Tag: Android

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro renderings reveal Pixel 6 series-like design

Google’s Pixel 7 is still several months away from release, but that hasn’t stopped early leaks from appearing about the device.

As always, approach this latest leak with an air of skepticism given it doesn’t stem from a reliable source. That said, it’s backed by OnLeaks, a relatively reliable source of leaks MobileSyrup often cites.

ChooseBestTech in collaboration with @XLeaks7 has created CAD-based renderings of the Pixel 7 based on leaked information. The dimensions of the device — 155.6 x 73.1 x 8.7 mm (11.5 with camera bump) — indicate that the smartphone is slightly thinner than the Pixel 6.

The Pixel 7’s back camera module also blends into its side chassis, making it look more fluid and like one unit. The leak suggests that the camera module will likely feature the same colour as the frame. Additionally, the back camera array reportedly features two lenses and a flashlight, similar to the Pixel 6.

The mmWave 5G antenna will reportedly be placed on the top of the device, similar to Apple’s iPhone 12 and iPhone 13.

Otherwise, the phone will sport a punch-hole camera, an in-screen fingerprint scanner, speaker grills, a USB-C port and a SIM tray.

OnLeaks, in collaboration with @Smartprix, also created a 360-degree video of the device alongside 5K renderings of the Pixel 7 Pro. The Pixel 7 Pro, on the other hand, will look just about the same, except for its 6.7-inch or 6.8-inch curved display.

On the rear, the smartphone reportedly sports three cameras. It also reportedly measures in at 163×76.6×8.7mm.

Source: OnLeaks, ChooseBestTech

Categories
Mobile Syrup

OnePlus 10 might launch in Canada soon

OnePlus has started hinting that the OnePlus 10 Pro could soon make its way to North America.

This suggests that we might see the phone in Canada soon, but there’s no real mention of a release date unless the company plans to release the device on March 10th. Over on the company’s forums, there’s no mention of the  device either.

Last year, the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro launched globally on March 23rd, so it seems likely the OnePlus 10 will launch in March as well.

While there’s some excitement for the phone, OnePlus has already revealed the device in China, so pretty much everything you’d want to know about it is already online.

For instance, I recently learned that you can snap the OnePlus 10 Pro in half with enough force — kind of like a popsicle stick. You can watch the full JerryRigEverything video here.

Beyond that, the OnePlus just pulled back the curtain on an ‘Extreme Edition’ of the OnePlus 10 that features a white back panel and 512GB of storage. It’s unclear if this version of the device will come to Canada or North America at all.

Overall, the OnePlus 10 Pro is likely a decent smartphone, but the company seems to either be struggling with its Oppo merger or doesn’t as much about the North American market as it once did.

Source: OnePlus, JerryRigEverything, Notebookcheck

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Get two Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 for the price of one [Today only]

After offering the Galaxy Buds 2 for free when you purchase a Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series device, Samsung Canada is back with another Buds 2 promotion, as first shared by RedFlagDeals user ‘intellix.’ 

For today only, when you purchase the Galaxy Buds 2, you can get an additional pair of the buds in the ‘Graphite’ colourway for free.

The Buds 2 are available for their regular retail price of $189.99, so you’re essentially buying each pair for 50 percent off.

It’s worth noting that you only need to add one pair to your cart, and the free pair would automatically be added when you’re checking out.

Check out the Samsung listing here.

For specs and information on the Galaxy Buds 2, check out MobileSyrup staff writer Bradley Bennett’s review of the wireless earbuds.

Source: Samsung Via: RedFlagDeals

Categories
Mobile Syrup

It’s unclear what Samsung will reveal at its MWC 2022 keynote

Samsung has revealed it will hold a press event on February 27th, the day before Mobile World Congress (MWC) is set to start (Feb. 28th – March 3rd).

While we usually have a good idea of what the South Korean tech giant plans to reveal at its keynotes, things are more up in the air this time and it’s unclear what the company will unveil during the event taking place in Barcelona, Spain.

Samsung already released its Galaxy S22 series and Tab S8 tablets earlier this month, so it’s unlikely we’ll see any new devices at the event. That said, there’s a chance the successor to the Galaxy Watch 4 and a new version of the Galaxy Book Pro could appear. There’s also a chance Samsung may use the event to show off some of the more out-there foldable prototypes the company has teased in the past.

Though MWC 2022 and Samsung’s event are happening in-person in Barcelona, you can also watch a livestream of the presentation on Samsung’s YouTube channel and website at 1pm ET/10am PT.

MobileSyrup will have more on Samsung’s MWC 2022 keynote in the coming days.

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Google wants to build a private advertising system for Android

Kitchener, Ontario, Canada – September 30, 2019: Google sign in the Google Canada Kitchener-Waterloo office.

Google announced in a blog post on February 16th that it plans to build a ‘Privacy Sandbox’ for Android.

While some initial coverage has drawn comparisons to Apple’s App Tracking Transparency feature, it’s worth noting that, at least for now, Google’s Privacy Sandbox isn’t even close. Mostly, that’s because it doesn’t exist, and it won’t for several years.

Instead, the blog post is an announcement of Google’s “multi-year initiative to build the Privacy Sandbox on Android,” and the company says it will work with the advertising industry and regulators while developing Privacy Sandbox. The search giant also indicated the goal with Privacy Sandbox is to create private advertising solutions that “limit sharing of user data with third parties and operate without cross-app identifiers, including advertising ID.”

Further, Google’s blog post calls blunt approaches “ineffective:”

“We realize that other platforms have taken a different approach to ads privacy, bluntly restricting existing technologies used by developers and advertisers. We believe that — without first providing a privacy-preserving alternative path — such approaches can be ineffective and lead to worse outcomes for user privacy and developer businesses.”

Google then cites another blog post that explains how Apple’s App Tracking Transparency doesn’t help cut down on tracking. However, it’s worth noting that App Tracking Transparency was never going to stop tracking — all it does is prevent access to an Apple device’s ‘Identifier for Advertisers’ (IDFA). As previous reporting has shown, any app that wants to keep tracking users can leverage other data from a device to develop a unique fingerprint. Then the app can use that fingerprint rather than the IDFA.

Can privacy and ad tracking co-exist?

With that in mind, it’s not entirely fair for Google to use Apple’s flawed approach as the basis for pursuing a supposedly private form of tracking (because, frankly, that’s what this appears to be). Apple didn’t implement a blunt solution that blocked all trackers — it just removed one possible tracking option.

While Google’s goal is arguably good, I’m not sure how effective it will be at creating a private advertising system.

When it comes down to it, I don’t think you can target ads at users while maintaining user privacy. Google has already tried and failed to develop ways to privately track users — for example, Google abandoned its ‘FLoC’ plans for Chrome earlier this year for a new ‘Topics’ API. Topics will generate five interests for users based on their web activity and show those to advertisers when that user visits a website. That already sounds like a privacy nightmare to me, even if it is an improvement over FLoC.

Maybe there’s an easier way. Instead of targeting ads based on user interest, serve ads based on content. For example, show tech ads on a tech news site. That requires no tracking of user activity, and you’ll serve ads to people interested in that topic. I’m sure there are other solutions out there that also don’t require tracking of any kind, whether or not it’s “private.” It’s a question of whether the big players are actually willing to abandon tracking.

Source: Google

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+ refresh rate only goes as low as 48Hz

The Samsung Galaxy S22’s and S22+’s display isn’t as adaptive as many initially assumed.

Samsung previously told MobileSyrup that both the S22 and S22+ feature an adaptive display refresh rate as high as 120Hz and as low as 10Hz. However, it looks like Samsung has changed its mind.

Samsung has changed the smartphones’ official spec sheets from 10Hz- 120Hz to 48Hz-120Hz, as first spotted by Display Supply Chain Consultant’s CEO, Ross Young. 

Samsung has also released a statement to Android Police revealing information about the unreleased smartphones’ display refresh rates:

“The display refresh rate was originally listed between 10 and 120Hz (10 to 120 frames per second), and we later opted to update how we communicate this specification in order to be in line with the more widely-recognized industry standard. Consumers can be assured there has been no change of hardware specifications, and both devices support up to 120Hz for super smooth scrolling.”

What this means is that though S22/S22+’s software is capable of telling the display to refresh as low as 10 times per second (10Hz), the screen will still only refresh at 48Hz.

You can learn more about the Galaxy S22 and S22+ in MobileSyrup staff reporter Jon Lamont’s upcoming review, but until it hits the site, check out our Galaxy S22 series announcement post.

Via: Android Police

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Developer gets Windows 11 to work on Pixel 6 running Android 13

A Pixel 6 running Windows 11 is at the top of my list of things I’ve never wanted.

However, that hasn’t stopped developer ‘kdrag0n’ from running Microsoft’s desktop operating system on Google’s Android device using a  Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) found in the Android 13 developer preview. 

kdrag0n says that they focused on performance and that the Windows Virtual Machine is “actually really usable.”

kdrag0n goes on to outline that they were able to run Doom on the Pixel 6 using the phone’s Windows Virtual Machine and that they utilized their computer’s keyboard for input.

XDA Developers explains that Android 13 makes it easier to access the kernel-based virtual machine that’s available on the device, and that they took advantage of this exploit to unlock the full virtual machine on the Pixel 6.

Microsoft first launched its Windows Phone operating system back in 2010, but it was eventually killed off roughly seven years later in 2017. 

Source: @kdrag0n Via: XDA Developers

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Planned 5G BlackBerry smartphone reportedly dies, crushing hopes of few remaining fans

OnwardMobilities’ plan to release a new keyboard-equipped, Android-powered 5G BlackBerry device is reportedly dead, according to a report from CrackBerry and Android Police.

Texas-based OnwardMobility first announced the device back in 2020 following TCL’s decision to no longer license the once-formidable Canadian company’s name. Rumours pointed to a smartphone that looked very similar to 2015’s BlackBerry Priv, which featured a sliding screen and a physical keyboard. The smartphone was reportedly set to release in 2021, but that didn’t end up happening.

CrackBerry’s report, which cites “multiple sources,” says that “OnwardMobility and their BlackBerry 5G keyboard phone dream are dead.” Android Police says that OnwardMobility’s license to use the brand has been cancelled and that BlackBerry CEO John Chen is no longer interested in licensing the companies name.

Though BlackBerry exited the consumer smartphone industry back in 2016, it licensed its brand to TCL. This resulted in the release of several BlackBerry-branded smartphones, including the relatively well-received KEYone line.

Though it’s probably still a little early to be entirely certain, it’s likely that this was the once iconic Canadian tech company’s last chance at resurrection in the smartphone space — especially if Chen is no longer interested in licensing the now security software-focused companies name.

Last month, BlackBerry shut down support for BB10-powered devices, which includes smartphones like the Classic, the Z10 and the Q10.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: CrackBerry, Android Police

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Here’s how Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series benchmarks

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S22 series at its February 2022 ‘Unpacked’ event.

I went hands-on with the Galaxy S22 Ultra ahead of its reveal and offered up my initial impressions of the device, however, now that I have the S22 Ultra in my hands, I was able to put it through its paces ahead of my full review.

It’s worth noting that Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series are the first smartphones in Canada to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. Qualcomm’s 8 Gen 1 focuses on 5G, AI, and uses the 4th-gen Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF system, which Qualcomm says can hit 10-gigabit download speeds.

In the charts above, you can see how Qualcomm’s new chipset in the Galaxy S22 series performs pretty similarly to the Snapdragon 888 in the S21 series in terms of single-core and multi-core scores.

Additionally, the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s A15 Bionic still leads the pack, with the Pixel 6′s Tensor chip coming in last.

That said, I don’t put much stock into benchmarks because a device can still offer a great experience and benchmark relatively low. For example, the Pixel 5 remains a great smartphone despite only offering a single-core score of 589 and a multi-core score of 1,603.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra’s scores are by no means low, but they are weirdly slightly under than the S22+ for some reason.

For full Canadian pricing information on the S22 line, check out this story.

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Is Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series a worthwhile upgrade? [SyrupCast 252]

Just hours after the end of Samsung’s latest ‘Unpacked’ event and with the Galaxy S22 Ultra in hand, Dean Daley offers his initial impressions of the smartphone to Patrick O’Rourke and Brad Bennett.

The pod squad then shifts the conversation to discussing the Galaxy S22/Galaxy S22+ and breaks down whether this year’s lower-end S series smartphones are a notable upgrade over their predecessors.

As always, you can listen to the show on your favourite podcast platform or watch the video version on our YouTube channel.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Direct download link