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Microsoft Surface Duo Review: A multi-tasker's dream
The Microsoft Surface Duo is one of the most unique devices. You shouldn't think of it as a typical Android phone, as I explain in my review.
The Microsoft Surface Duo is probably one of the most interesting devices to launch this year. In a world of Galaxy Z Fold and Flip, the dual-screen approach might seem uninteresting. And at first, I thought it was too. It seems like two phones just stuck together. The device may not seem all that interesting purely from the hardware spec sheet or the software, but it does pull together an exciting experience that isn't very common across Android yet. After 2 weeks of using the Surface Duo, I see the phone much more differently. Let's talk about it.
[Update: Live in S. Korea] Samsung opens up a One UI 3.0 / Android 11 developer beta for the Galaxy S20
Samsung has opened up a One UI 3.0 developer beta based on Android 11, but it's only for developers with the Galaxy S20, S20+, or S20 Ultra.
After Samsung’s surprise announcement that they are committing to delivering 3 generations of Android OS updates for their flagship smartphones, the company has now surprised us again with another update-related announcement. Samsung is opening up a One UI 3.0 beta program for developers with the Galaxy S20, S20+, or S20 Ultra. One UI 3.0 is the name for Samsung's next major Android-based software and it'll be based on Google's Android 11 release. The current “pre-beta†phase of this program is essentially Samsung's term for a closed beta. To be accepted, you must apply and ask for partnership permissions. Samsung will accept applications on a case-by-case basis depending on need and eligibility.
Surface Duo Unboxing - Hands-on with Microsoft's Dual Screen Android Device
The Microsoft Surface Duo is their first Android device, and it has two screens. We unboxed the Dual Screen mobile to show off the design.
Two weeks ago, Microsoft unveiled its first-ever Android device, the Surface Duo. It's a radical evolution of the dual screen design we've seen in the past from the likes of ZTE, LG, and others. Unlike those other dual screen mobile devices, Microsoft is pouring a ton of resources into making sure the software experience holds up, even going as far as optimizing Android itself around the dual screen experience. We've got our hands on the device, but while we can't show off the software just yet, we can give an overview of the fantastic hardware that Microsoft has included in the Surface Duo.
Microsoft Surface Duo will get 3 years of OS and security updates, will have an unlockable bootloader
The newly launched Microsoft Surface Duo is being promised 3 years of Android OS and security updates, along with an unlockable bootloader. Read on!
Yesterday, Microsoft officially announced the Surface Duo, their latest attempt at a mobile smartphone. It is a super cool looking dual-screen device running Android, which will also be known as the first Android device from Microsoft. With Android devices, one of the most important questions has been how many years of Android updates the device will receive, as this is crucial to the overall experience. Until recently, most Android OEMs only provided 2 years of updates. Now, Google and Samsung have promised 3 years of Android updates for their flagship devices. Microsoft is now also joining that three-years-of-update group with the Surface Duo.
OxygenOS 11 on the OnePlus 8 Pro - Hands-on with OnePlus's Android 11 update
OnePlus released an OxygenOS 11 beta based on Google's Android 11 beta, and we took it for a spin on the OnePlus 8 Pro. Here are our thoughts!
OnePlus released its latest Android 11 developer preview for the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro the other day. With this release, OnePlus introduced the new design language and features in its OxygenOS 11 software (also known as HydrogenOS 11 in China). I installed the latest developer preview on my OnePlus 8 Pro so I can show you the latest UI changes and features that are coming in OnePlus's Android 11 update.
Microsoft's first Android smartphone is here: the dual screen Surface Duo
The Microsoft Surface Duo is the latest "foldable" product, coming in with two indentical displays and an innovative hinge. Read on to know more!
Last October, Microsoft announced the Surface Neo and Surface Duo. These were both meant to be the future of the Surface line. The Surface Neo is a dual-screen laptop running Windows 10X, while the Surface Duo was a dual-screen Android phone. Microsoft had originally teased both of these devices for Holiday 2020 but they sped up the timeline for the Surface Duo and officially announced it today, with sales commencing from September 2020. In this article, we'll take a look at specs, features, details, pricing, and availability!
[Update: Rolllout] Samsung's Galaxy Watch Active 2 gets cleared for ECG monitoring by South Korea
The South Korean MFDS has approved the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 for electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring in the country.
Samsung's Galaxy Watch Active 2 represents the Korean company's biggest push into health tracking. It has Samsung's most accurate smartwatch health sensor with 8 photodiodes, double the number on the original Galaxy Watch Active, and an ECG sensor. These new sensors were added to support two of the smartwatch's headlining features: ECG and blood pressure monitoring. However, neither feature is actually available on the Galaxy Watch Active 2 yet since Samsung needs to clear regulatory hurdles before they can enable them. After months of waiting, Samsung has announced they are getting ready to launch ECG monitoring on the Galaxy Watch Active 2 after the feature was approved in South Korea.
Samsung announces the Galaxy Z Fold 2 with full screen display, customizable hinge, UTG
At Unpacked 2020, Samsung has unveiled the new Galaxy Z Fold 2 with full screen inner and outer displays, ultra thin glass, customizable hinge, and more!
The Samsung Galaxy Fold will be remembered for giving birth to the consumer-ready foldable smartphone category. The phone was massively hyped leading up to its launch, for good reason too, but it met with an unfortunate set of events that forced Samsung to take the product back to the drawing board. Samsung returned with some improvements, and the Galaxy Fold took off from there. Samsung then experimented with another foldable form factor through the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, which continued to capture everyone's attention. Samsung now has two good products to learn from, and they are back again in the foldable segment with its latest offering. Meet the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, Samsung's latest foldable flagship.
Microsoft Surface Book 3 15-inch Review: The Best Laptop Form Factor!
The Microsoft Surface Book 3 is a computer that brings together a powerful Windows tablet with a keyboard that makes it an even more powerful laptop.
The Microsoft Surface Book 3 is Microsoft’s most powerful laptop. It’s also Microsoft’s most interesting laptop. See, the Surface Book series isn’t like the Surface Pro or Surface Laptop series. The Surface Pro is a Windows tablet with an attachable keyboard and a trackpad. The Surface Laptop is just a Microsoft-made laptop. The Surface Book takes the best of both worlds—a laptop with a removable screen that turns into a tablet.
Samsung app confirms Galaxy Watch 3 hand gestures, fall detection, and more
The Android app for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 went live earlier today, confirming a bunch of features for Samsung's upcoming smartwatch.
Earlier today, Samsung released the Galaxy Buds Live Plugin app to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, confirming a few new features about the Galaxy Buds Live. Just a few hours later, Samsung released the Galaxy Watch 3 Plugin app. On the surface, the release of this plugin doesn't reveal much information, but I decoded the APK's resources to unearth a few new and exciting features coming to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3.
Vivo X50 Pro Camera Review: The Gimbal doesn't make up for the processing
The Vivo X50 Pro is part of Vivo's first X-series smartphones to launch outside of China. It has an interesting Gimbal camera which we tested in our review.
The X-series of smartphones has generally been Vivo's camera-focused lineup. While still photography has generally been the primary focus for the X-series, Vivo has decided this time to focus on video stabilization as the key selling point of the X50 Pro. Not only that, but the Vivo X50 series represents the first time that Vivo is launching X-series devices outside of China. We're excited to finally get a chance to try out a Vivo X-series device ahead of its global release, especially considering the fierce competition from brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, and fellow BBK Electronics subbrands OPPO, Realme, and OnePlus. I've had the Vivo X50 Pro for about a week now, so I'm ready to share my review of its camera quality.
Samsung Tips app teases unreleased wireless Samsung DeX mode
Samsung's desktop mode for Galaxy phones is called Samsung DeX, and the Samsung Tips app hints that it could soon support wireless mode.
Samsung DeX was announced with the Samsung Galaxy S8 as a way to use your phone as a desktop PC. The original idea was to dock the phone into a DeX dock that connects to a screen. This original idea didn't work out too well since the dock was too big, there was no way to use the phone while docked, it required an additional purchase, and well, it just became annoying to use. Samsung upgraded DeX with the launch of the Galaxy Note 9 to no longer require a dock. Now, thanks to a screen we spotted in the Samsung Tips app, we know Samsung is still working on a wireless DeX mode.
Samsung officially announces its next Galaxy Unpacked event for August 5th
August 5th is the date for the next Galaxy Unpacked, where Samsung will unveil the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and likely the 5G Z Flip and other devices.
Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked events are some of the biggest product launches of the year. At the event, we finally get to see what Samsung, the largest smartphone brand in the world, has been working on for the last year. With the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy S20 having launched earlier this year, we're now expecting to see the Galaxy Fold 2 and Galaxy Note 20 at the next Galaxy Unpacked event. Samsung usually hosts its Unpacked events in person, but this year the company has opted for an online-only event due to COVID-19. Today, Samsung has confirmed that its virtual Galaxy Unpacked event will take place on August 5th at 10:00 AM EST.
Galaxy Watch 3 firmware analysis: Here's what we found about Samsung's new smartwatch
The Galaxy Watch 3 will be Samsung's next smartwatch. Here are all the new features we found by analyzing its leaked firmware.
Samsung's upcoming products tend to get a lot of attention because of how much of a splash they make on the scene. With the sorry state of Wear OS and Snapdragon Wear processors, it's no surprise that many Android fans are holding out for the Tizen-based Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 to release. Thanks to a recent public firmware leak, we've learned a lot of information about Samsung's upcoming smartwatch, including most of the specifications and features. Here's everything we discovered so far about the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3.
Samsung just leaked the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra on its own site
Samsung's Ukrainian website just leaked possible renders of the upcoming Galaxy Note 20 Ultra alongside its S Pen in Mystic Bronze.
Samsung's Galaxy Note smartphones are some of the most exciting phones to look forward to every year. They combine the best hardware specifications with Samsung's ever-lasting S Pen accessory. In the past few years, the Galaxy Note series also had some of the most interesting and colorful designs. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 came in an Aura Glow color, which was one of the most iridescent and trippy colors I've ever seen. Thanks to new renders pulled from Samsung's own website, we now have our first official look at the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro Review: Xiaomi's best phone yet!
The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro has a breathtaking design, a versatile 108MP quad rear camera setup and offers great performance. Read more in our Mi 10 Pro review!
Up until now, my favorite Xiaomi phone was the Mi Mix 3. It had the right combination between hardware, design, and a certain element of style. I really didn't think there would be another Xiaomi phone to fill the void the Mi Mix 3 left in my heart, but luckily, there is. That phone is the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro.
The TCL 10 5G and TCL 10L are likely coming to T-Mobile as the REVVL 5G and REVVL 4+
TCL's latest mid-range Android smartphone, the TCL 10 5G and the TCL 10L, are likely launching on T-Mobile as the REVVL 5G and REVVL 4+.
The TCL 10L and 10 Pro are great mid-range smartphones if you live in the U.S. because they're available at affordable prices while delivering decent hardware and software experiences. Both phones are currently available directly from TCL in the but the TCL 10L may soon launch on T-Mobile under the REVVL branding. In addition, the upcoming TCL 10 5G may also launch on T-Mobile as a new REVVL device.
Hands-on with Imint's Vidhance Software: Powerful Video Stabilization!
Imint is a Swedish company behind Vidhance, a set of camera enhancement technologies that is found on dozens of smartphones from many different brands!
Even if you consider yourself very in tune with what's going on in the smartphone space, there's a good chance you haven't heard of a company like Imint before. Not every smartphone company can be like Apple, Samsung, or Huawei and develop almost all of their own technology in-house, and even the big 3 that we just mentioned still often license technology from third-parties. Imint is one such company that develops and licenses software to smartphone makers, many of whom you're probably familiar with, including ASUS, Motorola, Xiaomi, Vivo, Huawei, OnePlus, OPPO, HMD Global, and many others. The company's signature Vidhance suite is comprised of various camera tech that enables some of the best stabilization I've seen on any phone, ever.
Google Stadia adds mobile touch controls, per-device resolution settings, and now works on any Android device
The Google Stadia cloud gaming service is adding official support for more OnePlus phones, experimental support for any Android device, and other features.
Google Stadia is one of the hottest new cloud gaming services on the market. Google has already added popular games from series like Destiny and Assassin's Creed with more titles being added each month. The best part of cloud gaming is that, with a simple server-side and app update, the user experience can be drastically enhanced. With today's updates, Google has announced loads of anticipated features!
The Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 reportedly won't have an S Pen because of technical limitations
Samsung may skip adding the S Pen to the Galaxy Fold 2, because of several technical limitations. Read on to know more about the upcoming device!
The Samsung Galaxy Fold is arguably one of the most innovative phones in the past decade. It was the first publicly available mass-market foldable phone and was easily my favorite phone. In my review of the phone, I called it the future of smartphones. This future is fantastic and foldable, but this foldable future is still a while away from matching our current reality of glass slab smartphones. There's plenty more that foldable can do to make them better smartphones for the mass-market, and one such feature would be the S Pen. The S Pen would be the perfect addition to this small tablet form factor, but unfortunately, the tech isn't there yet despite previous rumors pointing towards its inclusion. According to a new report, there are some technical limitations that prevent Samsung from adding the S Pen to the Galaxy Fold 2.