Tuesday, 31 March 2020

Samsung Galaxy S20 series update brings improved camera, new security patch https://ift.tt/2UBorYh

Update, April 1, 2020 (2AM ET): Samsung isn’t stopping at just one camera-focused update, as the firm is reportedly pushing out another update that targets the camera experience.

SamMobile reports that Galaxy S20 series users in Hong Kong and Taiwan are receiving a 435MB update (build number: G98x0ZHU1ATCT). Furthermore, the changelog notes that you’re getting improved camera performance in general and the April 2020 security patch.

The outlet says that Samsung’s updates for these regions are often different from OTAs for the rest of the world, but we can nevertheless expect the April 2020 security patch at the very least.

Original article: Welcome to the Samsung Galaxy S20 update hub! Here you’ll find all the latest information on software updates for the Samsung Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20 Plus, and Galaxy S20 Ultra. We’ll tell you what the current software versions are for each device and also give you a heads up that new updates are rolling out.

Keep in mind that the Samsung Galaxy S20 updates usually roll out to all three devices at the same time. However, different variants of the devices — such as carrier-branded versions and unlocked versions — usually see updates at different times.

Have you not yet purchased a Galaxy S20 phone? Check out the deals below. Head further down the page for the historical information on each Galaxy S20 update.

Samsung Galaxy S20 The latest and greatest from Samsung
The Samsung Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20 Plus, and Galaxy S20 Ultra are super-premium 5G smartphones from the South Korean company. No matter what you're looking for, the Galaxy S20 line likely has something to suit your needs.

Samsung Galaxy S20, S20 Plus, and S20 Ultra updates

  • Current stable version: Android 10
  • When will the Galaxy S20, S20 Plus, and S20 Ultra get Android 11?: December 2020 (estimated)

Samsung launched the family of Galaxy S20 phones on February 11, 2020. Pre-orders for the devices started on February 21 and the devices will land in stores on March 6. Every device in the family will launch with Android 10 out of the box (skinned over with Samsung’s One UI 2.0, of course).

Samsung has gotten much faster and more regular with software updates as of late. We saw the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 families get Android 10 in record time for the OEM. As such, it’s reasonable to assume the launch of Android 11 will be even faster this year. Although we can’t make any promises, it’s likely the Samsung Galaxy S20 update to the newest version of Android will land before 2020 comes to a close.

Before the Galaxy S20 family of phones even hit store shelves, Samsung already began releasing its first update. According to Tizen Help, the update is rolling out to South Korean S20 Ultra devices, and it fixes a few camera issues while also delivering the March Android security patch. This means that when you take your Galaxy S20 Ultra out of the box on March 6, there will likely be an update waiting for you.

Verizon also began pushing out a pre-release update to its Galaxy S20 Plus and Galaxy S20 Ultra variants on March 2. The update is said to bring performance enhancements to both devices and it includes the March security patch.

Shortly after that, the entire T-Mobile Galaxy S20 line began receiving the March security patch too. The update started rolling out while some lucky customers got their devices a few days ahead of the official March 6 launch date.

A second pre-release update was also rolled out to the Galaxy S20 phone. It brought further improvements to the camera performance and overall user experience, including enhanced touch gestures.

Following the release of the S20 series, Samsung sent out a firmware update to the Exynos variants of the phones. The update brought a new version of the camera app (10.0.01.98) to all three Galaxy S20 phones. It also fixed the slow autofocus problem some users were facing on the new flagships. The Snapdragon models gained this update a few weeks later, bringing an improved camera experience too.

Here are the current stable versions of each device in the Galaxy S20 family:

Samsung Galaxy S20, S20 Plus, and S20 Ultra Android 10 Android 11
AT&T Yes TBA
Sprint Yes TBA
T-Mobile Yes TBA
Verizon Yes TBA
US Unlocked Yes TBA
International Unlocked Yes TBA

Let us know which Samsung Galaxy S20 update you’re rocking in the comments. Also, if you’ve spotted an OTA that we haven’t, tip us!

Looking for another device update? Check out our Android 9 Pie and Android 10 update trackers.

More posts about Samsung Galaxy S20



from Android Authority https://ift.tt/2HTYU5d
at No comments:

You might want uninstall Houseparty, expert calls it a privacy ‘trojan horse’ https://ift.tt/2JxIUGM

Houseparty app on smartphone stock photo games

The group video chat app Houseparty has spiked in popularity after millions of people around the world began practicing social isolation amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Houseparty touts a slew of unique, easy-to-use features that make group video calls more fun, but it also comes with a plethora of privacy concerns.

Digital Privacy Expert Ray Walsh told Digital Trends that Houseparty users need to be aware that the app collects a “worrying amount of personal information.” This includes geolocation data, which Houseparty can theoretically use to track down its users. Walsh says the service is particularly scary considering how much information the government could glean from the app if it wanted to.

Read also: A current WhatsApp hack could put your friends and family at risk

“If the pandemic continues for any prolonged period, the chances that apps like this could be placed under surveillance [by the US government] to monitor how COVID-19 is spreading is a very real possibility,” Walsh said.

Gehan Gunasekara, an associate professor in commercial law at the University of Auckland, told Radio New Zealand that Houseparty is a privacy “trojan horse” that’s “able to basically track your every move.” By downloading and using the app, Gunasekara claims your allowing it to track your location, who you contact, how often you contact them, and more.

To further the app’s privacy suspicions, Twitter users have been claiming that since downloading Houseparty, their other social accounts and subscriptions like PayPal, Netflix, Instagram, Spotify, and even online-banking accounts have been compromised. Houseparty addressed the issue on Twitter, saying this is not true and that all accounts are safe.

It then went on to claim these accusations were the work of a smear campaign, and it is offering a whopping $1 million to whoever can prove it.

On top of all that, Houseparty is owned and operated by Epic Games, which is already known for its poor privacy practices. Thankfully, users can easily prevent Houseparty from tracking them so much. The app collects an obscene amount of data by default, but users can still turn location tracking off and make all chat rooms private, effectively neutralizing the issue.

But if you are looking for a good group video chatting app while you are quarantined, and Houseparty’s lack of user privacy still concerns you, there are plenty of other options you can use. Some of which include Hangouts, Zoom, Skype, and more.

More posts about the coronavirus



from Android Authority https://ift.tt/3bEsoB2
at No comments:

Here are the best US Cellular plans https://ift.tt/2UveE5W

Samsung store within a US Cellular store

You can probably guess that the largest mobile service providers in the United States are the likes of Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, but you might be surprised to see US Cellular is fifth place on the list. It services five million customers across 426 markets and has begun to roll out 5G coverage in Iowa. We’re taking a look at a few of the best US Cellular plans you can choose from if you’re looking to switch providers.

US Cellular prides itself on its commitment to fairness in all aspects of customer service. It promotes its friendly customer service and the latest tech for the best experience, as well as bill transparency and even Payback. The Payback feature means that you can use all of the data you want and US Cellular will actually buy back some of your unused data.

If you’re curious about this carrier, check out the plans below:

Best US Cellular plans:

  1. Basic plan
  2. Everyday plan
  3. Even Better plan
  4. Small Business plans
  5. Prepaid Plans

Editor’s note: We’ll be updating this list of the best US Cellular plans regularly as new plans launch.

1. Basic plan

Best US Cellular Plans

The most obvious place to start is the Basic plan. It starts at $55 per month for one user, but you can drop the price down as low as $30 per line if you have four lines of service. As the name would suggest, the Basic plan is the most straightforward and offers the fewest bells and whistles.

You get unlimited talk, text, and streaming with 480p quality. While it may not offer the most benefits, it’s tough to beat nationwide coverage for as little as $30 per person.

Get US Cellular Basic

2. Everyday plan

us cellular store 2

Up next is the Everyday plan, which is probably the most suitable plan for many people. It’s $65 per month for a single user, but with four lines the price drops to $40 per month for each line. You get the same unlimited talk, text, and streaming as the Basic plan but the streaming quality is raised to 720p HD.

The bonuses and extra features are what really set the Everyday plan apart from the Basic plan though. You get the added benefit of 500MB roaming data plus 100 minutes and 100 texts that can be used in Canada or Mexico. The Everyday plan also adds the Payback benefit, and you’ll get $5 back if you use less than 3GB of data. 

In addition, you get 15GB hotspot data, 25GB priority data, and Redbox Movie Night rentals. You can rent one movie per month, per line and crack open the popcorn.

Get the Everyday plan

3. Even Better plan

us cellular fairness

The Even Better plan is, you guessed it, even better than the Everyday plan. You get all of the same features as above, but the streaming is kicked up even higher to 1080p Full HD quality. You also get double the roaming benefits: 1GB data, 200 minutes, and 200 texts.

The Payback benefit gets twice as nice too: $10 for staying under the 3GB threshold. It could really be called the twice as nice plan because you get 30GB hotspot data, 50GB priority data, and two Redbox rentals per line per month.

Get Even Better coverage!

4. Small business plans

us cellular store

US Cellular even goes beyond personal plans to offer support for small businesses. The Small Business plans offer unlimited data as well as Payback. However, they’re designed for more than four users, which means you can continue to get discounts as you add more users to your service up to 15 lines. 

US Cellular can also help you find solutions for mobile office management, wireless internet and backup, smart security, and call routing or payment processing.

Get US Cellular for business

5. US Cellular prepaid plans

us cellular prepaid

If you prefer the prepaid route, there are three options from US Cellular. The first option includes 5GB mobile data as well as unlimited talk and text for $40 per month on one line. You’ll get up to $10 off when you add lines two through five. If your needs change, you can upgrade your prepaid plan to Unlimited. You’ll get the added benefit of 480p streaming and unlimited high-speed data.

The top-end prepaid plan is the Unlimited Plus plan. It features unlimited hotspot, unlimited calling to Mexico and Canada, and 22GB of priority data. You’ll also get one Redbox rental per month to boot.

Get Prepaid US Cellular

These are the best US Cellular phone plans the prepaid carrier currently offers. We’ll update this post with new ones as they launch. Looking for a new phone? Check out our list of the best US Cellular phones. 

More posts about Plans



from Android Authority https://ift.tt/341sErm
at No comments:

The trade ban takes its toll — Huawei reveals revenue shortcoming for 2019 https://ift.tt/2QWZhAP

huawei logo on laptop

Huawei’s having a rough time right now. Amid the current US trade ban, it’s slowly been losing momentum in recent months. The company just released its 2019 financial report, and though Huawei is still quite profitable, sales numbers are not where the company would like them to be.

The annual financial report reveals that Huawei’s 2019 global sales came in at nearly CNY 859 billion (~$121 billion), and the company scored a net profit of almost CNY 63 billion (~$8 billion). Though that’s a 5.6% increase over 2018’s global profits, Reuters reports that this is the smallest profit increase the company has seen in three years.

Huawei Rotating Chairman Eric Xu told CNBC that the company had missed its own sales goals by around ~$12 billion. Though Huawei initially projected revenue of approximately ~$123 billion at the start of 2019, it was preparing to revise that target to ~$135 billion by April. Then the trade ban threw a wrench in the company’s target sales goals when it went into effect in May.

Huawei’s not giving up, though. The company invested more than 15% of its total revenue back into research and development, bringing last year’s total R&D spending to nearly CNY 132 billion (~$19 billion) and its decade R&D spending to more than CNY 600 billion (~$85 billion).

Read also: COVID-19 pandemic leads to 40% drop in smartphone sales

What’s particularly interesting about this report is seeing how well Huawei did in specific markets. The financial report shows that Huawei’s presence still managed to grow in America throughout 2019. The company saw a 9.6% increase in revenue in the Americas compared to a measly 0.7% increase in Europe and the Middle East and a whopping 36.2% increase in China.

Though it’s no surprise Huawei saw a sales increase in its home country, the current trade ban drastically affects Huawei’s relationship with the US and its allies. Given the circumstances, a nearly 10% revenue increase in this western market is a decent success in its own right.

On the other hand, consumers around the world didn’t feel the full weight of the sanctions the majority of the year. We expect Huawei’s 2020 sales performance to decline outside of mainland China even further as the trade ban and the current COVID-19 pandemic continue to negatively impact the company’s business.

You can read Huawei’s 2019 financial report in its entirety here.

More posts about Huawei



from Android Authority https://ift.tt/2WXjyu3
at No comments:

Great deal: Grab the OnePlus 6T unlocked for $299 https://ift.tt/2JqKj1R

OnePlus 6T unlocked deal

OnePlus has long made phones with flagship specs at closer to midrange prices, and now the OnePlus 6T is more affordable than ever before. Woot is offering it brand-new and unlocked for just $299 right now.

The OnePlus 6T was one of the earliest devices to have an in-display fingerprint sensor and a very small notch for the front camera. You barely notice it at the top of the large 6.41-inch Optic AMOLED display with an 86% screen-to-body ratio.

Internally, it packs a Snapdragon 845 chip, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. While the OnePlus 6T does not have wireless charging, the 20W Fast Charge capability is a nice touch. You can fully recharge the 3,700mAh battery in under 90 minutes and get right back to your day.

You can capture every crisp detail on the dual 20MP and 16MP camera with Optical Image Stabilization and Nightscape feature. The selfie-shooter also packs a 16MP lens and Studio Lighting for picture-perfect portraits.

This deal is on the unlocked version of the OnePlus 6T so you can bring it along to the carrier you already trust. Check out the specifics via the widget below.

OnePlus 6T – Unlocked
Unleash the power of OxygenOS with the OnePlus 6T. It features a Snapdragon 845, 3,700mAh battery, and a 6.41-inch screen for the best experience. You can get an all-day charge with 20W Fast Charge technology too.

More posts about OnePlus



from Android Authority https://ift.tt/3bJ1OXB
at No comments: