MediaTek launches the Dimensity 1100 and 1200 chips for flagship 5G phones

When talking about flagship SoCs a few years ago, one would usually focus on offerings from Qualcomm Snapdragon, Samsung Exynos, and Huawei HiSilicon Kirin, for the most part. MediaTek was part of the flagship conversation years ago with its Helio X series, but there was a lot to be desired on that end. The company tried to make amends with the new MediaTek Dimensity 1000 launched in November 2019, and followed up with the Dimensity 1000 Plus in May 2020. It’s a new year now, and the Taiwanese company is back with two top-tier SoCs. Meet the new MediaTek Dimensity 1200 and MediaTek Dimensity 1100.

MediaTek Dimensity 1200 and Dimensity 1100: Specifications

Specifications	Dimensity 1200	Dimensity 1100
Process	TSMC 6nm	TSMC 6nm
CPU	1x Cortex-A78 @ 3.0GHz + 3x Cortex-A78 @ 2.6GHz + 4x Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz	4x Cortex-A78 @ 2.6GHz + 4x Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz
GPU	ARM Mali G77 MC9	ARM Mali G77 MC9
Memory	4x LP4x @ 2133MHz PoP 2-lane uFS 3.1	4x LP4x @ 2133MHz PoP 2-lane uFS 3.1
Camera	Supports: 200MP single camera, or 32MP + 16MP dual camera	Supports: 108MP single camera, or 32MP + 16MP dual camera
AI	APU 3.0 (+10% performance improvement)	APU 3.0
Video Decoding	4K 60fps, 10-bit, AV1	4K 60fps, 10-bit, AV1
Video Encoding	4K 60fps, 10-bit	4K 60fps, 10-bit
Display	Supports: QHD+ @ 90Hz, or FHD+ @ 168Hz	Supports: QHD+ @ 90Hz, or FHD+ @ 144Hz
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6 GNSS L1 + L5 Bluetooth 5.2	Wi-Fi 6 GNSS L1 + L5 Bluetooth 5.2
Modem	Sub-6GHz 2CC 5G + 5G DSDS	Sub-6GHz 2CC 5G + 5G DSDS

The MediaTek Dimensity 1100 and Dimensity 1200 pick off where the Dimensity 1000 Plus left, giving us updated options at the top end. While a lot of users and reviewers alike still do not consider these at the top of the helm in the world of smartphone SoCs, these premium SoCs are quite a good fit for devices in the upper mid-range, if not flagships.

For starters, both of these new chips are fabricated on TSMC’s 6nm process, an upgrade from the 7nm process from the Dimensity 1000 Plus. Both feature an integrated 5G modem which supports 5G NSA and SA modes, 5G carrier aggregation (2cc) across FDD and TDD, Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS), Dual SIM Dual Standby 5G, and VoNR support. There is also 5G HSR mode and 5G Elevator mode for more reliable 5G connection across networks.

Both, the Dimensity 1200 and Dimensity 1100 feature an octa-core SoC, but there is a slight difference between them. The higher-end 1200 features a “prime” Cortex-A78 core clocked up to 3GHz, while the other three performance cores are Cortex-A78 cores clocked up to 2.6GHz. The Dimensity 1100 features four of these performance cores, instead of a 1x prime + 3x performance setup. The other four cores on both of these SoCs are Cortex-A55 clocked at up to 2.0GHz. On the GPU end, both come with a nine core ARM Mali-G77 GPU, supporting MediaTek’s HyperEngine 3.0 gaming technologies. This includes 5G call and data concurrency support, as well as a multi-touch boost for increased touchscreen responsiveness. The complete combination also allows support for ray tracing in games and AR apps, and it also supports super hotspot power savings.

For support on displays, the Dimensity 1200 supports an astounding 168Hz refresh rate at FHD+ resolution, while the Dimensity 1100 reels it in with “just” 144Hz at FHD+ resolution. At QHD+, both cap out at a still respectable 90Hz. Both the chips also support HDR10+ video playback and hardware-accelerated AV1 video decoding.

Both the new chips also support Bluetooth 5.2, as well as ultra-low latency true wireless stereo audio and LC3 encoding for higher-quality and lower latency streaming for music on TWS earbuds.

The Dimensity 1200 has another trick up its sleeve. The penta-core ISP on the SoC supports up to 200MP image sensors (single), or up to 32MP + 16MP image sensors (dual). It also boasts of staggered 4K HDR video capture for greater dynamic range. The Dimensity 1100’s penta-core ISP supports up to 108MP image sensor (single), or up to 32MP + 16MP image sensors (dual). Both of them do support AI camera features such as AI Panorama Night Shot, AI Multi-Person Bokeh, AI Noise Reduction, HDR capabilities, and AI-enhanced video playback features such as AI SDR-to-HDR.

Wrapping up the package is the new hexa-core AI Processor called the MediaTek APU 3.0 for AI computing, with an enhanced task scheduler to reduce latency and improve power efficiency. The one on the Dimensity 1200 has a 10% performance advantage over the one on the Dimensity 1100.

Availability

The first devices with the new MediaTek Dimensity 1100 and Dimensity 1200 chips are coming to market at the end of Q1 2021. Xiaomi, Vivo, OPPO, and Realme have expressed interest in these new chips, so we can look forward to some exciting smartphones in the mid and upper-mid ranges.

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Chrome 88 introduces tab search and improved password protections

Google on Tuesday announced some big updates coming to Chrome 88, including tab search and improved password protections.

The new password protections is perhaps the biggest part of Chrome 88. One of the new features will allow users to easily fix weak passwords. The update will  identify when a password is weak and then give Chrome users the opportunity to create and store something that’s much stronger.

Speaking of editing weak passwords, Google said Chrome 88 will also make it much easier to update multiple usernames and passwords in one convenient place. In the Chrome Settings on desktop and iOS, users will be able to manage all their saved passwords. The same feature will be available on Android soon, according to Google.

The improved password features arrive amid a flurry of other bug fixes and enhancements, including better dark theme support on Windows 10, less intrusive permission requests, and a new Chrome flag for tab search, which is already available on Chromebooks. Chrome will also no longer support FTP URLs.

Google is also introducing a number of under the hood changes in Chrome 88, which the search giant detailed on its developer site. One such change is to the Digital Goods API. Now, web apps published in the Google Play Store can use Play Store billing, just like native apps.

These new updates arrive on the heels of changes introduced at the end of last year that were designed to make extensions more private and secure. The search giant said that beginning in 2021, it would change how extensions access data and how permissions work when an extension is installed. It would also provide users with more transparency about an extension’s data usage.

Google has taken a more hardline approach to privacy in Chrome. Last year, the company introduced a Chrome Safety Check feature, biometric authentication for password filling on iOS, and a touch-to-fill feature on Android.

Google said the new features in Chrome 88 will be available in the coming weeks, so look out for an update to your browser.

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Acer launches new Chromebooks featuring LTE and 20-hour battery life

Acer announced a bunch of new laptops at CES earlier this month, including the new AMD Ryzen-equipped Chromebook Spin 514. The company is now further expanding its offering with four new Chromebooks. The company has launched the new Chromebook 511, Chromebook 311, Chromebook Spin 512, and Chromebook Spin 511. Aimed at the education sector, these new laptops comply with MIL-STD 810H durability standards to withstand bumps and everyday wear and tear.

Acer Chromebook Spin 512, Chromebook Spin 511

The Chromebook Spin 512 and Spin 511 feature a 2-in-1 form factor. The Spin 512 features a 12-inch HD+ IPS display offering a taller 3:2 ratio for better viewing of web pages. The 511, on the other hand, comes with an 11.6-inch display with a standard 16:9 aspect ratio and an HD (1366 x 768) resolution. Both notebooks feature a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to protect the display from scratches. There is also an antimicrobial coating to keep away odor and stain-causing bacteria, and it extends to the entire keyboard deck including the spill-resistant keyboard, touchpad, and palm rests. As mentioned above, these laptops feature MIL-STD810H certification and are tested for 4ft drop tests and over 100 pounds of downward force. The new Chromebooks will be available with either an Intel Celeron N4500 or N5100 processor, with the base variants offering 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Lastly, both are also rated to offer a 10-hour battery life.

The new Acer Chromebook Spin 512 is priced at $430/€399 and will be available in the US starting April and in Europe starting March 2021. The Acer Chromebook Spin 511 will be available in the US in April 2021 starting at $400. Customers in Europe will be able to purchase the Spin 511 in March 2021 starting at €369.

Acer Chromebook 511, Chromebook 311

Next, we have the Chromebook 511, which features a standard clamshell design with an 11.6-inch display and 4G LTE connectivity thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c compute platform. You also get better battery life on this laptop, with Acer claiming up to 20 hours using the 48 WHr unit.

Lastly, there is the Chromebook 311 which is powered by the MediaTek MT8183 SoC. It is the most affordable option in the entire lineup and is very similar to the Spin 311 but with a more rugged clamshell design. Apart from the MIL-STD810H testing, this Chromebook is ASTM F963-165 Toy Safety Standard certified as well as UL/IEC 60950-1l exterior standard certified which means it is extremely safe for the younger audience who don’t really know how to handle a notebook. Additionally, this one also offers a 20-hour battery life, similar to the Chromebook 511.

The Acer Chromebook 511 will be available in the US starting in April priced at $400 and in Europe in March starting at €399. The Chromebook 311 is priced at $300 in the US and will be available starting this month. It will be available in Europe for €269 in March.

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These are the best Galaxy S21 thin cases right now

So, you’ve purchased yourself a Galaxy S21. There’s something about holding a brand new device in your hands; the clean glass, cold metal. Samsung’s new device features one of the nicest designs around; it sure would be a shame for it to get buried in a bulky case. To help you preserve the device’s gorgeous design while ensuring it’s protected from everyday dangers, we’ve rounded up the best thin cases for the Galaxy S21.

Samsung Silicone Cover

Soft, lightweight and, more importantly, thin, the Samsung Silicone Cover is the perfect way to keep your Galaxy S21 protected without feeling like you’ve covered the device with a brick.

See at Samsung

Samsung Kvadrat Cover

Speaking of soft and lightweight, the Samsung Kvadrat Cover is the perfect combination of thin and strong. Made of recycled materials, the case features a nice texture and a hook on the bottom, so you can attach a strap for easy carrying.

See at Samsung

Samsung Clear Cover

The Samsung Clear Cover features a transparent design, so you can admire the Galaxy S21’s design while keeping it protected. It also includes a non-slip pattern on the sides for an extra secure grip.

See at Samsung

Meifigno Protective Case

The Meifigno Protective Case features military-grade protection, raised edges to keep your screen and camera lenses safe, and a durable design with a nano oleophobic coating.

See at Amazon

Caseology Vault Case

Caseology cases are built to last, and the Vault for the Galaxy S21 is no different. It features a shockproof design and materials that feel thin and lightweight, so the device won’t feel bulky in your hands.

See at Amazon

SQMCase Shockproof Case

With soft, flexible edges and a hard back, the SQMCase looks made for the Galaxy S21. The case also features a cool pixelated design that gives Samsung’s new device some extra cool factor.

See at Amazon

The worst thing that can happen to a new device is for it to get damaged. But you also don’t want to cover it in a massive, bulky case. A thin case will protect the Galaxy S21 while ensuring it remains svelte, almost as if the case isn’t even there. Many of our picks are similar in style, so it’s about finding the right balance of function and design that works best for you.

If you don’t mind your case being almost paper-thin, the Samsung Silicon Cover is a great option. This will give your device an extra layer of protection but also won’t add much bulk. If you simply want the most protection possible, but still want the Galaxy S21’s style to shine through, try the Caseology Vault Case. Either way, the thin cases in this lineup will keep your phone looking pristine, even after a couple of tumbles to the ground.

Samsung Galaxy S21

The Samsung Galaxy S21 is the starting point of the new 2021 flagship series, packing in a flagship SoC, along with a decent display and camera setup.

Pre-order on Samsung.com

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You can now pair your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S controller to the NVIDIA SHIELD TV

If you own an NVIDIA Shield TV, you’ll be greeted by a nice update today. NVIDIA is rolling out a Shield Experience Upgrade (version 8.2.2) that introduces support for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S controllers, giving you more ways to game on the set top box.

“When SHIELD TV launched, way back in 2015, we made the promise to support these devices with regular upgrades including features and general improvements,” NVIDIA said.

Thankfully, connecting the next-gen controllers to the SHIELD TV is pretty straightforward:

• DualSense: Hold PlayStation and Share/Clip button until light pulses blue
• Xbox Series X/S: Hold the pairing button until the Xbox button blinks

Once connected, SHIELD TV owners can use the controllers with GeForce Now, the company’s game streaming service, and with with Android games, too.

That is, if you can even get your hands on these next-gen controllers. The two consoles from Sony and Microsoft have been available for a few months now, but they’re still very difficult to find. You might have an easier time individually tracking down the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S controllers, but compatibility with the NVIDIA SHIELD TV doesn’t seem like enough of a reason to purchase them on their own.

The update also introduces support for Control4 home automation systems and an option in advanced sound settings to disable volume control notifications. NVIDIA SHIELD TV were treated to another update last November that introduced several bug fixes and enhancements, including improved system volume levels when audio is routed to USB DAC or Bluetooth headset and a developer option to force HDCP 1.4 compatibility mode (4K protected content will not be available).

Today’s update is the 27th SHIELD software upgrade since the first model was introduced, NVIDIA said, and is available to all SHIELD TV owners. If you don’t see the update right away, NVIDIA said it could take a few days to roll out to all users.

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Google adds a Restricted Networking Mode in Android 12

With the first Android 12 Developer Preview expected to go live next month, there’s still a lot we don’t know about Google’s next major OS update. Digging through the Android Open Source Project can only reveal so much given that the bulk of Android 12’s codebase isn’t public. Still, we sometimes see evidence for new Android features in AOSP, though they’re often not very exciting. The latest feature we spotted, internally called “restricted networking mode”, sadly does not provide the configurable firewall that we were hoping to see, but it does have some interesting implications.

A handful of commits merged to AOSP describe the new restricted networking mode feature. Google has created a new firewall chain — a set of rules that the Linux iptables utility follows to allow or block network traffic — to support restricted networking mode. When this mode is turned on via a setting, only apps that hold the CONNECTIVITY_USE_RESTRICTED_NETWORKS permission will be allowed to use the network. Since this permission can only be granted to privileged system applications and/or applications signed by the OEM, this means that network access will be blocked for all applications installed by the user. Effectively, this means that you’ll still receive push notifications from apps using Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM), as these notifications are routed through the privileged Google Play Services app that holds the requisite permission, but no other app — excluding a handful of other system apps — can send or receive data in the background.

We don’t quite know where Google will place a toggle for restricted networking mode in Android 12. We know it can be toggled at runtime and programmatically queried via shell command, much like Android’s Data Saver feature, but we don’t know if Google plans to let users make their own allowlist/blocklist of apps. It would be huge if Google added a user-facing settings page to restrict Internet access on a per-app basis so users don’t have to rely on apps like NetGuard that use Android’s VPN API; there’s nothing wrong with the way these apps operate, but there’s little preventing them from being killed by bad OEM software.

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Samsung brings a trio of budget phones to the UK, including the Galaxy A32 5G

Samsung has announced a trio of new budget devices is headed to the U.K., including the recently announced Galaxy A32 5G, which is the company’s most affordable 5G device yet.

The other two devices as part of Samsung’s announcement include the Galaxy A12 and Galaxy A02, both of which feature a 6.5-inch display, a 5,000mAh battery, and support for 15W fast-charging. Both devices were previously revealed last November. Like the Galaxy A32 5G, the Galaxy A12 also features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and 4GB of RAM. All three phones support microSD expansion.

“Our new line-up of A Series smartphones demonstrates our commitment to developing products and experiences at all price points without making compromises,” said James Kitto, Vice-President of Sales for Samsung UK & Ireland. “The Galaxy A12, Galaxy A02s and Galaxy A32 5G add even greater depth to what is an already outstanding A Series portfolio, offer customers cutting-edge innovation, including an expansive display, hardworking camera and 5G at excellent value.”

The Galaxy A02 is the most affordable of the three phones at £139 in white and black; the Galaxy A12 retails for £169 in white, black, and blue, while the Galaxy A32 5G will be available for £249 in black, white, blue, and violet.

These new devices arrive a week after Samsung introduced the Galaxy S21 series, so consumers have plenty of new options to choose from. Whereas the Galaxy S21 series offers a high-end experience with the latest advancements in mobile technology, the newest additions to its Galaxy A series line provides consumers with a more tempered experience at an affordable price.

If you’re looking to save some money, Samsung said the Galaxy A12 is available now from Samsung and major U.K. retailers, while the Galaxy A32 5G will be available beginning February 19. Samsung said the Galaxy A02 will be available in the coming weeks.

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