Facebook takes top spot with 3.05 billion users

Of all the most popular apps banned worldwide, the app that is currently banned most in the world is Facebook.

As reported by bizcommunity, Facebook has 3.05 billion monthly users worldwide. The countries that have banned Facebook are China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea among other countries. Despite this, its revenue was still over $130 billion last year.

In 2016, North Korea officially announced it is blocking Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter in a bid to further control access to outside information, as reported at the time by The Guardian.

WhatsApp follows closely in Facebook’s footsteps

WhatsApp takes second place in the ranking of the most popular banned apps, with 3.03 billion monthly users, closely following Facebook. Like Facebook, the popular messenger is also banned in China and North Korea. However, it is also not allowed in Syria, Qatar, and the UAE. WhatsApp has fewer users in the US, with 98 million, but it is more searched online than Facebook, gathering over five million queries in a month.

YouTube banned in North Korea

YouTube ranks third with 2.7 million monthly users worldwide. It is the most searched app online to download, with over 10 million queries, and the second most used app overall. The only country that has banned YouTube is North Korea. However, it is facing partial bans and content restrictions in countries like China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Germany.

China banned YouTube already in 2009 after pro-democracy activists in China used the app to post videos related to protests in Tibet.

China chucks out Instagram

Instagram comes in fourth place with two billion monthly users. Instagram generated $60.3 billion in revenue in 2023, with $45 billion coming from users in the US. The app is extremely popular in the US. However, Vietnam, North Korea, China, and Turkey have banned the app.

Markedly, China banned Instagram 10 years ago, in 2014. The ban followed after people from Hong Kong used it to post photos related to pro-democracy protests, according to VOI.

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Despite rising airfares and accommodation costs, South Africans are taking a holiday away from home in the summer season. According to data from InfoQuest, 25% of people who are travelling overseas are choosing the United States as their destination. From emblematic cities like New York and Los Angeles to its pristine beaches and natural landscape of forests and mountains, the North American nation has plenty to offer. 

However, as experienced travelers surely know, accessing the internet and staying in touch with loved ones at home is always a challenge. Recently, a new kind of technology has emerged as a solution: the eSIM. In what follows, we dive into the advantages of this technology as well as the necessary steps to activate an eSIM USA to stay connected and make the most of the travelling-abroad experience.  

What is an eSIM?

Simply put, an eSIM (embedded SIM) is the digital version of the traditional SIM card that we typically insert in our mobile phones or tablets to get service. If you own a device that supports this type of technology (iPhone 11 to 14, Samsung Galaxy S20 to S23, Pixel 3 to 7, Huawei P40, and Motorola Edge+ among others) a microchip will be already incorporated in the hardware, allowing you to install multiple eSIM profiles (the equivalent to physical SIM cards). These profiles will have their respective phone numbers and data plans. 

While eSIMs may be a new concept to some, they have existed for a little over a decade now. GSMA developed the technology back in 2012. From there, it entered the consumer market with uses in smartphones, tablets, wearables, smart home devices, and automobiles. 

Why are eSIMs better options than data roaming?

Using a mobile phone in the USA to access the internet may result in additional charges. An option is to activate your current provider’s data roaming services, which can be quite expensive. Providers like Vodacom charge R0.49 per Mb in the United States. Taking into account that the average person uses anywhere from 1 to 30 GB of data per day, activating data roaming in New York, Los Angeles, or any other city across the USA may result in a hefty phone bill. 

A more affordable option is getting a traditional SIM card from a local provider. Yet, this means that you will need to head up to the nearest store and depend on data roaming or public Wi-Fi in the meantime. Once your holidays are over, the local SIM card will become useless and may end up in the rubbish. 

To address these issues, the eSIM has been designed to eliminate the high costs of data roaming and the need to buy and discard traditional SIMs. As an eSIM already has all the information on the phone operators, changing the data plan or carrier will only require one click.

How to get an eSIM USA?

Those wanting to get a hold of an eSIM USA to start roaming in New York, Orlando, Washington, or any other major city will need to ensure that their device supports the technology. 

Then, the eSIM must be configured by aiming the device’s camera at a barcode provided by the operator. Depending on the mobile operating system, a set of steps will need to be taken—for example, choosing whether the eSIM will be used for data or class and data. 

Now, travel and tech companies such as Holafly offer comprehensive, international eSIM plans for those looking forward to using their mobile phones in the USA. As the latest tool for a travel experience upgrade, it allows travellers to stay in touch with family and friends in South Africa while exploring over 160 destinations. 

Holafly’s eSIM offers unlimited data roaming in New York and other major US cities for a more accessible price. The activation process is simple. You get a QR code to your email, which you must scan with your phone’s camera. Soon, you’ll have an internet connection.

To conclude

The United States is an attractive destination for millions of South Africans. With an eSIM USA, the process of connecting to the internet and making international calls is much easier and more affordable. Discover what it is like to have unlimited data while abroad with providers like Holafly. 

ALSO READ: 5 Stunning Facts and Stats about mobile technology in Africa

WHATSAPP: ILLEGAL NAMES AND DESCRIPTIONS TO SHUT DOWN

According to the leading technology outlet, WABetaInfo, the app will erase chat groups with unlawful names and representations. If the app does not trace these suspicious groups, people can also report them to WhatsApp for removal.

“WhatsApp can automatically end groups when they are reported multiple times from different users, or the group has suspicious information such as illegal group names and descriptions: in this case, the group may be automatically or manually ended,” the outlet said.

So how does it actually mean if a group has been shut down? The members of the group will simply not be able to send, read and receive messages on the group. Participants will also stop seeing the list of group members on it.

The app respects the privacy of users by not seeing the messages, so to nab illegal groups, it will use learning technology to track dodgy groups that have been reported by users.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CHAT GROUP

The app will also be able to restore groups that have been blocked once users report them on user’s support.

Group admins can also set up permission to change a group’s profile picture or description to “admin’s only.” This will ensure no other unauthorised persons will change the group’s profile to a suspicious group.

“WhatsApp also offers the ability to contact customer support within the ended group, so you can forward a request to restore it. Note that WhatsApp may ban group admins from using the WhatsApp service.

“What can you do to be safe? You should always follow our 10 golden rules to stay safe on WhatsApp and their Terms of Service. It’s also important to be careful about what groups you’re in: if you see a suspicious group, you should report and leave it immediately.”

ALSO READ: WhatsApp working on transcription function for long (or private) voice notes

Now, the company is working to introduce a feature that converts audio to text. Put simply, the application will be able to transcribe voice notes to text. WhatsApp has confirmed that the concept is in the baby stages of development and is expected to first roll out on Apple iPhones.

iPHONES WILL BE THE FIRST USERS

“WhatsApp is developing a feature that’ll offer transcriptions of received voice messages, letting you easily read what’s been said without having to play it out loud,” reported the leading American technology outlet The Verge.

The way the feature will work is made to ensure that your messages do not get sent to WhatsApp or its parent company Facebook. Instead, the voice-to-text transcription will be aided by Apple’s audio technology.

“The feature works by sending speech data to Apple to process your requests, not to parent company Facebook. There’s a disclaimer that this data will also help Apple improve its speech recognition technology. However, in a statement, a spokesperson from WhatsApp said the feature “will be protected by end-to-end encryption” if it’s released, and that the system is designed to maintain the privacy and security of messages,” the publication added.

HOW WHATSAPP WILL MAKE IT WORK

In addition, the feature will be optional, but should you decide to try it out, WhatsApp will request permission from you.

This is shown in the image below courtesy of WABetaInfo.

The next step will be the actual transcription of the voice message into text under ‘Transcript,’ where you will also enjoy the freedom to skip to specific timestamps of the audio.

Once the transcription has been completed, WhatsApp will store the transcript for later access or re-reading.

Meanwhile, the feature is still under construction for only iPhone iOS users but should be expected to find its way to Android sooner or later.

The move follows the 2020 acquisition of Virgin Money South Africa, and central to the rebrand of the company is the launch of the latest version of the Spot banking app.

‘Significantly revised offering‘

Andre Hugo, the man at the helm of the Spot Money business said the app was a significantly revised offering that would introduce Spot’s entry into Open Banking and heralds the beginning of a fundamentally different business strategy as the company drives fintech forward in South Africa.

“There is more to the future of financial services than making current products and services digital. As a fintech, our aim is to service the full spectrum of a consumer’s financial needs in a single customer-centric platform, giving them the choice to transact seamlessly and review tailor-made financial offers based on their unique needs.”

Hugo said an Open Banking marketplace would bring a new dimension to enabling consumers to manage and control their money.

“An Open Banking marketplace gives consumers more choice when it comes to managing their money. It’s a marketplace where highly personalised financial services such as loans and insurance are coupled with lifestyle services, rewards, and a wide range of value-added services,” he said.

Create accounts from home

Spot Money allows customers to instantly create no-monthly-fee bank accounts and virtual cards from the comfort of their home.

The platform offers a number of useful features, said Hugo speaking at the launch, adding that the Spot Money platform, that the Spot application was designed to be a super-app, combining payment features, digital banking functionality, and a financial services marketplace.

• Loans and insurance – Offered by a selection of financial service providers through Spot Money’s open banking marketplace.
• Money transfer – Send cash to other Spot users at no charge.
• Tap to pay – Supported by the Spot debit card and NFC-enabled Android devices (launching soon).
• QR code – Support for QR code payments from all major platforms, including Snapscan and Zapper.
• Cashback rewards – Earn cash back on purchases when shopping at Spot cashback partners.

Users can also get car insurance or life and funeral cover quotes through the Spot Money application.

Super-app

Hugo said Spot Money is a powerful digital banking app with support for modern features such as virtual cards, while also offering a marketplace for various financial services such as insurance, loans, and more.

Registering for a Spot Money account can be done entirely on the application, with users scanning their ID as well as taking selfies which are processed through Home Affairs before the application is processed.

“Once users sign up for an account, two accounts are automatically created – a primary account and a reward wallet.”

“Each time you pay at one of our reward partners, you automatically earn cash back into your reward wallet.”

Users can also create multiple wallets that have their own virtual cards for online shopping and other once-off payments, as well as subscription services.

The Spot Money app is available to download from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei AppGallery.

Fees

Spot Money offers a digital bank account with no monthly fees or card fees.

Users can order a Spot debit card delivered for free upon opening their account, and payments with this card incur no additional charges.

Spot does however have transaction limits:

• Daily – 15 transactions – total of R30,000
• Monthly – 90 transactions – total of R50,000
• Yearly – 1,080 transactions – total of R600,000

In a statement, the country’s data privacy watchdog said that although TikTok had committed to ban registration for children aged under 13, it was nonetheless easy to circumvent this rule.

The 10-year-old girl was found unconscious and declared dead in a Palermo hospital, after taking part in a ‘blackout challenge,’ androidcentral.com reported. The girl reportedly tied a belt around her neck to self-asphyxiate in the dangerous challenge on the popular social media platform, the platform reported further.

As a result, it ordered TikTok to block unverified user accounts until at least Feb. 15 by which date the network would have to meet the regulator’s demands.

Distraught parents

The girl’s parents reportedly said that they had no idea she was trying to take part in “the blackout game,” and that they only knew she used TikTok for dances and to look at videos.

“TikTok was her world. And YouTube. That’s how she spent her time,” the girl’s father Angelo Sicomero was quoted as saying in Saturday’s Corriere della Sera newspaper.

The girl’s death sparked an outcry in Italy for more stricter regulation of social media platforms.

The President of Italy’s Commission for childhood and adolescence, Licia Ronzulli, described the ban as “right and timely” on Twitter.

“The safety of minors must be protected at all costs and we cannot, as happened in Palermo, allow a social network to be an accomplice in a suicide.”

Italian regulators said they had informed Irish data protection because TikTok has announced that it would run its European operations out of Dublin. 

The public prosecutor’s office in Palermo said it has opened an investigation into TikTok for “incitement to suicide.”

Previous warning

The watchdog said it had raised concerns with TikTok in December over what it called a series of violations, including allegations the firm had failed to protect minors.

The social network has also been accused of “weak policies” which allowed users under the age of 13 to circumvent age-restricted rules.

TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, said Friday it had not managed to identify any content on its site that could have encouraged the girl to participate in any such challenge, but was helping the authorities in the probe over possible “incitement to suicide.”

“The safety of the TikTok community is our absolute priority, for this motive we do not allow any content that encourages, promotes or glorifies behaviour that could be dangerous,” a company spokesman said.

As reported by Let’s Go Digital, Xiaomi captures ingenious technology for a smartphone camera that can shoot forwards and backwards thanks to a rotating, reflective mirror.

In a world where nearly every smartphone is a copy of another, it’s refreshing to see something unique and truly innovative every once in a while. While extendable cameras aren’t new, Xiaomi added a dash of freshness.

New Xiaomi patent

Rumour has it that the camera does not require a printed circuit board to move, thereby saving not only on cost and but precious space too. In addition, the lenses can shoot in multiple directions.

Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software filed the patent – simply titled ‘Electronic device and concealed camera’ – with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO).

It was approved on 7 January 2021 and can be viewed here. In its base state, the camera will be completely hidden. However, Let’s Go Digital reports that the lenses won’t be visible, even when the camera is in use.

Retractable reflective component

The document contains five schematic images – which LGD used to create the image above – as well as eight pages (double column!) of text relating to the “technical field of the electronic product”.

“Several camera modules and a reflective part, such as a reflective mirror, are used. The modules are facing up. The reflective component is used to mirror the image to the image capture module, which then captures the image”.

Let’s Go Digital

Moreover, the “retractable reflective component can also rotate, using a rotating motor”. That means you would be able to take selfies and “regular photos”, thanks to Xiaomi’s pop-up system. 

Multi-angle camera

Thanks to the positioning of the rotating reflective mirror, you could potentially take photos from any angle. Due to the set up, the device won’t need as many lenses as we’ve come to expect from smartphones.

“By using a reflective component, the camera module can also be integrated separately from the printed circuit board, making it less vulnerable and leaving more space for the other required components.”

Let’s Go Digital

Unfortunately, we don’t know when Xiaomi plans on manufacturing and releasing this device. It might also take years before budget and mid-range devices would have under-screen cameras, so we might be in for a wait.

Rumour has it that Huawei will introduce the new series in March or April 2021. The new flagship series would rival the recently launched Samsung Galaxy S21, S21 Plus and S21 Ultra.

Huawei P50 Series: Here’s what we know

As reported by Let’s Go Digital, the P50 might feature a slightly rounded display. The Pro model could have a “waterfall” display while the Pro Plus may sport a “quad curved display”.

The series might also include a budget P50 Lite. It’s likely as the P40 lite was the first of the 2020 flagship series to be released in South Africa.

Based on the information available, Jermaine Smit (aka Concept Creator) joined forces with Let’s Go Digital to create the renders used in this article. Do note that all creative elements are used with express permission.  

Smit took inspiration from the current P40 range. The Lite model is the only device in the series with a single punch-hole camera. In other devices, the punch hole selfie camera is situated in the top left corner.

“It is therefore not inconceivable that Huawei will also choose to use the top left corner for the selfie camera with the P50 Pro. Since it is a curved display, it is aesthetically just as beautiful to place the selfie camera in the middle”.

Let’s Go Digital

Watch: Huawei P50 Pro concept

Rumoured camera specifications

We don’t know much else about P50 series camera at this stage. Moreover, the P40 Pro has a 50MP wide-angle camera, a 40MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a 12MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom.

It also sports a 50 x digital zoom, and a 3D ToF camera. Only time will tell how Huawei improves on an already winning formula. That said, experts suggest that we could expect additional sensors.

Huawei P50 Pro processing power

The new series would likely be equipped with the HiSillicon Kirin 9000 chipset; similar to that of the Mate 40 series. The Kirin 9000 was designed to rival the Snapdragon 888 and Exynos 2100 found in Samsung.

This chipset is manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. This, however, could prove problematic for American consumers as the new chips aren’t approved for sale yet, thanks to Trump’s trade ban.

Battery capacity is also anyone’s guess at this stage, however, it should be an improvement on the previous flagship devices. It would likely also use the 135W Huawei charger, but we’ll have to wait for confirmation from Huawei.

Disclaimer: The renders and video used in this article was created as part of a collaboration between Jermaine Smit (Concept Creator) and the Let’s Go Digital team. This product is not officially announced by Huawei.

“Made for the way we live now, Galaxy S21 is loaded with state-of-the-art innovations so you can make the most of every moment”. 

Samsung Mobile South Africa

Justin Hume, Director of Integrated Mobility at Samsung South Africa explained that we’re “living in a mobile-first world”, especially in a world where working remotely is now the norm.

Seeing as most South Africans are spending more time at home, Samsung “wanted to deliver a smartphone experience that meets the rigorous multimedia demands of our continuously changing routines”.

The new Galaxy series is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Here’s what you need to know.

Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphones

Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus

Samsung’s new S21 flagship series features an epic pro-grade camera, regardless of your photographic skills. It’s a device truly built for individual expression, and it all fits within a 6.2-inch (S21) or 6.7-inch (S21+) display.

In addition, the edge-to-edge Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O display has an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and viewing. Thanks to the Eye Comfort Shield, you’re eyes are in for a treat too.

As for video, the S21 series boasts 8K Snap which “lets you grab crystal clear images from your 8K video footage, so you can capture all the live-action and get standout still shots every time you hit record”

The camera is quite impressive, too. Samsung’s new triple-lens cluster on the rear features ultra-wide sensor, a main sensor and one telephoto lens. I’ll go into more detail for my review of the Galaxy S21.

Pre-orders for the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ are open from 14 to 28 January to secure your device. Pricing for the Galaxy S21 starts at R17 999 and Galaxy S21+ starts at R21 499, with eligible trade-in value up to R10 000.

The S21 will be available in Phantom Violet, Phantom Gray, Phantom White and Phantom Pink while the S21 Plus will be available in Phantom Silver, Phantom Black and Phantom Violet.

Galaxy S21 Ultra

The Galaxy S21 Ultra features a  6.8-inch 3200 x 1440 OLED display with refresh rates up to 120Hz, coupled with a powerful 5 000mAh battery, as well as 12GB of RAM, and up to 512GB of storage.

It also has a quad-camera setup on the rear, featuring an ultra-wide camera, a 108 MP main camera (yes, really, 108 MP) and two 10 MP telephoto cameras with differing lengths of optical zoom.

It’s also the first Samsung phone which is compatible with the S Pen stylus, with stylus support previously being included for the Galaxy Note and Samsung tablets

The S21 Ultra will be available in South Africa from 29 January – in Phantom Silver and Phantom Black with a price tag of R27 999.

“Mobile technology has kept us all connected. Now more than ever, we need smartphones that can help us express ourselves with stunning photos, deliver immersive viewing experiences, and simply make everything we do epic”.

Samsung invitation to Galaxy Unpacked 2021

Galaxy Unpacked 2021: What you need to know

Date and time

Samsung will be hosting the Galaxy Unpacked 2021: Everyday Epic event on 14 January 2021, and invites you to “learn more about the new experiences that are built to make your everyday life epic”.

Tune in at 17:00 South African Standard Time (SAST) or miss out. The event will be broadcast from Samsung’s newsroom. We will include a live stream closer to the time as well.

And BTS will make an appearance too!

Watch: Galaxy Unpacked 2021: Official Everyday Epic trailer

What to expect from Galaxy Unpacked 2021

Galaxy S21 series

Samsung has been tight-lipped about the lineup of its Everyday Epic event, but several leaks throughout 2020 gave us somewhat of an indication of what to expect from the first Samsung event of 2021.

Samsung usually unveils a new Galaxy series at the start of the year, so we could expect a preview of the Galaxy S21 series – likely the S21, the S21+, and the S21 Ultra, if previous launches are anything to go by.

As reported earlier by Android Police, all devices in the S21 series will include 5G network connectivity and will ship with either the Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 chipset.

Galaxy S Pen

There are also rumours floating about that the S Pen will no longer be exclusive to the Note phones. Several outlets reported that Samsung will be adding support for the stylus to the Ultra device as well.

In addition, the S21 Ultra likely won’t ship with an S Pen. Instead, it will be sold separately as a stand-alone product. This, however, has not been confirmed, and you’ll have to tune into the live stream to learn more.

Speaking of, Samsung might follow in Apple’s footsteps and forego shipping devices with a charger or headphones.

Galaxy Buds Pro

Lastly, the audiophiles among us will be eager to hear about the Galaxy Buds Pro. The new set reportedly features active noise-cancelling, wireless charging and a brand new “bean-less” design.

As reported by Tom’s Guide, the “release date [of the Galaxy Buds Pro] will most likely coincide with the release date of the Samsung Galaxy S21 lineup” on 14 January 2021.

“While [Samsung] hasn’t confirmed which products are on the agenda, a new phone is almost certain to be the headliner. That would mean the Galaxy Buds Pro would be introduced at the same time”.

Kate Kozuch and James Archer, Tom’s Guide.

However, that isn’t the case this time around, as confirmed by WABetaInfo, a trusted source about WhatsApp news and updates.

WhatsApp is not dropping the support for older iPhones. It’s fake news.

WABeta Info, Twitter, 22 December 2020.

Let’s clarify. The news is true, but the timeline is all wrong.

WhatsApp won’t suspend support for older phones

Recent reports indicated that iPhones running on iOS 9 – such as the iPhone 4 and earlier models – would lose WhatsApp support in the new year. Anything from an iPhone 4S and newer would reportedly be safe.

Users were instructed to upgrade to iOS9 as soon as possible. However, unlike in the past when WhatsApp announced which devices would not receive updates any longer, the FB-owned hasn’t shared any announcement recently.

As we reported in December 2019, Whatsapp already dropped support for older phones at the start of 2020. The new version was only available on phones running on iOS 9 and Android 4.0.3 or newer since February 2020.

Billions of WhatsApp users have been living with this change for an entire year already. There really isn’t anything to be concerned about. Chill.

Why is this reported as ‘fact’?

A quick look at WhatsApp official blog shows that the recent changes to the world’s biggest chat app include a new feature called Carts, and an announcement about ways in which users in India can send payments over WhatsApp.

WhatsApp initially said some phones would lose support in January 2021, but those changes have already been rolled out in 2020. WhatsApp amended its official statement on June 2019 to include the correct dates.

As per WhatsApp’s official statement, This is the timeline for ending support on older devices. See? No mention of January 2021 whatsoever:

• Nokia Symbian S60 after June 30, 2017
• BlackBerry OS and BlackBerry 10 after December 31, 2017
• Nokia S40 after December 31, 2018
• All Windows Phone operating systems after December 31, 2019, and the app might not be available in the Microsoft Store after July 1, 2019
• Android versions 2.3.7 and older after February 1, 2020
• iPhone iOS 7 and older after February 1, 2020

Crowned top mobile app

In other news, the Facebook-owned app was recently crowned as the top non-gaming mobile app. Analytics company Sensor Tower confirmed that the app was installed 58 million times in the month of November.

Approximately 30% of all installations were from India; while the country with second-most installs was Nigeria. Following WhatsApp, the top five include TikTok, Facebook, Weather & Radar USA, and Instagram.

“Our estimates include downloads for the App Store and Google Play worldwide between 1 November 2020 and 30 November 2020. […] We report unique installs only”.

There are few interesting ways to repurpose a cellphone, other than gifting it to a friend or family member or donating it. Here are a few ideas.

How to repurpose your old phone or tablet

Use it as a webcam

Let’s face it; most laptops have really crappy webcams. Chances are your phone probably has a better camera anyway. So why not set up that old smartphone as a webcam, especially as we are now living in the age of Zoom.

Of course, this means you can also use a DSLR camera as a webcam, to truly take your video calls to the next level. But that’s an article for another day. To set up your phone, head over to the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

Then install DroidCam either for Android or Apple and follow the easy to set up instructions. Additionally, you could also invest in a Flexi-selfie stick and attach it to either your desk or monitor to keep the smartphone-turned-webcam in place.

Entertainment centre remote control

We’re always misplacing remote controls but smartphones seem to be an extension of our arms, so why not repurpose that old phone into a smart remote? It’s also much faster to use a phone as a remote, as it has a keypad.

Most TVs today would support this. There’s an iOS remote app for Apple TVs, while the Google Home works with Chromecast devices on both iOS and Android. Even Roku has an app.

Phone on the move

Other than using the phone to navigate around town with Google Maps, you could also turn it into a WiFi hotspot and media centre for your car.

Simply mount the phone or tablet in a car dock and use it as your smart car command centre. Download the Android Auto app for an even better experience with a simplified interface, large buttons and powerful voice actions.

Android Auto is designed to make it easier to use apps from your mobile device while you’re on the road, including maps and media. To use Android Auto, you’ll need a device running Android 5.0 or higher.

Digital photo frame

A nifty way to reuse your Android tablet is to mount it and use it to display your most treasured photos and precious memories.

A simple way to get going is with the slideshow feature on Google Photos. Pixgram, Fotoo and PhotoCloud Frame Slideshow are alternatives to Google Photos.

Some of these apps have cool features like photo transition effects, the ability to add music, and support for retrieving photos from a variety of sources such as your tablet’s photo gallery and cloud storage.

Use a tablet as a home surveillance camera

Do you want a security camera to watch over your home, yet don’t want to go through the hassle of installing a full CCTV system? Then your old Android tablet could be the solution you are looking for.

Alfred is a DIY home security camera you can set up in under three minutes; you’ll get features like live streaming, instant intruder alert, night vision, walkie-talkie, and unlimited cloud storage.

Turn a phone into a baby monitor

If you’re expecting a new addition to your family or have an infant in the house, an old Android tablet can be a cost-effective and flexible baby monitor.

Simply put the old tablet in your baby’s room and then use your smartphone to watch and listen to your child remotely. Popular baby monitor apps include Baby Monitor 3G and Dormi.

Some baby monitor apps can do even more than a typical baby monitor, with features such as sleep pattern monitoring, alerts via call or message when the baby is crying, and the ability to talk to baby from your phone to soothe him or her.

Also read: Foldable phones: Just a phase or here to stay?

The information used to create the renders came from an exclusive interview with an insider. The showcase will focus on three models: the Samsung Galaxy S21, the S21 Plus and the S21 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S21: An exclusive preview

Exclusive renders

The Samsung S20 Plus and S20 Ultra already knocked our socks off, and we’re excited to see what Samsung has in store for the next flagship series.

Do note: this is not an announcement of Samsung’s upcoming flagship series. Let’s Go Digital will simply be giving you a sneak peek of what the devices could look like, based on trusted sources.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 will likely only be announced by Samsung itself in January 2021. (We hope). If that’s the case, it will be a month earlier than usual. Samsung announced the S20 series back in February 2020.

You might have seen several renders of the S21 series already floating around the interwebs. This new series of renders will be more accurate because it’s based on reliable information from a Samsung insider.

When will the renders be published?

Let’s Go Digital have seen the devices already, but cannot publish the leaked images at this time. Therefore, a series of render will have to do for now. The LGD team explained:

“To protect our source, which is closely associated with Samsung Electronics, we regret that we cannot post these images online. The LetsGoDigital design team is currently engaged in the creation of highly detailed, high-resolution images, based on the information we have received”. 

The renders will be published on Monday, 7 December, so watch this space! All images used will be created by Let’s Go Digital’s in-house designer, Giuseppe Spinelli aka Snoreyn.

We can’t wait to feast our eyes on the S21 series. The camera system has reportedly been redesigned. The S21 series will also feature a notable change with regards to Samsung’s stylus, the S-Pen.

What to expect

The S21 will be compatible with the S Pen, but instead of shipping as a standard accessory, it will now be optional. Users can therefore choose whether they want to invest in an S Pen or not.

According to Let’s Go Digital, the Galaxy S21 series will be unveiled on 14 January 2021 during Samsung’s first Galaxy Unpacked event of the year. Pre-orders will open soon after.

The devices will reportedly ship on Friday, 29 January 2021. That said, some experts predict that the S21 will only be released in February. There’s also CES to factor in.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) kicks off from Monday, 11 January 2021. The world’s biggest electronics show will take place digitally due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

If Samsung was going to surprise us with an S21 announcement, the CES would be the perfect place to do it. Exciting times! For now, this image below is all we get to see. Check back on 7 December 2020 for more.

Guangdong’s Oppo Mobile Telecommunications filed the patent with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) back in July 2020.

The patent was approved on 6 November. The supporting documents, which can be viewed here, shows a slim phone with a prominently-placed horizontal camera. Here’s what we know.

Oppo’s latest patent

With this device, the quad-camera setup is placed horizontally. As per the patent, schematics, one of the three lenses is shown as a square, which means that it is a zoom camera.

Extra space has been allocated to the right of the camera system, presumably, for the flash to be integrated. As reported by Let’s Go Digital, the publication who unearthed the patent:

“The positioning of this horizontal camera has a big advantage; you can never accidentally put your finger in front of the lens while shooting. Something that unfortunately sometimes occurs with current models, as more and more manufacturers choose to reserve the top left corner for the camera system”.

On the other end of the spectrum, LGD also explains that due to “the increasing number of functions on a smartphone, less and less space remains available within the housing to be able to process all components”.

So to place the camera system in the corner of a device “leaves relatively more space than when you place it horizontally”.

A selfie camera lens is visible as well, placed centrally in the middle on the front of the device, which reportedly sports a full-screen display with rounded edges.

We also noted that the hole-punch camera is placed relatively high, in compared to some of the manufacturer’s previous smartphones.

Image renders

Based on the information obtained from the patent, 3D designer Jermaine Smit, aka Concept Creator, was able to produce a series of product renders for LetsGoDigital, in order to better visualise the design. 

So while nothing is known about the camera specifications and configurations at this stage, we can at least show you what Oppo might have in mind with the upcoming Reno device.

It’s also safe to assume that Oppo is now ready to manufacture a smartphone with a 15x hybrid zoom, seeing as several phones in the Oppo range are already equipped with 5x or 10x hybrid zooms.

All images used in this article were republished with explicit permission from Let’s Go Digital and Concept Creator.

Also read: Digital Services Act to impose tougher rules on Google, Facebook

Xiaomi first unveiled a prototype for a unique smartphone that could be folded twice back in January 2020. Then in March 2020, Xiaomi showed off a prototype of their Mi Mix Alpha smartphone with a wraparound display.

Since then, the company has remained remarkably quiet on foldable phone design. Nevertheless, Xiaomi has in the meantime registered quite a few design variants for different foldable models.

Xiaomi’s latest foldable phone patent

While their latest project is also a foldable phone, this device won’t have any large lenses visible when you unfold the device. Instead, a pop-up camera system has been used.

WIPO patent

Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co. Ltd filed a patent for the device with The Hague International Design System, part of World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) back on 25 September 2020.

The WIPO published the 1-page patent document, which can be viewed here, on November 20, 2020. Based on the information provided, Let’s Go Digital was able to create the schematics used in this article.

The first image shows the device’s size once it’s unfolded from a phone into a tablet. The flexible screen has a significantly larger design, thanks to the lack of notches on the front screen.

Xiaomi has opted for a full-screen format sans the vertical camera band we’ve seen in previous models. The image above shows the pop-up camera’s mechanism in action.

About that pop-up camera

The pop-up camera is placed in the rear part of the housing, facing the front. That means the selfie camera can be used when the phone is folded or unfolded.

The front-facing pop-up mechanism houses two camera lenses, while an additional three lenses can be found on the rear in the top left corner (refer to figure 2, above).

Unfortunately, the patent doesn’t contain any camera specifications.

Xiaomi foldable phone: Other details

Two buttons are situated on the right side of the device. We assume that the longer button would serve as the volume control, while the power button is located directly below it.

As reported by Let’s Go Digital, the SIM compartment is placed on the left side of the device. In addition, Xiaomi’s design shows a microphone on both the top and bottom.

A USB-C charging port and the speaker can be seen along the bottom of the device as well. We’ll have to wait for Xiaomi to share any additional updates, hopefully at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in 2021.

Also read: Samsung reportedly working on rollable Galaxy smartphone with S-Pen

We said earlier this month that rollable phones will eventually replace foldable smartphones, and included Samsung’s “mystery device” in the lineup after it was spotted in Seoul, South Korea.

Furthermore, Samsung’s Lee Jae-Yong showed off an unreleased phone at the manufacturing giant’s offices. We can’t say for certain if it’s the same as the patent, but it could very well be.

Based on the blurry image, it appeared to thin to be a foldable phone. Samsung’s mystery device, if rollable, could also sport a flexible panel made of plastic.

Samsung also showed off a retractable Galaxy phone at CES 2020. Samsung now reportedly wants to manufacture a flexible display panel that can transform a 6-inch phone into an 8-inch tablet.

Watch: Samsung Galaxy Note rollable phone introduction

Do note, all images used in this article were created by Concept Creator and is licensed to Let’s Go Digital. These images are published on TheSouthAfrican.com with express permission.

Based on the information available, 3D designer Jermaine Smit, aka Concept Creator in collaboration with Let’s Go Digital designed a Samsung Galaxy Note rollable concept device.

The device appears to be a 6-inch smartphone at first glance. However, it can transform into a tablet so the user has a larger screen surface to work this.That is unfortunately all we know about the mystery device at this stage.

That said, other competitors are closing in on the rollable device concept, so Samsung would hopefully release new information in due course in order to stay ahead of the race.

As it stands, Oppo and TCL have only shown a concept phone, while LG hinted during a presentation of the Wing smartphone that the next Explorer Project smartphone will be a pull-out device with a roll-up display. 

We can expect LG to release their upcoming flagship device in March 2021. We also have Mobile World Congress 2021 coming up, so fingers crossed that we’ll see more rollable devices soon.

At this year’s event, Oppo headlined two innovative devices – a phone with a rolling screen and AR Glass (augmented reality) – to give us a glimpse of the future could hold. We’ll be focusing on the phone in this article.

The future is here: It’s rollable phones

What a rollable phone would look like

The device is still in its research and development phase. It has an OLED screen, such as you would find in a regular phone. However, the 6.7-inch can expand into a 7.4-inch tablet-like panel.

Oppo also explained that it would be using a “Roll Motor” powertrain mechanism to make it happen. In the simplest terms, the device would rely on two motors to extend or retract the screen.

Oppo explains that the Roll Motor protects the screen as it’s extended and retracted. In addition, the brand will be using “Two in One Plate” technology to support the display.

Watch: Rollable phone concept

Other than a creating a “rollable phone screen” which has no visible crease (amazing, right?), the phone also features a side fingerprint scanner, as well as a USB-C port on the bottom.

But wait, there’s more. Oppo would also be using tech called “Warp Track” as a sort of conveyer under the moving screen section to offer additional resilience. A launch date was not confirmed.

While not the first rollable phone we’ve seen, it’s the best to date and hopefully won’t be the last. LG unveiled their own version of a rollable device earlier this month.

LG Wing (or LG Slide)

Known as the Wing, the device has a main screen that slides to the side to reveal a smaller screen underneath. Images of the device were first leaked back in August when Let’s Go Digital unearthed the patent.

Then in September, LG unveiled a prototype of the Wing, showing off the device’s innovative swivel action. The LG Wing will be the first phone in LG’s Explorer Project.

Earlier this month, Let’s Go Digital revealed that LG also trademarked the name LG Slide. This indicates that the company hasn’t decided on an official name yet, but is covering all its trademarked bases in the interim.

It is, without a doubt, the “weirdest phone of 2020”, but in a good way, of course. At the time, trusted phone analyst and reviewer Marques Brownlee said:

“LG Wing. Phones are weird again. But also half of these cases are awesome and half are really weird. Why do I need a second screen to tell me what phone call I’m on?”

Samsung’s mystery device

And just three days ago, Samsung’s Vice Chairman Lee Jae-Yong showed off an unreleased phone during his recent visit to the manufacturing giant’s offices in Seoul, South Korea.

If rumours around the interwebs are to be believed, Samsung’s upcoming rollable phone would have a flexible panel made of plastic and measure between 6 to 8 inches.

It looks too thin to be a foldable phone, with Phone Arena suggesting its the world’s first “stretchable handset”. The only image of the phone is a bit unclear, but we’re hoping that Samsung would reveal more at CES 2021.

The new Oppo Reno 4 Mo Salah Edition was released in Egypt as footballer Mohamed Salah is Oppo’s brand ambassador for the Middle East Africa (MEA) region since March 2020.

Limited edition Mo Salah Oppo Reno 4

The limited-edition red-white-and-black smartphone is adorned with an image of Mo Salah on the rear panel, along with his signature and the flag of Egypt.

Design

Everything on the device, from the software to the design is “Mo-Salah” themed. The phone ships with an exclusive theme for ColorOS 7.2.

According to Oppo, includes UI tweaks such as redesigned icons with Mo’s face on them. There’s also a special wallpaper of The Pharoah, as Mo Salah is fondly referred to by his fans.

Under the hood, the Oppo Reno 4 Mo Salah Edition packs the same features as the regular Oppo Reno 4 except for a custom Mo Sala wallpaper and a red theme.

Specifications

The smartphone features a 6.4-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display with 90.7% screen-to-body ratio and 60Hz refresh rate. It supports dual-SIM cards and ships with Android 10.

But wait, there’s more. The phone also ships with a powerful octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G SoC (system on a chip), which is coupled with Qualcomm Adreno 618 GPU.

It’s equipped with 8GB RAM and has a quad-camera setup on the back, housed in a vertically-aligned rectangular module in the top left corner of the rear panel.

Camera setup

The impressive rear camera setup is made up of a 48PM primary lens, alongside an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP macro lens, and 2-megapixel portrait camera.

On the front, you’ll find a 32MP sensor for selfies and video calling. The front-facing face is paired with an AI (artificial intelligence) camera for clearing shots and image optimisation.

Power and performance

The phone ships with all the regular bells and whistle one would expect from a modern smartphone, including a USB Type-C port, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4G and a 4 105mAh battery.

The device also supports VOOC Flash Charge 4.0 (30W). Oppo hasn’t yet confirmed at this stage if the Mo Salah edition would ship to other parts of the world.

The Huawei P Smart 2021 might be a mid-range smartphone, but it stands out from the crowd thanks to its beautiful design, powerful camera and long-lasting battery life.

The device is similar in design to the P40 series but Huawei goes bigger and better with the P Smart 2021: a larger display, bigger battery capacity and loads of style.

Here’s a quick recap of what we can look forward to when the Huawei P Smart 2021 launches this weekend.

Huawei P Smart: What you need to know

Design and display

The P Smart 2021’s screen measures 6.67-inches corner-to-corner and boasts 2 400 x 1 080 resolution. However, the device’s screen is about so much more than just that.

The screen also boasts 394 PPI (Pixels Per Inch) which provides crisp quality. Eye strain will also be a thing of the past, thanks to the blue light filtering through a low blue light TUV Rheinland-certified Eye Comfort mode.

The smartphone comes preloaded with style, too, and seamlessly combines practicality with distinctive styling. The frame and body has a premium look, and the device will be available in Blush Gold and Midnight Black.

The device is not only powerful but also practical and good-looking while keeping up with the latest fashion elements and trends. It’s nature-inspired colour tones will match your modern lifestyle.

Camera specifications

The Huawei P Smart 2021 features a large quad-camera array on the rear, coupled with a punch-hole camera in the top-centre of the screen along with an 8MP selfie lens.

The selfie camera is capable of taking beautifully clear images even in low-light conditions and is equipped with Huawei’s AI beauty tool to enhance your features.

The quad-camera setup is also equipped with a large 48 MP primary lens, along with an 8MP 120-degree field of view ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth-sensing lens.

“The Huawei P Smart 2021 lets you fit everything into one picture, ideal for capturing group photos or landscape shots”.

In addition, the Depth Camera creates aperture effects which makes your subjects appear crisp while still standing out from the background. That means you’d be able to take the perfect foodie shots or portrait images for Instagram.

According to Huawei, the primary camera is fitted with a 1/2-inch sensor and f/1.8 aperture. This is “to increase light intake for lower noise and better image quality”.

“It can directly produce 48MP high-definition photos. [It is] ideal for capturing landscape and portrait images with crisp and clear details even when zoomed in”.

Capture dark scenes with Night Mode

But wait, there’s more! The P Smart 2021 Night Mode is capable of capturing city landmarks and neon lights, even in the dark, thanks to the AI-assisted multi-frame noise reduction tech.

Stabilisation in Night Mode is supported for up to six seconds of exposure. This, Huawei explains, increases the “dynamic range and brightness of the photo in dimly-lit scenes”.

Added to that, the P Smart 2021 camera array is also equipped with an incredibly high ISO; meaning it is able to provide high-sensitivity and capture stunning photos.

ISO measures a camera’s sensitivity to light so you can adjust the exposure. By changing the ISO, you could brighten or darken your photos. The lower the ISO, the darker your image will be. Higher ISO ensures brighter images.

Long-lasting battery

What use would that lovely display and powerful camera array be without a capable battery? The Huawei P Smart 2021 comes equipped with 5 000 mAh battery capacity.

It is also equipped with a battery manager that supports Huawei’s AI Power Saving technology, as well as Huawei’s 22.5W SuperCharge to get you to 100% battery life even faster.

Huawei explains that the P Smart 2021 “provides eight optimisation solutions based on software and hardware collaboration. It also addresses abnormal battery consumption automatically.

Pricing and availability in South Africa

The Huawei P Smart 2021 will be available from Vodacom and Cell C in South Africa from 7 November 2020.

Get your P Smart 2021 for only R5 999. The deal includes a 10 000 mAh PowerBank, 100 days screen care and 15GB Cloud storage for one year.

The first set of consumers were tired of big phones that were not compact and compatible, and the second set of consumers wanted a big phone that could get bigger and become a tablet, once done with the tablet version, it can be folded back to a big phone.

To achieve foldable phones, the industry needed to fine-tune two technologies; the hinges and the flexible OLED display. LCD is restrictive as it has different layers, and some of the layers cannot be bent and are not flexible.

But with an OLED display as long as the little diodes inside the screen are airtight, then you can put anything you want and make sure the connections are not broken inside.

The most expensive technology on foldable phones is the foldable displays. Sadly the two things which are crucial to the popularization of the smartphone are the two things that screw up the reputation of the phone the most.

The soft screen and particle ridden hinges; these two components alone have given foldable phones bad reviews. The screen being the worst as sometimes it would have display problems and the hinges attract dust and other particles.

What would change things for the foldable phone is Apple coming into the scene and releasing a foldable Apple. Apple has registered a patent for a folding phone, once released Apple with its fans might wake up the sleepy fold phones.

But Apple and other manufacturers need to change the bulkiness of the phones, and make them thinner, reduce the piece as fold phones are more expensive than flagship phones.

And lastly, the manufacturers need to make them more durable. Only time will tell if Foldable phones are just a phase or are here to stay.

I asked myself, are these phones really waterproof? So, I did some digging and discovered IP ratings, ATM ratings and MIL-STD-810G standards.
All three of these ratings guarantee water resistance and dust resistance only.

Here’s what it all means.

Waterproof phones: What you need to know

A 100% waterproof phone is just a myth unless the manufacturers start protecting the electronic components inside the devices with a futuristic nano-coating that repels water.

Currently, most manufacturers are just sealing every opening on the device to keep water out; this is simply just making them water-resistant and not waterproof.

IP Ratings

IP stands for Ingress Protection; IP codes define this. IP codes are a set of standards set by the International Electronic Commission (IEC).

We have the IP and two digits; IPxx; the first number after the IP indicates the level of protection against particles such as dust. The second digit indicates the level of protection against liquids such as water.

Most flagships such as the Apple iPhone 12, Samsung S20 Ultra, Huawei P40 Pro, One Plus 8 Pro and Oppo Find X2 Pro come standard with an IP68 rating.

• An IP 11 rated device is protected against solid objects over 50mm and protected against vertically falling drops of water such as rain.
• An IP 35 rated device is protected against solid objects over 25 mm and protected against jets of water from all directions.
• An IP 68 rated device is dust-tight, no dust is permitted, protected against the effects of large periods of emission in water under pressure.

ATM Water Resistance

Better known as ATM ratings, they are five common levels; 0, 3, 5, 10 and 20. Level 0, meaning zero meters below sea level, no water allowed on a device with ATM spec 0.

Level 3, a device under ATM level 3, can survive showers such as drizzle, rain, and splash. Level 5, with an ATM level, rated device you can dive into a pool, go swimming, shower with it, walk in the snow or rain.

Level 10, ideal for water sport such as surfing, snorkelling and a good swimming partner. Level 20, used for high impact water sport such as diving.

The last specification is MIL-STD-810G; this is a military-grade specification that will give you a certain level of durability.

With all these levels and grades, they do not guarantee that the device will be waterproof. The best they can offer is water resistance.

Oppo phone with curved display

Patent details

Back in 2019, Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications filed a design patent with the China National Intellectual Property Office (CNIPA) for a unique yet groundbreaking smartphone. 

CNIPA approved the patent and published it earlier this month (October 2020). The seven-page patent document, which can be viewed here, shows four different models in the series, each of the designs with a different curvature.

The first model features a screen that extends further than we’re used to on a smartphone. Another sketch showed a screen that had been described by Let’s Go Digital as a super-curved screen.

While the phone looks futuristic, Let’s Go Digital explains that implementing such a curvey screen would be easier than manufacturing Oppo’s 3D waterfall display design. A patent for the latter was filed back in 2019.

Oppo phone: Display and screen details

The new patent for the curved designs shows a fairly narrow phone, with reportedly a 21:9 Cinema ratio. It also features a thin bezel along the top, and possibly also incorporates an under-screen selfie sensor.

The device has a minimal look, with a completely re-designed rear panel. The camera is situated vertically in the top left corner and protrudes slightly from the housing.

Let’s Go Digital believes it may house a triple-camera setup with a 10x Hybrid Zoom lens, similar to that in the Oppo Find X2 Pro. Manufacturers usually place additional buttons along the side of the device, but not Oppo.

Buttons and ports

Oppo’s upcoming patents show that some of the function buttons will be placed on the rear. They are situated along the edge and appear longer than usual, which would make it easier to reach regardless of how you hold the device.

They are also out of sight while you use the phone, adding to the device’s sleek and stylish appearance. The power button will be situated along the top edge of the device.

Lastly, you’d find the USB-C port, the SIM compartment and a speaker along the bottom edge of the device. Oppo released images of a prototype with curved display back in 2019 July so we might see one on the shelves soon.

Oppo phone availability

Experts believe the first image in the patent of the yet unknown phone could be a high-end device in the Find series, specifically the Oppo Find X3. The phone with the extreme-curved display could be the Find X3 Pro.

That is unfortunately all we know about the Oppo Find X3 at this stage. The Find X2 and X2 Pro devices were released back in April 2020. Rumour has it that the next addition to the Find family could be introduced in April 2021.

TheSouthAfrican.com republished the images with express permission from Let’s Go Digital.

“The latest revolutionary flagship smartphones empower users to leap further ahead. Showcasing the pinnacle of Huawei technology. The new Series reinforces Huawei’s dedication to innovation and its unrelenting determination to create the best Mate ever”.

Huawei Mate 40 series: What you need to know

The first Huawei Mate was released eight years ago. Since then, there have been ten “outstanding generations of Mate Series devices” and the new addition to the family is no different.

Huawei’s latest flagship smartphones are equipped with the best tech in the mobile industry and will soar to new heights. In addition, the Mate 40 Series has been “fine-tuned to provide the most exciting smartphone experience possible”.

Moreover, the Mate 40 Pro and Mate 40 Pro Plus models incorporate “the world’s first 5 nanometer 5G SoC (System On a Chip), Ultra Vision Cine Camera system and the iconic Space Ring Design”.

Watch: Huawei Mate 40 series in action

Lastly, Richard Yu, Executive Director and CEO of Huawei Consumer BG, explained that each Mate series “brings the most exciting technology together into one stunning package”.

This is what defines the Mate Series DNA and is all made possible by our dedication to innovation. In these unprecedented times, we remain committed to creating a better future; with innovative technology that delivers a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of consumers. In the future, we will continue working closely with our partners to bring the Seamless AI Life experience to consumers all around the world.”

What’s under the hood?

The Huawei Mate 40 series is equipped with the Kirin 9000 processor. In addition, the chip is capable of handling intensive computations and multi-tasking operations with ease.

The company announced that for the first time ever, “the flagship 5G SoC has more than 15.3 billion transistors”.This makes it one of the densest and full-featured 5G SoC currently on the market.

Additionally, the Mate 40’s powerful CPU features a three-level power efficiency architecture with cores running at clock frequencies of up to 3.13GHz, as well as an innovative NPU featuring two big cores and one tiny core.

This setup truly takes on-device artificial intelligence (AI) to a new level. The flagship device is also equipped with Huawei SuperCharge; meaning it is equipped to keep up with increasing demands of 5G.

Pricing and availability in South Africa

Pricing and availability of the Huawei Mate 40 series in South Africa will be announced at a later stage.

Also read — Beware: Don’t install these dangerous Android apps

Limited edition iPhone models

The Space Odyssey Collection consists of three models that are all dedicated to space. In fact, each of the designs features a special fragment from space. This is not a first of Caviar.

Caviar previously released a Samsung Galaxy S10 worth R114 000, an iPhone 11 Pro worth R1 million, the iPhone 11 space collection, iPhone 11 Pro Discovery with bits of spacecraft, and a GoT-themed Galaxy Fold.

All the iPhone 12 Pro models – aptly titled Space Odyssey Mercury, Space Odyssey Mars, and Space Odyssey Moon – feature fragments of the Muonionalusta meteorite – the oldest known meteorite on Earth found in Sweden.

Watch: The Space Odyssey collection

In addition, the Space Odyssey Mercury also contains particles from Mercury, while Space Odyssey Mars contains a piece from Mars. Space Odyssey Moon contains a real moon fragment.

Each device will be shipped with a certificate of authenticity. As reported by Let’s Go Digital, Caviar purchased the fragments from a special company that is “committed to collecting and selling space objects”.

iPhone 12 Pro with fragments of Mercury

The Space Odyssey Mercury contains a “fragment of the meteorite that fell to Earth”. Caviar embedded the fragment in the housing of the iPhone 12, along with five fragments of the old Muonionalusta meteorite.

As per the listing on Caviar, the Space Odyssey Mercury price tag for a 128GB Pro model starts at $6 600 (R110 000). The iPhone 12 Pro Max will cost $7 060 (R118 000) for 128GB but is also available in 256GB or 512GB.

“The exclusive iPhone 12 Pro Max design is made of titanium with relief images of the orbits of the celestial bodies and adorned with composite stone, polished titanium and bronze inserts. The miniature asteroids placed on the orbits are made from fractions of the Muonionalusta meteorite. In the lower part, the surfaces of the planet are covered with a real fragment of the Moon, Mars or Mercury. This is protected by a layer of lacquer”.

iPhone 12 Pro inspired by Mars

If you love Mars and have a few hundred thousand dollars to space, Caviar has the phone of your dreams. Caviar said in the listing for Space Odyssey Mars that the design “draws attention to modern space exploration”.

“The iPhone 12 Pro ‘Space Odyssey’ collection pays tribute to the great conquerors of space – Gagarin, Koroleva, Armstrong, John Glenn and others. Our dream is to have everyone participate in space exploration and own a piece that connects them to distant planets.”

The Caviar team “closely follows the progress of projects such as Space X, Blue Origin, Tianwen, Emirates Mars, and ExoMars. Pricing for an iPhone 12 Pro with 128GB of memory starts at $6 570 (R110 000).

Only 19 copies of the Space Odyssey Mars will be available.

A celestial iPhone 12 with moon fragments

If you’re a selenophile (a person in love with the moon), then the Space Odyssey Moon edition is just for you.  The iPhone 12 Pro Space Odyssey Moon features “a real element of a meteorite from the Moon”.

The Moon edition is also the cheapest exclusive model, with a starting price of $5 830 (R97 000) for a 128GB iPhone 12 Pro. An iPhone 12 Pro Max will cost $6 290 (R105 000).

Also read – Caviar released limited edition gold Apple Airpods Pro worth R1 million

Updated to reflect new prices.

OPPO x ‘League of Legends’ device: What you need to kno

An official promotional image was also leaked (scroll down to view) ahead of the OPPO Find X2’s launch. The limited-edition phone from the leading global smart device brand features a complete design overhaul.

As per the Weibo leak, we now know that the OPPO will reportedly unveil the limited edition phone on 19 October 2020. Furthermore, the phone will be available with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage options.

Release date

The 19 October release date corresponds with the unveiling of OPPO’s will first Smart TV, which features a 4K QLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate and a MEMC chip. The two devices will likely be unveiled together.

“According to some sources, the teaser actually says the TV will have a selfie camera for some reason. We expect to learn details in the upcoming seven days to the event”.

GSM Arena

The phone, which will be available in a mist-green-blue shade, features the Worlds 2020 logo on the rear panel to mark the 2020 Season World Championship. Golden accents adorn the top and bottom of the device.

Watch: OPPO x League of Legends

As reported by GSM Arena, the Find X2 will be powered by a Snapdragon 865 processor, and “ColorOS 7 to make the user experience as smooth as it gets on an Oppo phone”.

The same League of Legends theme will extend to the brand’s other accessories as well, such as the Smart Watch.

OPPO in South Africa

OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. It operates in more than 40 countries and regions, and recently entered the South African as well.

To announce its launch in South Africa, OPPO introduced three affordable entry-level smartphones – the A72, A53 and A15s. The series features everything we’ve come to know and love about OPPO devices.

The A72 will be the first device to launch in South Africa on 7 October 2020, followed by the A53 and A15s on 7 November 2020. The devices will be available through Vodacom, with more retailers to follow in 2021.

The iPhone 12 Pro series

Apple’s A14 Bionic chip

The A14 Bionic chip is currently the fastest chip in a smartphone. According to Apple, the chip “powers impressive computational photography features including the all-new Apple ProRAW for more creative control in photos”.

The A14 Bionic is equipped with the “fastest CPU and GPU by up to 50%” when compared to Apple’s competitors. It’s this chip that will ensure for console-quality gaming experiences.

Furthermore, the A14 Bionic chip will be “pushing the limits of machine learning (ML)” as it features a 16-core Neural Engine capable of an 80% increase in performance, the equivalent of running 11 trillion operations per second.

‘Reimagined pro camera system’

Some would say it’s about time for an upgrade, but I digress. Apple’s reimagined pro camera systems include an expansive Ultra-Wide camera and a Telephoto camera “with an even longer focal length on iPhone 12 Pro Max”.

Everyone was excited to hear that iPhone 12 Pro models will also feature a new LiDAR Scanner for immersive augmented reality (AR) experiences. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, said:

“A state-of-the-art LiDAR Scanner means users can experience AR like never before, and also offers benefits to the camera with faster autofocus in low light and the introduction of Night mode portraits”.

A state-of-the-art LiDAR Scanner means users can experience AR like never before, and also offers benefits to the camera with faster autofocus in low light and the introduction of Night mode portraits.

“NASA is using LiDAR technology for its next Mars landing. iPhone 12 Pro uses a LiDAR Scanner to measure how long it takes light to reflect back from objects. So it can create a depth map of whatever space you’re in”. 

iPhone 12 availability

You won’t have to wait that long if you’re eager to get your hands on a new Apple flagship device. Pre-orders for the iPhone 12 Pro will open on Friday 16 October in the US, with availability beginning 23 October.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max will be available for pre-order Friday 6 November 2020; stores will begin to carry stock on Friday 13 November 2020. Pricing and availability for the SA market yet to be determined.

Joswiak said the Pro series is a “huge leap for iPhone”. It will be delivering Apple’s “most advanced technologies to users”. He added:

“Our tight integration of hardware and software enables incredible computational photography features like the expansion of Night mode to more cameras and introduces support for HDR video with Dolby Vision. […] These experiences and so much more make this the best iPhone lineup ever”.

Finally, 5G

According to Apple, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will “deliver an advanced 5G experience on a global scale”. This despite it being the last major manufacturer to enter the 5G race.

Taking to Twitter one day after’s Apple’s Hi Speed event, Samsung smugly tweeted:

“Some people are just saying hi to speed now, we’ve been friends for a while. Get your Galaxy 5G device now”.

Nevertheless, Apple says that 5G on iPhone means “improved speeds for faster downloads and uploads; higher quality video streaming, more responsive gaming, real-time interactivity in apps, FaceTime in high definition, and much more”.

iPhone devices in the US will also support millimeter wave (MM wave, or millimeter band). The Pro Model’s Smart Data mode will assess 5G usage and needs, and extends battery life when necessary.

Also read – Here’s the deal with 5G and why it matters to South Africa

Huawei will be announcing the new Mate 40 series on 22 October 2020. Other than the Mate 40 –  Mate 40, Mate 40 Pro, Mate 40 Pro Plus. We could also expect a series of new devices and wearables.

The manufacturing giant already introduced the foldable Huawei Mate X and Mate Xs, and the question now remains if we will be seeing a follow-up to that, possible titled Huawei Mate X2 – at the upcoming event.

Huawei Mate X2 – What we know

The Huawei Mate X2 (code-named Teton) is reportedly under development seems similar to the Galaxy Fold 2 in the sense that it folds inward. According to Let’s Go Digital:

“Huawei’s current folding phones certainly look imposing, however, an outwardly folding flexible screen makes the device significantly more vulnerable than its Samsung counterparts. The Mate X2 seems to change that.”

As per the patent, the device will also have an extra cover display on the outside. This provides an additional yet functional display for when the device is folded.

Based on the information provided in the patent, 3D graphic designer Jermaine Smit, aka Concept Creator created the renders used in this article, as well as the Mate X2 introduction video.

Watch: Huawei Mate X2 introduction

These images are licences to Let’s Go Digital; TheSouthAfrican.com received explicit permission from Let’s Go Digital to republish Jermaine’s creative property.

Advanced camera setup

The camera is not visible at all when the device is open. Instead of utilising a punch-hole camera on the front of the flexible screen (as can be seen with the Galaxy Fold 2), Huawei chose to place the camera setup at the rear.

That means one would theoretically not be able to make a video call while running other applications, such as social media or email apps. If you want to make video calls, you would have to rely on the smaller cover display. 

A dual selfie camera can be seen on the “cover screen”, similar to the Huawei P40 series.

Design and display

The front cover screen is functional even when the phone is used in its folded or “closed” position. While it couldn’t be confirmed, rumour has it the Mate X2’s small cover screen measures 4.5 inches, while the phone measures 8 inches.

If that’s the case, the Mate X2 would be slightly larger than the Galaxy Fold 2. According to Let’s Go Digital, the bendable display of the Huawei Mate X2 is manufactured by Samsung and BOE. 

The device appears to have a fingerprint sensor on the side. Interestingly, the foldable phone seems to be thicker at the at top. Perhaps due to the camera placement?

However, unlike Samsung, Huawei will not use Ultra-Thin Glass. Instead, they will be opting for the less scratch-resistant CPI (colourless polyimide), according to trusted analyst Ross Young:

“Mate X2 is in-folding like the Z Fold 2 and will be sourced from Samsung and BOE. No UTG, CPI instead. But perhaps you already knew all that.”

Also read – Your mobile strategy should take priority – Here’s why

Follow live updates here.

Apple iPhone 12 event

Date and Time

The upcoming Apple event will be live-streamed from 10:00 Pacific Time (PT) on Tuesday, 13 October 2020. That would be 13:00 Eastern Time (ET), or 19:00 South African Standard Time (SAST).

If you’re watching from elsewhere in the world, that would be 18:00 British Summer Time (BST), 22:30 ISD for those in India. Japan, set your alarm for 2:00 JST on Wednesday 14 October.

Viewers from China can tune in from 1:00 China Standard Time (CST) while those in Australia will need to be ready at 4:00 Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). New Zealanders, that’s 6:00 for you.

What to expect

iPhone 12 lineup

Apple’s previous event was pretty tightly packed Apple Watch and iPad updates. However, throughout the event’s one-hour runtime, not a single mention was made about the iPhone 12 series.

The only thing left to reveal on Tuesday would be the Apple iPhone 12 series. If the rumour mill is to be believed, that would then be a total of four phones: Two versions of the iPhone 12 Pro, and two versions of the standard iPhone 12.

As reported by The Verge, the smallest iPhone 12 mode, measuring only 5.4 inches, could be called the iPhone 12 mini, while the standard devices will most likely be called the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro.

Following that pattern, the larger device could be known as the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

5G-enabled devices

We reported previously that Apple’s biggest announcement 5G-related. Most major manufacturers already released 5G-enabled devices, making Apple one of the last manufactures to enter the race.

Now finally embracing the future, the iPhone 12 series is believed to support sub-6 5G and mmWave 5G. Dan Ives, an analyst for Wedbush Securities, predicts that the new phones will boost iPhone sales.

“I believe it translates into a once-in-a-decade-type upgrade opportunity for Apple”.

Dan Ives, The Wall Street Journal.

Apple’s shares have risen by more than 50% during 2020, despite the world-wide novel coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns in various parts of the world. According to the WSJ, Apple’s “market value has soared above $2 trillion”.

iOS 14.2

We are still awaiting the official release for the next iOS update – iOS 14.2 – which will include new emojis and app integrations. Apple initially announced in the iOS 14.2 beta release notes that several bugs would be addressed.

These fixes included adding Apple Pay in iOS and iPadOS 14.2 Beta 2, as well as addressing a bug that prevented Siri from sending audio messages, and the Networking app quitting unexpectedly when using ASIHTTPRequest.

New headphones

Apple may or may not have been working on high-end, over-the-ear headphones which features swappable earpads and headbands. Rumour has it that the swappable parts will attach magnetically.

We reported earlier that the headphones may possibly also feature noise cancellation, additional Siri controls and touch controls. 9to5Mac reported in May that the headphones automatically start playing music placed on over your ears.

Apple TV, anyone?

It’s unclear at this stage, but we may be getting a new Apple TV announcement on Tuesday. It’s been more than three years since Apple released its 4K TV, and a new one might be in the works, according to Bloomberg.

However, the Bloomberg report mentions that the Apple TV will reportedly only ship during 2021:

“Apple has also been developing a new Apple TV box with a faster processor for improved gaming and an upgraded remote control, however that device might not ship until next year, according to people familiar with its development”.

Debby Wu and Mark Gurman, Bloomberg

Huawei Mate 40 Series: Leap Further Ahead

What to expect

As per Huawei’s tweet, the Mate 40 series will be unveiled on 22 October 2020. Other than the Mate 40, we could also expect a series of new devices and wearables. However, this still speculation.

That said, we could expect the announcement of a Mate 40, Mate 40 Pro, Mate 40 Pro+; and possibly even a “Mate 40 RS Porsche Design” with “selected leather and crafted glass”, similar to the Mate 30.

In addition, we might also see that Huawei FreeBuds Studio, Huawei Sound X Smart Audio, new Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro models and new Huawei Smart Life in All Scenarios products.

Huawei Mate series: eight years, ten generations

On Monday, Huawei shared a look back at the Mate series to commemorate eight years and ten generations of “redefining classic, leading innovation and surpassing every expectation”.

From the first Huawei Mate (released in 2013) through to the Huawei Mate 2 and Mate 7 of 2014; up to the Mate 10 Series in 2017, the Mate 20 in 2018 and the Mate 30 in 2019.

As for Huawei Mate 40’s pricing, Android Authority predicts that the devices could be priced between $1400 to $1500 (approximately R23 000 and R25 000).

Kirin chips: The end of an era

The Mate 40 series could be Huawei’s last premium phone to ship with the Kirin 9000 5nm processor. CEO Richard Yu said at a conference in August that this “may be the last generation of Huawei Kirin high-end chips”. According to The Verge:

“The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the largest semiconductor manufacturer in the world; reportedly halted orders for Huawei’s HiSilicon unit in May following the new US rule”.

US Trade War recap

The Trump administration placed Huawei on its Entity List back in May 2019. Trump’s move had far-reaching repurcussions, such as forcing Google to revoke Huawei’s Android licence amid the US-China trade war.

That meant that future Android-based Huawei phones won’t be able to ship with Google Play and Google Play Protect. Huawei was forced to work on its own version of the Google Play Store.

At the time, President Cyril Ramaphosa sided with China, not with the Trump administration. China’s foreign investment in South Africa might have explained why:

“The Asian superpower ploughed R196 billion into South Africa last July [2018] and handed out a R33 billion loan to Eskom. In fact, they’ve got all types of coals in our fire, and it seems that Cyril is keen to keep the boat from rocking”.

Apple out invites to an upcoming event. Here’s what you need to know and how to watch the unveiling.

Apple iPhone 12 – ‘Hi, Speed’

Date and time

Apple’s invite has only one tagline – “Hi, Speed” – followed by an invitation to join in for “a special Apple Event from Apple Park”. Trusted tech analyst Marques Brownlee tweeted:

“Time for the internet to collectively read way too far into this. “Hi Speed” is definitely a nod to 5G. Gotta love speed. Also A14 chip. But I also love fast screens. So 120Hz would be nice. 4 golden rings here. Quad… cameras? Fast cameras? Now we’re reaching”.

The event will be live-streamed from 10:00 Pacific Time (PT), which is 13:00 Eastern Time (ET), which is 19:00 South African Standard Time (SAST).

If you’re watching from elsewhere in the world, that would be 18:00 British Summer Time (BST), 22:30 ISD for those in India. Japan, set your alarm for 2:00 JST on Wednesday 14 October.

Viewers from China can tune in from 1:00 China Standard Time (CST) while those in Australia will need to be ready at 4:00 Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). New Zealanders, that’s 6:00 for you.

The event will be streamed on Apple’s website and we will be covering it live.

What to expect

Seeing as Apple already unveiled its new Watches and iPads, the only thing left to reveal would be the Apple iPhone 12 series. If the rumour mill is to be believed, that would then be a total of four phones.

There will be two versions of the iPhone 12 Pro, as well as two versions of the standard iPhone 12. Apple’s smallest device will measure only 5.4 inches, and will reportedly be marketed as a budget device.

However, the iPhone 12 Pro will feature a larger display – 6.7-inch. In fact, it will be the largest iPhone the company has ever manufactured. The iPhone 12 series will also be equipped with Apple’s A14 Bionic chip.

However, the biggest announcement would be that Apple is finally embracing the 5G race, after most major manufacturers already released 5G-enabled devices. The iPhone 12 will reportedly support sub-6 5G and mmWave 5G.

Also read – Vodacom launched 5G services in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria

Oppo Reno Flip – Foldable phone innovation

Back in 2019, Oppo showed off a prototype for a foldable smartphone. The project was later scrapped after OPPO’s CEO at the time said that the device would offer to little in value.

Oppo has since filed numerous other patents, such as the LiFi-enabled smartphone – said to be 100 times faster than WiFi – and a foldable phone with a flexible, exterior screen.

Let’s Go Digital also reported on an Oppo foldable phone that unfolds into a tablet and features a pop-up camera. Oppo’s latest patent details a smartphone with a flexible display that folds inwards.

Oppo Reno Flip patent

The patent was filed with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) back in February 2020, and mentions a ‘Foldable terminal’. The 41-page patent, which was approved on 3 September 2020, can be viewed here.

The document also explains that a “rotating hinge with gears” will feature a pair of cover plates and a support plate which allows the housing “to slide out relative to the copper plates”.

According to Let’s Go Digital, the hinge is “slightly wider than the phone itself”.

Hinge with 4 fixed positions

A good hinge will be flexible enough to survive the many times a foldable phone is opened and closed. Moreover, the hinge needs to work quietly in the background; no one wants to hear creaking noises when opening and closing a phone.

A hinge will also prevent dust and debris from breaking the folding mechanism, which in turn can adversely affect the phone’s usability. Let’s Go Digital sums it up:

“In short, a properly functioning hinge is not that easy to develop, but it is very important. It is therefore not surprising that smartphone manufacturers make this an important focal point”.

Let’s Go Digital also created 3D renders based on the patent descriptions to visualise what Oppo’s upcoming device might look like. These images are republished on TheSouthAfrican.com with explicit permission.

Oppo in South Africa

Oppo officially entered the South African market back in September. The Chinese manufacturer launched three affordable smartphones: the A72, the A53, and the A15s. The devices will be available through Vodacom.

The A72 will be the first to launch in South Africa, with a date set for 7 October 2020; while the A53 and A15s will launch on 7 November 2020.

DON’T LET APPS GET YOUR PRECISE LOCATION

When you enable location tracking in a mobile app it finds the geographical coordinates where your phone or tablet is located and incorporates them into whatever service that app performs.

In iOS 13, you have the choice of granting new types of location permissions, which allowed apps to only track you while you were using the app. If you let certain apps continue to use your location in the background, then you will get reminders of their presence.

If you now rather want an app to only track your general location, you can open Settings > Privacy > Location Services and toggle Precise Location on or off for each app.

iOS 14 CAMERA AND MICROPHONE ACCESS

The new amber and green indicators in your device’s status bar will signal when an app has used your camera or microphone. The amber light signifies an app has used your mic, while a green light signals access to your camera.

If there is no good reason for those recording functions to be used, those lights can be a reminder to remove app permissions where required.

DECIDE IF APPS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR STORED PHOTOS

You may want some apps to have access to your photos, but probably not every single one of them. When an app wants to access stored photos on your device it must ask permission, and with iOS 14, you can give conditional permission. You can allow access to all photos, no photos, or only selected photos.

You can further restrict access by specifying certain photos or folders in Settings > Privacy > Photos, where you can modify access for each app individually.

iOS 14 can HIDE HIDDEN FOLDERS

With iOS 14 you can now hide a Hidden folder. Go to Settings > Photos > Hidden Album and switch it off. You will need to turn the Hidden Album back on to see your photos again.

PASSWORD SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS

It is likely you have set up your system so that your passwords autofill in your browser without you having to remember them.

In iOS 14, Apple has added a Security Recommendations feature via Settings > Passwords > Security Recommendations, which notifies you if your password has appeared in any known data leak or data breach. It will then suggest that you change your password.

APPS NEED PERMISSION TO TRACK YOU

We constantly see evidence of apps using tracking technology to follow you around the internet.

With iOS 14 apps, soon will need to receive permission to do that.

If you want to halt apps from tracking you across your phone, there is an option in Settings > Privacy > Apple Advertising that lets you switch off personalised ads in Apple services.

If you want to turn off all tracking and don’t ever want to be asked about it, go to Settings > Privacy > Tracking and disable Allow Apps to Request to Track.

iOS 14 CLIPBOARD NOTIFICATION

If you copy and paste text from Safari to Mail, that text is stored in the clipboard. Many apps are set up to access your clipboard, and some may do so without your knowledge or approval potentially storing private information like passwords.

With iOS 14, a small banner appears whenever you paste information, informing you which app used the clipboard.

APP STORE PRIVACY WITH iOS 14

The iOS 14 App Store requires all apps to report their privacy policies straight away so you can decide whether or not to install them. In the near future, apps will have to reveal how much data they collect, how much can personally identify you and which data can be used to follow you around other apps and sites.

SAFARI NEW PRIVACY REPORT

Apple is applying Safari privacy features on all platforms to prevent cross-site tracking and cookies.

The new Privacy Report in Safari 14 uses DuckDuckGo’s tracker to reveal which trackers have been flagged by the Intelligent Tracking Prevention algorithm. Safari’s privacy report shows you how many trackers the browser has blocked, which websites attract the most trackers, and which trackers are the most aggressive.

A variety of toggle switches in the Settings > Safari security section notifies you of online surveillance, and each website you visit lets you check this information by tapping the double-A in the URL bar.

LOCAL NETWORK PRIVACY

You can now control whether the apps installed on your Apple mobile device have permission to connect with devices on your local network via Settings > Privacy > Local Network.

You can toggle access for apps that request permission, and all communication with the local network is blocked until you grant permission. A pop-up is displayed the first time you open an app asking for permission.

PRIVATE ADDRESS ON WI-FI NETWORK

Private Address is a new iOS 14 feature that assigns a different media access control (MAC) address to each of your devices every time one connects to a Wi-Fi network. It is on by default and renders your network less trackable and less vulnerable.

You will receive a pop-up privacy warning in your Wi-Fi settings should it be switched off. To access the control, go to Settings > Wi-Fi Info Button > Private Address.

It’s estimated by GMSA’s 2019 State of Mobile Internet Connectivity report that more than 3.5 billion people connect to the internet thanks to mobile technology. In fact, mobile app usage increased by 40% this year.

The combination of modern phones becoming powerful computers in their own right and their ubiquity across consumers across all demographics has made having a robust mobile presence essential for businesses.

A post-COVID-19, mobile-first world

The importance of mobile presence and platforms has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has displaced workers and made home users reliant on online platforms for everything for their shopping, entertainment and social lives.

While the pandemic has transformed the very nature of South Africa’s economy in a matter of months, it has also highlighted a number of weaknesses.

South Africa, on the whole, lumbered along with major retailers and small businesses alike struggling to adapt to the sudden shutdown of a lot of our physical touchpoints and storefronts.

While a lot of the shortcomings were as a result of a lack of overall digital strategy and problems with scaling logistics for increased demand, the lack of strong mobile tools to enable consumers left many companies on the back foot.

They tried desperately to connect with their customers, who suddenly were freed from geographical limitations to their shopping and service options.

Going mobile-first

Nick Durrant of Bluegrass Digital, which provides digital solutions for businesses, recently highlighted the important conversation globally around developing “mobile-first” approaches to design.

While this has been a significant movement within digital design for years, Durrant points out that many in the industry misunderstand what “mobile-first” should mean when developing your digital platforms. Durrant says:

“A mobile-first design approach starts with the smallest screen resolutions, before working your way up to larger screen sizes. If you’ve ever visited a website on your mobile phone and the page isn’t designed to automatically fit different devices automatically, you’ll understand why this kind of thing is so important”.

Shifting focus

This change in thinking doesn’t mean that the days of the desktop are at an end. Rather, companies need to change gears and focus on mobile as a separate and equally important channel, instead of seeing it as an afterthought.

As phones and tablets become more powerful, we can expect mobile experiences to become more rich and intuitive. This makes it even more important that businesses shift focus and embrace the powerful computers in their customers’ pockets.

“Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if you have a website, a mobi site, a PWA (progressive web app) or an app, you need to create something responsive, informative, easy to navigate and that provides clear directions and calls to action. If your platform doesn’t do this, it’s time to rethink your mobile strategy”..

Nick Durrant, Bluegrass Digital

The Finnish manufacturer will also be releasing the Nokia 2.4 and the Nokia 3.4. While release dates for those devices have not yet been the confirmed, the Nokia 7.3 will be unveiled in November 2020.

Queue the launch of the Nokia 6.3 and the upcoming flagship Nokia 9.3 PureView 5G model, and it’s clear to see Nokia is ready to reclaim its throne as a world leader in mobile manufacturing.

Nokia 7.3 – What we know

Design and appearance

A recent leak by Steve McFly, also known as OnLeaks, revealed the 7.3 model will feature a “renewed” camera model on the front and rear of the device and smaller bezel along the side.

In addition, the device’s notch will be situated at the top of the screen, along with a physical fingerprint sensor on the back of the device. The Nokia 7.3 will also sport a quad-camera setup.

Based on this information, Digital artist and creative genius, Jermaine Smit – also known as Concept Creator – made a short video of the upcoming device, in collaboration with Let’s Go Digital.

Watch: Introducing the Nokia 7.3

Disclaimer: TheSouthAfrican.com received explicit permission from Let’s Go Digital to use these high-resolution images for our editorial content. Please respect the creators and only use these images with their permission.

Screen and processing power

The Nokia 7.3 will feature a 6.5-inch display, which makes it a tad smaller than the Nokia 8.3’s 6.8-inch display. The phone will be powered with a Snapdragon 990 chipset and supports 6GB RAM.

While we couldn’t find any information about the camera configuration, Let’s Go Digital could confirm the specs: a 24 MP front-facing selfie camera coupled with a 48 MP wide-angle sensor on the rear of the device.

Other sensors include a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle sensor; a 2 MP depth sensor and a 2 MP macro sensor coupled with a high-quality ZEISS lens. The device will reportedly also include Quad Pixel technology.

Battery and fast charging

The Nokia 7.3 will house a powerful 4 000 mAh battery that supports 18 W fast charging, as well as “smart Adaptive Battery technology”. Charging can be done via a USB-C slot situation on the bottom of the phone.

In addition, the 3.5mm headphone connection, integrated on the top of the phone, will set this particular device apart from its competitors; most manufacturers are moving away from the headphone jacks.

The HTC U20 5G was released shortly after the appointment of a new CEO, Yves Maitre, in 2019. Less than a year later, HTC also introduced a budget smartphone, the Desire 20 Pro.

Maitre is determined to have place HTC among the top phone manufacturers again by 2025. To show that it means business, the Taiwanese manufacturer recently filed a patent for its foldable smartphone.

HTC foldable smartphone: Here’s what we know

Patent document

Let’s Go Digital unearthed a patent for a ‘foldable display device’ that was filed with the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) only three months after Yves Maitre’s appointment as CEO.

The documentation was approved and added to the WIPO database in August 2020. The patent description furthermore referred to a foldable device “in the form of a smartphone or tablet”.

The device would also feature a hinge, allowing customers to use it “half-open” or completely flat. The comprehensive 37-page patent document can be viewed here.

HTC foldable phone foldable phone hinge

All necessary components for the hinge are discussed in detail. The phone would have two support modules on either side of the device, in which “different gears ensure that the flexible display panel is not over-stretched”.

Let’s Go Digital explains that this mechanism would reduce the screen from damage when the device is opened or closed. However, this mechanism also allows the hinge to protrude ever-so-slightly from the housing.

This, in addition, raises a slew of questions that the patent document fails to answer: Would the hinge catch on closing or items in your bag? Could dust and dirt accumulate around the hinge?

Screen and display

Based on the sketches supplied, the HTC smartphone has a flexible outer screen, referred to in the patent document as an ‘outward folding device’. This is similar in appearance to the Huawei Mate X.

The patent shows that the development of foldable smartphone in its early stages. The device would feature a full front screen without a wide “camera border”. We are, therefore, unsure where HTC would place the camera system.

However, the question remains whether HTC, who has been out of the phone manufacturing scene for some time, would be able to pull this off in the current overcrowded smartphone industry.

Based on the patent sketches, Let’s Go Digital’s design team created the colour renders used in the article to give an idea of the phone’s final design. The renders were used with explicit permission from Let’s Go Digital.

“The LetsGoDigital design team has made a series of 3D colour renders to better visualise the patented technology. We have also reserved the freedom to fill in certain missing design elements ourselves. For example, we opted for a clamshell model, all the more because the documentation repeatedly mentions the possibility of using the foldable smartphone both half-open and fully open”.

OPPO in South Africa – What you need to know

OPPO – a world leader in smartphone manufacturing whose products “enhance the lives of more than 300 million people worldwide” – believes that technology is an art form.

“It’s not what you see but how you see it. Open your eyes and #MakeSomethingBeautiful. OPPO – one of the world’s leading smart device innovators – now in South Africa.”

To announce its launch in South Africa, OPPO introduced three affordable entry-level smartphones – the OPPO A72, A53 and A15s. The series features everything we’ve come to know and love about OPPO devices.

The A72 will be the first device to launch in South Africa on 7 October 2020, followed by the A53 and A15s on 7 November 2020. The devices will be available through Vodacom, with more retailers to follow in 2021.

A72 phone specifications

The A72 has a 6.5-inch 1080 Neo-Display display with a 90.5% ultra-high screen-to-body-ratio to create extraordinary visual effects. Neo Display technology eliminates the leakage of backlight in IPS LCD Display panels.

The ultra-narrow device measures only 1.73mm on the side. The device also features a 3D Quad-curve design with optimised curvature. The fingerprint unlock-button is situated on the side.

Furthermore, the screen automatically adjusts brightness “based on ambient light and your daily habits”. In addition, the A72 is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset and 4GB RAM.

A72 camera

OPPO phones are known for the cameras and the A72 doesn’t fall by the wayside. It has no less than five lenses: A 48MP wide-angle lens, coupled with an 8MP ultra-fast sensor, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor.

The camera setup is equipped with OPPO’s very own AI Beautification which includes a “delicate skin effect and smoother contour effect”. The AI also matches different skin tones in different scenes and lighting conditions.

The A72 has a punch hole in the top left corner of the front display that houses a 16MP selfie camera. The Android 10 device is also equipped with a powerful 5 000mAh battery; it supports 18W fast-charging too.

The OPPO A72 will be available in two colours: a “quiet Polar night (Twilight Black) and the dancing Aurora (Aurora Purple)”. The suggested retail price for the A71 is R6 999; however, more details will be shared on 7 October 2020.

Also read – This LiFi-enabled OPPO smartphone will be 100 times faster than WiFi

The Galaxy S20 FE comes in six different colours, sports an OLED 6.5-inch display and has a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth graphics and animations. Here’s what you need to know.

The Galaxy S20 FE: A phone for the times

Addressing pandemic problems

Let’s be real, we all want an Ultra, or a Plus or any one of the other flagship devices currently on the market. However, not everyone can afford the astronomical price tag that comes with a premium device.

Enter the S20 Fan Edition: a premium device doesn’t skimp on specs. Samsung told The Verge that the Fan Edition wasn’t initially part of its 2020 lineup. Dieter Blom writes:

“[Samsung] tells me that when it originally launched the S20 lineup this past mark, an FE version wasn’t in its plans. But then the pandemic hit — Samsung’s S20 event was one of the last that many tech journalists attended”.

Samsung decided to manufacture the Galaxy S20 FE shortly after the March 2020 event.

Watch: Samsung’s Unpacked for Every Fan event

Galaxy S20 FE performance

Samsung heard you and unveiled S20 Fan Edition. It might be a budget device but it doesn’t lack power.

The Galaxy S20 FE is equipped with 4 500mAh battery, 6GB of RAM and the snappy Snapdragon 865 processor. It supports wireless charging, too, and is IP68 water resistant.

The phone is available in Cloud Navy, Cloud Red, Cloud Orange, Cloud Lavender, Cloud Mint, and Cloud White; the ‘Cloud’ being an indication of the matte finish. And that, my friends, means that fingerprints won’t be all that visible.

Camera specs

Unfortunately, the Fan Edition doesn’t sport Samsung’s premium camera options, but the Galaxy S20 FE’s camera is far from inferior. It has a 12MP main sensor coupled with a 12MP ultrawide lens and 8MP telephoto lens.

The front-facing selfie camera is a whopping 32MP. The Galaxy S20 FE 5G’s rear camera incorporates advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to pull in more light, so your shots come out detailed and colourful.

Of course, no Samsung device would be complete without the beloved Single Take feature. Single Take enables you to shoot for up to 15 seconds and then let your phone do all the hard work.

Once the process is complete, you’ll find a variety of optimised photos and videos in the Gallery.

Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE will be available from 2 October 2020, at a suggested retail price of $699. We will share further updates once Samsung provides information regarding launch date and price for South Africa.

In short, if you want a device with an all-day battery coupled with a professional-grade camera and powerful processor, then the Galaxy S20 FE is the phone for you.

Also read – Samsung Fold: How the quest to maximise screen size is driving major innovation

The Chinese multinational electronics company updated the patent to include a clamshell device similar to the Motorola Razr and the Galaxy Z Flip. However, Xiaomi’s device will be able to “fold twice”.

Xiaomi’s first foldable phone: Here’s what we know

As reported by Let’s Go Digital, Xiaomi patented a “unique phone with double folding screen”. The team who unearthed the patent explains:

“Xiaomi has filed a design patent for a futuristic-looking phone that can be folded twice in a Z-shape […] Folded, it is a dual-display phone; unfolded it becomes a gigantic tablet”.

As per the one-page Bulletin No. 28/2020, the device – currently referred to as the Xiaomi Z Fold for ease of reference – will feature a gigantic flexible screen in addition to a large front-display.

The Xiaomi foldable phone patent

The patent was filed with the Hague International Design Bulletin (HIDB) back in March 2020. The HIDB is part of the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO), which approved and published the patent on 18 September 2020.

The documentation contains 16 product sketches showing the foldable phone from all sides. The original document can be viewed here.

Using these sketches, the creative geniuses at Let’s Go Digital designed the product renders contained in this article. All renders used in this article were published with explicit permission from Let’s Go Digital.

Experts predict that we will see “retractable” smartphones first. After all, Samsung unveiled a Galaxy retractable prototype to a VIP audience at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2020.

Rumoured specs

The Xiaomi Z Fold has thin bezels and a “large display on both the front and back”. It turns into a dual-display phone when folded, with the front display on a separate screen, in addition to a large, flexible display on the back.

There appears to be a small punch-hole camera on the front of the device. Strangely, there are no other cameras visible on the folding, most likely due to the rear section of the device folding inwards.

However, one would be able to take both selfies and regular photos with the front-facing camera, as both sides could be used as a view-finder. This would truly be a one-of-a-kind device if it makes it to market.

We’ve seen quite a few “double folding” smartphone patents; however, none have made it to the shelves or our pockets. It’s uncertain if the market would be ready for a device such as this.

iOS 14 update: Global release date

The iOS 14 update will roll out globally for everyone on Wednesday. We’ve included a list of compatible iPhone devices below. Basically, if you have iOS13, you’d be able to install iOS 14.

Other than the software update, Cook also announced that the iPadOS 14, watchOS 7, and tvOS 14 would roll out. However, the main focus of the Time Flies event was the Apple Watch and new iPads.

The new update will roll out at 19:00 South African Standard Time (SAST). If you’re in other parts of the world, that would be 10:00 Pacific Time, 13:00 Eastern Time, and 18:00 British Summer Time.

If you’re based in Japan, set your alarm for 2:00 Japan Standard Time on Thursday 17 September, while those in Australia will get the update at 3:00 Australian Eastern Standard Time. New Zealanders, that’s 5:00 for you.

Compatible iPhones to receive latest iOS 14 update

The new iOS 14 update will be available to download as an over-the-air update for the following devices:

Word of caution: charge your phone before updating and make sure you’re connected to a Wi-Fi connection. The iOS 14 update is bigger than 4GB and you don’t want to lose all your data.

How to install iOS 14

It’s easy. Simple Open the Settings app and select General. Then select Software Update.

Next, select Software Update. Once you’ve selected it, your iPhone will automatically connect Apple servers. You’ll get a prompt informing you that the new update is ready to download.

Follow the instructions to download iOS 14 and let the device reboot automatically. Once it starts up again, it will be running on iOS 14 and Bob’s your mother’s brother. Easy peasy.

Changes and updates

The iOS 14 developer preview was released approximately three months ago in beta. iOS has reportedly received a few massive updates, such as a makeover for Siri. It’s about time, too.

The Home screen received a makeover too and will now include the App Library to keep all your apps in one place. It was announced at the 2020 WWDC that Widgest would be available in different shapes and sizes.

The entire widgets ecosystem was redesigned to give you more info at a glance, and can now be grouped on the home screen with various different size and layout customisation options.

Messages app has been refreshed; you can now pin messages to the top, and your Group messaging experience will be changer for the better as well. There will also be inline replies, similar to those reply threads on Facebook posts.

That means you’d be able to reply directly to a specific message in a group conversation. You can view replies in the full conversation or as their own thread for a more focused view.

Calls from your iPhone, FaceTime and third-party apps display in an all-new compact design. The new design won’t take up the entire screen.

Cook dove right in and confirmed that the Time Flies product launch will focus primarily on the Apple Watch and iPad.

Apple Event: Time Flies, 15 September 2020

Apple Watch Series 6

Apple’s focus is all on health and fitness this year; strong emphasis was placed on the many ways Apple Watch is saving lives: from weight loss and heart health to staying happy, healthy, active and motivated.

The next segment saw Apple COO Jeff Williams take the stage. He explained that Watch Series 6 has a sensor that can measure the amount of oxygen in a user’s blood.

Blood oxygen saturation is a good measure of overall respiratory health. The Watch Series 6 will enable users to measure their blood oxygen levels every 15 seconds.

In addition, the Watch Series 6 is approximately 20% faster than the previous series. Style-wise, the Apple Watch Series 6 will be available in blue and red for the first time ever. Pricing starts at $399.

The Apple Watch Series 6 won’t ship with a charger, according to Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives. Apple is reportedly pushing towards environmental sustainability with this move.

Watch: Apple’s hilarious Watch Series 6 ad

Fitness+

Apple also announced a fitness service designed specifically for the Watch Series. The Fitness+ service will reportedly also connect users to trainers and provide access to workout videos on Apple devices.

New workout videos will be made available weekly and can be viewed on any Apple TV, iPhone or iPad. The Fitness+ service is tied to its smartwatch line-up, which was enhanced with a Watch SE.

Apple One

Apple’s new service bundle will be available in three tiers – Individual, Family and Premier. The Individual package comes with a price tag of $14.95 (R245) per month for Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud storage

The Family package will provide the same services mentioned above for up to five family members at a cost of $19.95 (R328) per month while the Premier tier will cost $29.95 (R492) and includes Apple News+ and Fitness+.

The Apple One bundle will be available later this year, likely after the launch of the keenly-expected next-gen iPhone 12 series. Apple’s senior vice president of internet software and services, Eddy Cue, explains:

“With Apple One, you can access the best of Apple entertainment across all your favourite devices with one simple subscription”.

iPad updates

Apple now has a budget tablet – the iPad 8th Generation – which is equipped with an A12 Bionic Chip and will be available from Friday 18 September 2020. Apple will also release a mid-range tablet, the iPad Air 4.

Changes to the Air include new colours, smaller bezels and an edge-to-edge screen. It also features a next-gen Touch ID fingerprint sensor situated under the tablet’s power button.

It is equipped with Apple’s most powerful chip – the A14 processor – which guarantees speeds of up to 40% faster. A refreshing change: the new iPad can be charged with a USB-C, and not Apple’s proprietary Lightning charger.

No iPhone update at this Apple event

As expected, there was no news at this Time Flies event about the upcoming flagship iPhone 12 series; however, Apple confirmed that a new iOS14 update for iPhones will be available from Wednesday, 16 September 2020.

Analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights and Strategy explained to AFP:

“The key part for Apple is to keep the base of iPhone users and sell them a ton of accessories like AirPods and get services”.

Also read – iPhone 12: Chat in style with the exclusive Space Odyssey collection

Primary reporting by Cheryl Kahla / Analyst comment from AFP.

By turning the front 90 degrees, you can use both screens. The LG Wing will be the first phone in LG’s Explorer Project; the aim of which is to bring more experimental and innovative designs to market.

LG Wing swivel smartphone

The LG Wing might appear to be a regular mobile phone at first glance, with a large 6.8-inch OLED display and narrow bezels. However, the unique screen can twist 90 degrees to reveal a second screen.

The LG Wing will be powered by Snapdragon 765G 5G chipset, along with 8GB RAM. The 4 000 mAh battery will support wireless charging too. The phone also features a triple camera setup on the rear of the device.

The camera system is reportedly similar in design to Oppo Reno 4 and will support a 64MP lens, a 13MP wide-angle lens, and a 12MP Gimbal Mode Ultra-Wide lens.

Watch: LG Wing premiere

LetsGoDigital also uncovered application from LG Electronics for a Gimbal Motion Camera which was filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) on 9 September 2020. The EUIPO Utility Patent can be viewed here.

Cnet reports that the LG Wing’s swivelling mechanism “looks sturdy”, but adds that the users may not be all that eager to own a “swivel” phone. Lynn La explains:

“Not only is it thicker than regular phones, but there’s definitely a learning curve when it comes to navigating the interface, which may be too much of a deterrent for those who just want to check their emails, browse the web and make calls”.

LG Gimbal Motion Camera

The patent was submitted from Spain and is categorised as Class 9 with “no timeline available”. However, the patent description is as follows:

“Smartphones; Tablet computers; Data processing apparatus; Apparatus for recording, transmission or reproduction of sound or images; Cameras for smartphones; Smartphone camera lenses; Video cameras; Stands adapted for mobile phones; Sensors; Software.

LG’s patent follows hot on the heels of the Vivo X50 Pro, the world’s first gimbal-equipped smartphone. Gimbal stabilisation works “significantly better than existing OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) systems”.

Weirdest phone of 2020

It’s an interesting take on an innovative phone design, at the very least, but is the world ready for a swivel phone? It is, without a doubt, the “weirdest phone of 2020. Marques Brownlee said:

“LG Wing. Phones are weird again. But also half of these use cases are awesome and half are really weird. Why do I need a second screen to tell me what phone call I’m on?”

Personally, I can see many uses for the LG Wing. One could potentially watch YouTube videos or Netflix on the man screen while browsing the net or doing some other tasks on the bottom screen.

I echo Daizoren, who said: “The new LG Wing looks absolutely fantastic[..] LG may have found the next evolution of the smartphone. Every aspect of the Wing has some great thought behind it”.

The rise of foldable phones

This trend has now culminated in the latest innovation in smartphone design, the foldable-screen phone. These devices sport thin OLED self-illuminating screens that can be folded in half.

The newest release is the Samsung Galaxy Z fold 2 – a device that is almost three-quarters screen and has extravagant overtones rivalled only by a hefty R49 999 price tag.

But to prevent the phones themselves from growing to an unwieldy size, manufacturers are having to find ways to balance size with usability and durability. This presents some interesting engineering challenges, as well as some innovative solutions.

Internal design complexities of folding phones

Modern phones still typically use a thin LCD or plastic OLED display covered by an outer glass panel.

Folding displays are a new category that exploit the flexibility of OLED display panels. Instead of simply fixing these panels to a rigid glass panel, they carefully engineer the panel so that it bends – but never quite tightly enough to snap or crack.

Internal structural support is needed to make sure the panel doesn’t crease, or isn’t stressed to the point of creating damage, discolouration or visible surface ripples.

Since this is a mechanical, moving system, reliability issues need to be considered. For instance, how long will the hinge last? How many times can it be folded and unfolded before it malfunctions? Will dirt or dust make its way into the assembly during daily use and affect the screen?

Such devices need an added layer of reliability over traditional slab-like phones, which have no moving parts.

Large screen, thin phone: a recipe for disaster?

Each generation of smartphones becomes thinner and with smaller bezels, which improves the viewing experience but can make the phone harder to handle.

In such designs, the area of the device you can grip without touching the display screen is small. This leads to a higher chance of dropping the device – a blunder even the best of us have made.

There’s an ongoing tussle between consumers and manufacturers. Consumers want a large, viewable surface as well as an easily portable and rugged device. But from an engineering point of view, these are usually competing requirements.

You’ll often see people in smartphone ads holding the device with two hands. In real life, however, most people use their phone with one hand.

Thus, the shift towards larger, thinner phones has also given rise to a boom in demand for assistive tools attached to the back, such as pop-out grips and phone rings.

In trying to maximise screen size, smartphone developers also have to account for interruptions in the display, such as the placement of cameras, laser scanners (for face or object identification), proximity sensors and speakers. All are placed to minimise visual intrusion.

Now you see it, now you don’t

In the engineering world, to measure the physical world you need either cameras or sensors, such as in a fingerprint scanner.

With the race to increase the real estate space on screens, typically these cameras and scanners are placed somewhere around the screen. But they take up valuable space.

This is why we’ve recently seen tricks to carve out more space for them, such as pop up cameras and punch-hole cameras, in which the camera sits in a cutout hole allowing the display to extend to the corners.

But another fantastic place for sensors is right in front of us: the screen. Or more specifically, under the screen.

Camera layout

Samsung is one company that has suggested placing selfie-cameras and fingerprint readers behind the screen. But how do you capture a photo or a face image through a layer of screen?

Up until recently, this has been put in the “too hard basket”. But that is changing: Xiaomi, Huawei and Samsung all have patents for under-display cameras.

There are a range of ways to do this, from allowing a camera to see through the screen, to using microlenses and camera pixels distributed throughout the display itself – similar to an insect’s compound eye.

In either case, the general engineering challenge is to implement the feature in a way that doesn’t impact screen image quality, nor majorly affect camera resolution or colour accuracy.

Laptops in our pockets

With up to 3.8 billion smartphone users expected by 2021, mobile computing is a primary consumer technology area seeing significant growth and investment.

One driver for this is the professional market, where larger mobile devices allow more efficient on-the-go business transactions. The second market is individuals who who only have a mobile device and no laptop or desktop computer.

It’s all about choice, but also functionality. Whatever you choose has to get the job done, support a positive user experience, but also survive the rigours of the real world.

Andrew Maxwell, Senior Lecturer, University of Southern Queensland. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Apple Event – September 2020

Date and Time

Apple confirmed that their upcoming will take place on Tuesday 15 September 2020 at 10:00 PST. If you’re viewing from South Africa, that would be 19:00 South African Standard Time (SAST).

The event will be broadcast from Apple Park but held online, due to the novel coronavirus. This year’s event is aptly titled Time Flies, which could be a reference to Apple’s new Watch 6.

Either way, it’s fitting, considering that the previous event took place in June, even though it feels like it was just last week.

What to expect from the Apple event

Apple will most likely showcase the Watch 6, along with an iPad Air 4, the Apple One service bundle and various other software updates, possibly additional details on iOS 14, watchOS 7, iPadOS 14, and tvOS 14.

While most of this is speculation, everyone seems to agree that we won’t see the new iPhone 12 series at Apple’s September event. Apple will reportedly only unveil the iPhone 12 in October 2020.

“For the ‘Time Flies’ event on the 15th, what I’ve been told is coming for sure is: Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 6 (or Apple Watch & Watch Pro) iPad Air 4, iPad 8. I’m sure there might be more, but that’s the main focus of the event. No iPhone or AirPods Studio”.

Jon Prosser

Possible reasons for iPhone 12 delay

In addition, trusted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo warned earlier this year that the upcoming iPhones may launch outside of the normal timeline, due to changes to the antenna package and the impact of the pandemic.

Other factors added to the delay as well, such as several Apple suppliers reporting delays. For example, Qualcomm was the first to hint a post-September release, citing a “slight delay” during the fourth quarter

And Broadcom, the company that manufactures most of the ‌iPhone’s components‌, mentioned a “major product cycle delay” at a “large North American mobile phone” company back in June.

“The question is timing. This year, we do not expect to see this uptick in revenue until our fourth fiscal quarter. So accordingly, we expect, our wireless revenue in Q3 will be down sequentially.”

Broadcom CEO Hock Tan

Apple will reportedly unveil the entire series of 5G-compatible iPhone 12 devices at a rumoured October event. It’s worth the wait; rumour has it the series will be equipped with larger camera sensors and LiDAR scanner. Read more here.

Galaxy Buds Live

Design

The Galaxy Buds Live seems to be designed to be worn all day. Think of it as an extension to your smartphone, and not just an accessory.

Samsung opted to move away from the tradition in-ear silicone earbud with the Galaxy Buds Live. This means that you have a lot less isolation from the earbud. While wearing the earbuds you are still able to hear ambient noise.

The benefit of this is that you won’t have to take your earbuds out all the time when speaking to people, or if you need to hear what’s going on around you, especially when out in public.

Ambient noise

The Galaxy Buds Plus solved this problem by including its ambient sound mode which picks up ambient noise up from its microphone and pipes it into your earbud.

I personally love the ambient sound from the Galaxy Buds Plus but the sound coming from the microphone can be a bit unnatural to the ear and it definitely takes a while to get used to speaking while hearing yourself in your earbuds via the microphone.

Galaxy Buds live doesn’t have this problem as when wearing the buds you can speak and hear yourself naturally, if a little muted. This is a great solution for office workers and those who use public transport.

With the Galaxy Buds Live, you’d be able to keep your earbuds in a while still hearing what’s going on around you. It’s worth noting though that there’s a reason that most earbuds have the traditional in-ear design.

Active Noise Cancellation

When you want to listen to music without being disturbed, then ambient sounds bleeding into your ear is the last thing you want. Samsung included active noise cancelling with the Galaxy Buds Live for this reason.

The noise-cancelling manages to get rid of the worst of the ambient noise and allows you to enjoy your music undisturbed even in an environment with lots of background noise.

The sound quality is good as to be expected from Samsung with their earbuds tuned by AKG. The trade-off with the open-ear design is that it sounds as though they have boosted the bass slightly.

This is understandable as this also helps a bit to dampen some of the unwanted external noise.

Sound

Overall though the bass is more pronounced than on the Galaxy Buds Plus but not overpowering. The more pronounced bass is also slightly more noticeable with noise cancellation on.

The mids are clear and the Galaxy Buds Live seems to have learnt from the Galaxy Buds Plus and have toned down the treble which was overly bright.

The Galaxy Wearables app has a few built-in equaliser pre-sets depending on your taste but overall you shouldn’t need to fiddle around with it too much as the default setting sound delivers a great natural sound for most genres of music.

The Galaxy Buds Live have the standard touch-sensitive controls we’ve come to expect with a fast response time.

Often with true wireless earbuds, there’s a bit of a delay between your tap input and the response from the earbud but the Galaxy Live buds were quick and I never had any doubt whether my tap was registered or not.

Battery life

Naturally, with a pair of earbuds that are meant to be worn all day, Samsung continued its trend of maximising battery life. The Galaxy Buds live will last between 20 and 30 hours on standby (battery-case charging factored in.

I got up to eight hours of battery life while listening to music. Do note that the battery life is considerably better if you aren’t using ANC (active noise cancellation)

With noise-cancelling enabled the battery life drops to six hours which is still very impressive for such a small set of earbuds. The case will provide an additional 2.5 charges and can be charged wirelessly or via the included USB-C cable.

The case is also smaller than the previous Galaxy Buds Plus making it easier to carry in a pocket.

The Galaxy Buds Live have an IPX2 rating so you’ll probably be okay if you get caught in a quick light shower or if it has to deal with a little bit of sweat.

However, with the unique in-ear design and lack of proper water resistance, it’s probably not going to be the best choice if you’re regularly doing a long sweaty session in the gym or are running all year round.

The Galaxy Buds Live carries a price tag of R3 999 and are available in 3 colours – Mystic Bronze, Mystic White, Mystic Black; in line with the new colours available with the Galaxy Note 20 and the Galaxy Tab S7.

Also read – Samsung Galaxy Z Flip review: A unique, compact and durable foldable smartphone

Justin Hume, Director: Integrated Mobility at Samsung in South Africa, explains that the company’s journey towards next-gen devices “is full of originality and innovation”. He adds:

“We […] closely listened to user feedback to ensure we were bringing meaningful improvements to the hardware, while also developing new innovations to enhance the user experience”.

Justin Hume

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 offers complete and immersive content experiences; coupled with a 120Hz adaptable refresh rate for gameplay and the best dynamic sound available on a Galaxy device to date.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 – Brief overview

The foldable device features a 6.2-inch Infinity-O Cover Screen that ensures maximum usability. Check email on the go or stream your favourite content without needing to unfold your device.

Unfolded it turns into a massive 7.6-inch main screen. It comes complete with minimised bezels and a notch-less Front Camera in one sleek and unified foldable device with a high-end feel.

In addition, the Galaxy Z Fold2’s Hideaway Hinge has been improved. It now also includes revolutionary slim cutting technology, modified fibre composition and adjusted fibre density.

The camera further offers flagship-level quality and control. With Pro Video mode, Single Take, Bright Night and Night Mode, the Galaxy Z Fold2 helps you capture the moment in stunning quality and crisp clarity.

Availability and price in South Africa

Users will also be able to access the Galaxy Z Premier Service; premium support from a dedicated team of experts when you need it most. Sign up for a Complimentary Samsung Care+ service plan within 30 days of your purchase.

Moreover, the Z Fold2 will be available in two colours – Mystic Black and Mystic Bronze. Customise the device further by choosing your favourite Hideaway Hinge in Metallic Silver, Metallic Gold, Metallic Red, and Metallic Blue.

Pre-orders will be available in South Africa from 7 September 2020. The Galaxy Z Fold2 will officially launch on 25 September 2020; priced at R49 999.

As for performance and camera specifications: Stay tuned, full review to follow.

Back in 2019, Oppo unveiled it’s first foldable smartphone to the public during the 2019 Mobile World Congress (MWC). Unfortunately, Oppo’s folding device was never released.

Oppo’s patent: What you need to know

We reported on Oppo’s foldable phone with a pop-up camera in 2019 as well, soon after the patent for a smartphone with a telescopic camera was unearthed. Now, we’re back with another patent.

Oppo is now experimenting with a clamshell design (think of the Motorola Razr and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip). Instead of folding “open”, like a book, the phone will incorporate an elongated design.

However, Oppo is now considering to place the flexible screen on the outside. A patent to the effect was filed by Oppo with the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) back in January 2020.

The 26-page patent was approved and published on 30 July 2020. It’s titled Foldable housing assembly and foldable electronic apparatus and can be viewed here. You’ll need Google Translate.

Design and housing

Let’s Go Digital used the information from the patent to create the 3D renders used in this article. It shows a compact design when folded, with a large screen on the front and back when “open”.

The minimalist design includes a metal frame on the top. This will house all the necessary components, such as sensors, receptors and an “angle detection module”. Let’s Go Digital explains:

“The angle detection module calculates the angle of rotation between the two housings – one housing is fitted with a magnet, the other with a Hall sensor – in order to determine how the device is used so that the user interface can be automatically adjusted accordingly”.

Screen and hinges

In addition, the hypothetical phone also has a cylindrical hinge to open-and-close the device. By opening the screen from the back to the front, you can use the entire screen area. 

Unfolded, you have an elongated phone screen. While the exact dimensions are not mentioned in the patent documents, it’s safe to assume that it would a 7-inch screen; based on the other information in the patent.

Oppo used Corning Gorilla Glass in its existing range of phones. We would like to believe that Oppo will turn to Corning again for any upcoming foldable devices. Corning, in turn, is working on new foldable tech.

Lastly, the phone will also be equipped with a fingerprint sensor and “iris recognition module”. Not much is known otherwise, and we will report on the camera specifications when such information becomes available.

When will the Oppo phone be released

We can’t say at this stage. The patent was approved, so Oppo could either be ironing out manufacturing wrinkles as we speak or decide to scrap the project altogether. Only time will tell. However, Let’s Go Digital adds:

“In recent months, there have been several rumours that competitor Xiaomi will release its first foldable phone at the end of 2020 or early 2021. Oppo and Xiaomi are very well matched in terms of innovation and progressiveness, which means that there is a very good chance that Oppo will not wait much longer”.

Disclaimer: Let’s Go Digital’s 3D renders are published on TheSouthAfrican.com with express permission. These images are for illustrative purposes only and it should be noted that the final product could have a different design.

Also read – This LiFi-enabled Oppo smartphone will be 100 times faster than WiFi

We recently reported on Xiaomi’s patent for a smartphone with a removable display. Their latest patent mentions a camera with a movable camera module; it would allow a user to capture high-quality wide-angle shots without distortion.

As much as I love my current smartphones, the distortion can at times be a pain; it gives a warped effect to some of your photos. Here’s what Xiaomi wants to work on at some point in the future.

Xiaomi’s latest patent

Xiaomi smartphone with tilting cameras

The patent, simply titled ‘camera module and terminal’, was filed by Xiaomi with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) back in October 2019. It was approved on 30 July.

It was also recently added to the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO), a database for the worldwide protection of this innovation. The patent document can be viewed here.

Xiaomi also filed a document that describes in detail how the new camera technology would be implemented in a smartphone. It will work a bit different from what we’re used to at the moment.

Distortion-free, wide-angle images

Let’s Go Digital, who also tracked down the patent, explains that current phone models are equipped with a wide-angle lens to be able to take beautiful wide-angle pictures. The site goes on:

“The disadvantageous effect of such a lens is that distortion often occurs, causing the recorded image to deviate from reality. Consider, for example, tall buildings that suddenly look crooked in the photo”.

Distortion will be a thing of the past with Xiaomi’s patented technology. According to the patent document, distortion-free images could be achieved with the implementation of two cameras and a “small viewing angle”.

‘Continuous multi-frame images’

The cameras would be able to rotate in sync with each other and significantly extend the effective viewing angle range. The camera module would thus be able to capture high-quality wide-angle images without a wide-angle lens.

“This technology also makes it possible to capture ‘continuous multi-frame images’; whether or not in the form of video recordings, where the tilting camera ensures smooth, moving images – without having to move the device yourself”.

Let’s Go Digital.

Although the two cameras on the patent images are placed horizontally from each other, it becomes clear from the documentation that this technology can also be used with a vertically placed camera system.

Back in June, the team also tracked down a similar patent mentioning a camera smartphone with a tilting image sensor, filed by Samungs in June 2020.

Note: The high-resolution 3D renders of the Xiaomi smartphone used in this article are used with permission and were created by Let’s Go Digital.

Huawei Y5p – What you need to know

Coupled with EMUi’s intuitive user experience and Huawei’s high-quality product DNA, the Y Series smartphones have been widely favoured by consumers around the world, including South Africa.

Display and design

The Huawei Y5p has a 5.45-inch FullView Display, stylish design, a solid camera, and a long-lasting battery. Furthermore, it comes with standard storage of 32 GB, making it the perfect all-rounder phone.

In addition, LCD display provides for an exceptional viewing experience. Content is displayed in vibrant colours, and thanks to the high screen-to-body ratio of 81.2%, you get to see 12.5% more content.

Storage

The Huawei Y5p comes standard with 2GB ram, while the 32 GB storage ensures you have enough space to store all those family photos and cute videos of your children (and/or pets).

If you need more storage, the Huawei Y5p has a triple-slot design that supports two nano-SIM cards and a MicroSD card with extendable storage of up to 512 GB. Do note, the phone won’t ship with a MicroSD card.

Battery

The 3020mAh battery will keep you going for approximately 17 hours on one charge of continuous video playback. That’ also translates to 21 hours of 4G calling or 13 hours of internet surfing on 4G.

But wait, there’s more. The Huawei Y5p supports full power consumption protection, as well as AI Power-saving technology that can detect background apps that consume too much power and automatically shut them down

Camera specifications

Huawei’s most affordable smartphone is equipped with an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing camera to snap selfies with ease. In addition, the main camera supports HDR mode.

HDR mode offers specific brightness adjustments for photos by brightening the dark parts of your shots and subduing the overexposed parts of your shots. In short, it reproduces fine details while adding an extra dimension to photos.

Performance

Powered by MediaTek’s octa-core processor, the Y5p is equipped with eight Cortex-A53 cores. Thanks to Huawei’s AI scheduling technology, the Y5p delivers smooth and fast performance, even after hours of use.

“Whether you’re a gamer or a music aficionado, the Huawei Y5p will provide a satisfying user experience for your favourite activities”.

Price and availability

The Huawei Y5p is available in South Africa for just R1 899, from the Huawei Store, Foschini Group, PEP, Ackermans, Woolworths, Truworths, Game, Mr Price, Edgars, Jet, Dunns and John Craig

It’s only available in two colour variants: Take your pick of Phantom Blue and Midnight Black.

Also read –Huawei MateBook D: An affordable version of a Macbook?

LiFi is hot on everyone’s lips. Its a new wireless data communication tech that is said to be 100 times faster, safe and more energy-efficient than WiFi.

WiFi versus LiFi

WiFi – which is short for Wireless Fidelity – is the wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to create wireless network connections, provide internet access, or transmit data.

LiFi or Light Fidelity, on the other hand, is an “emerging piece of technology that makes use of Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology instead of radio waves to transmit data”.

It’s faster and better, and mobile manufacturers are finally catching on, with Oppo leading the pack. As reported by Let’s Go Digital, Oppo is working on a LiFi-enabled phone that is reportedly 100 times faster than WiFi.

Watch: Understanding LiFi

Oppo’s smartphone patent

Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications filed a patent design with the China National Intellectual Property Office (CNIPA) in December 2019. The patent was approved and published on 31 July 2020 and can be viewed here.

As per the patent file, which also contains 24 product images, the phone would have narrow screen edges coupled with a full-screen design. Instead of a front-facing camera, the phone would have a “pop-up camera”, similar to the Oppo Reno series.

Let’s Go Digital explains that the rectangle visible on the pop-up system (in the image below) will be used for LiFi communication. A square LiFi bit can be seen on the back of the device which would work as the receiver.

Oppo’s camera

In addition to the above, the Oppo phone would also a have dual camera setup on the rear, but it’s possible that the final smartphone design could even include a triple or quad-camera system.

Note the small circle on the rear of the device, under the dual camera? Let’s Go Digital explains:

“The small circle under the camera system is striking. This characteristic circle is also called the O-Dot by Oppo and is only used within the Reno telephone series. The small protruding O-Dot ensures that the phone does not only rest on the camera system when you put the device flat on the table”.

Oppo’s LiFi utility patent

Three days after filing the first patent, Oppo also filed an associated utility patent with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to ensure worldwide protection for the LiFi integration in the theoretical Oppo device.

The utility patent, simply titled LiFi device and projection system describes how the technology would work. The patented LiFi device would be installed in an Oppo smartphone, and consist of a housing, printed circuit board and module for signal reception.

View the design patent for the Oppo LiFi smartphone here and the patent regarding the operation of the LiFi technology here .

Also read – Oppo files patent for device with sensors under ‘3D waterfall’ display

Galaxy Z Fold 2 — What you need to know

Reshape what is possible

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is Samsung’s third foldable phone. By now, the manufacturing giant knows what work and what doesn’t. It’s evident that Samsung listened to user feedback when taking a peek under the hood of this innovative device.

“The Galaxy Z Fold 2 combines the portability and flexibility of a smartphone with the power and screen size of a tablet for ultimate productivity.”

Display and appearance

The Z Fold 2 comes packed with two edge-to-edge, almost bezel-less Infinity-O display screen. The cover screen measures 6.2-inches while the 7.6 main screen utilizes the best use of screen surface.

Furthermore, the device is available in two colours, Mystic Bronze and Mystic Black. Samsung also collaborated with a New York fashion house to create a limited Thom Browne Edition for those seeking a unique premium experience.

Whether folded or unfolded, you can enjoy a luxury mobile experience with Galaxy Z Fold 2’s premium design”.

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 folds over a vertical axis down the middle, much like a book. In doing so, the two screens create one large foldable screen on the inside; and I simply love the bookish appearance.

Unfortunately, Samsung didn’t indicate when the Galaxy Z Fold 2 will be available, or how much it will be selling for.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2020

If you missed all the action, catch up here. We’ll include an embed to the prestigious event below. Samsung also unveiled the Galaxy Note 20, the Note 20 Ultra, the Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Active 3 smartwatch and the Tab S7 and S7+.

Samsung’s President and Head of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics, TM Roh, said ahead of the event that the team will be introducing five new devices to deliver their vision “to be the innovator of new mobile experiences”.

Roh added that our lives have changed in “unimaginable ways” over the past few months. Distance learning and working out at home; attending online concerts and conferences virtually, it has “all been enabled by mobile technology”.

“As leaders of the tech industry, we have a special responsibility – and now a true sense of urgency – to help society continue to move forward”.

President and Head of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics, TM Roh

You can also get a sneak peek at the Galaxy Active 3 smartwatch here (shared ahead of the launch with permission from Samsung). We’ll post a full review in due course.