Features

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Rumor Round-up

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It’s been four months since the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. As we go deeper into the year, we’re already in the season of a new Galaxy Note. Last year’s release was met with a predicament due to faulty batteries, so Samsung has to keep its best foot forward this year.

Here’s what we know, so far, about the upcoming Galaxy Note 8.

Infinity Display comes to the Galaxy Note series

The Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series go hand in hand in terms of features. What the new Galaxy S gets, the new Galaxy Note will have it — especially the display. Samsung introduced its new “Infinity Display” with its extremely slim bezels and with the Note 8, it’ll come in a slightly bigger package. We’re expecting a panel larger than 6.2 inches (the size of the Galaxy S8+) fitted into a similarly sized body for another full-screen phone with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio.

Bumped-up resolution for VR

Now that the Note 8 is getting the Infinity Display, we could expect the phone to sport extra pixels to make it more suitable for virtual reality. From a QHD resolution, it’ll have 4K just like with the Sony Xperia XZ Premium. Samsung has introduced an improved Gear VR set that comes with a controller; hence, better VR content is coming to mobile.

Awkwardly placed fingerprint sensor

Okay, this one is super obvious: just look at the S8! It’s unlikely that Samsung will be able to solve this problem even though Vivo and Qualcomm were able to introduce a built-in fingerprint reader under the display. Using the fingerprint sensor on the large S8+ is already cumbersome — what more with a Note?

Dual rear cameras

The Note 8 could be the first Samsung phone to feature dual rear cameras. With the launch of new ISOCELL camera sensors that include a sub-brand called “Dual Sensors,” no doubt it’ll make its debut on the new Note. New case renders confirm this rumor while additional details include two 13-megapixel shooters consisting of RGB and monochrome sensors. It’s a comparable setup to the Huawei P10 Plus.

Same processor, higher memory

Based on previous releases, the Note 8 should have the same 10nm processors found on the S8 and S8+. It could be Snapdragon or Exynos, depending on the region. But of course, the Note 8 should get an advantage over a phone that was released earlier and that’s where the higher memory comes into the picture. It could have 6GB of RAM as standard — not just a special edition.

Improved S Pen

Galaxy Note 5’s S Pen versus Note 7’s S Pen

A new Note phone must come with a new S Pen. We did like the stylus found on the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 before Samsung asked the units to be returned. It’s kinda hard to think of what to improve on the S Pen every year. Let’s just say that with every release, it feels closer to an actual pen input.

Launching sooner than you expect

Now that we have set our expectations for the new Samsung flagship phone, when is it coming? Multiple sources point to multiples dates. The earliest is sometime in August while the latest we’ve heard is in October. We’re betting it to arrive in August, just before the next iPhone arrives.

Most expensive Samsung phone to be released

Samsung Galaxy S8

What about the price? Shocking as it may seem, the Note 8 is foreseen to be the most expensive Samsung phone to be released at US$ 1,000. The new S8+ is already at US$ 840, so just go figure when it gets an S Pen, dual rear cameras, higher memory, and a bigger display.

SEE MORE: Samsung’s refurbished Galaxy Note 7 FE is official, coming soon

[irp posts=”15563″ name=”Samsung’s refurbished Galaxy Note 7 FE is official, coming soon”]

Tutorials

How to set up Apple Pay on your iPhone

It’s as easy as a single tap.

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Apple Pay is officially in the Philippines!

Pushing the country forward into a cashless and cardless future, Apple has now brought its contactless payment system to the Philippines. As with other countries, Apply Pay will work seamlessly and easily even for those who have problems with technology.

Now, despite how easy it is, sometimes we need to be pointed in the right direction. Here’s how you can set up Apple Pay on your iPhone:

Everything starts with the Wallet app. First, open your Wallet app. Tap the “+” button on the top and select “Debit or Credit Card.”

Normally, this is where you can input your card details (which you can still do, by the way), but the default method now is to just tap your card on the back of your iPhone. Your phone does the rest. You might need to confirm with your bank, but it’s as easy as a single tap.

Pick which cards to use. Once you have your cards online, you might need to change which one is the default card. Again, it’s easy. Just drag your preferred card to the front.

Afterwards, you can tap to pay in supported stores by priming the Wallet app for use. Tapping to pay is also available for Apple Watch. Meanwhile, online transactions can also work on MacBook.

Secure, all the time. If you’re worried about your security especially with online transactions, Apple keeps your information only between you and the seller. They don’t store your data.

Also, it’s not easy to make a transaction without your consent. You need Face ID, Touch ID, or your password. If you lose your phone, you can easily shut your phone down with the Find My app to prevent malicious parties from making transactions.

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Accessories

DJI Osmo Mobile 8P: From a videographer’s perspective

Better tracking, fewer buttons

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DJI’s smartphone gimbals have always chased one goal: delivering cinema-smooth footage without forcing you to carry a heavy rig.

The Osmo Mobile 8P (OM 8P) makes its priorities clear right out of the box. This is not a simple refresh. DJI rebuilt how you control the gimbal, and that decision shapes the entire shooting experience.

Freedom behind the lens

The biggest change is the FrameTap remote, and it’s the kind of upgrade that fixes a problem you didn’t realize was slowing you down until it’s gone.

On the standard OM 8, adjusting your framing meant reaching for your phone every time, which broke the flow of shooting and pulled you out of the moment.

FrameTap puts that control back in your hand. You can reframe shots and manage the gimbal without touching your phone at all, and for anyone shooting solo, that alone changes how usable the whole setup feels. Tracking has taken a real step forward too.

ActiveTrack 8.0, paired with Module 2, held onto its subject even after they stepped out of frame for a moment, then picked them back up without much fuss.

It also lets you sit off-center in the shot instead of forcing you into the middle every time, which gives you more room to compose something that doesn’t look like every other gimbal video.

None of that would matter much if the gimbal itself wasn’t solid, and it still is. The OM 8P holds onto the same foldable design, magnetic phone clamp, and built-in tripod that made the OM 8 easy to live with.

And it remains one of the better compact options for stabilization, tracking, and portability in one package.

The tripod legs are a touch wider this time, and that extra width does make a noticeable difference on uneven ground.

The trade-offs in touch

The trade-off for all that new remote functionality is a control scheme that takes more getting used to. More of the gimbal’s functions now live on the FrameTap touchscreen, the joystick is smaller, and switching between shooting modes takes a few extra taps compared to the OM 8. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a learning curve you’ll need to budget time for.

DJI also removed the zoom and focus wheel, so if you leaned on that dial for quick adjustments, you’ll feel its absence here. Module 2 no longer lets you plug a DJI wireless mic in directly either.

You’ll need to connect it to your phone instead, which adds a step to a setup that used to be simpler. Phone compatibility is still a limiting factor as well. DJI lists support for phones up to around 300g and 11mm thick, so bigger phones or ones in chunky cases may not clamp in properly.

Finding your ideal workflow

The OM 8P makes the most sense for solo creators who want dependable tracking and the freedom of remote framing without stepping up to a dedicated camera like the DJI Osmo Pocket.

If you’re already shooting on a phone with a solid camera, this fills the gap nicely. It’s a tougher sell if you prefer physical buttons over touchscreen menus, or if your phone runs on the larger and heavier side, since fitting it onto the clamp might be a problem before you even get to shooting.

Price, availability

DJI is offering the OM 8P in three combos, so how much you pay depends on how much of the ecosystem you actually need.

  • Standard Combo (PhP 7,499): the gimbal itself, with 8th-gen stabilization and the detachable FrameTap remote included.
  • Advanced Tracking Combo (PhP 9,199): adds the Multifunctional Module 2 for the improved subject tracking we tested.
  • Creator Combo (PhP 11,099): the full kit, built for creators who want everything DJI bundles in from the start.

Is the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P your GadgetMatch?

The DJI Osmo Mobile 8P asks you to relearn a few habits in exchange for a gimbal that finally lets go of your phone. If hands-free framing and steadier tracking matter more to you than a dedicated zoom dial, this is worth the adjustment.

If you’d rather keep things exactly as they were on the OM 8, that learning curve might be the deciding factor.

Swipe right if you shoot alone often and have been waiting for a gimbal remote that actually works. The FrameTap remote alone justifies the upgrade if reaching for your phone mid-shot has been slowing you down.

Consider this if reliable tracking matters to you, especially if you’ve had a subject wander out of frame and stay lost on older gimbals.

And of course, get this if you already own a capable phone under the weight and thickness limits, and you’d rather invest in a smartphone rig than jump to a dedicated camera like the Osmo Pocket.

Swipe left if you lean on physical dials for zoom and focus, and moving those functions to a touchscreen sounds like a downgrade rather than an upgrade.

This is not for you if you use a DJI wireless mic and want it plugged directly into the module without routing through your phone first. Or, your phone runs heavier or bulkier than DJI’s limits allow, since no amount of enthusiasm fixes a clamp that won’t close.

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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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