Monday, November 1, 2021

Best Buy’s early Black Friday deals include two OLED TVs under $1,000

If you're looking to score a premium OLED TV before the official Black Friday sale, then Best Buy has you covered. Best Buy's early Black Friday TV deals include steep discounts on two OLED TVs that bring them down under $1,000: the brand-new LG A1 OLED and Vizio OLED TV from last year.  

Today's offer also comes with the Best Buy Black Friday price guarantee, which promises that any product featured in today's promotion will not go any lower in price before the official Black Friday 2021 sale. If, for some reason, they do, Best Buy is offering a full refund for the difference.

Black Friday OLED TV deals

LG 48-inch A1 OLED TV: $1,199 $899 at Best Buy
Save $300 -
If you're looking for a cheaper version of the best-selling LG C1 OLED, the A1 OLED uses the same panel with a slightly slower processor. With support for Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG, you've got wide HDR support that can accentuate those perfect black levels.

Vizio 55-inch OLED TV: $1,299 $999 at Best Buy
Save $300 -
Of course, if you're looking for something a bit larger than a 48-inch screen with a native 120Hz refresh rate, Vizio has you covered with its 55-inch OLED model. You've got support for most major streaming apps through its SmartCast platform plus four HDMI inputs for all your consoles.

Admittedly, we like the slightly more expensive Vizio OLED because it comes in a slightly larger size and has the higher native refresh rate. That said, LG's built-in smart platform, webOS, is pretty great and LG's upscaling is usually top notch. 

Other great OLED TV deals this week 

While no other deals will be able to compete with these two in terms of price, there are some great early Black Friday TV deals going on right now on OLED displays.  

LG C1 OLED (65-inch): $2,499.99 $1,896 at Amazon
Save $603 - The LG C1 OLED is the latest 2021 C-Series OLED TV from LG, and it's on sale today for $1,896 at Amazon - just $100 more than last week's record-low price. It's one of the best TVs you can buy, thanks to the stunning OLED display, Alpha a9 Gen. 4 processor, and virtual surround sound audio. If you're after the best price-to-performance ratio, the C1 OLED comes with our highest recommendation and is the best Black Friday TV deal we've spotted so far.

Sony Bravia A9S OLED TV (48-inch): $1,499 $1,199 at Amazon
Save $300 -
Another excellent OLED option is Sony's new Bravia A9S OLED that uses the X1 Ultimate Processor and has a native refresh rate of 120Hz, making it the perfect companion for a PS5. Considering you can already save $300 on it before Black Friday with guaranteed pricing, it's well worth considering.



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The best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals for November 2021

This week's best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip deals might just bag you this incredibly slick new foldable flagship for less than you'd think. Not only is this new device cheaper than the previous Fold 2 phone, but there are also a ton of great options for saving on both carrier and unlocked devices right now, despite the fact it only launched last month.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: jump links

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals

(Image credit: Future)

1. This week's best deals
2. Mini-review

In fact, its introductory price of $999 makes it around the same price as a Galaxy S21 Plus, although no one would dare to call the Galaxy Z Flip 3 an 'affordable' device by stretch of the imagination. That said, there are a couple of nifty ways to save some cash on a pre-order with this week's introductory Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals, which you can see just below.

Key upgrades include a beefy new Snapdragon 888, an expanded cover screen four times the size of that featured on the previous model, and some new camera software upgrades. Samsung has also improved the refresh rate of the internal display so it's zipping along at a speedy 120Hz - which brings it in line with all the latest flagship devices on the market. 

If you'd like to read a bit more about the specs of this device we've attached a mini-review just at the bottom of the page, just beneath this week's best Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: save up to $1,000 with trade-in, plus $1,000 with number port-in
It's not every day you see a saving of up to $2,000 on a single device, but that's exactly what you've got with Verizon's Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals this week. To attain the maximum saving, you'll both need to be trading in an eligible device and switching over from another carrier but these savings are actually mutually exclusive. Existing customers can upgrade too for a lesser amount - granted they're on an eligible unlimited data plan and they've got a decent phone to trade.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: save up to $1,000 with an eligible trade-in and new plan
There's no big new customer promotion for AT&T's Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals (unlike Verizon), but its maximum saving of up to $1,000 with a trade is still absolutely fantastic. That's actually enough to cover the entire cost of the device here, although you'll have to be handing over a fairly recent device to get that full rebate. As always, you'll need to be signing up to an eligible unlimited plan (upgrades available too).

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: up to $600 off with trade-in at Samsung
Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals aren't quite as good as they were on this device's launch, but they're still pretty damn great. No longer can you get yourself a free pair of Galaxy Buds 2, but the retailer will give you a huge discount if you trade in. Plus, its excellent trade-in program will even take broken devices. 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3: save up to $400 with activation, plus up to $1,000 with an eligible trade-in
You'll find excellent carrier and unlocked Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals at Best Buy this week - a retailer that offers both trade-in and activation rebates on all devices. In particular, we'd recommend checking out the $300 activation rebate that's available on unlocked devices right now - a handy saving that can potentially drop the price to just $799.99

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals: what you need to know

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 specs

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals: specs rundown

(Image credit: Samsung)

OS: Android | Screen size: 6.7-inch (interior) 1.9-inch (exterior)| Resolution:  2640 x 1080 (interior) 512 x 260 (exterior) | CPU: 5nm 64-bit Octa-Core | Memory: 8GB | Weight: N/A |Storage: 128 / 256GB | Battery:  3,300mAh   | Rear camera: 12MP main, 12MP ultrawide| Front camera: 10MP 

Finally, Samsung has finally managed to do what seemed impossible just a few years ago - produce a foldable device that actually costs around the same as a similarly specced out 'normal' device. Well, relatively speaking - the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 does still costs $999 at launch, which isn't exactly pocket change.

That puts it in same price bracket as the 'plus' sized flagships like the iPhone 12 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus - powerful devices, but not any more powerful than the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3, thanks to its new Snapdragon 888 chipset. Put simply, you're not paying that new-tech novelty tax for going with a foldable device, and you're even getting a few new design improvements too.

While, on initial inspection, the Flip 3 may look a lot like its predecessor, it's now featuring a cover display that's four times larger, an upgraded internal screen that's capable of 120Hz refresh rate, and a reinforced hinge that feels a lot sturdier than those on previous Fold devices. Samsung has also ditched the glass outer back design for this new iteration, instead opting for a new 'glastic' design. Some may not welcome that change, but it does mean a cheaper device - and one that's more durable.

See our hands-on Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 review



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New 500TB optical discs could be the answer to our prayers

Using optical discs for long-term storage could soon be feasible for organizations as researchers have developed a new laser-writing method for producing high-density nanostructures in silica glass that is both fast and energy efficient.

These nanostructures allow for long-term five-dimensional (5D) optical data storage which is more than 10,000 times denser than the optical disc storage technology used by Blue-Ray discs.

Doctoral researcher from the University of Southampton, Yuhao Lei explained in a press release how 5D data storage in glass provides an alternative to cloud storage for information that needs to be archived for safe keeping, saying:

“Individuals and organizations are generating ever-larger datasets, creating the desperate need for more efficient forms of data storage with a high capacity, low energy consumption and long lifetime. While cloud-based systems are designed more for temporary data, we believe that 5D data storage in glass could be useful for longer-term data storage for national archives, museums, libraries or private organizations.”

5D optical data storage 

Lei and his colleagues have published a new scientific article in Optical Publishing Group's journal for high-impact research describing their new method for writing data to glass. Their method involves writing data that encompasses two optical dimensions plus three spatial dimensions. As a result, this new approach can write at speeds of 1m voxels per second which is equivalent to recording around 0.23MB per second. 

As the physical mechanism used by the researchers is generic, Lei believes that their writing method could also be used for “fast nanostructuring in transparent materials for applications in 3D integrated optics and microfuidics”.

By using their new method, the researchers were able to write 5GB of text data onto a silica glass disc that was around the size of a conventional CD with nearly 100 percent readout accuracy. Each voxel contained four bits of information and every two voxels corresponded to a text character.

Due to the writing density available from the researcher's new writing method, each disc will be able to hold 500TB of data. However, by upgrading the system to allow parallel writing, the researchers say that it would be possible to write 500TB of data in about 60 days.

Although it would be faster to write the same amount of data to multiple solid state drives (SSD), Lei and the other researchers' method is designed for longer-term archiving just as tape storage is.

We've also featured the best large-capacity drives



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Oppo A95 Live Photos Surface Online, 4G Variant Tipped to Launch in November in Southeast Asia

https://ift.tt/2kYs8lM A95, a purported handset from the Chinese smartphone company is reportedly making its way to the Southeast Asian markets soon. The new A-series handset is said to come with triple rear cameras.

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Apple just beat Xiaomi in the battle for second biggest smartphone maker

Apple has reclaimed second place in the list of global smartphone shipments, just a few months after losing the title to Xiaomi. The release of the new iPhone 13 series tipped the company back into second position, but it still remains behind Samsung.

As per the figures shared by IDC (International Data Corporation), Apple regained the second spot by shipping 50.4 million units in the third quarter. That runs from July until the end of September, with Xiaomi taking the third spot with 44.3 million global shipments. 

Apple now enjoys a 15.2% market share and booked 20.8% year-over-year growth. In comparison, Xiaomi registered a 4.6% decline in Q3 of 2021, but it has managed to grab an overall good chunk of the market with a 13.4% share, surpassing many others on the list

Samsung retained its top spot with 69 million shipments and a market share of 20.8%. Vivo and Oppo share the fourth spot on the list with a weirdly similar 33.3 million for Vivo and 33.2 million for Oppo.

Apple may have benefitted from a less-than-enthusiastic reception to Xiaomi's flagship in some geographies while the company saw an increase in the sale of its iPhones during the third quarter.

The delay in the launch of the iPhone 13 series as well as the price drops on earlier models might have contributed to the spike in shipments for the company.  


Analysis: Smartphone shipments are down, and it's clear why

Smartphone vendors shipped a total of 331.2 million units during the quarter, a slight decline from the last quarter as the vendors struggled to meet the demand for devices amid component shortages. 

As IDC reports, the supply chain and component shortage issues have played a big role in altering the positions. 

For a long time, it was assumed that the smartphone market was immune to this issue despite many adjacent industries (laptops and games consoles, for example) being impacted. But, the issues have finally caught up in the smartphone market. 

The IDC report also suggested that the shortages are affecting all vendors alike but clearly, some companies faced the brunt of the supply chain disruption compared to the others.  

The report further mentions that there are a lot of other factors that are limiting the rate of growth. For instance, stricter testing and quarantining policies contributed to major delays.

There are also industry manufacturing and logistical challenges to deal with as well, which the IDC believes, would result in persistent supply-side for the early part of next year.

However, it was not all southward bound for Xiaomi. Canalys, an analyst firm, has reported that Xiaomi wants to displace Samsung to become the world’s largest vendor. Perhaps, Xiaomi’s bullish plans got hit by unprecedented events related to the processor shortages. 

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LG's in-vehicle infotainment system to debut in Renault EV

LG Electronics In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) system, which leverages the strength of webOS Auto, will make its debut in the new Renault's new EV, the Mégane E-Tech Electric in 2022. 

The software behind the IVI system was developed by LG in partnership with Renault and is based on Google Android Automotive. Renault's new vehicle equipped with LG’s advanced IVI system was unveiled at IAA MOBILITY 2021, the world’s largest mobility conference held recently at Munich in Germany.

Typically, In-vehicle Infotainment systems provide drivers and passengers with helpful information, such as directions and weather forecasts, on top of in-vehicle entertainment that lets them listen to podcasts, make hands-free calls and check messages.

The technology behind LG's new software

LG has put to use Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), which is a set of principles and processes to help large organisations adopt agile methodologies to develop and deliver products and services faster. 

LG's software operates independently from the vehicle’s hardware to provide a variety of features such as the ability to update the operating system over-the-air and remotely check vehicle charging status.

The Android-based IVI system, based on Android 10, is the first to receive a certification from Google Automotive Services (GAS). The platform offers intelligent infotainment services and easy access to various Google apps including Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play via the Center Information Display (CID).

Digital cockpits are the way forward

Digital cockpits have quickly transformed how drivers and passengers interact with their vehicles, allowing for more personalization and enhanced comfort,” Thierry Cammal, Alliance Global Vice President Renault Software Factory, was quoted as saying in a press statement from LG. 

“Our new IVI system not only meets but exceeds the growing demand for stable, advanced and user-friendly automotive software platforms,” said Dr. Kim Jin-yong, president of the LG Vehicle component Solutions Company. “Through continuous innovation and collaboration with expert partners such as Renault, LG is committed to delivering differentiated in-vehicle experiences and further strengthening our position as a solutions provider for the global auto industry.”

LG’s Vehicle component Solutions (VS) Company, which is planning a major foray in the segment, recently acquired automotive lighting and headlight systems provider, ZKW Group. It has also entered into a joint venture with Magna International to create the LG Magna e-Powertrain, which launched in July.

LG Electronics is also actively developing components for driver assistance, such as the LG-designed ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) which utilizes a front camera to collect traffic information so drivers can make better decisions and roads can be made safer. ADAS can also recognize and respond to surrounding environments – even through busy intersections.

The fast-growing global vehicle infotainment market is projected to reach $ 54.8 billion in 2027. And with the increase in demand for more safety and security solutions, in-vehicle communication features and technologies will only become more important.



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Why a CEWE PHOTOBOOK makes the perfect personalised gift for any time of the year

The best gifts are personal. Searching for something with that special touch that speaks to the person you’re buying for is often what present buying is all about. 

Everything CEWE makes can be personalised, turned into a one-off with custom artwork and photography. With printing as their passion, CEWE offers everything from photo prints to mugs, custom jigsaws to photo books and calendars. Plus, they match the care and attention you put into the design in the expert production of each of your creations. 

Whether you’re after a Christmas gift that distills precious memories or a funny housewarming present, perhaps a mug featuring a friend’s dog, CEWE has something that will fit the bill - but today, we’re going to turn our attention to the award winning CEWE PHOTOBOOK

We think photo books make superb Christmas gifts, or simply an elegant way to collate happy memories for yourself. According to the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA), CEWE is the number one company to trust with your precious pictures too. 

CEWE won the Best Photo Service TIPA award in 2021 for its A2 Photo Calendar with Gold Highlights, and also won TIPA awards in 2020, 2019 and 2018 for the CEWE PHOTOBOOK and hexxas wall art range. The verdict is in, and has been for ages: it’s the best photo book you can buy. 

CEWE uses professional-grade printing presses and binding machines to offer extremely high image quality, with vivid and detailed reproductions that show off your photos at their best. You can choose the size of the book, the type of paper to use and whether to have a hardcover, softcover or booklet binding. 

How to make a CEWE PHOTOBOOK

Cewe Photobook

(Image credit: CEWE)

Making a CEWE PHOTOBOOK is easy, too, and there are three ways in which you can channel your creativity. You can create products online, download the CEWE app on your phone, or download the CEWE Creator software on your Windows PC or Mac. 

We designed a CEWE PHOTOBOOK with the CEWE app and desktop to see what it feels like. Sunset is getting earlier by the day at the moment, so we decided to capture a few of the sunny memories from a holiday to Italy’s pretty Cinque Terre last year, to warm up the mood. 

The beauty of the CEWE creator tool is you can control as much as you want to. If you’re happy to let CEWE arrange your photos, just pick the images you want to use and select a style. 

We were done in a few minutes, and the clever system creates a natural-looking arrangement that doesn’t repeat patterns of images across pages, assuming you don’t want one photo per page. That is an option, of course, if the number of images matches the number of pages. The only part you need to worry about is which pics to include. 

If you want to go fully hands-on and design your own photo book, we strongly recommend using CEWE Creator software on a laptop or desktop as it’s a powerful but easy-to-use editing tool. You can change background colours and images for each printed page, insert text to your heart’s content, add specific frames for each image and insert extra graphics (otherwise known as Clipart) around your photos. In a nutshell - there are thousands of options available.

To top it off, CEWE has over 50 years’ experience in photo reproduction and its printing workflow is carbon-neutral. CEWE has also been proudly FSC certified since 2013, which means it sources materials from sustainably managed forests. 

You can design your own CEWE PHOTOBOOK today, and prices start from just £5.99. 

Cewe Photobook

(Image credit: CEWE)

Or, if cherishing the past isn’t enough, you can also look to the future with the A2 Photo Calendar with Gold Highlights. This stylish and chic flip calendar is a great way to display your favourite shots or family moments around the home - and there are plenty more to choose from in the wide range of CEWE calendars.

Discover the full range, from custom phone cases to art prints and photo books at cewe.co.uk



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Oppo Reno 7, Reno 7 Pro, Reno 7 SE Price, Specifications Leak Ahead of Official Announcement

https://ift.tt/2kYs8lM Reno 7 series' launch seems imminent as the price and specifications of the smartphones have surfaced online. According to the latest leak, Oppo Reno, 7 SE will be the third variant in the upcoming series that includes Oppo Reno 7 and Oppo Reno 7 Pro.

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Samsung Galaxy A13 5G Price and Specifications Leak, 25W Fast Charging Tipped

https://ift.tt/154AwVo Galaxy A13 5G specifications have been leaked. The phone is likely to be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC and pack a 5,000mAh battery. It is expected to feature a 6.48-inch full-HD+ LCD display as well.

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Jai Bhim - How to catch actor Suriya's Tamil courtroom tale on OTT platform

Diwali may be a few days away. But big-ticket releases on the Indian OTT space are set to stream to ring in the festive spirit already. The Tamil courtroom drama Jai Bhim is among the much-expected films of the season. It is part of the four-film package that Amazon Prime Video signed with actor Suriya's production house 2D Entertainment early this year.

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Directed by T J Gnanavel, Jai Bhim, apart from Suriya, features Prakash Raj, Rao Ramesh, Rajisha Vijayan, Manikandan, and Lijo Mol Jose in pivotal roles.

Suriya's previous release, Soorarai Pottru, on the life and business of (now defunct) Air Deccan's founder G R Gopinath, was one of the biggest successes all over India on the OTT circuit last year.

What is all Jai Bhim all about

Jai Bhim, as many would know, is a clarion call made famous by B R Ambedkar, one of the architects of the Indian Constitution, and a leader of the Dalits. It is no surprise then that the film Jai Bhim focuses on the trials and tribulations of a couple from the Adivasi Irular community (belonging to the Scheduled Tribes). The film is based on true events that happened in the 1990s in Tamil Nadu.

Suriya plays a conscientious advocate who fights enormous odds to bring justice to a community invisibilised by modern-day power politics.

But Suriya says Jai Bhim is not a commentary on today's politics. In an online interaction with journos ahead of the film's release, he said: "The film is more about what happened in 1995. It will inspire a lot of people in our society to have a different perspective on certain things. How the judiciary and the police department should be hand-in-hand to make things be in the right place, and bring justice."

Suriya said he was more than careful in playing this role as it involved real life happenings and it is about people from the marginalised community.

"For me, it is about how we want to celebrate our unsung heroes. The responsibility also comes with the story because it also deals with a tribal woman's fight for justice and what it takes for them to reach the High Court," he said.

The actor said that this film was not in his comfort zone. "It does not fall into the layout or pattern or sketch that any of my previous films were."

Jai Bhim has music by Sean Rolden, camera by S R Kadhir, editing by Philominraj, and art director by Kadhir.

Jai Bhim on Amazon Prime Video from November 2

Jai Bhim will stream on Amazon Prime Video from tomorrow (November 2). It is another major victory for the streamer as getting a Suriya-starrer directly on its platform is a big thing when theatres have opened with full capacity across the country.

Amazon Prime Video is available in India at no extra cost with Amazon Prime membership for Rs 999 annually or  Rs 129 monthly, new customers can find out more at  www.amazon.in/prime and subscribe to a free 30-day trial.

Amazon Prime Video, ever since it amped up its India content, has had good success. Its recent web series  Mumbai Diaries, The Family Man -Season 2 and the Vidya Balan starrer Sherni and Akshay Kumar starrer Bell Bottom are blockbusters, to use a mainstream description.

In Bollywood, Amazon Prime Video is producing the Akshay Kumar film Ram Setu, and is also currently making Shahid Kapoor's debut into digital space through a web series

Amazon Prime Video recently had an 8-day film extravaganza for its Prime Day. It also had many big premieres, especially Malayalam films like Maalik, Kuruthi and Saara's.

Suriya's previous production, the Tamil film Udanpirappe was also released on Amazon Prime Video last month. But it did not go down well with the critics and lay fans alike.



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Vivo V23e Price, Specifications Tipped Ahead of Launch; May Come With Triple Rear Cameras

https://ift.tt/2zvZJhE V23e pricing and some specifications have been leaked by a tipster on Twitter. As per the leak, the handset will feature a triple rear camera setup, headlined by a 64-megapixel main sensor and pack a 4,030mAh battery with 44W fast charging support.

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