Huawei officially confirms Mate Xs 2, Watch GT3 Pro going global tomorrow
Huawei is holding a launch event tomorrow and we finally got official confirmation that we’ll see the global launch of the Mate Xs 2 and Watch GT3 Pro as well as more products. The event kicks off at 2PM CET tomorrow and we’ll be there to cover all the announcements.
The Mate Xs 2 supports Huawei M Pencil, has a 50MP triple camera, and a 4,880 mAh battery with 66W fast charging support. Watch GT 3 Pro brings a 1.6 AMOLED display, tacking for over 100 sports modes, ECG (market-dependent) as well as the standard health tracking features. We can also expect the Huawei Band7 and MatePad SE tablet at the event.
a Glimpse Into Samsung’s Innovative ISE 2022 Lineup – Samsung Global Newsroom
From May 10 to May 13, 2022, Samsung welcomed audiovisual industry professionals from around the world back to Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) to showcase its latest visual display innovations and sustainability achievements. Samsung highlighted its diverse lineup of commercial display technologies and solutions as part of its Business Reimagined concept, presenting signage technology and cloud-based management designed for hybrid scenarios. Check out the photos below for a peek at the next generation of signage technology from Samsung.
▲ (Clockwise) The ISE 2022 Samsung Booth at a glance
▲ Samsung’s ISE 2022 booth unveiled the latest lineup of state-of-the-art display technologies. The booth played host to a steady stream of visitors interested in Samsung’s diverse lineup of commercial display technologies.
▲ Before entering the booth, guests were treated to the latest model of The Wall from Samsung. The guests were offered with the immersive experience this technology offers in person.
The Wall: Packed With Unparalleled Visual Innovations
The crown jewel of Samsung’s display was The Wall, the 2022 model of which was unveiled at ISE (Model name: IWB) — an innovative modular Micro LED display that delivers immersive viewing experiences in a high-resolution, large-screen format with purer black levels and improved gradients. The resolution is enhanced by the powerful Micro AI (Artificial Intelligence) Processor, which analyzes each second of content and instantly optimizes picture quality while removing noise.
▲ Samsung’s 2022 model of The Wall (Model name: IWB) at ISE 2022
▲ ISE attendees getting a glimpse of Samsung’s The Wall (Model name: IWA)
Outdoor Signage Optimized for Future Stores
Samsung continues to innovate in outdoor signage, covering verticals from QSR to electric vehicle (EV) charging. With its durable and high-performing hardware, Samsung’s latest 2022 outdoor line-up (OHA series) can excel in a variety of weather conditions and environments through certified IP56-rated protection. Equipped with the MagicINFO cloud-based management solution, operators can manage their displays backed by Samsung Knox, a trusted security platform that further enhances security as well as convenience.
▲ Samsung Electronics’ Outdoor signage displayed on an EV charging station. In addition to charging statistics, customers can check various types of information such as traffic conditions and maps.
▲ Samsung’s mart Outdoor signage for drive-through enables customers to check menu items and make payments with ease.
Empowering Seamless Collaboration in the Hybrid Classroom With Flip Pro
Delivering innovative solutions for the new era of the meeting room or classroom with hybridity at its core, Samsung unveiled the new Samsung Flip Pro (WMB), which features Smart View+, enabling operators to cast up to six participants’ screens no matter what operating system they use. With the improved UX, the new Samsung Flip Pro offers features designed to accommodate any learning or meeting scenario.
▲ ISE attendees exploring the Smart View+ feature, which can cast up to six device screens from users.
▲ Samsung Flip Pro’s specialized features are designed to accommodate any learning or meeting scenario.
▲ Samsung Flip Pro’s multi-touch features allow the simultaneous collaboration of up to 20 people. Attendees take notes on the Flip Pro to test its touch screen capabilities.
▲ Attendees take notes on the Flip Pro connected with The Wall All-in-One (Model name: IAB) to test its touch screen capabilities.
▲ The new Samsung Flip Pro offers features designed to accommodate any learning or meeting scenario.
Enabling Faster and Safer Orders and Payments
The Samsung Kiosk is another future-ready solution — one that is proving increasingly useful in an era of contactless customer interactions. This interactive virtual experience offers a 360-degree look at business solutions that are customized for various spaces.
▲ The Samsung Kiosk offers an all-in-one solution for navigating menus, selecting items and making payments. It can be conveniently installed in any store.
▲ ISE attendees exploring the Samsung Kiosk
Neo QLED 8K Signage Delivers a Realistic Visual Experience at Luxury Stores
Samsung also showcased the Neo QLED 8K, delivering a more meticulous and captivating viewing experience. This enhanced sense of reality ensures content has a deeper impact on the viewer, leaving them struck by the fidelity of the display while accurately and memorably representing a brand’s image. It is a perfect product for use in stores that want to showcase luxury items designed to captivate customers with their quality and detail, such as high-end jewelry stores.
▲ Neo QLED 8K features darker blacks and brighter whites, captivating passing visitors.
Efforts Towards a Sustainable Future
Samsung also highlighted its progress in sustainability as part of its Together for Tomorrow vision. The company showcased efforts to reduce its environmental impact in the production of new products, including increasing the use of recycled materials and improving the efficiency of energy consumption in its lineup. Samsung was also the first in its industry to achieve the reducing CO2 label, certified by the Carbon Trust for its signage and monitor products.
▲ Samsung showcased efforts to reduce its environmental impact in the production of new products as part of its Together for Tomorrow vision.
Mazi can be your little digital diary and companion
Journaling is not a lost art yet, and we believe more people would want to dabble in this hobby if only they had more time. Writing down your thoughts and feelings in a diary can be time-consuming, but it offers several benefits. Journaling lets you improve your writing, self-reflect, and stay organized.
Writing in a diary also helps reduce stress because you can express your feelings and frustrations. However, writing takes time, so we only know a few people who write in their journals. If you can’t write in your notebook, you can try blogging. But if you still don’t have enough time, you can try the Mazi.
Mazi is a digital journal that allows you to record what you’re doing. There is no need to write down your thoughts on a diary or a blog because you can keep one by simply “talking” to the Mazi. It comes with a compatible app that records what you say. You can easily remember your thoughts and what you’re doing with the product-app duo. The Mazi takes writing to a new level by recording your notes and “writing” them on an app. In a way, it’s like having a friend to talk to.
With the pandemic still in, people are still trying to beat loneliness. Social isolation has been a problem, and even if we’re already at the tail-in of the covid situation, people are still trying to beat their anxieties. We say you can still do everything you want to do to reduce stress as long as you’re not hurting anyone.
We suggest journaling because it allows you to express whatever is inside you. It may be good to verbalize or write down your thoughts. Don’t keep things bottled up inside because you might break down. Mazi can help you in little ways as it can help you ease distress, especially when struggling.
Studies have shown people who journal show reduced depression and anxiety symptoms. Mazi can be a friend to you, especially if you’re feeling lonely. No, it won’t talk back to you, but sometimes, all you need is a listening ear. This “ear” will record things you say and keep things for you.
The Mazi simply works like a small recorder—the kind that reporters use before smartphones. You press a button to record, rewind, and hear where you left off. You can also delete or highlight a part. No need to edit on the mobile app as you can edit right on the Mazi with the three touch controls.
Mazi is a little companion about the size of a palm. It works with an app, so we’re assuming it works over Bluetooth or WiFi. It will just update the app whenever it’s paired with another device. It’s easy to use: simply press a button on the corner to turn it on or start giving commands.
Mazi can be your friend just when your loved ones are nowhere to be found because they are busy. It can keep your secrets like no friend or diary ever can. Every important moment in your life must be recorded. Even if you don’t have a phone with you, you can record things on the Mazi. There’s no forgetting what you have done or what you need to do because of Mazi.
Wear the Mazi around your neck with a strap. You can also clip it on a surface or on your shirt to record your thoughts hands-free. Design-wise, the Mazu is made of coral soft-touch plastic, recycled plastic, and white hard plastic. It boasts a white, simple packaging that is very minimalist. The box is secretive—just like the Mazi.
Oppo Reno8 series listed online, Reno8 Pro+ handled on video
Oppo’s Reno8 series is launching next Monday on May 23 and the leaks just keep coming. The series is actually listed on Oppo China’s online store revealing three models – Reno8, Reno8 Pro and Reno8 Pro+. We now have detailed official images of all three phones revealing their color options and designs.
In addition, a Chinese tech blogger posted a hands-on video of the Reno8 Pro+ showing out the phone’s design.
We can see the back design on the Reno8 Pro+ is inspired by the Find X5 series with a fairly large camera island that melts into the back frame. The phone brings flat aluminum sides and is said to come in at 7.34mm thickness (not accounting for the camera bump) which would make it the thinnest Oppo Reno phone. The front brings a centered punch-hole cutout and symmetrical top and bottom bezels.
Oppo Reno8
Looking at the official images we can see the three phones share similar designs but the Reno8 Pro and 8Pro+ bring four rear cameras alongside Oppo’s MariSilicon X NPU and get slimmer screen bezels than the regular Reno8. The Pro+ comes with a centered punch-hole cutout while the other two models have their selfie cams tucked in the left corner.
Oppo Reno8 Pro
Reno8 and 8 Pro come in black, blue and gradient colors while the Pro+ adds a silver finish. All three phones come with 8/12GB RAM and 128/256GB storage. Based on speculation, Reno8 will bring the Dimensity 1300 chipset while the Reno8 Pro will debut Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chip. Reno8 Pro+ is said to bring a Dimensity 8100 Max under the hood.
vivo T2 listed in China, launch scheduled for May 23
A new T-series phone from vivo is launching in China soon and we have our first look. Vivo T2 is already listed on the brand’s online shop complete with a launch date – May 23. The upcoming phone looks identical to the iQOO Neo6 SE which gives us a few hints about its specs.
vivo T2 next to iQOO Neo6 SE
Vivo T2 is expected to offer a 6.62-inch AMOLED with a 120Hz refresh rate and centered punch-hole cutout for its 16MP selfie cam. The back comes with a 64MP main cam alongside a 12MP ultrawide and a 2MP portrait cam. We’re also expecting Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 chipset at the helm aided by 8/12GB RAM and 128/256GB storage.
vivo T2 poster
The phone will likely boot OriginOS Ocean over Android 12. It should bring a 4,700 mAh battery with 80W fast charging. The full spec list alongside pricing and availability will be provided next week.
Apple reportedly testing color e-ink display technology to use as a second screen for a foldable device
The Galaxy Z Flip’s outer second screen
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is exploring the use of color e-ink displays for its future products. Kuo says that color e-ink is particularly well suited to enabling a low-power second screen experience for a foldable form factor device.
Of course, Apple does not currently make a foldable although there have been ongoing rumors that the company is considering designs for a foldable iPad.
Back in February, both display analyst Ross Young and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman referenced a 20-inch folding MacBook/iPad design apparently in development.
What Kuo seems to be suggesting is that e-ink would serve as the outward-facing display, providing a low-power accessory screen experience for users, who want to get some utility out of their foldable without having to unfold it.
The choice of e-ink would be an interesting deviation from the direction of the Android foldable market.
For instance, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold features a 6.2-inch AMOLED cover display, which makes the device look almost like a standard phone in closed operation. The user can unfold the device to reveal the flexible 7.6-inch main screen inside.
The Galaxy Z Flip features a very small 1.9-inch OLED cover screen, which acts as a simple readout for the time and notifications display. This could easily be imagined as a color e-ink surface though, extending battery life significantly as e-ink do not consume power for static content.
Samsung reportedly begins mass production of new foldable flagships parts
Samsung’s next two foldable smartphones will arrive sometime in the second half of the year, and the latest report from The Elec cites industry sources that Samsung Electronics has begun mass production of core components for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4 (both tentative names). In addition, Samsung will reportedly begin producing the foldables as soon as mid-June.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3
Reports estimate that Samsung is expecting to produce more than 10 million combined foldable units between the Flip and Fold series by the end of the year. It is reported that 70% of these could be the Flip series while 30% of that figure is to be comprised of the incoming Galaxy Fold device. This is only speculation as the actual production estimates won’t be released until July. For reference, 2021’s Z Flip3 accounted for 65% of Samsung foldables while 35% was the Z Fold3.
Samsung Display will also boost its manufacturing capacity for foldable display modules. Samsung will expand from 7 to 10 production lines at its Vietnamese factory in hopes of producing 2 million display modules per month compared to the 1.4-1.5 million units produced previously. It’s expected that the Z Fold4 and Z Flip4’s display outputs will reach 1 million units per month by Q3.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 and Z Fold3
Samsung will reach a 1% penetration rate of global smartphone sales for its foldables for the first time this year if it manages to ship 10 million units by the end of this year.
Finally, it’s estimated that the new Galaxy foldables will have a 15% profit margin compared to the approximate 20% of margin set of the current generation foldables. This is done to keep pricing within reach of consumers.
Today Apple has updated its mobile devices to iOS 15.5 (for iPhones) and iPadOS 15.5 (for iPads), respectively. As the .1 incrementation implies, this one isn’t a big update, but it still manages to pack in a couple of new features.
First up, the Wallet app now enables Apple Cash customers to send and request money from their Apple Cash card. Second, the Apple Podcasts app includes a new setting to limit episodes stored on your device and automatically delete older ones.
Additionally, an issue where home automations may fail when triggered by people arriving or leaving is now fixed. There are more than 25 security fixes in this new release too, none of which were being actively exploited to Apple’s knowledge, but still – if you want to apply the ‘better safe than sorry’ logic, you need to consider updating as soon as possible.
The update should already have been announced by your iPhone or iPad, but if not, you can always head into Settings and manually grab it. Apple’s rollouts thankfully aren’t staged, so the new software is already available for everyone who wants it.
Tiny Boston Dynamics robot dog is a cute, affordable android pet that can follow commands
Say hello to Bittle – he isn’t as dangerous-looking as his elder brother, the Boston Dynamics robot dog Spot. In fact, Bittle’s name rhymes with ‘little’ for a reason. Weighing just 10.2 ounces (290 grams) and measuring a mere 7.9 inches from nose to tail, Bittle is quite literally palm-sized… although don’t let its diminutive size fool you. Armed with 10 servo motors that power its limbs and neck, Bittle is just about as capable as the Boston Dynamics robot dog. In fact, it can even follow commands, learn tricks, and perform them at will! Sounds like Bittle’s a pretty expensive little pet, right? Well, designed to be more of a robot building system and STEM education tool for people to learn and play with, Bittle just costs around $299.
Designed on an open-source platform, Bittle is a nifty patent-pending robot that makes learning how to code an absolute ‘treat’! The robot building kit comes with a plastic body that you can buy flat-packed and assemble yourself, or pay 10 bucks extra to get shipped pre-assembled and ready to use out of the box. Each Bittle comes with 10 servo motors, plastic body parts, a proprietary circuit board compatible with Arduino Uno, Bluetooth and WiFi dongles, a 7.4V rechargeable battery, and an infrared remote to control your dog and have it perform tricks. For the most part, Bittle sports a modular design and you can add/subtract elements to create the dog you dream of (if you’re looking for something akin to the Boston Dynamics bot, the head pops right off).
They say an old dog doesn’t learn new tricks, but that isn’t really the case with Bittle. Your programmable bionic buddy understands many languages, C++ through Arduino IDE, Python, Codecraft (a Scratch-like drop and drop coding environment), and a bunch of human languages(requiring the use of a Raspberry Pi for voice command recognition). It can also be programmed to walk, jog, jump, and climb up obstacles with ease. You can attach an infrared sensor that’ll help Bittle with obstacle detection, and the incredibly nimble and flexible limbs help Bittle even get up if it collapses over. Moreover, its open-source design based on Petoi’s quadruped robotic pet framework OpenCat, means that all of Bittle’s code sits in a GitHub repository for you to immediately begin tinkering with, and an ever-expanding community is always providing new tips and tricks that you can use to make Bittle do your bidding… just promise us you won’t turn it sentient.
Build a robot dog on your own!
Self-righting after falling from a slope (triggered by an infrared remote)
If you want a little more out of Bittle than just shaking paws and sitting on command, its modular design really gives you the freedom to explore this tiny canine’s true capabilities. Bittle’s mouth can be clipped with something like a tiny camera module that allows the dog to capture a video feed and see things and react programmatically. Even though the dog weighs just a few ounces, it can carry nearly double its weight, making it perfect to do odd tasks like carrying Oreos for you (sometimes you really want an Oreo) or other tiny objects. Bittle’s battery pack provides one hour of continuous usage, unlocking a bunch of fun possibilities, and adventure-loving tinkerers can also swap out Bittle’s head with other 3D-print structures or paint Bittle’s body, tweaking its appearance to make Bittle look like some other animals.
Petoi Nybble
Petoi, the creators of Bittle (and its cat counterpart Nybble), designed the robot quadruped to be everything from a cute toy to a powerful learning platform that gives you insight into how robots work and how they understand cues and commands. Bittle ships with an infrared remote that lets you control it, and also has companion mobile/desktop apps that forms a perfect foundation for experimenting with robotics… without breaking the bank!
iPad Air 4 models now available on the Apple Refurbished Store
Apple on Monday began selling the iPad Air 4, also known as the 2020 iPad Air, in its US Refurbished Store. There, customers can get the previous generation iPad Air for a lower price, which is great for those who don’t need everything the latest iPad Air offers.
Customers can now save up to $100 when buying the 4th-generation iPad Air when compared to the retail price. The 64GB model with Wi-Fi connectivity is available for $469, while the 256GB version is priced at $599. At this time, there are no refurbished models with Wi-Fi + Cellular connectivity available.
Apple Refurbished Store offers the iPad Air 4 in all its original colors, which are: Space Gray, Silver, Green, Rose Gold, and Sky Blue.
The 4th-generation iPad Air was introduced in September 2020 and it features a 10.9-inch Retina LCD display, A14 Bionic chip with 4GB of RAM, 12-megapixel rear camera, 7-megapixel front camera, and a USB-C connector. The main differences from this year’s iPad Air 5 is the M1 chip with 8GB of RAM, 12-megapixel ultra-wide front camera with Center Stage, 5G support, and faster USB-C connector.
Apple Certified Refurbished Products are pre-owned Apple products that undergo Apple’s stringent refurbishment process prior to being offered for sale. While only some units are returned due to technical issues, all units undergo Apple’s stringent quality refurbishment process. Refurbished units are shipped in a special box with all original accessories and a one-year limited warranty.
You can check out all the refurbished models available on the Apple Refurbished Store website. Availability and pricing may vary by country.
