MWC 2021 delayed from March to June 2021 due to COVID-19 concerns

Big tech conferences were canceled left and right this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Though some events managed to successfully go virtual, others, like MWC 2020, weren’t able to make the transition in time. If you were hoping that things would return to normal next year, we have some bad news to share. With no end in sight to the COVID-19 pandemic, the GSMA has decided to delay MWC 2021.

MWC 2021 was originally scheduled to be held in March 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. However, SARS-CoV-2 will likely still be a major concern around that time. Even if the Spain manages to contain the spread of the coronavius, an international event the size of MWC 2021 could reintroduce the disease to Spain and even spread it to other parts of the world again. While the first batch of vaccines may be ready by March, it’ll take a while before it’s been safely administered to most people—and it seems a vaccine is the only real way the world can return to some sense of normalcy. Because of this risk, the GSMA has decided to postpone MWC 2021 until June of next year.

[ANNOUNCEMENT]
#GSMA today announced a rescheduling of MWC Barcelona & MWC Shanghai 2021.

Moving the Barcelona event to 28 June – 1 July 2021 allows the GSMA to contend with external circumstances related to COVID-19.

Read the latest details – https://t.co/b9lG6sn67g #MWC21 pic.twitter.com/MHGzjTghFH

— GSMA (@GSMA) September 23, 2020

It is not clear if this postponement will affect smartphone launches planned for next year as it did when MWC 2020 was canceled. While it’s true that a lot of smartphones launched during the first half of the year are announced during MWC, most companies have already learned their lesson this year and will likely have contingencies in place. Since MWC was cancelled this year, most smartphone announcements were made by each OEM at their own virtual events. Samsung’s first Unpacked event of each year, while typically occur around the same time as MWC, are almost always a separate event, so that is likely to go on as normal. We can expect the same will happen for next year’s smartphone announcements: They will be held online. MWC 2021, then, if it ends up actually happening, may instead be the place for other mobile-related announcements or smaller launch events.

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OxygenOS 11 Beta 2 (Android 11) rolls out for the OnePlus 8 series with a new “Canvas” feature

OnePlus on Wednesday rolled out the second beta of OxygenOS 11 for the OnePlus 8 series, introducing a handful of important system fixes and optimizations. The company has also added a new ambient display feature that will bring some style to your device.

Some of the system changes include a fix for a black screen issue when users entered the “Tips & Support” interface, and a fix for the failure to wake up Google Assistant in certain situations. OnePlus has also addressed an issue that saw numbers disappear in the Timer under some special circumstances.

But it’s a new ambient display feature that is the most interesting addition to the OnePlus 8 series in OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 2. Known as “Canvas,” the feature “can automatically draw a wireframe picture based on a lock screen photo on your phone,” the release notes explain.

The gallery above shows what the Canvas feature looks like in action. Essentially, the phone automatically sketches the photo you’ve set for your lock screen. Users will be able to view the wireframe picture at any time without waking up their screen. Canvas can be found by going to Settings > Customization > Wallpaper > Canvas > Choose photo preview.

This is the second beta of OxygenOS 11 for the OnePlus 8 series. The company previously introduced the first beta back in August, which we got our hands on. The first beta featured a number of notable changes, including Always On Display, a Conversations section in notifications, and more.

OnePlus 8 Forums ||| OnePlus 8 Pro Forums

OnePlus also recently detailed OxygenOS 11’s emphasis on one-handed use, analyzing anthropometric data to determine the general regions of the screen where people can easily reach.

OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 2 for the OnePlus 8 Series – Changelog, Downloads

You can download OxygenOS 11 beta 2 for the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro below. Here’s the full changelog:

System

• Optimized some UI display in Settings
• Fixed the low probability issue that widgets did not respond
• Fixed the failure to wake up Google Assistant in some cases
• Fixed the issue that the HD icon on the call log interface was not centered
• Fixed the black screen issue when user entered “Tips & Support” interface
• Improved the system stability

Clock

• Fixed the issue that numbers disappeared in Timer under some special circumstances

Ambient display

• Newly added Canvas feature that can automatically draw a wireframe picture based on a lock screen photo on your phone. You can view it anytime without waking up the screen (Path: Settings-Customization-Wallpaper-Canvas-Choose photo preview and it can be generated automatically)

Network

• Optimize the power consumption of the Smart 5G

Download OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 2 Full OTA: OnePlus 8 ||| OnePlus 8 Pro

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ASUS starts recruiting beta testers for the ZenFone 7’s Android 11 update

Last week, ASUS started rolling out a closed beta build of Android 11 to the ZenFone 6, making it the first ASUS smartphone to get a taste of Android 11. The choice of the device, however, is a bit awkward due to the fact that the ZenFone 7 lineup is the latest mainstream flagship offering from the Taiwanese OEM. No need to worry, though, as ASUS has now announced a public beta testing program for the Android 11 update on the ZenFone 7 series and is seeking early testers for the update.

ASUS ZenFone 7 Forums ||| ASUS ZenFone 7 Pro Forums

ASUS ZenFone 7 Pro Review – A Flipping Fantastic Flagship Smartphone

According to a recent thread on the ZenTalk Community, ASUS has opened applications for the Android 11 testers for both the regular ZenFone 7 (model number ZS670KS) and its “Pro” variant (model number ZS671KS). Users who are interested in taking part in the beta test can apply for the pre-release FOTA by heading to the “System update” section on their device and tapping on the “Enroll in the Beta Test Program” option. Note that you need to have the latest stable channel build of Android 10 (software version 29.12.18.16) installed on your phone, otherwise you can’t find the enrollment link inside settings.

The recruitment period is open till October 5. Talking about selection criteria, you have to be an active member of the ZenTalk forums. Moreover, the bootloader of your ZenFone 7 should be locked. Selected beta testers will be given access to a restricted forum to post regular feedback about bugs.

Since the upcoming beta build is not meant for regular use, there will likely be a number of unfinished features and other issues in the software that needs to be worked out. Waiting for the stable release is highly recommended if you value stability over bleeding-edge development. ASUS hasn’t revealed when it plans to roll out the stable version of Android 11 to the ZenFone 7. But given that beta recruitment is already underway, users won’t have to wait too long.

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Samsung unveils the Galaxy S20 FE, a new flagship smartphone entry in the 2020 Galaxy S series

At its third Galaxy Unpacked event for 2020, Samsung has officially lifted the covers off the Galaxy S20 FE — a successor to the Galaxy S10 Lite from earlier this year. As seen in previous leaks, Samsung has launched two variants of the Galaxy S20 FE: a 5G variant powered by the Snapdragon 865 and a 4G variant powered by the Exynos 990 SoC. Both devices feature a 120Hz high refresh rate display and a triple camera setup on the back, but they come with different RAM and storage configurations.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE: Specifications

Specification	Galaxy S20 FE 5G	Galaxy S20 FE 4G
Dimensions & Weight	74.5 x 159.9 x 8.4 mm 190g	74.5 x 159.9 x 8.4 mm 190g
Display	6.5-inch FHD+ Infinity-O display Centered hole-punch cutout 120Hz refresh rate Gorilla Glass 3	6.5-inch FHD+ Infinity-O display Centered hole-punch cutout 120Hz refresh rate Gorilla Glass 3
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865	Samsung Exynos 990
RAM & Storage	6GB+128GB	6GB+128GB 8GB+256GB
Battery & Charging	4,5000mAh 15W fast wired charging 15W fast wireless charging Wireless powershare support	4,5000mAh 15W fast wired charging 15W fast wireless charging Wireless powershare support
Rear Camera	Primary: 12MP f/1.8 primary camera Secondary: 12MP f/2.2 wide-angle camera Tertiary: 8MP f/2.0 telephoto camera	Primary: 12MP f/1.8 primary camera Secondary: 12MP f/2.2 wide-angle camera Tertiary: 8MP f/2.0 telephoto camera
Front Camera	32MP f/2.0	32MP f/2.0
Other Features	IP68 dust and water resistance USB Type-C Wi-Fi Bluetooth MST NFC	IP68 dust and water resistance USB Type-C Wi-Fi Bluetooth MST NFC
Android Version	One UI 2.0 based on Android 10	One UI 2.0 based on Android 10

Unlike other devices in Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S20 series, the Galaxy S20 FE features a flat 6.5-inch Infinity-O display, with a tiny punch hole for the selfie camera. As mentioned earlier, the display offers a refresh rate of 120Hz with fast touch response times to deliver a super smooth user experience. The Snapdragon 865 SoC on the 5G variant is coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage, which can be expanded up to 1TB using a microSD card. The Exynos 990 variant, however, comes with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage.

In the camera department, the Galaxy S20 FE packs in a triple camera setup on the back consisting of a 12MP primary camera, a 12MP wide-angle camera, and an 8MP 3x hybrid optical zoom telephoto camera. Over on the front, the device has a single 32MP selfie camera. Much like the flagship devices in the Galaxy S20 series, the Galaxy S20 FE includes AI-powered camera features like Single Take to help users click a variety of videos, photos, and GIFs with just a 15-second take and Super Steady mode for advanced stabilization.

Powering the device is a 4,500mAh battery, with support for 15 Watt fast charging. On top of that, the device also supports fast wireless charging 2.0 and wireless power share. The Galaxy S20 FE comes with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, which ensures that the device will be able to survive in 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.

In terms of software, the Galaxy S20 FE runs the latest version of Samsung’s One UI skin based on Android 10, which includes a host of useful features like wireless DeX support, Quick Share, AOD, and more.

Pricing & Availability

The all-new Samsung Galaxy S20 FE will go on sale starting from October 2, 2020, across Samsung.com, carriers, and online retailers, with pre-orders beginning from today. The device will be available in three RAM/storage configurations that have been priced as follows:

• 6GB+128GB (5G):
  • USA:
    • Sub-6GHz for T-Mobile, AT&T, and unlocked: $699
    • MmWave for Verizon: $749
  • EUR: €749
  • UK: £699
• 6GB+128GB (4G):
  • EUR: €649
  • UK: £599
• 8GB+256GB (4G):
  • EUR: €719

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE from Samsung.com

As seen in previous leaks, Samsung is offering six color variants of the Galaxy S20 FE, including Cloud White, Cloud Orange, Cloud Mint, Cloud Red, and Cloud Navy.

It’s also worth noting that the Snapdragon 865 powered 5G variant won’t be limited to the US and it will be available internationally, unlike the Snapdragon 865 variants of other devices in the Galaxy S20 series.

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Win a Tesla and Save up to 70% on These Auto Accessories

According to the Department of Transportation, the average American spends over 350 hours on the road every year. To make the ride more comfortable, we’re giving you the chance to win a brand new 2020 Tesla Model 3.

This beautiful machine can hit 140 mph, with 0-60 in 5.3 seconds, and a range of 250 miles. Enter now for your chance to get behind the wheel — and in the meantime, here are some great deals on auto accessories.

Autowit 12V Portable No-Battery Car Jump Starter

With 60 times more power density than ordinary batteries, Autowit holds enough juice to jumpstart any car up to 5.0L gas or 3.0L diesel. It works in anything from -40°F to 158°F, and the battery is designed to last 20 years. Usually priced at $159, the jump starter is now just $121.99.

Autowit Cordless Tire Inflator

With custom presets and an automatic cut-off feature, the Autowit tire inflator helps you reach the perfect pressure in seconds. Powered by a rechargeable battery pack, the inflator is easy to use and very lightweight. It retails for $69, but you can get it now for just $59.99.

THINKDIAG: Professional Vehicle Diagnostic Tool

 

Rated at 4.4 stars on Amazon, this Kickstarter success story relays live diagnostics from your car to your phone. It works with 95% of cars on the market, and you get loads of useful data. It’s usually $119, but you can get THINKDIAG now for $99.99 with a one-year subscription included.

THINKOBD 100: Full Automotive Scan Tool

Another great diagnostic tool is THINKOBD 100. Designed to be used when your car is static, this plug-in device checks for engine faults, reads live data, and displays the VIN number. It’s normally priced at $34, but you can get it now for $29.99.

JumpSmart 37,000mWh Portable Vehicle Jump Starter Kit

 

Named Best of CES 2019 and 2018 by Innovation and Tech Today, this jump starter can bring most cars back to life. It doubles as a 330-lumen LED flashlight for emergencies, and you can charge your phone from the internal power bank. Normally $119.99, it’s now $89.99 when you use promo code LIMITLESS25 for 25% off.

Gravity X Car Mount

As seen on Kickstarter and Indiegogo, the Gravity X mount locks into any gap on the dash. This provides a secure resting place for your phone, ideal for viewing directions and selecting your favorite playlist. Right now, the mount is 33% off MSRP at $19.99.

GoSafe S780 Dash Cam with Sony Image Sensor

With two separate lenses covering the front and interior of your car, the GoSafe S780 provides 330 degrees of coverage. The camera also has a G sensor that can detect collisions, plus driver assistance features. It’s usually $299, but you can get it today for just $199.99.

Papago GoSafe 366 Dash Cam

Along with front- and rear-facing cameras, this GoSafe dashcam adds Wi-Fi connectivity and a 3.5-inch touchscreen. It also has night vision, so you can keep recording into the night. Normally $299, it has now dropped to $249.99.

Mini Cordless Car Vacuum Cleaner

 

Ideal for picking up dust and crumbs, the Kittylulu Mini Vacuum Cleaner comes with a HEPA filter and three cleaning attachments. You get 30 minutes of powerful suction on a full charge, yet the device is smaller than most water bottles. Worth $49, the Kittylulu is currently just $39.95.

KOBRA Wireless Car Scanner

Rated at 4 stars on Amazon from 700 reviews, the Kobra scanner provides live diagnostics on all cars made since 1996. It can interpret over 3,000 engine codes, and you can use it with numerous diagnostic apps. It retails for $49, but you can get it now at 70% off MSRP for $14.99.

Prices subject to change 

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The ROG Phone 3’s latest update finally enables VoLTE on AT&T and T-Mobile in the US

The ASUS ROG Phone 3 recently received a new firmware with the version number 17.0823.2008.70, which introduced a “Bypass Charging” feature that lets you pass power from the charger directly to the phone instead of the battery. The build also fixes a number of display brightness related issues and bumps the Android security patch level. However, as it turns out, the Taiwanese OEM secretly enabled VoLTE support on US carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile with this update, but chose not to list the improvement in the OTA changelog for some reason.

ASUS ROG Phone 3 XDA Forums

Multiple users on Reddit’s ROG Phone 3 subreddit have corroborated that VoLTE starts working on AT&T after installing the latest update. The OTA is good for T-Mobile users too, as our Editor-in-Chief, Mishaal Rahman, has confirmed that the phone can now make use of VoLTE on T-Mobile without any extra configuration. This is no doubt an important advancement as more carriers move towards adopting VoLTE on their network.

Thanks to u/coolguy415 for the screenshot!

For your information, it is possible to manually set the carrier-specific parameters on select ASUS smartphones — including the ROG Phone 3 — to unlock advanced IMS services like VoLTE on T-Mobile’s network if you have root access. Having said that, an official update is always preferable in this scenario, especially since not everyone wants to tinker with their shiny new gadget.

At the time of writing this article, the official announcement thread for this update is no longer up on ASUS’ ZenTalk Community. Perhaps the current implementation needs another coat of paint before ASUS is confident enough to announce it officially. If you want to sideload the new build anyway, you can download the full firmware from the link below.

Download Software Version 17.0823.2008.70 for the ASUS ROG Phone 3

To install, simply place the downloaded file in the root directory on your ROG Phone 3. Then reboot your phone and check for the firmware update notification pop-up on the status bar. Tap “System update file detected” and follow the steps shown to update the firmware.

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AMD launches new Zen-based Ryzen processors for Chromebooks

After taking the world by storm with its “Zen”-based Ryzen desktop and laptop chips, AMD has now announced its first series of Chromebook mobile processors based on the Zen architecture. The new lineup of processors was designed in collaboration with Google and it promises up to 178% faster web browsing compared to the previous generation. As part of the new lineup, AMD is offering two distinct series of processors — the Athlon 3000 C-Series and the Ryzen 3000 C-Series.

Out of the two new series, the AMD Ryzen 3000 C-Series boasts of up to 212% better performance for multitasking and content creation compared to the previous generation of AMD Chromebooks. The Ryzen 3000 C-Series also features built-in AMD Radeon Graphics and AMD claims that it’s “the most powerful graphics available in a Chromebook.” The Ryzen 3000 C-Series includes three processors: the Ryzen 7 3700C, the Ryzen 5 3500C, and the Ryzen 3 3250C. The AMD Athlon 3000 C-series, on the other hand, includes two processors: the Athlon Gold 3150C and the Athlon Silver 3050C. Check out the table below for more information on the new processors:

Model	Core/Threads	TDP (Watts)	Boost/Base freq. (GHz)	GPU Cores	Cache (MB)
AMD Ryzen 7 3700C	4C/8T	15W	Up to 4.0 / 2.3 GHz	10	6MB
AMD Ryzen 5 3500C	4C/8T	15W	Up to 3.7 / 2.1 GHz	8	6MB
AMD Ryzen 3 3250C	2C/4T	15W	Up to 3.5 / 2.6 GHz	3	5MB
AMD Athlon Gold 3150C	2C/4T	15W	Up to 3.3 / 2.4 GHz	3	5MB
AMD Athlon Silver 3050C	2C/2T	15W	Up to 3.2 / 2.3 GHz	2	5MB

AMD claims that its top-of-the-line Ryzen 7 3700C chip will offer users with up to 251% better graphics performance compared to previous-gen AMD Chromebooks, up to 104$ faster office productivity performance, and up to 152% better photo editing performance. Chromebooks powered by these new processors will target the higher-end Chromebook market, while AMD’s A-Series will remain the processor of choice for entry-level Chromebooks.

Speaking about the new lineup, Saeid Moshkelani, SVP and GM Client Compute at AMD, said, “Whether users are online, offline, on-the-go or at home, AMD Ryzen processor-based and Athlon processor-based Chromebooks deliver the combined CPU, graphics and overall performance needed to stay productive and breeze through the high demands of distance learning and remote working…We are pleased to be working with Acer, ASUS, Google, HP and Lenovo to significantly expand the number of AMD-powered Chromebooks and deliver more powerful options with the first of many AMD Ryzen-based Chromebook systems.”

Chromebooks powered by the new AMD C-Series lineup are expected to hit the market in the coming months. The HP Pro c645 will be the first Chromebook to feature the new processors and it will be offered with both the Athlon C-Series and Ryzen C-Series processors. The Chromebook will feature HP’s Privacy Camera shutter, an optional fingerprint sensor, and an onboard Titan C chip for external management in a corporate environment.

HP Pro c645

The HP Pro c645 will include a 14-inch 1080p or 768p display with optional touch, up to 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and up to 128GB of NVMe storage. the Chromebook will weign in at 3.4lbs and it has been tested to MIL-STD 810H specifications. It will offer 10.5 hours of battery life with optional fast charging support, two USB Type-C 5 Gbps ports, two USB Type-A 5 Gbps ports, and support for 2×2 Wi-Fi 6. The Chromebook will also include a microSD card slot and an HDMI 1.4 port. The HP Pro c645 will be offered in consumer and enterprise models, and it will be available for purchase starting in December. Pricing and availability information will be released at a later date.

Along with the HP Pro c645, AMD claims that it already has six other C-Series powered Chromebooks in the works in partnership with HP, Lenovo, and ASUS. The Chromebooks are also expected to hit the market later this year.

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