Thursday, August 29, 2019
iPhone 11 could have its own competitor to Samsung's Live Focus Video
Previous iPhones have been fine for recording video, but it looks like the iPhone 11 could actually bring some pretty sizeable upgrades and improvements, according to information found in the iOS 13 developer beta.
The information was found by PhoneArena, which spotted an important change to video recording that could point to an intriguing new feature in the iPhone 11. That feature is the addition of alpha channels encoded into HEVC videos. Don't worry, we'll translate that for you.
HEVC stands for High Efficiency Video Coding, and it's the way smartphone videos are recorded. Now, alpha channels will be encoded too – imagine it's an extra ingredient being baked into the video-y cake.
- This is what we know about the iPhone 11
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But what does this mean? Alpha channels effectively allow for live video editing, so you can use the device to edit the background in real-time as you're recording, or getting ready to record.
Using depth-sensing, or Time-of-Flight (ToF) tech, the phone can separate the subject of a shot from the background, so it knows what to change and what to keep the same.
For example, you could shoot someone against an open field and swap their background for a scene from Game of Thrones, or swap out a busy city for a calm lake, or even just desaturate a background to make a subject stand out.
If this all sounds rather familiar, it's likely because Samsung already has this kind of tech, and you can use it in phones like the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 or Samsung Galaxy A80. In these handsets it has proven to be a fun novelty, but not something that really changes your camera experience much in any way, and it's likely to be exactly the same in the iPhone 11.
Since it is just 'a fun novelty', we'd be surprised to see Apple tout it as a killer feature (especially if rumors of the iPhone 11 coming with a stylus prove true). On top of that, if it's part of iOS 13, that means it's likely older iPhones will be able to use the feature at some point too, although it will likely work best with the newer iPhones.
We'll know for sure in early September, as that's when we're expecting Apple to host the iPhone 11 launch event, so stay tuned to TechRadar in the lead-up for all the latest iPhone 11 news and rumors.
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Moto G8 or Moto G8 Plus set to get triple cameras
We're not expecting to hear about the Moto G8 for a few more months yet, but a new leak has given us a clearer idea of the upgrades we can expect on the upcoming family of affordable handsets.
It's currently unclear if this report from XDA Developers refers to either the Moto G8 or Moto G8 Plus (or perhaps even both), but the website has information from a source suggesting at least one of these phones will have a triple camera array on the rear.
Previously the Moto G7 and Moto G7 Plus both arrived with dual rear cameras, so it may be we see some significant upgrades in terms of smartphone photography if the company opts for three.
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Although we have heard it'll be a triple camera, we don't know what specs we can expect on the rear of the phone. We'll have to wait for another report to learn about that.
It's also expected that Motorola will upgrade the chipset used in the Moto G8 Plus to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 655 over the Snapdragon 636 that was used in the last-gen device.
That's a significantly more powerful processor rumored for the G8 Plus, and while it won't be able to compete with top-end handsets it may mean we see a power boost on the Motorola range of phones.
We're not currently expecting to hear from Motorola on a new range of cheap handsets until 2020, but we'll keep you posted with any new information as we have it.
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Motorola One Zoom Live Images Leak Ahead of Anticipated IFA 2019 Launch
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Oppo Reno 2 family is unveiled – three phones with four cameras each
In April this year, Oppo launched its brand new Reno range of handsets, kicking things off with the eponymous Oppo Reno and then following that up with a more premium Oppo Reno 10x Zoom and a 5G-ready Oppo Reno 5G.
Now – four short months later – the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has released the Oppo Reno 2, the Oppo Reno 2 F and the Oppo Reno 2 Z in India, with other regions potentially to follow.
Earlier in the week, Oppo released some subtle teasers and a full host of specs leaked via the Chinese regulatory board, but now we've got a much more extensive look at the new flagship and its companions.
Like the rest of the range before it, the promotion for the Reno 2 seems to be focusing heavily on its camera prowess, with the three teaser videos released highlighting Ultra Dark Mode, Ultra Steady Video and its 20x zoom capabilities.
Those first two modes are somewhat self-explanatory. Like other phone manufacturers, it’s likely that Oppo is using a combination of its multi-camera array and some form of machine learning to both enhance low-light images and to stabilize video recording.
As for the 20x zoom however, this doesn’t appear to use the same periscope lens tricks that the Reno 10x Zoom boasts (which actually sports a 5x optical zoom and 60x digital zoom). Instead, the Reno 2 has a 2x optical zoom which allows for a 5x “hybrid zoom” and then digitally handles everything past that point.
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Flagship details
Design-wise, the Reno 2 borrows much from its predecessor, with a shark-fin pop-up camera section allowing the phone’s face to sport a notch- and bezel-free 6.5-inch AMOLED display (2,400 x 1,080 resolution).
On-board, there’s a 3,915mAh battery, 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage (expandable via microSD). Powering the whole thing is an unnamed 2.2GHz 8-core processor, although based on rumors it’s likely to be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730.
The aforementioned camera array features no less than four vertically arranged cameras, with sensor resolutions of 48MP, 13MP, 8MP and 2MP, the latter few of which are likely used for some clever depth-sensing tricks.
Little siblings
While the Reno 2 is the flagship out of the trio, the other two feature some compelling similarities. The display, battery, RAM, and storage are the same for the Z and F as it is for the regular Reno 2, but the camera, chassis, and chipset are changed.
At present, it’s unclear which regions outside of India will end up with the Oppo Reno 2, however, based on previous availabilities in the Reno lineup, the Asian market along with the UK and Australia can likely expect this handset to arrive in the coming months as well.
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Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Samsung Galaxy A71, Samsung Galaxy A91 With Android 10 to Launch in 2020: Report
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Apple Says 'Eager' to Serve Customers at Its First India Retail Store, Following Eased Rules
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Moto G8 Play Specifications Leaked, Tipped to Feature MediaTek SoC, HD+ Screen, 4,000mAh Battery
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The Insta360 GO is the "world's smallest stabilized camera"
Insta360 has ended its recent teaser campaign by confirming the Insta360 GO, a camera it claims is the world's smallest with stabilization.
The company had promised in its teaser that the model would be 6x lighter and twice and stable as other action cameras – and with a weight of just 18.3g (0.65oz), it certainly lives up to the first promise at the very least.
Thanks to a range of accessories compatible with the model, the GO is designed to be fitted to a wealth of different products, surfaces and types of clothing for hands-free shooting, although you can also wear it around your neck with the included Magnet Pendant.
Helping to keep everything smooth is the company's 6-axis FlowState stabilization, while the spec sheet mirrors those other action camera rivals by offering things like time-lapse and hyperlapse functionality, the latter of which allowing for up to 30 minutes of footage to be played back at six times the speed. Need something a little more unique? There's also a Barrel Roll feature that twists footage "like a turntable."
The body is resistant to water, though not quite to the same degree as some action camera contemporaries. The IPX4 rating means it can withstand rain and splashes, and you can dunk it into water too, but only for a maximum 10 seconds.
When it comes to offloading and editing your footage, you just plug into the Charge Case and slip into your smartphone, with both iOS and Android devices supported. A range of editing tools are then available to the user, although those wanting to take a break from the day's shooting can simply let the AI-powered FlashCut feature automatically find their best captures and combine them into a single edit.
In terms of its hardware, the model is equipped with a wide-angle lens with an f/2.1 aperture, and uses what appears to be a 9.2MP (3040 x 3040) sensor to capture videos and stills. Also on board is 8GB of built-in storage as well as Bluetooth 4.0.
Videos are captured at a range of resolutions and frame rates in camera (depending on the shooting mode), although most are output at a maximum 1080p. Images, meanwhile, can be output at a maximum 2560 x 2560.
The camera is bundled with the Charge Case and Magnet Pendant as standard, in addition to a Pivot Stand, Easy Clip and Sticky Base – and it's all yours for $199.99 / £209 / AU$329.99.
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Apple Fires Hundreds of Contractors Hired to Listen to Siri Recordings: Report
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Apple Said to Be Poised to Start Online Sales in India After Eased Rules
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