News

Qualcomm announces Snapdragon 855, promises 5G phones in 2019

Moving to 5G will be more seamless than 4G

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“5G is here.”

Chipmaker Qualcomm is making bold promises about the future of connectivity and computing on the first day of its Snapdragon Tech Summit in Maui. But unlike previous discussions on 5G, these claims are backed up by actual hardware.

Today the tech giant is showing off a 5G smartphone (reference device) running its new Snapdragon 855 system on a chip (SoC).

AT&T and Verizon have also set up actual 5G networks on the island, giving us our closest 5G hands-on experience to date.

The three-day summit brings together global mobile operators, infrastructure providers, and device makers, all of which have been working on expediting the rollout of 5G devices and services. Qualcomm says that unlike the transition to 4G, the switch to 5G will be faster and more seamless, “5G is so important that the whole industry is moving at the same pace.”

Qualcomm is also promising 5G smartphones in the first half of 2019. Sharing the stage with Qualcomm is Samsung, who is also showing off a 5G prototype at the event. Earlier this week, Samsung and Verizon announced plans to release a 5G phone in the US in the first half of next year.

Of course, this chip comes with a helping of advanced features. The most prominent one may be the fourth-generation multi-core AI Engine, which offers three times the AI performance compared to Qualcomm’s older SoCs.

Qualcomm also touts its use of the first-ever Computer Vision (CV) ISP to improve computational photography and video capture features. The gamer aspect isn’t left out either, thanks to Snapdragon Elite Gaming to boost performance on premium devices.

Most interestingly, Qualcomm’s 3D Sonic Sensor is part of the package. It’s the world’s first commercial ultrasonic fingerprint system that can be placed under the display. The company claims it’s more accurate and secure than anything else currently in the market.

The Snapdragon Tech Summit in Maui is still underway, so stay tuned for more details in the coming days.

Lifestyle

Nike’s Alphafly 4 is built for the part of the marathon ~that actually hurts~

Made to protect your stride when fatigue sets in.

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Every marathoner knows the exact moment the race truly begins.

It’s not at the starting line amidst the early morning excitement, but around the 32-kilometer mark, when your legs begin to feel heavy and your form starts to fall apart.

Nike designed its latest marathon racer specifically for that critical window. The Alphafly 4 shifts the focus away from chasing sheer top-end speed, targeting instead the physical breakdown that happens late in a long run.

By studying how fatigue alters a runner’s mechanics over time, Nike rebuilt its flagship distance shoe to help athletes maintain their stride when energy starts to dip.

Holding the line when fatigue sets in

On the road, the shoe operates as a complete, unified system designed to protect your stride.

A redesigned Atomknit upper wraps the foot with breathable support, using targeted midfoot cables and an integrated heel unit to keep your fit secure without adding unnecessary weight or friction over long distances.

Underfoot, the new ZoomX LT foam layer works alongside Nike’s contoured carbon-fiber Flyplate. The lighter foam returns maximum energy with every footfall, while the plate smooths out your rolling motion.

Together with dual forefoot Air Zoom units and a durable Fast Shot outsole, the setup keeps your cadence consistent and your legs feeling fresh well into the back half of the race.

As Emily Farina from the Nike Sport Research Lab notes, their goal was to help runners stay confident, balanced, and capable from the start line all the way to the finish.

Built on the miles that came before

That focus on real-world endurance stems directly from athlete testing.

Nike developed the shoe using feedback from its Project Dreamweaver initiative and extensive trials with women distance runners, prioritizing stability and comfort alongside high performance.

The lineage carries significant weight. The Alphafly family has grounded some of distance running’s greatest moments, from historic sub-two-hour efforts to major course records.

With the Alphafly 4, that legacy translates directly into everyday marathon training, helping athletes hold their target pace just a little bit longer. Marathoners won’t have to wait long to feel the difference on race day.

The Nike Alphafly 4 drops in an early, limited release on September 17 at nike.com, followed by a wider global release on October 29 online and at select retail stores.

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Entertainment

SEGA, Netflix announce Crazy Taxi film adaptation

1st in planned slate of film adaptations, including Sonic and STRANGER THAN HEAVEN

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SEGA and Netflix have announced a new Crazy Taxi film adaptation. This will usher in a new collaboration era with the parties also developing adaptations for Sonic and STRANGER THAN HEAVEN.

Such a slate of future adaptations reflects the range of SEGA’s library as it draws on Netflix’s experience bringing beloved game worlds to new audiences.

The first project features Crazy Taxi, which will be written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. The beloved writing duo was behind the 2025 reboot of The Naked Gun.

Also on board to help helm the production are the same visionaries behind the Sonic franchise: Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, and Toru Nakahara.

Crazy Taxi has been an arcade hit since 1999, putting players behind the wheel of a fearless cabbie racing the clock through chaotic city streets.

There’s flying off ramps, dodging traffic, and chasing tips with punk-rock energy that has become the series’ signature.

The latest title in the franchise, Crazy Taxi: World Tour, is set for a 2027 release. You can watch its trailer below:

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Finance

HONOR, Fidesmo partner for contactless payments across Europe, Middle East

Enabling contactless payments on the HONOR Watch 6

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HONOR and Fidesmo have partnered to launch contactless payments across Europe and the Middle East on the HONOR Watch 6.

Powered by Fidesmo Pay, the integration enables users to connect an existing Mastercard or Visa card to their watch and complete contactless transactions directly from the wearable device.

This brings Fidesmo’s network of over 900 banks and financial institutions to HONOR’s customers. Users can connect an existing card to the HONOR Watch 6 instantly through the HONOR Health App, which installs a unique token directly onto the watch.

Acting as a secure reference to the payment method, this token allows customers to pay without storing their actual payment details on the device. Once installed, users can tap the watch at any
contactless terminal to pay, just as they would with a card or phone.

HONOR joins a group of device partners that already includes Swatch, Polar, and Mondaine as Fidesmo continues to build momentum across categories.

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