Monday, 1 July 2019

Samsung Galaxy A80 with its super-cool flip camera is now available to buy https://ift.tt/2XoXquc

The Samsung Galaxy A80. Samsung

Samsung proved that it could still innovate when it announced the Galaxy A80 back in April. It’s taken a long time, but the unique phone is finally available to purchase.

The Korean company confirmed the Galaxy A80’s availability in a news release, saying it was now available online and at physical retailers in select markets. Samsung didn’t clarify these launch markets, but we’ve contacted the firm for more information and will update the article as soon as we hear more.

In any event, the phone’s biggest selling point has to be its flip camera. The Galaxy A80 uses a combination of a slider and Oppo-style flip camera to create a rather unique mechanism. Check out the GIF below for a better idea of what it looks like in action.

The Galaxy A80 flip camera mechanism packs a 48MP main shooter, 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 3D ToF sensor. These shooters also serve as your selfie cameras thanks to the flip setup, of course. 

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Other noteworthy features include an upper mid-range Snapdragon 730 chipset, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 3,700mAh battery with 25-watt charging. Samsung’s phone also packs an in-display fingerprint sensor below the 6.7-inch full HD+ OLED screen.

The new phone does however lack a microSD card slot and a 3.5mm port, which have been two Samsung fixtures over the years. It might not be the only Samsung phone to abandon the 3.5mm port though, as the Galaxy Note 10 is rumored to be ditching the standard too.

Samsung hasn’t revealed pricing for the Galaxy A80 but Clove in the U.K. is selling the device for 616 pounds ($780, 688 euros), which would make it substantially more expensive than the Galaxy A70. The A70 is available for 369 pounds ($467, 412 euros) via the Samsung website. Keen to check out the new phone in more detail? Then you can visit the Samsung website or Clove via the buttons below.

Galaxy A80 on Clove
Galaxy A80 on Samsung.com


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Huawei’s Trump lifeline, and 11 more things you need to know in tech today https://ift.tt/2LkOPRZ

Good morning this Monday! Here’s your daily tech digest, by way of the DGiT Daily newsletter, for July 1, 2019! Welcome to July, tech fans.

1. Huawei gets a lifeline

Over the weekend, on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, U.S. President Trump gave China a significant trade concession, announcing “U.S. companies can sell their equipment to Huawei,” relaxing the restrictions handed down on May 15.

What went down:

  • This backflip, sideflip, or obvious ploy playing out in the same way as the ZTE ban didn’t exactly shock anyone.
  • But the lack of detail did leave many wondering just what was going on.
  • How would Huawei be allowed back into the fold, after so much was said against it? Would Trump be able to make the concession pass through Congress?

Now there’s more detail:

  • White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow revealed more information in an interview on Fox News Sunday.
  • Kudlow contradicted earlier reports that Huawei would be removed from the Department of Commerce ‘entity list’, dispelling those notions.
  • Instead, Kudlow said the Trump administration would simply grant some licenses to allow U.S. companies to sell products to Huawei, under the proviso that sales pose no threat to national security, Kudlow said.
  • “This is not a general amnesty, if you will,” said Kudlow.
  • “Huawei will remain on the so-called entity list where there are serious export controls and in national security inferences or suggestions there won’t be any licenses.”
  • You can watch the Huawei-relevant part of the Fox News Sunday interview on Twitter.

The list of unknowns remains longer than the list of knowns:

  • The national security angle seems to be more about telecommunications and network backend equipment, such as Huawei’s 5G technology.
  • It may be that the main restriction will be on supplying technology for mobile and cellular networks.
  • In terms of consumer devices, but the thought is that Huawei will again be able to acquire basic components like Qualcomm processors and Google’s Android OS, to continue developing and selling smartphones.

The underlying issue:

  • While Trump appears to be using Huawei as just part of his trade war, the main problem for the U.S. is that the technology (cold) was between China and Chinese manufacturers, and the rest of the world, isn’t going to stop.
  • China, more than ever before, will be racing to become self-sufficient, which will eventually hurt U.S. tech: China will stop buying products from the likes of Qualcomm, Intel, Broadcom, Google, and so on, the moment it can.
  • Tim Culpan at Bloomberg referred to the coming divide as “a digital iron curtain” that will continue to be drawn, “which separates the world into two distinct technological spheres of influence”.

More to come in this debacle, no doubt!

2. Eric Zeman takes T-Mobile’s brand new 5G network for a spin (Android Authority).

3. Staff picks: 7 things Joe Hindy uses every day – some interesting gear here (AA).

4. Also, win not one but two Samsung Galaxy 10 phones in a photo contest (U.S. only) (AA).

5. Trump officials might kill encryption, hurting WhatsApp, iMessage, and more (AA).

6. Good detail from the WSJ about Jony Ive having moved on from Apple, with Tim Cook’s disinterest design part of the problem: “Ive was “dispirited” by Tim Cook, who “showed little interest in the product development process,” according to WSJ sources.” (WSJ).

7. Weekends are the wild west for Bitcoin, but nobody knows why. FOMO, Groupthink, or just getting ahead of the pack? (Bloomberg).

8. CNET comes in clutch with useful tips ahead of Amazon Prime Day 2019 (CNET).

9. An Amazon engineer made an AI-powered cat flap to stop his cat from bringing home dead animals (The Verge).

10.“Stranger Things 3” is like an 8-hour summer blockbuster and its best season yet, here’s a non-spoiler review (io9).

11. Two big space events on Tuesday: NASA’s critical safety test of the Orion crew capsule, and a total solar eclipse in South America (space.com).

12. Also, all but three of the 60 SpaceX Starlink satellites are working (Geekwire)

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Japan’s Trump-style trade move could be bad news for foldable phones https://ift.tt/2xkCjtm

Tech components and products made in South Korea, such as the Galaxy Fold, could be at risk.

  • Japan has announced that it is increasing export controls of tech-related materials to South Korea.
  • Materials affected by Japan’s move include materials used for flexible displays and semiconductors.
  • The move could potentially affect the foldable phone market, as well as the mobile market at large.

Japan has announced that it will tighten export controls of materials used in smartphones and chips by South Korean tech companies.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Japan has introduced significant export controls on fluorinated polyimide, which is said to be used in flexible smartphone displays, as well as resist. The controls also apply to high-purity hydrogen fluoride, used to create circuits on semiconductors.

South Korean companies will reportedly need to apply for special permission for each batch of the materials it orders. This doesn’t sound too bad at first glance, but it’s believed that the process could take roughly 90 days. The move is set to come into effect from Thursday, and it’s believed that Samsung, LG, and SK Hynix are affected by it.

Read: Huawei will be allowed to do business with U.S. companies again

A South Korean government official told the Wall Street Journal that the move was “economic retaliation” for a recent South Korean Supreme Court ruling. The court found that Japan’s Nippon Steel company should compensate South Koreans for slave labor during World War II.

“We have no choice but to say that the relationship of trust between Japan and South Korea has been strikingly damaged,” Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry was quoted as saying.

What does it mean for smartphones?

LG has confirmed that it doesn’t use fluorinated polyimide in its flexible displays, but it could potentially be a setback for Samsung in its quest to release the Galaxy Fold. Samsung’s first foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold, has already been delayed due to hardware woes.

Display Supply Chain Consultants told Bloomberg that Japan controls 90 percent of the market for polyimide used in flexible screens, so finding alternative sources could prove difficult. We’ve contacted Samsung’s representatives for any comment in this regard and will update the article accordingly.

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Foldable phones with flexible displays – Here are the ones we know about so far

Phones with true flexible and foldable displays are on the way! After a brief flirtation with phones like ZTE Axon M, which joins two screens with a hinge in a clamshell design, ww now know that the …

The move could also be a stumbling block for the smartphone industry at large. Samsung and SK Hynix supply the smartphone sector in general, producing RAM, storage, and other mobile components. This suggests that we could be in for a smartphone component shortage and/or higher prices as Korean firms try to source alternative materials and manufacturers search for more component suppliers.

Japan’s decision could also hurt the country’s own smartphone sector, as it’s not uncommon for manufacturers such as Sharp and Sony to use Korean components. Sharp, for example, has reportedly used Samsung’s flash storage in its own phones in recent years. Meanwhile, Sony is said to have signed an agreement with LG Display earlier this year for flexible screens.

NEXT: No, your OnePlus 7 Pro notifications aren’t hacked



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Phones with 12GB of RAM — what are your best options? https://ift.tt/2XbeJcZ

Phones with 12GB of RAM

More companies are releasing phones with 12GB of RAM including big names like Samsung, as well as Chinese manufacturers like OnePlus and Xiaomi. We’ll show you the best ones in this post, but before we jump in, it’s important to note that 12GB of RAM is an overkill for a smartphone in 2019. As our very own Gary Sims said, “Once you go over 8GB, you enter Nonsense land where Mr. Silly lives.” — learn more here.

That being said, having as much RAM as possible does make sense if you plan to keep your phone for a longer period of time. So while 12GB of RAM for a phone may be overkill now, it could become standard on flagships a few years down the line.

Phones with 12GB of RAM:

  1. OnePlus 7 Pro
  2. Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus
  3. Xiaomi Black Shark 2
  4. ZTE Axon 10 Pro
  5. Nubia Red Magic 3
  6. Xiaomi Mi 9 Transparent Edition

Editor’s note: We’ll be updating this list of the best phones with 12GB of RAM regularly as new devices launch.

1. OnePlus 7 Pro

OnePlus 7 Pro selfie open on table

In addition to sporting 12GB of RAM, the OnePlus 7 Pro is also available with 6 or 8GB of memory. The phone sports a large 6.67-inch display with QHD+ resolution, a 90Hz refresh rate, and curved edges.

The flagship has a high screen-to-body ratio thanks to its motorized pop-up selfie camera. It runs the latest version of Android with OnePlus’ OxygenOS on top, which is the best skin out there in my opinion. Other specs and features include an in-display fingerprint scanner, three rear cameras, and a decently-sized 4,000mAh battery.

The 7 Pro is OnePlus’ most expensive smartphone to date, although it’s still cheaper than the Galaxy S0 Plus and Huawei P30 Pro. However, it lacks a few features found on other high-end phones including an official IP rating and wireless charging.

Check pricing

OnePlus 7 Pro specs:

  • Display: 6.67-inch, QHD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 855
  • RAM: 6/8/12GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 40, 16, and 8MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 4,000mAh
  • Software: Android 9.0 Pie

2. Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus -- 12GB RAM phone

The 12GB RAM version of the Galaxy S10 Plus is paired with a whopping 1TB of storage, which you can expand for an additional 512GB via a microSD card. You can also get the device with 8GB of RAM and 128/512GB of space.

Samsung’s flagship features an in-display fingerprint scanner, a triple-camera setup at the back, and a massive, 4,200mAh battery. There’s even a headphone jack on board. The phone supports wireless charging as well as reverse wireless charging and has a punch-hole display for a modern look.

Speaking of the display, it comes in at 6,4 inches and sports curved edges. You also get an IP68 rating for protection against water and dust. All these things combined make the Galaxy S10 Plus one of the best phones with 12GB of RAM you can get.

Check pricing

Galaxy S10 Plus specs:

  • Display: 6.4-inch, QHD+
  • SoC: SD 855 or Exynos 9820
  • RAM: 8/12GB
  • Storage: 128/512GB and 1TB
  • Cameras: 12, 12, and 16MP 
  • Front cameras: 10 and 8MP
  • Battery: 4,100mAh
  • Software: Android 9.0 Pie

3. Xiaomi Black Shark 2

Black Shark 2 Review with 12GB of RAM

Xiaomi Black Shark 2 is a gaming-centric phone that stands out from the crowd due to its design. It sports a rear panel with aggressive angles and RGB lighting for the Black Shark logo and side strips.

In addition to the 12GB of RAM version, the phone also comes with 6 or 8GB of RAM. It uses dual-layered vapor chambers for keeping the phone cool under load and comes with the latest and greatest Snapdragon 855 chipset under the hood. Then there’s the in-display fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, and a 4,000mAh battery that gets you an hour of gaming with a 10-minute charge.

The Black Shark 2 is a great phone, but it isn’t for everyone due to its looks. It’s available in a number of regions including Europe, but it wasn’t released in the U.S. — get it via the button below.

Check pricing

Xiaomi Black Shark 2 specs:

  • Display: 6.39-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 855
  • RAM: 6/8/12GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Camera: 48 and 12MP 
  • Front camera: 20MP
  • Battery: 4,000mAh
  • Software: Android 9.0 Pie

4. ZTE Axon 10 Pro

ZTE Axon 10 Pro

There are a couple of reasons that make the Axon 10 Pro one of the best phones with 12GB of RAM. It packs top-of-the-line specs including the Snapdragon 855 chipset, three rear cameras, and an in-display fingerprint scanner.

It also sports a great design and a large 6.47-inch display witch curved edges, just like Samsung’s Galaxy S and Note series. The phone also offers a near-stock Android experience, has a microSD card slot on board, and supports wireless charging.

The problem with the phone is its availability. Although the Axon 10 Pro did launch in Europe, only the version with 6GB of RAM is available. To get the 12GB variant, you’ll have to buy it from a site like AliExpress for now.

Check pricing

ZTE Axon 10 Pro specs:

  • Display: 6.47-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 855
  • RAM: 6/8/12GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 48, 20, and 8MP
  • Front camera: 20MP
  • Battery: 4,000mAh
  • Software: Android 9.0 Pie

5. Nubia Red Magic 3

Red Magic 3 Upshot

This is the second — and last — gaming phone on this list. In addition to coming with as much as 12GB of RAM, the Nubia Magic 3 also sports a 6.65-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate, stereo front-facing speakers, and shoulder triggers.

The phone has an aggressive design that you’ll either love or hate and includes RGB lighting on the back, allowing you to customize the look of the panel using built-in lighting effects with support for over 16.8 million colors. There’s plenty of power under the hood thanks to the latest Snapdragon 855 chipset, which should handle any task you throw at it.

The Nubia Magic 3 runs a stock-like version of Android, features a massive 5,000mAh battery, and has as much as 256GB of storage. However, it doesn’t support expandable storage or wireless charging. The phone also lacks NFC.

Check pricing

Nubia Red Magic 3 specs:

  • Display: 6.65-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 855
  • RAM: 6/8/12GB
  • Storage: 64/128/256GB
  • Cameras: 48MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 9.0 Pie

6. Xiaomi Mi 9 Transparent Edition

best phones with 12GB of RAM

The last model on our list of the best phones with 12GB of RAM is the Transparent Edition of the Xiaomi Mi 9. What makes it different from the regular version of the device is that it features more RAM as well as storage and that it sports a fancy see-through back cover.

Like the rest of Xiaomi’s phones, the Mi 9 offers great value for money. It sports high-end specs including the Snapdragon 855 chipset, three rear cameras, and an in-display fingerprint scanner. The battery comes in at 3,300mAh and supports fast charging that gets it from 0 to 100 percent in around 65 minutes.

For now, the Transparent Edition of the Xiaomi Mi 9 is only available in China, while the regular version with 6GB of RAM can be purchased in Europe and other markets. Xiaomi said it might release the Mi 9 Transparent Edition globally somewhere down the line if there will be enough demand. Fingers crossed!

Check pricing

Xiaomi Mi 9 Transparent Edition specs:

  • Display: 6.39-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 855
  • RAM: 12GB
  • Storage: 256GB
  • Cameras: 48, 16, and 12MP
  • Front camera: 20MP
  • Battery: 3,300mAh
  • Software: Android 9.0 Pie

These are the best phones with 12GB of RAM you can get in our opinion, although there are a few others to choose from as well. We’ll make sure to update this post with new models once they are announced.



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No, your OnePlus 7 Pro notifications aren’t hacked https://ift.tt/2XfvIjn

OnePlus 7 Pro notifications are in the spotlight this week.

OnePlus has confirmed that strange notifications reported by scores of OnePlus 7 Pro users were accidentally sent during internal testing. The company revealed the error on Twitter, apologizing for the inconvenience while adding that they were investigating the issue.

OnePlus’s statement comes a short while after OnePlus 7 Pro users on reddit reported receiving a notification with Chinese characters. The characters purportedly translate to “hahaha,” sparking suggestions that it was either a throwaway test notification or the work of hackers.

Aside from the Chinese-language notification, users also reported seeing a second notification, showing random English letters. In any event, the erroneous notifications were reported by users in the likes of Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Hong Kong, and Netherlands.

It wouldn’t be the first time notifications sparked controversy in the Android space, as HTC previously drew the ire of its users by pushing out a notification ad for the Fantastic Four movie in 2015. Thankfully, this latest incident was an accident rather than an ill-advised ad or anything malicious. Have you received the test notifications? Give us the details in the comments section!

NEXT: Fast Share is Google’s Android Beam replacement — Here’s what you need to know



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Trump officials might kill encryption, hurting WhatsApp, iMessage, and more https://ift.tt/2D4YSYE

WhatsApp is one of many apps using encryption.

Senior members of President Donald Trump’s administration are reportedly considering the idea of banning or watering down the encryption used by scores of communication apps and services.

According to Politico, citing three sources familiar with the matter, the debate took place during a National Security Council meeting. It added that the number two officials from a few “key” agencies were present at the meeting.

More specifically, the officials debated whether they should ask Congress to “effectively outlaw” end-to-end encryption. The meeting reportedly failed to reach a decision in this regard.

Read: Under-screen 3D cameras could truly kill the notch

“The two paths were to either put out a statement or a general position on encryption, and [say] that they would continue to work on a solution, or to ask Congress for legislation,” a source told Politico.

Encryption is used by everyone from Apple and Facebook to Google and Telegram. The technology allows users to safely text and call others, knowing that (for the most part) their communications are private. Smartphone manufacturers and platform-holders also use encryption to protect data stored on devices.

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Proponents of an encryption ban suggest that banning it or reducing its effectiveness would allow authorities to better tackle terrorism and other crimes. But such a move would also make it easier for cyber-criminals and other governments to intercept communications and other sensitive data.

A move to ban encryption would be akin to banning door locks. Sure, that means police officers could come and go as they please in order to enforce the law, but it also means criminals can make off with your TV.

What do you think of an encryption ban? Give us your thoughts in the comments section.

NEXT: 10 best legal free movie apps and free TV show apps



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Smash hit Redmi K20 series passes 1m shipments and India is still to come https://ift.tt/325M8cC

Xiaomi redmi K20 Pro render Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s Redmi K20 series came as a pleasant surprise back in May, touting a pop-up camera design and cheap price tag. Now, the Chinese brand has confirmed that it has shipped one million devices.

The news comes via Xiaomi executive Donovan Sung, revealing that it hit the one million figure in a month. It’s worth noting that these are units shipped to retailers and other distributors, rather than devices sold to customers.

Redmi’s high-end duo first launched in China, but the standard model also made its way to Europe several weeks ago as the Mi 9T. In any event, the figure is pretty encouraging for the Xiaomi sub-brand, and it’s only set to accelerate when the device series hits India in the coming weeks.

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The Redmi K20 Pro is everything the Pocophone F2 should be

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The Redmi K20 series stands out from the pack by being two of the cheaper devices with a pop-up selfie camera. The two phones also share an OLED screen with an in-display fingerprint sensor, a 4,000mAh battery, a 3.5mm port, and a similar triple rear camera trio.

The Pro model offers a Snapdragon 855 chipset, 27 watt fast charging, and a slightly different 48MP main camera (IMX586 vs IMX582 on the K20). Meanwhile, the standard Redmi device delivers a Snapdragon 730 processor, and 18 watt charging. Interested in the device series? Then you can check out the Mi 9T Amazon listing via the button below.

Xiaomi Mi 9T


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