News
This is our first look at Samsung’s holed smartphone
The Galaxy A8s looks better than expected
Almost a month ago, Samsung announced the world’s first holed smartphone. Surprisingly, the unique form factor isn’t even the company’s most astonishing plan right now. Samsung’s more ambitious plans have overshadowed the holed smartphone’s hype.
However, the Samsung A8s is also impressive by itself. Whereas the other plans have started leaking earlier, the holed midrange phone has finally received its first looks.
Based on existing information and rumors, German website AllAboutSamsung has created renders of the upcoming smartphone. Of course, renders are still speculations, in essence. Although, to its credit, AllAboutSamsung has correctly predicted the Galaxy A9’s looks in the past.
Going off of this, the Galaxy A8s renders give a good look at Samsung’s new Infinity-O Display. This new form factor is part of Samsung’s latest design refresh in 2019. Taking apart the traditional slab phone, the Infinity-O display drills a hole on the screen’s upper-left corner. The hole houses the phone’s front-facing selfie camera.
With its strange camera placement, the new display does away with the controversial notch. It’s one step closer to becoming truly bezel-less. Because of the lack of information, the renders don’t show where the usual front sensors are. Quite possibly, this hints at progress with Samsung’s planned integrated screen. Some sensors might come buried underneath the screen.
Other than the camera hole, the renders depict a triple rear camera system and a rear fingerprint scanner. Under the hardware, the phone will supposedly carry a midrange Snapdragon 710 processor and 6GB of RAM.
The Samsung Galaxy A8s will launch sometime in January next year.
SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy A9 with quadruple rear cameras is up for grabs
Gaming
Switch 2 finally gets a Choose Your Game bundle
Choose from Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Pokémon Pokopia.
When the console launched, Nintendo fans had only two options when buying a new Switch 2: the console by itself or packaged with Mario Kart World. Since then, Nintendo has very occasionally released more bundles for more games. Finally, a new bundle will let you pick your bundled game from three hard-hitting options.
The best way to buy a new console is through a bundle. It allows you to save a few dollars on a game you’re probably buying anyway and lets you play right as you unbox your new purchase.
Today, Nintendo announced a new bundle that adds more options for gamers. These options include Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Pokémon Pokopia. The bundle lets you pick one.
As someone who’s played all three games, this selection isn’t too shabby at all. In fact, they’re the best first-party games you can currently get for the console.
It’s also a cost-efficient purchase that gives you more savings before the price of a new Switch 2 goes up in September. It’s likely that Nintendo introduced the option to soften the blow of the upcoming price hike.
The bundle will cost US 499.99. Being the most expensive game of the bundle, selecting Mario Kart World will save you US$ 29.99. Meanwhile, both Donkey Kong Bananza and Pokémon Pokopia will save you US$ 19.99.
The Nintendo Switch 2: Choose Your Game Bundle will come out in early June and will be available until supplies last. If you’re still craving for a Switch 2, this might be the perfect time to grab one.
Laptops
The Googlebook is the next evolution of the Chromebook
Notebooks are coming later this year.
Chromebooks did not become the go-to alternative for laptop users on a budget. Given how the market looks today, it could have been a matter of “right place, wrong time.” Today, Google is trying again with the new Googlebook lineup.
The Googlebook is different from the Chromebook. Though both platforms allow Android apps to run natively, the Googlebook will focus more on building a foundation on Gemini Intelligence.
Of course, the Android ecosystem is still a focal point. The Googlebook can run apps from the ecosystem and can connect seamlessly with Android phones. Specifically, users can access their phone’s apps and files directly from the notebook without waiting for transfers.
As for the Gemini part, the Googlebook starts by reinventing the cursor. The new Magic Pointer brings the wonder of Gemini to your mouse. A wiggle of the cursor wakes the software, which contextualizes anything it’s pointed to. For example, pointing at a date will ask you if you want to schedule a meeting. Pointing at two photos might merge the two into an AI-generated mashup.
Additionally, Create a Widget will allow you to customize software to perfectly tailor to your needs. Using Gemini, the Googlebook can collate everything you need on your dashboard.
Currently, there are no official models set to come out just yet. However, Google has confirmed that Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo have committed to bringing out the Googlebook this fall. Naturally, each of these brands will have their own take on lineup, but the one thing uniting them will be a unique glowbar to set them apart from other notebooks.
SEE ALSO: Google, on Android adopting Liquid Glass: “Not happening!”
The HONOR Magic8 Pro is among the first smartphones to support Android 17 Beta 3, giving developers early access to Google’s upcoming mobile platform ahead of its wider release.
According to HONOR, the early beta access allows developers to test app compatibility, optimize performance, and integrate new Android 17 features using the company’s flagship smartphone.
Android 17 Beta 3
Android 17 Beta 3 introduces several new multitasking, customization, camera, and privacy tools. One of its biggest additions is the expansion of Bubbles into a system-wide feature. Apps can now run in floating windows that users can minimize and reopen from anywhere on-screen.
The update also adds support for the RAW14 image format. HONOR says this allows developers to better take advantage of the Magic8 Pro’s AiMAGE camera system for improved image processing, dynamic range, and color accuracy in third-party camera and editing apps.
Android 17 Beta 3 also expands UI customization. Users can now hide app labels for a cleaner home screen layout, while developers can adjust Photo Picker layouts with different aspect ratios including portrait-style 9:16 views.
Other updates include separate Quick Settings toggles for Wi-Fi and mobile data, alongside a redesigned screen recording interface that lets users choose between recording the full display or a specific app.
Privacy and security improvements are also part of the update. Android 17 Beta 3 adds session-only precise location access, blocks local network access by default, and introduces protections against code injection attacks. Google is also preparing Android for future cybersecurity threats through support for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).
The HONOR Magic8 Pro features the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform, HONOR’s AiMAGE imaging system, and a 6,270mAh Silicon-carbon Battery. HONOR says its participation in the Android 17 Beta program highlights its continued collaboration with Google ahead of Android 17’s official release.
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