Smartphones

Future iPhones may have glove-friendly touchscreens

A much-needed feature!

Published

April 5, 2021

Shivam Vahia

iPhones revolutionized how we interacted with a touchscreen phone and eliminated the need for a stylus. Now, Apple could be looking at another potential opportunity that’ll make using a phone far easier. Future iPhones may soon come with glove-friendly displays.

A newly filed patent, first spotted by AppleInsider, suggests Apple is working on glove touch detection technology. A stylus or your finger is considered to be a conductive surface as electrons can freely pass through. These electrons are detected on the surface of the screen, and a touch action is performed.

A glove adds a non-conductive layer between your finger and the screen, breaking the basic circuit. The new technology enhances touch detection by relying on special datasets that set new parameters. If the touchscreen registers a tap that corresponds with defined values for a covered finger, then it will switch into a “glove mode” automatically.

“The predetermined criteria are satisfied in response to detecting a slope of a signal density that corresponds to a gloved finger touching the panel and lifting off from the panel,” says Apple, “without re-approaching the panel within a predetermined period of time.”

When you’re not wearing a glove, the phone can understand that it’s being used on “bare finger mode” and adjusts touch sensitivity accordingly. The feature will be exceedingly helpful for users in temperate or tundra regions, where sub-zero weather is normal.

You can already buy gloves with conductive patches or fabric, but it still feels artificial and finicky. The patent could eliminate this and, in turn, offer smarter display panels that are resilient to extreme weather and usage conditions.

Although, it’s impossible to say when the feature will be available to everyone. Companies file thousands of patents every year, and not all of the promising technology actually makes it to the assembly line. It’s also unlikely that we’ll see the new feature with the iPhone 13 because it’s expected to launch in September, and no company can go from a patent to commercial production in such a short span of time.

Features

GadgetSnaps: Malaysia shot on the Infinix Note 40 Pro+ 5G

Beyond charging tech

Published

April 24, 2024

GadgetMatch

The Infinix Note 40 Pro+ 5G prides itself in its charging technologies. But what about its camera capabilities? Well, here’s a quick round-up of the many photos we took around the time the Note 40 series was launched in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

The NOTE 40 Series features a 108MP main shooter with 3x Lossless Superzoom. It also has OIS for steadier shots when taking videos.

The edits applied to the photos here only some resizing and cropping to make the page easier to load. Take a look at all these sample shots

Infinix Note 40 Pro series launch day

Kwai Chai Hong/ ‘Little Ghost Lane’

Petaling Street (Chinatown)

In and around Central Market

Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery

Istana Negara entrance

Merdeka Square

Malaysian Bak Kut Teh and more

Petronas Twin Towers at night

Steady shooter

The Infinix Note 40 Pro+ 5G isn’t a stellar shooter. But at its price point, it’s pretty darn decent for capturing different scenarios. Take these photos into some editing software and you can certainly elevate their look.

The NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G is priced at PhP 13,999. It may be purchased through Infinix’s Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop platforms, where customers can get up to PhP 2,000 off. Additionally, the first 100 buyers can get an S1 smartwatch or XE23 earphones. Alternatively, customers may opt for the Shopee-exclusive NOTE 40 Pro (4G variant) for PhP 10,999.

Smartphones

Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G: Philippine pricing, availability

Supercharge your gaming

Published

April 23, 2024

GadgetMatch

The Infinix NOTE 40 series is now official in the Philippines. Headlining the brand’s latest smartphones is the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G, which will be available starting April 24th.

Industry-leading charging capabilities

The new NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G debuts Infinix’s much-improved All-Round Fast Charge 2.0. Included with every purchase of the handset is the Infinix MagKit, phone case MagCase, and magnetic charging pad MagPad. The star of the NOTE 40 series boasts of 100W fast charge, as well as 20W wireless MagCharge. With Hyper Mode, users can recharge the NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G to 50% in as fast as eight minutes. Moreover, there are two other charging modes: Low-Temp and Smart modes.

Infinix’s latest charging technologies are also present in the Note 40 Pro+ 5G. Extreme-Temp Tech, for instance, allows reliable charging under 20 degrees Celsius. Bypass Charging 2.0, on the other hand, filters current to supply power directly to the motherboard during intense gaming sessions or watching videos to prevent overheating. Lastly, reverse charging allows sharing power with other devices wired or wirelessly at up to 10W.

Supercharge your gaming

Ensuring a smooth gaming experience on the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G is its Mediatek Dimensity 7020 chipset. The phone has a configuration of 12GB RAM (plus 12GB RAM expansion) and 256GB storage.

Outside of gaming, users may use the 108MP main and 32MP front cameras to capture their favorite moments. The NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G also sports a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display. This stylish screen supports up to a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,300nits of brightness, and also comes with eye protection.

At the back of the phone is Infinix’s Active Halo feature. This ring light-looking display further brings the device to life with lifelike light pulsations. The light changes based on various activities, such as notifications, communication, playing games or music, charging, and more. It also serves as the phone’s camera flash.

News

Xiaomi Redmi A3 Philippine pricing, availability

Budget smartphone with high refresh rate display

Published

April 23, 2024

GadgetMatch

Xiaomi is bringing high refresh rate displays to its budget line with the announcement of the Redmi A3. The latest addition to the entry-level Redmi line boasts of an expansive 6.71-inch HD+ display with up to a 90Hz refresh rate.

The Redmi A3 is available in Midnight Black, Star Blue, and Forest Green. The smartphone is priced at PhP 3,399 (3GB+64GB) and PhP 3,999 (4GB+128GB) respectively for its two configurations.

Customers may preorder the phone until April 27 via Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok. General sale begins April 26th in all Xiaomi stores nationwide. Freebies are a Basic Piston Earphone for online purchases and a 3-month Viu Premium subscription for in-store purchases.

The Redmi A3’s immersive screen allows users to consume various content in high-definition with better smoothness, a boost for a phone of its price point. The screen has Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection as well, and DC dimming to reduce blue light exposure.

The phone also sports a refined design that lets go of the iPhone-looking camera arrangement. Instead, the main camera is now in the middle as part of a watch face-looking setup similar to other Android phone offerings.

Speaking of, an 8MP main shooter highlights the back of the Redmi A3. In front is a 5MP front camera. The phone is powered by a MediaTek Helio G36 processor and runs on an Android 14-based OS. Furthermore, it has a 5,000mAh battery with 10W of USB-C charging.

Other handy Redmi A3 features for users to utilize include a 3.5mm jack, Face Unlock, and Fingerprint Unlock.