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  • Samsung confirms Galaxy Fold release date

    Samsung confirms Galaxy Fold release date

    After much delay, Samsung has finally confirmed the launch date of the Galaxy Fold. The Korean giant has announced that the handset will go on sale in September, just a few weeks after it launches the Galaxy Note 10. Samsung also confirmed that only select markets will get it first, though other specifics haven’t been provided.

    To recall, the Galaxy Fold was originally slated for a release in April. However, the launch was pushed back due to screen issues found by reviewers. Samsung is now beleived to have resolved such issues that delayed the handset’s launch by four months.

    “Earlier this year, we announced Galaxy Fold—Samsung’s first foldable device, and the beginning of an entirely new mobile category. Since then, we’ve made improvements to Galaxy Fold to ensure consumers have the best possible experience,” Samsung says in a press release.

    Samsung further explained that it has made several changes to the Galaxy Fold in order to resolve issues with the screen discovered by early reviewers.

    To begin with, the top protective layer of the Infinity Flex display now covers the bezels as well. Hence, everything looks proper now as early reviewers assumed it was screen protector and tried to peel it off, thereby damaging the screen.

    Next, Samsung has added more metal layers under the screen in order to make it more durable. Also, the space between the body and the hinge has been reduced. Elsewhere, Samsung also claims there are additional reinforcements now to protect the screen from external debris. Finally, the company has strengthened top and bottom of the hinge with more protective particles.

    “Samsung is conducting final product tests to make Galaxy Fold available to consumers starting from September in select markets. Availability details will be shared as we get closer to launch,” the company added in the press release.

    Hopefully, all these changes should allow Samsung to launch the Galaxy Fold in September without any issues that were discovered in early review units of the handset

  • Apple might launch its most expensive MacBook Pro this fall

    Apple might launch its most expensive MacBook Pro this fall

    Apple devices are gettting more expensive across the board. The company introduced its first iPhone to cross the $1000 starting price in 2017 with the iPhone X. This year, reports suggest that the Apple might set a new price record for the upcoming 16-inch MacBook Pro.

    According to a report by Chinese publication Economic Daily News, the base model of the forthcoming MacBook Pro is expected to get a starting price of no less than $3000. Hence, the more users upgrade the upcoming MacBook with more storage and better technology, the more expensive it’ll get. The upcoming MacBook Pro is likely to sit between iMac and iMac Pro, essentially giving MacBook users the same desktop experience with more portability.

    The new 16-inch MacBook Pro is expected to come with an LCD screen having a resolution of 1920×3072 pixels. However, it won’t come with a touchscreen as Apple has indicated its plans stick with the traditional laptop design and features.

    The report further reveals that Apple also plans to announce the updated MacBook Pro and Retina MacBook Air models. Both are expected to feature 13-inch screens alongside several upgrades under the hood. These include a new keyboard design to rectify issues MacBook users have constantly nagged about in the past. Key sources indicate that Apple plans to ditch the current butterfly mechanism design in the future that is used in current MacBook models. Instead, next-gen MacBook models will use scissor switch style keyboards.

    That said, nothing is official for the moment as Appple has kept its upcoming product plans a closely guarded secret. The company is expected to announce its 2019 iPhoine lineup in Setmeber, while we could see the launch of new MacBooks at a seperate event in October. More reports about Apple’s upcoming product plans are likely to surface as we near their official release. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • New Snapdragon 215 CPU designed for budget handsets goes official

    New Snapdragon 215 CPU designed for budget handsets goes official

    Qualcomm has announced its newest chip in the Snapdragon 200 series, the Snapdragon 215. The latest chipset is the successor to the Snapdragon 212 and is specifically designed for budget smartphones. Qualcomm said that Snapdragon 215 is targeted at budget smartphones priced in the range of $75-$120.

    According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 215 is the only chispet in its range to feature a 64-bit CPU and support for dual cameras. It also comes equipped with the Snapdragon X5 LTE modem to support Dual VoLTE.

    “We’re raising the bar for mass market devices and enabling experiences that were never before possible in the 2-series,” said Kedar Kondap, Vice President of Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies, in a statement.

    The Snapdragon 215 is based on the new 64-bit architecture featuring four ARM Cortex-A53 cores clocked at a maximum speed of 1.3GHz. Qualcomm claims it offers up to 50 percent faster performance over its predecessor.

    Besides, it also comes with Adreno 308 GPU that is rated to deliver up to 25 percent improvement in gaming performance compared to previous iteration. The new chipset also supports LPDDR3 RAM of up to 672 MHz and 3GB capacity. In addition, it comes with support for eMMC 4.5 and SD3.0 (UHS-I) storage.

    Elsewhere, the Snapdragon 215 supports a display of 720×1560 pixels having an aspect ratio of 19:5:9. It also features dual 12-bit image signal processors (ISPs) that allow suppport for dual rear cameras. For selfies, the chipset features a single front camera module with up to 13MP sensor. It’s also capable of recording videos up to 1080p and supports EVS (Ultra HD) voice calls.

    As far as connectivity goies, the new chipset comes with Snapdragon XT LTE modem alongside support for LTE Cat 4. It also supports Wi-Fi 802.11 ac with MU-MIMO, Bluetooth v4.2, GPS/A-GPS, OTDOA, GLONASS, and Beidou.

  • Google finds major iPhone text bomb that bricks the device

    Google finds major iPhone text bomb that bricks the device

    A serious iPhone text bomb has now been discovered which can only be fixed with a full device wipe. Google’s Project Zero found this critical bug, who’ve also reported about other major issues of products from different companies.

    Google found the bug in April this year. However, as per the group’s policy, a public disclosure is only allowed if Apple fixes the bug or after 90 days since informing them of the vulnerability. As expected, Apple rolled out a fix for the same in iOS 12.3. Hence, all details about this issue are now disclosed to the public, such as steps to reproduce the bug.

    Google’s Project Zero team found that sending a malformed iMesage to a Mac or an iPhone causes several issues on these devices. For instance, a malicoius message receieved on the Mac can crash the soagent, however, users can recover by relaunching the service.

    Bug causes Springboard to crash on an iPhone

    Things, however, go up a notch on the iPhone as the bug causes the Springboard to crash and then fails to reload. Even rebooting doesn’t help in this case, as the bug reappears after unlocking the iPhone.

    Google explained the only way to rectify the issue is to wipe the device completely with Find my iPhone, put it in recovery mode and update via iTunes. However, in case of a device where iMessage is disabled, it will not be affected.

    As already mentioned, Apple shipped a fix for this issue in iOS 12.3. Hence, all users are advised to update their iPhones or iPads as soon as possible to ensure they are safe. Also, users are recommended to activate the automatic software update in iOS 12 in order to be not impacted by such issues. Tu tuen on automatic update in iOS 12, Just head over to Settings, then navigate to the General Section, and select the software update option.

  • Apple might use a new keyboard design in future MacBooks

    Apple might use a new keyboard design in future MacBooks

    Apple reportedly plans to shift to a new keyboard design for future MacBook models. Key sources indicate that Apple plans to ditch the current buttefly mechanism design in the future that is used in current MacBooks. Instead, next-gen MacBook models will use scissor switch style keyboards. Notably, scissor style keyboards is what Apple used before employing the butterfly mechanism in 2015. Now, this seemingly appears that Apple is taking a step backwards if it indeed decides to use scissor sytle keyboards in future MacBooks.

    With that being said, butterfly keyboards are known for all the wrong reasons despite their slim and durable build. MacBook users have consistently reported of dropped keystrokes with butterfly switch based keyboards.

    The reason being that butterfly keyboards have a tendency to let debris accumulate under the keys which essentially affects normal functioning. With external debris under the keyboard, it usually led to individual keypresses going unregsitered or cases of multiple keypresses. Besides, it also led to overheating issues with MacBook keyboards.

    Apple tried to rectify this issue by redesigning the keyboard with added silicon layers around the keys. However, to no avail as it could barely prevent external debris entering the insides of the keyboard. The company also announced an extensive repair program because of this issue, which applied to all MacBook models manufactured in 2015 and later. Sadly, all these efforts did little to negate such keyboard issues.

    Now, it appears Apple could finally ditch butterfly mechanism and employ scissor-switch style keyboards for MacBook models to be released in 2020 and later. The switch to new keyboard design could improve the typing experience with longer key travel.

  • Next-gen Nikon D6 likely to launch ahead of 2020 Tokyo Olympics

    Next-gen Nikon D6 likely to launch ahead of 2020 Tokyo Olympics

    Nikon is said to be in the final phase of development of the new Nikon D6 DSLR flagship, which will be the successor to the current Nikon D5. The upcoming D6 DSLR is expected to come equipped with a plethora of improvements over the D5, which was launched nearly three years back.

    In terms of new features, the Nikon D6 is expected to able to shoot 4K videos at 60fps. That said, it’s still unknown as to how long would the D6 be able to capture 4K videos at a stretch. The current Nikon D5 is able to shoot 4K videos at 30fps for a period of around 30 mins.

    24MP full frame sensor

    Elsewhere, the upcoming Nikon D6 is said to feature a 24MP full frame sensor, which is an improvement over the 20.8MP sensor found on the D5. Besdies, word is that the D6 could get an internal stabilization feature as well, which is said to have a manual exposure of atleast 120 seconds.

    Other features the Nikon D6 is expected to come with inlcude dual CFExpress/XQD memory card slots along with a rear LCD display with 3.2 million dots. In comparsion, the current Nikon D5’s LCD screen has 2.36 million dots.

    Besides, the D6 is also expected to come equipped with an electronic view finder with the abilty of 0.78x magbnification as well as 100 percent frame coverage. And being marketed as a sports camera, the upcoming D6 is expected to have burst speeds of 14fps. Also, the D6 is said to feature dual image processors to improve its auto focus performance while also offering silent shooting modes.

    Industry experts also suggest that the Nikon D6 will get a mirrorless variant as well, but that is yet to be confirmed. As far as release goes, the company is aiming to launch the Nikon D6 before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics kick off.

  • Apple reportedly prepping a cheaper iPhone for the Chinese market

    Apple reportedly prepping a cheaper iPhone for the Chinese market

    Apple is expected to announce its 2019 iPhone-lineup in September. And just like last year, the Cupertino giant is said to announce three iPhone models this year as well. These will be direct successors to the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. That said, a new report has emerged which indicates that Apple could add a cheaper iPhone model to the lineup.

    However, this particular affordable model will lack features such as FaceID, given that facial recognition is one of the more expensive parts of a handset. Instead, this model could mark the return of Touch ID with a fingerprint sensor. That said, the cited source also suggests that Apple is working on two options for the Touch ID. One of them being the addition of TouchID on the back of iPhone, just like you’d find on Android devices. The other being placing the fingerprint reader under the screen.

    Cheap iPhone Only for China

    The report further adds that this more affordable iPhone model would be specifically aimed at the Chinese market. Now, this essentially means that this particular model with TouchID and no FaceID won’t be available anywhere else.

    The reason being that Apple wants to handle the increasing popularity of cheaper handsets in China to compete against likes of Huawei, Xiaomi, and more. In markets like China and India, cheap Android alternatives keep popping up every day featuring bezel-less screens, more RAM and storage, and cameras with multiple lenses. Hence, in order to tackle the popularity of cheap Android alternatives, Apple needs to develop budget iPhone models for these markets.

    That said, we’d take this infirmation with a pinch of salt as Apple has traditionally never compromised on features to bolster iPhone popularity and demand. Only time will tell whether this report turns out to be accurate.

    As per earlier reports, Apple is widely expected to introduce three iPhone models this year as well. These are said to be the iPhone XI, iPhone XI Max, and iPhone XIR. Key sources also indicate that Apple’s 2019 iPhone-lineup will be the last generation to include an LCD model, as Apple plans to switch to OLED screens entirely from 2020 onwards.

  • Nearly half of Americans haven’t the faintest idea about their phone

    Nearly half of Americans haven’t the faintest idea about their phone

    If you can spot the difference among two smartphones, you might be considered as an expert in the United States. Well, only if we are to look at a survey conducted by decluttr. The survey has apparently revealed rather startling facts about phone owners in the US.

    The survey, which included 2000 Americans of all ages, points to the fact that nearly half of the respondents couldn’t identify their smartphone model by looking at the image, compared to other devices from the same manufacturer.

    According to the study, Samsung Galaxy S9+ users were the only ones who could easily identify their device among others. As 71 percent of them could correctly tell apart their device from Samsung’s portfolio.

    On the contrary, the hardest ones to tell apart were the iPhone 7 and the flagship iPhone XR, as only 44 percent of owners could identify what model they use.

    And there’s more.

    The study has revealed several other startling facts about phone owners as well. One of them being that most Americans think their smartphones support 5G.

    “Around a third of Americans state that they own a 5G-capable device, despite the select choice of devices, the limited availability and the huge cost.The majority of those who stated they owned a 5G-capable device (62%) claim to have noticed improvements to their mobile service while using the 5G network, which is not widely available.” the study reveals.

    Elsewhere, the study suggests that a significant number of Americans have no ide about their phone’s capabilities. As around 60 percent of Galaxy S7, Galaxy S8, and Galaxy S9 owners did not know their phone supports wireless charging.

    Things went up a notch for Apple owners in the survey. As no less than 86 percent of iPhone X, iPhone XR, and iPhone XS owners are not aware that their devices support NFC.

  • Samsung Galaxy Note 10 launch confirmed on August 7

    Samsung Galaxy Note 10 launch confirmed on August 7

    Samsung has finally confirmed that it’ll launch the upcoming Galaxy Note 10 on August 7. The unveiling will be held at Samsung’s usual Unpacked Event in New York city, at 4PM EST. Rumor has it that we might see two different variants of the device at the launch event, one of which could be called the Galaxy Note 10 Pro or Galaxy Note 10+.

    While Samsung has been rather tipped about the changes coming to the upcoming Note 10. That said, the Korean giant did hint at an improved camera performance and S Pen capabilties.

    As already mentioned, Samsung is expected to unveil two models of the handset. One of them with a 6.3-inch display, while the other model could get a 6.75-inch display. The latter will be the top-end model, which is expected to come with higher specifications than its smalller sibling. Past leaks have indicated it could pack a whopping 12GB of RAM.

    With that being said, we might also witness the end of the classic 3.5mm jack with the Galaxy Note 10 series. Word is that Samsung is expected to use wireless headphones or USB Type-C capabilities with its next-gen model. Besides, Samsung might remove the Bixby button as well.

    Past reports also indicate that the fingerprint sensor will be integrated into the screen, just like the Galaxy S10. However, the punch-hole selfie camera has been relocated in the center instead of the top-right corner found on the Galaxy S10.

    You can watch the Galaxy Note 10 launch event livestream via Samsung’s official website. The event kicks off at 4PM EST on August 7.

    More information about the Galaxy Note 10 is likely to surface as we near its official release. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • Google rolls out July 2019 Android security patch to fix multiple flaws

    Google rolls out July 2019 Android security patch to fix multiple flaws

    Google today released July 2019’s Android security patch for all supported Pixel devices. The latest patch address several security isssues, bug fixes, and multiple improvements. The Android security patch for July 2019 includes 2019-07-01 and 2019-07-05 security patch levels.

    The latest security patch addresses a total of 33 security vulenrabilties affecting Android devices. These issues were found in the Android systrem, framework, library, media framework, along with Qualcomm componnets. According to Google, the most critical flaw was discovered in Android Media framework.

    “The most severe of these issues is a critical security vulnerability in Media framework that could enable a remote attacker using a specially crafted file to execute arbitrary code within the context of a privileged process. The severity assessment is based on the effect that exploiting the vulnerability would possibly have on an affected device,” explained Google in the security bulletin.

    Apart from multiple security fixes, July 2019’s Android security patch also fixes sveral bugs for supported Pixel handsets. For instance, it improves ‘OK Google’ and music detection on the Pixel 2, Pixel 2XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3XL, Pixel 3a, and Pixel 3a XL. Besides, it also fixes an issue for some Pixel 3 and Pixel 3XL devices that get stuck while a reboot is performed.

    Elsewhere, Google has also fixed an issue on the Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, and Pixel 3a XL handsets that get stuck in the ELD mode. Besides, the latest security patch also improves Unicode language support for Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, and Pixel 3a XL.

    The July 2019 Android security patch is now rollong out on all supported Pixel handsets. These include the Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3XL, Pixel 3a, and Pixel 3a XL devices. The rollout is taking places in phases, and is likely to arrive in a few days for all users. The patch should also arrive soon for other Android devices such as the likes of Essential, HTC, Sony, and more.

  • CAD renders of Apple’s 2019 iPhone range allegedly leaked

    CAD renders of Apple’s 2019 iPhone range allegedly leaked

    A bunch of CAD renders claiming to be of Apple’s next-gen iPhone models slated for a launch in September have been spotted on the web. These CAD renders give us an early idea as to what Apple’s next gen iPhones could look like.

    The latest CAD renders show all three iPhone models slated for a release in 2019. These include the iPhone XI, iPhone XI Max, and iPhone XIR. The leak nicely falls in line with earlier rumors about Apple’s next iPhone. For instance, all three iPhone models are said to sport a square camera bump on the rear. The iPhone XI and iPhone XI Max are said to feature three rear rear cameras, up from dual lens cameras found on current-gen iPhone XS and XS Max. Meanwhile, the iPhone XIR is expected to boast dual-rear cameras, as opposed to a single-lens primary camera found on the current iPhone XR.

    Moving on to the front, the latest renders show a similar notch found on the iPhone X and iPhone XS, so there aren’t many changes on the handset’s front. Apart from the sqaure camera bump on the back, the next-gen iPhone range will look much like their predecessors, a design inspired by the iPhone X.

    Rumor also has it that Apple might ditch Ligtning for USB-C, however, these CAD renders do not offer any information about the connector Apple will use in next-generation iPhones. Both USB-C and Lightning connectors are similar in size, and the angles shown in these CAD renders do not reveal whether Apple has made the switch to USB-C.

    Key sources also indicate that Apple’s 2019 iPhone-lineup will be the last generation to include an LCD model, as Apple plans to switch to OLED screens entirely from 2020 onwards.

    More leaks about Apple’s 2019 iPhone -lineup are likely to surface as we near the official release. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • Lead Designer Jony Ive quits Apple after 30 years

    Lead Designer Jony Ive quits Apple after 30 years

    Sir Jonathan Ive aka Jony Ive, the brainchid behind many of Apple’s iconic products is leaving the company after nearly 30 years. Ive stated that his next move would be to spend time with his own compnay which is called LoveFrom. He also added that he’ll continue to be fully associated with Apple, as the Cupertino-based giant will be one of the primary clients of his new company in the future. Ive was involved in creating some of the most iconic Apple products. Those include the likes of the iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watc, Mac devices, and so on.

    “After nearly 30 years and countless projects, I am most proud of the lasting work we have done to create a design team, process and culture at Apple that is without peer. Today it is stronger, more vibrant and more talented than at any point in Apple’s history. The team will certainly thrive under the excellent leadership of Evans, Alan and Jeff, who have been among my closest collaborators. I have the utmost confidence in my designer colleagues at Apple, who remain my closest friends, and I look forward to working with them for many years to come,” Ive said.

    Ive’s departure from Apple has certainly shocked the entire tech inddustry. Some even suggest he had been instrumental in shaping what Apple is today as the late Steve Jobs. Apart from designing Apple products, Ive was also credited for the company’s new Apple Park campus, also referred to as the spaceship campus given its futurustic look and feel.

    Besides, Ive was also known to have played an instrumental role in iOS 7, which was by far Apple’s biggest overahaul to its mobile operating system. Similarly, Ivy was also known to play a crucual role in the design and development of macOS.

    “Apple will continue to benefit from Jony’s talents by working directly with him on exclusive projects, and through the ongoing work of the brilliant and passionate design team he has built. After so many years working closely together, I’m happy that our relationship continues to evolve and I look forward to working with Jony long into the future,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a press release.

    Filling in the shoes of Jony Ive will be the likes of Jeff Williams. Alan Dye, and Evans Hankey. Evans is the VP of industrial design and Alan is the VP of human interface at Apple. Both of them will likely be reporting to Jeff Williams.

  • Google starts rolling out the latest version of Android Auto

    Google starts rolling out the latest version of Android Auto

    Back at I/O 2019, Google announced that refreshed Android Auto would start rolling out in summer. Now, it appears Google has lived up to that promise as the rollout of the new version has begun. The latest update is a part of Android Auto version 4.4. That said, not everyone is getting the redesigned version just by installing v4.4.

    Besides, it’ also important to note that not everyone’s getting the new version, as the rollout appears to be taking place in phases. However, users who did receive the overhauled Android Auto were prompted to unplug and reconnect the phone to the car, following which the new UI showed up on their screens. A posting on Reddit suggests that the redesigned version is now available for some users in the United Kingdom.

    The latest version of Android Auto brings a completely new design to make driving simpler, less cluttered, and more personal. Google has promised that the new version remembers your settings and apps, so it’ll just start playing songs and load navigation apps that you mostly use.

    The overhaul also brings a redesigned navigation bar that shows turn-by-turn directions, while also providing easy access to apps and phone controls.

    “With the new navigation bar, you’ll be able to easily control your apps with one tap. Get turn-by-turn directions, rewind your podcast or take incoming call all on the same screen,” said Google.

    Apart from the redesigned navigation bar, the refreshed version also gets a notification center that displays recent calls, messges, as well as alerts.

    The new Android Auto update is expected to roll out in the next few days. In the meantime, make sure to watch out for an OTA alert or head over to the PlayStore to check if the latest update is available for download.

  • Sony offering high-end headphones for free with Xperia 1 pre-orders

    Sony offering high-end headphones for free with Xperia 1 pre-orders

    Sony has already confirmed that its latest Xperia 1 flagship is slated for a release in the US on July 12. That said, the company recently announced that preorders for the smartphone begin Friday, June 28. The Japanese tech giant also confirmed that those who pre-order the Xperia 1 would get Sony’s 1000X M3 wireless noise-cancelling headphones for free, which carry a standalone price tag of nearly $350.

    If you’re planning to buy Sony’s latest flagship, this should make for a rather good deal given the fact that the Xperia 1 is priced at $949 in the US. However, the pre-order deal ends on July 12th, the day when Xperia 1 will be officially released.

    The Xperia 1 features a super tall 6.5-inch, 21:9 4K HDR OLED display, which Sony brags as a first for any smartphone. Under the hood, the smartphone gets powered by the latest Snapdragon 855 processor bundled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Elsewhere, the Xperia 1 boasts triple rear cameras , Dolby Atmos sound, and ‘game enahncer’ mode that disables notifications and other distractions during gaming.

    The Xperia 1 will be available on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Interested buyers can take advantage of this pre-order deal via Best Buy, Amazon, B&H Photo, along with several other outlets.

  • Google plans to rebrand Google Home to Nest Home

    Google plans to rebrand Google Home to Nest Home

    Key sources indicate that all Google Home products might be renamed to the Nest brand. According to a listing spotted on Google Store, the Connected Home Accessories section for old swappable bases for Google Home is showing as Nest Home bases.

    The official product page still mentions them as ‘Base for Google Home’, however, the disocunt listing had renamed it to ‘Nest Home Base’.

    That said, after multiple reports about the new name change were published, Google has apparently removed all references to ‘Nest Home’ today. Now, this essentially implies that the rebranding was wasn’t ready to go live.

    google nest

    To recall, Google did confirm during I/O 2019 that all its smart-home products in the future would be rebranded to Google Nest. The first product under the new brand name is the Nest Hub Max, while Google Home Hub was immediately rebranded as Nest Hub. The Google Nest branding has already started rolling out to multiple already-available smart home products in the company’s portfolio. These include the classic Nest Thermostat, security cams, as well as Hello Video Doorbell.

    For now, it appears Google hasn’t rebranded any smart speakers with the new brand name. That said, it could all change in the near future. Google VP Rishi Chandra has already confirmed that the Nest rebrand will eventually come to Google Home speakers. That said, it appears the rebranding isn’t happening right away, and would likely apply to next-generation products, instead of current ones.