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Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Apple will recalibrate iPhone 11 batteries to fix performance and capacity issues - The Verge

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Apple will try to fix battery drain and reduced performance issues that have affected some iPhone 11 devices by recalibrating their batteries in an upcoming update (via MacRumors). According to an Apple support document, the process will happen when you update an iPhone 11, 11 Pro, or 11 Pro Max to the upcoming iOS 14.5.

It might take a few weeks for the battery health system to figure out how much capacity your battery has left, and how much performance it can provide, according to the document. It doesn’t seem like users should notice too much of a difference during the process, though there will be a message in the battery health section of the settings menu explaining what’s going on.

The process is currently being tested in the latest release of the developer beta, but given that Apple has a support page already up for it, there’s a good chance it’ll make it into the final release. If the recalibration fails, for some reason, Apple says it or an authorized service provider will replace the battery for free. Hopefully, if you were experiencing battery issues with your iPhone 11, this process will help alleviate them when 14.5 is finally released.

It’s not unusual that Apple would release a document about a battery change before it starts happening. The company has been a lot more transparent when it makes changes to the iPhone’s power delivery system ever since it was caught throttling the performance of older iPhones to protect the battery.




April 01, 2021 at 01:57AM
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Apple will recalibrate iPhone 11 batteries to fix performance and capacity issues - The Verge

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The airline industry will release a COVID-19 passport for your iPhone next month - Engadget

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After successfully trialing it on an international flight between Singapore and London earlier this month, the IATA says it will release its Travel Pass app in mid-April. The software allows airline travelers to store verified COVID-19 test results and vaccination certificates on their phones. The trade association told Reuters it expects to make the app available to download on iPhone around April 15th, with an Android version to follow later.

Starting on April 16th, Virgin Atlantic plans to pilot the digital pass on its London to Barbados route. The Caribbean island will accept the app at its border, making it one of the first countries to admit a digital pass instead of paper documentation.

In addition to storing vaccine certificates and the results of COVID-19 tests, you can use the software to create a digital version of your passport. It also includes a database of local travel restrictions and restrictions, so you can easily find out what you need before you fly somewhere. Any personal information you add to the app is stored locally on your device, and there’s a secure, encrypted channel for labs to send over test results and vaccine confirmation.

The IATA Travel Pass isn’t the first COVID-19 passport. In the US, that distinction goes to the digital Excelsior Pass New York state launched last week. The IATA is positioning the app as a way to speed up check-ins, particularly as more and more people feel it’s safe enough to fly again. Whether it actually helps will depend on airlines, airports and countries adopting the standard.




April 01, 2021 at 01:37AM
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The airline industry will release a COVID-19 passport for your iPhone next month - Engadget

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Verizon will give you up to $1000 for your broken iPhone, claims it’s not an April Fools’ Day prank - 9to5Mac

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Verizon has shared a new aggressive trade-in program today that it says will let new and existing customers trade in broken iPhones for up to $1000 in credit when buying a new iPhone. The company says it’s not an April Fools’ Day joke and that the limited-time promotion starts on – yep – April 1.

Verizon detailed the new broken iPhone and Android trade-in program today in a short video on YouTube and a press release. The carrier says upfront that it’s not an April Fools’ Day prank but as noted by The Verge, this deal does sound too good to be true. However, the fine print explains some of that if this indeed is just a poorly timed new program.

Beginning tomorrow, April 1, and for the first time ever, for new and existing customers: trade in your cracked or water damaged phone and get up to $1,000 off our best 5G phones with a port-in and select Unlimited plans1. That means cracked, broken, and even phones that no longer turn on can help make your next device more affordable. Yes, we know it’s April Fools’ Day, but trust us — this offer is #NoJoke. Act now, though, because this offer is only available for a limited time.

The offer’s tagline has a very T-Mobile Uncarrier vibe to it: “You broke your phone, so Verizon is breaking the rules.”

Some of the fine print includes the offer being available for new lines or port-ins only when upgrading to a new 5G phone like the iPhone 12. Customers will also have to pick a new Verizon Unlimited plan and the (up to) $1000 value will be split between monthly credits and a $300 Verizon e-gift card.

Verizon hasn’t shared details yet for exactly what values broken iPhone trade-ins will have by model. But it did share a generic chart that damaged iPhone 8 and later will have a “higher value” and broken iPhone 7 and older will offer a “lower value.”

In the video below, the company says a broken iPhone 8 trade-in with upgrade to an iPhone 12 is eligible for the full $1000 credit.

If this limited-time deal does pan out to be real, it could be a compelling reason to switch to Verizon or add a new line.

Verizon says full details will show up on its website here starting April 1.

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April 01, 2021 at 02:03AM
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Verizon will give you up to $1000 for your broken iPhone, claims it’s not an April Fools’ Day prank - 9to5Mac

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Xiaomi’s first foldable features a liquid camera lens, Samsung-style design - Ars Technica

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Xiaomi is resurrecting the Mi Mix model line with the Mi Mix Fold. The first Mi Mix was a futuristic-looking smartphone that kicked off the slim-bezel smartphone race. This new Mi Mix Fold is Xiaomi's first commercial foldable, and, like Huawei's efforts, represents the company doing its best to just copy the Samsung Galaxy Fold design.

Just like Huawei's clone, the Xiaomi Fold is a bit bigger than Samsung's 7.6-inch device and sports a 60 Hz, 2480x1860, 8.01-inch internal flexible OLED display. The outside display on Xiaomi's Fold is a 90 Hz, 2520x840, 6.5-inch OLED display, which is bigger than Samsung's 6.2-inch display and Huawei's 6.45-inch outer display. Interestingly, Xiaomi is taking the opposite approach to screen refresh rates that Samsung is taking. On the Z Fold 2, a fast 120 Hz display is the interior tablet screen on the device, while the phone-style screen is 60 Hz. Xiaomi made the big inside screen slow and the outside screen fast.

Xiaomi has settled on an iPad-like 4:3 aspect ratio for the inside screen, while Samsung switched from nearly 4:3 in the first generation (4.2:3) to a taller 5:4 aspect ratio in its second-generation foldable. Huawei landed around this 5:4 aspect ratio for its foldable, too. It's hard to know what the right screen dimensions are for an Android foldable, since Android tablets have been dead for so long that there's really no app support anymore. Today, most Android apps are phone apps, and they really struggle to adapt to bigger displays. Samsung's and Huawei's ~5:4 displays are nearly two regular 21:9 Android phones placed next to each other, so they can sidestep this issue by just running in split-screen most of the time. The 4:3 aspect ratio of the Galaxy Fold 1 was a bit too cramped for split-screen.

One of the things Xiaomi and every other vendor can't match is Samsung's foldable glass display. Devices like the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold 2 actually have an "ultra-thin" layer of glass in the display. It's not the top layer (that's still easily scratchable plastic) but it gives some much-needed rigidity to a flexible display, which otherwise can be a rippled, squishy, light-distorting mess. Xiaomi doesn't have any actual pictures of the device, just renders, which all pitch the inner display as perfectly flat. In real life, expect ripples in the display and a big crease in the display where it folds in half.

High-end smartphone parts make up the rest of the internals. The phone has a Snapdragon 888 SoC, 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, 67 W wired charging, and a 5020 mAh battery. Xiaomi notes there are four speakers and a side fingerprint scanner. Disappointingly, Xiaomi is shipping the phone with Android 10 instead of the latest version, Android 11.

The camera features the debut of "Liquid Lens technology" in a smartphone. One of the camera lenses is literally a drop of oil instead of a glass lens, and by applying a voltage to it, you can change the shape and focal length of the lens. Liquid lenses are not a new idea—they show up in things like industrial barcode scanners—but they're new for a phone. Xiaomi says the lens allows one camera to cover two functions: the 8 MP sensor is both a 3x optical zoom and has a minimum focus distance of 3 cm for macro photos.

Your liquid lens needs to not freeze in low temperatures, but Xiaomi says you'll be good for a low of -40°C (-40°F) to a high of 60°C (140°F). The rest of your smartphone will probably stop working before the lens does in temperatures like that. There's also a 108 MP primary sensor and a 13 MP ultra-wide on the back.

The Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold ships in China, (only, for now) on April 16 and starts at CNY 9,999, or ~$1,526.




April 01, 2021 at 12:00AM
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Xiaomi’s first foldable features a liquid camera lens, Samsung-style design - Ars Technica

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 with Wear OS now seems inevitable - Wareable

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It looks like a Samsung smartwatch packing Google's Wear OS really could happen. That's if revealing code pointing to a return to Google's OS proves to be true.

The folks at Android Police have been digging around in the latest update of Samsung's Galaxy Wearable companion app, and have found new codenames that refer to a change of operating system. Further digging, outlined in a tweet, revealed not only supposed codenames for new watches but a reference to a 'newos' as well.

The code also suggests that there will be large and small sized versions of these new watches with 40/41mm options for a new Galaxy Watch Active and 44/45mm Galaxy Watch.

The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is available in 40 and 44mm size options while the Galaxy Watch 3 comes in 41 and 45mm options, so that would indicate Samsung sticking to similar sizes again.

There's also the suggestion there will be Bluetooth and cellular options, which Samsung has also offered on its current watch range.

This latest hint towards Samsung going back to Wear OS follows a tweet made by a usually reliable Samsung tipster back in February that claimed Samsung would make the switch. Then source code found for one of Samsung's phones revealed mentions of 'Merlot Wear OS'. That same Merlot reference was found in the Galaxy Wearable app code too.

While this is far from absolute confirmation it's happening, the evidence is starting to mount up. Samsung last dabbled in Wear OS back when it was known as Android Wear, and its Gear Live smartwatch was one of the launch devices for Google's foray into wearables.

It does still feel like an odd move for Samsung to make, especially when its own Tizen OS offers a better all-round experience, and it's just launched two of its best smartwatches running on in its in-house platform.

Whether it chooses to ditch Tizen entirely for Wear OS or offer it as an alternative is something we can still only speculate about. With Google having finally completed its acquisition of Fitbit, Samsung may well be privy to some radical changes to the platform that may have prompted a jump back to Google.

As we say, it's all speculation at the moment, but it will certainly be an interesting move by Samsung to turn the clock back for a Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 3 or Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 if it thinks it will help edge closer to the Apple Watch's dominance.




March 31, 2021 at 09:28PM
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Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 with Wear OS now seems inevitable - Wareable

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New Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G surfaces on Geekbench with Snapdragon 865 - GSMArena.com news - GSMArena.com

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When Samsung announced the Galaxy S20 FE last year it gave people a choice – a Snapdragon 865 chipset with the S20 FE 5G model, even in countries that normally get Exynos in their S-series, or an Exynos 990 with the 4G model (which was cheaper). Now it looks like things are about to become a bit blurred.

The NBTC certified an SM-G780G / DS, labeled as Galaxy S20 FE, and certified only for 4G operation. There’s even a support page for it on Samsung.com (multiple support pages, in fact). That exact model number can be seen in Geekbench with the motherboard listed as “kona”.

This is the code name of the Snapdragon 865 chipset. Judging by the information collected by the benchmark, the phone has 6 GB of RAM. Which is to be expected of an S20 FE, the original two models came with 6 GB as standard and had an 8 GB option.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (4G but with Snapdragon 865): Geekbench result Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (4G but with Snapdragon 865): Support page for SM-G780G/DS
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (4G but with Snapdragon 865): Geekbench result • Support page

Still, this will be a budget version of the device as Samsung will be able to skip pricey 5G components like the antennas. The S865 also uses an external modem, X55 in 5G phones, which may be swapped out for a 4G-only modem.

The timing of this is interesting – the Galaxy S20 FE 5G arrived in India earlier today, but the country is yet to launch its first commercial 5G network. This 4G-only model with the Snapdragon 865 may have been a more alluring proposition. As it stands, the 5G model costs INR 56,000 (with an early bird deal at INR 48,000).

According to Thailand's NBTC, the SM-G780G is a 4G only phone, no 5GAccording to Thailand's NBTC, the SM-G780G is a 4G only phone, no 5G

Besides cutting down the price, this new 4G model would extend the software support a bit. Samsung has committed to three major OS updates for its higher end devices and this new model will launch Android 11, unlike the original S20 FE duo, which arrived with Android 10.

Looking back at the support pages for a second, there are appear in multiple countries: Austria, the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Russia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay and so on and so on.

This gives us hope that this more affordable model will be available just about anywhere.

Source | Via




March 31, 2021 at 11:12PM
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New Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 4G surfaces on Geekbench with Snapdragon 865 - GSMArena.com news - GSMArena.com

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Kuo: iPhone 13 Pro Max to have f/1.5 main lens, whole lineup to use 7P glass - GSMArena.com news - GSMArena.com

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In a note to investors, renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has revealed that the iPhone 13 Pro Max will have an outlier main camera compared to the rest of the 13 lineup.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max will use a slightly brighter f/1.5 lens on top of its main sensor, whereas the iPhone 13, 13 mini and 13 Pro will use an f/1.6 lens for their main cameras, which will either have a similar or identical to the current main imager on the iPhone 12, 12 Pro and 12 mini. There's no word on any differences to the sensors behind those cameras just yet.

Kuo: iPhone 13 Pro Max to have f/1.5 main lens, whole lineup to use 7p glass

All iPhone 13 models will have a 7P lens (that's seven glass elements) over their main camera sensor, just like the iPhone 12 series. A 7P lens improves the light transmission rate, which leads to better image quality. It also alleviates chromatic aberration. Apple's aim is to transition to 7P lenses on all rear cameras on its iPhones in the next few years.

According to Kuo, Chinese lens supplier Sunny Optical will pass quality verification for the 7P components. If all goes to plan, 7P shipments for the iPhone 13 lineup is expected to begin in Q2 of 2021.

Source




March 31, 2021 at 07:09PM
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Kuo: iPhone 13 Pro Max to have f/1.5 main lens, whole lineup to use 7P glass - GSMArena.com news - GSMArena.com

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Vectornator 4.0 for iPhone, iPad and Mac – New Features and Improvements! [Video] - 9to5Mac

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Vectornator is an all-in-one illustration, UI design, and publications app. It’s available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Linearity has released the next major update to Vectornator in version 4.0, which brings a handful of new changes and features.

Hands-on w/ Vectornator 4.0

Quick actions

One of the ways Vectornator will improve on efficiency in version 4.0 is through the new quick actions feature. These smart contextual menus will appear right under your selected objects. This allows you to easily access core actions like changing opacity, boolean operations, and much more. All without needing to open the inspector.

Vectornator 4.0

Vectornator 4.0 Mac UX redesign

The latest version of MacOS, Big Sur brings in many UI changes. Linearity is updating the Mac version of Vectornator to match the overall look and feel of Big Sur. It now has a very sleek and modern look. And many of the interface elements have been updated to provide a great feel of depth and immersion.

SF symbols

A nice addition coming to Vectornator with version 4.0 is SF Symbols, which includes a set of over 2,400 icons that are designed to work perfectly with Apple’s San Francisco system font. Using this would be perfect for conceptualizing a design for a piece of Mac or iOS software.

Other existing features

Iconator is a library of over 80,000 different icons to choose from. Vectornator allows you to access them all from within the app. And each icon can be manipulated within the editor. Vectornator also features Unsplash integration, meaning you can import high-quality photos directly from Unsplash’s massive image library.

Vectornator 4.0

9to5Mac’s Take

With all the new features introduced in version 4.0, Vectornator is easily one of the best design applications you can use within the Apple ecosystem. And because of a unified codebase, all of the new features will be accessible across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Be sure to check out Vectornator if you’re interested!

Download Vectornator 4.0 for iPhone, iPad and Mac now.

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March 31, 2021 at 04:22AM
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Vectornator 4.0 for iPhone, iPad and Mac – New Features and Improvements! [Video] - 9to5Mac

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Belkin’s iPhone 12 stand will follow you with face tracking (but not during video calls) - The Verge

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Belkin has a new iPhone stand that’s useful enough to be interesting but annoyingly limited.

The company’s “Magnetic Phone Mount with Face Tracking” works with the iPhone 12’s MagSafe feature, clipping your phone into place using the device’s built-in magnets. It then uses face tracking to follow you around the room, rotating so it’s always facing you.

The catch is that this feature doesn’t work with video calls on Zoom, FaceTime, or any other similar service — surely one of the biggest potential use cases in a pandemic. In fact, judging by the product description, the tracking feature only works when recording video through Belkin’s own iOS app. That would mean you can’t even use the stand to make sure your phone is always facing you as you follow along with an exercise video or recipe. We’ve reached out to Belkin to double check this and will update this article when we know more.

You can track yourself recording video but not watching it.
Image: Belkin

Being able to record video that tracks you will definitely be useful to some people, and Belkin says its iOS app can connect directly to social media accounts (including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and others) to make posting easy. But it still means the mount is more of a specialist tool than a device that could help more consumers.

Other relevant specs: the mount works in landscape and portrait orientations, can be tilted vertically from -15 to 30 degrees, rotates horizontally through 360 degrees, and is powered by three AA batteries. And of course, because it uses MagSafe to attach to your phone, it only works with the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. The mount will sell for $65, but it’s only listed as “coming soon” on Belkin’s website.




March 31, 2021 at 11:23PM
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Belkin’s iPhone 12 stand will follow you with face tracking (but not during video calls) - The Verge

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Apple Stock Upgraded On Apple Car Potential, iPhone Strength - Investor's Business Daily

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  1. Apple Stock Upgraded On Apple Car Potential, iPhone Strength  Investor's Business Daily
  2. UBS upgrades Apple to a buy — here are the 3 reasons why  CNBC
  3. Apple Stock Rallies After UBS Upgrade Citing iCar Potential  Barron's
  4. UBS upgrades AAPL to 'Buy,' raises price target on iPhone stability & auto opportunity  AppleInsider
  5. UBS upgrades Apple to buy on auto market hopes  MarketWatch
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News



March 31, 2021 at 09:44PM
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Apple Stock Upgraded On Apple Car Potential, iPhone Strength - Investor's Business Daily

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Samsung TV Plus Launches in India; Now Watch Select Free Channels on Samsung Smart TVs without a Cable Connection - Samsung Newsroom India

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TV Plus will be available on Samsung Smart TV models from 2017 onwards

Consumers using Samsung Galaxy Smartphone & Tabs with O OS or higher software version will also be eligible for the services

Samsung today announced the launch of Samsung TV Plus, a service which offers consumers of Samsung Smart televisions free TV content, with ad-supported select live channels and on-demand videos, with no additional device such as a set top box. To access the service, all that the consumers will need is a Samsung Smart TV (2017 model onwards) and an internet connection!

With the introduction of TV Plus, consumers will get instant access to exciting content across genres such as news, lifestyle, technology, gaming and science, sports and outdoors, music, movies and bingeable shows, without any subscription.

TV Plus will also be available on most Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablet devices with O OS or higher software version. Services for Galaxy smartphones are expected in April 2021. The TV Plus app can be downloaded from both, Samsung Galaxy Store and Google Play Store.

The innovative service is being introduced keeping in mind the change in consumer behaviour during the pandemic led lockdown period, when consumers, especially Millennials and Gen Z, began to explore their televisions more and more for new and exciting content. In India, Samsung TV Plus will immediately be live across all Smart TV models from 2017 to 2021 and users will be able to access 27 global and local channels. More partners will be on-boarded soon to make the service more robust.

“Over the last one year, consumers have been spending more time at home. Their television sets and smartphones have become the centers of their lives, for both entertainment as well as information. We also noticed that consumers now immensely value great media content, reason why we chose to introduce Samsung TV Plus in India. Over the next few months, we expect to scale TV Plus to add more channels and content,” Reshma Prasad Virmani, Director, Services, Samsung India, said.

Samsung is India’s No. 1 brand of televisions for over a decade and offers a range of Smart TVs, ranging from INR 18,900 to INR 15,79,900.

With the launch in India, Samsung TV Plus is now available in 14 countries including the US, Canada, Korea, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, UK, Italy, France, Spain, Australia, Brazil and Mexico.

Globally, Samsung TV Plus offers Samsung Smart TV and Galaxy smartphone user’s access to 800+ channels spanning news, sports, entertainment, and much more. For more details on Samsung TV Plus and the channel line-up, please visit:  https://www.samsung.com/in/tvs/smart-tv/samsung-tv-plus/




March 31, 2021 at 02:25PM
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Samsung TV Plus Launches in India; Now Watch Select Free Channels on Samsung Smart TVs without a Cable Connection - Samsung Newsroom India

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Evidence mounts the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 will run Wear OS - TechRadar

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Hidden code buried in the latest version of the Galaxy Wear app has given the best hint yet that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 will run Google's Wear OS watch software, rather than Samsung's Tizen.

While we reported on similar leaks back in February, this latest revelation further substantiates the expectation that Samsung’s next wearable will arrive running Google's Android operating system.

The code was spotted by tech writer Max Weinbach, who shared a tweet detailing various codenames including “water”, which he believes to be a reference to the Wear OS compatibility of Samsung’s upcoming watches. 

See more

In the same tweet, Weinbach refers to further codenames “fresh” and “wise”, which he suggests each represent the new watches that Samsung could release between April and June.

Those watches are expected to be the Galaxy Watch Active 4 and Galaxy Watch 4, successors to the Galaxy Watch Active 2 and Galaxy Watch 3, respectively, which both run Tizen. We’ve already heard mutterings that the Active model would skip a numeric generation in 2021, so this latest rumor adds more fuel to that fire.

Despite the success of using Tizen in its existing wearables range, Samsung may be opting to switch to Wear OS given its potentially superior app support and wider choice of watch faces. Even so, there aren’t a whole lot of top-tier Wear OS smartwatches on the market right now – save for the likes of the Fossil Gen 5 and the TicWatch Pro 3 – so it’ll be interesting to see whether the next Galaxy wearables truly benefit from the change.

Not just a pretty face 

A new OS isn’t the only change expected of the new Galaxy smartwatches watches, though.

In the same tweet, Weinbach makes reference to a "merlot" codename, which he believes could be a nod to the chipset used to power both devices.

The Galaxy Watch 3 didn’t make leaps and bounds with its chipset, using the same internals as the original Galaxy Watch, so it seems high time for Samsung to improve both the chipset and RAM capacity of its next offerings.

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While there might be big changes on the way when it comes to software and hardware, we also know, thanks to Twitter leaker @chunvn8888, that there’ll be relatively few design changes with Samsung’s next wearables. According to the leak, the Galaxy Watch 4 will have the rotating bezel of its predecessors, while the Galaxy Watch Active 4 will go without.

You can’t have it all, I guess.

Via PhoneArena 




March 31, 2021 at 05:04PM
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Evidence mounts the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 will run Wear OS - TechRadar

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Samsung Chip Production Returns to Near-Normal Levels in Texas - Gadgets 360

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Samsung Electronics said on Tuesday that production at its US chip plant at Austin, Texas had returned to near-normal levels as of last week after more than a month of disruption that exacerbated a global chip capacity crunch.

Samsung and other chipmakers with production facilities in the area had seen shutdowns due to severe weather on February 16.

Samsung declined to comment on when production would be fully back to normal.

The disruption will have a definite impact on the global chip contract manufacturing industry that is already battling a severe capacity crunch, research provider TrendForce has said.

Qualcomm 5G radio frequency chips and Samsung display and image sensor chips account for about 65 percent of the monthly production at the Samsung plant, TrendForce added.

Other chips include power management integrated circuits (PMICs) and a small amount of chips that control electrical parts, Seoul-based analysts said.

The disruption is expected to hurt production of smartphones globally over the April to June period by about 5 percent and may lower this year's penetration rate of 5G smartphones, TrendForce estimated.

"This was a problem because it exacerbated a worldwide foundry capacity shortage. But at least it won't get worse as production resumes," said Park Sung-soon, analyst at Cape Investment & Securities.

"Smartphone makers have chip stockpiles, but because vendors' inventories of smartphone sets are currently low, smartphone production may see some impact from the plant's shutdown in the second half of this year."

Analysts have estimated losses from the disruption at the plant at around KRW 300 billion (roughly Rs. 1,950 crore) - KRW 400 billion (roughly Rs. 2,600 crore), which they expected Samsung to mostly reflect in its January-March quarter earnings, to be announced in April.

Earlier this month, NXP Semiconductors NV said it expected an impact of about $100 million (roughly Rs. 735 crore) of revenue from its Texas production shutdown.

German chipmaker Infineon said it expected a quarterly hit to revenues in the high double-digit million euro range from its Texas plant outage.

© Thomson Reuters 2021


Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast, has a double bill this week: the OnePlus 9 series, and Justice League Snyder Cut (starting at 25:32). Orbital is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.




March 31, 2021 at 01:17PM
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Samsung Chip Production Returns to Near-Normal Levels in Texas - Gadgets 360

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Apple Researching Mac Pro's 'Cheese Grater' Design for Other Devices Like iPhone - MacRumors

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Apple is researching expanding the 2019 Mac Pro's distinctive "cheese grater" lattice design to other devices, including the iPhone and a "trashcan"-style ‌Mac Pro‌, according to a newly granted patent filing.

iphone trashcan mac pro lattice


Apple introduced an innovative milled lattice pattern on the ‌Mac Pro‌ and Pro Display XDR in 2019, which is created by machining a spherical array into the internal and external surfaces of the aluminum. The result is a lightweight lattice pattern that maximizes airflow while creating an extremely rigid structure.

The new patent, first spotted by Patently Apple and granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, is titled "Housing construction" and covers expanding the lattice pattern to other devices, such as the ‌iPhone‌.

iphone lattice pattern patent frame

The patent explains that "recent advances in electronic devices have enabled high levels of performance," but many existing housing solutions are unable to "effectively distribute or reject heat generated by the electronic device to the surrounding environment," thereby curtailing "the levels of performance of such devices."

Apple believes that its lattice pattern presents a solution to this problem, since it increases a device's surface area for better cooling and can more effectively "conduct heat away from a component of the electronic device positioned substantially adjacent to the first surface of the body."

These enhanced levels of heat removal, as described above, can result in significant performance gains for the electronic device and can allow for the use of components or operating levels that heretofore may not have been achievable with existing three-dimensional structures.

In improving cooling, devices with the lattice pattern could push their processors to higher temperatures for better performance.

Illustrations included in the filing demonstrate how a miniaturized version of the lattice pattern could be milled directly into the ‌iPhone‌'s outer frame and rear.

iphone lattice pattern patent disassembly

As well as significantly improving thermals, this could also improve grip, "provide a unique and pleasing look and feel," and give "a pleasing experience when handling the device."

In some cases, a three-dimensional structure can include a relatively intricate repeating pattern that, in addition to enhancing heat removal capabilities and providing stiffness, provides a visually interesting or aesthetically pleasing effect to the user. Such a three-dimensional structure, for example when used as a housing, can also include a variety of colors on one or more regions of the housing to enhance the visual appearance and provide a pleasing aesthetic experience to the user.

Another advantage of the lattice pattern is improved structural strength without increasing the thickness or weight of components.

When used as a housing or other structural component of an electronic device, a three-dimensional structure as described herein can provide a high level of strength and stiffness to weight ratio to the device. Traditional structures often achieve enhanced stiffness or strength by thickening or enlarging certain portions of the structure, often resulting in an increase in the weight and size of the electronic device, which may not be desirable to a user. The three-dimensional structures described herein can include, for example, a matrix of passageways that serves to greatly enhance the stiffness of the three-dimensional structure, without significantly increasing the size or weight of the structure. Thus, a relatively lightweight, yet extremely strong and stiff electronic device can be produced.

Another embodiment covers embedding the lattice internally inside the ‌iPhone‌ to improve rigidity and strength, allowing "the electronic device to be used over a long period of time while maintaining dimensional stability."

iphone lattice pattern patent structure

The patent also mentions how the lattice structure "can act as shielding for the electronic device, while still allowing for air flow there through," particularly as a shield against electromagnetic interference (EMI) and/or electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) noise.

In addition to the ‌iPhone‌, Apple appears to have resurrected the divisive design of the 2013 ‌Mac Pro‌, informally dubbed the "trashcan" ‌Mac Pro‌, to demonstrate alternate embodiments for the lattice pattern.

iphone lattice pattern patent trashcan

Given that the lattice pattern debuted on the 2019 tower ‌Mac Pro‌, it is interesting to see some of the latest ‌Mac Pro‌'s design aspects implemented on an older model.

Although reversion to the trashcan-style design may seem more likely amid the transition to Apple silicon for a next-generation ‌Mac Pro‌, the machine is in fact expected to look more like the Mac mini.

While patent filings cannot be taken as solid evidence of the Apple's plans for actual consumer hardware, they can provide an interesting insight into the company's areas of research. At a minimum, this patent indicates that Apple may be planning to bring its unique lattice pattern to more devices in the future, but only time will tell.




March 31, 2021 at 01:38AM
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Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 4 release date, price, specs and everything else we know - Tom's Guide

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The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 4 could be the next big fitness-centric smartwatch. As a follow up to the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2, the Active 4 would likely introduce several upgrades and suit the company's newest smartphones.

Before you worry we've skipped a version, multiple leaks have pointed to Samsung soon launching two new smartwatches — the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Active 4 — under a sole generational number. We saw the company do this with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 last year, jumping from the original Samsung Galaxy Watch.

Currently the Galaxy Watch 3 is considered the best smartwatch for Android users, while the Galaxy Watch Active 2 has fallen in those rankings due to age. However, you can often find it for less than $200, making it one of the best cheap smartwatches right now.

The price cut could have something to do with the imminent launch of a new Galaxy Watch Active model. Although Samsung hasn't confirmed one is coming, there's enough evidence to speculate what a next-generation Galaxy Watch Active could look like, from a potential price and release date to possible features and wish-list upgrades. Here's everything we know.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 4 release date

We'll know the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 4 release date when the next Samsung Unpacked event is either leaked online or announced by the company itself. Samsung has introduced new wearables at its August keynote for three years in a row, so it could stick to its own precedent.

What's less certain is whether Note phones will headline the event as they have in the past. The Galaxy Watch 3 arrived alongside with the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series while the Galaxy Watch Active 2 arrived with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10, but the Galaxy Note 21 will likely not launch this year at all based on Samsung's own comments. 

There's a slight chance the Galaxy Watch Active 4 comes sooner than expected, too. According to a Twitter thread from tipster Ice Universe, the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch Active 4 are due in the second quarter of 2021. This would mean Samsung is launching its newest smartwatch models earlier than usual. 

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 4 price

Since the Galaxy Watch Active is a slimmer, more fitness-focused version of the Galaxy Watch, it's less expensive than Samsung's flagship. When the Galaxy Watch Active 2 launched, it cost $249 for the Bluetooth model and $299 for the LTE-equipped model. 

We'd expect Samsung to stick to this pricing model. And if it does, the Galaxy Watch Active 4 price would make it a direct competitor to the $279 Apple Watch SE and $229 Fitbit Versa 3. But assuming it continues all the features found in the previous Galaxy Watch, it would have ECG readings, unlike its similarly-priced rivals.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 4 specs and features

We don't know whether blood glucose monitoring will come to the Galaxy Watch Active 4, although the feature is rumored to debut with the standard Galaxy Watch. There is one interesting rumor circulating around that would likely impact both models of Samsung smartwatch: Leaker IceUniverse said next Galaxy Watch will replace Tizen with Android. 

This means Galaxy Watches could be making the jump from Samsung's proprietary wearable OS to Google's Wear OS. We're not sure how this would impact Samsung Health's influence on the fitness-first smartwatch.

Software and interface aside, the next Galaxy Watch Active will probably feature some spec upgrades. It could build on the 4GB of storage currently offered to match the Apple Watch's large storage offerings. It could get fall detection, VO2 max readings and other tools that came with the Galaxy Watch 3, too — all things that are useful to runners.

We're most interested to see how Samsung handles the Galaxy Watch Active 4 battery life. The Galaxy Watch Active 2 lasts up to 60 hours, depending on workouts and display. Samsung could maintain the Active 2's stamina, or it could shorten it like it did the Galaxy Watch 3's battery life compared to the first Galaxy Watch.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 4: What we want to see

Slim design: We expect the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 4 will bring the Galaxy Watch 4's key features to a smaller design that better suits those who work out often. With its physical bezel and premium materials, the flagship Galaxy Watch is rather bulky, especially compared to the Apple Watch. We hope the Galaxy Watch Active tries to achieve the same slimness as Apple's smartwatch, promoting a barely-there feel while on runs or moving around. 

More mental health tools: Mental health plays a big role in physical health. We'd like to see Samsung expand its wrist-based mental health tools, whether it be stress monitoring or more sophisticated stress management options. Fitbit's recent watches and Fitbit Premium upgrades (users can now meditate with Deepak Chopra) are a good example to follow. A future Apple Watch is also rumored to get oncoming panic attack warnings to help you get out of dangerous situations, like driving.

FDA approval for blood pressure monitoring: We'd also like a feature that's already offered in the Galaxy Watch Active lineup finally earn FDA approval. Samsung has put blood pressure monitoring in the last two iterations of its smartwatch, but users in the U.S. haven't been able to take advantage of the health tool. That said, it recently went live in a slew of other countries, so the U.S. could be next.

Bookmark this page to see all the latest Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 leaks and rumors. We'll update this page with the latest information leading up to the launch of Samsung's next fitness smartwatch.




March 31, 2021 at 12:00PM
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Xiaomi launches its first foldable phone and camera chip as it looks to challenge Samsung - CNBC

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Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun unveils the Mi Mix Fold foldable smartphone at a virtual event on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

Xiaomi

GUANGZHOU, China — Xiaomi launched its first foldable phone on Tuesday as it looks to push further into the premium end of the smartphone market and challenge the likes of Samsung.

The Mi Mix Fold has an 8.01-inch display when fully open. And when closed, it has a screen on the back. It also contains the Surge C1, Xiaomi's first in-house camera chipset.

Other key features include:

  • Four speakers made by Harman Kardon.
  • A Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 mobile processor.
  • 5G-connectivity.
  • Triple-lens camera.

The Mi Mix Fold will start at 9,999 Chinese yuan ($1,521) and go up to 10,999 ($1,673). A special edition version of the phone with a special ceramic casing will retail at 12,999 yuan ($1,978).

Xiaomi follows a number of smartphone makers including Samsung and Huawei into the foldable phone category.

Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, said the slew of foldable smartphones, "reflects the urgency" from phone makers to differentiate their premium devices.

"This remains a highly experimental segment where Samsung is leading the charge and it is interesting to see all the different approaches from various players," Wood said.

"Foldables remain an experimental niche. Although Xiaomi's new device will generate lots of interest, it is still unclear how to take the design concept to mass-market consumers. I expect several more generations of experimentation."

Xiaomi camera chip

The Mi Mix Fold contains a camera chip called the Surge C1 which was designed by Xiaomi. It's the Chinese firm's first image chip and CEO Lei Jun claims it "greatly improves" the image quality of photos taken with the foldable device.

He talked up the ability to take images in low light.

Lei said Xiaomi has been working on chips since 2014. In 2017, the company launched the Surge S1, its first smartphone processor which ended up being used in a mid-range device called the Mi 5C.

Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun unveils the company's first camera chipset called the Surge C1, during an event on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. It will feature in the company's Mi Mix Fold smartphone.

Xiaomi

Xiaomi joins the likes of Apple and Samsung in focusing on chip design. While it still uses Qualcomm processors in its high-end phones, the launch of the Surge C1 highlights its ambitions in the semiconductor space.

The U.S.-China trade war has accelerated Beijing's push to become more self-reliant on semiconductors. A number of Chinese technology companies including Baidu and Alibaba have been focusing on semiconductor design.

Xiaomi's Lei hinted at more to come from its chip unit.

"We want to climb the high peak of innovative technologies … and we will not stop our exploration (of chips)," Lei said in Mandarin, according to an official English translation.

Xiaomi's high-end push

Xiaomi has made its name and grown through selling high-spec phones at low prices. But now it is pushing into the premium segment of the market.

The Mi Mix Fold is part of that effort and follows the launch of the Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra on Monday.

Xiaomi now has smartphones priced from 3,299 yuan to 12,999 yuan, according to Lei.

That could help the company appeal to a wider range of users across different price segments in its attempt to challenge Apple and Samsung, the two largest smartphone players.

Xiaomi is trying to attract users with premium services that go with the Mi Mix Fold. Buyers of the foldable device will be able to get perks including cheaper screen repair for the first break and a dedicated customer service assistant.




March 30, 2021 at 09:02PM
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Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Bitcoin Scam App Approved by Apple Robs iPhone User of $600,000+ - MacRumors

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A scam bitcoin app that was designed to look like a genuine app was accepted by Apple's App Store review team and ended up costing iPhone user Phillipe Christodoulou 17.1 bitcoin, or upwards of $600,000 at the time of the theft, reports The Washington Post.

apple bitcoin hack


Christodoulou wanted to check on his bitcoin balance back in February, and searched Apple's ‌App Store‌ for "Trezor," the company that makes the hardware device where he stored his cryptocurrency. He saw an app with the Trezor padlock logo and a green background, so he downloaded it and entered his credentials.

Unfortunately, the app was fake, and was designed to look like a legitimate app to fool bitcoin owners. Christodoulou had his total bitcoin balance stolen from him, and he's angry with Apple. "Apple doesn't deserve to get away with this," he told The Washington Post.

Apple reviews all ‌App Store‌ app submissions to prevent scam apps from being downloaded by ‌iPhone‌ users, but there are plenty of scam and copycat apps like the fake Trezor app that slip by and have major consequences for ‌iPhone‌ users.

Apple says the fake Trezor app got through the ‌App Store‌ through "a bait-and-switch." It was called Trezor and used the Trezor logo and colors, but said that it was a "cryptography" app that would encrypt ‌iPhone‌ files and store passwords. The developer of the fake app told Apple that it was "not involved in any cryptocurrency." After the fake Trezor app was submitted, it changed itself into a cryptocurrency wallet, which Apple was not able to detect.

Meghan DiMuzio, the executive director for the Coalition of App Fairness that counts anti-Apple companies like Epic Games as a member, said that Apple "pushes myths about user privacy and security as a shield against its anti-competitive ‌App Store‌ practices." She said that Apple's security standards are "inconsistently applied across apps" and "only enforced when it benefits Apple."

Apple spokesperson Fred Sainz told The Washington Post that Apple takes swift action when criminals defraud ‌iPhone‌ users.

User trust is at the foundation of why we created the ‌App Store‌, and we have only deepened that commitment in the years since. Study after study has shown that the ‌App Store‌ is the most secure app marketplace in the world, and we are constantly at work to maintain that standard and to further strengthen the ‌App Store‌'s protections. In the limited instances when criminals defraud our users, we take swift action against these actors as well as to prevent similar violations in the future.

Apple declined to comment on how often scam apps are found, nor how often they're removed from the ‌App Store‌. The company did, however, say that 6,500 apps were removed last year for "hidden or undocumented features."

Apple acknowledged that it has discovered other cryptocurrency scams on the ‌App Store‌, but did not provide specific details on numbers nor whether there had been fake Trezor apps in the past. Trezor does not offer an iOS app at all, and Trezor spokesperson said that it had been notifying Apple and Google about fake Trezor apps "for years."

Apple would not provide The Washington Post with the name of the developer of the fake Trezor app, whether that developer had other apps in the ‌App Store‌ under other names, nor would Apple say whether the name was turned over to law enforcement officials. Apple says that it removed the fake Trezor app and banned the developer after the actual Trezor company reported it. Another fake app popped up two days later, and Apple removed that, too.

UK-based cryptocurrency regulation company Coinbase said that it has received over 7,000 inquiries about stolen crypto assets since 2019, and fake apps found in the Google Play and ‌App Store‌ are common complaints. In fact, five people have had cryptocurrency stolen by the fake Trezor app on iOS, with losses totaling $1.6 million.

Data from Sensor Tower suggests that the fake Trezor app was on the ‌App Store‌ from January 22 to February 3, and was downloaded approximately 1,000 times. The 17.1 bitcoin that Christodoulou lost are worth close to $1 million today, and Christodoulou says that he's heard nothing from Apple on the subject.

Another ‌iPhone‌ user who lost $14,000 worth of Ethereum and bitcoin said that an Apple representative told him Apple was not responsible for the loss from the fake Trezor app.




March 31, 2021 at 02:30AM
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