News

A cheaper Google Pixel could be in the works

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One of the biggest knocks against the Google Pixel and PIxel XL were their high, iPhone-level prices and lack of waterproofing. Both of those faults may change in the next generation of Pixel phones.

With the launch of the Pixel only four months behind us, it’s far too early to confirm any rumors about Google’s next batch of handsets. But if 9to5Google’s sources are anything to go by, we already some good news to share.

SEE ALSO: Google’s Pixel strategy is doing exceedingly well, at a cost

For one, Google is reportedly working on a Pixel 2B, which could be referring to a lower-priced phone equipped with weaker hardware. The source claims it will be much cheaper than the upcoming flagship Pixel 2 (and maybe Pixel 2XL?) and “aimed at different markets.”

Android One, which has been missing in action lately, instantly springs to mind. It was considered to be the more affordable alternative to Google’s now-discontinued Nexus series, and was targeted at price-conscious markets that wanted a pure Android option. The Pixel 2B might continue that legacy and make Google-manufactured phones more accessible.

SEE ALSO: Forget about Pixel and Nexus, where’s Android One?

Going back to the Pixel 2, Google’s priorities for its upcoming flagship phone include even better low-light photography and the addition of legitimate water and dust resistance. Those should actually be expected, since the former is what the current Pixel prides itself in most and the latter is what’s most in need. The only setback is that it might exceed the original Pixel’s $650 price tag.

Every other detail is sketchy at the moment, especially the information about which chipset Google will employ on its next Pixel phones. Qualcomm, Intel, and MediaTek have all been tapped to help power the phones, but nothing is certain this early in the development stage.

SEE ALSO: Google Pixel got the ‘little brother, big brother’ tandem right

[irp posts=”5053″ name=”Google Pixel got the ‘little brother, big brother’ tandem right”]

Source: 9to5Google

Apps

WhatsApp will introduce usernames to hide your phone number

Hide your number from others.

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WhatsApp is about to get an extra later of protection. After thriving on number-based chatting, the platform will soon add usernames, eliminating the need to share your number with strangers.

Usernames are the standard way of maintaining your anonymity online. Though most platforms today require users to log their email addresses or phone numbers, establishing a username can prevent other users from seeing this information way too easily.

Today, Meta has started rolling out reservations for WhatsApp usernames. The feature itself isn’t available yet, but early adopters can grab theirs as soon as the setting becomes available on their app.

To access the reservation, users can go to Settings > Account > Username. Of note, this isn’t available for everyone yet. But if you want to take dibs on a specific name, be on the lookout for the setting.

As for the username itself, users can reserve anything as long as it’s unique. Business owners and creators can also use their Facebook or Instagram handles as their WhatsApp usernames.

The feature, once it launches, will stop users from accessing your phone number when messaging. Similarly, other users will now need your exact username to start a conversation. Users can also set a separate code to protect conversations further.

SEE ALSO: Meta adds subscriptions for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp

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News

Samsung might be working on a rollable phone

It might be called the Galaxy Z Slide.

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For Apple, the next holy grail is a foldable iPhone. However, for Samsung who’s already had an iron grip on the foldable market for years now, the next evolution might be a rollable phone.

According to several Korean sources, Samsung’s next project is a rollable phone. Samsung Display is currently discussing the technology with the company’s smartphone arm for a potential consumer-ready product.

As is normal with new technologies, it might take a while for a rollable phone to enter the market. Samsung is reportedly planning a 2028 release for the device.

As for the name, the brand might settle for the Galaxy Z Slide. With how Samsung names its devices, “Slide” makes sense.

Now, a rollable phone has been a dream for a few other brands. For example, LG, before they gave up on the smartphone market, dished out a concept for a rollable display in the TV and the smartphone space. Sony, Motorola, OPPO, and TECNO have also experimented with the technology.

With its resources, Samsung stands to be at the forefront of the rollable market, just as it did with the foldable phone. But, as always, take the rumors with a grain of salt. There’s still quite a bit of time before 2028 arrives. The brand can easily change its mind.

SEE ALSO: Samsung brings the Galaxy Z series into Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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Cameras

DJI Osmo Pocket 4P launches with dual lenses and a 1-inch sensor

The biggest upgrade yet to DJI’s compact gimbal camera

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The original Osmo Pocket launched in 2018 as a pocket-sized gimbal camera for people who wanted smooth footage without carrying a full rig. DJI has been building on that idea ever since, and today, with the Osmo Pocket 4P, they made the biggest jump yet.

A significant change

The most significant change in the Osmo Pocket 4P is the introduction of a dual-lens system. While previous Osmo Pocket models limited creators to a single, fixed field of view, the 4P provides two distinct options.

The camera features a wide-angle lens backed by a new 1-inch CMOS sensor alongside a 60mm medium-telephoto portrait lens boasting an f/1.8 aperture and 3x optical zoom. This second lens fundamentally changes how creators shoot on the ground.

At the 60mm focal length, backgrounds compress naturally to separate the subject from the environment without relying on artificial software rendering, offering an invaluable tool for capturing people at events, during travel, or throughout daily life.

The wide lens captures 17 stops of dynamic range through what DJI calls LOFIC technology, which handles high-contrast scenes like backlit windows or golden hour without blowing out the sky or burying the shadows.

Advanced sensor tech, color latitude

For high-contrast environments, the wide-angle lens captures an impressive 17 stops of dynamic range utilizing DJI’s new LOFIC technology.

This hardware addition allows the camera to effortlessly manage difficult lighting scenarios, like backlit windows or golden hour horizons, keeping the sky intact while preventing shadows from turning muddy.

On the color processing side, DJI has introduced a 10-bit D-Log 2 profile capable of recording over a billion colors. This shift provides editors with significantly more latitude to grade footage in post-production, avoiding the limitations of a baked-in, in-camera look.

High-speed motion, smart framing

In terms of capturing motion, the 4P supports 4K slow motion at 240fps, making it ideal for fast-moving subjects that benefit from a stylized, slowed-down perspective.

A slow shutter video mode is also included, allowing users to organically capture light trails in low-light environments. Physical stabilization continues to rely on a mechanical 3-axis gimbal, drawing directly from the heritage of DJI’s professional Ronin systems.

Weighing just 230 grams, the compact unit incorporates ActiveTrack 8.0 to handle automated subject tracking, maintaining precise focus through the entire 12x digital zoom range — a feature that proves essential for solo creators who need the hardware to handle framing duties.

Practical updates for daily use

DJI has also focused heavily on the realities of on-the-go shooting. The 4P introduces gesture controls, letting users trigger subject tracking or start recording without physically touching the device.

A new 4K Live Photo mode automatically captures a 1.5-second clip alongside every still image, while the main sensor allows for high-resolution 37-megapixel photos that offer plenty of room for cropping in post-production.

The battery charges from zero to 80 percent in just 18 minutes and delivers up to 210 minutes of runtime on a full charge.

Furthermore, files transfer via USB 3.1 at speeds up to 800 MB/s, ensuring that offloading a full day of content is a near-instant process.

Price, availability

The camera launches in both classic black and pearl white, accompanied by a modular accessory ecosystem and DJI Care Refresh protection plans.

It retails for PhP 37,790 for the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Standard. Meanwhile, the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P Vlog Combo retails for PhP 42,290.

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