October is almost over, which means that we may get to see the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy S21 series in a little more than two months’ time, as rumors claim that Samsung may be planning to present its new flagship earlier other years. We have already started to see a couple of leaked images and videos of the Galaxy S21, but the latest leaks suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra may include a fifth camera or one more sensor.
A new Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra leak is available, and it comes from none other than OnLeaks. He now gives us a revised version of the Galaxy S21 Ultra, where we can see some differences when comparing the camera design. It seems that the higher-end Galaxy S21 Ultra may include one extra camera or an extra sensor that could be a 3D ToF sensor, even though previous rumors claimed that Samsung was going to stop using these sensors. This may be because they were less powerful than the ones Apple was using in its devices. Still, we also know that Samsung has already registered its own 3D sensing camera sensor, but we doubt that it will be ready to be included in the Galaxy S21.
We start today’s deals with the latest Apple iPad Air. The WiFi-only version with 64GB storage space is currently selling for $559 after a $40 discount, but remember that it will ship within 2 to 5 weeks. Other Apple deals include the latest Apple Watch SE in its GPS-only, 40mm version is down $20, leaving it at $259, and the Beats Solo Pro wireless noise-canceling headphones are now selling for $170 after a $129.96 discount.
Smartphones are also on sale, but be warned, these deals are part of Amazons deals of the day, meaning that they will end tonight at 11:59 PM. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way. The Moto RAZR 5G with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage is getting a $405 discount, leaving it at $995. The Motorola Edge with 6GB RAM and 256GB storage is selling for $395 with $305 savings. The Sony Xperia 1 with 128GB storage is currently selling for $590 after a $360 discount.
We also find several Samsung Galaxy Watch models on sale, as the latest Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 in its 45mm version with GPS and LTE is getting a $61 discount, leaving it at $419. However, you can get the GPS-only version for $369 after a $31 discount or save even more if you go for the 42mm version for $339 with $61 savings. Now, the original 42mm version of the Samsung Galaxy Watch is available for $220 with $40 savings, and the Galaxy Watch Active 2 can be yours for just $20 after a $70 discount. The Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 and the original Galaxy Fit are also on sale, and then can be yours for just $50.
Other deals include the Sony WH-1000XM4 over-ear headphones for $278 after a $72 discount. The Sony WF-1000XM3 earbuds are now selling at $168 with $62 savings. The Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker II in Aquatic Blue is now available for $79 with $50 savings, and finally, Withings Body + smart body digital scale is selling for $69 with a $30.95 discount.
LG has announced a new 5G smartphone – the LG K92 5G. It is an affordable 5G handset powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G Mobile Platform. It features a 6.7-inch FHD+ FullVision display with a punch-hole on the top. It comes equipped with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage that is expandable up to 2TB with a microSD card slot.
On the optics front, it sports a quad rear camera setup with a 64MP primary camera, a 5MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2MP depth camera, and a 2MP macro sensor. On the front lies a 16MP selfie shooter. It packs a 4,000mAh battery and a pair of stereo speakers. It will be available in Titan Gray color option for $359. The LG K92 5G will be available from AT&T, Cricket Wireless, and UScellular shortly. Pricing, availability, and customer promotions will vary by network partner.
LG K92 5G specifications:
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G Mobile Platform
AlefEdge has announced the launch of EdgeNet, which is a compute and delivery network that is based on its Software-Defined Mobile Edge (SD-ME) platform. The tech was announced at ShowStoppers TV. AlefEdge is enabling enterprises to adopt Open Edge across dozens of locations globally.
The company says EdgeNet is a first-of-its-kind service, which is designed to enable systems integrators, developers, and value-added resellers (VAR) to build 5G-like applications and services over contemporary networks, and to enable enterprises to adopt them easily.
“Enterprises are accelerating their digital communications transformation strategies,” says AlefEdge Founder and CEO, Ganesh Sundaram. “The launch of EdgeNet enables the diverse community of mobile and internet innovators the ability to deliver Edge-enabled applications and 5G-like services to global enterprises quickly—through automation and rapid deployment channels.”
EdgeNet allows an enterprise to create its own 5G network and launch their own applications inside and outside of their campus. It can provide both private-to-private and private-to-public mobility and roaming services. AlefEdge’s SD-ME platform enables 5G-like immersive and intelligent applications to work over contemporary 4G LTE, CBRS, and Wi-Fi networks. To accelerate digital transformation, application developers and network programmers can take advantage of Alef’s developer program and APIs.
“Our products are already available today for easy adoption by enterprises. By abstracting out the complexity of 5G for the enterprise, the ecosystem can easily build transformative Edge services through Open Edge APIs. Soon the developer ecosystem will be able to leverage the APIs to build even more disruptive products,” said Sundaram.
“AlefEdge’s SD-ME platform offers high-speed connectivity at the Edge to application developers and enterprises,” says Rohan Joy Thomas, Industry Analyst, Frost & Sullivan.
ZTE has announced a new entry-level Android smartphone in the US. The ZTE Blade A3Y was introduced earlier this year in March as a rebranded version of Visible. Now, it will be exclusive to Verizon’s Yahoo Mobile prepaid carrier service. The smartphone costs $49 from Yahoo Mobile. The company says those wanting to switch to Yahoo Mobile but don’t have a compatible phone will be able to pick up the Blade A3Y for free. Notably, you get only one plan of $40 per month for unlimited data, text, and calling, which is better than Verizon’s $65 unlimited plan.
As for the specifications, the ZTE Blade A3Y features a 5.45-inch HD+ TFT display with a resolution of 1440 x 720. It is a basic entry-level device. It could be the perfect choice for the elderly. The smartphone sports a single 8MP camera with dual-LED flash. On the front lies a 5MP selfie shooter for your selfie and video-calling needs. It is powered by the MediaTek Helio A22 (MT6761) quad-core SoC that is clocked at 2.0GHz.
It comes equipped with 2GB of RAM and 32GB internal storage which is expandable via a microSD card. It packs a 2,660mAh battery. And, unlike some cheap phones, this one comes with a USB Type-C port. Further, it runs Android 10. There is also a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, a 3.5mm audio jack, and Wi-FI calling support.
The ZTE Black A3Y is now on sale at an introductory price of $49 from Yahoo Mobile. It comes pre-installed with a bunch of Yahoo apps including ad-free Yahoo Mail, Yahoo News, Yahoo Sports with “Watch Together”, Yahoo Finance, and Yahoo Weather.
You’ll find amazing prices on docking stations, battery banks, Lightning cables, and more
by: Alexander Quejado
Apple is undeniably one of the most popular phone vendors in the world, and with that comes a wealth of accessories. Today, we’ve lined up eight deals on affordable pairings that will help you keep your iPhone powered up and protected.
Naztech 2-in-1 Charging Dock
On the surface, it’s just a wireless charging dock. If you take a closer look at the charging surface, you’ll find a removable battery that acts as a portable power bank. Simply place your iPhone on top of the power bank for wireless charging on the go, or prop it up on the charging base to create a powered phone stand.
No iPhone charging setup is complete without a Lightning cable. This 5-foot Piston Connect Braid by Logiix is braided in durable nylon for ultimate longevity and MFi-certified for fast, safe charging.
If braided cables aren’t your style, you can save a few bucks with a rubber-coated cable. Logiix also offers a 3.93-foot TPE-wrapped MFi Lightning cable with a flexible anti-stress housing to prevent fraying from extended use.
You won’t always have a power outlet nearby, which is why you should keep a reliable, high-capacity power bank on hand. The 15,000mAh Zone One is a great, no-frills option for weekend-long camping trips or any situation where your phone might need a boost.
If you’re an Apple fan, chances are your iPhone isn’t your only Apple device. When it comes to charging, you might have a mess of Lightning cables or only a single cable, stuck charging things one at a time. With this 4-in-1 fast-charging station, you can power up 3 Qi-enabled devices, like your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods, wirelessly and one additional device via USB.
A lot of charging bases work just fine but look, well, somewhere between boring to straight-up ugly. For those of you with more elegant taste, look no further than this vegan leather wireless charger. This 10-watt charger delivers fast charging on a sleek, non-slip vegan leather surface. You can choose between graphite gray, tan, or blue to suit your aesthetics.
Speaking of aesthetics, what better way to compliment your alluring Apple accessories than with an elegant docking station to match? This walnut pad for your iPhone features wireless charging, and you can upgrade to larger models that support your Apple Watch and AirPods.
Ocushield Anti-Blue Light Screen Protector for iPhone 7/8
Blue light from digital devices like your phone can keep you up at night, which is why using your phone before bed is frowned upon. If you just can’t let go of your device in the wee hours of the night, this Ocushield screen protector can help. It blocks up to 90% of blue light without adding an orange tinge, saving your eyes even during nighttime use.
I’ll start my HUAWEI MateBook X review for the 2020 model by talking just a little bit about the MateBook X Pro, I had the pleasure of using in spring. I called it “one damn fine laptop” because it was spot on for everything I personally require on a daily basis from an ultra-portable computer.
Back in May, I was pretty sure HUAWEI can’t do any better, but to my surprise, the company proved me wrong. Not because there is something wrong with the 2020 MateBook X Pro, which I still recommend, but because the company totally nailed it with the 2020 model of the MateBook X, which we’re currently reviewing.
They say a piece of paper is as smart as the words you put on it. In the case of the MateBook X, we’re looking at a damn smart piece of paper, as the computer not only fits on a sheet of A4 (297 x 210 mm), but it’s actually smaller. So what can you expect from a computer that’s this small and lightweight? Let’s find out in our HUAWEI MateBook X review below.
We’ve been using the HUAWEI MateBook X for two weeks exclusively, typing two reviews (this included) on it, as well as for everything else work and play.
Hardware
You have the option of choosing either the Forest Green or the Silver Frost (our current review unit) colors. Weighing just 1kg, the MateBook X measures 284.4 x 206.7 x 13.6mm, making this a very lightweight and portable machine. Don’t be fooled by its rather small footprint; it “makes up” for it in many other departments.
Designed for the fashion-aware urban user who’s on the go, the MateBook X has an elegant build and design. By utilizing an aluminum-magnesium alloy unibody, HUAWEI managed to keep the weight at 1kg, and by spray painting five times the company added a finish on top of it that speaks luxury and premium.
The design is so minimalistic that nothing distracts you from admiring the actual machine and finish. A subtle, polished HUAWEI logo on the top, and two delicate cutouts on the bottom curvature towards each side for two (of the total of four) speakers. No air vents, no grills, just uninterrupted finesse.
A thickness of 13.6mm (should be thinness) doesn’t allow a lot of wiggle room when it comes to ports. The MateBook X features 1 USB Type-C port on each side, granted, these support data transfers, display port, as well as charging.
There’s a 3.5mm headphone jack on the left-hand side, which doubles as a microphone input port as well, being a 2-in-one jack.
Display
That’s all there is to it on the outside, but the real surprise comes when you flip it open. You’ll be amazed that such a small footprint can be home to a full 13-inch display. HUAWEI achieved that by slimming down the bezels to an insane amount. Dubbed the Infinite FullView Display, it offers a whopping 90% screen-to-body ratio which is a sheer pleasure to look at.
The aspect ratio is 3:2 by design and on purpose, as HUAWEI claims it offers more screen real-estate than the traditional 16:9. This is true, but it also means that you’ll have some letterboxing going on when watching videos.
The 13-inch panel is LTPS, and one of the prettiest we’ve seen yet. At a resolution of 3000 x 2000 pixels, it brings 278PPI density, and the colors and contrast it delivers are amazing. Claimed brightness is 400 nits and viewing angles at 178 degrees, but the only thing that sometimes hinders the viewing experience is the glossy finish of the display and the reflections on it.
The panel is also 10-point touch-enabled and has been treated to an anti-fingerprint coating to minimize the smudges on the screen after operating it by touch.
Keyboard
It should come as no surprise by now, if you’re even somewhat familiar with HUAWEI (and HONOR) laptops, that the webcam is located on the top row of the keyboard. This serves two purposes: not only allows for ultra-slim bezels, but it ensures your privacy, being a pop-up camera. It also has the inconvenience of a lower angle, hence by now the overused “nosecam” name it was labeled with.
The keyboard has a scissor approach for its buttons, offering a comfortable key travel (1.3mm). It is a full-size keyboard though, don’t let the compact design trick you. It is also backlit with nice, even, and quite bright light. We’ve seen no visible bleeding or dark spots, it gets as even as possible across all keys.
On top of the keyboard, you’ll spot the power button. It has an integrated fingerprint scanner which intelligently uses caching so that the same press of the button that turns the computer on is used to sign you in, without the need of touching the button once again. HUAWEI says it comes in pair with a smart optimized BIOS in order to improve Windows log-in speed and reliability.
Trackpad
For the 2020 model, the trackpad (or clickpad, as HUAWEI calls it) on the MateBook X is not only larger, but it now offers haptic feedback for a better tactile experience. The company calls it HUAWEI Free Touch, as it debuts on this model, but the changes don’t stop there.
Do you remember the NFC tag/stickers on previous models, used for pairing the laptop with the phone in order to use HUAWEI Share and Multi-Device Collaboration? They’re now gone, as HUAWEI built the NFC tag underneath the clickpad.
The smarts
The 2020 MateBook X comes in two processor configurations: you can opt for the 10th Generation Intel Core i5-10210U processor or the corresponding Core i7-10510U. Both feature the same amount of memory, at 16GB of RAM (dual-channel, LPDDR3 2133MHz), as well as the same storage in the form of a 512GB PCIe SSD.
This is not a gaming laptop, and most who will opt to buy one (should) understand that. It is equipped with the integrated Intel UHD Graphics which is enough for office and multimedia, but, while it will handle less demanding gaming titles, it is not recommended for demanding ones.
Multimedia
The webcam we mentioned earlier, as a pop-up camera on the top row on the keyboard is a 720p HD camera. It gets the job done, granted, you’ll have to get used to the angle, but if you absolutely can’t, just buy an external webcam for your video calling needs. Make sure to unplug it, if you grab one, to protect your privacy, which is as easy as pressing it down into the chassis when it comes to the built-in camera.
There are four speakers on the MateBook X, of which two tweeters are embedded under the keyboard to enable the laptop to deliver sound from its input devices. The MateBook X also supports virtual 5.1 channel output for a more immersive experience, as well as two microphones.
Also debuting on the MateBook X is the edge microphone setup, which delivers, according to HUAWEI, better signal-to-noise performance. Sensitivity-wise the microphones pick up sound from up to five meters and AI intelligently removes echoing that occurs in large conference rooms.
Connectivity
Aside from the two USB Type-C ports on each side, the MateBook X features Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac/ax at 2.4GHz and 5GHz as well as Bluetooth 5.0. Of note that there’s another first on HUAWEI laptops with this model: it features, for the first time, Wi-Fi 6, with advertised potential speeds of up to three times those of Wi-Fi 5.
Battery
There’s a 42Wh battery pack powering the MateBook X, and inside the box, you will find a 65W charger. Talking about in-the-box accessories, you’ll also find a USB-C power cable, and the HUAWEI MateDock 2, which, once plugged into the USB-C port, offers you a multitude of output options (HDMI, VGA, USB-A, and USB-C).
Performance and battery life
While I usually do more than a fair amount of testing and real-life usage with my review units, I’ll be honest: I think I exaggerated with the MateBook X. Not because I was trying desperately to find flaws, but simply because I couldn’t put it down. Once pressing publish on this review, I’ll be sad to see it go!
I carried it everywhere with me and it turned eyes everywhere it was seen. This of course means that I worked more than the usual hours that I do, but I didn’t mind, as the MateBook X made it a sheer pleasure.
For work: I’ve written reviews (including this one), responded to emails, created documents and spreadsheets, manipulated imagery, and had a fair amount of Skype and video calls. I’ve basically moved in making it my permanent mobile office for the review period.
For fun: I’ve listened to music, watched Netflix and YouTube videos, with a fair amount of chatting, whether through dedicated apps, or web versions of specific clients.
Nothing I threw at this machine made it ever hiccup or make me doubt that it’s going to get the job done, in a buttery smooth manner. I’m not a gamer, and I already advised above against trying to play demanding games on this machine.
Benchmarks
If you’ve been following Pocketnow for a while you must already know by now that we’re not fans of benchmarks. We rely mostly on real-life usage scenarios, as that’s more likely what you’ll do (except if you’re the type of person who only runs benchmarks for a living).
However, we do understand that some of you appreciate seeing analytical and synthetic data, so we’ve run a couple. You can find the results below.
CrystalDisk Mark
Geekbench 5
Geekbench 5
Geekbench 5
Cinebench R20
When it comes to battery life, things get a little bit tricky, and, it all comes down to your usage scenario. If you’re doing basic office work with documents, browsing, email, etc., you’ll likely make it through the day.
The higher the brightness on the display (say if you’re outdoors and you need to crank it up, or you are watching or streaming videos), the shorter your battery life will be.
The shortest we’ve got out of the MateBook X was close to six hours of streaming video with full brightness. For the benchmark people among our readers, that translated to 7 hours and 44 minutes on PC Mark 10.
Regardless of what’s been thrown at it, the system stayed fairly cool and silent.
Software and experience
The HUAWEI MateBook X ships with Windows 10. Our unit arrived with Windows 10 Home, and our experience refers to the operating system and drivers being up to date.
The entire experience is smooth, with nothing to report. Things just work as they should, and if you’re a Windows person you’re probably already used to how the OS handles updates and requires restarts. But once it’s settled in, things are buttery smooth.
There’s little to no bloatware on the device, but it does ship with the PC Manager app, which serves two purposes: 1. It makes sure your system stays in top-notch shape by checking hardware and drivers and 2. It’s the interface between connecting your smartphone and the computer.
We’ve detailed Multi-Screen Collaboration and how HUAWEI Share works among HUAWEI and HONOR (sadly limited to these two) smartphones with the occasion of our HUAWEI MateBook X Pro and HONOR MagicBook 14 reviews. Check those out if you need more details on how useful these features are.
The overall experience is top-notch, offered by a beautifully designed piece of jewelry you’ll be proud to show off. The system is silent and cool, and if you’re consuming multimedia, you’ll absolutely love how loud and clear those four speakers are.
Conclusion
About the only thing stopping us from saying that this is potentially the best ultrabook out there is competition from HUAWEI itself. We wouldn’t hesitate if there wasn’t a HUAWEI MateBook X Pro, but then again, we’d hesitate to call that one the best, because of this model.
HUAWEI did a great job of having two offerings which are both just as good choices, depending on the target audience, as they fall into two different categories.
With a beautiful design, lightweight and small footprint, great display, and some “first on a HUAWEI laptop” features, we have no doubts in highly recommending this computer. Whether it’s your MacBook Air replacement, or the first computer for someone who is constantly on the go, its beauty, smarts, and small/light unibody structure will make it a pleasurable companion.
Officially announced for €1,599 (Core i5) and €1799 (Core i7), the price varies, just like the configuration options, from market to market. HUAWEI currently sells the i5 version in Germany and France for €1,499, and in Romania for the equivalent of €1,530.
Pros
+ beautiful design; + small and light; + gorgeous screen; + snappy performance; + good battery life.
Cons
– only two USB ports; – odd webcam angle; – poor graphics for gaming; – a tad on the pricier end;
Google Pixel 4a, iPads and more devices are on sale today
The official news today begin with deals as per usual, cause even installment plans actually make sense right now. For example the Google Pixel 4a is currently available for a $5 a month on Verizon. Of course there’s specific restrictions but, you’ll be getting an Unlimited Plan and you’ll end up paying $128 for the 128GB variant. I know international kids, don’t laugh about how expensive plans are in the US. Moving on to B&H, the LG G8 ThinQ is currently $450 off, leaving it at $500 from it’s original price tag. Moving on to Amazon, we have your daily dose of Apple deals, for example the latest 11in iPad Pro is $50 off, leaving the 128GB of storage variant for $750. The Apple Watch Series 5 is also $79 off, leaving the 44mm variant for $350. We have more deals on Apple products, Razer peripherals. Jabra earbuds and more in the links in the description.
Insta360 ONE X2 launches as the ultimate personal 360-degree camera
Now let’s move on to official news, and particularly for one of the companies that continues to have my favorite approach to action cams and that keeps 360 degree video alive. Insta360 just launched their new One X2. This is a pocket camera designed to replace a multi-cam setup to give you ultra wide video, panoramas, and of course, 360 degree video. It brings several changes from the original model, like a new 1630 mAh battery which let’s you shoot for up to 80 minutes, a new HD touch screen to preview your shot and that also includes 360 degree video, It’s also water resistant up to 33 feet with no case and it brings four microphones. The camera also brings improved performance, and their new AI tech let’s you change focus and other things while editing it, which you couldn’t do before. It’s currently available for $430 in Adorama and B&H. Really the only thing I’m curious about is if you still need to use their software to be able to edit their videos, cause that’s the only thing I still struggle with.
AMD unleashes Radeon RX 6000 series GPUs based on RDNA 2 architecture
And would you look at that, the cool part about TechTober is that official news actually superseed the typical rumor mill. AMD just unveiled three new GPUs for their RX 6000 series. Basically these 3 graphic cards bring RDNA 2 architecture and they undercut Nvidia’s RTX 30 series in price tag and manage to still bring somewhat of a comparable performance as well as lower power consumption. For context, this is the same architecture powering the PS5 and the Xbox Series X. This new lineup starts at $579 with the RX 68000 which competes with the $1199 RTX 2080 Ti which is from last generation. Next up, you get the Rx 6800 XT which directly competes with the Nvidia RTX 3080, offering you 4K and 1440p gaming with 16GB of GDDR6 memory for $649. Finally, you get the RX 6900 XT flagship which is aimed at 8K gamers, and it’ll set you back at $999. We got more technical details in the description but with these prices, why would the average consumer go for the Nvidia cards? Of course, they’re still crazy powerful but, AMD’s prices just make more sense.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 2 could still arrive in the first half of 2021
Now let’s move the spotlight over to Samsung, for those of you that thought we weren’t gonna cover leaks today. Ross Young is already talking about the Galaxy Z Flip 2. According to his latest tweet, he claims that the Z Flip 2 won’t be launched with the Galaxy S21 but it will be launched in the Spring and he is impressed with the upgrades we’re getting. If you think about it, this makes a lot of sense because all of the rumors hint to the Galaxy S launching way earlier, either late January or February, so a later Spring launch for the Z Flip would help Samsung stay in the spotlight. We’re expecting this Z Flip 2, to bring both 4G and 5G connectivity but other than that, we don’t have a lot of information on this Z Flip 2, other than these upgrades Ross Young is talking about, which he doesn’t really mention. I know I want a larger outer display but let us know what you guys would like to see to care about this phone.
Apple could be working on its own search engine to replace Google
Now let’s flip on over to the boring politics section, and what companies are doing about it. If you remember, about a week ago we covered how Google was being sued and one of the reasons was, the deal they have with Apple to be their exclusive search engine. Well, as of now, Google reportedly pays $10-12B to be Apple’s main search provider but, thanks to this lawsuit, it may end. And now a new report claims that Cupertino is silently working on a new Search Engine to replace Google in case their deal is blocked. It’s still unclear whether this engine will be a full-blown website like Google, or just an enhanced Spotlight Search, which is already linking websites directly, bypassing Google. These payments from Google reportedly make around 20% of Apple’s revenue which is, a huge deal. Apple will most likely try to build this new solution around privacy so, let’s see what we end up getting cause if Siri is going to be the backbone of this service, who knows if it’ll actually work out.
Story of the day:
iPhone 12 Pro’s Ceramic Shield doesn’t help against scratches
Apple iPhone 12 series supports reverse wireless charging, but it’s hidden: FCC filing
And finally the hottest news today have to do with Apple, and the things they don’t tell you until they’re discovered in teardowns. And yes, it happened, the iPhone 12 Pro just went through Zack’s JerryRigEverything’s Durability test, revealing some stuff that we were waiting to confirm. If you follow me on Twitter, and you definitely should, you probably saw that I scratched my 12 Pro within the first 5 minutes after unboxing it because I stacked the phones together and it obviously made me question the Ceramic Shield. Well, on Zack’s teardown he confirmed that even with the new technology it still scratches at a level 6 with deeper grooves at level 7, however he did say that the level 6 scratches aren’t as noticeable when compared to other glass panels. And he also said that thanks to the build and the ceramic shield this phone should be more drop resistant, which other channels have confirmed. His video will be linked in the description but, let’s move on to other things we didn’t know about the iPhone 12. According to a new FCC filing, the iPhone 12 has a “dormant” reverse wireless charging feature through MagSafe at 360kHz, “perhaps for an external Apple accessory in the future”. A couple of days ago we covered how we should be getting new AirPods soon so, maybe Apple is waiting until they release those for them to enable the feature and advertise it, and since the iPhone has magnets, it might actually make sense
The iPhone 12 Pro was recently featured on the JerryRigEverything YouTube channel, where it was tortured to see if it passed Zach Nelson’s durability test. Apple is well-known for making strong and premium devices, and as expected, the 12 Pro also fits this description. However, this durability test also shows that Apple may use too many fancy words to sell its devices without really delivering.
The latest durability test results applied on the iPhone 12 Pro are in, and some may be surprised. Zach Nelson starts by quickly unboxing the device, which comes in a smaller box, that doesn’t include more than the device, a charging cable, and some literature. He also mentions Apple’s recent strategy to remove things from its devices, starting with the headphone jack when they launched the wireless AirPods and now, the removal of the power adapter. At the same time, they launch a new $39 MagSafe wireless charging option that won’t work well with the new iPhone 12 cases and previous iPhone models. But at least the removal of the charging brick may be a good thing after all, since it was the lowest 5W charger of any phone anywhere.
The durability test starts focusing on Apple’s new Ceramic Shield that’s allegedly a step beyond glass. However, we are told to listen closely to Apple’s carefully structured buzzword filled sentences, as Cupertino said that it included nano-ceramic crystals within the glass matrix to improve toughness dramatically, and well, it wasn’t necessarily true, as the display scratched at level 6, with deeper grooves on level 7, like every other display found in Android phones. However, the phone’s “new design” inspired by the iPhone 5 does help the iPhone 12 Pro be tougher than some of its predecessors. This is achieved by placing the display flush, sitting just inside of the frame.
However, the iPhone 12 Pro’s Super Retina XDR display (OLED) did last longer under the flame. Meaning that this Ceramic Shield may help to prevent heat transfer to the pixels below the screen. Finally, the new stainless steel frame and recessed glass panels on both sides keep the iPhone 12 Pro from bending when passed through the bend test, meaning that it will be safe to keep your new phone in your pocket.
It seems that Apple has already started to think of alternatives to replace Google as the primary search engine in its devices. Google currently pays Apple around $12 billion a year to be the main search provider in iPhones, iPads, and more, but this deal will expire soon, and the latest antitrust case against Google by the US Department of Justice may block Apple and Google from closing an extension.
If this deal is blocked, Apple may be forced to create its own search engine, and that’s when we focus on Applebot, which is “the web crawler for Apple, used by products including Siri and Spotlight Suggestions. It respects customary robots.txt rules and robots meta tags. It originates in the 17.0.0.0 net block.” This information comes from 2015, when Apple was rumored to start working on its own search engine to go against Google, Bing and Yahoo.
Of course, Apple has come a long way since then, and the possibility of a new search engine may not seem so hard to believe. Further, Apple has recently started to link directly to websites, bypassing Google Entirely in iOS 14’s home screen searches.
“Apple is stepping up efforts to develop its own search technology as US antitrust authorities threaten multibillion-dollar payments that Google makes to secure prime placement of its engine on the iPhone. “In a little-noticed change to the latest version of the iPhone operating system, iOS 14, Apple has begun to show its own search results and link directly to websites when users type queries from its home screen. “That web search capability marks an important advance in Apple’s in-house development and could form the foundation of a fuller attack on Google, according to several people in the industry.”
Let’s also remember that Apple hired Google’s Sear and Artificial Intelligence chief John Giannandrea almost three years ago, and he is now Senior VP of Machine Learning and AI Strategy at Apple.
“Apple poached Google’s head of search, John Giannandrea. The hire was ostensibly to boost its artificial intelligence capabilities and its Siri virtual assistant, but also brought eight years of experience running the world’s most popular search engine.”
“They [Apple] have a credible team that I think has the experience and the depth, if they wanted to, to build a more general search engine,” said Bill Coughran, Google’s former engineering chief, who is now a partner at Silicon Valley investor Sequoia Capital […] “Apple’s position is very unique because it has the iPhone and iOS. It controls the default browser,” said Sridhar Ramaswamy, Neeva’s co-founder and Google’s former head of advertising. Expanding in search “feels natural” for Apple, he said, as it has the ability to gather data and learn from user behaviour at large scale.”
It is also said that Applebot’s crawl rate has increased substantially, which is the number of times it visits websites in order to update its database, meaning that Apple may indeed be preparing for a search engine change. We also have to consider that Apple may be one of the few companies with the resources to create a search engine that can go against Google.
The main difference is that Apple may have to find a way to create a successful search engine without building a profile around a user’s browsing habits and the data stored in their devices, especially after Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO once expressed himself saying that:
“A few years ago, users of Internet services began to realize that when an online service is free, you’re not the customer. You’re the product. But at Apple, we believe a great customer experience shouldn’t come at the expense of your privacy. “Our business model is very straightforward: We sell great products. We don’t build a profile based on your email content or web browsing habits to sell to advertisers. We don’t “monetize” the information you store on your iPhone or in iCloud. And we don’t read your email or your messages to get information to market to you.”
We have new information concerning the possible launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 2. Previous rumors suggested that this device would be delayed until late 2021, but it seems that Samsung has figured out the way to launch this phone in the first half of 2021.
Last month, @DSCCRoss posted on Twitter that Samsung was going to delay the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 2 to late 2021. However, he once again talks about the device and possible launch times, as he believes that the phone will still manage to be launched in Spring 2021. He also explains that the device will not be ready in time to launch alongside the new Samsung Galaxy S21 series, which is rumored to launch as early as January 2021.
The Z Flip 2 will not be launched with the S21, but it will be launched in the spring. I am impressed with the upgrades it will get.
This could mean that Samsung will hold a special event for the launch of the Galaxy Z Flip 2, where we may also get to see other Samsung products. Let’s remember that the first Galaxy Z Flip was launched back in February in its 4G only version, while the latest version with 5G support was launched a couple of months ago.
The new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 2 is expected to feature both 4G and 5G support, and rumors also claim that it could arrive with the same price tag as its predecessor. And a previous leak at Geekbench suggests that it may come with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor and 8GB RAM, with 256GB storage space.
What about you? are you interested in getting a new Galaxy Z Flip 2, or do you think it’s still too soon to transition over to foldable devices?
AMD has unveiled its new Radeon RX 6000 series GPUs based on the RDNA2 architecture, and all of them are aimed squarely at NVIDIA’s top-of-the-line RTX 3000 series graphics solutions. The latest offerings from AMD include the Radeon RX 6800, Radeon RX 6800 XT, and the fire-breathing Radeon RX6900T. AMD touts a 3x boost in performance and up to 54% higher performance per watt when compared to GPUs based on the first-gen RDNA architecture. Oher innovations include more energy-efficient compute units, the new AMD Infinity Cache technology, hardware-accelerated ray-tracing, and support for DirectX12 Ultimate among others.
Price starts at $579, hits the shelves early next month
AMD has 1440p as well as 4K gaming in mind, and from the benchmark comparisons we saw on-stage, these are the GPU duels AMD has in mind – Radeon RX 6900 XT vs NVIDIA RTX 3090, Radeon RX 6800 XT vs NVIDIA RTX 3080, and Radeon RX 6800 vs NVIDIA 2080 Ti. Here’s a quick overview of the three new AMD Radeon RX 6000 series graphics cards detailing their clock speeds (base and boost), number of CUs, cache, and more.
16GB GDDR6 memory and 128MB cache for all three GPUs
All three AMD Radeon RX 6000 series GPUs pack 16GB of graphics memory, but it is the GDDR6 standard we’re talking about, and not the faster (and more power-hungry) GDDR6X modules inside NVIDIA’s latest cards. Plus, the cache memory is set at 128MB on all three offerings, backed by the AMD Infinity Cache technology that is claimed to deliver higher bandwidth performance at lower power and latency. The company claims that its new solution offers up to 3.25x higher effective bandwidth compared to 256-bit 16 Gbps GDDR6 setup.
Image: AMD
AMD noted that the in-house FidelityFX toolkit will work in tandem with DirectX Raytracing to deliver improved post-process visual effects for offering superior control over shadows, lighting, and reflections in games. Variable Rate Shading is also onboard, and support for Microsoft’s DirectStorage API is there to ensure quick load times. The new Radeon Anti-Lag feature will also be there to provide a faster response by reducing input-to-display response times while gaming.
Image: AMD
The Radeon RX 6800 is priced at $579, while the Radeon RX 6800 XT will set you back by $649. Both the aforementioned graphics cards will be available starting November 18 from the AMD website and authorized retail partners. As for the enthusiast-class Radeon RX 6900 XT, it costs $999 and will hit the shelves starting December 8. AMD’s new graphics cards arrive merely a few weeks after the company unveiled the Zen 3-based Ryzen 5000 series desktop processors that will also go on sale early next month. You can check out the detailed comparison of the new AMD Radeon RX 6000 series graphics cards here.
We start today’s deals with the Google Pixel 4a, which can be yours for just $5 a month on Verizon. Of course, there are some conditions to be met, as you have to be a new Unlimited plan customer, and you will have to pay $5 a month for two years, leaving the 128GB device at $120, which sells for $380 unlocked. Another option for those of you looking for a new Android phone is the LG G8 ThinQ, which is currently selling for $500 after a $450 discount at B&H.
We then see several Apple products on sale over at Amazon. We will start with the 11-inch Apple iPad Pro with 128GB storage selling for $750 with $49 savings. The new 10.2-inch iPad with 32GB in storage is currently selling for $299 after a $30 discount or the 128GB version for $395 with $34 savings. The Apple Watch Series 5 in its 44mm version with Gold Aluminum case and pink sport band can be yours for $350 with $79 savings, or get the Apple Watch Series 3 for just $169 after a $30 discount. Finally, the latest MacBook Air is currently selling for $929 with $70 savings.
There are also interesting options if you’re looking for headphones, as the Jabra Elite 85h are getting a $100 discount, leaving them at $150. The Libratone Q Adapt Active Noise Cancelling Headphones are also available for $150 after a $70 discount, or you can get a paid of Apple AirPods Pro for $200 after a $49 discount.
Finally, Razer has a huge Halloween sales event where you can find $100 discounts on Razer Blade laptops, up to 23 percent off Razer keyboards, headphones, gaming mice, and more. For example, you can find the Razer BlackWidow Elite for just $130 with $40 savings. We find $20 discounts on the Razer Mamba Wireless, leaving it at $80 and more.
Chromebooks are great devices and fall into place somewhere between a tablet and a laptop. They offer quite a bit more than a tablet experience and run a full-fledged ChromeOS, but at the same time, they are generally less powerful than laptops. Furthermore, ChromeOS is nowhere near the same software compatibility as Windows, Mac, or other Linux distributions.
Chromebooks were originally conceived as machines that would run only Chrome and be used for online-based services, but the ecosystem has grown into so much more. Chromebooks can now run Android apps, and you can even use Crostini or Crouton to install and run Linux applications. Whatever your needs, a Chromebook can likely help, and here are the best Chromebooks to buy right now!
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 has all the bells and whistles you would expect from a budget gaming laptop, not just a Chromebook. It has a 13.5-inch 2256×1504 touchscreen, a 128GB NVMe SSD, an i5-10210U processor, and 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM. These are pretty beefy specifications for a device of which competitors can frequently feature eMMC storage and much, much weaker chipsets. If that’s not enough, you can bump that up to an i7, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. A bit overkill for a Chromebook? Maybe.
If you think you’re going to be using Linux applications a lot or think you’re going to want the best of the best in terms of performance when it comes to all of your web-based applications, then the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is probably the best overall Chromebook that money can buy today. Oh, and it’s Project Athena certified, meaning Intel says it has good performance and good battery life.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is one of the most powerful Chromebooks you'll be able to pick up today. With beefy specs that rival that of budget gaming laptops, performance will never be an issue.
Best detachable Chromebook: Lenovo Chromebook Duet
Detachable laptops differ from 2-in-1s, in that you can entirely remove them from their keyboard and use them entirely as a tablet. They tend to be a lot less bulky, although they may compromise on specifications as a result. The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is one of the best detachable Chromebooks on the market, though it features a MediaTek Helio P60T, 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage. It’s a full HD screen too, so it’s a perfect media streaming machine when it’s engaged in tablet mode.
Want to use it for work? Reconnect the keyboard, and it turns back into a laptop with a fully functioning keyboard. It’s not going to be the fastest or the best, but it’ll get the job done. It’ll do it without breaking the bank, too, as it starts at $289.99 from Lenovo’s website.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is one of the best detachable Chromebooks that you can buy today, and what's more, you're not going to need to break the bank to pick one up.
Best Chromebook for battery life: Google Pixelbook Go
Maybe the most important part of a Chromebook to you isn’t the performance, but its endurance. The Google Pixelbook Go offers modest specifications as it’s powered by an 8th gen M3, M5, or M7. However, you do get up to 256GB of SSD storage and up to 16GB of RAM, so it’s not as if you’re going to have any noticeable lags or stutters. The base model has a 13.3-inch full HD touchscreen, though there’s a 4K screen option too. What’s more, it comes in at just over 1KG for the FHD model.
The M3 series of Intel chipsets run fanless, which means they also use a lot less power. That, coupled with the 41.41 watt-hour battery, means that you’ll get up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge. When it runs out of battery, it has a 45W USB-C fast charger to quickly charge it back up. Google says 20 minutes of charge is enough for 2 hours of usage. With a starting price of $649, this may be well worth a look.
If you’re looking for the best Chromebook on a budget, then look no further than the Acer Chromebook 514. As you’ve seen here, many Chromebooks like to pack everything and the kitchen sink into a specification sheet, despite ChromeOS not being all that intensive. If you’re looking for a basic media machine with a touch screen that can get the job done, then the Intel Celeron N3450-powered Acer Chromebook 514 may do the job.
Packing 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, a Full HD 14-inch touchscreen, and 64GB of eMMC storage, it’s got all the basics covered for an excellent Chromebook experience on a budget. You can pick this one up on Amazon at a starting price of $419.99.
You want the best of the best, but for students? As a student myself, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook is a dream machine. It has a 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen with stereo speakers, the perfect setup for media streaming. In an age of online lectures, this will be perfect for catching up. Even better, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook comes with a Samsung Pen that hides inside the laptop’s body. When you’re done with work, you can then relax and watch Netflix or YouTube.
Worth noting is that they’re still just laptop speakers, though, so it might be worth investing in an external speaker or just a nice set of headphones for use with it. It’s got an i5-10210U and 8GB of RAM, which is more than enough for note-taking and media streaming. If you’re doing more intensive tasks, you can set up crouton or Crostini to use some Linux applications.
As a student myself, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook ticks all the boxes for me. It has a big 4K touchscreen, a pen for taking notes, and a set of stereo speakers to facilitate media streaming.
Best with mobile data: Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 (LTE)
While it’s certainly not going to be the fastest, the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 (LTE) will do the job if you really need mobile data support on your laptop. It’s powered by an Intel Celeron 3965Y, packs 4GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage. It’s got a 12.2-inch full HD touchscreen, which can be folded over to be used as a tablet. It comes with a pen too, so you’ll also be able to use this one to take notes if you need it! It’s got a starting price of $499.99 – a bit steep admittedly, but that’s the cost of LTE these days.
It’s hard to pick just one; however, I settled on the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 as the best value Chromebook that money can buy currently. It’s not the most souped-up Chromebook in terms of hardware, but it features pretty much everything that you’d want in a Chromebook. It’s a 2-in-1, meaning that you can use it as a tablet, and the 14-inch touchscreen is full HD. The base model comes with an Intel Core M3-8100Y, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of eMMC storage for $499.99. You can bump that up to 64GB of storage or up to 8GB of RAM with 64GB of storage, and other models have an i5-8200Y processor or an i7-8500Y processor as well.
This isn’t exactly the most “flagship” package, but it’s the perfect balance of price to performance in a Chromebook that you’ll get. Chromebooks aren’t really designed to be powerhouse machines, and they’re lightweight enough that you don’t need beefy hardware or a lot of storage to get the most out of it. Want something for college work and other basic tasks along with the ability to watch YouTube or Netflix? Maybe give the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 ago. You can probably even pick this one up second-hand if you do a bit of digging.
It's not the most exciting Chromebook out there, but the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is a fantastic option for those looking for the perfect balance of price to performance. There's nothing overkill here, and it pretty much embodies exactly what a Chromebook should be.
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