The latest update of the WhatsApp messenger app, which is very popular in Germany, brings some new functions with it. The most interesting of these is likely to be the introduction of so-called “ running messages ” for most users. As can be seen from the official info page and the FAQ of WhatsApp, after activating the function for a chat, all messages should disappear after a period of seven days. In group chats, the function must be activated by a group admin. Users cannot set a different period at the moment.
It also states that the messages also disappear if a user has not accessed the app or chat for seven days or more . However, it could be that the chat partner or members in a group chat can still see the expired message in the notifications of their own smartphone. Should someone reply to an expired message and use the citation function for this purpose, the message will also remain in the citation window of the reply. In addition, the function is not tied to the messages as such, but always to the respective chat, which is why a “ pending message ” is forwarded to a chat without this function results in the message being retained there.
If a user uses the backup function and it contains “ expiring messages “, these will also be deleted when the data is restored. Nevertheless, WhatsApp explicitly advises not to send any sensitive information to people whom you do not trust. Even when using the function, due to the above facts and the possibility of taking a screenshot, it is easy to prevent the message from disappearing.
The function also includes photos, Videos and other media. However, if users have activated automatic storage in their own gallery, the media only disappear in the chat, but are still stored on the smartphone of the respective person.
A look at the complete innovations and further information can be found in the official FAQ.
WhatsApp has redesigned its storage management tool, making it easier for users to find and delete files that are taking up too much space on their phone. The new tool will be “rolling out to users worldwide this week,” says the Facebook-owned company, and will be available in the app by heading to Settings > Storage and data > Manage storage.
The current WhatsApp “Storage Usage” tool simply sorts all available chats by the amount of space they take up, listing the number of messages, photos, GIFs, and videos in each chat, and letting the user delete each category with a few taps. This is handy, but doesn’t give users a way to browse the content they’re removing. That’s important if you need to clear out, say, a family group chat, and want to avoid deleting any important photos.
The new tool, by comparison, offers thumbnails of content to be deleted, and groups this data in categories including “Forwarded many times” and “Larger than 5 MB.” That should make it easier for users to identify content that they don’t need or want any more, and that can simply be deleted. You can see a preview of the new tool in action below:
The messenger service WhatsApp is apparently about to introduce the “expiring messages” function. As can be seen from an info page on the function and the WhatsApp FAQ, after activating the function, all messages in a chat disappear after seven days and are no longer displayed. The user has to switch on the function for each chat individually; for group chats this is reserved for the group admin. The user cannot choose another time period, it continues.
Even if you have WhatsApp seven days or no longer opens, the messages are automatically deleted, according to the WhatsApp info page about the “expiring messages”. The user may then still be able to see the message in the notifications on his mobile phone. If you answer a running message, then the quoted text of the running message “may” be retained, WhatsApp continues. Even when forwarding to chats in which no expiring messages are activated, the actually expiring message is retained.
If a user created a WhatsApp backup before an expiring message has disappeared, and plays the backup Only then, when the message has already expired, it will no longer be displayed.
WhatsApp advises that expiring messages should only be forwarded to people you trust because they copy and save them , also forward or take a screenshot or photo of it.
Media can be preserved Media embedded in messages such as By default, photos and videos end up in the photo library of the mobile phone. The media for expired messages disappear in the WhatsApp chats, but remain in the media library if automatic downloading is active.
How to activate and deactivate the “expiring messages” function WhatsApp summarized in the FAQ. When WhatsApp will publish the function is currently unclear.
WhatsApp has been adding new functions during this 2020, such as permanently silencing groups and not having to be enabling this option again every year, and that is that Telegram is gaining ground to the proprietary application of Facebook, in this guide you can see a comparison. But WhatsApp is putting the batteries to keep its application updated including new options , although sometimes they are idea from other apps, like the latest one to be added in a future update, messages that self-destruct .
It has already been announced officially this new function, which has incorporated Telegram for quite some time, and that WhatsApp will add in a not too distant update of its application, messages that allow its self-destruction can be sent , we have been able to see the company’s questions and answers on the website how this option will be activated and all the particularities it will have.
When activating the option of temporary messages these will disappear after 7 days , no option at the moment to adjust this time. Once the temporary messages are activated, it will only affect the new messages sent, leaving the rest of the conversation intact, unlike Telegram, we can incorporate this function in any chat that we have already open . Along with the new options recently discovered, WhatsApp is working hard not only on updates, but also on adding much needed improvements to the application that the competition already has and are needed to complete its functions.
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Antonio Delgado
Computer Engineer by training, writer and hardware analyst at Geeknetic since 2011. I love gutting everything that comes my way, especially the latest hardware that we get here for reviews. In my spare time I fiddle with 3d printers, drones and other gadgets. For anything here you have me.
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(Pocket-lint) – Facebook now has several different smart displays aimed at video calling and helping you connect with your loved ones. These range from a small screened device that looks like a digital photo frame to a camera that plugs into your television.
Each of these devices is intended to make video calling more convenient, interesting and accessible. But which of the Facebook Portal devices is right for you?
We’re here to help you work out the differences and decided which version to purchase.
Best free video calling apps: Keep in touch with friends or colleagues
Pocket-lint
Which is the best Facebook Portal device for you?
There are currently four different Facebook Portal devices. These devices offer mostly the same experience with slight differences in specifications and features. There’s the small but snazzy 8-inch Portal Mini, the larger 10-inch Portal, the premium 15-inch Portal+ and the Portal TV.
Each is designed to slot comfortably into your home and give you the ability to easily make and receive video calls with friends and family members with a minimum of fuss.
The devices mostly offer a similar experience and functionality meaning the one you choose will likely depend on your budget and how much screen real estate you want.
What can Facebook Portal do?
For the most part, the main focus of all the Facebook Portal devices is video calling. Using these smart displays, you can place or receive video calls via either Facebook Messenger video calling or WhatsApp calling. Video calls can be made to and from phones, tablets and other Portal devices so the process is as easy as pie.
These Portal devices all have AI-powered smart camera technology that automatically tracks people on the call. With wide-angle lenses and built-in intelligence, the cameras will follow people around the room and allow them to move around more naturally. All the while users don’t need to worry about holding a phone or tablet and trying to frame themselves in the shot.
Facebook
Augmented reality experiences
Facebook has also attempted to make video calling more interesting with the addition of other smarts into these displays. This includes things like AR effects to add silly faces, masks and visuals on the call, AR games that you can play with friends while on the call and Story Time. The latter of these is the most interesting as it lets Portal users tell read children’s stories via the video interface. This includes 15 different stories which add AR effects to the call as they’re being told, the likes of Llama Llama, Pete the Cat and Otto are available with more coming in future.
We like this addition to the system as it gives family members the chance to get involved with things like bedtime routines even when they’re miles away.
More than just video calling
Facebook Portal is designed to not just be great for video calling, but also to keep things interesting in other ways. For example, there are familiar apps built into the devices to keep you entertained. These include things like Spotify, Deezer, Words with Friends and Draw Something.
With Portal TV, things can get really crazy with Mic drop. This is like karaoke but for video calls. Allowing you to lip-sync along to songs on an augmented reality stage, just for your captive audience.
“Hey Portal” Voice Control and Amazon Alexa
As you’d expect from a smart display, all the Portal devices are also controllable with your voice. Each has Amazon Alexa intelligence built-in and can do anything Alexa can do. With a smart display, that also means you get a similar experience to the Amazon Echo Show with access to all the same skills that Alexa has.
You can use Facebook Portal displays to listen to your favourite tunes via Spotify, Amazon Music Unlimited and more, check the news, control your smart home and more besides. You can also use the screen to watch your favourite shows via Amazon Prime Video.
Facebook also has its own voice control system that the company says it is constantly striving to improve as well. “Hey Portal” commands will wake the device and let you do more in future.
Each device sports some fairly powerful and surprisingly capable built-in speakers for your audio enjoyment too.
Work as a photo frame
As you might expect from a device that’s designed to look like a digital photo frame, Portal devices do also have that functionality as well. They’re able to display your favourite photos and serve as a reminder when it’s a friend’s birthday too.
Pocket-lint
Private by design
Each Facebook Portal device is built to be “private by design” – Facebook knows having a camera in your home can be unnerving. So it’s designed these devices with hardware-level buttons to slide a shutter over the camera and mute the microphone in a way that even if the device was hacked no one could access the audio or video recording capabilities.
For extra security, Smart Camera and Smart Sound use AI technology that runs locally on Portal, not on Facebook servers. If you use the “Hey Portal” command then your voice interaction with the device may be recorded and reviewed by a trained member of the Facebook Portal team, but this is to help improve the system. If you don’t like the idea of that you can turn off storage in the settings and delete anything it has recorded too.
Facebook
Facebook Portal Mini
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The Facebook Portal Mini is the smallest of the range. Like the others, it’s a capable video calling device and with a cleverly thought out speaker design it also packs a surprising amount of audio punch.
As the smallest smart display, it probably most closely resembles the digital photo frames it was inspired by, though with far more features.
The Portal Mini also has a 13MP camera with a 114-degree field of view that’s capable of picking up most of the room. There’s the built-in privacy shutter in the top left that you can easily slide to block off the lens and turn off the microphones too. You get visual alerts to show when this has happened via lights on the device and notifications on the screen.
Portal Mini can be used in portrait or landscape orientation and sports an intelligent adaptive display that adjust brightness and colour to account for your surroundings. This makes your favourite photos look great, but ensures calls look good too.
Thanks to its small frame, the Portal Mini can be placed anywhere in the home and will perform its duties from whatever spot you choose. Whether you decide to set it up in the living room for comfortable calls with the family or in the kitchen where it can also be used for recipe hunting with Alexa, the Portal Mini is flexible and useful.
Portal Mini is also the most affordable of these devices with regular discounts available.
Facebook
Facebook Portal
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The Facebook Portal is the larger brother of the Mini with a similar photo frame-like design, but with a larger 10-inch screen. It too can be used in either landscape or portrait modes and looks great for displaying photos or placing calls.
Like the Mini, the larger Portal has all the smarts we’ve already covered including AR effects, Alexa integration, the ability to display your photos and watch videos too. It packs some capable speakers and delivers an interesting experience at a reasonable price.
The 10-inch screen and subtle frame means Facebook Portal can sit nicely almost anywhere around your home without much fuss.
Facebook Portal review: Video call using Messenger or WhatsApp
Pocket-lint
Facebook Portal+
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Facebook Portal+ is the largest and the most premium device in the line-up. It has a large stylish looking design that stands out in the home and is far less subtle than the smaller photo frame styled devices. We can’t help but think this one looks more like a Mac than a standard smart display.
It boasts a large 15.6-inch screen with a 1080p resolution that’s the best of the bunch in terms of visuals. Oddly, it has a slightly lower count camera at 12MP compared to 13MP on the smaller devices, but it does have a wider field of view. It also has better speakers and a more impressive presence in the room.
Of course, if you invest in Portal+ you’re more than likely going all-in with Portal and will have to explain to guests what the large screen is sitting in the corner of the room.
Portal+ works in both landscape and portrait mode too though, so you can turn it to fit your space or personal preference.
We’re of the opinion that Portal+ offers the most premium video-calling experience of any device or service out there, but that does come at a price.
Facebook Portal+ review: Do the plusses outweigh the minuses?
Facebook
Portal TV
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Facebook Portal TV is the standout in the Portal range. This device doesn’t have a screen, but instead uses your TV to display video calls. It is essentially an intelligent webcam that plugs into your TV via an HDMI cable, then uses that as a large screen for video calls.
Portal TV is useful because it is designed to sit near to your TV or on top of it and allow for a hassle-free, hands-free video call with ease.
It comes with a built-in speaker to let you know when a call is coming in and a remote control or voice controls that allow you to answer the calls with ease. Thanks to a 120-degree wide field of view camera and the smart camera tech, it can essentially see your entire living room and track people in the room as they move about too.
Portal TV also packs more microphones than the other devices, with eight far-field mics built-in to allow it to capture the voices of people in the room while eliminating unnecessary background noise. This is likely the least invasive device in the line-up as the subtle camera could easily be overlooked by guests and yet you have an easy way to make video calls when you need to.
Like the other Portal devices, Portal TV has a privacy shutter and mic mute button when you don’t want to use it and want to double down on privacy, but otherwise, it’s ready for action at a moments notice. Facebook says Portal TV is designed to not interrupt your TV viewing either. It won’t automatically switch to video calls when you’re in the middle of a film or binge-watching your favourite Netflix show, you have to accept the call first.
With Portal TV you get the added bonus of access to Facebook’s “Watch Together” functionality. If you’re placing calls with other Facebook TV users you can watch videos together while also on the call.
Portal TV also has the same functionality as the other Portal devices, except it uses your TV as the display. It works with Alexa, functions as a “superframe” display for your photos and works with AR effects and Story Time too.
Facebook Portal TV review: Trust Facebook to take over your TV?
Writing by Adrian Willings. Editing by Max Freeman-Mills.
Facebook’s business is getting a boost because more companies are relying on digital platforms in the Corona crisis. The turnover of the online network, which is mainly achieved with advertising, rose by 22 percent in the past quarter 21, $ 2 billion. The bottom line was a profit of $ 7 85 billion dollars – an increase of 29 percent. Contributed to this was a tax credit of well 900 million dollars in research and development spending.
Small and medium-sized businesses make up a large proportion of Facebook advertisers. Many of them – such as cafes or restaurants – have been hit hard by the pandemic. As a result, it was feared that they would cut their advertising spending. At the same time, there was an advertising boycott of large customers in July in protest against hate speech on the platform.
The fact that Facebook is still recording solid growth is also due to the fact that small and medium-sized companies increasingly go online in search of new business opportunities during the crisis. Facebook’s advertising business was driven by this accelerated change from traditional to online trading, stressed CFO Dave Wehner. Facebook quickly developed a trading platform. Sheryl Sandberg, the top manager responsible for the operational business, cited a family company that otherwise sold soaps from its own production at weekly markets. In the pandemic, she is now using Facebook as a platform and has expanded her business.
Facebook builds on the argument that the online network plays a role worth protecting for the economy during the crisis. Against this background, Facebook criticized, among other things, Apple’s plans for privacy on the iPhone, in which the users of each app should allow tracking for advertising purposes. This could prevent Facebook from collecting data on a user across different apps and thus personalizing the advertising more precisely. He was concerned that such restrictions or EU data protection plans “could have a significant negative impact on small businesses and the economic recovery in 2021 or beyond “, said founder and boss Mark Zuckerberg.
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30 Millions more users The number of daily active Facebook User increased within three months 30 million to around 1, 82 billions. However, the number of users in the USA and Canada were “slightly down” compared to the second quarter, according to Facebook. In the second quarter, the number of users initially rose sharply due to the effects of the corona pandemic. Now they are falling again in the third quarter, explains Facebook. For the fourth quarter, Facebook expects further slight decreases in user numbers in the US home market and Canada.
At least one app from the group – such as Instagram and WhatsApp – access 2 every day, 54 Billion users back.
The share price of the Facebook share traded on the NASDAQ rose by around 1.5 percent to as a reaction to the quarterly figures. , 61 dollars back.
On certain occasions, we will encounter situations in which we are interested in recording the calls we receive or make , either due to delicate, legal issues, or simply to be able to remember what we have talked about in a certain call with someone, because unlike messages written in messaging services such as email, or even instant messaging such as WhatsApp and Telegram , in the case of calls it is quite easy to forget some data and it will be practically lost if we do not manually write it down somewhere.
Ways to record phone conversations on Android
There are two main ways to record conversations telephone numbers that we make in our terminal, being the first using the software with which our factory terminal arrives, and the second using third-party software .
As a general rule, it will always be preferable to use the applications that are included in our terminal, because on the one hand they are not subject to all the restrictions imposed by Google on this type of applications, and after all, we reduce the consumption of resources in our terminal thanks to the fact that it is generally the application in charge of connecting the call the same one that records the same.
Record calls with the integrated software
Record calls with the software that our terminal integrates from origin is extremely simple and efficient. Although not all terminals, especially with older versions of Android, will have this function as standard, many manufacturers have been adding support through their own customization layer.
Thanks to this, the call application or the sound recorder of the terminal will be in charge of recording the calls that occur on our Smartphone , thus allowing us to store calls with a phone number or contact identifier.
In the same way, we will see how the sound recording is done internally , so that we will have the same sound quality that we had at the time of the call, which, although it may not be very high, will definitely be better than the methods to be used after the problems What has Google caused these applications by blocking their pe licenses they need to work.
In principle, this is the mode we should use whenever it is available for use d ado which will be the most effective to have clear and good quality recordings.
Record Android calls with ACR
If we have a terminal with an Android version prior to Android 10, or we just want to test if this application can work correctly in our terminal, ACR is a good place to start testing if we can use these applications in our terminal reliably.
To begin, entering this link We can download the application, which, although it has a Premium version, its basic use is completely free . Once this is done, we will open the application and begin to configure it, not without first confirming that we can record calls according to the legislation that regulates us.
When we start with the configuration, we will see how the application itself informs us that it cannot associate recordings with phone numbers or contacts automatically, but we are offered the possibility of edit the names of the recordings manually to be able to organize them without major problems.
Likewise, restrictions are indicated on which calls can be recorded, excluding the calls through WiFi , the calls in messaging services such as WhatsApp , and the calls made through from third-party dialing apps.
Finally, we will be asked to configure the power management of our terminal to prevent the application from being removed from the background applications in execution, and from here we can start recording calls. However, as we mentioned, it is recommended to carry out tests, because for example in a Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s with Android (MIUI 10. 0.1) the recordings are completely empty.
Record calls on Android with Cube ACR
On the other hand, we find another application called Cube ACR that We can download at this link that makes use of the accessibility applications framework to enable an overlay that will allow us to activate or deactivate the recording when we are on a call , but above all it will allow us to really record the calls.
Unfortunately this will be done through the microphone or microphones of the terminal, so that we will suffer from a quite reduced call quality that, although not s can be used to get out of the way, it will not be really pleasant to listen to compared to the applications that come standard in more modern terminals or with the option before this in terminals that support it.
Its installation is also somewhat more complicated, because as we can see in the screenshots, after downloading and installing the application and accepting the terms and conditions of use, We will have to follow several steps to enable its operation through the Android accessibility services , as well as allow the application to start together with the terminal operating system and that the Android power management does not close it so you can always record calls come when they come.
Anyway, we have a button that will allow us to enable or disable recording at will during calls.
Implications legal to record a call
Without a doubt, recording calls on Android is particularly useful , especially when we need the recordings to use them as a test during some kind of process where a conversation is key.
Anyway, Google’s restrictions respond to a problem real privacy when it comes to recording calls made around the world , in addition to the fact that although in Spain it is mostly legal to record the calls in which we are involved, not all over the world can be so, especially if you use third-party applications that can lead to serious privacy problems.
The legal framework that surrounds the recordings of the calls we make or receive should be made clear , and in this case, we rely on the information that we can find in ILP Abogados to clarify this matter.
As it is a process that is executed in our Smartphone, we will be able to record the calls that occur on it, since it is to be expected that, if we call a person or they call us, both parties will be active in the telephone conversation, which enables us to record the conversation and even provide it as evidence in a judicial process following the following guidelines:
That there is no provocation, deception or coercion by part of the subject that records
That the recording subject is an active part of the conversation, thus turning it into his own recording
That is recorded in a public place, or failing that, you have authorization from the owner.
In the same way, We will not be able to record conversations of others in which we do not participate , I feel this totally illegal as the Fundamental Right to the secrecy of communications is violated (Art. 18. 3 of the Spanish Constitution).
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Samsung develops a Galaxy Z Fold smartphone with a dual foldable display and a large keyboard that slides out of the housing for extra ease of use.
Samsung has launched several foldable smartphones, such as the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold 2. All folding phones currently available have one thing in common; they can be folded once. Nevertheless, it is obvious that eventually smartphones will also be introduced with a dual folding flexible display. A good example of this was already shown at the beginning of last year, when Xiaomi demonstrated its first foldable smartphone.
It is known Samsung is also working on such models. Recently LetsGoDigital reported on a Galaxy Z Dual Fold smartphone. With this model, the lower screen part could be used as a virtual keyboard.
Newly found documentation shows that Samsung also considers to develop a foldable smartphone with a sliding keyboard. For convenience we call this device the Galaxy Z Fold3.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold with double hinge and 3 screen parts
In mid-2018, Samsung Display filed a design patent with the KIPO (Korean Intellectual Property Office). The documentation was kept confidential until 17 July 2020 and contains, in addition to a brief description, eight clear product sketches.
It is a dual folding smartphone, which is remarkably slim when folded. In order to better visualize the design patented by Samsung, LetsGoDigital has made a series of 3D product renders in collaboration with industrial designer Sarang Sheth. Sarang is editor-in-chief at Yanko Design, a respected online magazine about modern, industrial designs.
As the patent has been applied for by Samsung Display, certain design features remain underexposed. In order to fully design the product, Sarang used the current top models from Samsung as a base. For example the color scheme and the camera system are derived from Samsung’s latest folding phone; the Galaxy Z Fold2.
The device can be folded twice thanks to the use of a double hinge. The flexible display consists of 3 equal display parts. Folded, you have a sleek, compact phone while unfolded, you have a large tablet-sized display.
Part of the screen can always be used, even when folded. Notifications and incoming messages and calls can be displayed on this. This screen part is also large enough to reply directly to a WhatsApp message or to browse through your phone book to find a contact.
As a part of the screen always remains visible -even when you carry the phone with you- the risk of screen damage is greater. Although Samsung uses UTG (Ultra Thin Glass) for the Z Fold and Z Flip, the screen protector placed over it is significantly less scratch-resistant. Hopefully, a solid solution will be sought for this before Samsung decides to release a phone with a (partially) outwardly folding display.
The hinge ensures that you can close the phone completely, without visible seams. This makes this phone extremely compact to carry with you. It also reduces the chance that dust particles and dirt can enter, which will have a negative effect on the operation of the device.
Samsung may also see an opportunity to integrate the unique ‘sweeper technology’ that made its debut in the hide-away hinge of the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Extensive durability testing has shown that this technology, which is based on the bristles of a vacuum cleaner system, works very well in practice.
Thanks to the dual hinge, multiple folding positions are made possible, allowing you to place and use the phone in different ways. The user interface will change automatically depending on how you use the device. Several of these operating options are well reflected in the 3D renders made by Sarang.
Samsung foldable smartphone with sliding keyboard
To further enhance the user experience and possibilities, this Samsung foldable smartphone is equipped with a keyboard. It is a sliding keyboard that can be slid out of the housing. The keyboard has the same size as one display part.
By integrating such a large keyboard, you can type significantly better and faster, making it an extra versatile device on which you can work productively. This way you have a phone, tablet and compact laptop in one. Even the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus doesn’t have such a keyboard – unless you include the $230 Book Cover Keyboard accessory.
As it is a sliding keyboard, you can continue to use it, regardless of how the device is folded. This way you can even use the keyboard when using the phone in its most compact form. Probably some sort of locking mechanism will be built in, which prevents the keyboard and/or phone from unintentionally being unfolded.
Unfortunately nothing is known about the camera system of this unique Samsung foldable phone. Nevertheless, you can assume that if Samsung wants to release this Galaxy Z Fold3, a high-quality camera will be built in. After all, this is clearly a high-end phone that will undoubtedly come with a hefty price tag, so potential users will expect the best of the best – in all fields.
For example, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 is equipped with 5 cameras in total. The cover screen gives you access to a 10MP hole-punch selfie camera – similar to that of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. On the back a triple camera is built-in, this system includes three 12MP cameras with a wide angle, ultra-wide angle and a telephoto lens.
The patented smartphone is slimmer than most contemporary devices, but it will be significant thicker too. After all, you do not fold two, but three display parts on top of each other, which will create a significant difference in thickness. The question remains whether you can still put this phone in your pocket or breast pocket. In a handbag it will of course not be a problem, but the thickness will probably be at the expense of portability.
The difference between mobile phones and laptops get smaller
Samsung places its foldable smartphones within the Galaxy Z series. Two types of models are available to date. The Flip has a clamshell design with a horizontally folding display, while the Fold unfolds into a tablet with a vertically folding screen.
Thanks to the use of a flexible screen, you can expect more different types of foldable smartphones in the coming years, as well as other type of foldable and bendable electronic devices. At the beginning of this year the first foldable laptops with a flexible screen were shown by Dell and Intel, among others. In the mean time, the first foldable laptop has already been put to market, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold has a flexible display and comes without physical keyboard.
The flexible display will further narrow the difference between smartphones, tablets and laptops. As a result, both smartphone and computer manufacturers are keen to taking advantage of this new trend at an early stage. It is therefore certainly not inconceivable that we can also expect a Samsung smartphone with a sliding keyboard in the future.
Samsung has already gained the necessary experience in the development and production of smartphones, tablets, 2-in-1 PCs, Chromebooks and laptops. By combining this knowledge, an excellent user experience can be created, which would make such a device extra multifunctional and versatile. Consider, for example, Samsung DeX, to easily switch between a mobile and a desktop environment. Or Multi Active Window, which allows users to use multiple apps side by side.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G folding phone
Samsung will probably announce the successor to the Galaxy Z Fold 2 around August 2021. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 may be Samsung’s first foldable smartphone with a stylus pen on board. The Galaxy Note series has of course been praised for the S Pen for years.
It has been discussed online for some time that Samsung wants to make its stylus compatible with flexible displays as well. Especially with a large format screen – such as that of a foldable smartphone – a stylus would offer a true added value.
Possibly the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will also be feature a light indicator on the hideaway hinge, as the company was granted a patent for earlier this month.
Next year, various smartphones will also be introduced with an under-screen camera. The first mobile phone with a camera under the screen has already been introduced, the ZTE Axon 20 5G. Some believe that Samsung also wants to apply this new camera technology to the Galaxy Z Fold3 next year. By implementing an under-display camera, a full-screen design can be created – without cuts or holes in the screen.
Where the Z Fold was provided with a large notch, the Z Fold2 got a more streamlined design thanks to the use of a hole-punch camera. If Samsung is indeed one of the manufacturers that will release a phone with an under-screen camera next year, then it is certainly not inconceivable that this technology will also be applied to foldable models in the near future.
Here you can view the documentation of the Samsung foldable smartphone with sliding keyboard.
Note to editors:The 3D product renders presented in this article are made in collaboration with Sarang Sheth, Industrial Designer and Editor-in-Chief at Yanko Design. The design is based on the patent images of Samsung Display. The images are for illustrative purposes only, this product is not for sale. If you want to use one of these product renders on your own site, please include a clickable source link into your publication. Thank you very much.
The development tool Felgo was released in version 3.7. The most important innovation of the tool for cross-platform development with the Qt framework is likely to be the support of the Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) protocol, which allows apps created with Felgo to be connected to IoT and portable devices in an energy-saving manner. The Bluetooth protocol works without C ++ code and allows direct control via the framework’s own QML (Qt Model Language).
New APIs for Bluetooth LE and keychain access The Felgo developers have new APIs for the use of Bluetooth LE which are available in all Qt and Felgo projects with the current release. Recently added are a plug-in for logging in with an AppleID, an AppRadio component and the sharing of files with a Qt-native method: With the function NativeUtils :: share () , according to the Felgo team, data such as pictures can be shared with other apps using their URL. When the function is called up, a dialog window opens and offers options for sharing the data, for example via WhatsApp, e-mail and Slack.
Also new is the native keychain and keystore access, with which Developers should be able to save data securely on mobile devices. This feature is available for iOS and Android systems, according to the announcement in the Felgo blog, data can be safely written and permanently removed using Felgo NativeUtils.
Practical examples on GitHub and in the Felgo Developer App The release introduces AppListItem as a starting point for creating lists that developers can combine with the new AppRadio control. Several control elements have received Qt’s own designs in the current release and, according to the publishers, are easier to use than before. Developers can try out demos and examples in the accompanying Felgo Developer App, and the Felgo team has also added several demos with practical examples to the GitHub repository. There is also a new cloud IDE option on the download page: At the same time as the release of Felgo 3.7, the development team announced that in future they will also provide a web-based development environment for Qt and QML projects directly in the browser. Under the hood, the new offer is based on GitLab and is intended to offer comprehensive Git integration including issue tracking.
In-depth information The development team publishes detailed feature descriptions in a series of articles in the Felgo blog, two blog entries are already available: Further information on the integration of the Bluetooth protocol and the most important new features can be found in the first blog post, the second report focuses on the demos and practical examples for Felgo developers. A complete list of the changes can be found in the changelog.
Developers have several options for installing the system: If a previous version is installed, we recommend using the maintenance tool in the SDK. There you have to select Update Components , the exact process is described in the update guide. Otherwise there is the classic way via the installer in Felgo’s download area.
This is the second update for the OnePlus Nord this month and while smaller it still brings a couple of nice new features. The Game Space has been enhanced, while the October’s security patch is also part of it. Keep in mind that the OTA update is available only for India and Global variants of the handset while Europe will have to wait a little longer.
As we said, OnePlus’ Game Space gets a couple of new features and as per the changelog, there are new gaming tools box and switches for Fnatic mode. The notification handling is entirely up to you – text-only, heads-up or just block them altogether. In case you keep them, you can quickly reply, although only Whatsapp and INS are supported at th
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It’s hard not to be charmed by a smartphone that comes with a screwdriver in the box, especially when it’s as small and dinky as the one that comes with the Fairphone 3 Plus. In fact, that’s the only accessory you get with the phone. There’s no USB cable, no wall charger, and definitely no earbuds in the box.
This little screwdriver is an important indication of what you’re getting with the latest device from sustainable smartphone manufacturer Fairphone. For starters, the phone is designed to be as repairable as possible. It’s an upgraded version of last year’s Fairphone 3, one of only two devices to have earned a perfect repairability score from iFixit. Beyond repairs, Fairphone also attempts to use ethically sourced materials where possible and offer good working conditions for the people making its phones.
These are all noble aims, and it’s hard not to want Fairphone to succeed. But wanting a smartphone manufacturer to succeed means holding its devices to a high standard because that’s how it can attract the biggest audience and create the biggest positive impact.
Holding the Fairphone 3 Plus to these higher standards can be frustrating, though. At €469 / £425 (the Fairphone 3 Plus isn’t available for purchase in the US, but that converts to roughly $550), it’s competing in price with the likes of the Pixel 4A (€349 / £349) and this year’s iPhone SE (€489 / £399). It’s a crowded price point, one that the Fairphone 3 Plus struggles to be competitive at.
Before we get into talking about the phone itself, it’s worth taking a moment to talk about how it’s made. For starters, 40 percent of the plastic used in its construction is recycled, as is some copper. It uses gold from Fairtrade certified mines, tin from conflict-free mines, and Fairphone also has initiatives to improve conditions for factory workers in China. It’s a lot of stuff you probably don’t think about with other phones, but Fairphone is making an effort to be ethical across its supply chain.
When it comes to the final product, however, the Fairphone 3 Plus’ design is basic. This isn’t a phone that’s designed to hide its technology inside of a sleek slab of glass or metal. Repairability dictates a design that’s slightly bulkier, as Fairphone makes space for all of the user-accessible screws and plastic clasps this requires. The phone also isn’t dust or water resistant because this would require using seals or glue that would get in the way of repairs.
You’re exposed to these repairability features just by setting up the phone. There’s no SIM tray accessible from the outside of the phone, so instead, you have to pull off its plastic back, take out the removable battery, and then slide your SIM card into an internal slot. Personally, this was a nostalgic process that reminded me of what it was like to use feature phones in the ‘90s, but for others, it might come across as a bit dated.
Take off the phone’s back, and you’ll find a removable battery and a set of easily accessible screws.
Once you’ve got the back off of the phone, you can see all of the design features that contributed to that perfect repairability score. There’s no awkward glue or proprietary screws holding the phone together, just a series of plastic clasps and standard Phillips head screws.
It’s charming in its simplicity, but it also makes for an old-fashioned-looking device. Compared to most modern smartphones the Fairphone 3 Plus is a bulky slab of plastic. It’s got big fat bezels above and below the screen and an oddly prominent earpiece and selfie camera. If you like technology that looks like technology, then you’ll appreciate it, but it’s far from sleek.
Functionally, this design can also be a bit awkward. I found the Fairphone 3 Plus has an annoying design quirk where the location of the rear fingerprint sensor is just too high up the back of the phone, forcing me to readjust my grip to unlock the phone. As a right-handed person, it also felt a little weird having both the volume and power buttons on its left side. Then again, my left-handed roommate loved it. Make of that what you will.
Design gripes aside, the rest of the Fairphone 3 Plus’ appearance is unexceptional. It has a 1080p LCD display that doesn’t get very bright with colors that look a little washed out. Its single speaker is average, and unlike a lot of other phones, it’s placed on the left side of the device rather than the bottom. The location meant I accidentally covered it slightly less while holding the phone landscape to watch videos but more when I held it in portrait. Regardless, you’re going to want to use headphones here, so thankfully, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack to make that easier for you.
Performance-wise, the Fairphone 3 Plus chugs. It’s powered by a Snapdragon 632 with 4GB of RAM, which translates into a two-year-old chip with an amount of RAM that only budget Android handsets try to get away with these days. Stutters are a fact of life with the Fairphone 3 Plus, whether you’re activating Google Assistant to perform a quick task, flicking between apps, or opening the app drawer.
I also encountered a couple of annoying bugs during my time with the phone. Most annoying was that I couldn’t find a way to import my WhatsApp contacts or chat backup. Every time I tried to do so, the app got stuck in a loading loop, which didn’t end after even leaving it to run for half an hour. I’m running WhatsApp’s Android beta software, but even so, I’ve never experienced this on other devices. After switching Android to gesture navigation, I also found that UI elements on the home screen would overlap with one another. It makes the phone feel a little cheap.
The battery life of the Fairphone 3 Plus is nothing exceptional. Most days, I’d end the day with around 40 percent of charge, but that’s me working from home, so I’m not doing anything battery-intensive like navigation. Screen-on time varied massively between a low of three and a high of five and a half hours. In normal use, I think this is a phone that’ll just about last you a day, but not much more.
At least part of this dated hardware can be blamed on the fact that the Fairphone 3 Plus is fundamentally the same phone as last year’s Fairphone 3. That’s by design since it means that any Fairphone 3 owners who want to benefit from the Fairphone 3 Plus’ upgraded cameras can buy these separately as upgrade modules for their existing handset rather than buying a whole new phone. It’s an interesting response to the criticism companies like Apple face for bringing out new phones every year, which critics say encourages unnecessary yearly upgrades. It’s an admirable design feature, but it creates unfortunate compromises for the final device.
These specific camera upgrades in the Fairphone 3 Plus are focused on its new higher-resolution sensors. The rear camera has increased from 12 to 48 megapixels, while the selfie camera is now 16 megapixels up from 8 megapixels last year. You still only get one rear camera, but considering how low-resolution and unnecessary a lot of secondary cameras are, that’s probably an acceptable trade-off.
Despite the resolution improvements, however, the overall quality of the photographs taken by the Fairphone 3 Plus only ends up being okay. It might not be priced like a flagship, but it’s still £75 more expensive than the Pixel 4A, a midrange phone that offers very similar performance to its more expensive siblings.
In daylight, the Fairphone 3 Plus tends toward producing detailed images with lots of contrast. They have punch, but this can sometimes come at the expense of shadow detail, and images can sometimes look overly sharp. The combination can create some noisy photographs.
This is especially apparent in low-light situations, where detail can end up being crushed out of darker areas of an image. This means that when things get really dark, you can lose detail entirely.
I generally liked the photos I got out of the Fairphone 3 Plus’ selfie camera, however.
Despite the camera improvements, the Fairphone 3 Plus still offers an average smartphone camera. It’s fine in daylight, but you don’t get much flexibility, and in low-light images can end up looking grainy and lacking in detail.
The phone’s upgraded camera modules only deliver average photos.
It feels wrong to criticize the Fairphone 3 Plus by the same metrics we use to rank other smartphones because it makes such an effort in areas that a lot of other manufacturers aren’t interested in. It really is remarkable just how easy it is to take this phone apart, and Fairphone’s efforts to source its materials ethically should be applauded.
But all of these efforts, no matter how worthwhile, come at a cost. In terms of the device that sits in your hands at the end of the day, you’re paying more for less functio
The Finnish security specialist F-Secure will actively search for the German state Trojan with its anti-malware software and deactivate it. “We are not obliged to cooperate with the state and will therefore not do that either,” said F-Secure manager Rüdiger Trost. This would thwart the Federal Government’s plans for F-Secure to enable the secret services to read communications via WhatsApp and other encrypted messenger services.
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“State Trojans do not get a free ticket from us” “State Trojans do not get a free ticket from us,” said Trost on Saturday to the German press agency. From his company’s point of view, every Trojan horse is malware that needs to be fought. “That is why we switch them off when we discover them. We are not obliged to cooperate with the state and will therefore not do that either.”
The federal cabinet decided on Wednesday that the constitution protection , the Federal Intelligence Service and the Military Shielding Service (MAD) should not only be allowed to monitor ongoing conversations via messenger, but also messages that are sent via messenger. A corresponding change in the law to the so-called source TKÜ still has to be passed by the Bundestag.
Smartphone – more than a communication device Trost said that the secret services would first try to exploit security gaps in the devices and programs. In addition, government agencies would likely reach out to individual vendors of these devices and operating systems and request backdoor programming. The services would focus on the mobile platforms.
Not only communication with WhatsApp or another messenger is affected here, emphasize
WhatsApp has finally added a functionality that will allow us to permanently silence the groups from which we do not want to receive notifications constantly, because as many of you will know, until now, the longest possibility we had to not receive notifications from a group on WhatsApp was one year.
This functionality, Highly requested by thousands of users, it reached the Beta version of WhatsApp a few days ago, although from the next few days it should begin to reach the stable version of Android and iOS if It has not already done so in some terminals , as well as the computer version of the application, WhatsApp Web.
Similarly, WhatsApp is expected to update its application during s next weeks to add some functionalities such as protect our chats by face unlock , as well as launch “multiple devices”, a function that will allow us to have an active WhatsApp account on up to four devices simultaneously , something interesting for example for companies.
Other rumors also comment that the WhatsApp web client is about to receive some improvements , among which, according to comments in WABetaInfo, would be the possibility of make audio calls, as well as video calls , thus bringing it closer to other instant messaging clients such as Telegram.
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Jordi Bercial
Avid enthusiast of technology and electronics. I messed around with computer components almost since I learned to ride. I started working at Geeknetic after winning a contest on their forum for writing hardware articles. Drift, mechanics and photography lover. Don’t be shy and leave a comment on my articles if you have any questions.
The draft for a law to “adapt the constitutional protection law”, which the federal government launched on Wednesday, meets with serious concerns. “There is a risk that the extent of state surveillance in practical application will exceed what is tolerable for a democracy”, warned the Federal Data Protection Commissioner Ulrich Kelber. The initiative contains many shortcomings and goes hand in hand with massive encroachments on privacy.
Not only the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) and the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), but all federal and state secret services are given the authority to use state trojans to listen to messenger communication via WhatsApp, Signal or Threema, as well as Internet phone calls and video calls. As part of a “Quellen-TKÜ plus”, the agents are also allowed to access saved chats and emails.
Moratorium required “The Courts have shown a clear need for reform in the laws of the intelligence services, “says Kelber. “Instead of tackling these urgent reforms, new monitoring options are to be created.” This is the wrong way to go, says the SPD politician. He repeated his call for a “security law moratorium” and called for “an independent scientific analysis” of the existing monitoring competencies.
The government put the “denial” with the draft Kelber complained that the scope of information collection “when accessing IT systems is not clearly defined. As a result, there is a risk that the source telecommunications monitoring will become an even more extensive, clandestine online search, “which is actually not supposed to be introduced”. Furthermore, the requirements for the use of state Trojans correspond roughly to those in the police sector. This violates the constitutional separation requirement between police authorities and secret services.
“Another scandalous idea” The chairman of the society for Freedom Rights (GFF), Ulf Buermeyer, senses “another scandalous idea” in the initiative: “Providers should be obliged to help the secret services to hide Trojans in their customers’ downloads,” he tweeted. What looks like a Windows update could soon be malware from the security authorities. Especially in the case of “uncontrolled secret services”, the boundaries of the rule of law would be exceeded.
Buermeyer is referring to the planned new paragraph 2 of the G 10 law Intelligence surveillance linked to the reform. According to this, providers of telecommunications services would have to support the “authorized bodies” in “bringing in” “technical means” for the source TKÜ and redirecting the communication to them. Details should be able to be determined by ordinance.
Loss of confidentiality and integrity The eco-Association of the Internet Industry is running against this compulsion to cooperate with the secret services Sturm. In practice, the obligation to forward “suspicious” data packets to the authorities would result in disproportionate cuts in their business models not only for companies, it says. There was also the threat of “fundamentally considerable losses in the confidentiality and integrity of digital communication”.
“This law will endanger IT security on the Internet, if not a loss of trust and a clear step backwards for all digitization processes in society and economy “, fears eco board member Klaus Landefeld. This
A new e-commerce platform which provides for the presence of many online stores entirely accessible from WhatsApp at every stage of the purchase procedure. This is how the implementation on the messaging client
of Nino Grasso
will work published 23 October 2020 , at 19: 01 in the Telephony channel WhatsApp Facebook
Last Thursday Facebook announced the interest of to allow WhatsApp users to make purchases without ever leaving the application . The company is taking steps to increase the revenues from the messaging service by combining the e-commerce infrastructure between all the proprietary apps, trying to make the investment of 19 billions of dollars made for the acquisition of WhatsApp in 2014.
Through the new e-commerce strategy WhatsApp will allow companies to sell products within the app through Facebook Shops , an online store launched in May to offer a shopping experience unified across Facebook apps. The company will also enter the cloud computing sector, offering companies that use the services offered by the messaging app the ability to store messages on Facebook’s servers.
A huge e-commerce platform directly on WhatsApp
Matt Idema, Chief Operating Officer of WhatsApp, stated that the purchase tool will allow companies to connect companies with new potential customers, and will be distributed already by the end of 2020, while the message hosting service will be available in 2021. Idema also stated that WhatsApp will offer the hosting service for free to try to attract new corporate customers, who however they will be charged from 0, 005 $ to 0, 09 $ per message distributed through the platform.
At the moment, WhatsApp’s customer base is relatively sparse, with a few tens of thousands of businesses worldwide, while tens of millions use the most limited free tools aimed at small businesses. In total, more than 175 millions of people interact with a company every day on WhatsApp, Idema said: “Revenue is quite meager today, compared to Facebook in general, but we think the opportunity is pretty big,” his words.
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