New A.I. and voice synthesis makes Gatebox your cutest, cleverest digital pal
The concept of living at home with a friendly, intelligent digital character is almost a reality, due to a partnership between Line, the popular messaging app, and Gatebox, a cult Japanese artificial intelligence company. Line's Clova A.I. will live alongside Gatebox's character, and now we can see how it will work.
Xiaomi’s Mi Smart Band 4 is a desirable, cheap fitness band/smartwatch mash-up
Xiaomi has announced the availability of the Mi Smart Band 4 in the U.K., which despite a low price, manages to squeeze in a massive amount of functionality. The Mi Smart Band 4 may look like a simple fitness band, but it has evolved to take on more smartwatch-style features, while retaining the genuinely cheap price.
Vivo’s new charging tech rockets phone your battery to full in only 13 minutes
Vivo has made another leap forward in battery charging tech with the introduction of Super FlashCharge 120w, which is capable of sending enough power through to your phone’s battery to recharge it in only 13 minutes. The technology has been shown at MWC Shanghai, but we do not know when it will be released on a phone.
Oppo’s exciting new tech hides the selfie camera under the phone screen
Oppo has revealed impressive new technology where it can hide the selfie camera on a smartphone beneath the display itself, taking its devices another step closer to providing an unspoiled and completely immersive viewing experience. Oppo explained how it has overcome problems to maintain image quality.
Hackers conduct prolonged cyberattack against phone network, says security firm
A security company says a prolonged cyberattack against global phone networks, where hackers have apparently collected data related to phone conversations and even the physical location of the device, has taken place. A hacking group, allegedly also responsible for the Cloud Hopper attacks in 2018, has been blamed.
Huawei and Honor make bold Android Q update pledge in the face of U.S. ban
Huawei has opened a website to reassure smartphone buyers about the status of Android and Android Q on its devices, and what will happen the near future. It is confident Android Q will come to the Huawei P30 series and the Honor 20 series, along with 17 other devices released over the past months.
Fossil is preparing 5 new designer smartwatches, and we can’t wait to see them
New designer smartwatches are coming soon from Fossil, if listings on the FCC’s website are to be believed. Based on these listings, it suggests the watches will be released under the Diesel, Michael Kors, Emporio Armani, and the Fossil brand names. Fossil has previously launched its new models in the summer.
How iOS 13 will eventually make your iPhone the only ID you need
In Apple’s iOS 13, the stage is being set for it to become the main form of personal identification you carry, due to the company opening up its NFC feature beyond simply Apple Pay. By doing this, official identification could be scanned in, creating a digital representation of the hard copy in your hand.
Global Honor 20 launch marred by fear, as Huawei gets squeezed by U.S. ban
The launch of the Honor 20 series may be the first new device range to be seriously hit by Huawei’s presence on the Entity List. Huawei executives are reportedly watching the forthcoming European launch closely, and there is some expectation that sales will be poor, which may force it to cut off shipments.
Huawei Mate X folding smartphone: Everything you need to know
Huawei has announced the Huawei Mate X, a 5G folding smartphone with stunning looks and an exciting specification sheet. The Mate X has three screens -- one on the front, one on the back, and one after the phone is unfolded -- plus a clever hinge system, and a Leica camera. Here are all the details.
Huawei’s Android-alternative operating system: Everything you need to know
Huawei is developing its own mobile operating system to potentially replace Google's Android on some of its devices. Rumors have spread for some time about the software project, which Huawei Business Group chairman Richard Yu called, "Plan B," and talk of its existence began in 2018. Development has now sped up.
Xiaomi Mi 9T: Everything you need to know
Xiaomi will soon launch a new member of the Mi 9 family. It will be called the Mi 9T, and there are hints it may come with a notchless screen and a pop-up camera. This may mean it shares some of what made the recent Redmi K20 Pro so tempting. The phone is not official yet, but here's what we know so far.
Asus ZenFone 6 review
Asus is embracing the 2019 trend of not following any trends at all and instead going in its own direction. The ZenFone 6 has a motorized flip-around camera, a 5,000mAh battery, and an almost Google Pixel-like version of Android installed. We’ve been using the phone, and here's our review.
Speed is everything: Using 5G in the U.K. on the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G
You can buy a 5G phone and connect to 5G in the U.K. now, but what's it like when you do? Armed with a OnePlus 7 Pro 5G on the EE network, we've been walking the streets of London to find out. It's only the first week of the launch, and coverage is still spotty, but don't let that put you off.
HTC still makes smartphones, but still isn’t great at marketing them
It’s easy to forget HTC still makes smartphones, as it sold most of its phone division to Google, hasn’t competed in the flagship race for a while, and concentrates on selling the HTC Vive VR headset. The phones are still there, though, and HTC has announced a pair of new ones: The HTC U19e, and the Desire 19+.
See Spielberg’s scary horror show on your phone, but only when darkness falls
Steven Spielberg is not only writing a horror story for an app, but he also has a really fiendish idea to make it even more atmospheric: Your phone won’t let you see it until after the sun goes down. The app is new streaming service Quibi, a collaboration between Hollywood and Silicon Valley, and it's coming in early 2020.
Line Pay’s global digital Visa card helps it take on Apple, Google, and Samsung
Messaging app Line is pushing ahead with its financial technology plans, and has announced a wider partnership with Visa, to integrate not just contactless payments, but to add a pre-paid Visa card into the app itself. It will operate globally, and see Line take on established mobile payment systems from Apple and Google.
Smartphone survives the ultimate drop test from an astonishing 103,000 feet
A Chinese smartphone manufacturer may have gone a little over the top in its attempt to prove how durable its latest device is, by attaching it to a high-altitude balloon and watching it ascend to 31,540 meters — that’s just over 103,000 feet — and then letting it fall. Amazingly, the phone survived and was still working on the ground.
Sign In with Apple sticks it to Google and Facebook, for the good of everyone
Apple wants you to use its new Sign In with Apple service, which promises to free you from password hell, without selling your soul to the advertising devil. Google and Facebook offer similar features, but with compromises to your online privacy. Does Apple's solution improve on them?
Honor 20 Pro hands-on review
Where does Honor go after the Honor View 20, the best device it has made? The answer is the Honor 20 Pro, which takes what made the View 20 great, and then gets better by adding more cameras, and shrinking the size. It’s priced well, but questions linger on whether it’s a worthwhile purchase due to the U.S.’ relationship with Huawei.
The Nowa Superbe tracks fitness, without looking like it belongs in the gym
The Nowa Superbe is not a hybrid smartwatch, as it doesn’t deliver notifications, and is instead a basic fitness tracker wearing its best party outfit, for those who hate the idea of wearing a fitness tracker that looks like it really only belongs in the gym. We've worn it for a few days to see how it performs.
Swipe typing isn’t new, but it’s the best addition to iOS since Siri
Dismissed in a short sentence during the WWDC 2019 keynote presentation was one of the more interesting new features in iOS 13 — the introduction of swipe-typing on the standard iOS keyboard. Those who haven't enjoyed the feature on Android, or on third party iOS keyboards, are in for a treat.
Samsung’s Bixby-powered Galaxy Home speaker now slated for a fall release
Samsung has announced the Galaxy Home smart speaker to rival Amazon's Echo, Google Home, and Apple's HomePod. However, while it has shown off the design and given a hint at its features, it is not quite ready to provide a concrete release and price details. Here's what we know about the Galaxy Home so far.
Why iTunes had to die to be reborn
Apple’s decision to kill off iTunes-as-we-know-it, as announced during WWDC 2019, makes me nostalgic. Not only because it was instrumental in bringing me into the Apple family; but because I still rely on iTunes today for the same reason it was created back in 2001. But reports of its death may be overblown.
Notch no more: The era of the in-display smartphone selfie camera has arrived
Oppo and Xiaomi have both demonstrated exciting new technology that places the selfie camera on a smartphone behind the screen, and not inside a notch or pop-up module. The new design makes the lens almost invisible when only glancing at the phone, and is the next stage in creating neater, bezel-free phones.
Asus Zenfone 6: Key settings to change on your new phone
If you’ve got a new Zenfone 6 in hand, then there are a few settings to change and tricks to know, ready for you to really enjoy this great phone. We covered everything from the way to control the motorized camera lens, to adjusting the sound, and also customizing the Smart Key on the side of the phone.
Sorry fans, Blackberry Messenger for Android and iOS died May 31
The BlackBerry Messenger app, better known as BBM, for Android and iOS is shutting down, nearly six years after it launched. The consumer version of the service will stop operating on May 31, but for loyal BBM'ers there is some good news, as BlackBerry has an alternative ready for you to use.
BlackBerry Key2 LE: Everything you need to know
The BlackBerry Key2 LE is the phone for businesses that want the BlackBerry experience, without the big bills attached to buying the regular Key2. The LE has a physical keyboard, a good screen, secure software, and plenty more to appeal, but it misses out on the Key2's standout high-tech features.
MediaTek’s 5G SoC is a groundbreaking, integrated 5G chip for smartphones
MediaTek has announced a groundbreaking integrated 5G mobile processor built on a 7nm process, using the latest ARM Cortex A77 architecture, and specifically for Sub-6 signals. The chip will power devices launched in early 2020, ready for use in devices sold in China, and by Sprint and T-Mobile in the U.S..
The Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro packs a Snapdragon 855 for under $400
The Redmi K20 Pro looks like 2019's biggest smartphone bargain yet, squeezing in masses of new tech, including the Snapdragon 855 processor, an OLED screen, and a pop-up camera for under $400. It's the highest-specification phone we've seen from the Xiaomi sub-brand. Here's what you need to know about it.
Honor 20 Pro and Honor 20: Everything you need to know
Honor has launched the Honor 20 Series at an event in London, revealing the Honor 20, Honor 20 Pro, and the Honor 20 Lite. The phones, especially the Honor 20 Pro, are impressive but the launch has been overshadowed by the continually evolving situation involving Huawei. Here's what you need to know about the three Honor 20 phones.
