Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei has warned staff about the possibility of job cuts as the number of challenges facing the company escalate and multiply.
Several countries are excluding the Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer from their 5G rollouts, while other nations are considering measures that would limit the company’s influence on their communications infrastructure.
The main basis for these fears is a perception that Huawei is linked to the Chinese government and that the use of the company’s equipment risks the possibility of backdoors that could be used for espionage. These fears are heightened by 5G because of the sensitive information these networks will carry.
But it’s now clear that Huawei is preparing for the worst. Zhengfei’s public warning was reportedly sent via an email to all staff and then published on Huawei’s online community late last week. He added that targets would need to be revised and that future growth might be slower.
TechRadar Pro understands the email was sent last November.
“In the coming years, the overall situation will probably not be as bright as imagined, we have to prepare for times of hardship,” he is quoted as saying by the Financial Times. “Things went too smoothly for us in the last 30 years. We were in a phase of strategic expansion, our organisation expanded in a destructive way. We have to review carefully if all geographical subsidiaries are efficient.”
Huawei has effectively been frozen out of the US market, although it does provide equipment to a number of smaller players in the country, while Australia has banned its operators from using Huawei equipment in their 5G rollouts on national security grounds. It has also been reported that the US is urging its allies to take similar actions.
Meanwhile, Zhengfei’s daughter and company CFO Meng Wanzhou is currently being held in Canada as US officials attempt to extradite her to face charges of fraud related to alleged dealings with Iran. On top of that, a Huawei employee has been arrested on allegations of spying – although Huawei has dismissed that person and distanced itself from their alleged actions.
Huawei has repeatedly denied accusations of spying, pointing out that it works with security agencies around the world and that it sells products to more than 500 operators in 170 countries without issue. This includes the UK, where BT, EE, Vodafone and Three are all customers.
There is unlikely to be any enthusiasm for a ban among customers who value Huawei for its innovations and fear a reduced pool of suppliers will increase prices.
One operator that has lent its support is Canada's Telus, which has declared Huawei to be a "reliable" equipment partner.
TCL is rapidly taking over the mid-range television space. It’s a spot it’s been vying for over the last five years, and with everything from budget HDR sets to 8K QLEDs to offer, it’s really beginning to hold its own.
TCL has held a steady 10% market share of the global LCD TV market for the past couple of years, as one of the largest TV manufacturers alongside Samsung and LG. So it's more likely than ever that you'll come across a TCL TV in your hunt for the perfect home television, even if they're relatively new to UK stores.
To conquer that space, TCL has a number of TV series – and we mean literally, as TCL somewhat confusingly names its TVs after numbers.
UPDATE:Amazon Prime Day is coming up fast (July 15 and 16) and that means you're bound to find a number of good TV deals - including some on TCL TVs. That said, we recommend holding out for Amazon Prime Day before making a purchase, and doing your research before buying the cheapest screen available. If you see a good deal on the TCL 32S305, TCL 49S405 or TCL 55S405 you should probably keep looking - as those models are from 2017.
Last year saw the launch of new additions to the TCL 6-Series and 5-Series, while this year, TCL is treating us to two new 8K TVs, including the 2019 TCL Roku TV and the flagship 75-inch TV model from its new 8-Series. You'll also see some carryovers from last year - the 3-Series and 4-Series - that are now cheaper than ever.
It can be hard deciphering which models are capable of which features, but that’s why we’re here. We’ve got our hands on a number of the new smart TVs, and can help you narrow down TCL’s ever-expanding line-up to find the TV that’s right for you.
But before we get into specific models, let’s talk about what TCL is changing in its brand-new 2019 TVs.
Image Credit: TCL
TCL 2019 TV technology
So what makes a TCL TV... well, a TCL TV?
In recent years, one of the defining traits of TCL TV's is their use of Roku TV, which appears in most of the mid-range models in North America. By leveraging Roku's strengths, TCL TVs have an incredible library of subscription-based streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.
In 2019, TCL is expanding into 8K, with the upcoming launch of the new 2019 TCL Roku TV (or TCL X10 QLED outside the US), plus the new 8-Series range. The company has also joined other display industry leaders to form the 8K Association, which will work to “define 8K display performance standards and support the outreach and promotion of 8K to consumers and to industry partners, like streaming services”.
Both of the new 8K TVs feature TCL’s new Quantum Dot display technology, which supports a wide color gamut display, approaching 100% of the DCI-P3 color space coverage. This, alongside TCL’s mini LED technology, should make for more vibrant colors, heightened contrast, and better viewing angles.
This year also saw the launch of TCL's new AI smart platform, TCL AI-IN, and it’s working to integrate its smart AI-powered products with partners like Android TV, Roku (in North America only), and Amazon Alexa.
TCL doesn't currently trade in OLED TVs, though it does have plans down the line for OLED panels that feature emissive quantum dot pixels: something that we know Samsung is working on too.
TCL continues to work on a number of more unusual form factors, like massive curved screens and concrete subwoofers, though most don't make their to market – especially Western ones.
TCL X10 QLED (available in 75 inches): At CES 2019, we discovered that the 8K 2019 TCL Roku TV (or TCL X10 QLED outside the US) boasts QLED and mini LED technology for improved picture quality. Specifically, these smaller LEDs offers more local dimming, with 300% more contrast control zones compared to its last-generation sets.
This creates deeper blacks, more vibrant colors and, most importantly, better viewing angles. Support for 8K, Dolby Vision, and Quantum Dot display technology should make for an impressive picture, particularly in the flagship 75-inch model.
It also has an integrated Onkyo soundbar, which supports Dolby Atmos, and is 14.5mm at its thinnest point. TCL says the 2019 TCL Roku TV will be available in the second half of this year, with prices to be announced.
Model numbers: TBC
TCL 8-Series (new for 2019)
Image Credit: TechRadar
TCL 8-Series (available in 75 inches and larger): The forthcoming TCL 8-Series 8K Roku TV takes a lot of what we liked about the TCL 6-Series 4K Roku TV and quadruples the pixel count while slimming down the thickness. At the starting size of 75 inches, it's a sight to behold.
Like the 2019 TCL Roku TV, the new 8-Series has QLED and mini LED technology for a clear, precise, and vibrant display. The TCL 8K TV also supports a wide color gamut display, approaching 100% of the DCI-P3 color space coverage, Dolby Vision, and more of the ultra-contrast control zones tech we've seen on TCL's higher-end 6-Series televisions.
The 75-inch flagship model can skillfully convert today’s 4K and full HD resolution content and delivers a new sense of depth and clarity, says the company. It'll also be future-proofed for when native 8K content does get here thanks to HDMI 2.1 support.
Like the 2019 TCL Roku TV, it has a built in Onkyo soundbar with Dolby Atmos support. TCL says the 8-Series will be available in 2019, with pricing to be confirmed.
TCL 6-Series (available in 55, 65, and 75 inches): 2018’s TCL 6-Series has been updated to include a new 75-inch model for 2019. Models in the 6-Series boast three types of HDR support, Roku TV, and copious amounts of LED control zones.
The TCL 6-Series is available now, at a special pre-order introductory price of $649 for the 55” (55R617), $999 for the 65” (65R617) screen size, and $1800 for the 75” (75R617).
Model numbers: 55R617, 65R617, and new for 2019, the 75R617
TCL 5-Series (available in 43, 49, 55, and 65 inches): 2018 saw the launch of the TCL 5-Series, a little brother to the 6-Series that packs many of the same features. You can expect HDR Pro Gamma and support for the three main types of HDR, plus Wide Color with NBP Photon technology and Roku TV built-in. As far as motion is concerned, the 5-Series has 240 Natural Motion technology … which probably equates to a native refresh rate of 120Hz.
The TCL 5-Series is a available now at $429.99 for the 43” (43S517), $449.99 for the 49” (49S517), $499.99 for the 55” (55S517), and $899.99 for the 65” (65S517).
TCL 4-Series (available in 43, 49, 55, 65 and 75 inches): If you're not the kind of person who spends a lot of time looking at model numbers, most of the TCL TVs you've likely seen throughout your life have been the 4-Series. It's one of the TV maker's most popular models because it expertly blends performance with price and is known to drop precipitously during Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales.
The 5-Series and 6-Series offer a number of improvements like improved black levels, higher brightess and more dimming zones, the basic 4-Series still offers 4K HDR at an affordable price (note: only HDR10 is supported on the 4-Series, however). Each model in the series still uses Roku TV for its smart platform and comes with a smart remote. If you want a value screen, these are your best bet.
The TCL 4-Series is a available now at $279.99 for the 43” (43S425), $339.99 for the 49” (49S425), $379.99 for the 55” (55S425), and $599.99 for the 65” (65S425).
Model numbers: 43S425, 49S425, 55S425, 65S425
(Editor's note: You might still see some 2017 models floating around online - the TCL 49S405 and TCL 55S405. We'd recommend buying the latest model when possible.)
Everything you need to know about the new TV launches of 2019:
Sony has replaced its PlayMemories mobile camera app with all-new app called Imaging Edge Mobile.
Sony says the new app will offer the instant transfer of images from camera to a connected smart device while shooting thanks to the new ‘Auto background transfer to Smartphone’. The new app will also add support for 4K movie transfer, as well as offering remote control of cameras.
For professional photographers, Sony is also releasing a new mobile app called ‘Transfer & Tagging add-on’. This will allow users to transfer content to their mobile devices via the camera’s FTP background transfer, without having stop shooting. Available for the Alpha A9, Alpha A7R III and Alpha A7 III, the app enables voice input for captioning to help streamline communication and overall workflow between photographers and other team members - perfect for sport photographers working pitch-side.
Both Imaging Edge Mobile and Transfer and Tagging add-on will be available from March 2019.
Sony desktop apps enhanced
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The desktop version of Imaging Edge is also getting an update, with workflow support for timelapse movie creation, while other new features have also been added, including a comparison display and collection function. Sony has also taken the opportunity to refresh and improve the the user interface.
Cheap broadband and a shopping trip at Amazon.co.uk on your mind? Well you can get both right now with Plusnet's current broadband deal - but you will have to act fast as it ends at midnight tomorrow (Tuesday, January 22).
This deal applies to Plusnet's standard interent plan. That means average speeds of 10Mb on a 12 month contract for just £18.99 a month. To make that deal even more enticing, Plusnet is also throwing in a reduced activation fee, down to £5 from a tenner. And topping it all of...that £60 Amazon.co.uk Gift Card.
All of this piqued your interest? Well you can see all of the details down below or, if it wasn't quite what you were looking for, why settle? We have a list of all of the best broadband deals so you can find the one that works best for you.
Microsoft, which was once one of the most anti-open source companies on the planet, has certainly changed its tune recently, and rumors suggest that its upcoming Windows Core OS operating system will use open source components.
Microsoft’s embrace of open source is one of the most noticeable changes brought in by current CEO Satya Nadella, and not only is Microsoft now one of the largest contributors to Open Source projects, it also recently acquired GitHub, an online repository for open source code and projects.
Up until now Microsoft has been wary of using open source elements in its Windows 10 operating system. However, a LinkedIn profile of a Security Program Manager II at Microsoft has been spotted, which outlines job details that include ensuring “the Security of Windows Core OS from malicious actors and code. Improved the security posture of Windows Open Source Components through initiatives that investigate vulnerabilities found and establish a process for remediation.”
The LinkedIn profile was first spotted by WalkingCat, a Twitter user who is known for breaking Microsoft news.
Windows going open source?
It’s very unlikely that Windows Core OS, or any version of Windows, will go fully open source, but as Microsoft demonstrated when it announced it was switching its Edge web browser to the open source Chromium engine, the company isn’t averse to using open source technology when it suits its needs.
So, could we see components from open source operating systems like Linux or Android in Windows Core OS? Perhaps. Those operating systems have found great success on running on embedded and low-powered devices, which is what Microsoft is apparently aiming for with Windows Core OS.
Hopefully we’ll find out more about Windows Core OS, and its potential use of open source code, soon.
The Lego Group has celebrated the opening of its latest movie in the most logical way possible: by building a full-scale truck entirely from bricks.
Eighteen of the company's master builders spent over 2,000 hours piecing together a replica of the new 2019 Silverado 1500 LT Trail Boss. The finished model contains 334,544 individual pieces (the most common of which is the classic red 2x8 stud brick), and weighs a mighty 3,307 pounds.
The model was unveiled at the North American International Motor Show, ahead of the release of The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. The movie, which will appear in theaters on February 8, will feature a miniature version of the truck.
Bricking it
This isn't the first time Lego's master builders have turned their skilled hands to auto-making; last year, the company's designers and engineers invested 13,000 hours creating a slick replica of the Bugatti Chiron.
Unlike the blocky Bugatti, which was capable of cruising at a sedate 20kmh, the Silverado isn't driveable. Nevertheless, it's a faithful recreation of the truck, and include working lights and graphic details.
"The themes of determination and teamwork in the new movie align perfectly with our Chevy brand values and we are sure that the all-new Silverado has the features, technologies and strength that would help Emmet, Lucy and their friends as they take on exciting new challenges," said Sandor Piszar, director of Chevrolet Truck marketing. Everything is awesome, indeed.
All of the major players on the telecommunications scene now offer internet, TV and phone package deals. But if you don't use a home phone and are happy with the standard TV channels, a cheap home broadband only contract is all you'll need.
Use our postcode checker above to filter down the broadband deals available to you and whether you can go for superfast fibre broadband. Then use our comparison chart to home in on the perfect package - they all include a phone line, so you don't have to worry about getting one separately. And keep scrolling if you want some in-depth information about broadband plans and the broadband only plans offered by BT, Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk and others.
If you simply want broadband for the cheapest price possible, you'll need to go for a standard ADSL connection. When you compare the prices of the cheapest standard speeds and unlimited superfast fibre, you'll see that you can save more than a fiver a month.
But if you're in the habit of streaming TV and films from the internet, or have lots of people in your household all online at once, then it pays to upgrade to fibre optic to allay annoying lags and slow webpage loading times. Broadband speeds are represented in megabits per second, or Mb - the greater the Mb, the faster the broadband speed (although your actual day-to-day speed will vary depending where you live).
0-25Mb It's not an acronym you see so much these days, but ADSL broadband is now the entry-level connection you can get for your home. With average speeds around 10Mb-11Mb - just over 1MB per second - it's perfectly fine for small households who want to surf the web, handle their emails and stream non-4k catch-up TV.
25-50Mb Average fibre broadband speeds start at up to 36Mb, so more than double what you get with standard ADSL. It's the sweet spot between fast speeds and good value and just the ticket for a family household where four or five members are all streaming, downloading and surfing at once.
50+Mb If you want to stream uninterrupted 4K Ultra HD content from Netflix or Amazon Instant Video, then it's well worth going for superfast internet. The same goes if you know that loads of people will be using your router simultaneously. BT Superfast deals, for example, are at an average 50Mb. While only Virgin Media broadband can offer 100Mb and over - that's an incredible 12.5MB per second.
Fibre broadband checker - can I get fibre broadband?
If you've read our advice above but are wondering whether fibre broadband is actually available in your area (it can currently be accessed by around 90% of UK households), then wonder no longer! Head to the top of this page, bash in your postcode and if you see fibre broadband deals on the list, then you're all good.
What contract length should I go for?
Broadband providers can deal in 12, 18 or 24-month contracts, with some providers giving you the choice. If you've got commitment issues or aren't sure how long you'll be at your property, then it's worth bagging one year deal. While getting an 18 month or two year deal often means that your price is guaranteed for longer.
If you need even greater flexibility, some companies offer 30 day contracts as well. Take Virgin for example. But bear in mind that they tend to charge higher set-up fees for the privilege.
Will I have to pay anything upfront for broadband?
There are only a few exceptions to the rule that you'll have to pay at least a little something immediately when you sign-up for broadband. The best case scenario is that it's just to cover the cost of delivering the router, but some providers also charge a set-up or activation fee to get you connected.
But if you head to our comparison charge above and use the filter on the left, you'll see that some providers don't charge a penny up front. This varies from time-to-time, with companies such as BT, TalkTalk and Plusnet running limited-time promotions where they remove these fees completely. So fingers crossed...
Can I get a phone line and TV channels with my broadband?
If you're curious how much a combined broadband, phone and TV package might cost, you can use our filters in the comparison chart above to tailor the best broadband plan for you and your household. There are hundreds of combinations, allowing you to cherry pick the amount and type of TV channels you get or when you can make calls. So our table will take the pain out of choosing.
BT broadband only deals and speeds
BT Unlimited Broadband | Avg 10Mb
BT is still the most popular broadband provider in the UK. You get the Home Hub 4 with its standard internet, as well as a Reward Card that you can spend anywhere Mastercard is accepted (the amount varies from week-to-week, so check our comparison chart for more details).
BT Unlimited Infinity | 50Mb-67Mb
Infinity is the name BT gives to its fibre optic broadband service. Infinity 1 gives speeds of up to 52Mb (around 6.5 MB per second download speed), which is faster than most other companies' entry-level fibre. Upgrade to Infinity 2 and crank the speed up to 76Mb. With both, you get the rangey BT Smart Hub router and a more bountiful Reward Card.
Sky Broadband Unlimited | Avg 17Mb
Sky Broadband Unlimited is one of the most competitively priced broadband plans on the market. Unlike the other Sky broadband packages that tie you in to 18 month contracts, Sky Broadband Unlimited is 12 months only.
Sky Fibre Max | Avg 63Mb
Sky used to have a few fibre options but now you only have one choice, Fibre Max. Max will get you an average speed of 63Mb (7.875 MB a second) which is more than sufficient for big families, gaming sessions and streaming.
Virgin VIVID fibre broadband | 50Mb-300Mb
Thanks to the new VIVID 50 package, you can now get Virgin Media's cheapest cable internet package for less than £30. But pay over £30 a month and you start to get some simply extraordinary speeds. Choose from 108Mb (13.5MB per second), 213Mb (26.6MB per second) or 362Mb (a jaw-dropping 45.25MB per second).
TalkTalk Fast Broadband| Avg 11Mb
Don't let the name fool you, TalkTalk's fast broadband offers only standard ADSL 17Mb speed. You can choose between 12, 18 and 24 month contract terms, with a lower monthly premium if you choose a year-and-a-half.
TalkTalk Faster Fibre| Avg 39Mb-56Mb
TalkTalk's fibre optic broadband plans are some of the cheapest around. And with its maximum speed of around 9.5MB per second, you can pay extra for Speed Boost and a Super Router - the TalkTalk broadband plan to go for if you have a multitude of data-hungry folk in your home.
Plusnet Unlimited | Avg 10Mb
Plusnet is owned by BT, but its prices are usually quite a lot cheaper than BT internet and Infinity. In fact, we often find that Plusnet has the cheapest broadband only prices in the UK.
Plusnet Unlimited Fibre | Avg 36Mb-66Mb
You can choose between Unlimited Fibre and Unlimited Fibre Extra, where the latter gives you Plusnet's fastest speeds. Either way, you'll get unlimited usage, 365 days a year support and a Plusnet Hub One router delivered to your door for free.
Vodafone Superfast | Avg 35Mb
Better known for its mobile phone deals, Vodafone is a competitively priced broadband provider, too. It used to be that you had to have your mobile with Voda to get the cheapest tariffs, but that's all changed now.
Vodafone Superfast 2 | Avg 63Mb
If Vodafones Superfast 1 package isn't enough for you they also offer a Superfast 2 package which bumps up the speeds a little bit to 63Mb ( 7.875 MB a second) that's pretty fast.
SSE Unlimited Broadband | Avg 11Mb
Already one of the 'Big Six' energy companies, SSE is offering cheap prices on broadband - which makes a change from its day job as one of the big six energy firms. There are special offers to be had if you use SSE as your energy supplier.
SSE Unlimited Superfast Fibre Broadband | Avg 35Mb
SSE promises zero price hikes during your contract and you can leave for free within 60 days if you are not happy with the service. SSE used to offer only one fibre package but now like many other broadband providers they are offering a Plus option as well.
SSE Unlimited Fibre Plus Broadband | Avg 63Mb
If those 35Mb speeds really don't cut it for you, SSE now offers a Fibre Plus package which gives you a whopping 63MB average speed. That works out at 7.8Mb a second which will easily power you through some heavy streaming sessions.
John Lewis Unlimited | Avg 10Mb
John Lewis is a tried and trusted retailer, and now it's dipping its toe into the already crowded broadband market. But it has a lot going for it - there's no activation fee at all, and even the cheapest ADSL package includes a phone line and evening and weekend calls.
John Lewis Fibre | 36Mb-66Mb
John Lewis has two superfast fibre plans to choose from, and both give you unlimited use and free set-up. Fibre is the retailer's 36Mb tariff and Fibre Extra accelerates things up to 66Mb.
Post Office Unlimited Broadband | Avg 11Mb Yet another name that you'll be more used to seeing in other contexts, and another internet provider giving weekend and evening calls. The Post Office tends to offer some of the cheapest broadband deals around.
Post Office Fibre Unlimited Broadband | Avg 36Mb-63Mb
Yep, you guessed it - 38Mb and 76Mb fibre optic broadband are the two options available from the post office, with the latter called Unlimited Fibre Broadband Plus. Unlike its ADSL prices though, superfast broadband from the Post Office is on the dear side.
Another Surface-related patent has emerged – following the potential Surface Dial and Pen innovations we saw last week – and this time it appears Microsoft is hoping to improve the keyboard of its hybrid laptop.
As the patent (spotted by Windows Latest) outlines, the idea is to use keys with haptic feedback rather than traditional mechanical means (i.e. “rubber or metal dome switches along with scissor mechanisms” as Microsoft puts it).
The idea is that haptic feedback could still give the user a pleasant typing experience in terms of key travel and overall feel, while not requiring any actual physical travel for the key, therefore meaning the keyboard base can be made thinner (as the key mechanism is slimmer).
The trick, of course, is to achieve haptic feedback technology which can successfully emulate the feel of a ‘real’ keyboard with physical travel, and it seems Microsoft is confident in achieving this.
The patent observes: “Implementations described and claimed herein provide a push button comprising a spring element with a user-perceptible physical travel upon depression of the push button, and a haptic element that simulates additional travel of the push button upon depression of the push button.”
Svelte Surface
And, when combined with the great quest to also make the tablet section of the hybrid thinner, the end result could be a much more svelte Surface 2-in-1. Or indeed a thinner standalone keyboard if Microsoft applied this trick to those products.
The patent in question has just been published, but was first filed back in July 2017.
It’ll be interesting to see if Microsoft can make progress down this particular avenue, but as ever with the development of technology, many would-be or prototype products are discarded before they ever see the light of day.
As we mentioned at the outset, the Surface Dial could also be in line for a nifty improvement, namely the addition of a touch sensor to the top of the peripheral, allowing for multiple gesture-based controls.
Not long ago we saw a benchmark for the Snapdragon 855 version of the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus likely to land in the US, and now there’s a benchmark seemingly for the Exynos 9820 model, expected in most of the rest of the world, but its scores are somewhat lower.
In a Geekbench listing spotted by NashvilleChatter, the Galaxy S10 Plus with an Exynos chipset gets a single-core score of 3,248 and a multi-core one of 7,999. That’s despite being listed as having 6GB of RAM and running Android 9.
The earlier benchmark for the Snapdragon 855 model meanwhile has a single-core score of 3,413 and a multi-core result of 10,256.
It’s not entirely surprising that the Snapdragon model would score higher, especially as the chipset is made in a theoretically more efficient 7nm size, to the Exynos 9820’s 8nm.
However, the scores recorded by the Exynos version are also lower than many current flagships, including the likes of the iPhone XS and even the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.
From low to high(er)
However, this score might not be representative, as a benchmark for the standard Samsung S10 with the Exynos 9820 chipset (this time spotted by PhoneArena) has also emerged.
This has a single-core score of 4,382 and a multi-core result of 9,570, which is more in line with what we’d expect. This model is also listed as having 6GB of RAM and running Android 9.
Benchmarks do seem a bit all over the place as the moment when it comes to the Galaxy S10 range, as a recent one seemingly for the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite also had weirdly low scores, so we wouldn’t read too much into any of them for now.
And regardless of scores, we’re sure these will all be very powerful phones in practice, but we’ll know for certain soon, as the Samsung Galaxy S10 range is set to land on February 20.
Rumors of Samsung adopting an in-display fingerprint scanner have been doing the rounds for years, and since companies like Huawei (with the device pictured above) and Vivo have now achieved it, we are almost certain Samsung will do so with the Galaxy S10.
Consistent leaks and rumors of the new Galaxy S10 range have suggested we'll see the tech debut there, and our best evidence yet comes from Samsung's own code.
Found within the Samsung Pay app - specifically dug up by XDA Developers - the source code references the codename of the S10 and shows a little of how the app would work behind the scenes if you're not using a typical phone scanner.
If the phone has an in-display scanner, the app will look to move the "payment flow window" higher up the page. That may be because of the positioning of where your thumb will be on your phone screen.
This doesn't confirm we'll see the in-display fingerprint tech on all Galaxy S10 models though, but the fact it exists in the app at all suggests at least one model will have the tech.
Current rumors suggest there will be at least three phones in the range, but only the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus will feature the scanner, leaving the Galaxy S10 Lite with a rear mounted option.
There are also rumors of a fourth even higher spec phone called the Galaxy S10 X, and if that does happen we'd also expect that to have the in-display tech.
But what materials?
A separate report has also said there will be a special edition version of the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus that's set to come with an impressive 12GB of RAM alongside 1TB of storage. It's also thought to have a ceramic back instead of glass like we expect on most S10 models.
That's not something we've seen Samsung do before, but other phone companies such as OnePlus have experimented with ceramic designs and this matches with another rumor we saw late last year.
The leak comes from IceUniverse who says, "This ceramic has a special process that is not only scratch resistant but also resistant to falling, but the weight will increase."
Exactly how much heavier (or more expensive) the ceramic version will be remains a mystery too.
Samsung is skipping MWC 2019 this year and is instead hosting its own event in San Francisco on February 20 to unveil the next line-up of phones. We may also see more of the company's foldable device too.
A screenshot of the app showing the recording button, preset packs, and sharing options. Credit: TechCrunch.
Audio technology company Dolby is working on its first music recording and production app, according to a report by TechCrunch.
Codenamed '234' and previously tested under 'Dolby Live', the app listens out for background noise before you hit the record button, and then diminishes it, making recordings sound clearer.
Although the app is said to be free, users will reportedly be able to buy audio effects packs with different EQ settings, including, according to the report, "Amped, Bright, Lyric, Thump, Deep, or Natural".
It looks like Dolby is going after bedroom music makers, with Soundcloud integration built in, meaning users will be able to upload to the music-sharing platform directly, without leaving the app.
Whether musicians will take to a smartphone app to record their music is unclear; a mobile phone's inbuilt microphones are unlikely to measure up in terms of sound quality to a microphone going through an audio interface and into a computer or laptop. Still, an app like this could be useful for making audio notes or 'sketches' on the move.
TechCrunch says it was tipped off to the app by an anonymous source, and despite no formal announcements from Dolby, it looks like you can register to test the app via a signup link.
It appears Uber is doubling down even harder on autonomous transport, with a new 'micromobility' department to bring self-driving technology to electric scooters and bikes.
Uber has offered electric bike rentals though its app for several months now via the Jump bike-sharing service. The e-bikes have been rolled out across various American cities - Washington, Phoenix, Los Angeles, to name but a few - though only Berlin in Europe so far.
According to the below tweet from Chris Anderson, CEO of 3D Robotics, Uber announced the micromobility program at a robotics event over the weekend, and is currently hiring roles to work on Jump's robotics and sensor technologies.
There are currently no listings for these roles on the Jump website, but this could swiftly change.
An autonomous future
The ride-hailing app has made no secret of its plans for self-driving vehicles - cars that can navigate without human interference - though its autonomous car program suffered a major setback when it led to the death of a pedestrian in Arizona in early 2018.
The global rollout of bike rental services, however, has seen cities plagued by abandoned vehicles, as riders find it easier to ditch them by the kerbside - or in an actual ditch - than make sure they're taken to a designated parking or charging place.
Scooters would presumably pose less of a threat to passersby, and there's an argument for e-bikes that can navigate for themselves.
Developing 'micromobility' so that these bikes and scooters can, say, park themselves without a rider, head to pick-up locations, and even ferry users from one place to the next autonomously, would be big business. But the botched rollout of these services we've seen so far - and Uber's safety record - doesn't give us much hope.
