phone.

You want a great photography experience for the price
If you’re hunting for the best Android camera phone at this price, and one that doesn’t skimp on specs (sorry, Google Pixel 5), the OnePlus 9 is worth considering.

You want a phone that charges in super-quick time 
The OnePlus 9’s battery fully charges in under 30 minutes over a cable, and in 45 minutes using wireless charging. If you hate waiting for hours to charge your phone, you'll love the OnePlus 9.

Note:
1. While the IMX789 sensor is 1/1.35" in size with 16:11 aspect ratio, different sensor areas are used based on specific user scenarios – with the effective sensor area up to 1/1.43" when taking photographs.
2. Edge distortion tested internally within OnePlus test laboratory. Test date: March 2, 2021. Low edge distortion achieved using a wider asymmetrical design, with results as low as just 1% edge distortion.
3. The 6.7” display size measurement is measured diagonally from corner to corner.
4. Numbers are theoretical; actual performance may vary.
5. Industry leading visual experience is based on the convergence of multiple innovations, including LTPO display, leading color accuracy, display brightness technology, Color Tone technology, and other advanced technologies.
6. Maximum brightness tested internally.
7. IP68: Data is based on test results using TÜV SÜD based on IEC 60529 with test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. It is not advised to use the product in seawater, at the beach, or the pool. Water and dust resistance may be reduced as device ages. Liquid and dust damage are not covered under warranty.
8. Typical capacity is 4,500 mAh. The battery design incorporates two cells (each rated at 2,250 mAh), allowing Warp Charge to simultaneously charge both cells at the same time for fast charging.
9. Peak charging wattage is 65W.
10. The data comes from the OnePlus test laboratory. Test date: March 6, 2021. Test Environment Standards: Environmental ambient temperature: 25°C ± 1°C. Operating temperature of the phone when charging starts: 25°C ± 1°C. Test process: Charging commences from 1% with official OnePlus Warp Charge 65 charger. The screen stays off during the entire charging process. 15 minutes of charging of OnePlus 9 Pro with Warp Charge 65 from 1% will charge to roughly 65% of battery which can be used for 5.5 hours under OnePlus DoU (Day of Use) model. Actual performance experienced by users may vary based on the specific charging environment conditions.
11. The Warp Charge 65 charger maintains the compatibility for Warp Charge 30T, Warp Charge 30, Dash Charge and also up to 45W PD charging. Actual performance may vary with different devices and software versions.
12. The data comes from the OnePlus test laboratory. Test date: March 6, 2021. Test Environment Standards: Environmental ambient temperature: 25°C ± 1°C. Operating temperature of the phone when charging starts: 25°C ± 1°C. Test process: Charging commences from 1% with official OnePlus Wireless Warp Charger. The screen stays off during the entire charging process. On average, 30 minutes of wireless charging of OnePlus 9 Pro with official OnePlus Wireless Warp Charger from 1% will charge to roughly 70% of battery which can be used for 5.5 hours under OnePlus DoU (Day of Use) model. Actual performance experienced by users may vary based on the specific charging environment conditions.
13. The data comes from the OnePlus test laboratory. Test date: March 6, 2021. Test Environment Standards: Environmental ambient temperature: 25°C ± 1°C. Operating temperature of the phone when charging starts: 25°C ± 1°C. Test process: Charging commences from 1% with official OnePlus Warp Charge 65 charger. The screen stays off during the entire charging process. The OnePlus 9 Pro with Warp Charge 65 charges from 1-100% in 29 minutes, compared to the OnePlus 8T charging from 1-100% in 39 minutes. This translates to approximately 25% quicker charging despite peak wattage remaining the same at 65W. Actual performance experienced by users may vary based on the specific charging environment conditions.

source: Techradar.com

           : Oneplus.com

           : Twitter.com

           : Samsung.com

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OnePlus Watch only $159 starting price !!!!

24 Mar, 2021

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After countless years of waiting, OnePlus has officially unveiled its first smartwatch. The predictably named OnePlus Watch boasts a sleek round stainless steel body and a 1.39-inch OLED display with 326ppi resolution. The watch comes in a single 46mm size and features sapphire glass protection. The right side also features two buttons for tactile control.

For your workout needs OnePlus Watch offers tracking for over 110 sporting activities including swimming. There’s 5ATM + IP68 water and dust resistance for added reassurance. You also get the standard array of heart rate and blood oxygen saturation tracking as well as sleep and stress monitoring.

In terms of connectivity, OnePlus Watch offers built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. There’s 1GB RAM and 4GB storage (2GB of those available to the user) while the software front is covered by a proprietary RTOS with OnePlus’ Watch OS on top. You’ll be able to interact with notifications, take hands-free calls and control your music playback.

The advertised battery life on the OnePlus Watch is two weeks with normal use. Being a OnePlus device you also get Warp Charge which promises a week’s usage on a 20-minute top-up. Charing is done through a proprietary 2 Pogo pin charger.

The OnePlus Watch comes in silver and black colors and retails for $159/€159/INR 16,999. First sales begin on April 14. OnePlus also teased a Cobalt Limited Edition version which has a golden hue and is set to arrive later this year.

source :gsmarena.com

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Apple iPhone 12 Configuration Summary

15 Sep, 2020

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On the evening of September 8th, Apple officially announced that it will officially hold a new product launch event in the fall at 10 am, September 15th, US Pacific Time 

The latest iPhone is expected , Apple Watch, AirTags and other new hardware products will all appear on the conference site.

 

 

Affected by multiple factors such as the epidemic this year, compared to previous years, Apple's new product launch event this fall will be delayed by about one week. But for now, the delay is not too long.

 

The current market expects that Apple will release four new iPhones at this conference, including two lower-priced 5.4 -inch and 6.1-inch iPhone 12 models, and two 6.1-inch and 6.7 -inch screens. iPhone 12 Pro model.

 

It is worth noting that recent news about the iPhone 12 series have emerged one after another, and the configuration summary information has been overwhelming. 

 

According to known breaking news, the 5.4-inch version of the iPhone 12 will use a full screen with bangs, support Face ID face unlocking, equipped with Apple A14 processor, provide 4+64/128/256GB storage combination, and 12 million pixel selfie camera on the front , Rear dual 12 million pixel camera, built-in 2227 mAh battery. 

 

The 6.1-inch iPhone12 Max uses an OLED screen, provides a 4+64/128/256GB storage combination, and has a built-in 2775 mAh battery.

iPhone12 Pro uses a 6.1-inch Samsung AMOLED screen, provides 6+64/128/256GB storage combination, front 12 million pixel single camera, rear 12 million pixel wide angle + 12 million pixel ultra wide angle + 12 million pixel telephoto + LiDAR laser The radar scanner has a battery capacity of 2815 mAh; as the top flagship iPhone12 Pro Max will provide a 6+64/128/256GB storage combination with a built-in 3687 mAh battery.

According to comprehensive information, the iPhone 12 series will be equipped with a new standard A14 processor, support 5G, and LiDAR for all systems. In addition, the reference prices have been further exposed. The reference prices of iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Max, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max are respectively 699 U.S. dollars, 799 U.S. dollars, 1,049 U.S. dollars, and 1,149 U.S. dollars, which are cheaper than the iPhone 11 series, but The authenticity is in doubt.

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OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro Leak With Stunning Green Color, 5G Support

30 Mar, 2020

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 A lot of tech companies are pulling back in the wake of coronavirus, but it seems that OnePlus won’t be among them. New leaks suggest the company’s OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro smartphones are still launching soon, and we know what sort of specs and design to expect. We’ve got the most information about the OnePlus 8 Pro, which will come in this lovely seafoam green colour. It’ll also have all the latest hardware, as is OnePlus’ custom.
The render of the OnePlus 8 Pro is important for a few reasons. First, it confirms this great green colour, which is much more fun than all those boring black and grey slabs.
The OnePlus branding on the back of the phone is also in-line with the company’s week-old rebranding. That indicates the render is very new. We also get to see the device from every angle — OnePlus has adopted a hole-punch display for the front-facing camera, a change from last year’s motorised slider.
 The OLED panel also has even slimmer bezels than the last-gen phones.
The leak also included full specs for the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro.
As expected, both phones will have a Snapdragon 865 with full 5G support for US carriers.
The Pro will have a 6.78-inch 1440p OLED with a 120Hz refresh rate just like the Galaxy S20. The non-Pro model will have a slightly smaller 6.55-inch 1080p OLED with a 90Hz refresh rate. The phones will also start at 8GB of RAM in the base models, and the Pro will get new LPDDR5 for faster speeds.
Both phones will come with 30W Warp Charge, but the Pro finally adds wireless charging. The spec sheet lists a 30W wireless charging option, which means a proprietary standard. The Pro also gains water-resistance (IP68) for the first time.
In OnePlus’ early years, you could only get its phones unlocked and at full price after getting “invited” to buy one. That was a way to keep production costs low, but now you can just order the phones when they launch. Several US carriers have also started selling its phones. We expect at least a few carriers will offer the OnePlus 8 or OnePlus 8 Pro when the phones launch. As for pricing and date, that’s unclear. The company hasn’t announced anything, but it will surely be an online event.

source: extremetech.com

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U.K. Internet Service Providers Lift Caps on Broadband Data

30 Mar, 2020

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As people around the world shift to remote work and look to the internet for personal communication and entertainment, unlimited access is more important than ever. Now, the U.K. government has reached an agreement with telecommunications companies to lift all data allowance caps on broadband plans to ensure people can continue to use the internet during the pandemic involving coronavirus, officially called COVID-19.

Major British broadband providers including BT/EE, Openreach, Virgin Media, Sky, TalkTalk, O2, Vodafone, Three, Hyperoptic, Gigaclear, and KCOM have all agreed to lift their data caps. The providers have also agreed to consider further actions, such as working with customers who are struggling to pay their bills due to the coronavirus outbreak, offering new affordable packages for both mobile and landline-based internet for those who don’t yet have internet access at home, and providing alternative methods of communication for customers who experience problems with their internet access.

Similar policies have already been implemented in the U.S., where companies like AT&T have halted caps on broadband usage. American senators have also written an open letter urging more ISPs to follow suit and lift their bandwidth restrictions.
Regarding the lifting of data caps in Britain, Melanie Dawes, CEO of British telecom regulator Ofcom, said: “We recognise providers are dealing with unprecedented challenges at the moment. So we welcome them stepping up to protect vulnerable customers, at a time when keeping in touch with our friends and families has never been more important. We’ll continue to work with Government and industry to help make sure people stay connected.”
And Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden emphasised the importance of internet access at home to support social distancing measures while maintaining social connections: “It’s fantastic to see mobile and broadband providers pulling together to do their bit for the national effort by helping customers, particularly the most vulnerable, who may be struggling with bills at this difficult time. It is essential that people stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. This package helps people to stay connected whilst they stay home.”

Broadband caps will be lifted immediately, so if you’re in the U.K. and you have a contract with one of the mentioned providers then you should be able to use the internet without limitations for the foreseeable future.

source: digitaltrends.com

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Government Uses Location Data to Track Coronavirus Outbreak

30 Mar, 2020

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The U.S. government is using cellphone location data to track the movements of people during the outbreak of coronavirus, officially called COVID-19, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
Using data from the mobile advertising industry, government officials including those at the federal and state level, as well as those at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, have been tracking the public’s movements to better understand how coronavirus is spread. One person involved said that there was a plan to create a portal through which officials could easily track location data for up to 500 U.S. cities, which could be used to check whether people are complying with shelter-in-place orders and staying at home.
The data collected does not include any individually identifying information, such as the name of the person or their phone number. Still, there are privacy concerns about whether the government should have access to so much data revealing the exact movements of people within its borders. Some privacy advocates have argued that even if the data is anonymised, it could be used in combination with other data to identify individuals. And while using the data for the purpose of containing a deadly virus is something most people would support, there’s no way of knowing if government officials will continue to use this data for other purposes once the outbreak is more contained.
On the other hand, the data could be invaluable in slowing the spread of coronavirus by showing areas where large numbers of people are still congregating, such as parks or other public spaces. As an example, the data was used to show that large numbers of people in New York were congregating in Prospect Park in Brooklyn; information which was handed over to the local authorities.
Another approach to this issue is to get people to volunteer their location information to coronavirus researchers. This is the approach taken by the developers of Private Kit: Safe Paths, an open-source tracking app that records your location information to track where infected patients might have come into contact with others. The developers of this app emphasised the need for privacy considerations to be seriously considered when using location data in a white paper, Maintaining Personal Privacy in an Epidemic.

source: digitaltrends.com

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'Siri, how do I know if I have the coronavirus?' Apple launches tools for COVID-19 pandemic. Matt Binder

30 Mar, 2020

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iPhone users can now ask Siri for help if they think they may have the coronavirus.

On Friday, Apple announced the launch of its new COVID-19 website and app. Both provide coronavirus resources as well as a screening tool to help people figure out what to do to minimise the spread of the virus. Both are now live, online and in the App Store, respectively.

“The COVID-19 app and website allow users to answer a series of questions around risk factors, recent exposure and symptoms for themselves or a loved one,” explains Apple in a statement. “In turn, they will receive CDC recommendations on next steps, including guidance on social distancing and self-isolating, how to closely monitor symptoms, whether or not a test is recommended at this time, and when to contact a medical provider.”

Users can also know ask Siri, “How do I know if I have coronavirus?” Upon being asked, Apple’s virtual assistant will provide users with resources from the CDC as well as a curated collection of Telehealth apps from the App Store.

 
A screenshot from Apple's coronavirus resource app.
Image: Apple

According to Apple, the site and mobile app were created in partnership with the CDC, the Coronavirus Task Force, and FEMA in order to “make it easy for people across the country to get trusted information and guidance at a time when the US is feeling the heavy burden of COVID-19.”
The basic information on Apple’s site and its app is very similar to the coronavirus resource created by Google that launched earlier this week. However, Apple also offers an interactive screening tool.
It asks users a series of questions concerning any coronavirus-related symptoms they or their loved ones may be experiencing, a simple health history, where they live or work, if they’ve been in contact with anyone who has tested positive, and more. Using the answers, Apple’s tool helps users determine whether they should self-isolate or seek medical help.
The company says all the user data provided in the screening tool is private and secure. Neither the website or the app require a signup or login.
Apple reminds users that these tools are meant to be a quick resource for individuals and are not meant to replace advice from healthcare professionals or state and local health officials.

source: mashable.com

Admin

Turn off your Screen Time notifications for your own good

30 Mar, 2020

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We support you and your screen time, dear reader.
Image: mashable composite
Let me make this incredibly clear *clears throat*:
Turn off your iPhone Screen Time notifications. Go ahead, do it. It's OK.
When every day of coronavirus social distancing feels like a Tuesday on repeat, the weekly iPhone Screen Time alert is one way to know it's actually Sunday. And friends, it's a brutal reality to wake up to when all you wanted to do was make pancakes and finish Tiger King.

Each Sunday morning, your iPhone lights up with a notification. No, it's not a kind-but-worried check-in text from an old friend or an Instagram alert that your mom reacted to your Story with a cartwheel emoji again.
Nope, it's a Screen Time reminder. The reminder that tells you how much time you spent on your phone in the past week and if it's up, down, or the same. Of course, in a time of shelter-in-place orders, self-isolation, and quarantining because of a global pandemic, we're spending a little A LOT more time on our phones.
And you know what? That's totally fine.
An actual “I don’t know who needs to hear this, but”...you can turn off your phone’s Screen Time notifications.

— Josh Gondelman (@joshgondelman) March 29, 2020

Apple rolled out the Screen Time feature in 2018 as part of iOS 12. The feature was meant to help iPhone users be more conscious of the time they spent staring at their black mirror. In 2019, Apple CEO Tim Cook even said, "We don’t want people using their phones all the time." Well, it's 2020, we're not allowed to socialise IRL, so Tim, we're going to be absorbed by our phones at all times.
Moving away from near-constant screen time has been an aggressively debated topic for years, and the guilt that comes with seeing your phone time up 75 percent is very real.
And you're not the only person dealing with an ugh-triggering reaction to that pesky notification.
It's time to turn off the notification and turn off the guilt. Our phones connect us to people we love and miss. Our phones gives us human connections at a safe distance. Our phones are the only link some of us have to other humans (and cute animals).
My screen time went up about 562 percent in the past two weeks. I used my phone to play trivia on Instagram Live with friends from New York to Texas. I called my parents to hear their voices (and remind them to please, please, please stay inside). I downloaded a yoga app that I'll never use. I  recorded a video of New Yorkers clapping for healthcare workers from the safety of my window. I took photos of my toddler dressed like a "butterfly superhero" so one day I can show her all the ways we tried to keep her busy inside. And I mindlessly scrolled through Instagram and Twitter to be reminded of all the people who are out there doing their best, connecting to humanity however they can.
So you know what? If constantly being on your phone is what you need right now, go ahead.
Here's how to turn off your Screen Time notifications, by the way:
* Go to Settings 

* Click on Notifications

* Scroll to "Screen Time"

* Turn it off, baby. Bye bye.


You can always turn it back on after this *gestures to world* is all over.
Image: mashable
Be free of Screen Time notifications, it's the burden we don't need right now.

source: mashable.com

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'iPhone 12' at less risk of late release than future products because of coronavirus

30 Mar, 2020

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A new report into Foxconn's financial situation suggests that it isn't the "iPhone 12" at risk for a later than expected release, but Apple products currently in development for future years will be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak the most.



Line operators at an iPhone production facility in China, photographed in 2018. (Source: Apple)
Following mixed reports claiming that the "iPhone 12" may be delayed by months because of the coronavirus outbreak, a new report backs up the idea that it will launch on schedule —but adds that it's future products that will be delayed.

According to Bloomberg, sources say the forthcoming 5G iPhones will move into mass production this summer after having been developed over several years. It's that years-long development, however, that means future devices will see the impact of the coronavirus.
Bloomberg's report concentrates on the financial situation of iPhone supplier Foxconn, and repeats previous details of how the company has seen profits fall even before the COVID-19 outbreak. This was due to weaker demand for Apple products, and those of other clients, plus the US/China trade tensions.

Apple reportedly accounts for around half of Foxconn's revenue, and the company claims to now be back at full production. It's done so in part by raising signing bonuses for new workers.

Foxconn has previously seen profits rise and fall quite markedly, with a particular rise at the launch of Apple's iPhone X. It also predicted a problematic 2019, to the extent that it undertook drastic cost-saving measures.
Subsequently, the coronavirus has had an immediate impact with the company seeing its biggest revenue drop in seven years because of the outbreak.

source: appleinsider.com

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Foxconn experienced revenue decline even before COVID-19

30 Mar, 2020

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Foxconn hasn't given a reason for the decline.
Photo: Foxconn
Major Apple supplier Foxconn’s net profit plummeted 23.7% in the fourth quarter of 2019, the company has revealed.
While Foxconn has been hit hard by COVID-19, this period actually ends before the extent of the coronavirus became clear. The quarter in question ended December. The earliest known infection of coronavirus occurred on 17 November 2019 in Wuhan, China.
Foxconn’s net profit for the fourth quarter amounted to 47.8 billion new Taiwan dollars ($1.6 billion). In the same quarter one year earlier, Foxconn reported a net profit of $62.6 billion new Taiwan dollars. The company gave no reason for the decline. Revenue for the quarter fell 3.8% to NT$1.74 trillion.

Apple, by comparison, saw its revenue increase 9% in the December quarter to $91.8 billion. iPhone sales increased 8% to almost $56 billion.
Since then, Foxconn has struggled with the coronavirus. In early 2020, it was forced to shutter two of its main iPhone-producing factories in China. When the most critical one reopened, it did so with fewer than 10% of its usual workforce. Foxconn acknowledged that the impact of COVID-19 will likely affect its revenue throughout the year.
Nonetheless, Foxconn seems to be back up and running now. Last week, the manufacturer said that it had hired enough workers at its major Chinese plants to meet seasonal demand for iPhone manufacturing. That appears to be a good sign that labor shortages in China caused by COVID-19 are starting to get back to normal. (Although the recent closure of Chinese movie theaters suggests the country may not be quite out of the woods yet.)

source: cultofmac.com

Admin

The iPhone SE 2 Reportedly Enters Mass Production, iPhone 12 Delayed

30 Mar, 2020

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Companies the world over are scrambling to figure out how to deal with coronavirus and its associated impacts, and Apple is no exception. According to one insider, the company still plans to launch the iPhone SE 2 (rumored to be called the iPhone 9) in upcoming weeks, but that the iPhone 12 debut will be delayed.
Analyst Jon Prosser has published a series of tweets in which he predicts that the iPhone SE 2/iPhone 9 has entered production, that there will be a 5.5-inch version(!) of the phone, and that the iPhone 12 will be delayed until November. Even when products are announced as delayed, these delay dates should themselves be taken speculatively — nobody actually knows if the iPhone 12 will ship in November, any more than we expected to be writing stories about the widespread cancellation of other conferences, product launches, and/or life itself back two months ago.
iPhone 9 has just entered mass production.

A 5.5-inch screen would indicate that Apple is indeed re-using the iPhone 8 body for the new SE 2 family. The iPhone 8 shipped in two flavors, 4.7-inch (standard) and 5.5-inch (8 Plus). It would also imply that Apple has somewhat different ideas about what constitutes an iPhone SE than many of its users do. While the brand has previously been focused on small displays, Apple may position it as a “budget iPhone.”
For those of us who prefer the iPhone SE, however, the 4-inch diagonal display isn’t incidental to the appeal of the phone. I’m willing to move from 4 inches to 4.7 inches, especially since my existing phone isn’t in the best shape these days, but the iPhone 8 was the last Apple device that was even marginally usable in one hand. Every device made after it requires two hands to operate at least some of the time.
This won’t matter as much for the iPhone SE 2, since the 4-inch to 4.7-inch size increase was mostly “paid for” by reducing bezel sizes, but anything larger is going to push the product out of its target demographic, at least in my opinion.
The idea that Apple is going ahead with the launch (or at least, with mass production) in the middle of the coronavirus epidemic is also interesting. It could mean that the company intends something like a staggered real-world launch with the phone debuting in countries once they’ve cleared a certain viral threshold or that Apple intends to sell it entirely online.
As a pipe-cleaner for that kind of strategy, Cupertino would surely rather take the risk with the SE 2 than any kind of flagship iPhone product. The SE 2 isn’t going to be fundamental to Apple’s overall product narrative — it’ll be a lower-end piece of hardware and its performance won’t be viewed as critical to the bottom the line.
If you wanted a paragraph on how Covid-19 is changing the calculation of everything, including how we journalists do our own jobs, the last few paragraphs would be a pretty good example. The current economic situation and pandemic are unknown territory for everyone. Speculating on how the market might respond to a new Apple product is old-hat; speculating on how the market might respond to a new Apple product during a major pandemic is very new. But here’s the thing: These questions are important.
Remember Google Glass? Launched to initial strong coverage, followed by a wave of social revulsion for those charming individuals we collectively nicknamed “Glassholes.” Google wasn’t trying to create that problem for itself when it launched Glass. But failure to pay attention to how the device would be received in social contexts proved a major headache for Google — so much so, Microsoft has followed a completely different strategy for deploying its HoloLens.
Two months ago, the question of when Apple would launch a new budget iPhone was interesting to two groups of people: existing iPhone SE owners who want refreshed hardware, and people who want a cheap iPhone (as opposed to a small iPhone, specifically). Now, the launch of the iPhone 9 will absolutely be treated as a bellwether for the entire industry. While it won’t be as momentous as the launch of the iPhone 12 would be, there’s no doubt people are going to hang on the idea as proof (hopefully) that things are “getting back to normal,” or alternately, that our economy can still function at some minimal level while in total lockdown.
Top image is of the iPhone 8, which technically isn’t an iPhone 9, but is basically as close as we can get right now. The SE 2 is supposedly based on the 8 and should look similar to it.

source: extremetech.com

Admin

What is 5G?

26 Mar, 2020

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5G's arrival is transforming tech. Here's everything you need to know to keep up

Before we explain how 5G works, it’s probably a good idea to explain what 5G is. There are a lot of specifics, which we talk about later in this post, but here’s a quick primer.

5G is the next generation of mobile broadband that will eventually replace, or at least augment, your 4G LTE connection. With 5G, you’ll see exponentially faster download and upload speeds. Latency, or the time it takes devices to communicate with wireless networks, will also drastically decrease.

Spectrum

GSMA/ITU

Unlike LTE, 5G operates on three different spectrum bands. While this may not seem important, it will have a dramatic effect on your everyday use.

Low-band spectrum can also be described as sub 1GHz spectrum. It’s the primary band used by carriers in the U.S. for LTE, and bandwidth is nearly depleted. While low-band spectrum offers great coverage area and wall penetration, there is a big drawback: Peak data speeds will top out around 100Mbps.

T-Mobile is the key player when it comes to low-band spectrum. The carrier picked up a massive amount of 600MHz spectrum at a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction in 2017 and is using it to quickly build out its nationwide 5G network.

Mid-band spectrum provides faster speeds and lower latency than low-band. It does, however, fail to penetrate buildings as effectively as low-band spectrum. Expect peak speeds up to 1Gbps on mid-band spectrum.

Sprint has the majority of unused mid-band spectrum in the U.S. The carrier is using Massive MIMO to improve penetration and coverage area on the mid-band. Massive MIMO groups multiple antennas onto a single box, and at a single cell tower, to create multiple simultaneous beams to different users. Sprint will also use Beamforming to bolster 5G service on the mid-band. This sends a single focused signal to each and every user in the cell, and systems using it monitor each user to make sure they have a consistent signal.

High-band spectrum is what delivers the highest performance for 5G, but with major weaknesses. It is often referred to as mmWave. High-band spectrum can offer peak speeds up to 10Gbps and has extremely low latency. The main drawback of high-band is that it has low coverage area and building penetration is poor.

AT&T, T-Mobile and Verozon are all rolling out high-band spectrum. 5G coverage for the carriers will piggyback off LTE while they work to build out nationwide networks. Since high-band spectrum sacrifices building penetration and coverage area for high speed, it will rely on many small cells. These are low-power base stations that cover small geographic areas and can be combined with beamforming to bolster coverage.

How fast is 5G?

ITU (The International Telecomunication Uni0n)

is a specialized agency at the United Nations that develops technical standards for communication technologies, and it sets the rules for radio spectrum usage and telecommunications interoperability. In 2012, the ITU created a program called "IMT for 2020 and beyond (IMT-2020) to research and establish minimum requirements for 5G. After years of work, the agency created a draft report with 13 minimum requirements for 5G in 2017.

Once the ITU set the minimum requirements for 5G, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a collaboration of telecommunications standards organizations, began work on creating standards for 5G. In December 2017, 3GPP completed its non-standalone ( NSA ) specifications, and in June 2018 it followed up with its stand- alone specifications (SA).

Both  NSA and SA standards share the same specifications, but NSA uses existing LTE networks for rollout while SA will use a next-generation core network. Carriers are starting with the NSA specification, which means you will fall back on 4G LTE in a non-5G environment.

The standards set by 3GPP closely correspond with IMT-2020 performance targets and are somewhat complex, but here’s a general rundown:

Peak data rate: 5G will offer significantly faster data speeds. Peak data rates can hit 20Gbps downlink and 10Gbps uplink per mobile base station. Mind you, that’s not the speed you’d experience with 5G (unless you have a dedicated connection) — it’s the speed shared by all users on the cell.

Real-world speeds: While the peak data rates for 5G sound pretty impressive, actual speeds won’t be the same. The spec calls for user download speeds of 100Mbps and upload speeds of 50Mbps.

Latency: Latency, the time it takes data to travel from one point to another, should be at 4 milliseconds in ideal circumstances, and at 1 millisecond for use cases that demand the utmost speed. Think remote surgeries, for instance.

Efficiency: Radio interfaces should be energy efficient when in use, and drop into low-energy mode when not in use. Ideally, a radio should be able to switch into a low-energy state within 10 milliseconds when no longer in use.

Spectral efficiency: Spectral efficiency “the optimized use of spectrum or bandwidth so that the maximum amount of data can be transmitted with the fewest transmission errors.” 5G should have a slightly improved spectral efficiency over LTE, coming in at 30bits/Hz downlink, and 15 bits/Hz uplink.

Mobility: With 5G, base stations should support movement from 0 to 310 mph. This basically means the base station should work across a range of antenna movements — even on a high-speed train. While it’s easily done on LTE networks, such mobility can be a challenge on new millimeter wave networks.

Connection density: 5G should be able to support many more connected devices than LTE. The standard states 5G should be able to support 1 million connected devices per square kilometre. That’s a huge number, which takes into account the slew of devices that will power the Internet of Things (IoT).

What can 5G do?

Improve broadband

The shift to 5G will undoubtedly change the way we interact with technology on a day-to-day basis, but it’s also an absolute necessity if we want to continue using mobile broadband.

Carriers are running out of LTE capacity in many major metropolitan areas. In some cities, users are already experiencing slowdowns during busy times of the day. 5G adds huge amounts of spectrum in bands that haven’t been used for commercial broadband traffic.

Autonomous vehicles

Expect to see autonomous vehicles rise at the same rate that 5G is deployed across the U.S. In the future, your vehicle will  communicate with other vehicles on the road, provide information to other cars about road conditions, and offer performance information to drivers and automakers. If a car brakes quickly up ahead, yours may learn about it immediately and preemptively brake as well, preventing a collision. This kind of vehicle-to-vehicle communication could ultimately save thousands of lives.

Public safety and infrastructure

5G will allow cities and other municipalities to operate more efficiently. Utility companies will be able easily track usage remotely, sensors can notify public works departments when drains flood or streetlights go out, and municipalities will be able to quickly and inexpensively  install surveillance cameras.

Remote device control

Since 5G has remarkably low latency, remote control of heavy machinery will become a reality. While the primary aim is to reduce risk in hazardous environments, it will also allow technicians with specialised skills to control machinery from anywhere in the world.

Health care

The ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC) component of 5G could fundamentally change health care. Since URLLC reduces 5G latency even further than what you’ll see with enhanced mobile broadband, a world of new possibilities opens up. Expect to see improvements in telemedicine, remote recovery, and physical therapy via AR, precision surgery, and even remote surgery in the coming years.

Remember massive Machine-Type Communications? mMTC will also play a key role in health care. Hospitals can create massive sensor networks to monitor patients, physicians can prescribe smart pills to track compliance, and insurers can even monitor subscribers to determine appropriate treatments and processes.

IoT

One of the most exciting and crucial aspects of 5G is its effect on the Internet of Things. While we currently have sensors that can communicate with each other, they tend to require a lot of resources and are quickly depleting LTE data capacity.

With 5G speeds and low latencies, the IoT will be powered by communications among sensors and smart devices (here’s mMTC again). Compared to current smart devices on the market, mMTC devices will require fewer resources, since huge numbers of these devices can connect to a single base station, making them much more efficient.

Where is 5G now?

So, when should you expect to see 5G in your neighbourhood? Well, it depends on the neighbourhood you live in. Some neighbourhoods already have 5G access — meaning that all you need to take advantage of the blazingly fast speeds is a 5G-enabled smartphone. All of the major U.S. carriers are working furiously to build out 5G networks, yet deployment across the entire country will nonetheless take several years. If you’re interested in seeing if your city has access to 5G.

It’s also worth noting that each carrier has a different 5G rollout strategy. This means your 5G experience may vary greatly depending on your carrier. Here are all the details we currently have concerning each carrier’s deployment plans.

Verizon

Verizon

In its quest to be the first carrier to provide 5G, Verizon began offering pre-standard fixed 5G in homes in October 2018. Verizon’s fixed 5G service is currently available in portions of Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, and Sacramento, California. Since then, however, Verizon has also started rolling out its mobile 5G offering — and so far has brought mobile 5G to dozens of cities around the country, including New York, Los Angeles, and more.

Verizon is rolling out 5G on higher-frequency spectrum known as mmWave (28-39GHz). That means that while Verizon’s 5G will offer blazing-fast speeds when available, it will piggyback off its LTE spectrum for years to come.

As for hardware, Verizon already has a few devices that are available. First up is the 5G version of the Samsung Galaxy S10, but the carrier also supports the 5G Moto Mod for the Moto Z3 and Moto Z4. The carrier also supports the LG V50 ThinQ. And we can’t forget the Inseego Mi-Fi 5G hot spot, featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chip. Many more devices are expected this year.

AT&T

AT&T officially won the race to be the first carrier to roll out true 5G service. In December 2018, the carrier began offering 5G in parts of 9 cities around the country. In 2019, the carrier brought that service to even more cities — and that’s expected to continue into 2020.

At the time, while AT&T’s 5G rollout was pretty comprehensive, it was limited to business customers. Thankfully, that has now changed, and mobile 5G is available to customers in a range cities, including the likes of Los Angeles, San Jose, and more.

Like Verizon, AT&T is rolling out its mobile 5G on mmWave spectrum. In an interview with Urgent Communications, Dave Wolter, assistant vice president of radio technology and strategy for AT&T Labs, offered some insight into what you should expect with the carrier’s 5G service initially. “If you’re in a downtown urban environment — where it’s going to be pretty much line of sight until you go around a corner — that’s one thing … If you have a street lined with trees, that’s going to be a different environment. If you’re in a heavily treed environment, that’s going to be difficult. All of those things are going to impact the kind of range that we can anticipate.”

The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G is available on AT&T too — though currently it’s only worth getting if you’re a business customer. The Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot was also announced by the carrier earlier this year.

T-Mobile

America’s Un-Carrier took a more measured approach. Instead of racing to be first out of the gate, T-Mobile wants to provide a more reliable service with more coverage area.In early 2018, T-Mobile announced it was building out its 5G network in 30 cities. In mid-2019, the company announced that mobile 5G is available in six cities, including parts of Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York. Expect to see T-Mobile 5G in 30 cities in late 2019. Then, before 2020 came, the company switched on its full, nationwide 5G network, which currently relies on low-band frequencies.

The carrier also offers the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G for those who live in areas with 5G and want to take advantage of the new speeds.

T-Mobile is making use of a range of frequency bands for its 5G rollout. While it was initially thought that the carrier would rely mostly on low-band spectrum, T-Mobile is also using mmWave tech, including 39GHz in some cities and more mid-band 28GHz in other areas. T-Mobile is also using 600MHz for a more reliable and stable connection — and the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 5G is the first device to support that 600MHz spectrum.

For fixed 5G, it looks like T-Mobile wants to make some serious waves. In a statement submitted to the FCC, T-Mobile said it projects more than 1.9 million in-home wireless broadband customers by 2021. By 2024, the carrier wants to provide fixed 5G to more than half the ZIP codes in the U.S., and be the nation’s fourth-largest in-home ISP.

Since T-Mobile CEO John Legere has publicly lambasted AT&T and Verizon for launching its 5G with mobile hots spots, it’s a pretty safe bet the carrier doesn’t plan to release its own hot spot, at least not for a while. Instead, T-Mobile is offering the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G to customers.

Sprint

Sprint wasn’t racing to be the first to deploy, but it has finally started deploying its 5G tech. The carrier announced that mobile 5G is available in Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, and Kansas City, Missouri, as well as New York City, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. Additional markets are set to be added in the future.

Sprint will initially launch its 5G network on its extensive mid-band spectrum (2.5 GHz). That’s the same spectrum the carrier uses for its 4G data network, and it plans to use 128-radio massive MIMO equipment on its towers to create a 4G/5G split. Since Sprint is one of the few carriers with lots of extra 2.5GHz spectrum, it can use the excess mid-band to roll out 5G service quickly and relatively inexpensively in larger cities.

When it comes to hardware, Sprint has a few devices on offer. For starters, Sprint offers the LG V50 ThinQ. Sprint also announced a 5G Mobile Smart Hub with HTC, and the carrier also supports the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G.

T-Mobile and Sprint merger

So what happens when T-Mobile and Sprint merge? Well, both companies claim the merger will be good for the economy and the country. The companies also claim that together as the New T-Mobile, it would have the assets and spectrum on multiple bands to become the first nationwide 5G carrier.

While the combined bandwidth of the two companies would almost certainly lead to a faster and more reliable nationwide 5G rollout, there are some issues. For starters, there would be fewer options in the already anemic U.S. carrier market. And that means less competition for both consumers and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs).

With the merger approved now by the FCC, it’s time for the two to become one, stacking all three bands of 5G spectrum to show us how great this actually will be for customers.

What 5G phones are available and should you buy one?

Although 5G will undoubtedly change the way we interact with each other and consume media, the change won’t happen overnight. It will be a few years before 5G is up and running smoothly across the U.S. While it’s ultimately a personal decision, it may be wise to hold off on buying a 5G handset in 2019, especially considering the fact that a slew of manufacturers are expected to release 5G-capable handsets in 2020. In addition to the fact that coverage will likely be very spotty, the hardware will also be first-gen. With the exception of a phone AT&T plans to release at the end of 2019, most of the 5G smartphones that will come in early 2019 will likely have single-band 5G support, rather than hardware than can connect to low-, mid-, and high-spectrum 5G.

Telecom giant Ericsson makes a good argument for waiting on a 5G smartphone. It reports a second generation of 5G chipsets will be announced by the end of 2019, featuring enhanced architecture and lower power consumption. Here’s the list of 5G phones currently out.

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 5G

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

Samsung Galaxy Fold 5G

Samsung Galaxy A90 5G

LG

LG V50 ThinQ

Motorola

Moto Z4 (with 5G Moto Mod)

Moto Z3 (with 5G Moto Mod)

Moto Z2 Force (with 5G Moto Mod, post-Android Pie update and only on Verizon)

OnePlus

OnePlus 7 Pro 5G

OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren

Huawei

Huawei Mate X

Huawei Mate 20 X 5G

Oppo

Oppo Reno 5G

Xiaomi

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G

ZTE

Axon 10 Pro 5G

Nubia X 5G

source: digitaltrends.com





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Coronavirus . Can IBM's Supercomputer Save Us From the Covid -19?

24 Mar, 2020

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Across the world, dozens of research labs and hundreds of researchers are busy actively investigating possible vaccines for the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19. At the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, researchers have recently started using Summit, the world’s most powerful supercomputer, to try and discover drug compounds that might be able to stop the coronavirus from infecting host cells.

In only two days, the work by the IBM-built supercomputer has yielded the discovery of 77 small-molecule drug compounds with the potential to battle COVID-19. It does this by running advanced simulations, as opposed to the traditional “wet lab” approach to drug discovery, which would take years to reach the same point. Not only can Summit help quickly discover possible proteins, it can rank the compounds in order of their potential value for further experimentation. On today’s Digital Trends Live, we spoke to one of the brains behind IBM’s superpowered artificial brain.

“[This compound discovery work is done] by virtue of writing software that’s based on an understanding of chemistry, physics, and so on,”Dave Turek ,vice president of technical computing at IBM Cognitive Systems, told Digital Trends. “That allows them to simulate the behavior of the virus in the presence of a healthy cell. You move away from [the] concept of biology that you think of from your high school days of beakers and pipettes and things like that, to doing everything computationally in a digital world. By virtue of doing that, you can actually explore the science of the virus and potential therapeutic agents much much faster than you could in a … classic kind of laboratory setting.”

To be clear, Summit’s discovery doesn’t mean that a cure or treatment for the current coronavirus pandemic has been discovered. However, these findings can be used as the basis for future studies, as well as provide a framework that traditional wet labs can use to investigate the new compounds. It will be possible to find out if any of them are capable of killing the virus as hoped.

Right now, the number one target for vaccines is, of course, the current coronavirus. But research such as this can be more broadly applicable too

To be clear, Summit’s discovery doesn’t mean that a cure or treatment for the current coronavirus pandemic has been discovered. However, these findings can be used as the basis for future studies, as well as provide a framework that traditional wet labs can use to investigate the new compounds. It will be possible to find out if any of them are capable of killing the virus as hoped.

Right now, the number one target for vaccines is, of course, the current coronavirus. But research such as this can be more broadly applicable too.

The use of A.I. to discover more effective and lower-cost drugs will, in the coming years, lead to breakthroughs in the way that all manner of diseases and conditions are treated. A paper describing the Oak Ridge National Laboratory research was recently published in the jurnal ChemRxiv

source:digitaltrends.com

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iPhone 11 Pro’s stunning cameras deliver ‘computational photography mad science’

11 Sep, 2019

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Apple promises a big performance bump from the square bump housing the multiple cameras on the new iPhone 11 line. But will it be enough to generate a wave of upgrades among users who consider the camera the most important feature?

Given Apple’s artfully crafted presentation, showcasing beautiful work from pro shooters and filmmakers who used prototype iPhones, the response among holdouts could prove seismic.

It’s hard to defend the features in the entry-level iPhone 11, and the high-end iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max, as new. Apple showed off all three models during today’s By Innovation Only event, and the cameras basically stole the show.

The iPhone 11 packs two cameras. The Pro models add a third. With these additions, Apple now seems caught up to Android handsets. Many iPhone competitors already sport three rear-facing cameras (Huawei and Samsung) and great low-light performance (Google’s Pixel 3).

What the photo community will determine in the weeks ahead is whether the new iPhone lineup is once again better than its most ambitious competitors.

Let the side-by-side test shoots begin.

iPhone 11: Powerful and easier on the pocketbook

Camera-wise, the budget-friendly iPhone 11 might offer the best bang for the buck. Starting at $699, the iPhone 11 comes with a camera bump that houses a standard wide-angle lens and new ultra-wide lens. A more immersive camera software interface automatically shows crop marks to preview the field of view from either lens.

The iPhone 11 will run on the same A13 Bionic chips as the Pro models. The chip will deliver faster focusing, finer resolution and more powerful tone mapping (to preserve detail in challenging lighting).

All three 2019 iPhones also will feature what looks to be an impressive Night Mode. It automatically brightens photos and reduces noise, fusing multiple images for the highest-quality shot. With all three, you can engage a new quick-take video feature by holding down the shutter button while recording stills. The iPhone 11 will shoot 4K video and feature handheld cinematic image stabilization.

A new slow-motion function and the front-facing camera will create interesting video selfies that Apple calls “slofies” (groan).

Two handsets ‘worthy’ of Pro label

The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max offer three rear-facing cameras with bright apertures that capture the standard wide, telephoto and ultra-wide shots.

The iPhone Pro models can record nine different images and analyze each pixel individually. (That’s 24 million pixels, according to Schiller.) The end result? The ability to capture seemingly flawless exposures in low light.

Apple brought to the stage director Sean Baker, who made the ground-breaking film Tangerineusing the iPhone 5s and the Filmic app.

During the keynote, Baker showed a short video that demonstrated how the Pro iPhones capture 4K video at 60 frames per second with each camera simultaneously. The new software interface divides the screen to show the view from each camera.

A13 Bionic with Neural Engine

The A13 Bionic’s Neural Engine, found in all three 2019 iPhone models, might be the most impressive of the upgrades. Apple’s Phil Schiller said it enables “computational photography mad science.”

A new Deep Fusion feature, coming this fall via a software update, “uses advanced machine learning to do pixel-by-pixel processing of photos, optimizing for texture, details and noise in every part of the photo,” Apple said in a press release.

source: cultofmac.com

Admin

iPhone’s Portrait mode just keeps getting better

11 Sep, 2019

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Fashion and portrait photographer Richard Avedon produced a legendary body of black-and-white work, much of which involved isolating subjects against a pure, shadowless white backdrop.

He shot many of his photos in a studio, where assistants would carefully position large studio lights. Search this technique online and you will find scores of articles and videos on how to light both subject and background for the Avedon look.

The iPhone now lets you do this with a single finger tap, thanks to Portrait mode advances.

High-Key Mono, which transforms a photo taken anywhere into an Avedon-like masterpiece, is a new setting in Portrait mode introduced Tuesday as part of the camera system on the iPhone 11 line and iOS 13.

Portrait mode started as a software-generated blurred background and a telephoto lens on the iPhone 7 Plus. It is now like working in a growing photo studio, with lots of expensive lights and modifiers to style portraits with a variety of looks.

Each new iPhone and iOS update adds or refines features once considered sophisticated techniques. The devices deliver results previously limited to well-educated and well-funded photo professionals.

Portrait mode puts a photo studio at your disposal

Creating a studio look with smartphone software is still no match for photographic know-how in a real studio. But the growing power of computational photography is yielding some pretty amazing results.

A look at Apple’s Portrait mode starts with improvements made to the depth-of-field controls.

Remember bokeh, the out-of-focus parts of an image that makes the subject pop? Users who bought the more-affordable iPhone XR last year complained they could not apply bokeh to pictures of objects or pets. Portrait mode on its budget-friendly successor, the iPhone 11, now lets users apply the depth control to any photo.

New photo settings in iPhone 11

Apple limited the iPhone XR to three light control settings. All three iPhone 11 models benefit from the same six settings: Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage Mono (black background) and the new High-Key Mono.

High-Key Mono will turn any background all-white and add a contrasty, contoured light as it converts the subject to black and white.

How good it looks will be revealed in the weeks ahead as people get their hands on new iPhones. However, the sample images Apple showed off Tuesday during the By Innovation Only event look stunning.

Of course, professional photographers made the eye-catching demo photos. These pros will search out good light for the subjects to begin with. And, as always with photography, the better the available light, the better the result.

source:cultofmac.com

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iPadOS won’t launch until well after iOS 13

11 Sep, 2019

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iOS 13 will debut next week, but tablet users will have to wait a bit longer for the iPad equivalent. Apple says iPadOS 13 won’t debut until the end of this month.

That launch date suggests that the company will go straight to iOS 13.1.

“iPad OS is an advanced operating system with a new name to recognize the distinctive experience of iPad,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook at a press event yesterday. “Of course iPad iOS builds on the same same foundation as iOS, but as powerful new capabilities and intuitive features that are specific to the large display and versatility of the iPad.”

iPadOS is starting with version 13 to reflect that it’s being forked off iOS 13. Both were announced at WWDC in June, and new beta versions for each debuted in lockstep throughout the summer.

iOS and iPadOS go their separate ways

That synchronicity has come to an end, however. The iOS 13 Golden Master was released to developers yesterday. This is the version that every iPhone user will be able to install on September 19.

iPad developers got iOS 13.1 Developer beta 3 instead. There was no mention of an iPadOS 13 GM. And Apple’s webpage devoted to IOS 13 clearly states “Available 9.30.”

Not coincidentally, the iPhone maker will introduce iOS 13.1 on that same date, Sept. 30. Given that timing, it seems likely that Apple intends to skip iPadOS 13 and start with iOS 13.1.

What to look forward to in iPadOS 13.1

Tablet fans will get some substantial enhancements in the next operating system upgrade, with iPadOS 13 allowing multiple windows to be opened by the same application. There’s also mouse support and full access to external drives. That latter feature is especially useful with the 2018 iPad Pro’s USB-C port.

There are many other improvements coming as well, including Dark Mode.

The 13.1 version offers some features that were originally in version 13 but were taken out early in the beta process, including Shortcuts automations.

source:cultofmac.com

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iPhone 11 gets data speed boost even without 5G modem

11 Sep, 2019

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Complaints about the iPhone 11’s lack of 5G might be a bit overblown.

Despite failing to add 5G modems to the iPhone 11 lineup this year, buyers of the new handsets will still notice a huge improvement in LTE data speeds thanks to new gigabit-class chips that offer faster LTE speeds than ever before.

Apple quickly glossed over the new LTE chip during its keynote and didn’t provide specific stats on the speed improvements. The company’s website says the new LTE chips support up to 30 LTE bands for worldwide roaming. However, internet speed testing service SpeedSmart already got their hands on the test data and found that iPhone 11 LTE speeds are about 13% faster than what you’ll get on the iPhone XS.

Apple quickly glossed over the new LTE chip during its keynote and didn’t provide specific stats on the speed improvements. The company’s website says the new LTE chips support up to 30 LTE bands for worldwide roaming. However, internet speed testing service SpeedSmart already got their hands on the test data and found that iPhone 11 LTE speeds are about 13% faster than what you’ll get on the iPhone XS.

Along with the faster LTE, Apple has also improved WiFi speeds on the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. With the addition of WiFi 6 (802.11ax) support, you can now expect downloads to be up to 38% faster lets you download
up to 38 percent faster.

This will likely be the last year the top-of-the-line iPhones don’t include 5G. After working with Intel on 5G modem technology, Apple struck a deal with Qualcomm earlier this year that will allow the company to use its 5G modems on future iPhones and iPads, with the first wave of 5G Apple products expected to arrive later next year.

source: cultofmac.com

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U1-based Apple Tag could be the biggest thing since Apple Watch

11 Sep, 2019

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 What happened to the Apple Tag? Rumors pointed toward an imminent launch for Apple’s tracking-tile competitor, and what better place to announce it than along with new iPhones? But the iPhone 11 event came and went without the Tag.

Will we still see an Apple Tag this fall? I hope so, because it could be Cupertino’s most important product since the Apple Watch.

Apple Tag and the mysterious U1 chip

The Apple Tag, if that’s its name, is expected to be a small tile, possibly plastic or aluminum, which will show up in iOS 13’s new Find My app. Unlike iPhones and iPads, which only appear at a rough position on the map, the Apple Tag’s location tracking is said to be so accurate that it can show up on an augmented reality view of a room.

This feature sounds pretty impressive, and it comes thanks to Apple’s new U1 chip. Here’s Apple’s own description:Ultra Wideband technology comes to iPhone. The new Apple‑designed U1 chip uses Ultra Wideband technology for spatial awareness — allowing iPhone 11 to precisely locate other U1‑equipped Apple devices. Think GPS at the scale of your living room. So if you want to share a file with someone using AirDrop, just point your iPhone at theirs and they’ll be first on the list.

It seems like a stretch to conceive, develop and manufacture a new chip just so AirDrop works a little better. Far more likely is that the Apple Tags will contain the U1, too. Ultra-wideband radio waves offer some advantages over Bluetooth. One is that you can more accurately measure distance between radios. The other is that it travels easily through walls.

How will Apple Tags be found?

The last part of the puzzle is a new feature in iPhones and iPads running iOS 13. Even when offline (i.e., not connected to the internet), they will constantly ping out Bluetooth signals. These signals get picked up by any passing iOS device, tagged with that device’s location, and forwarded — anonymously — to Apple. (Wired published a great article on how it all works, including Apple’s privacy protections.)

This means that you can find your iPhone, even if it has no internet connection. The updated Find My app uses the hundreds of millions of iPhones around the planet as a giant detector network.

An Apple Tag would almost certainly work the same way. Imagine, you drop your keys in the middle of somewhere like Yosemite National Park. Soon after, a passing hiker (or two, or many more, depending on how remote the spot is) picks up the Bluetooth blip from your Apple Tag. You then receive an alert on your iPhone, and you can see the keys on the map.

You go to retrieve your lost keys. Then, as you get close to the spot, your iPhone makes a direct radio connection with the Tag, and shows it in an augmented reality view. Perhaps you see it hidden in a bush. And remember, this is all without any internet connection from the Tag itself.

Apple trackers will be huge

This is huge. Apple is using the massive worldwide installed base of iPhones to take tracking tiles to an entirely new level. As long as your “lost” device is somewhere near people with iPhones (which is pretty much everywhere there are people), you will never, ever lose anything again. You could literally lose your keys under a bush in the forest, and find them again on a map.

Well, unless the battery runs out. But this is a compelling pitch. And what if Apple licenses this tech to be used in other products? No need to tag your wallet, when it already comes with one built-in. Or what about building the functionality into a bike? A car? And, of course, Apple gets a cut thanks to licensing.

Yes, this could be huge. Forget the internet of things. You don’t need the security and power hassles of connecting to the internet, when you can just use your worldwide network of detectors. And this is something only Apple could do, because it relies on so many interlocking parts.

Finally, it’s the ultimate lock-in. Once you can find anything, anytime, thanks to the Apple ecosystem, it’s going to be a hard sell to switch to Android.

source: cultofmac.com

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Millions of Facebook users’ phone numbers may still be exposed online

11 Sep, 2019

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The sensitive user data has popped back up on a new server

Data scraped from an exposed Facebook database containing user phone numbers and information that linked those phone numbers to names and other profile information has popped back up in a separate online repository, even after the initial database was mysteriously pulled offline, according to a report last night from CNET. 

The initial, unprotected database contained more than 400 million records of Facebook users across the US, UK, and Vietnam. The exposure, reported first by TechCrunch earlier this week, is believed to have affected a total of around 200 million users. 

Speaking with UK security researcher Elliott Murray, who runs London-based cybersecurity firm WebProtect, CNET reports that the current trove of phone number data appears to have been completely scraped from the earlier database. It’s unclear who owns either database, but Facebook confirmed the data was scraped from a server that stored it as part of a feature that let users look one another up by their phone numbers. Facebook has not said how the data was taken off Facebook servers and why it was available online without any form of security protection. 

After TechCrunch and security researcher Sanyam Jain contacted the web host of the initial server on Wednesday, the owner took the database offline. “This data set is old and appears to have information obtained before we made changes last year to remove people’s ability to find others using their phone numbers,” a Facebook spokesperson told TechCrunch at the time. “The data set has been taken down and we have seen no evidence that Facebook accounts were compromised.”

However, it appears some other third party got its hands on the data before Facebook did and has copied at least some of it, if not all of it, onto a separate server. Murray tells CNET the data found in this new database is “almost certainly the same” as the information in the initial one. Murray did not disclose where or how he came across the new database.

CNET also contacted someone whose phone number was shown in the database to have once been linked to Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes, and the person, who declined to be named, said they obtained the phone number earlier this year and are often contacted mistakenly for people looking for Hughes. 

Facebook did not response to a request for comment on whether this information was identical to the scraped data in the previous database, and how it plans to manage the takedown of this data now that it is no longer stored on one of its own servers.

source: theverge.com

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The 3 best and worst features of the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max

11 Sep, 2019

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It’s the first ‘pro’ iPhone, but does it earn the upgrade?

Apple held its annual iPhone extravaganza at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino yesterday, and while there were some surprises, those of us privy to the Apple rumor mill saw mostly what we were expecting. There was a new “Pro” variant of the iPhone, as well as an always-on Apple Watch display, a new 10.2-inch iPad, and some much-needed pricing and release figures for Apple’s upcoming media services. 

But Apple’s showing was a familiar one, and nowhere was that more apparent than in its straightforward smartphone lineup. Last year, we saw Apple holding on to to the “X” naming scheme with the XS, XS Max, and XR. This year, it was back to numerics, with the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. The Pro moniker may sound like a bold departure, but the structure of Apple’s lineup follows last year’s established pattern of a slightly cheaper model and two different-sized flagships. 

That means interested consumers are in the same boat as last year: should you get the $699 iPhone 11 or the pricier $999 iPhone 11 Pro? If you want a fully kitted out iPhone 11 Pro Max, that will cost you $1,449, as is the case now with the largest, most storage-packed, premium Apple handset. To make the decision easier, it’s best to understand which phones pack which hardware and software features and whether the iPhone 11 Pro is a substantial enough upgrade to be worth shelling out, at a minimum, an extra $300. 

We’ve highlighted the three standout aspects of the Pro and its larger Max variant as well as the three most disappointing features of those phones. That way, you’ll know what you get when you shell out for the more expensive iPhone, and you can decide whether it may make sense to get the standard 11 instead or hold off on upgrading entirely. 

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

BEST: SIGNIFICANT BATTERY LIFE IMPROVEMENTS

One of the most crucial features of any new smartphone is improvements to battery life, and Apple has actually made quite a leap here with the iPhone 11 Pro. The device now lasts four hours longer than the iPhone XS from last year, with the Max variant getting an increase in battery life of five hours. 

That leaves you with 18 hours of video playback, 11 hours of streaming video playback, and 65 hours of audio playback. On the standard iPhone 11, you’re getting one hour docked from each of the video playback metrics but the same audio playback length. It appears the iPhone 11 is retaining the battery improvements Apple made to the iPhone XR that made it even better than its XS variants last year, but the company is putting more battery benefits toward the Pro this time around. 

source: theverge.com

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Apple reveals iPhone 11 with a dual-camera system, Night mode, and new colors

11 Sep, 2019

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A successor to the default iPhone

Apple is introducing a successor to its iPhone XR today, dubbed iPhone 11. The cheaper LCD-equipped iPhone XR has become the most popular iPhone in the world over the past year, and Apple is now updating it for 2019 and beyond.

Like last year’s model, the iPhone 11 includes a 6.1-inch display, and the design is almost identical to last year, too, with the notch at the front for the Face ID camera. Apple is adding new color options, with purple, white, green, yellow, black, and red all available.

Apple’s biggest design changes are in the camera at the rear of the device. Last year’s iPhone XR had a single 12-megapixel wide-angle camera, but the iPhone 11 now includes a dual-camera system with an additional 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera that supports 2x optical zoom. There’s even a new immersive camera interface that lets you see outside the frame, so you can see the details of the photos you’re taking with the ultra-wide camera.

The camera is clearly a big deal here for Apple, and the company is adding multiscale tone mapping that deals with highlights differently depending on where they are. There’s also a new high-key mono portrait effect, and portrait mode itself will now work on pets.

Perhaps the biggest addition is Night mode, to better compete with Google’s Pixel devices and Samsung’s latest Note 10 and S10 handsets. Night mode uses adaptive bracketing to improve shots taken at night.

For video, you can tap to switch between the ultra-wide and regular camera and there’s support for 4K resolution up to 60 fps, slow-mo, time lapse, and a new extended dynamic range across both cameras.

Even the front-facing camera is getting an upgrade, to a 12-megapixel TrueDepth wide-angle camera that you can rotate to do landscape shots. The front camera can also do 4K / 60 video and slow-mo, perfect if you’re going for some crazy selfie videos, or “slofies” as Apple calls them.

Inside the iPhone 11 is Apple’s latest A13 Bionic processor, and naturally it’s the “fastest CPU in a smartphone” and also the “fastest GPU in a smartphone.” Apple demonstrated the performance on stage with a game called Pascal’s Wager, which is launching on the App Store next month with some pretty impressive looking mobile graphics. Other than the gaming demo, Apple didn’t reveal any additional performance improvements with the A13.

Apple’s iPhone 11 will also include an additional hour of battery life over the iPhone XR, and what Apple calls “enhanced Face ID” that’s supposed to speed up the face-scanning feature. The iPhone 11 is even rated to IP68 water resistance up to 2 meters, whereas the iPhone XR was rated at IP67.

Apple is pricing the iPhone 11 starting at $699, and it will start shipping on September 20th. Preorders begin on Friday September 13th at 5AM PT / 8AM ET.

source: theverge.com

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The 5 biggest announcements from Apple’s September 2019 event

11 Sep, 2019

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From Apple TV Plus pricing to ‘slofies,’ here’s what you missed

Apple’s big hardware event for 2019 has wrapped, and, as expected, it brought a bounty of exciting announcements. Of course, the iPhone 11 happened — and, yes, a version is really called the iPhone 11 Pro Max — but there were a bunch of other good moments that are worth talking about. 

If you weren’t able to follow along with this year’s Apple fall hardware event or if you just want to relive it again, you can read the live blog to see the moments unfold as they happened or check out this brief recap on the biggest announcements.

source: theverge.com

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Apple just turned its extended warranty for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch into a monthly subscription

11 Sep, 2019

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AppleCare+ is no longer limited to 24 months of coverage

Apple’s extended warranty, AppleCare+, has always covered iOS and Apple Watch devices for a total of two years. But after its iPhone 11 event, the company quietly introduced a new option that basically turns AppleCare+ into a full-on monthly subscription, allowing consumers to continue paying beyond the regular coverage period and keep going for as long as Apple is able to service their product. The change was spotted by 9to5Mac.

Apple had already offered monthly installments for AppleCare+, but that was only an alternative to paying a lump sum for the same two-year coverage total. And it seems Apple has now eliminated this payment option.

With the new approach, Apple uses the pretty clear wording of “pay monthly until canceled.” As 9to5Mac notes, you’d end up paying more through the monthly option for the standard 24 months of coverage than if you just opted to buy that length of time outright. The new subscription is really best for people who plan to hold on to their gadgets for several years. 

If you’ve already got AppleCare+ on a device, there doesn’t seem to be any way to switch over to the monthly plan. This is for recent purchases only; you’ve got 60 days from the time of buying a device to add AppleCare+. 

AppleCare+ usually covers two incidents of accidental damage for a given device over two years. If you go with the monthly plan, you’re protected for two incidents for every 24 months of coverage. The latest iPhones have tougher glass and enhanced water resistance, according to Apple’s claims, so hopefully you won’t need to worry about such mishaps. 

source :theverge.com

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Huawei’s phone sales are ballooning while Apple and Samsung’s slump

05 May, 2019

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The world’s second-largest phone maker is now Huawei, and it has the top spot in its sights

 

 

 Photo by Vlad Savov / The Verge

IDC and Strategy Analytics have released their latest smartphone shipment numbers, and the clear winner of the last few months has been China’s Huawei, at the expense of incumbent global leaders Samsung and Apple, both of which lost ground.

Huawei has been flirting with the position of world’s second-largest smartphone vendor for a while, having taken over from Apple for the first time in 2017, before switching back and forth in 2018. The company’s improvement in 2019, however, appears to set it up with a firmer control of the second spot: Huawei jumped from 39.3 million phones shipped in the first quarter of 2018 to 59.1 million shipments in Q1 2019, as noted by both IDC and SA.

Apple’s iPhone shipments shrunk from 52.2 million in the quarter last year to what’s estimated to be between between 36 and 43 million (Apple recently stopped reporting iPhone sales in its earnings reports) for the same period this year. Samsung went from 78.2 million shipments to 71.9 million. In fact, without Huawei’s burgeoning growth, the smartphone market might aptly be described as experiencing its own form of recession. US carriers AT&T and Verizon last week reported that smartphone upgrades among their subscribers are at record lows, and other Chinese phone makers like Xiaomi and Oppo are mostly just holding steady with their sales numbers.

Other global brands that used to have significant presence in the phone market are suffering too. Sony’s sales keep dwindling, and the company has said it intends to halve the staff it has working on its mobile business. LG last week quit making phones in its home country of South Korea, opting to lower costs by shifting production to Vietnam. And HTC is only technically still in the mobile business by virtue of producing that zany blockchain phone.

Huawei is the exception, and in more ways than one. The company has been very publicly rejected by the United States government, and it has zero presence in that highly lucrative and developed market. All of its progress over the past year has been in its home territory of China and through successful expansion of its business in Europe.

Over the course of the past two years, which has been a time when Apple and Samsung have contented themselves with mostly iterative updates, Huawei has consistently made huge strides between every device release. The company has invested heavily in its camera hardware, which has paid off with terrific performance (currently unmatched in low light) and has stirred smartphone owners to hit the “upgrade” button.

The goal for Huawei has always been to become the top smartphone vendor in the world, which seemed like overzealous optimism only a few months ago. As of today, it feels closer to an inevitability. Huawei forecasts it will get out ahead of Samsung by the end of this year, and if its aggressive rate of improvement continues, there’s little reason to doubt it’s capable of achieving that high goal.

 

source: the verge

 

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Samsung's Galaxy Note 10 May Have A 'Symmetrical' Design

05 May, 2019

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Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10 is a major upgrade which delivers some next-gentechnology over the Galaxy S10 range. But it was expected to look almost identical to the S10, until now. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 concept based on leaks

 CONCEPT CREATOR

In a pair of teasing tweets, popular Samsung insider Ice Universe has revealed the Galaxy Note 10 will be perfectly symmetrical. In the first, he notes Da Vinci [the Galaxy Note 10’s codename] “is symmetrical” and in the second he posts Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, the iconic image of perfect proportions. And this has significant design consequences. 

The Galaxy S10 range is most recognisable for its asymmetric punch-hole design. Consequently, it looks like Samsung is either centring it or removing it altogether in the Note 10 thanks to the company’s upcoming New Infinity display. Either would be a smart move as it gives the Note range (which is bigger than ever this year) a clear visual differentiator. 

And Ice Universe isn’t finished there. He also states that the new 4G Galaxy Note 10 Pro edition will feature the same enlarged 4500 mAh battery as the supercharged 5G Galaxy S10. A move which presumably leaves space for an even bigger battery in the confirmed 5G model. In addition to this, he says the Note 10 Pro will charge at 25 watts, notably faster than the 18 watts of the S10 range.

Galaxy Note 10 concept render

 CONCEPTCREATOR

 

 

source: Forbes

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Nokia 4.2 officially launches in the U.S. for just $189 on May 14 The phone brings face unlock and a Google Assistant button.

05 May, 2019

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At this past MWC in February, Nokia unveiled a heap of new smartphones for its 2019 lineup — one of which was the Nokia 4.2. The Nokia 4.2 looked quite promising at the time as a really competitive budget handset, and a few months later, Nokia's confirmed that it's launching in the United States on May 14 for $189.

From a design point of view, the 4.2 looks like a lot of other Nokia phones we've seen over the last year. It has a 5.71-inch HD+ display with a resolution of 19:9 and a very tiny waterdrop notch which houses an 8MP selfie camera.

The frame of the phone is made out of polycarbonate, whereas the back features 2.5D glass. This is also where you'll find the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and 13MP + 2MP dual rear cameras, but what you won't find is any presence of wireless charging.

One design aspect I particularly like is the dedicated Google Assistant button. Double-tapping it will showcase your visual homepage of any contextual info you need to know while a press and hold enables a walkie-talkie mode with the Assistant.

Internally, the Nokia 4.2 is packing the Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 chipset, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage (up to 400GB), and a 3,000 mAh battery that charges via Micro-USB . Other highlights include NFC for Google Pay, face unlock, and Android 9 Piethat's powered by Google's Android One program.

Pre-orders for the Nokia 4.2 are open right now for $189 at Amazon and Best Buy. Shipments will begin on May 14 followed by in-store sales at some Best Buy locations beginning June 9.

source: androidcentral

 

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Android Circuit: Galaxy Note 10 Leak, Google Pixel 3a Secrets, Huawei Beats Apple

05 May, 2019

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Taking a look back at seven days of news and headlines across the world of Android, this week’s Android Circuit includes the leaked Galaxy Note 10 design, weaker batteries in Samsung’s phablet, OnePlus priming the story pump, more Nokia handsets for America, Huawei beats Apple in market share, Google Pixel 3a leaks, and reviewing the popular wireless earbuds.

Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many things that have happened around Android in the last week (and you can find the weekly Apple news digest here).

New Galaxy Note 10 Design Leaks

For many, the upcoming Galaxy Note 10 is a simple bit of polish on the S10 family. Perhaps in previous years, but not in 2019. Samsung is changing the design ethos and the go to word for the phablet looks to be ‘symmetry’. Forbes’ Gordon Kelly reports:

" In a pair of teasing tweets, [a popular Samsung insider] has revealed the Galaxy Note 10 will be perfectly symmetrical. In the first, he notes Da Vinci [the Galaxy Note 10’s codename] “is symmetrical” and in the second he posts Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, the iconic image of perfect proportions. And this has significant design consequences.

The Galaxy S10 range is most recognisable for its asymmetric punch-hole design. Consequently, it looks like Samsung is either centring it or removing it altogether in the Note 10 thanks to the company’s upcoming New Infinity display. Either would be a smart move as it gives the Note range (which is bigger than ever this year) a clear visual differentiator.

But The Note 10 May Be Slow In One Area

It was probably inevitable that a phone that promised so much - as the Galaxy Note 10 has - would have to compromise somewhere, and the latest leaks suggest one area where performance will be ratcheted back… charging the battery. Gordon Kelly has the details:

"…It comes courtesy of acclaimed Samsung insider Ice Universe, who has revealed the handset may no longer get its much anticipated faster charging.

“I take it back, but I can't say more” explained the tipster, who said his previous claim that the Galaxy Note 10 will have all-new 25W fast charging had sent out “the wrong message”. This would be a significant blow because battery life for the Galaxy Note range has fallen significantly from the gold standard it once set, and Samsung’s 18W charging speeds are already way behind rivals.

OnePlus Primes The Story Engine

Although the launch and reveal of the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro handsets is still over a week away, OnePlus has been hard at work setting up the story lines that will no doubt drive the discussions around the new smartphones. Takethe origami based invitation to the May 14 launch event:

It’s an origami construction that allows two information cards to pop out of the central housing. Given the expectation of a pop-up selfie camera to feature on the OnePlus 7 Pro this prepares the ground - lets call it Chekhov’s Invitation - for the audience to ‘go wild’ when it slides up in the presentation.

…the benchmarking of the screen:

The OnePlus 7 Pro screen has been tested by the widely respect team at DisplayMate, and while the full results will be published as the device is launched, its “exceptional” scores in color gamut and temperature calibration, as well as better filtering of blue light to protect eyes during a prolonged use.

…and the sample shots from the new camera hardware:

Historically OnePlus handsets have been designed to offer flagship performance at more affordable prices, but with the OnePlus 7 Pro expected to cost significantly more than previous models, it remains to be seen whether these camera improvements will be enough.

As quoted in the report, [Wired’s] Simon Liu doesn’t seem certain:

“I think we have a shot at competing with the first tier phones," he says. "I don’t think we can beat them, but the imaging world is always subjective."

If the narrative is driven by leaks, then OnePlus is again doing its best to stay ahead of the geekerati.

More Nokia For America

HMD Global keeps the refresh rate high on its handsets, but is breaking new ground where it can. The Nokia 4.2 is a good example both of a refresh to handset, but also exploring new territories. It was announced this week that the AndroidOne powered handset will launch in the US for $189.Joe Maring reports:

" From a design point of view, the 4.2 looks like a lot of other Nokia phones we've seen over the last year. It has a 5.71-inch HD+ display with a resolution of 19:9 and a very tiny waterdrop notch which houses an 8MP selfie camera.

The frame of the phone is made out of polycarbonate, whereas the back features 2.5D glass. This is also where you’ll find the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and 13MP + 2MP dual rear cameras.

Huawei Beats Apple In Smartphone Share

Although Apple’s woes (particularly in China) have seen iPhone sales fell in the first calendar quarter of 2019, both Samsung and Huawei have increased their overall smartphone market share rise… and Huawei has overtaken Apple to reach the #2 spot. Vlad Savov reports:

IDC and Strategy Analytics have released their latest smartphone shipment numbers, and the clear winner of the last few months has been China’s Huawei, at the expense of incumbent global leaders Samsung and Apple, both of which lost ground.

Huawei has been flirting with the position of world’s second-largest smartphone vendor for a while, having taken over from Apple for the first time in 2017, before switching back and forth in 2018. The company’s improvement in 2019, however, appears to set it up with a firmer control of the second spot: Huawei jumped from 39.3 million phones shipped in the first quarter of 2018 to 59.1 million shipments in Q1 2019, as noted by both IDC and SA

Details Of Google Pixel 3a Leak

It’s now expected to be ‘purplish’, the price will start at $399, and the 5.6 inch version will be supplemented with a 6-inch version. Google’s Pixel 3a and 3a XL have well and truly leaked. Jon Fingas reports:

" You can also expect squeeze sensors, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of baseline storage, a 12-megapixel rear camera and an 8MP selfie shooter. The battery life could be healthy. While the promos don't confirm the use of Snapdragon 670 or 710 chips, those combined with 3,000mAh (on the base 3a) and 3,700mAh (on the XL) power packs might get you through the day relatively easily. Earlier leaks pointed to a 2,160 x 1,080 screen on the smaller phone and 2,220 x 1,080 on its larger sibiling.

And Finally…

With the loss of the 3.5mm headphone jack as standard, smartphone users are being pushed quickly towards wireless options, and that means an increasing number of wireless earbuds on the market need to be compared. What differentiates the leading contenders? Samuel Gibbs as a listen, starting with the Samsung Galaxy Buds:

The Galaxy Buds sound pretty good too, with reasonable sound isolation and a well-rounded tone most will like. They’re fairly balanced, not overly dominated by bass or treble, with good separation and punch where needed. The buds are capable of uncomfortable volume levels when cranked right up and there’s a limited EQ available in the Galaxy Wearable app. Audiophiles might turn their noses up, but they sound good compared with the competition at this price.

 

source:Forbes

 

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Google Goes iPhone XR With The Pixel 3a Price Vs Pixel 3, Front Camera, Wireless Charging

05 May, 2019

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The imminent Pixel 3a XL is basically Google's version of the iPhone XR.

In short, it's expected to be a 6-inch phone with a LCD display instead of a pricier* OLED but with some of the pricier Pixel phones' best features.

Like the iPhone XR, it will cut corners of course, as this latest "leak" from YouTuber "This is Tech Today" points out (no wide-angle selfie cameras, for instance: see video at bottom).

How do the Pixel 3a (5.6-inch) and Pixel 3a XL (6-inch) stack up?

Good camera: probably the same (great) rear camera as on the pricier Pixel 3/Pixel 3 XL (released last October). The iPhone XR, on the other hand, gives you a single rear camera instead of the dual cameras on the iPhone X.

Materials: The newer Pixel 3a/Pixel 3a XL will be made of plastic, according to an earlier report from This is Tech Today. The Pixel 3/Pixel 3 XL have glass backs. The iPhone XR uses aluminum instead of the X's stainless steel sides.

AI: one of the things that the makes the Pixel a great phone is the software. Google would be foolish not to include its killer AI on the cheaper 3a. (The AI software is the reason I own a Pixel 3 XL.)

Headphone jack: Pixel 3a/Pixel 3a XL is expected to have a headphone jack, the Pixel 3/XL uses USB-C.

Charging: this is still a bit sketchy but possibly no wireless charging, according to This is Tech Today (see video).

Display: 1080p, similar resolution to the Pixel 3/XL.  (Note that the iPhone XR has a much lower resolution display compared to the X.)

Carriers: pubs are saying the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a will come to Sprint and T-Mobile, in addition to the usual Verizon venue.

Price (rumored): $399 for the Pixel 3a / $479 for the larger Pixel 3a XL. Both prices are for 64GB models. Versions with 128GB of storage will be offered too.

But note that the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are currently on sale at the Google Store for $599 and $699, respectively. That's $200 off the regular price.

Release/Announcement date: Consensus is for a May 7 announcement.

*Or as Google senior VP of devices and services Rick Osterloh put it to Fast Company: “We see opportunity to come up with products that make for more accessible price points, with a great user experience.”

 

source: Forbes

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Today in Apple history: Apple embraces over-the-air iOS updates

05 May, 2019

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May 4, 2011: Reports circulate that Apple is negotiating with carriers to bring over-the-air updates to iOS, beginning with iOS 5.

Such a move would free iPhone owners from using iTunes to get updates for their devices. That means no more plugging an iPhone into a computer via USB to download the latest version of iOS.

As I’ve noted before in “Today in Apple history,” the process of upgrading to the latest software has gotten immeasurably easier over the years. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, Mac updates came on floppy disks or, later, CD-ROMs. These demanded premium prices, even when they weren’t full releases. This also meant Apple issued fewer updates because of the physical costs involved in shipping them out.

Right from the start, users could download iOS updates due to the operating system’s smaller file size compared to the Mac operating system. (iOS was also available for free to iPhone users. iPod touch customers paid $10 for the first couple of updates.)

Still, getting the latest iOS update via iTunes proved a cumbersome process. Android, by contrast, offered over-the-air updates as far back as February 2009.

Bringing ‘PC-free’ updates to iOS

In the end, the rumors of OTA iOS updates circulating on May 4, 2011, turned out to be right on the money. In November, Apple issued iOS 5.0.1, its first “PC-free” update for its mobile operating system.

All in all, 2011 proved quite a significant year in terms of how Apple issued all its software updates. That year’s Mac OS X Lion marked the first time Apple didn’t initially announce physical distribution on CD or DVD-ROM of a new Mac operating system.

Instead, users downloaded the operating system at home. Alternatively, they could do it through an in-store download at an Apple store. Later, Apple gave users the option to buy a preloaded USB flash drive online.

What are your most memorable software-updating memories? Do you remember iOS before over-the-air updates? Leave your comments below.

 

source: Cult of Mac

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How to record Apple Music from your iPhone to your Mac

05 May, 2019

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Did you know that you can record the music playing on your iPhone, to your Mac, straight up the USB cable? Just hook your Mac up to your iPhone (or iPad), using the Lighting cable that came in the box, and you can record anything. You could record songs from Beats One radio in Apple Music, for example.

Record any iPhone and iPad audio with QuickTime Player.

This trick is super-duper easy, and was shown to me by Aud_iOS, on the Audiobus forum. It requires no special gear or software whatsoever. If you have a Mac and iPhone, then you already have everything you need:

• iPhone
• Mac
• Lightning USB cable
• QuickTime Player app

If you have a modern MacBook, you may need to buy the correct USB-C cable. Just make sure to get one that transmits data.

To do the recording, just connect everything together, and start the audio playing on your iPhone (or iPad). This can be from any app, including the Music app. Then, launch QuickTime Player on your Mac, and choose File > New Audio Recording from the menubar. You’ll see a window like this one:

QuickTime Player is installed on every Mac.

Photo: Cult of Mac

Click on the little arrow next to the record button. From the drop-down menu, pick your connected iPhone.

Then, back on the iPhone, tap the AirPlay symbol, either in the Control Center, or in the Music app if using. There will be a new entry, System Capture:

System Capture shows up as an AirPlay destination.
Photo: Cult of Mac

This tells your iPhone to send the audio up the USB cable. It may even be selected automatically.

Once connected, just play the audio on the iPhone, and click the red record button on the Mac. You can see whether the audio is being received because the level meters will dance. Click Stop, and the recording will be saved to the desktop.

This even works for music streamed from Apple Music, in the native Music app. I had connection problems with my iPad, but my iPhone worked great.

Audiobus bonus

If you use Audiobus for making music on your iPad, you can use it to send any audio to your Mac. Just set up the QuickTime capture as before, and you’ll see a new option in Audiobus’ output slot:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This lets you send any audio, from pretty much any app on your iPhone or iPad, over USB to your Mac.

 

source:Cult of Mac

 

 

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OnePlus 7 release date, price, news and rumors The OnePlus 7 may be joined by the OnePlus 7 Pro

05 May, 2019

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The OnePlus 7 launch date has been confirmed as May 14, and it won't show up alone as it'll be joined by the OnePlus 7 Pro.

New OnePlus 7 leaks point to at least two phones that will compete with the best smartphones – especially the best Android smartphones – with a gaming-ready silky smooth screen that has a 90Hz refresh rate.

OnePlus has even told us one core feature about its next handset: the OnePlus 7 will be one of the first phones to support 5G - although this particular feature could be reserved for the pricier OnePlus 7 Pro variant.

Update: We've seen yet more leaked images seemingly showing the OnePlus 7 Pro. Plus, a complete specs list for both the OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro has leaked, suggesting the standard phone might have better battery life.

Below you'll find everything that we've heard so far, and we’ll be sure to add any leaks and rumors on the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro to this page when we hear them.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The next numbered phone from OnePlus
• When is it out? Launches May 14
• What will it cost? Probably at least $549 / £499 / AU$599

OnePlus 7 release date and price

The OnePlus 7 launch date has been set for May 14 after the Chinese firm sent out invites for simultaneous events in London, New York and Bangalore. TechRadar will be reporting live from both the New York and London events to bring you all the latest on the OnePlus 7 and the OnePlus 7 Pro.

As for the OnePlus 7 release date - when you'll actually be able to get your hands on one - that's still up in the air, but going on previous launches we'd expect it to ship before the end May.

It should go on sale soon though as the OnePlus 6T has started to sell outacross the world and OnePlus is unlikely to have no phones on sale at any point.

If the OnePlus 7 Pro does turn out to be the 5G variant, then you may have to wait a little longer for that to hit shelves though, as carriers will need to enable their 5G networks first.

There's no word on the OnePlus 7 price, but the OnePlus 6T - the most recent handset from the firm – launched at $549 / £499 / AU$599 and prices have been gradually creeping up since the range began, so we’d expect the OnePlus 7 will cost at least that much if not more.

If you want 5G though you might have to pay more. OnePlus has confirmed that it's working on a 5G phone and while it's not known whether the OnePlus 7 will support 5G, the company's CEO has said that its 5G handset will cost between $200 and $300 more than its next 4G device.

And in the US you might be able to buy it from a carrier, as this is something OnePlus has said it's looking into again. Last year's OnePlus 6T was available through T-Mobile if you didn't want to pay for the entire phone upfront and unlocked.

OnePlus 7 design and display rumors

We've seen numerous images seemingly showing the OnePlus 7, with the clearest look coming from the renders below, which show an almost bezel-free screen with a pop-up selfie camera, while the back has a triple-lens camera.

Image 1 of 4

You can also see this design in some renders from a case-maker. The pop-up selfie camera isn't visible, but a cut-out in the cases to make space for it is. These images can be seen below.

Image 1 of 3

That same design was suggested in leaked photos too, some of which show an all-screen design with no visible selfie camera, and one of which shows a raised section slightly above the screen, which could be part of the mechanism for a slide-out camera.

Image 1 of 3

Since then we've seen other photos, but these supposedly show the 'OnePlus 7 Pro', which according to another source is one of three upcoming models - the other two being the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro 5G.

The photos of the OnePlus 7 Pro can be seen below, showing a curved screen and no top bezel. The images also list the phone as having a 6.67-inch screen, a Snapdragon 855 chipset, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and three cameras, with 48MP, 16MP and 8MP lenses.

It seems that all of the images showing a phone with a pop-up camera might actually be the OnePlus 7 Pro though, according to a recent leak, which included renders supposedly showing the standard OnePlus 7.

You can see these below. They look a lot like the OnePlus 6T, with a teardrop notch rather than a pop-up camera and two rather than three rear cameras, though unlike the 6T the flash is inside the camera block, and the screen is apparently 6.2 inches (where the 6T is 6.41).

Image 1 of 3

We've seen yet more leaked OnePlus 7 Pro renders since, with the images below showing a bezel-free phone in Nebula Blue and Mirror Grey, with the source adding that it has a curved screen, as we've heard before.

We've also heard more details about the possible specs of the OnePlus 7 Pro. According to a reliable source, the OnePlus 7 Pro has a QHD+ Super AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate.

That makes it higher resolution than any current OnePlus handset and with a higher refresh rate than most phones from any company. A high refresh rate can make interactions feel smoother.

While this is the first we've heard of such a high refresh rate, it looks likely to be the case, as the CEO of OnePlus has also tweeted a teaser saying that the next product from the company will not just be fast but also smooth.

More recently, DisplayMate has revealed than the OnePlus 7 Pro has achieved an A+ rating in its screen lab tests, making the scores of the Samsung Galaxy S10, iPhone XS Max and Google Pixel 3 XL - which further suggests it'll come with a QHD+ resolution.

OnePlus has also advertised that the OnePlus 7 Pro has no notch or bezel, suggesting that the leaked images are accurate. You can see this advert below.

 

Beyond all this, all models of the OnePlus 7 will probably have a glass back, since OnePlus only recently switched to glass with the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T.

It’s likely to also have an alert slider, since previous handsets in the range do, and it’s sure to have the best Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset available - the Snapdragon 855.

OnePlus 7 camera rumors

We have a few ideas of what camera features we could see in the OnePlus 7, specifically in the OnePlus 7 Pro, after a tech site got their hands on the handset early.

Among the features we know the handset will have, one of the most intriguing is 3x lossless optical zoom on the handset, which lets you zoom that far in without losing any image quality.

In addition the phone is set to scale back its AI scene optimization compared to competitors, and let these processing features be background functions rather than important features of the camera.

We also know that it will be a triple-lens camera, and OnePlus itself has shared camera samples (below) taken with it. It looks from these as though the lenses are standard, wide and telephoto.

 

This is exactly what we've heard rumored, with sources talking of a 48MP f/1.6 main lens, a 16MP f/2.2 wide-angle lens, and an 8MP f/2.4 telephoto lens. The selfie camera meanwhile is said to be a 16MP f/2.0 one. 

As for the standard OnePlus 7, that's rumored to have a 48MP f/1.7 lens and a 5MP depth-sensor.

OnePlus 7 spec rumors

According to an in-depth specs leak the OnePlus 7 Pro has a 6.7-inch 1440 x 3120 screen with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio and a 90Hz refresh rate, a triple-lens camera with a 48MP f/1.6 lens, a 16MP f/2.2 wide-angle lens, and an 8MP f/2.4 telephoto lens offering 3x zoom. The front-facing camera is apparently a 16MP f/2.0 one.

The phone apparently has a 4,000mAh battery, 30W fast charging, an in-screen fingerprint scanner and a Snapdragon 855 chipset, along with a choice of 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, or 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Finally, it's said to come in blue, grey and brown shades.

The standard OnePlus 7 on the other hand is said to have a 6.4-inch 1080 x 2340 screen, a dual-lens camera with a  48MP f/1.7 main lens and a 5MP depth-sensor, a Snapdragon 855 chipset, a 3,700mAh battery with 20W fast charging, and a choice of 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage or 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

Another similarly comprehensive leak doesn't totally line up though. It says that the OnePlus 7 Pro has a 6.64-inch QHD+ AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 4,000mAh battery, a Snapdragon 855 chipset, 10GB of RAM, an in-screen scanner, a pop-up selfie camera, a 48MP lens, a telephoto lens, and an ultra-wide lens, and dimensions of 162.6 x 76 x 8.8mm.

The OnePlus 7 meanwhile apparently has a 6.2-inch Full HD+ AMOLED screen with a 60Hz refresh rate, a 4,150mAh battery, a Snapdragon 855 chip, a 48MP main lens, a telephoto secondary lens, an in-screen scanner, 6GB of RAM and dimensions of 157.7 x 74.8 x 8.1mm, with a camera above the screen, rather than a pop-up one.

The most notable thing there is that the OnePlus 7 has a bigger battery than the 7 Pro according to this leak, as well as a smaller, lower resolution screen, so if accurate it might have better battery life.

We also have an idea of what colors the OnePlus 7 Pro at least might come in. Most images has shown it in black, which is very likely to be one option, but a couple of case renders have shown it in gradient color schemes.

You can see these below - one goes from green to black to blue, while the other shifts from pink to black to purple. We'd take these with a pinch of salt, but they'd certainly help it stand out.

Image 1 of 2

The OnePlus 7 is sure to also have loads of RAM. The OnePlus 6T tops out at 8GB and the company has also launched OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition which has 10GB of RAM, so the OnePlus 7 may well match that.

Don’t expect a microSD card slot though based on past form and the screen resolution is very much a question mark – OnePlus has consistently stuck with Full HD resolutions, but that’s feeling ever more dated so sooner or later we’d expect a switch to QHD or higher.

Since the 6T got rid of the headphone jack, it's likely OnePlus won't bring it back for the 7.

OnePlus 7 5G rumors

OnePlus announced it will release the first 5G phone in Europe. The company is partnering with the UK network EE to bring said phone to the UK at some point in 2019.

A prototype of that phone has been shown off, complete with a Snapdragon 855 chipset and what appears to be a 21:9 screen - though elsewhere there are reports that the final device won't have a 21:9 screen, and nor will it have wireless charging.

But it's entirely possible that the OnePlus 7 won't be the 5G-connected phone the company has been talking about. Sources said that the 5G device will be the first in an entirely new line, and another rumor hinted that it may start at $649 (or $100 more than the 6T).

That said, as noted above, more than one source reckons the 5G phone will be called the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G, suggesting it will be a version of the OnePlus 7.

We've also seen possible case renders for the 5G model, which you can see below. We'd take these with a huge side of salt though, as they look more like the OnePlus 6T than most of the OnePlus 7 leaks we're seeing. 

They do look similar to some renders above, supposedly showing the standard OnePlus 7, but we'd expect the 5G model to be more in line with the OnePlus 7 Pro.

Image 1 of 3

The aforementioned leak of OnePlus 7 Pro specs also mention the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G, which sounds to have the same specs as the standard Pro model, just with 5G on board. That's believable, as the company has previously claimed that it will launch one of the first 5G phones this year.  

What we want to see

We don’t know anything much about the OnePlus 7 yet but based on the OnePlus 6 and what’s going on in the rest of the phone world we know what we want from it.

1. A QHD screen

OnePlus always packs its phones full of cutting-edge specs and features, yet it always sticks with a Full HD screen, which isn’t a match for most of the top-end flagships.

That may well be keeping costs down, but it’s time the range made the jump to QHD, especially given that its screens are getting bigger, so we want to see that happen for the OnePlus 7.

2. A microSD card slot

You can get a decent amount of storage in the OnePlus 6 but you don’t get a microSD card slot, so if the amount it ships with isn’t enough you’ll have to start deleting things.

That’s not ideal and while the 256GB top size should be plenty for most people it won’t be for everyone – especially those who plan to pack their phone full of music, films and games. So adding a slot into the OnePlus 7 would be much appreciated.

3. Proper water resistance

The OnePlus 6 has some water resistance, but it doesn’t have an IP rating. So it should be able to survive a splash if you dry it off quickly but can’t really be put in the water.

Not that we’d advise doing that in general with most phones, but knowing that it would survive if you did – or if you use it in heavy rain - could give some real peace of mind that you don’t get with the OnePlus 6, so we’d like to see this improved for the OnePlus 7.

4. Stereo speakers

The OnePlus 6 has just a single speaker, and its placement at the base of the phone makes it easy to muffle, so we’d like to see it ideally moved and definitely doubled up for the OnePlus 7, with a second speaker allowing for loud stereo sound.

Sure, you’ll probably mostly use headphones anyway, but having a quality speaker setup can make all the difference when you just want to watch a YouTube video or listen to a podcast without plugging in.

5. No notch

The OnePlus 6T is one of many recent phones to get a notch, and while it can be hidden if you prefer, what we’d really prefer for the OnePlus 7 is no notch at all.

But we don’t want a return to big bezels either. We’re starting to see phones like the Vivo Nex and Oppo Find X which have almost no bezel at all and we’d like the OnePlus 7 to join them. This isn’t out of the question, especially as Oppo is heavily linked with OnePlus. In fact, current leaks point in this direction.

6. Wireless charging

Despite having a glass back, the OnePlus 6 doesn’t support wireless charging, which seems like a major omission for a flagship phone.

This is probably a cost-cutting measure and, in a sense, seems reasonable, since we doubt wireless charging is a heavily used feature, but it would be nice to have.

7. An in-screen camera

Along with an all-screen design we’d like the OnePlus 7 to have an in-screen camera. Most leaks point in the direction of a pop-up solution, but an in-screen one would be so much more elegant.

 

We don't think this is likely for the OnePlus 7, but you never know. After all, just such a camera has been rumored for at least one phone.

 

source:Techradar

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iPhone sales dropped in every part of the world

05 May, 2019

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The fact that iPhone sales were down in the first three months of the year is no secret, but new information shows that the decline wasn’t isolated to one or two areas. No, Apple admitted that iOS handset sales dropped in every region of the world.

Deep in Apple’s most recent Form 10-Q filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the note: “iPhone net sales decreased during the second quarter and first six months of 2019 compared to the same periods in 2018 due primarily to lower iPhone unit sales in all the reportable geographic segments.”

Note that the company’s financial year begins in October, so it finished Q2 2019 at the end of March.

Apple breaks the world up into six regions: the Americas, Europe, Greater China, Japan, and the rest of Asia Pacific. And now we know that there was lower demand for Apple’s signature product in all of them

The company also experienced slow iPhone sales in the last three months of 2018, but executives at that time said it was primarily a result of weak demand in China. In this most quarter, the slowdown in sales was more universal.

iPhones sales estimates

Apple no longer announces how many iPhone units it ships each quarter, but analysts have made this estimates.

Canalys says the company shipped 40.2 million units in the January-March period, and Counterpoint Research went a bit higher: 42 million units. Those represent a 23 percent and 20 percent drop, respectively. IDC was a significant outlier, estimating just 36.4 million iPhones shipped last quarter.

                                                                                                                                                      source: Cult of Mac

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The first 5G phone in Europe was unexpected - and here's what it means for you

05 May, 2019

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A new champion enters the ring

Image credit: Shutterstock / TechRadar

We're finally starting to see 5G phones make their way to Europe, after networks and phones became available in the US and South Korea in April, but the race to release the first 5G phone in Europe was a tight one.

In the end the top three contenders crossed the line in quick succession – the Oppo Reno 5G, Huawei Mate 20 X 5G and Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G all became available in Switzerland during May 1 and 2, however the winner was something of a surprise.

• Could the new iPhone 11 be 5G?
• We're expecting the Galaxy Note 10 to have a 5G version
• These are the best camera phones

The Swiss 5G finish line

The phone that launched on May 1 was the Oppo Reno 5G, a phone from a brand that's not exactly a household name in Europe, despite being a very popular company in Asia. Many would have expected the title to go to Samsung or OnePlus, so Oppo stealing a march shows the brand is out to make waves.

The first 5G network in Europe came in Switzerland on April 17, when telecoms company Swisscom switched on its 5G network. 

At the time there weren't any commercially-available 5G phones for customers to make the most of the improved connection, but that changed when the first 5G phone from Oppo launched in the country on May 1.

Competition wasn't very far behind, however – on May 2, Swiss network provider Sunrise made both the Huawei Mate 20 X and Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G available on its website, so the better-known companies had devices available too.

Whether those phones are technically available in Switzerland is a matter of debate, however – while you can pre-order them on Sunrise's website, there's no official release date provided, so Oppo may have more of a headstart in the European 5G phone market than people give it credit for.

Why is Oppo a surprise?

In the 5G phones race, Oppo is a bit of a dark horse, which is why we're surprised that it's bringing home the gold medal.

While Huawei and Xiaomi are relatively big names in Europe, Oppo has yet to really find a market and establish itself. It's only started operating in the continent within the last six months, despite (like Huawei and Xiaomi) being popular in China, it's home country.

Many eyes were on Huawei and Xiaomi's 5G contributions, but not as much attention was being paid to Oppo – in a way, it's a great underdog story. 

 

To get the first 5G phone out, Oppo had to create special partnerships with both Swisscom, to get the 5G network running, and Qualcomm, for the special modems needed in the phones to facilitate 5G connectivity – and that must have cost a lot of money. 

This shows us the company sees its 5G debut as an important part of its plan to expand in Europe, especially as the Oppo Reno is the first phone range it's giving a significant marketing push in Europe. 

Since established smartphone brands like Apple have no plans for 5G phones that we're aware of, it seems like Oppo, and to a lesser extent Huawei and Xiaomi who must have also spent large amounts of money, are really banking on their 5G phones to upset the traditional smartphone pecking order.

The main competitor now for Oppo, Huawei and Xiaomi is Samsung, which could bring its Samsung Galaxy S10 5G with all the Galaxy S10 brand name hype – but each of the three Chinese smartphones sits at a price far below the Galaxy S10 5G, so combined with the buzz they'll receive for being first, they'll be attractive to the more thrifty consumer.

What does this mean for 5G Europe?

Oppo won the battle of being the first company to bring a 5G phone to Switzerland, but the war for 5G dominance of Europe has only just started – saying that, we can try and use the situation to speculate on the future of 5G in Europe.

Firstly, all three competing companies were Chinese manufacturers – while companies like these are gaining smartphone market share, 5G phones are where they could begin to really outpace the handset stalwarts we've been seeing from companies like Samsung and Apple.

Oppo's gold medal doesn't facilitate the rise of Chinese smartphones – that was happening anyway, but the first three 5G phones in Europe all being Chinese is an indicator of the changing influence that region is bringing.

In the UK many companies like Vodafone and EE are set to offer 5G by the end of 2019, and they'll likely be trying hard to be the first networks to offer cutting-edge handsets on their new networks.

 

This means exclusives: to try and outshine competitors, carriers will try to have as many exclusive handsets as possible, at least while there are few 5G phones on the market.

 

We're intrigued to see if it'll be these three phones that compete in each market when 5G rolls out to the rest of Europe, or if more companies will join the race – we know OnePlus has plans to be the first company to launch a 5G phone in the UK, an achievement other companies will try to steal.

 

When 5G was released in the US there was only one phone that worked on it, in the Moto Z3 5G; similarly when South Korea started its network the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G was the only phone customers could use on it. 

However in Europe 5G is starting with not one but three competing devices, so the continent could be the battlefield in which the leading next-generation smartphone company is decided.

Most of the 5G phones we're expecting to see will be out within the year, so it looks like if a smartphone manufacturer can establish its credentials as a leader in the all-new 5G space, it can use this momentum to offer market-leading cameras, batteries and users experiences... if it can afford to outspend the powerhouses of Apple and Samsung.

 

source:Techradar

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