Sunday, March 3, 2019

Apple : Why have so many 5G phones been launched already this year?

Apple : Why have so many 5G phones been launched already this year?

Why have so many 5G phones been launched already this year?

Posted: 03 Mar 2019 11:28 AM PST

Why are 5G phones even being unveiled already? It feels like it's barely months since 4G networks launched... so why are we even talking about selling 5G handsets already? Why did we see multiple phones being announced at MWC this year packing the new technology on board?

I'm certainly not against the idea of 5G coming into the smartphone world... and wider. It's genuinely going to be a revolution. 

It’s going to allow multiple sensors to be connected together on a network at once – this is going to have a huge effect on things like large factories, where multiple elements can be monitored to bring large-scale efficiencies. That might sound dull, but it's game-changing stuff to businesses.

Driverless cars will be able to be connected and controlled with almost zero lag, so pinpoint corrections can be made from the cloud. 

Gaming on the go will be possible, as you'll be able to connect to a console-quality server and stream games to your phone. Heck, even your pets will no longer go missing when they’ve got a 5G chip around their neck.

But the 5G network has barely begun (there are limited trials or very small rollouts in key areas of Asia and the US), and yet Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S10 5G and a 5G variant of the Galaxy Fold, the Huawei Mate X is 5G ready, the LG V50 is 5G-enabled, Xaomi has rebooted its Mi Mix 3 as a cheap 5G model, and ZTE has also gotten in on the act.

So why are brands launching phones that support 5G already, when it costs more and needs bigger batteries to support the technology?

The revolution is coming

"[5G] is around the corner," John Chan, product PR lead for Xiaomi, told TechRadar. "So the key thing for us is making technology accessible to everyone. 

"When 5G comes out [owning a 5G phone means] you are right on it, there’s no barrier to the 5G era from your phone – that’s the vision we have. We want to provide the tools and the innovation needed."

When quizzed about whether it was more of a marketing strategy to have a 5G phone out before the networks are deployed, Chan admitted that it does have a certain value for brands.

"You could say that it does have a [marketing] effect, proving to people that we are able to make a 5G phone – and we want to be able to provide people with that device," he added.

 Sony was one of the biggest brands not to bring out a 5G phone at the conference, although it did have a concept device on show, a move mirrored by OnePlus on the Qualcomm stand. 

Mitsuya Kishida, President of Sony Mobile told TechRadar that Sony was intending to have a device on the market when the 5G wave begins in earnest, and was working closely with partners to bring it to market, but added that it didn't see the point in having a model available just now.

"Obviously, we are heavily cooperating with our partners to develop for 5G, and depending on the country and the customers need we will introduce the 5G model accordingly," he told us.

"It will be a separate model and depend on the country, again. How to introduce the solution is going to be different for our customers."

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 is coming in a 5G variant this year

2019 is going to be the year that 5G really begins to rollout around the world, so you can understand that a few phones might be landing onto the market... after all, there's no point in the likes of Verizon in the US, or EE in the UK, bringing out these faster networks without phones to sell it on.

These carriers also going to be pressing the manufacturers to bring out high-end, feature-rich smartphones to entice conusumers to make the jump to 5G.

But as Chan from Xiaomi proved, it's as much a show of technical clout as anything else for these brands to unveil a 5G smartphone, a marketing punch that confirms their status as innovative.

Even though these phones exist, they're unlikely to be available everywhere - there are multiple, different 5G technologies being deployed around the world so each model of phone will need to connect to all of them if they're to be a global release.

At what cost?

Samsung is going early with its 5G variant of the S10.

We know that 5G plans are going to cost a little more at the start (both on contract and SIM free), as networks look to recoup the cost of deploying the 5G connections around the world and brands need to add in more advanced, experiensve  modems and bigger batteries.

The handsets are set to be pricey too, with the cheapest price we’ve heard about so far being €599 (around $680 / £515 / AU$1,000) for the Xiaomi Mi Mix 5G.

Other phones will easily crest the $2,000 mark, such as the Huawei Mate X, and we’re not even sure of the price of the Samsung Galaxy Fold, Galaxy S10 5G or the LG V50 5G. 

Such a high price might not entice many consumers at the start, as many will feel that the broadband-like speeds they’re getting with 4G are good enough… but there’s another key element of 5G that will change the experience you get from your phone.

The thing that seems to have gone under the radar is the fact that, on 5G, more connections can be handled at once. So you'll find, for example, that at a gig or a large sporting event you won't have to sit there and wait for everyone else to go home before you can finally check an email or catch up on Instagram.

It'll mean less time spent staring at a loading screen, wondering why a connection isn't there. 

That may not be something that makes it worth spending several hundred more dollars or pounds on a new phone right now, but don't dismiss 5G as just an expensive, faster extra that won't bring any other benefits.

It's coming quickly, and whether the brands just want to show off their technical expertise or genuinely want to make sure everyone can get online as soon as possible, 5G is still only going to be soft-launched this year... and it's great that we're getting some half-decent phones to begin with.

Image credits: TechRadar

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Samsung wants to sell its Galaxy Fold tech to Apple and Google

Posted: 03 Mar 2019 06:30 AM PST

The screen tech behind the Samsung Galaxy Fold is certainly innovative and likely to help influence the future of phones, along with similar devices like the Huawei Mate X. Now it seems Samsung wants to supply folding screens to Apple and Google as well.

As per a report in ETNews, Samsung has already provided samples to Apple and Google with a view to helping them get their own foldable phones into mass production.

This isn't completely unprecedented of course – Samsung is one of the companies that supplies display panels for the iPhone, so it's already both a partner with and a competitor to Apple.

If the rumor is true then it might mean we see a foldable handset from Apple or Google sooner than we otherwise would. Apparently Samsung is also in touch with Huawei and Oppo about folding screens.

Bend it like Samsung

For a while now we've been seeing hints that Apple is at least thinking about a foldable iPhone – earlier this week an Apple patent showed off what such a device might look like.

While there's little indication that the Google Pixel 4 would end up being a foldable phone, it's something the company's hardware division might want to look into exploring in the future.

According to the ETNews report, Samsung is geared up to make 2.4 million folding panels a year at the moment, and could up that to 10 million if the demand is there.

So far we've been impressed with what we've seen with the foldable phone revolution, and it looks like there are plenty more handsets on the way to look forward to.

Via MacRumors

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The Acer Predator After Party is returning to Pax East 2019.

Posted: 03 Mar 2019 05:17 AM PST

Don’t let your PAX East 2019 experience end when the exhibit hall closes. At the 4th annual Predator After Party at The House of Blues Boston, starting at 9:00 pm on Friday, March 29th, you’ll get to try exclusive Acer tech you won’t find anywhere else at PAX East. Just don’t spill your drinks on them!

Guests that arrive early will be the first to try out Acer’s new lineup of Predator gaming PCs—and snag all the free swag before it’s gone—to the music of 8-bit EDM group Pegboard Nerds. You won’t see your gaming rigs the same way after sitting in the massive Thronos Gaming Chair—never before shown to the public—or after playing the latest game releases on the Predator Triton and Helios lineups, featuring NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20 Series graphics and selected as the best gaming notebooks by many top publications, including TechRadar, PC Gamer, and GamesRadar+.

Plus, if you’re lucky enough, you’ll win one of 10 Acer giveaways, including two Nitro 5s, a Predator Helios and a Predator Triton 500. 

Date: Friday, March 29th, 2019

Time: 9:00 pm

Location: House of Blues Boston, 15 Lansdowne Street, Boston, MA 02215

Register Now!

Register by March, 25th, 2019. 

*This event is 21+ only. You will be emailed additional details the week of the event. No dress code, cosplay welcome. This is a first come, first served event. Your RSVP does not guarantee admission. We suggest arriving as early as possible.

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Support for the Microsoft Band is ending in May

Posted: 03 Mar 2019 02:30 AM PST

If you're still using the Microsoft Band fitness tracker, make the most of it – Microsoft is pulling support for the neglected wearable, including user data and the dashboard, on May 31 this year.

This won't come as a huge surprise considering the writing has been on the wall for years, but we now have a fixed date when Microsoft Bands will no longer function.

The first Microsoft Band broke cover in 2014. It was followed by a sequel a couple of years later, but not long after that, Microsoft announced it wouldn't be releasing any more of the fitness trackers in the future.

Support for existing Bands and the software underpinning them carried on, until now. If you want to know how to export all the health data you've amassed, Microsoft has a full guide here.

Any questions?

Microsoft has also published a FAQ to answer any questions you might have about the official death of Microsoft Band and the associated software.

"Microsoft Band device users can continue to use their devices, though web connected features will not be available," explains Microsoft. That means you'll be stuck with on-board functions for tracking steps and sleep, and setting alarms.

Once you reset your Microsoft Band, you won't be able to use it again. There is a silver lining though: If you've synced data since December, you might be eligible for a refund. Check the FAQ for details.

It's more evidence, if it were needed, that the fitness tracker market is a very tough one. We're just sad we never got to saw the Xbox Watch wearable.

Via 9to5Mac

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Five things we were excited to see at Huawei’s MWC booth

Posted: 02 Mar 2019 09:59 PM PST

MWC is in full swing, and there have been a slew of great announcements from the show. Huawei’s presence at the show was certainly in full force, and the company made some great reveals during their keynote as well as at their booth.

Here are five things that we spotted at Huawei’s MWC booth that’s worth talking about:

Mate X

Huawei’s flagship announcement at MWC was the Mate X, and it absolutely blew us away. The sleek design, and massive 8” screen you get when you unfold it, and the futuristic look and feel of the device is enough to get people talking.

While we’re yet to know a confirmed release date for the Mate X, it’s a great indication of where phone technology is heading, as users crave the flexibility of having a large screen for media consumption, and a regular-sized screen for everyday use.

A strong push to 5G

5G was everywhere at MWC, but Huawei were leading the pack with several announcements at their booth. Not only did they showcase the 5G-enabled Mate X, but the company also signed up various new partnerships to deploy 5G hardware across various countries and scenarios.

It also introduced the Huawei 5G CPE Pro, which supports both 4G and 5G wireless connections, and allows a 1GB download to complete in under three seconds on 5G.

MateBook X Pro

If you’re in the market for a sleek laptop with powerful internals, then the updated MateBook X Pro is a great choice. The massive 91% screen-to-body ratio is gorgeous to stare at, and if you’re concerned about privacy, Huawei have cleverly hidden the webcam under a button on the keyboard, so you can quickly pop it up only when you need it.

MateBook 14

With no shortage of ports and an equally attractive design, the MateBook 14 is another excellent laptop to consider if you’re looking for a laptop upgrade this year. The touchscreen supports the same proprietary, touch-based cut-and-paste tool that the MateBook X Pro does, which could make sharing screen shots and other content a little easier.

It’s powered by either an Intel i5 or i7 processor, with the latter coming with more memory and dedicated Nvidia MX 250 graphics. A fingerprint reader embedded in the power button also makes it easy to log in without fumbling over passwords.

MateBook 13

Another laptop that Huawei unveiled was the MateBook 13, which packs plenty of power and performance. Powered by up to the 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8565U processor and NVIDIA GeForce MX150 GPU, its improved cooling performance helps the notebook stay cool and silent even when running intensive processes. The laptop features a 3:2 FullView display with 10-point multi-touch option and a screen-to-body ratio of 88 percent.

As with Huawei’s other laptops, the MateBook 13 features Huawei Share 3.0, which allows quick transfer of files and text between a PC and the smartphone.

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