Tag: smartphones

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Mobile Syrup

Google Camera app update adds macro mode to Pixel 7 Pro

Google Camera is receiving a software update that introduces new settings for the Pixel 7 Pro’s ultra-wide camera. Users can now toggle whether they want to use its macro mode automatically or not.

When the Pixel 7 Pro launched, users found the camera array’s macro setting to be a bit unintuitive. Google is now hoping to mitigate that with a new Macro Focus setting, giving user’s more control of their device. Google Camera ‘version 8.7.250’ adds Macro Focus to the app’s quick settings. Delving into this option, users can swap between three available preferences: ‘On,’ ‘Auto’ and ‘Off.’

Previously, Google Camera’s use of the macro mode was automatic. This means that if a user tried to get a close-up shot of a subject and moved too close, it would automatically initiate the mode. The only way around this was to swap to Google Camera’s regular mode setting manually. The Auto option closely resembles the previously mentioned method of using the macro mode.

However, a dedicated On/Off option gives users way more agency when they are taking photos. Before, users could only toggle the automatic mode off and on within the Camera app’s settings. However, to lock the use of Pixel 7 Pro’s macro mode, users had to hit the icon that appears in the middle of the viewfinder. Overall, it made for a very unintuitive process.

Google Camera Version 8.7.250 also removes the ability to double tap the viewfinder to zoom in or out for 2x. This gesture is slowly being removed from other Pixel devices. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Google is removing it from the Pixel 7 series as well. Instead, users can do a pinch-to-zoom gesture or hit the on-screen button near the shutter to replicate this feature.

The update is steadily rolling out across the Play Store for users. Double-check that it’s available and see if you have access to the new Auto settings for macro mode.

Via: Android Police

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Mobile Syrup

EU USB-C deadline set for December 28, 2024

Earlier this year, the European Union decided to make all new smartphones — including iPhones — use USB-C. However, a specific deadline for when phones would need to comply with the regulation wasn’t set. At least, it wasn’t until now.

The EU has published the new USB-C legislation in its ‘Official Journal,’ which means the rules will enter into force in 20 days’ time. Then the individual EU member states will have a maximum of 24 months to apply them as national law, which means the official date is December 28th, 2024.

Along with smartphones, the regulations will apply to devices, including tablets, digital cameras, headphones, and handheld video game consoles. The regulation will eventually apply to laptops, but not until April 2026. Moreover, the rules only apply to devices offering wired charging. In other words, a device that only charges wirelessly wouldn’t be forced to use USB-C. This has been discussed as a potential loophole for Apple to avoid putting USB-C on the iPhone by releasing a portless iPhone that can only charge wirelessly. It’s unclear if Apple will actually do that, however.

Speaking of Apple, it already confirmed plans to comply with the new rules, but technically the company wouldn’t need to do so until the release of its 2025 iPhone. The 2024 iPhone will arrive in September, ahead of the deadline to include USB-C. That said, analysts have indicated Apple will make the change in 2023, at least for the ‘Pro’ iPhones.

Source: @EURLex Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Corning’s latest smartphone glass can survive a 1m drop onto concrete

Regardless of what major smartphone manufacturers like Apple and Samsung claim, their devices are still relatively easy to break, especially regarding the front and back glass.

That could change if Corning’s claims surrounding Gorilla Glass Victus 2 are accurate. The glassmaker says smartphones that feature its glass should be capable of surviving a 1m drop directly onto concrete. Further, the company says that Victus 2 will still be able to make it through a 2m drop on smoother surfaces like asphalt, withstand 20 one-metre drops in a row, and remains insusceptible to scratches, just like Victus 1.

It’s unclear what Corning has changed regarding its Victus glass to add this extra durability. That said, a video featuring the company’s VP Scott Forester (see below) says that the glassmaker used more “stress profiles” to find a design to withstand concrete better.

“Over 30 percent of the drops they were having were on concrete, more than any other surface,” says Forester in the video.

It’s unclear what devices will feature Victus 2, but we’ll likely see it first in Samsung’s S series smartphones and then possibly a version of the glass tech Apple’s iPhone. Apple recently partnered with Corning for its exclusive ‘Ceramic Shield’ glass.

Will Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 live up to its lofty claims? Only time will tell.

Image credit: Corning (screenshot)

Source: Corning, (1)

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Mobile Syrup

Only Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro will feature faster USB transfer speeds: report

It looks like only Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro will likely feature a USB-C speed upgrade over Apple’s soon-to-be-dead proprietary Lightning port.

According to often-reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature “USB 3.2 or at least Thunderbolt 3.” On the other hand, the iPhone 15 will continue to offer USB 2.0 speeds, despite making the jump to USB-C. Apple’s recently released 10th-gen iPad also suffered from a very similar fate regarding USB-C speeds.

If Kuo’s report is accurate, this means that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max could transfer data at roughly 40Gbps, which is good news for anyone that shoots raw photos or ProRes video and isn’t fond of lengthy Wi-Fi or data file uploads via Photos.

Following the EU mandating that all new smartphones must feature USB-C if they feature a charging port, Kuo, along with several other notable leakers, predict that Apple’s 2023 iPhone line will make the move to USB-C. The EU’s requirement goes into effect in 2024.

Other iPhone 15 series rumours include that only the high-end version of the smartphone will get the A17 chip, while the standard iteration will still feature this year’s A16 chip. There are also some reports indicating that Apple has plans to further differentiate the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max by changing the larger device’s name to the iPhone 15 Ultra and adding features like dual selfie shooters.

Source: @mingchikuo Via: 9to5Mac 

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Mobile Syrup

Freedom Mobile Black Friday: save on Samsung, Pixel and more

Shaw-owned (for now) Freedom Mobile dropped its Black Friday deals, offering up some discounts on smartphones.

  • Samsung Galaxy A03s – $0/mo on a $35/mo plan with 10GB of data (after Digital Discount)
  • Moto G Power – $0/mo on a $35/mo 10GB plan (after Digital Discount)
  • Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – $19/mo on a $55/mo 25GB plan (after Digital Discount)
  • Samsung Galaxy A53 – $10/mo on a $40/mo plan (after Digital Discount)
  • Google Pixel 6a – $5/mo with TradeUp on a $45/mo plan with 30GB of data (after Digital Discount)
  • Google Pixel 7 – $13/mo with TradeUp on a $45/mo plan with 30GB of data (after Digital Discount)
  • (In-stire offer) Activate an eligible Samsung phone on a $40+/mo plan (after Digital Discount) and get a Galaxy Tab A7 Lite with 4GB of data for $0/mo for the first six months ($15/mo after)

The Digital Discount, for those unfamiliar, is a $5/mo discount available to customers who use Freedom’s Auto Pay system. TradeUp is Freedom’s take on a device return program, offering customers an upfront discount if they agree to return the phone after two years.

You can check out all of Freedom’s Black Friday deals here.

For a round-up of all of our Black Friday deals, follow this link. You can find all of the top deals at Canadian retailers here.

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Mobile Syrup

The TCL 30 is a mid-range powerhouse

When people think of purchasing smartphones in Canada, most are only aware of a few brands.

This list often includes Samsung, Apple and Google’s Pixel series, and while the number of brands has decreased over the years, there are still other options. Take TCL, for example. The company still makes smartphones, and its handsets this year are good mid-range options. For instance, the surprisingly solid TCL 30 5G offers a 50-megapixel primary shooter, a 5,010mAh battery and more.

This mid-range smartphone is affordable and retails for roughly $485 outright, depending on where you get it. This device is best compared to the Galaxy A53 5G and the Pixel 6a. So let’s talk about some of the things I like about this handset and how it stacks up against these other mid-range smartphones.

Long-lasting

I like the battery life the TCL 30 5G offers. It can easily last up to two days; however, in instances where I had heavier usage, such as when testing the device’s camera and watching YouTube videos, it only made it about a day and a half. This is pretty respectable, considering most flagships can barely last a day. Further, the device also features fast charging and can quickly charge within about an hour.

The Galaxy A53, on the other hand, lasted throughout the day with no concerns. I’d say the TCL phone’s power cell is a bit better since it can last further into the second day, but the battery life is comparable. Out of the three, the Pixel 6a has the worst battery. MobileSyrup’s Jon Lamont found the 6a battery lasted through the day and overnight, and he usually charged the phone each morning.

A mid-range camera that pleases

I was pleasantly surprised by the camera experience the TLC 30 5G offers. The pictures showcased colours well with a high dynamic range that pleasantly showed a beautiful assortment of colours. Images are slightly oversaturated and similar to Samsung’s devices, the phone’s AI tries to increase the quality of pictures based on scenes. However, where Samsung’s smartphones overdo things slightly with this feature, the TCL 30 5G offers more true-to-life images. Some photos that feature important detail, like brickwork or shrubbery, for example, appear too sharp, but generally, the device does a better job than Samsung’s mid-range smartphones. The Pixel 6a, on the other hand, is a stronger competitor and offers a better overall camera experience than the TCL 30 5G.

Of course, selfies are abysmal, but this is common in the mid-range smartphone category, except for the Pixel 6a.

The TCL 30 5G lacks an ultrawide or telephoto camera, but it does feature a depth sensor and a lens for macro pictures. These, unfortunately, aren’t as useful as the ultrawide option available on the Galaxy A53 and Pixel 6a.

Not the best, not the worst

While those were the two best things about the device, it also offers other features I like.

First, the handset has a pretty interesting camera bump. Samsung and Google’s camera sensors aren’t exactly the same but follow the same theme. This theme is a trend among other Android devices on the market as well. Even pre-Pixel 6, Google offered a similar camera bump on its phones. I really like that TCL did something different with the 30’s camera bump. It simply looks cool and highlights the phone’s 50-megapixel shooter. It’s a nice touch that sets the TCL 30 apart from other devices. However, it’s worth noting that the Pixel 6a’s visor also stands out among other handsets on the market.

Next up is its easy-to-use UI. It’s definitely not stock Android, but it’s still pretty simple to use. It’s also quite clean and doesn’t come with a lot of ad-like apps like Samsung’s Galaxy A53. However, the TCL 30 definitely can’t beat Google’s Pixel 6a in the user interface race.

Overall, the TCL 30 isn’t the worst mid-range Android device on the market, but Google’s mid-range smartphone is superior. And while the Galaxy A53 5G snaps less than stellar pictures and features a slightly inferior camera, the TCL smartphone lacks the Samsung device’s 120Hz refresh rate and ultrawide camera.

TCL 30 is pretty affordable and retails for around $485 outright, depending on where you purchase it. This means the device is cheaper than the Pixel 6a, which costs $599 (although it’s been on sale for $499 recently), and the Galaxy A53 that’s available for $589. So if you’re looking to save $100, the TCL 30 is definitely the right choice. However, if you have extra cash in your pocket, you might want to spring for Google’s or Samsung’s offerings.

In the end, while the TCL 30 5G doesn’t disappoint, it doesn’t really impress either.

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Mobile Syrup

Pixel 7 Pro goes through a JerryRigEverything test

The one and only JerryRigEverything has directed his attention to the Pixel 7 Pro, Google’s latest flagship smartphone. Zack Nelson (JerryRigEverything) says that the Pixel handset “barely survived a bend test.”

Nelson’s test pushes phones to their limits by scratching the handsets, displays, camera bumps and more.

You can see a gap after the bend test, where it’s evident that it breaks the device’s water protection and is no longer working. Nelson bending the phone from the back causes this issue, and it bends more than he expected. However, there is no flex when bending it from the front.

Either way, if you get a Pixel 7 Pro, you’re going to want to use a case.

Source: JerryRigEverything

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Mobile Syrup

Microsoft’s ‘Instant Hotspot’ feature can turn on your Samsung phone’s hotspot

The long-running battle to deeply integrate smartphones with Windows PCs has heated up in recent months, with Intel debuting its Unison software to take on other software like Microsoft’s Phone Link app. Meanwhile, Microsoft is working on a way to automatically connect Windows PCs to the hotspot on Samsung Galaxy smartphones through Phone Link.

Android Police spotted the feature, which is mentioned in Microsoft’s announcement blog post for the latest Windows 11 Preview Build, version 25231. According to that blog post, Phone Link enables an “instant hotspot” feature that lets you “securely start and connect to your phone’s Wi-Fi network without touching your phone.” Microsoft goes on to describe how it works:

“When your phone is within range it will appear in the Wi-Fi network list on your PC where a single click turns on the phone’s hotspot and connects to it. No more remembering and typing passwords or searching for hotspot settings on the phone. This provides an easier and faster way to repeatedly connect to your hotspot when you are on the go.”

To try out the feature, you’ll need a few things:

  • A Samsung device running One UI 4.1.1 or higher
  • A PC with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
  • SIM card with a hotspot-capable plan
  • Windows 11 version 22H2 Build 22621 or higher
  • Phone Link desktop app in version v1.22082.111.0 or greater
    Link To Windows phone app (pre-installed on Samsung devices) in version v1.22082.142.0 or higher

Microsoft notes that users should see a ‘What’s New’ dialogue on their PC, which they can use to set up the new Phone Link feature. Alternatively, open the Phone Link app and head to settings > Features > Instant Hotspot.

This feature will be particularly useful for those with Windows 11 PCs that don’t have built-in cellular (like the new Surface Pro 9). Of course, it won’t be available for everyone yet, in part because it’s still in preview, and in part because it’s limited to Samsung devices for the time being.

Source: Microsoft Via: Android Police

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Mobile Syrup

Pixel 6 series to receive Pixel 7 features, including ‘Clear Calling’ and ‘Guided Frame’

Upon the reveal of Google’s Pixel 7 series, the company announced a handful of new software features. At the time, it was assumed they would be exclusive to the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. However, Google recently confirmed several Pixel 7 software features will come to the Pixel 6 series in the future.

Alongside the Pixel 7, Google revealed its ‘Clear Calling’ feature. This feature enables users to make phone calls with improved quality. The goal of Clear Calling is to clean up the audio and remove as much background noise as possible. The feature also supports the ability to say “Silence” to stop incoming calls.

Clear Calling will arrive via a future ‘Feature Drop.’ However, Google recently confirmed that this feature is arriving on all Tensor-powered Pixel phones. This means that Google’s bringing Clear Calling to Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 6a. However, it’s still unclear when the feature will arrive on older Pixel devices.

Additionally, Google’s ‘Guided Frame’ feature is also coming to all Tensor-powered Pixel devices. This feature utilizes Google’s AI to assist those that are blind and visually impaired. As an active accessibility option, Guided Frame helps to snap a selfie by using a voice-over assistant. This voice helps the users position their phones in real-time. The feature suggests alterations to the positioning and conducts a countdown to prepare the shot.

Improved ‘Real Tone’ is also coming to the Pixel 6 series, and last up is ‘Spatial Audio’ via the Pixel Buds Pro. For the uninitiated, Spatial Audio creates 3D sound and enables the user to get a heightened sense of audio directions and origins. This is built to create immersive listening experiences.

Unfortunately, one Pixel 7 feature that doesn’t appear to be making its way to the Pixel 6 is ‘Face Unlock.’ At this current time, Google states it has nothing to share regarding its migration to older devices.

Source: PhoneArena Via: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Google Tensor G2 chip confirmed to be 5nm processor, not 4nm

Google’s Tensor G2 chip, which powers the Pixel 7 line, was initially thought to be built on 4nm processor technology.

However, new infofrmation has revealed that Google’s Tensor G2 utilizes a 5nm manufacturing process. Before the Pixel 7’s official reveal, pre-release benchmarks and rumours indicated the chip was built on a 4nm processor.

To make matters even more confusing, Google didn’t initially confirm using a 5nm manufacturing process. However, the company did state the Pixel 7 offers 60 percent more speed and 20 percent more efficiency than its predecessor. To clarify, a Google spokesperson confirmed that the Pixel 7’s Tensor G2 does indeed utilize a 5nm processor.

“We purpose-built Google Tensor G2 for real-world use cases, Google said to Android Authority. “Our final architecture, which includes 5nm, helped us reach that goal while increasing both performance and power efficiency. This approach also allowed us to add new capabilities while taking a step forward on machine learning with our next generation TPU with G2.”

With this in mind, the 5nm Tensor G2 may not offer the efficiency of 2021’s 4nm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. News of this revelation may put a damper on the release of the Pixel 7 for some. Google’s confirmation still leaves us with some questions, including what manufacturer is in charge of creating it. Samsung, for instance, is Google’s partner and has two 5nm nodes. However, if this is the case, Google isn’t revealing which process the Tensor G2 is built on.

The Tensor G2 may not offer the same efficiency as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or the Exynos 2200. However, it should provide clock speed improvements over its predecessor.

Source: Android Authority Via: 9to5Google