News

OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro now official

Still not settling

Published

on

Yes, the OnePlus 8 series is finally official. After numerous teasers, leaks, and speculations, the lineup details are now out in the open. It’s also particularly interesting because we haven’t seen a high-profile launch for weeks now due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

Just like the previous nomenclature, it consists of the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro. The two phones target a wide spectrum in the pricing structure, providing more options to the end-user. Though, something they share is — flagship-grade Snapdragon 865 processor and 5G support.

OnePlus 8: Stacked for a base option

The phone has a contoured design, thinner body, and glossy as well as matte finish options. On the front is a 6.5-inch Fluid AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate, Full HD+ resolution, and Gorilla Glass protection. For authentication, an in-display fingerprint scanner is embedded.

It’ll be available with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage in the base variant. Powering the phone is a 4300mAh battery with 30W fast charging. Other features include dual-stereo speakers, noise cancellation support, and Dolby Atmos.

Coming to the rear, it sports a triple-camera setup consisting of a 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 sensor, a 16-megapixel wide-angle lens, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. On the front is a 16-megapixel camera for selfies.

It’ll be available in Glacial Green, and lnterstellar Glow color options.

OnePlus 8 Pro: A wider perspective

It follows the same design language as the base model but has radically upgraded specifications. On the front is a 6.8-inch Fluid AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, QHD+ resolution, and Gorilla Glass protection.

The base option will have 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. However, it’s slightly heavier with 20 grams of added weight. Backing the internals is a comparatively bigger 4500mAh battery with support for 30W wired as well as wireless charging, an industry first.

On the rear is a quad-camera setup that includes a 48-megapixel Sony IMX689 sensor, an 8-megapixel telephoto lens, a 48-megapixel wide-angle lens, and a 5-megapixel color filter for higher accuracy. On the front is a 16-megapixel camera for selfies.

It’ll be available in Onyx Black, Glacial Green, and Ultramarine Blue color options.

OxygenOS: Cleaner and smoother

Both phones ship with Android 10 based OxygenOS that adds a plethora of features including Dark Mode, gesture support, and more. On the camera front, an built-on video editor is included that can churn out CINE aspect ratio video recording, AI scene detection, Nightscape, and RAW picture format support. The OnePlus 8 Pro will also have a color filter, Smart pet Capture.

Pricing and availability

The OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro will be available in the following regions: North America, Asia, and Europe. Color variant will vary depending on the region. For specific details see the table below.

Color

RAM+ROM

US

Date

US

Price

UK

Date

UK

Price

OnePlus 8 Glacial Green
Interstellar Glow
8GB+128GB 4/29 US$ 699 4/21 GBP 599
12GB+256GB US$ 799 GBP 699
OnePlus 8 Pro Glacial Green
Ultramarine Blue
Onyx Black
8GB+128GB US$ 899 GBP 799
12GB+256GB US$ 999 GBP 899

The 30W Warp Charger is an optional purchase –– it retails for US$ 69.95.

Watch our Unboxing and Review.

News

St. Peter reunited people with their deceased loved ones through tech

The new “If Heaven Could Write” campaign generates letters from the imagined perspectives of loved ones.

Published

on

Grieving can take many forms. Sometimes, it manifests through a desire to hear a loved one again. We look at their old clothing, a gust of wind, or a butterfly, and imagine them talking to us one more time. This year, St. Peter, through the power of technology, gave 11,000 people that chance through its new “If Heaven Could Write” campaign.

During St. Peter Deathcare Week, which ran from October 27 through November 2, the deathcare provider started the “If Heaven Could Write” campaign, an interactive digital experience that offered participants a chance to reunite with their deceased loved ones. It was available in 37 St. Peter Chapels and 76 cemeteries nationwide.

Upon scanning a QR code which took them to a portal, participants answered questions about their loved ones. Then, the portal generates a personal letter from the imagined perspective of the participant’s loved one, giving them one more chance to converse.

Of course, an imagined letter can’t replace someone who passed away. Still, the experience affords us a way to grieve and process the loss. No, the letter isn’t really from your loved one, but you can imagine what they would have said while reading through it. And sometimes, that’s all we need.

Though St. Peter Deathcare Week has already come and gone for the year, those interested can still participate in the campaign through its link.

Continue Reading

News

Next iPhone might get rid of the Action Button

Both functions will be in one button instead.

Published

on

In a world with a love-hate relationship with extra buttons on a phone, Apple has gone to the deeper end and included two buttons in the latest iPhones: the Action Button and the Camera Control. Next year, Apple might consolidate the two buttons into one, ridding itself of the Action Button.

According to a Weibo leak from Instant Digital, Apple will merge the two buttons starting with next year’s iPhones. Though technically a new button in itself, the merged version will, based on the leak, retain more Camera Control than the Action Button.

Of course, both functions can coexist in the same button. The Camera Control activates with a single press, while the Action Button needs a longer press. In the merged button, a single press can still open the camera and a longer press can activate whatever the user sets it to.

Both buttons have had a storied past. The Action Button came in 2023, replacing the Ring/Silent Switch. Meanwhile, the Camera Control debuted a year later, offering control over the camera with a capacitive button. The current iterations retain both buttons on the same phone.

Personally, as someone used to creating content, the Camera Control button is ultimately a boon to get those shots quickly while in the moment. Retaining that functionality is definitely worthwhile.

Continue Reading

Enterprise

NVIDIA CEO admits to having an affair with alleged Chinese spy

The company is currently investigating the allegations.

Published

on

In one of the craziest headlines this year, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has admitted to having an affair with an alleged Chinese spy.

Over the weekend, a heavy allegation claimed that the NVIDIA CEO had a relationship with a person actively involved in Chinese intelligence. Since Huang is involved in business globally, the accusation isn’t a light one. In fact, it’s serious enough that Huang admitted to the affair late this past Sunday.

In an internal letter reported by Associated Press, the CEO acknowledged the existence of the affair with a business executive. Of note, Huang did not confirm the executive’s ties to Chinese intelligence. NVIDIA, however, will conduct its own investigations regarding the allegations. Despite the allegations, Huang will remain as the company’s CEO. The company is also confident that the alleged spy did not compromise NVIDIA’s secrets.

According to The New York Times, the executive, Alice Huang, was reportedly feeding information back to Beijing, despite being an executive of the Singapore-based Megaspeed, which is already a serious customer of NVIDIA.

Now, NVIDIA is currently in a prime position when it comes to the industry today. Formerly a huge proponent of gaming peripherals, the company is now one of the biggest names in AI hardware, allotting a lot of its products for data centers. Huang’s allegations come at an interesting time.

Continue Reading

Trending