Facebook is giving its News section a major push, but the company is not just trying to diversify its news content library and boost its availability, but is also working to improve the user experience as well. With the latter in mind, Facebook is testing a new feature that will link user profiles with news subscriptions to reduce the hassle of repeated sign-ins for paywalled content.
Facebook will match the user profiles with news subscribers, and will then invite users to link their Facebook account with their news subscription account. Once the account linking is done, subscribers won’t have to repeatedly go through the sign in process every time they click on an article on Facebook that is hidden behind a paywall.
Facebook claims that repeated sign-ins are a major pain point for both subscribers as well as publishers, and the new account linking feature will try to end that by introducing a persistent login experience. The social media giant claims that early tests have shown promising results for both subscriber engagement and content distribution, leading to a surge in article clicks and follower count for publishers.
Samsung is reportedly preparing to launch a more affordable version of the Galaxy S20 soon that will go by the name Galaxy S20 FE, where FE likely stands for Fan Edition. After appearing in a benchmark listing and in the form of leaked renders, the Galaxy S20 FE has now been mentioned on the official Samsung website, confirming that the ‘budget flagship’ is on its way.
The YouTube Premium promotional page of the Samsung Bulgaria website mentions a list of devices that will come bundled with 4 months of YouTube Premium. In the list of eligible smartphones, two devices caught our attention – the Galaxy S20 FE and GalaxyS20 FE 5G. It appears that Samsung will launch two variants of the Galaxy S20 FE, one that supports 5G and one without it.
As per the leaked renders, the Galaxy S20 FE will feature three rear cameras at the back and a single selfie camera housed in a centrally-positioned hole punch, much like the rest of its Galaxy S20 siblings. As per an alleged Geekbench listing, the Galaxy S20 FE will be powered by the Exynos 990 processor, while some regions might get a different variant with a Qualcomm chipset at its heart.
Just a few days ago, a leaked video gave us our first glimpse of LG’s upcoming ‘Wing’ smartphone that features a rotating secondary display behind the main screen. Now, the device has appeared in another video (via Android Authority) that shows how its secondary rotating display can be of use while gaming.
In the leaked above, one can see that the main interface of a racing game playing out on the main display, while the map has been moved to the secondary display which is positioned at a 90-degree angle. This is definitely a creative way to leverage the form factor by moving some of the UI content to the secondary display, leaving more screen real estate for the main action.
Mobile games are often plagued with having too many on-screen controls in a cramped layout, so moving some of the key items to a secondary screen will make the interface less cluttered. In the previous video, we saw the main screen being used to show navigation info in portrait mode, while the secondary screen set at a 90-degree angle had the music playback controls.
Earlier this month, Facebook unveiled a new feature that will allow businesses to hold paid online events and also announced that it won’t charge any fee for it. However, Apple was adamant about taking its standard 30% App Store fee, so Facebook decided to tell users about it via a message on the purchase page. Well, Facebook now claims that Apple blocked it from showing that message, calling it irrelevant information.
“Now more than ever, we should have the option to help people understand where money they intend for small businesses actually goes. Unfortunately Apple rejected our transparency notice around their 30% tax but we are still working to make that information available inside the app experience,” Facebook was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Facebook reportedly asked Apple to forego the 30% App Store fee so that small businesses struggling during the pandemic can get the full share of the money that they raise via paid online events. However, Apple was not happy about it and made Facebook remove the transparency message, which originally appeared in the mock-ups but is not currently visible, now that the feature is live.
The brand ‘OnePlus’ was synonymous to flagship devices. However, the company announced its first mid-range device in years with the OnePlus Nord. Now, it is being reported that the Chinese manufacturer is looking to foray into the budget segment.
According to a report from Android Central, OnePlus is working on an entry-level phone that is powered by the Snapdragon 460 chipset. It goes on to say that the launch is imminent, and the device will be made available in global markets including the U.S. The budget phone is codenamed OnePlus ‘Clover’.
It is said to feature a 6.52-inch 720p (1560 x 720) IPS LCD display and come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage with a MicroSD slot. It could pack a 6,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. Further, it might sport a triple rear camera setup of 13MP + 2MP + 2MP. As per the report, OnePlus Clover will have a capacitive fingerprint sensor at the back. It is rumored to cost $200. The specifications are very similar to the recently-launched OPPO A53.
POCO X3 is said to be launched soon. Ahead of the official unveiling, the brand has confirmed that it will come equipped with a 64MP primary camera. It is tipped to sport a quad rear camera setup housed in an unusual camera module.
The latest development comes from the global spokesman for POCO, Angus Kai Ho Ng, who took to Twitter to tease the sample photos taken by POCO X3. As per the caption, both photos were captured by the upcoming smartphone.
Testing out the camera set-up with the latest #POCOX3 It's really more than just a normal 64MP Lots of cool awesome features to share very soon!
The POCO X3 is rumored to feature a 120Hz LCD display. It could come with a 240Hz touch sampling rate. Further, it might sport a 20MP selfie shooter and pack a 5,160mAh battery. It could be powered by an unannounced Snapdragon 732 SoC. The device is expected to be launched on September 8.
Whether you’re a constant commuter or enjoy taking frequent trips overseas, you need gadgets and tools that can help you live a happy and productive life while you’re on the go.
From wireless Bluetooth earbuds and UV sanitizing sticks to portable data storage devices and beyond, these best-selling carry gadgets are essential items for the on-the-go adventurer, and each one is on sale for a limited time right now.
Listen to your favorite tunes while you track your fitness goals with this multifunctional smart watch and wireless earphones combo. You’ll be able to track your heart rate 24/7, and it’s even easy to receive notifications on your devices for on-the-go tracking.
Kill germs and bacteria that live on your phone, keyboard and more with this UV sanitizer. It’s small enough to take with you when you’re on the move, and an indicator lights tells you when it’s doing its job.
This carabiner tool will help you take your cleanliness to new levels, by helping you to avoid touching a wide range of common surfaces. It even acts as a hook, stylus, and hex driver for added convenience.
Ensure that your photos and videos are always safe with this backup stick. You’ll be able to transfer files directly from your smartphone, and there are no hidden cloud storage fees to worry about.
This Bluetooth device keeps track of your loved ones’ location, status, and needs at all times. It’s easy to hear alerts even when your phone is in silent mode, and individual locations are saved for the last 30 days.
Never lose your wallet again with this Bluetooth leather smart wallet. Made from genuine leather, this wallet comes loaded with a tracker that lets you find it when you’re in a hurry, and a powerful burglar alarm will keep it out of the hands of thieves.
This sleek and portable wireless charger ensures that you’ll never have to worry about your Apple Watch running out of power. It connects easily to your laptop via a USB connection, and you’ll be able to toss it in your pocket at a moment’s notice.
A favorite on Kickstarter, this wallet keeps your cards and cash secure at all times. You’ll even be able to utilize fingerprint access parameters for added security.
Track cardio fitness, sleep, exercise stats and much more with this next-generation watch. It’s easy to send calls and texts directly to your smartphone, and calendar alerts will help you stay on top of your schedule.
These super-comfortable and compact wireless earbuds boast detailed highs and a rich low-end. They also sport 35 hours of battery life—meaning you’ll be able to use them for extended listening sessions even when you’re away from a power source.
Xiaomi introduced the Redmi 9 in India yesterday, August 27. Now, the company has announced that yet another Redmi-9 series model is coming to India. The Redmi 9A will be launched in the country on September 2. While India-specific details of the phone remain unknown, the phone debuted in Malaysia in late June, alongside the Redmi 9C.
The Redmi 9A features a 6.53-inch (1600 x 720 pixels) HD+ IPS LCD Dot Drop screen with a 20:9 aspect ratio. It runs on MediaTek Heli G26 SoC. It comes equipped with 2GB RAM and 32GB of eMMC 5.1 storage with support for up to 512GB memory card.
The upcoming smartphone sports a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP selfie shooter. It packs a 5,000mAh battery. The variant launched in Malaysia runs MIUI 11 but it is upgradable to MIUI 12 based on Android 10. It is likely to be priced under Rs 8,000 in India.
Smartphone companies have been working on under-display camera technology for a few years now. It seems like the tech is all set to go official. While ZTE will soon be launching its first true-full-display smartphone, Xiaomi has announced its third-gen under-screen camera tech.
We’re proud to present the latest masterpiece from our Xiaomi engineers: 3rd Generation Under-Display Camera Technology! True full-screen displays are just around the corner! We're planning on putting this into mass production next year. Stay tuned! #InnovationForEveryonepic.twitter.com/DrKeL8wZUg
The company first showcased its under-screen camera tech back in June last year. Now, it will go in production soon. In a blog post, Xiaomi said that it has “greatly improved the full-screen effect through self-developed pixel arrangement, and through the optimization of the camera algorithm, allowing it to show the same performance as conventional cameras.”
The tech’s new pixel arrangement lets the screen pass light through the gap between sub-pixels, allowing every single pixel to retain a complete RGB sub-pixel layout without sacrificing pixel density. Xiaomi’s solution makes use of double the number of horizontal and vertical pixels when compared with similar tech from other manufacturers. As a result, Xiaomi achieves same pixel density above the camera as the rest of the display.
The company says its under-display camera tech will be ready for mass production in 2021, and we can expect to see devices featuring the new technology next year.
OnePlus may soon foray into the product category of smartwatches. The smartphone company has already expanded in wearables market with the launch of its audio accessories. Now, the OnePlus Watch has been certified by the Singapore IMDA, which also reveals the watch has the model number W301GB.
There is no information on the specifications of the upcoming device. However, with the launch of OPPO Watch, we expect the hardware of OnePlus Watch to remain similar if not exact same. The company could introduce its wearable alongside the launch of OnePlus 8T later this year.
The OnePlus Watch is likely to run WearOS. It could be powered by Qualcomm’s recently-announced Snapdragon Wear 4100.
As XDA-Developers points out, this is not the first time that we’ve heard of OnePlus potentially launching a smartwatch. The company confirmed that it was developing a smartwatch back in 2016. However, the project was later scrapped.
The OnePlus 8 Pro, 12.9-inch iPad Pro and more devices are on sale today
Deals. The OnePlus 8 Pro is currently $79 off on Amazon, that leaves the 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage variant for $920 shipped. B&H has the 2018 12.9in iPad Pro for $350 off, leaving the Wi-Fi + LTE, 256GB of storage variant for $929, kinda steep but still good. Finally, the Sennheiser Momentum 3 are $99 off, leaving the Black Color variant for $300 shipped, and these come with Amazon’s A Assistant integration. We have more deals on Hyper X headsets, Skagen watches and more in the links below.
We have new leaks of the cases for the Huawei Mate 40 series
We have some new leaked images of cases that allegedly belong to the Mate 40 and the Mate 40 Pro. Around ten days ago some images of squared camera modules popped up but, these go along with the original and circular design we got from the OnLeak’s CAD renders. On these cases we can see some differences from the Mate 30, for example the larger camera module and it looks like we’re getting real volume rockers instead of the software solution we got from the Mate 30 Pro. Both of these models seem to be retaining the IR blaster and the regular Mate 40 may still bring a headphone jack. We’re expecting the new, and possibly last, Kirin chips that will power these phones at IFA, which is a few days away.
TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer quits amid turmoil
Yesterday was Epic’s day when it comes to the drama, now it’s Tik Tok’s turn. Back in May, Kevin Mayer left Disney to become Tik Tok’s CEO in the US operations. Well, he just decided to step down from his position amidst of all the political turmoil he’s been facing. In the meantime, Tik Tok’s General Manager, Vanessa Pappas, will be leading the company. On a statement Mayer said that, due to the sharp change in the political environment, he did a significant reflection on the structural changes that this would require and what that means for his role. Therefore, he’s deciding to step down from the company. Also, on a new report from CNBC, Walmart is partnering up with Microsoft to purchase the US operations of Tik Tok but, the details for this move haven’t been disclosed yet.
iPhone 12 without chargers or Earpods confirmed?
Let’s start talking about Apple, mainly with the iPhone 12 for this segment. There’s been multiple reports and predictions telling us that we won’t be getting the charging brick or the EarPods on the box. Well, according to a new research note from TrendForce, this will be the case. According to them, Apple will be removing these accessories from the box because of the manufacturing costs will significantly increase due to 5G and removing these will help them keep the price tag. Of course they also mentioned that this might drive even more sales for the AirPods and also because it helps reduce e-waste. A lot of trusted sources have reported on this so it looks like it’s a done deal.
New Apple iPad and Watch Series 6 are just around the corner
We know that the only way to call Apple’s current release strategy is with the word staggered. A couple of weeks ago we covered a tweet from Jon Prosser, where he detailed Apple’s launch dates for the Fall. The first part of the tweet covered the new Apple Watch and iPad, which according to him would launch before everything else on the week of September 7th. Well, a new iPad and a new Apple Watch just went through the Eurasian Economic Commission, hinting that the launch date will be happening very soon. The iPad is listed as an “Apple tablet computer” with 7 model number’s for the different storage tiers and color variants, oh and they run iPadOS 14. The Apple Watch Series 6 also made the cut with 8 model numbers, and they’re all listed running WatchOS 7. Again, even if the iPhones are delayed, we are expecting these to come out sometime around September 7th with a silent release so, we’ll keep you posted.
Story of the day:
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 gets its own UnPacked event
The gorgeous Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G could cost less than the original Fold
Even if Samsung already “revealed” the Galaxy Z Fold 2, they’re doing a pretty good job at keeping the hype up before the actual announcement. As, the company just announced that they will be hosting an Unpacked Part 2 on September 1st at 10am Eastern. At this event we’re expecting to get the full list of specifications and the actual price tag. Speaking of the specifications and price, the current leaked specs for this device include a Snapdragon 865+, dual batteries that amount to 4365 mAh, a 6.2in outer display and a 7.6in main panel running at 120Hz. Moving on to the price tag, we were expecting it to cost the same as it’s predecessor. But according to a new WinFuture report, the Z Fold 2 will cost €1999 which is €100 less than the price of the original Fold, even with all of the new features. We’ll get more information on September 1st so, stay tuned.
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Yesterday, Samsung announced that it will be hosting a “Part 2” Galaxy UnPacked August 2020 event for its Galaxy Z Fold 2 on September 1. Soon after, the European pricing of the device leaked suggesting a cheaper Galaxy Fold successor. Now, the foldable phone has been spotted listed on Samsung’s UK website for £1,799.
Galaxy Z Fold 2 will cost £1,799.00 in the UK. Samsung's pre-order page is already live. Confirms September 17th shipping date and September 18th release. https://t.co/HpkErtigWJ
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 can be pre-ordered on Samsung’s UK retail website right now. Moreover, it is all set to ship by September 18. Notably, the asking price is £101 less than the original Galaxy Fold that cost £1,900.
The Galaxy Z Fold 2 features a 6.2-inches and the Main Screen is 7.6-inches making them both larger than the Galaxy Fold. Both are AMOLED displays. The interior display offers a 120Hz refresh rate, while the one on the outside has a 60Hz refresh rate.
As per leaked specifications, the foldable phone will be powered by Snapdragon 865 Plus SoC. It is said to pack a dual battery setup with a combined capacity of 4,365mAh and support for 15W fast wireless charging and 15W fast reverse wireless charging. Further, it will come with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.
GoPro has unveiled a live streaming service for its GoPro Plus subscribers. Moreover, the company has also announced that Windows users are getting the webcam update that was recently unveiled for Mac users. Hypersmooth 2.0 on the Hero 8 Black is also getting updated.
As for the live streaming service, it will be supported by three of the company cameras including GoPro Hero 8 Black, Hero 7 Black, and Max. GoPro is yet to details how the streaming service would work. The company has only said that it will be of “high-quality” and that it would be “simplified.”
The livestreams can be shared by sharing a link directly with friends and follower. Notably, you will need to be a GoPro Plus subscriber to take advantage of the development. The service costs $5 per month and includes benefits like unlimited storage of your GoPro videos at native resolution and discounts on accessories.
We keep getting more and more iPhone 12 rumors as we get closer to September, even though the devices are expected to arrive until October. The new lineup is also supposed to launch without 120Hz refresh rate displays, even though Jon Prosser recently posted a video with the iPhone 12 Pro Max with a 120Hz Display. However, new rumors tell us once again, that the phones will arrive without a charger and Earpods in the box.
It seems that Apple will really do it. According to Taiwanese research firm Trendforce, the new iPhone 12 will come without a power adapter and wired Earpods in the box. One of the main reasons for this change is that the new devices are more expensive to manufacture because of 5G components. Removing these accessories will help Cupertino reduce costs.
The new lineup is expected to arrive with similar pricing as the previous generation, meaning that the entry-level iPhone 12 could cost around $699, while the Pro Max version of the iPhone 12 could arrive with a $1,099 price tag. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple may also introduce a new 20W fast charger for its new iPhone, but this one will be sold separately.
Earlier this week, a hi-res render of the upcoming Sony Xperia 5 II was leaked, giving us a glimpse of the phone’s familiar design. Now, an alleged promotional video that shows the device from all angles, as well as its key specifications have made their way online (via Android Headlines), revealing almost everything about the phone ahead of its September 17 launch date. Have a look at the phone in the video below:
Talking about the specs, the Xperia 5 II will reportedly offer a 6.1-inch Full HD+ HDR OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a tall 21:9 aspect ratio. It packs the Snapdragon 865 SoC paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB onboard storage that can be expanded via the dedicated microSD card slot. The upcoming Sony phone comes equipped with a 4,000mAh battery, offers 5G support and retains the 3.5mm headphone jack.
There are three cameras at the back that include a 12MP (f/1.7, 24mm) primary snapper, a 12MP (f/2.4) telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom output, and a 12MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide-angle lens with a 124-degree field of view. You get both OIS and EIS, as well as support for 4K HDR slo-mo video capture at 120fps frame rate, which is quite impressive.
