LightBlog

mardi 11 février 2020

Where to watch the Samsung Unpacked Galaxy S20 unveiling live stream

Today is the big day for Samsung’s first wave of flagship devices for 2020. We’ve been hearing about the Galaxy S20 series and the Galaxy Z Flip for weeks, but today at Unpacked, everything will finally get the stamp of “official.”

If you’ve been following along with all the leaks and rumors up until this point, you should watch the event today. We will, of course, have all the information you need about the devices right here on XDA. The live stream will be on Samsung.com. There may also be streams on YouTube and Twitter, but nothing has started at the time of writing.

  • Where to watch: Samsung.com
  • When to watch: 11 AM PT/2 PM ET

Enjoy the event! Stay tuned to XDA for all the Unpacked news!

The post Where to watch the Samsung Unpacked Galaxy S20 unveiling live stream appeared first on xda-developers.



from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2OM2nXt
via IFTTT

Huawei will launch the Mate 30 Pro in the UK without Google apps later this month

Huawei announced its Mate 30 range of smartphones at the end of last year. They bring breakthrough improvements and developments such as a waterfall display in the case of the Mate 30 Pro, all of which set the phones apart from a crowd of phones that, for the most part, all look the same. But there is one small, yet gigantic, issue with these phones, as well as with all of Huawei’s latest phones: they don’t include Google apps. This isn’t a deliberate decision either: because of US sanctions, they’re not allowed to do so. And because of this, the phone is yet to see a global release, and it has only released in China and Indonesia so far. But it seems that Huawei will be pulling ahead with their international launch anyway since the Mate 30 Pro will now be launching in the UK.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro XDA Forums

British users interested in this device should know that it won’t carry Google apps either, which might be a dealbreaker for some people more than others. But for those who don’t mind the lack of Google apps, you get all of the bells and whistles that come with the Chinese version, including the flagship-grade Kirin 990 processor, the award-winning Leica quad rear camera setup, face unlocking, the waterfall “Horizon” display, and much more. The device also comes with Android 10 out of the box with EMUI 10’s skin on top and Huawei’s AppGallery as the app store alternative to Google Play, as well as Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) to replace most Google services.

The device will retail for £899 and it will be available exclusively through Carphone Warehouse in the Space Silver variant. Users who purchase the device will also receive a Huawei Watch GT 2 and a pair of Huawei FreeBuds 3 for free with their purchase. Pre-registrations are opening today, and the device is expected to ship starting on February 20th.

Are you excited about the Mate 30 Pro?

The post Huawei will launch the Mate 30 Pro in the UK without Google apps later this month appeared first on xda-developers.



from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2SCgKP9
via IFTTT

MediaTek and Vivo are out of MWC as event organizers reportedly plan to meet over the event’s fate

MWC 2020 is set to begin on February 24th and end on February 27th. Unfortunately, the 2019-nCoV coronavirus outbreak, which has caused over 40,000 cases worldwide and just over 1,000 confirmed deaths, has caused a considerable number of major OEMs to pull out of the event. This is due either partially or entirely for fears that the event itself could become an infection hub and to protect their employees and other attendees. Major OEMs who have pulled out so far include LG, Sony, TCL, and ZTE. Some of them cite the coronavirus outbreak directly as the reason, while others simply cite changes in executive and commercial plans. Whatever the reasons may be, the issue is that companies are pulling out in big numbers, and now MediaTek and Vivo have as well.

MediaTek and Vivo both decided to announce their decision to pull out via email, with both companies citing concern regarding the outbreak. MediaTek is based in Taiwan while Vivo is based in mainland China, with China being the epicenter of the disease and Taiwan already having a number of confirmed cases. Concerns over the virus spreading are getting so bad that Spanish publication La Vanguardia is reporting (via Android Authority) that the GSMA (the organization putting together MWC) is evaluating canceling the event entirely in a meeting set to be held on Friday, February 14th.

Rather than calling it off it for the coronavirus outbreak entirely, though, it would be a secondary effect of it: companies keep calling off their MWC presence, leaving the GSMA with less and less of a reason to go forward with it. This isn’t a decision to take lightly—after all, there is still a considerable number of attendees who haven’t called off their presence at MWC entirely. The report of GSMA considering canceling the show may not be true, though. According to an Honor PR spokesperson on Twitter, GSMA says the report of a meeting on Friday is false. This doesn’t mean the show definitely won’t be canceled, but it’s possible the GSMA isn’t actively considering it.

The post MediaTek and Vivo are out of MWC as event organizers reportedly plan to meet over the event’s fate appeared first on xda-developers.



from xda-developers https://ift.tt/38lnBTN
via IFTTT

[Update 7: It’s Happening] Sprint and T-Mobile have agreed to merger, pending regulatory approval

Update 7 (2/11/20 @ 9:55 AM ET): A federal judge has ruled to allow the Sprint/T-Mobile merger to proceed, dismissing the challenged by state attorney generals.

Update 6 (10/16/19 @ 2:30 PM ET): The FCC has voted to approve the pending Sprint/T-Mobile merger.

Update 5 (7/26/19 @ 11:55 AM ET): The Department of Justice has officially approved the Sprint/T-Mobile merger. Details below.

Update 4 (5/31/19 @ 9:28 AM ET): A new report claims Sprint and T-Mobile could sell Boost Mobile for up to $3 Billion, and Amazon is an interested buyer.

Update 3 (5/22/19 @ 9:25 AM ET): The Department of Justice will oppose the Sprint/T-Mobile merger, according to sources.

Update 2 (5/20/19 @ 3:55 PM ET): Bloomberg is reporting that the Department of Justice is leaning against approval of the Sprint/T-Mobile merger.

Update 1 (5/20/19 @ 11:10 AM ET): FCC chairman Ajit Pai released a statement today saying he would vote to approve the merger between T-Mobile and Sprint. More details below.

We could soon see the number of major mobile carriers in the United States decrease from four to three if things go according to plan. T-Mobile and Sprint have finally agreed to merge, so long as the merger is approved by anti-trust regulators, that is. The companies were reportedly in talks to merge in September last year, and it was then later reported that discussions had been dropped – largely due to how much control Deutsche Telekom would have over Sprint (not to mention the valuation of the company’s shares as well). But now, it seems that the merger talks have finally led to a deal between the two carriers as T-Mobile agrees to acquire Sprint for $26 billion.

Originally, the companies planned to merge in 2014 but felt that under the Obama administration the merger would be shut down. Both companies feel that they have a better shot of pulling it off under the Trump administration. If both companies merge, then that will create a new contender better capable of taking on AT&T and Verizon. It is unknown how U.S. regulators will view the merger, as the mobile telecommunications market in the U.S. has little competition. Reducing the number of companies active in the sector only strengthens that oligopoly. The first plan for the companies, if they are to merge, is to roll-out the first 5G network in the U.S. to what could potentially be 100 million customers.

As for the company’s structure, current T-Mobile CEO John Legere will run the company, with current COO Mike Sievert becoming COO and company President. Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son will both sit on the company’s board. Deutsche Telekom will hold a 42% stake in the company, Sprint will hold 27%, and the rest is held by public shareholders. The combined company will have lower costs and greater economies of scale according to T-Mobile, and it will create thousands of American jobs. The company will be located in Bellevue, Washington.

While that’s all well and good, the deal will need to be approved by shareholders and cleared by regulators first. It’s unknown how exactly that will go down, but both companies are reasonably confident that it will go through.

Source: T-Mobile


Update 1: FCC chair approval

FCC chairman Ajit Pai says he will vote to approve the proposed merger between T-Mobile and Sprint after T-Mobile made new promises to speed up their 5G rollout.

Two of the FCC’s top priorities are closing the digital divide in rural America and advancing United States leadership in 5G, the next generation of wireless connectivity. The commitments made today by TMobile and Sprint would substantially advance each of these critical objectives.

Pajit goes on to say the merger would allow the companies to deploy 5G coverage to 97% of the US population within 3 years of closing the merger. 90% of the country would have access to speeds of “at least 100 Mbps” and 99% would have access to speeds greater than 50 Mbps.

Rural coverage is a big part of Pai’s statement. The 3-year plan mentioned above would cover “85% of rural Americans” and 90% within six years.

T-Mobile and Sprint have promised that their network would cover at least two-thirds of our nation’s rural population with highspeed, mid-band 5G, which could improve the economy and quality of life in many small towns across the country.

Pai also claims the companies have committed to offering in-home broadband products that will give “many American’s another option for home broadband service.”

In regards to the many concerns people have had about this merger, Pai says the companies have committed to not raise prices for at least 3-years and Sprint will sell off Boost Mobile to a 3rd-party if the merger is approved.

Now, a lot of commitments are being made to get this merger approved, and T-Mobile will be held to them.

It’s also important that the companies would suffer serious consequences if they fail to follow through on their commitments to the FCC. These consequences, which could include total payments to the U.S. Treasury of billions of dollars, create a powerful incentive for the companies to meet their commitments on time.

Voting will take place on June 15th for approval of the merger. It still needs approval from the Justice Department before it can finally close.

Source 1: FCC / Source 2: T-Mobile


Update 2: DOJ may disapprove

After the FCC’s chairman released a statement of approval, the Department of Justice is now said to be leaning against the merger. The FCC and DOJ rarely disagree on merger cases, but the DOJ considers a different standard. They are concerned with how the deal hurts competition and whether it would raise prices for consumers. It’s also worth noting that the Department of Justice rejected the previous Sprint/T-mobile merger attempt.

Source: Bloomberg


Update 3: DOJ against

It was widely reported on Monday that the Department of Justice was leaning against the Sprint/T-Mobile merger. The department has now recommended blocking the merger, according to sources at CNBC. The decision is reportedly expected in a month and it will likely put an end to the merger plans, at least this time.

Source: CNBC


Update 4: Amazon interested in Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile was a part of T-Mobile and Sprint’s proposed plan to the FCC. If approved, they would be required to sell Boost to a 3rd-party as part of their agreement. The Department of Justice was reportedly against the merger. The companies are continuing to meet with the department and potential bidders are preparing offers for Boost. The carrier is reportedly valued at up to $3 Billion.

One name that has popped up as a potential buyer is Amazon. They are reportedly interested in Boost because it would allow them to use “New T-Mobile’s” network for 6 years. Amazon has not commented on the story, but this would certainly be an interesting development.

Source 1: Yahoo Finance/ Source 2: Reuters / Source 3: Reuters


Update 5: Justice Department approves

After a few bumps and hurdles, the Sprint/T-Mobile merger is officially approved and moving forward. The Department of Justice was the last federal agency that needed to approve of the merger. The DOJ finally approved the deal after Dish agreed to acquire Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Sprint’s prepaid business, and “certain” spectrum assets.

Sprint and T-Mobile will be required to provide at least 20,000 cell sites and hundreds of retail locations to Dish. T-Mobile is also required to give Dish “robust” access to its network for 7 years while Dish builds out its 5G network. It’s important to the DOJ to maintain four major carriers in the US. They are ensuring that Dish has the assets to fill that role.

“With this merger and accompanying divestiture, we are expanding output significantly by ensuring that large amounts of currently unused or underused spectrum are made available to American consumers in the form of high quality 5G networks.”

The official FCC vote still has to take place, but the chairman has already voiced his support for the merger and said he would vote to approve the deal. On top of that, several state attorneys, including New York and California, have filed a lawsuit to block the deal. There are still some roadblocks ahead, but today’s news is a major step.

Source: Department of Justice | Via: The Verge


Update 6: FCC Approves

Another big step on the way to the Sprint/T-Mobile merger has been taken. Since our last update on the situation, we were waiting on the FCC to vote. Today, the FCC formally approved the merger. The next hurdle to clear is a number of bipartisan state attorneys general who are trying to block the deal with a multi-state deal. Sprint and T-Mobile have said they won’t finalize the merger until that is resolved as well.

Source: The Verge


Update 7: It’s Happening

In the last update on the pending Sprint/T-Mobile merger, we mentioned the last hurdle to clear was a group of state attorney generals who were trying to block the deal. Their argument was that going from four to three major carriers would decrease competition and result in higher prices for consumers.

Judge Victor Marrero of New York rejected that argument, claiming it would actually “enhance competition in the relevant markets to the benefit of all consumers.” So now Sprint and T-Mobile are free to move forward and they have confirmed they will be finalizing the merger. The deal could close as early as April. You can read our previous post to learn about what will happen after the merger is complete.

Via: The Verge

The post [Update 7: It’s Happening] Sprint and T-Mobile have agreed to merger, pending regulatory approval appeared first on xda-developers.



from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2I1RuOY
via IFTTT

The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is the first phone with a whopping 16GB RAM

After weeks of constant leaks and teasers, Samsung has finally lifted the covers off its flagship Galaxy S20 lineup. At the recent Galaxy Unpacked 2020 event in San Francisco, the company showed off the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra. While all three devices feature the same SoC, Snapdragon 865 or Exynos 990 depending on where you are, there are some major differences between all three units. For starters, the basic Galaxy S20, which succeeds the Galaxy S10e from last year, packs in a 6.2-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 3200×1400 and a 120Hz refresh rate at FHD+. The slightly larger Galaxy S20+, on the other hand, features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with the same resolution and refresh rate. And finally, the top-of-the-line Galaxy S20 Ultra packs in a 6.92-inch AMOLED display, once again, with the same resolution and refresh rate.

The differences also carry forward to the camera setup, on both the front and back, with the Galaxy S20 featuring a 10MP selfie shooter, a 12MP primary shooter on the back, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 64MP 3x telephoto camera. While the Galaxy S20+ packs in the same camera hardware as the Galaxy S20, the Galaxy S20 Ultra features a 108MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 48MP periscope telephoto camera with 10x optical zoom, and a 40MP selfie shooter. And lastly, the three devices pack in different sized batteries, with the one in the Galaxy S20 rated at 4,000 mAh, the one in the Galaxy S20+ rated at 4,500 mAh, and the one in the Galaxy S20 Ultra rated at 5,000 mAh.

With the top-of-the-line Galaxy S20 Ultra packing in a much larger display, it makes sense to include an equally large battery. And in order to ensure smooth performance, even while capturing 108MP photos, Samsung has included up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM on the highest-end unit. This makes the Galaxy S20 Ultra the first and only smartphone to feature 16GB of RAM, but not for long. Xiaomi is scheduled to announce its flagship Mi 10 lineup just a couple of days from now and the upcoming devices are also expected to feature up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM.

What’s your take on 16GB RAM modules on smartphones? Do you think users will be able to make full use of its capabilities?

The post The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is the first phone with a whopping 16GB RAM appeared first on xda-developers.



from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2ut5U6e
via IFTTT

Xiaomi launches Redmi 8A Dual with dual rear cameras and a new design alongside new Redmi power banks in India

Xiaomi has been leading the smartphone market in India with its budget-friendly and feature-rich offerings under the Redmi brand. The company recently announced that it became the leading brand in the feature phone category in Q4 2019 while retaining its grip on the smartphone segment for 10 consecutive quarters. Xiaomi’s entry-level Redmi A series is incredibly popular not just in India but also in markets like Europe and LATAM. After launching the Redmi 8A in India in September 2019, the company has now introduced the Redmi 8A Dual, which now adds a secondary camera on the back along with an improved rear panel. Notably, Redmi 8A Dual also retains the same launch pricing in India as the previous model.

xiaomi redmi 8a dual

Before talking about the recurrent features, here’s what is new on the smartphone. The Redmi 8A Dual now features an improved dual rear camera setup. Firstly, the primary camera sensor on the back now sports a resolution of 13MP, as compared to the 12MP on the previous one. Complementing the 13MP sensor is a 2MP depth sensor. Besides the new camera, the phone also gets a new “XGrip” design for the polycarbonate back panel along with new colors – gray, blue, and white – and the back gets a P2i splash-resistant coating.

xiaomi redmi 8a dual

The remaining of the Redmi 8A Dual is primarily the same device as before. It sports the same 6.22-inch HD+ display, large 5,000mAh battery with up to 18W fast charging support via USB-C port. The Redmi 8A still doesn’t get a fingerprint scanner and is limited to AI face unlock.

xiaomi redmi 8a dual

Other features include wireless FM, dedicated storage expansion slot supporting up to 512GB microSD cards. There are 2GB and 3GB RAM options while 32GB is the standard option for storage.

Xiaomi Redmi 8A Dual Specifications

Specification Xiaomi Redmi 8A Dual
Dimensions and Weight
  • 156.48 × 75.41 × 9.4 mm
  • 188g
Display
  • 6.22-inch HD+ LCD display
  • 1520 × 720
  • 19:9 aspect ratio
  • Waterdrop Notch
  • Corning Gorilla Glass 5
SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 439
Memory 2GB, 3GB
Storage
  • 32GB
  • Expandable via dedicated microSD card slot
Rear Camera
  • 13MP primary,
    • 5P element
    • PDAF
    • f/2.2 aperture
    • 1.12μm pixel size
  • 2MP depth sensor
    • f/2.4
    • 1.75μm pixel size
Front Camera 8MP, AI beauty mode
Battery 5,000 mAh
Charging 18W charging (10W charger included in box)
Audio 3.5mm headphone jack
Software MIUI, version not announced
Connectivity WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
Ports & Buttons USB Type-C, no fingerprint sensor
Water Resistance P2i Splash Resistance
Colors Grey, Blue, and White

Redmi 10,000mAh and 20,000mAh power banks with 18W fast charging

Xiaomi had been teasing new power banks in India since its spin-off POCO successfully relaunched the brand in India. While only Mi-branded power banks were available in India previously, Xiaomi also introduced two new power banks under the Redmi branding alongside the Redmi 8A Dual.

xiaomi redmi 8a dual xiaomi redmi 8a dual

The two new models include:

  • a 10,000mAh variant with up to 10W charging support, and
  • a 20,000mAh variant that can output charge at up to 18W.

Both of these power banks have two USB Type-A ports for parallelly charging two devices and support micro USB as well as USB Type-C ports for replenishing the charge.

Price & Availability

The 2GB/32GB variant of Redmi 8A Dual is priced at ₹6,499 (~$92) while the 3GB/32GB variant is priced at ₹6,999 (~$99). At this price, the Redmi 8A competes with the Realme C3, which was launched last week.

The 10,000mAh power bank is priced at ₹799 (~$12) while the 20,000mAh version is priced at ₹1,499 (~$21).

xiaomi redmi 8a dual

The Redmi 8A Dual and the new Redmi power banks will be available in India starting at noon, February 18th. While the smartphone will be available on mi.com and Amazon India, the power banks will initially be limited to the former.

The post Xiaomi launches Redmi 8A Dual with dual rear cameras and a new design alongside new Redmi power banks in India appeared first on xda-developers.



from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2OH1Zcz
via IFTTT

lundi 10 février 2020

Razer Cortex update adds a new “Analyzer” feature with an FPS counter and other gaming options

Gaming hardware manufacturer Razer made its debut in the smartphone world back in 2017. The company is responsible for kickstarting the “gaming smartphone” trend with the original Razer Phone, which featured a Snapdragon 835 SoC, a 120Hz QHD LCD panel, a 4,000mAh battery, and a near-stock Android build. Razer followed that up with the Razer Phone 2 (review) which featured some minor design changes, hardware upgrades, and a few additional software features to improve gaming performance. This included the Razer Cortex game launcher, which was designed to help you play every game in its most optimal settings. Soon after the launch, Razer partnered with Chinese conglomerate Tencent to enhance the gaming performance on Razer’s smartphones even further. As part of the deal, the company worked with Tencent to optimize games like PUBG Mobile to work well with Razer Cortex. Now, Razer is rolling out an update for the app bringing even more new features into the mix.

Razer Cortex update

According to a recent post from Reddit, the latest update for Razer Cortex brings a new feature called Analyzer which includes useful things like a native FPS counter, a connection lock feature to prevent users from accidentally switching off Bluetooth and WiFi, and a screen brightness lock.

Additionally, the Analyzer also includes a Gaming Data Analysis tool that you can use to keep a track of the time you’ve spent playing games on your phone, the type of games you played the most, and the length of an average gaming session. Along with the new features, the Razer Cortex update also includes performance enhancements and bug fixes to address several issues in the app. The Razer Cortex update is live and rolling out to Razer Phone 2 users right now. In case you haven’t received the update yet, Razer recommends enabling the app auto-update feature on your device to receive it as soon as possible.


Via: Reddit

The post Razer Cortex update adds a new “Analyzer” feature with an FPS counter and other gaming options appeared first on xda-developers.



from xda-developers https://ift.tt/31HG7Dr
via IFTTT