Vivo partnered up with Sony to create a new image sensor

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Vivo partnered up with Sony to create a new image sensor
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Vivo created a new custom image sensor in partnership with Sony. That image sensor was made for Vivo’s upcoming Vivo X100 smartphone series. In other words, that sensor will be included in Vivo’s upcoming flagship smartphones.

Vivo and Sony partnered up to create a new image sensor for the Vivo X100 series

This new camera is a customized version of the LYT800 sensor. That sensor uses Sony’s stacked design, which separates the photodiodes and the transistors that read them into two layers.

What does that mean, though? Well, this sensor should offer better low-light performance, similar to 1-inch sensors. The Lytia LYT800 is a 1/1.43-inch sensor, in case you were wondering, and it’s a 53-megapixel unit.

Now, in addition to this Sony partnership, Vivo also partnered up with Zeiss to create the Vario-Apo-Sonner telephoto lens for the upcoming phones. This lens will have a floating design, which will allow the camera to focus on objects that are very close by.

Vivo and Zeiss have been partnered up for a long time. Zeiss optics have been included on a ton of Vivo phones thus far, usually flagship ones. Well, that partnership will continue with the Vivo X100 series.

Vivo recently announced the V3 ISP too

Vivo also recently announced the Vivo V3 ISP. That is a 6nm chip with advanced post-processing and support for portrait mode videos at up to 4K.

Having said that, the Vivo X100 specs did leak, well… partial specs. We still don’t have the camera info. One of the Dimensity 8-series chips is expected, along with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. A 120Hz AMOLED display will also be included, along with a 5,000mAh battery and 100W charging.

That seems to be info for the vanilla Vivo X100, though. More powerful variant(s) are also expected. We’re not sure when Vivo plans to launch the Vivo X100 series exactly, but stay tuned.


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RedMagic intros see-through earbuds with global availability

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RedMagic intros see-through earbuds with global availability
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RedMagic has introduced its very own see-through earbuds which will be available to purchase globally. These earbuds are called the RedMagic Cyberbuds DAO truly wireless earbuds.

Many of you will immediately make a comparison to Nothing’s earbuds, mainly due to the see-through design. Well, RedMagic is well-known for releasing gaming smartphones, and it tends to offer phones with see-through backplates. So… this is right in the company’s wheelhouse.

The RedMagic Cyberbuds DAO are the company’s new see-through earbuds

In any case, these earbuds have a cylindric-shaped stem, and the stem is see-through, not the rest of the earbuds. The case has a transparent top too, and it looks quite interesting.

The earbuds themselves come with RGB effects, and Qualcomm’s latest S5 chip. Bluetooth 5.3 is supported here, while the Cyberbuds DAO earbuds deliver a minimal 28ms delay when used with the matching dongle.

You can also use the Goper application in order to manage various other functions of these earbuds. You can mess around with codec formats, audio EQ modes, game modes, lighting effects, and more.

RedMagic used wool paper/LCP film for diaphragm material here. Copper-clad aluminum has been used for the voice coil, while the earbuds offer active noise cancellation up to 48dB.

The charging case has a good battery size, and supports wireless charging

Each of the earbuds has a battery capacity of 35mAh, while the charging case includes a 350mAh battery. That case also has a Type-C port on it, for charging purposes.

The company says it’ll take you about 40 minutes to charge the earbuds fully. The case, on the other hand, can be charged to 100% in 50 minutes. The case does support wireless charging as well, though it’s noticeably slower than wired charging.

The RedMagic Cyberbuds DAO earphones support AAC, SBC, LE Audio, LHDC 5.0, and aptX codecs. They also include touch strips on them, for touch controls, and function buttons are also a part of the offering. You will also find a knob button on the case itself.

RedMagic’s latest earbuds are priced at €229 ($251), and will be available to purchase starting tomorrow, August 2. You’ll be able to get them from redmagic.gg and some retailers in Europe, the UK; Singapore, and Mexico. They’re coming to Mexico in September, though.


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Lenovo’s Legion Go handheld aims to compete with the Steam Deck

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Lenovo’s Legion Go handheld aims to compete with the Steam Deck
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Lenovo is a well-known brand for gaming through its Legion laptops and desktops, and for a time, its Legion phones, and now it looks to be entering the PC gaming handheld market with the Legion Go.

It was probably only a matter of time given ASUS’s entry into the space this year with the Ally. Although the handheld PC gaming market was mostly popularized by the Steam Deck, other brands like Ayaneo and GPD have been making PC gaming handhelds for years. But until Valve, there weren’t really any major brands diving into handheld gaming PCs. That is slowly changing however. A new report from Windows Central says Lenovo plans to launch the Legion Go to capture a part of the market.

This device will run Windows 11 just like the ROG Ally. Which means you will be able to install really anything you could install on a Windows 11 desktop or laptop. Free of constraints like with Valve’s Steam Deck, which can play non-Steam games but it takes some maneuvering.

The Lenovo Legion Go handheld is not a guarantee

It certainly makes sense for Lenovo to show interest in a PC gaming handheld. The market is growing and people are showing much more interest thanks to Valve and ASUS. But as Windows Central’s Jez Corden points out, there’s no guarantee the Legion Go will make it to production.

Lenovo has not yet confirmed this device even exists. And without any confirmation it might be best to consider this a maybe for now. There aren’t many specifics on hardware details, but the report does mention a few possibilities. It’s said that the Legion Go could come powered by AMD’s Phoenix processors. It could also have an 8-inch display.

If Lenovo did release the Legion Go it would have to do so with a very competitive price tag. The Steam Deck can be picked up for $399. Putting it in the price range of a console. And the ROG Ally’s more powerful model is only $699. If Lenovo wants to compete, it would do well to try and price the Legion Go somewhere in between, or at least close to the Ally. Even if the cost was a little more.


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Instagram could label content generated with Meta’s AI

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Instagram could label content generated with Meta’s AI
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One question going through our minds is how we’re going to be able to identify if something was generated via AI. As time goes on, that gets harder to do, but Meta has a method of doing so. According to Engadget, Instagram will apply a label to content it thinks was created using Meta’s AI.

Right now, major companies are creating powerful AI tools for their users. More companies jump on this train every day, and it was just a matter of time before Meta announced some AI tools. The company has a massive LLM (Large Language Model) called Llama 2, and it’s planning on going down the generative AI route.

Instagram will help label content generated with Meta’s AI

With so many companies out there touting generative AI prowess, it’s hard to be confident about the future of man-made content. Every other social media post you see is an AI-generated image, there are tools out there that can artificially generate music, AI-generated voices are becoming more realistic, etc. Who knows how much stuff AI-generated we’ll see in the next few years?

Well, Meta might have a solution for this. Alessandro Paluzzi was able to reverse-engineer Instagram and uncover an interesting label. It will tell you if AI generated the current post. The label reads “The creator or Meta said that this content was created or edited with AI.”

It looks like Meta wants to aid in the fight against people who pass themselves off as actual creators. While that might seem like the case, Meta has declined to comment on this.

At the top of the label, we see the pull bar. This means that you’ll get rid of it by dragging down on it. This could mean that you’ll access the label by tapping on the three-dot menu on the top right of the post. So, it doesn’t seem like the label will be visible automatically. You might have to summon the label yourself. However, that’s just speculation.

In any case, it’s nice to know that Meta is thinking about letting people know that content is AI-generated.


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The Galaxy Watch 6 series comes with some neat new watch faces

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The Galaxy Watch 6 series comes with some neat new watch faces
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Each new version of the Galaxy Watch has brought forth both incremental changes and some decent leaps in functionality, but they also come with new watch faces, and the Galaxy Watch 6 appears to introduce quite a few new ones.

The watch face is a core part of the smartwatch experience and can make a big difference in how users feel about the product. Sure this isn’t the case for everyone, but some users do prefer to have as much functionality as possible at their fingertips. The watch face can help with that and Samsung is trying to cater to both users that want a functional face and those who may just want something stylish.

According to 9To5Google there are a total of eight new watch faces on the Galaxy Watch 6 series devices. Including one for sleep coaching so you can receive quick glanceable suggestions on how to improve your sleep quality. This particular watch face is dedicated to helping users improve their sleep quality. It’ll do this in a few ways. You can view the sleep animal icon given to you based on your previous night’s sleep for starters. You can also see your sleep score. As well as a set of tasks you need to complete to improve the sleep score. If better sleep is an important factor for you, this is the watch face for you.

Not all Galaxy Watch 6 watch faces are created equal

As mentioned above some watch faces provide functional information you can use. While others are simply designed for looks. Watch faces such as the Sleep Coaching, Info Board, and Daily Activity Number are meant to give you details. Such as sleep scores, a step counter, and your calories burned.

Others like the Funny Faces and Fluid Number are mostly about the style while showing you the time. There are a some that allow for multiple complications too. Like the Stretched Time face which has room for four of them. If you’re picking up a Galaxy Watch 6 or Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, here’s what you’re looking at for new options.

Stretched Time, Funny Faces, Sleep Coaching, Perpetual, Photo Sticker, Fluid Number, Daily Activity Number, and Info Board.


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Types of mobile apps and how they combat social issues

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Types of mobile apps and how they combat social issues
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Mobile devices have become an increasingly important part of our lives, thanks in large part to mobile apps. You can download apps for everything from breaking news updates to popular games.

Using the right apps can help you get the most out of your mobile devices. Despite the criticisms of society’s reliance on technology, a lot of positive things can come from the right apps. Below, I’ll detail how mobile apps have been used to address many social issues in the United States.

Types of Mobile Apps

There is a mobile app for just about anything you can think of. Most people rely on their mobile devices more than ever before, so a wide range of apps is necessary. Most apps can be categorized into one of these five areas:

– Education and Lifestyle
– Entertainment and Games
– News and Social Media
– Healthcare
– Activism and Government

The lines between categories can be blurry at times. Regardless of how you classify apps, there is no denying that every type of app can have a social impact. Even streaming services and gambling apps can have a positive impact on society.

Education and Lifestyle

It is not hard to see how education and lifestyle apps can have a huge social impact. They are designed to make our everyday lives easier.

Apps that make it easier to access education can provide new opportunities to larger groups of people and address educational inequality. Lifestyle apps, on the other hand, can help make other aspects of our lives more convenient. They cover a wide range of topics ranging from dating to grocery shopping.

Education apps can cover a wide variety of topics. Apps like Quizlet and Google Classroom are popular study tools at all levels of education. They were especially helpful during the pandemic when remote learning was a necessity.

Adults can also benefit from these apps, as evident by the popularity and success of companies like Duolingo. Lifestyle apps also serve to improve people’s lives by making it easier to access information and connect with people. These apps can cover a wide range of topics, including shopping apps, dating apps, and more.

Entertainment and Games

Arguably the most popular type of apps are those designed for entertainment purposes. Finding ways to keep yourself entertained is an important part of self-care and can help prevent burnout and depression. Thankfully, people in the US have a large range of entertainment-focused apps to choose from.

For example, there is no shortage of streaming apps for television and movies. You can even get apps for live television broadcasts.

Of course, there are other ways to entertain yourself than by just watching TV and movies. Mobile gaming apps exploded in the early 2010s thanks to apps like Candy Crush Saga and Angry Birds. Gaming apps have remained popular and only improved with time.

One of the biggest developments recently has been the growth of regulated betting apps. Changing legislation in the US has made it easier for land-based and online casinos to create mobile apps. Easier access to betting options has created unprecedented growth for the gambling industry in recent years.

News and Social Media

Another popular category of mobile apps is news-focused apps. Modern news apps allow users to stay up to date on the latest developments for any topic around the world. Social media apps provide a similar but more personalized experience.

The line between news and social media can be challenging to find. Many social media apps, like Facebook and the app formerly known as Twitter, are used to distribute news.

Many mobile devices even come with news apps already downloaded onto them. The ease of access to news updates has allowed more people to be informed about world events. But it can also have negative effects on our mental health, especially for teens and young adults.

In general, though, the increased flow of information and socialization afforded by news and social media apps is a positive. It can be vital during stressful times, like emergencies and natural disasters.

Healthcare

Medical apps can also have a huge social impact. Many home medical devices now include mobile apps that make the devices easier to operate.

A great example of this connection is healthcare apps for glucose monitors. These apps make it easier for people with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar levels. Other examples of common healthcare apps include:

– Exercise apps
– Menstruation tracking apps
– Medication reminder apps
– Medical ID apps
– Smoking cessation apps

Well-developed healthcare apps can help make their users’ lives easier. These apps are especially useful to US residents, given the cost of healthcare in America.

Healthcare apps are not a substitute for going to a doctor. But they can help you manage your medical needs between appointments. They can also help you stay on top of your medical needs and alert you to medical problems so you can seek treatment.

Activism and Government

Last but not least, there are mobile apps designed to facilitate social activism and political change. Likewise, the government also has its own mobile apps to help it connect with civilians.

Activism apps can make it easier for organizers to raise awareness about social issues and conservation efforts. Also, apps are great for networking and organizing events. Nonprofit charities can even use mobile apps to help collect donations while lowering their operating costs.

Not to be left out, many government agencies offer their own mobile apps. These can be great resources for people who want to stay up to date with government proceedings.

The White House even launched its own app back in 2010 during the Obama administration. It allowed users to keep up with the latest updates from the WH. You could even watch live press conferences and press briefings.

Are There Downsides to Mobile Apps?

Mobile apps can be great tools for connecting with others, getting news updates, and addressing social issues. These benefits are easy to access because apps are an important part of our daily lives. But there are some downsides to our growing reliance on mobile apps.

Social Impact

When used correctly, mobile apps can be the catalyst for a lot of positive social change. However, there are negative social impacts to the use of these apps, too.

For example, the decreased need for face-to-face interactions can impact our social skills. This can be especially problematic for younger users. Online interactions can also lead people to act in ways they otherwise would not have.

The increase in social media apps has already led to a rise in cyberbullying. According to a Pew Research Center study in 2018, 59% of teens reported experiencing cyberbullying.

The anonymity offered by internet apps can also create issues. Anyone who has browsed through online comment sections knows that anonymous users have little regard for social boundaries. On the bright side, there are more resources for combatting negative online experiences and cyberbullying than in years past.

Security Concerns

Another concern that has arisen from the growing use of mobile apps is the issue of security. Many people store a ton of personal data on their mobile devices. You may not even be aware of the type of information you are potentially putting at risk.

Unsafe attacks and cyber-attacks have created major security concerns over the years. Older generations who are unfamiliar with the technology they are using are uniquely vulnerable.

Even younger generations can be at risk if they are not careful. Complicated user agreements, cookies, and data mining are risks for everyone.

Thankfully, modern apps are only getting more secure. Major app stores like the Apple Store and Google Play also have strict criteria that developers must meet. These standards help to protect users by making sure that only safe apps are widely available.

Addiction

A third major concern about mobile apps is that they can be very addictive. This is not an accident, either, because developers design their apps to have addictive qualities.

The easiest example of addictive apps is mobile games. The rewarding nature of these games makes them fun to play, but it can also make them hard to put down. Many of these apps include microtransactions, too, which can quickly become expensive.

Addictive qualities are not limited to just mobile games, either. Social media apps are also infamous for their addictive qualities. Modern apps are even designed to appeal to users with shorter attention spans.

Of course, the allure of fame can also play into the addictive nature of mobile apps. Users will dedicate hours of their life trying to go viral and cultivate an online following. But these apps can also be used to create new career opportunities that did not exist before smartphones.

Which Mobile Apps Do You Use the Most?

Mobile apps are a great way to stay in touch with or escape from the world around us. There are apps for just about everything if you know where to look. In the right hands, apps can even be used to address pressing social issues in the US.


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How Apple fixed what Microsoft hasn’t with Thomas Reed

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How Apple fixed what Microsoft hasn’t with Thomas Reed
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This week on Lock and Code, we speak with Thomas Reed about how Apple was able to previously address a security loophole that still persists on Windows, and what both companies get wrong (and right) about security.

Earlier this month, a group of hackers was spotted using a set of malicious tools—that originally gained popularity with online video game cheaters—to hide their Windows-based malware from being detected.

Sounds unique, right? 

Frustratingly, it isn’t, as the specific security loophole that was abused by the hackers has been around for years, and Microsoft’s response, or lack thereof, is actually a telling illustration of the competing security environments within Windows and macOS. Even more perplexing is the fact that Apple dealt with a similar issue nearly 10 years ago, locking down the way that certain external tools are given permission to run alongside the operating system’s critical, core internals. 

Today, on the Lock and Code podcast with host David Ruiz, we speak with Malwarebytes’ own Director of Core Tech Thomas Reed about everyone’s favorite topic: Windows vs. Mac. But this isn’t a conversation about the original iPod vs. Microsoft’s Zune (we’re sure you can find countless, 4-hour diatribes on YouTube for that), but instead about how the companies behind these operating systems can respond to security issues in their own products. Because it isn’t fair to say that Apple or Microsoft are wholesale “better” or “worse” about security. Instead, they’re hampered by their users and their core market segments—Apple excels in the consumer market, whereas Microsoft excels with enterprises. And when your customers include hospitals, government agencies, and pretty much any business over a certain headcount, well, it comes with complications in deciding how to address security problems that won’t leave those same customers behind. 

Still, there’s little excuse in leaving open the type of loophole that Windows has, said Reed:

“Apple has done something that was pretty inconvenient for developers, but it really secured their customers because it basically meant we saw a complete stop in all kernel-level malware. It just shows you [that] it can be done. You’re gonna break some eggs in the process, and Microsoft has not done that yet… They’re gonna have to.”

Tune in today. 

Show notes and credits:

Intro Music: “Spellbound” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Outro Music: “Good God” by Wowa (unminus.com)


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Here’s why Samsung didn’t include an S Pen with the Galaxy Z Fold 5

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Here’s why Samsung didn’t include an S Pen with the Galaxy Z Fold 5
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Since the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, the company has been trying to gracefully implement the S Pen with its foldable phones. While it’s easy for us to imagine Samsung just sticking a stylus in its phone, there are things to consider. A Samsung executive explained why the company didn’t include an S Pen with the Galaxy Z Fold 5.

This is the latest notebook foldable phone from Samsung. The company just announced the Galaxy Z Fold 5, and it brings some powerful specs. If you’re interested in pre-ordering this phone, click here. You can expect much the same experience with this phone as what you got with last year’s iteration. The company made several refinements to the hardware and camera technology, however. It starts at the same $1,799 price as well.

Here’s why Samsung didn’t stick an S Pen in the Galaxy Z Fold 5

You can’t say that Samsung hasn’t been trying to fit the S Pen inside the Z Fold 5. The company showed off a ton of different prototypes that it developed, and one of them actually had an S Pen built into it. It slid into the bottom of the phone just like it’s a Galaxy S23 Ultra. It looks like a logical way of going about including a pen.

While it might be possible to do this, it’s not as simple as that. Every action has a reaction, and putting an S Pen inside of the Z Fold would have certain consequences. TechRadar’s Lance Ulanoff spoke with Samsung Head of MX Design Hubert Lee about why the company didn’t include the S Pen with the phone.

He said that “There’s a lot to consider. You can’t just stick a pen in there. If you stick a pen in, there are other cost consequences.” Considering that prices on tech are creeping up each year, that’s a solid statement. The Galaxy Z Fold line of phones stayed at the $1,799 price tag, and that’s no small feat in this economy. Adding an S Pen would incur additional manufacturing costs. Those costs would more than likely trickle down to the user.

It’s unfortunate that Samsung wasn’t able to implement an S Pen into its phone, but who’s to say that next year’s phone won’t have one? We also can’t rule out other companies getting the jump on Samsung and implementing a stylus in their foldable phones.


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A week in security (July 24 – July 30)

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A week in security (July 24 – July 30)
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Last week on Malwarebytes Labs:

Stay safe!

Malwarebytes EDR and MDR removes all remnants of ransomware and prevents you from getting reinfected. Want to learn more about how we can help protect your business? Get a free trial below.

TRY NOW


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Razr Plus teardown shows similarities with the Galaxy Z Flip 5

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Razr Plus teardown shows similarities with the Galaxy Z Flip 5
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Before the Motorola Razr Plus teardown video, Jerry Rig Everything has already put this device through a durability test. During the durability test, the new Motorola clamshell folding device’s cover screen cracked under pressure. This crack revealed the presence of a cavity just under the flexible AMOLED cover display.

In a bid to understand why this cavity exists under the screen, Jerry took on the task of tearing down this device. During this tear-down, fans get to see a similarity between the Motorola Razr Plus and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. This similarity exists in one of the most vital parts of these devices’ anatomy.

The similarity in question might raise concerns among fans and netizens. Well, the presence of this striking similarity could be a partnership between the two companies. Let’s have a look at what areas these devices lend a thing or two to one another.

Details on the Razr Plus teardown shows off similarities with the Galaxy Z Flip 5

Taking apart the device revealed Motorola‘s moves to make it a more water-resistant design. These endeavors see the use of rubber gaskets that help maintain the device’s IP52 water resistance. Disconnecting these gaskets will help to free the cover display and give access to the components underneath.

These rubber gaskets serve as connectors and are around the wireless charging pad. This pad sits on the bottom folding half of the device, and on the top half of the device sits the motherboard. Since the cameras sit on the motherboard, pulling it out can reveal the 12MP main camera’s OIS feature.

The smaller portion of the battery also sits in the top half of the clamshell folding device. As for the second and larger battery pack, it sits at the bottom folding half of the device. Asides from the wireless charging connector and battery pack, there are also a few other parts in the bottom folding half.

By tearing down the display, it is clear that there is some gap between the cover display and the metal folding bracket. Proceeding with the teardown reveals the flexible AMOLED main screen, which might be sourced from Samsung. However, the similarity between the Motorola Razr Plus and the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is in their hinge folding mechanism.

A closer look at the hinge on both devices will show a very similar folding technology. Because Samsung has been making use of this technology, there might be some concern about Motorola copying their invention. It might also be possible that Samsung is responsible for the design of the hinge found in the Motorola Razr Plus smartphone.


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