Smartphones

Huawei Mate XT already has 3 million preorders ahead of launch

Is the tri-fold smartphone launching globally soon?

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Smartphones today are jealous of Huawei. While most of the industry are warring over the best foldable smartphone, the Chinese smartphone brand has moved on to three folds in one device. Though the brand already launched the Mate XT in China, the world’s first tri-fold smartphone has just started finding its wings in the global market.

Today, Huawei Philippines has teased the coming of the foldable device in the country. Ahead of an official launch, the company has confirmed that the Mate XT is already one of the most popular devices in the market today. The foldable, according to Huawei, has already garnered three million preorders in markets where it is available.

It hasn’t been an easy journey for the Mate XT. The smartphone was relentlessly teased late last year by Huawei’s own head honcho who started using the unrevealed device in public. However, Huawei has been working on the device for five years — around the time of the very first foldable phone from Samsung.

Apparently, Huawei has been looking far into the horizon for three panels since then. Unfortunately, because of how hard it was to perfect even two screens, a tri-fold smartphone had to wait until this year to launch.

To be clear, Huawei has not announced when the Mate XT is officially launching. However, the vast number of preorders do indicate that a launch is coming soon.

SEE ALSO: HUAWEI launches Mate XT, world’s first tri-folding phone

News

Google will force Android users to use Gemini next month

Google Assistant will be retired as well.

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What is Google’s voice assistant called? Technically, there are two possible answers: Google Assistant and Gemini. Despite Google’s push for Gemini, the ubiquitous Google Assistant is still a common option for most users. However, the company will soon take that choice away as the voice assistant will retire in favor of Gemini.

First reported by 9to5Google, Google has sent emails to users, declaring that Google Assistant will no longer be an option for Android users starting September 4. On that date, the company will slowly roll out an update to get rid of the assistant’s availability on device.

Google also makes it clear that Gemini will be “the assistant experience on Android” moving forward. If you’re used to Google Assistant to help you with handsfree use, you’ll have only one option soon. This also affects other peripherals including smartwatches and audio accessories.

Of course, there are a few exceptions. Devices that can’t support an AI-powered assistant like Gemini are mercifully spared of the forced transition. Likewise, devices in countries that don’t support the AI assistant are also saved.

Despite the tepid reception of AI today, Google remains adamant about pushing Gemini to more users, regardless of whether they want it or not. In fact, a forced move like this will likely inflate the numbers that more devices are using Google’s AI software than ever before, while conveniently hiding the fact that most users never really had much of a choice.

SEE ALSO: Apple gives up on making AI, inks a deal with Gemini to power Siri

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OnePlus officially leaves the United States and Canada

The brand’s smartphones are now sold out in the United States.

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Once upon a time, OnePlus used to be the darling child of smartphone users on a budget. For a more meager price than a flagship, users can enjoy flagship specs on a uniquely designed phone. Who can forget the iconic OnePlus One?

Unfortunately, prices have a way of catching up. Though the brand’s phones are still perfectly good, more options have already emerged as alternatives for a so-called flagship killer, including OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei’s Nothing.

Now, marking the brand’s next step, whatever that is, OnePlus has officially left the North American market. As of today, the company has sold its last smartphone in the United States and Canada. Going on the official OnePlus website will warrant a Sold Out sign for both the OnePlus 15 and 15R. If anything, users can still get a handful of earbuds and cases.

As with everything that sells out, if you really want to cop one of the last remaining models in America, you can grab one off a third-party retailer, but who knows until when that will last?

This isn’t just a stocking issue, either. In July, the company already confirmed that it is pulling out of the region starting this month. It’s a sign of internal restructuring happening inside OPPO and all the brands under its umbrella. There’s also a rumor that OnePlus was relegated to being a sub-brand of OPPO once again.

SEE ALSO: OnePlus has reportedly merged with realme

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Features

GadgetSnaps: Westminster Abbey

A thousand years of history, unfolded with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra

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Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Westminster Abbey isn’t just another stop on the London tourist trail.

It’s the stage for coronations, royal weddings, and burials that span nearly a thousand years, all still playing out under the same vaulted ceilings that have been standing since before most countries had names.

Once you get past the crowds and the audio guides, a quieter version of the abbey starts to show itself: worn stone steps, poets resting a few feet from kings, light that shifts across the nave like it’s in on the performance too.

While losing track of time in Poets’ Corner (yes, me, playing amateur historian for an afternoon), I unfolded the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and decided the abbey deserved more than a quick tourist snap.


All photos captured using the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.

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