Galaxy Note 8 launched, has massive screen and redesigned S Pen

One of the most anticipated smartphones for 2017 was finally announced, and it’s as massive as the pressure for it to do well.

The Galaxy Note 8 is the successor to Samsung’s Note line and the unfortunate Note 7. Like its predecessors, the Note 8 is a larger-than-average device with an edge-to-edge 6.3-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity Display.

This feature provides ample space for owners to utilize the redesigned signature S Pen for writing and doodling.

According to Samsung’s official statement, the S Pen has a finer tip and greater sensitivity than previous pens. It can also be used to translate text on foreign websites. Users need only hover the pen over text to translate specific words or full sentences.

In terms of productivity, a feature called “screen off memo” allows users to quickly jot down notes by simply pulling out the S Pen from its dock.

As for the photography feature, the Note 8 comes with three cameras: one in the front and two in the back. The rear camera assembly is a combination of a wide angle and telephoto lens system. A feature called Live Focus takes advantage of the hardware by giving users control in adjusting depth of field to achieve a bokeh effect. Front and back cameras can also be used at the same time with Dual Capture mode.

But the detail that consumers would be keeping a close eye on is the battery. The Note 8 has a smaller battery capacity at 3,300 mAh, compared to the Note 7’s 3,500 mAh. Note 8 has fast charging capabilities and can also recharge wirelessly.

Samsung points out that the Note 8’s battery has gone through the 8-point battery safety check. It’s a safety process that was developed in response to the Note 7 debacle.

Other features include an Android 7.1.1 operating system, 6 gigabytes of RAM, 64 gigabytes of internal storage with expansion up to 256 gigabytes, and an octacore processor. It also has a headphone jack.

The device and S Pen has a water resistance rating of IP68. This means it can survive accidental drops into water at up to 1.5 meters deep for around 30 minutes.

Pre-orders will start on August 24 and the Note 8 will be available in stores beginning September 15.

Based on specifications alone, the Galaxy Note 8 appears to be a fantastic piece of mobile technology. If all goes well, Samsung may be able to put the past behind it at last. JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

New flagship iPhone may be called ‘iPhone Edition’

Last year, Apple said not to expect much from the 2016 iPhone release because they were apparently planning something big for 2017.

Japanese news site Macotara is serving up a dash of new speculations on the 2017 iPhone release and says that the upcoming 5-inch high-end model could be called the “iPhone Edition”, reports 9to5Mac.

According to the report, Apple is said to be testing various flagship prototypes. Some of these models are said to have no Home button while others retain it. Some prototypes apparently also have aluminum, glass and ceramic chassis designs.

Prototype testing is reportedly being carried out alongside engineering validation testing (EVT). However, Apple will need more time to procure materials to proceed with design validation testing and make final decisions. It is because of this that Macotakara claims that the iPhone may have a late release this year.

Other details contained in the Macotakara report mentions a possible OLED display, wireless charging, dual-cameras and a 5-5.1-inch screen real estate.

Finally, Macotakara claims that the iPhone Edition should be announced by September, together with the iPhone 7s and 7s Plus.

Should September actually be the release date of the “iPhone 8″, then that leaves fans quite a lot of time to save up for what should be a major iPhone update. Alfred Bayle/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

New Huawei smartphones Mate 9, GR5 2017 enter Philippine market

Huawei is going all-in on dual-camera smartphones this year, and what better way to exemplify this than with a twin-launch of their latest smartphones, the Mate 9 and GR5 2017.

Huawei Mate 9

The Mate 9, Huawei’s newest flagship model, takes a lot of what made the P9 a success while adding on a few new tricks. First off, it uses the new Kirin 960 chipset at its heart. It is the first SoC to feature an ARM Cortex-A73/A53 octa-core CPU and Mali G71 octa-core GPU.


The new model promises to offer consistent performance while drawing in less power, complimented by a massive 4,000 mAh battery and supplemented by Huawei’s SuperCharge technology. The feature can juice up the battery to up to 60 percent in less than thirty minutes.

A machine learning algorithm has also been incorporated into the Huawei Mate 9 to help the whole system better optimize power usage and performance. The system will learn the user’s habits and attempt to predict which apps to prioritize, as well as when to conserve energy.

In light of the concern for exploding batteries, Huawei also implemented a Super Safe 5-gate safety mechanism that will do real-time monitoring for voltage, electric current and temperature. This, the company hopes, will prevent the battery from catching fire.

Next is the pride and joy of the Mate 9, it’s Leica dual-lens F2.2 camera with a 20-megapixel monochrome and 12-megapixel RGB sensor. The camera system also has Hybrid Zoom, generally a feature for refined digital zooming and optical image stabilization.

Finally, the Huawei Mate 9 features an odd 5.9-inch full HD display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Huawei emphasized that despite having an almost 6-inch display, they designed the Mate 9 to be only slightly bigger than most 5.5-inch smartphones. They did this by chipping off the bezel around the screen and relocating the home as well as fingerprint scanner to the back.

Its other features are 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage with microSD expansion, NFC, 4K video recording, headphone jack, and an 8-megapixel AF F1.9 front camera.

Huawei GR5 2017

The GR5 2017 sits just below the Mate 9 and covers the price market between P10,000 and P15,000, but it is by no means a pushover.

For starters, it is one of the few in the price segment that features a dual-camera system, making it a very competitive offering from Huawei. This system incorporates 12- and 2-megapixel cameras that work in tandem to achieve an autofocus speed of 0.3 seconds. Autofocus speed has been one of the recurring complaints regarding smartphones in this price range, so Huawei thought to remedy that. The cameras also have a 78-degree viewing angle.

Under the hood is a Kirin 655 octa-core processor and a support i5 coprocessor. It also has generous 3,340 mAh battery that the company rates for up to 1.5 days of heavy use. It would be safe to assume that its three power saving modes (normal, smart, and ultra power saving) play a big role in achieving this feat.

The rest of its features include a fingerprint scanner, a 5.5-inch display, an 8-megapixel front camera, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of internal storage with microSD expansion.

Availability

Both the Huawei Mate 9 and GR5 2017 are now locally available, priced at P31,990 and P13,990, respectively. Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net