Monday, 2 August 2021

Telegram update brings a ton of video-focused upgrades https://ift.tt/3C5iQgi

The Telegram icon on an Honor View 20 on a green background.
  • The Telegram team has announced several video-focused additions to the app.
  • These include 1,000 people on a video call, upgraded Video Messages, and the ability to adjust video playback speed.

Telegram is one of the best alternatives to WhatsApp, owing to a large user-base and a host of features that are missing from the Facebook-owned IM app. Now, the Telegram team has revealed the latest stable update, bringing several notable features to the table.

The headline feature this time is that Telegram is raising the group video call limit from 30 participants to 1,000 people. There is a major caveat though, as the ability to display your video feed is still limited to 30 people, meaning the 970 additional people can’t actually display their video. Nevertheless, Telegram is positioning this option as being ideal for lectures, event streams, and other similar formats.

We also get upgrades to the Video Messages feature, which lets you record a short video snippet that doesn’t get saved to your phone gallery. These videos are now at a higher resolution, can be expanded, and have playback controls (e.g. rewind, pause, fast-forward).

These aren’t the only video-related tweaks, as the Telegram update also brings screen-sharing with device sound in one-on-one video calls and the ability to adjust video playback speed.

Other noteworthy additions in this update include the ability to auto-delete messages sent in a chat after a month (joining one day and one week as options), your pen brush automatically decreasing in width as your zoom in on a picture, new message-sending animations, and new animated emoji.



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Samsung Galaxy S22 could reintroduce camera tech made popular by Huawei https://ift.tt/3C2Ngjo

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra camera module macro 1
Credit: David Imel / Android Authority
  • The Samsung Galaxy S22 series might feature a 50MP RGBW sensor.
  • Theoretically, this sensor could improve the light sensitivity of the sensor under certain conditions.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 launch might be a few months away yet, but the leaks are already coming through thick and fast. The latest tip suggests that Samsung’s 2022 early flagship could feature a pretty impressive camera system.

Early rumors pointed to the use of a 50MP sensor across the Galaxy S22 range. Now, a new tip from tipster Yogesh, in response to an Ice Universe tweet, suggests that this sensor could be an RGBW (red, green, blue, and white) unit.

yogesh samsung galaxy s22 rgbw camera tweet

Why use an RGBW sensor?

It’s far too early to confirm any of the Galaxy S22 series’ specs, but an RGBW sensor would be an interesting inclusion. In theory, the addition of white pixels should help the sensor acquire more light information across the entire spectrum. This should improve the sensor’s overall light performance in darker scenes.

More reading: We tested the best camera phones of 2021 so far

The first phone to feature the tech was the Huawei P8. Its sensor took impressive shots in its time but did struggle with overexposure in brighter scenes. Considering the phone launched half a decade ago, we imagine that advancements by modern sensors and software would largely mitigate this issue.

Samsung wouldn’t be the only firm working on a phone with this sensor, either. Late last year, Vivo announced plans to launch a phone with an RGBW sensor in 2021. Although the device’s title wasn’t revealed, it’s possible the tech would debut on the camera-centric Vivo X60 successor.

While Yogesh’s tips are generally reliable, you should still take this info with a pinch of salt. After the Galaxy Z Fold 3 makes its presumed debut later this month, Samsung will probably only launch the Galaxy S22 series in Q1 2022. There’s plenty of time for new details to emerge.

Other rumors have suggested that Samsung’s following flagship line could make significant strides in camera performance. The company is also reportedly working on a 200MP sensor and polishing its current 108MP sensor, so expect this to debut on a device (Samsung or otherwise) in the future, too.



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New on Amazon Prime Video in August 2021: Zombies, Modern Love, and more https://ift.tt/37aPBrQ

Amazon Prime video shown on smartphone stock photo
Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

What’s new on Amazon Prime Video in August 2021? Well, The streaming service will debut yet another zombie-themed TV series, with a twist. There’s also the second season of Modern Love, and the US debut of the long-awaited final Evangelion anime movie, among others.

Read more: Best Amazon Prime Video originals

Don’t have Amazon Prime Video yet? Sign up for a free 30-day Amazon Prime trial using the link below:

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video offers access to thousands of movies and TV shows to stream. That includes great original shows and movies like The Boys and The Tomorrow War. You can also sign up for other premium services within Amazon Prime Video.

S.O.Z. Soldiers or Zombies Season 1 (August 6)

Are you ready for yet another zombie-themed TV series? Amazon Prime Video hopes you are with this interesting twist on telling stories of the undead. The Spanish language (with English subtitles) series centers on a Mexican drug lord, who escapes from prison in his native country, and heads to a small town just across the US. border. What he doesn’t know is that a failed experiment has turned both US and Mexican soldiers into zombies. Now the drug lord has to protect his young son, and team up with the US Army,  to fight off the zombie soldiers.


Modern Love Season 2 (August 13)

The second season of this anthology series, based on the New York Times column of the same name, continues to show stories of love and romance in various ways. As with the first season, the second series features an all-star cast, including Minnie Driver


Evangelion:3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon A Time (August 13)

Anime fans in general, and Evangelion in particular, have been waiting for the final Evangelion movie to drop for some time. The movie, already released in its native Japan, is being offered to the rest of the world in August via Amazon Prime Video. This is the last movie of the four film series that itself is a reboot of the popular 1990s Evangelion sci-fi anime TV series, about humans battling an alien invasion via massive mech machines. Amazon Prime Video will also drop the previous three Evangelion films on the service on the same day.


Annette (August 20)

Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard star in this original musical movie. They play a very public couple (he’s a comedian, she’s an opera singer). However, the birth of their daughter Annette affects both of their lives in new and different ways. 

Everything new on Amazon Prime Video in August 2021

Here’s what you can stream on the service in the month of August. It also includes a new documentary, Val, about the life of actor Val Kilmer, along with the streaming debuts of two 2021 theatrical releases, Killer Among Us and The Courier.

August 1

  • 21 (2008)
  • Aliens (1986)
  • All About Steve (2009)
  • Anaconda (1997)
  • Annie (1982)
  • Attack The Block (2011)
  • Borat (2006)
  • Catch Me If You Can (2002)
  • Center Stage (2000)
  • Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)
  • Elektra (2005)
  • Escape From Alcatraz (1979)
  • Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)
  • Freedomland (2006)
  • Hook (1991)
  • In Her Shoes (2005)
  • Jaws: The Revenge (1987)
  • Jaws (1975)
  • Jaws 2 (1978)
  • Jaws 3 (1983)
  • Knowing (2009)
  • La Bamba (1987)
  • Machete (2010)
  • Made Of Honor (2008)
  • Max Payne (2008)
  • Moneyball (2011)
  • Mud (2013)
  • My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
  • Patriot Games (1992)
  • Pearl Harbor (2001)
  • Predator (1987)
  • Predator 2 (1990)
  • Seabiscuit (2003)
  • Secret Window (2004)
  • Sideways (2004)
  • Slither (2006)
  • Something’s Gotta Give (2003)
  • Soul Surfer (2011)
  • The Great Debaters (2013)
  • The Insider (2000)
  • The Iron Lady (2011)
  • The Legend Of Zorro (2005)
  • The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
  • The Natural (1984)
  • The Roommate (2011)
  • The Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)
  • Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys (2008)
  • Water For Elephants (2011)
  • You, Me And Dupree (2006)
  • Addison: Season 1 (Kidstream)
  • Bannan: Season 1 (Mhz Choice)
  • Be Cool, Scooby Doo: Season 1 (Boomerang)
  • Chesapeake Shores: Season 1 (Hallmark Movies Now)
  • City Confidential: Season 1 (A&E Crime Central)
  • Delicious: Season 1 (Acorn TV)
  • Dirt Every Day: Season 1 (Motortrend)
  • Frankie Drake Mysteries: Season 1 (PBS Masterpiece)
  • The French Chef with Julia Child: Season 1 (PBS Living)
  • Here We Go Again: Season 1 (ALLBLK)
  • How the Earth Was Made: Season 1 (History Vault)
  • In Their Own Words: Season 1 (PBS Documentaries)
  • Sea Raiders: Season 1 (Best TV Ever)
  • The Bridge: Season 1 (Topic)
  • The Nordic Murders: Season 1 (PBS Masterpiece)
  • Winners of the West: Season 1 (Best Westerns Ever)

August 6

  • Val – Amazon Original Movie (2021)
  • S.O.Z. Soldiers or Zombies (English subtitles only) – Amazon Original Series: Season 1

August 13

  • EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME – Amazon Exclusive (2021)
  • Modern Love – Amazon Original Series: Season 2

August 16

  • Evan Almighty (2007)
  • In Bruges (2008)

August 17

  • The Skeleton Twins (2014)

August 20

  • Annette – Amazon Original Movie (2021)
  • Killer Among Us (2021)

August 27

  • The Courier (2021)
  • Pete the Cat Back to School Operetta – Amazon Original Special (2021)

That’s what you can expect this month. We’ll be back in September 2021 with another update!



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5-day-old OnePlus Nord 2 allegedly explodes, company investigating incident https://ift.tt/3x1izY2

OnePlus Nord 2 top down view outside with foliage

Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
  • A user’s five-day-old OnePlus Nord 2 allegedly exploded while she was cycling.
  • Images posted by the woman’s husband show a badly burnt phone.
  • OnePlus is currently investigating the incident.

In a bizarre and potentially dangerous incident, a woman’s brand new OnePlus Nord 2 apparently exploded inside her phone sling while she was cycling.

The alleged explosion was reported by the woman’s husband, Ankur Sharma, on Twitter.

“Today morning around 6 AM IST, my wife went out for cycling with her new OnePlus Nord 2 (5days old) in her sling. All of a sudden phone blasted and smoke started coming out of it. Due to this blast, she met with an accident. She is in trauma after this incident,” Sharma’s now-deleted tweet read at the time.

An eagle-eyed Twitter user was able to grab a screenshot of Sharma’s tweet describing the incident. As you can see from the screenshot below, Sharma also attached some images of a burnt phone, allegedly the OnePlus Nord 2.

OnePlus Nord 2 exloding tweet

Credit: Twitter

We reached out to Sharma on Twitter to verify his complaint and get more information about the incident. However, we haven’t yet heard from him. Given the tweet was deleted for some unexplained reason, we’re unsure if the user will be willing to discuss the apparent incident.

Meanwhile, OnePlus has confirmed that the company has reached out to Sharma and is currently investigating the alleged Nord 2 explosion.

“We take such incidents seriously. Our team has already reached out to the user and is investigating this further,” OnePlus said in an emailed statement to Android Authority.

The alleged explosion of the Nord 2 has created quite a buzz on Reddit, with people wondering whether the phone is safe to use or not. However, it should be noted that the authenticity of the incident hasn’t been verified yet.

We’ll update this article If and when we get some more information on the matter from OnePlus or the user themselves.



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What’s new on Netflix in August 2021: Sweet Girl, The Kissing Booth 3, and more https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

What’s new on Netflix in August 2021? Well, the streaming service will bring us a number of new thriller movies, the final film in a popular teen rom-com trilogy, and an anime film based on a hit Netflix fantasy series.

Read more: Best shows on Netflix

If the streaming service looks like it will have something for you to watch, you can sign up for Netflix at the link below.

Netflix
Netflix is still the leading premium streaming service, with over 200 million worldwide subscribers. It offers thousands of movies and TV shows to binge watch, including its always growing list of original films and series, including Stranger Things, The Witcher, Bridgerton, and many more.

Sweet Girl (August 20)

Jason Momoa stars in this new thriller movie that’s part of what’s new on Netflix in August. He plays a father to a teenage daughter and both are dealing with the tragic death of his wife. Momoa soon learns that the pharasuctic company pulled a drug off the market that could have save his wife just before she died. He wants answers, and that puts him and his daughter into the crosshairs of company assassins.


Beckett (August 13)

John David Washington (Tenet) stars in this political thriller. He plays a man who is touring Greece with his girlfriend, when they both get involved in a car crash that kills her. When Washington’s character stars to ask questions about what really happened to him, he finds himself on the run and with no one he can truly trust.


The Kissing Booth 3 (August 11)

Joey King returns in the final movie in the popular teenage romantic comedy movie trilogy that’s part of what’s new on Netflix in August. King plays Elle and in this movie she’s graduated from high school. She now has a decision to make. Does she stay at home and go to college with her best friend, or travel across the country to go to school with her boyfriend? Along the way, she decides to go through her Beach Bucket List of different adventures.


The Chair (August 20)

Sandra Oh stars in this comedy series. She plays Dr. Ji-Yoon Kim, a professor who is now taking over as the chair of the English department at Pembroke University. However, she will soon find out that there’s more to this job than books and lesson plans. The series also stars Jay Duplass, Holland Taylor, and Bob Balaban. It was created and written by actor Amanda Peet and is produced by Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.


The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (August 23)

Before the second season of the fantasy series The Witcher drops on in December, you can watch this anime prequel movie as part of what’s new on Netflix in August. Nightmare of the Wolf centers on Vesemir, another Witcher, and Geralt’s mentor, in his early days as a monster hunter. The voice cast includes Theo James, Lara Pulver, and Mary McDonnell.


What’s new on Netflix – Coming in August 2021

Here’s the full list of what’s new on Netflix in August 2021, followed by what’s leaving the service this month. It also includes a new anime based on the Monster Hunter games, along with He’s All That, a gender-swapped version of the classic teen comedy She’s All That. Also, the full run of two classic shows, 30 Rock and Friday Night Lights, are coming to Netflix this month.

August 1

  • 30 Rock: Seasons 1-7
  • Beethoven
  • Beethoven’s 2nd
  • Beowulf
  • Catch Me If You Can
  • Darwin’s Game
  • Deep Blue Sea
  • The Edge of Seventeen
  • Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
  • Five Feet Apart
  • Friday Night Lights: Seasons 1-5
  • Good Luck Chuck
  • The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia
  • Hunter X Hunter (2011): Seasons 5-6
  • Inception
  • The Lincoln Lawyer
  • The Losers
  • The Machinist
  • Magnolia
  • Major Payne
  • My Girl
  • My Girl 2
  • The Net
  • The Original Kings of Comedy
  • Pineapple Express
  • Poms
  • Seabiscuit
  • Space Cowboys
  • Team America: World Police

August 3

  • Pray Away
  • Shiny Flakes: The Teenage Drug Lord
  • Top Secret UFO Projects: Declassified

August 4

  • Aftermath
  • American Masters: Inventing David Geffen
  • Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami
  • Control Z: Season 2
  • Car Masters: Rust to Riches: Season 3
  • Cooking With Paris

August 6

  • Hit & Run
  • Navarasa
  • The Swarm
  • Vivo

August 8

  • Quartet

August 9

  • Shaman King

August 10

  • Gabby’s Dollhouse: Season 2
  • Phil Wang: Philly Philly Wang Wang
  • UNTOLD: Malice at the Palace

August 11

  • Bake Squad
  • The Kissing Booth 3
  • La diosa del asfalto
  • Misha and the Wolves

August 12

  • AlRawabi School for Girls
  • Lokillo: Nothing’s the Same
  • Monster Hunter: Legends of the Guild

August 13

  • Beckett
  • Brand New Cherry Flavor
  • Fast & Furious Spy Racers: Season 5: South Pacific
  • Gone for Good
  • The Kingdom
  • Valeria: Season 2

August 15

  • Mother Goose Club: Seasons 3-4
  • Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai: Season 1
  • Winx Club: Season 6

August 16

  • Walk of Shame

August 17

  • Go! Go! Cory Carson: Season 5
  • UNTOLD: Deal with the Devil

August 18

  • The Defeated
  • Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes
  • Out of My League
  • The Secret Diary of an Exchange Student

August 19

  • Like Crazy

August 20

  • The Chair
  • Everything Will Be Fine
  • The Loud House Movie
  • Sweet Girl

August 23

  • The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf

August 24

  • Oggy Oggy
  • UNTOLD: Caitlyn Jenner

August 25

  • Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed
  • Clickbait
  • John of God: The Crimes of a Spiritual Healer
  • Motel Makeover
  • The Old Ways
  • Open Your Eyes
  • Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes
  • Rainbow High: Part 2
  • Really Love
  • The River Runner
  • Tayo the Little Bus: Season 4
  • The Water Man

August 26

  • Edens Zero
  • Family Reunion: Part 4

August 27

  • He’s All That
  • I Heart Arlo
  • Tinseltown High

August 28

  • Bread Barbershop: Season 2
  • Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

August 31

  • Sparking Joy
  • UNTOLD: Crime and Penalties

What’s new on Netflix – Leaving in August 2021

August 1

  • American Assassin

August 4

  • #cats_the_mewvie

August 7

  • The Promise

August 9

  • El Cartel: Season 1-2
  • Nightcrawler

August 11

  • Safety Not Guaranteed
  • Scary Movie 5

August 14

  • Mother Goose Club: Seasons 1-2

August 15

  • Jericho: Seasons 1-2
  • Wish I Was Here

August 20

  • Kill the Irishman
  • Norm of the North: Keys to the Kingdom
  • The Founder

August 22

  • 1BR

August 26

  • The Angry Birds Movie 2

August 27

  • A Princess for Christmas

August 29

  • Strange But True

August 30

  • Casino Royale
  • Quantum of Solace
  • The Eichmann Show
  • Full Out
  • Stranger Than Fiction

August 31

  • Angel Eyes
  • The Big Lebowski
  • Chinatown
  • The Departed
  • Election
  • The Girl Next Door
  • Hey Arnold! The Movie
  • Hot Rod
  • Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
  • Love Actually
  • Love Happens
  • The Manchurian Candidate
  • Monsters vs. Aliens
  • The Muppets
  • Muppets Most Wanted
  • Nacho Libre
  • Moon Kingdom
  • Pootie Tang
  • The Prince & Me
  • Resident Evil: Afterlife
  • Resident Evil: Extinction
  • The Ring
  • Road to Perdition
  • The Social Network
  • Superbad
  • The Time Traveler’s Wife

That’s what’s new on Netflix in August 2021 and also what’s leaving. We’ll be back next month with another update!



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Sunday, 1 August 2021

Got an ancient phone? You won’t be able to sign in to your Google account soon https://ift.tt/37fr0EQ

Android 2 Gingerbread Easter Egg in hand
  • You won’t be able to log in to your Google account on your old device from September 27.
  • This affects all devices running Android 2.3.7 Gingerbread and lower.

There are loads of Android devices out there running outdated versions of the platform, be it due to manufacturers no longer issuing updates or because these devices are simply very old. You can still do the basics here, but it looks like Google is introducing a major restriction soon.

The Mountain View company announced (h/t: Neowin) last week that you won’t be able to sign in to your Google account on devices running Android Gingerbread 2.3.7 and earlier. This decision goes into effect from September 27, 2021, and is being done in the name of improved security.

“If you sign in to your device after September 27, you may get username or password errors when you try to use Google products and services like Gmail, YouTube, and Maps,” Google explained.

Google suggests that you should update your Gingerbread (or earlier) device in the extremely unlikely event that you haven’t done so already. The search company says you can still log in to your Google account and Gmail via the web browser if you can’t update to a later version.

This is an understandable move though, as these devices will be far less secure than devices from even several years ago. So you might want to look into the custom ROM process if you insist on using an ancient phone or tablet.



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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 leak spills tech specs and pricing information https://ift.tt/3A0KcCx

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 marketing renders 1

  • The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 have leaked in full glory.
  • The true wireless earbuds could give you almost a day’s worth of juice with Active Noise Cancellation.
  • They are expected to be cheaper than the Galaxy Buds Pro launched in January.

The complete specs and European pricing details of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 have leaked thanks to folks over at WinFuture. This is the first time a reliable news outlet has confirmed previously outed information about the true wireless earbuds.

The report includes alleged marketing images of the Galaxy Buds 2 and technical details gathered from official promotional materials. It suggests that the earbuds will come with “AKG signature” sound and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) that can be used at a stretch for 20 hours. Without ANC, the new Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 should be able to last a whopping 30 hours. The accompanying charging case is expected to power up the buds for one hour of listening in just five minutes.

Also read: What we want to see from the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

Samsung has reportedly installed three mics on the TWS earbuds to ensure clear conversations even in a noisy atmosphere. AI and touch controls should assist with easy operation.

The Galaxy Buds 2 are also going to feature splash and sweat resistance with an IPX2 rating, just like the standard Galaxy Buds. That’s not as great as the IPX7 waterproofing on the Galaxy Buds Pro that launched back in January, but it should suffice for most activities you do while wearing the earbuds.

As for pricing, WinFuture reports that the Galaxy Buds 2 will cost €149.99 (~$178) including taxes. A previous leak suggested that the buds would be priced between $149 and $169 in the US. Essentially, you can expect to pay less for the Galaxy Buds 2 compared to the $199 Galaxy Buds Pro. For what it’s worth, the original Galaxy Buds launched for $129 back in 2019.

If you’re hoping to pick up a pair of the Galaxy Buds 2, you may not have to wait long. We expect them to launch on August 11 alongside Samsung’s new foldable phones.



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