News
Is LG’s G8X the G8 ThinQ’s successor?
The G8X is expected to be revealed at IFA 2019
Months after unveiling the LG G8 ThinQ at MWC 2019, LG is expected to release another flagship phone in the form of the LG G8X. New leaks detail many changes to expect from this new flagship over its predecessor.
Leaks and renders of the G8X point to a refined design over the G8 ThinQ. In front, the notch is much smaller. Unfortunately, this also means that one of the headline features of the G8 ThinQ could be gone: vein recognition and touchless controls. This unique feature is made possible through the sensors on the phone’s notch. With the notch’s size reduced to a waterdrop, the G8X might not include it anymore.
Another feature from the G8 ThinQ that is hitting the chopping block with the G8X’s release is the Crystal Sound OLED display. Basically, the display vibrates to produce sounds normally made by speakers during phone calls. The G8X, on the other hand, is set to feature a regular earpiece.
On the bright side, the G8X is expected to gain an in-display fingerprint sensor which was absent from the G8 ThinQ. Also, the processor would get a hefty upgrade in the form of the new Snapdragon 855 or the beefier Snapdragon 855+.
The G8X is also expected to feature a 6.2 inch display with a QHD resolution, a single camera on the front, dual rear cameras featuring standard and wide-angle lens, and a Google Assistant button on the side. The device will also have a headphone jack which is increasingly vanishing in most smartphones.
All of G8X’s specs is expected to be revealed at the upcoming IFA 2019 which will held in Berlin, Germany.
LG’s move to release another flagship is likely its strategy to boost its profits. The company is having a hard time selling its smartphones against the likes of Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo. It remains to be seen if the G8X would up the ante for LG and would prove to be a compelling flagship after all.
The HONOR Magic8 Pro is among the first smartphones to support Android 17 Beta 3, giving developers early access to Google’s upcoming mobile platform ahead of its wider release.
According to HONOR, the early beta access allows developers to test app compatibility, optimize performance, and integrate new Android 17 features using the company’s flagship smartphone.
Android 17 Beta 3
Android 17 Beta 3 introduces several new multitasking, customization, camera, and privacy tools. One of its biggest additions is the expansion of Bubbles into a system-wide feature. Apps can now run in floating windows that users can minimize and reopen from anywhere on-screen.
The update also adds support for the RAW14 image format. HONOR says this allows developers to better take advantage of the Magic8 Pro’s AiMAGE camera system for improved image processing, dynamic range, and color accuracy in third-party camera and editing apps.
Android 17 Beta 3 also expands UI customization. Users can now hide app labels for a cleaner home screen layout, while developers can adjust Photo Picker layouts with different aspect ratios including portrait-style 9:16 views.
Other updates include separate Quick Settings toggles for Wi-Fi and mobile data, alongside a redesigned screen recording interface that lets users choose between recording the full display or a specific app.
Privacy and security improvements are also part of the update. Android 17 Beta 3 adds session-only precise location access, blocks local network access by default, and introduces protections against code injection attacks. Google is also preparing Android for future cybersecurity threats through support for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).
The HONOR Magic8 Pro features the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform, HONOR’s AiMAGE imaging system, and a 6,270mAh Silicon-carbon Battery. HONOR says its participation in the Android 17 Beta program highlights its continued collaboration with Google ahead of Android 17’s official release.
News
Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for $15 million
Samsung allegedly used her image without her consent.
Samsung has an unlikely rival. Dua Lipa is suing the South Korean company for using her image without her permission.
In the marketing world, brand endorsers are part and parcel of how products are pushed to the market. Famous celebrities are often asked to advertise a product for their potential star power. That said, a company needs the endorser’s consent first.
According to a new suit (via Variety), pop star Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for using her image to endorse TVs without her consent. The South Korean brand is reportedly using Lipa’s photo on the packaging of its TVs. Lipa alleges that the photo’s usage implies that she endorses the TV, which she does not.
The complaint also alleges that Lipa asked Samsung to take down the image last year. However, Samsung’s reply was, to her, “dismissive and callous.” The brand has then continued to use the image in its packaging.
To prove her point, the suit includes anecdotes of Samsung customers who bought the TV specifically because the packaging has Lipa’s image on it. To pay for damages, Lipa is asking for US$ 15 million from the global brand for copyright infringement.
SEE ALSO: These Samsung TVs and sound devices are perfect for summer
Gone are the days when consoles get cheaper as time goes by. These days, especially because of the RAM crisis, gaming consoles are getting more expensive. Joining this worrying trend, the Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a price hike.
Even upon launch, the Switch 2 was already pricier than its original counterpart. Currently, without the incoming price hikes, the console retails for US$ 449.99. It’s a lot but not completely out of reach.
Last week, Nintendo announced a price hike that might push the console to less than attainable levels. Starting May 25, the Switch 2 will cost JPY 59,980 (up from JPY 49,980) in Japan. The original generation is also getting a hike: JPY 47,980 for the Switch OLED, JPY 43,980 for the base Switch, and JPY 29,980 for the Switch Lite.
Abroad, you can expect price hikes on September 1. The Switch 2 will jump to US$ 499.99, CAN 679.99, or EUR 499.99, depending on where you live. These are the only official hikes announced right now, but Nintendo has confirmed that price revisions will be implemented in other regions, too.
As you might expect, the price increases are due to the ongoing RAM crisis. Though the console is an undeniable hit, the Switch 2 can’t hide behind its popularity against the price shortage dealt by unnecessary data centers. At the very least, users worldwide have time to grab the console in its original pricing before the hikes.
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