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Galaxy Unpacked returns July 10 to unveil next-gen Galaxy devices

Android

andreasc

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June 25, 2024

Galaxy Unpacked returns July 10 to unveil next-gen Galaxy devices

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Samsung‘s next-gen Galaxy devices, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 are nearing arrival with Galaxy Unpacked around the corner, and now Samsung is setting the stage for all the incoming deals and savings by tossing $50 your way if you reserve one of the new “upcoming Galaxy devices.” Samsung hasn’t confirmed yet that the new Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 are launching, but there have been plenty of leaks and some teasers here and there. So it’s pretty obvious at this point what Samsung is unveiling at the Unpacked event coming up.

Speaking of Unpacked, Samsung has confirmed that the event will take place in Paris on July 10. It’ll start at 6am Pacific Standard Time on the day. So the event will be pretty early. It will also be streamed live on Samsung’s YouTube channel as well as Samsung.com and the Samsung Newsroom. If you’re eager to get your hands on Samsung’s newest devices, the company has offers coming to sweeten the pot.

Samsung’s foldables tend to be a little expensive. So it’s always a good idea to take any money that the company wants to give back to you for doing something so simple as reserving the new devices. Of course, this is hardly the first time Samsung has done this. It offers credits every year when it launches new devices. Granted, just reserving won’t get you the money. Here’s how the whole thing works.

You’ll need to reserve a Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Galaxy Z Flip 6 by Unpacked

As you may have expected, reserving a device will net you $50 in Samsung credits. These credits can be used for purchases at Samsung’s website and in the Samsung Shop app. The $50 credit will also be applied to the purchase of an eligible device (like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Galaxy Z Flip 6). So you do have to pre-order and buy an eligible device for this to work. Samsung also states that if you ever return the device the $50 credit is forfeited. The pre-order part is key. If you reserve the device but don’t pre-order, then the credit is also not applied.

Additionally, Samsung says you can save up to $1,500 during the pre-order and purchase of one of the new phones. This likely refers to a trade-in program. Again, nothing new here as Samsung offers trade-in discounts every time a new device launches. How much you might get back depends on the device and its condition, however.

Another key component is the timing. You only have so long to place the reservation. In this case, from June 25 to July 10. That’s about two weeks so plenty of time to make the reservation.

You could also win $5,000 in Samsung credit

If you thought the savings and gifts were done with, you’d be wrong. By reserving, pre-ordering, and purchasing an eligible device you can enter to win $5,000 in Samsung credit, which can be spent on anything Samsung sells on its website. This includes TVs, monitors, appliances, and even more mobile devices.

Reserve at Samsung

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Ifi’s Zen Blue 3 DAC boasts lossless Bluetooth audio

Tech

andreasc

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June 25, 2024

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Ifi’s Zen Blue 3 DAC boasts lossless Bluetooth audio

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If you’re looking to be an audiophile, then you’re going to need to know about a little something called the DAC (digital to analog converter). Ifi just announced a DAC that almost sounds like a contradiction. The Ifi Zen Blue 3 is a DAC that boasts lossless Bluetooth audio.

The DAC is the device that takes the digital signal stored and processed by your phone and converts it into an analog (raw electrical) signal. The driver in your headphones/speakers converts that raw electrical data into sound waves.

As such, the quality of the DAC dictates the quality of the final audio you hear. Technically, all of your devices have a DAC in them if they have a speaker. If your phone has a headphone jack, there’s a DAC that converts the signal before it heads to your headphones.

However, those are typically your run-of-the-mill DACs. You can purchase premium external DACs to handle converting the signal for you. This is where companies like Ifi come in.

Ifi unveiled the Zen Blue 3 high-quality DAC

So, you understand how a DAC works; digital signal goes in, science happens… and an analog signal comes out. What makes the Ifi Zen Blue 3 special is that it has a focus on Bluetooth audio. Most DACs focus on direct input through a wire.

However, Bluetooth is another story altogether. It’s not the ideal tech to use if you like lossless audio. The Bluetooth signal transmitted from the player to the headphones/speaker is intrinsically compressed due to the limited bandwidth. This is why Bluetooth audio isn’t as high-quality compared to wired tech. It’s also why all audiophiles hiss when they hear the word “Bluetooth.”

The Ifi Zen Blue 3 is a DAC that aims to solve the Bluetooth dilemma. The company says that it can transmit a lossless Bluetooth signal to your device. So, you’ll use your phone or other device to send a Bluetooth signal to the DAC. Then, it will convert that signal to an analog signal and send it through the wired output.

It’s all in the codec

The Zen Blue can achieve this by using the best codecs on the market. The codec is the technology that compresses and transmits the Bluetooth signal. More typical codecs will heavily compress the audio. However, as Bluetooth audio has gotten better, it’s become possible to send higher-quality and less compressed signals.

Along with being compatible with several typical codecs, it’s also compatible with Qualcomm’s aptX Lossless. This is the technology that Qualcomm claims can deliver a bit-perfect signal to your headphones/speaker. It boasts the ability to send a CD-quality signal at 16-bits/44.1kHz or 1411.2kbps. It’s also compatible with three other codecs: AAC, SBC, and aptX.

Outputs

You have several options for audio output. You can use your typical wired headphones with a 4.4mm headphone cord. Along with that, you can output through the RCA ports. These are the red and white ports for the left and right channels. There’s also the option to output to USB-C and SPDIF.

Working in reverse

The Zen Blue 3 isn’t only a DAC, but it’s also an ADC (analog to digital converter). This means that you can use it in reverse. You’re able to send a wired signal into it and output a Bluetooth signal. Maybe, you have a device that doesn’t support Bluetooth, and you want to use it with your Bluetooth device, that’s an option.

What’s neat about this is the fact that you can expect low latency when listening with this DAC. It’s compatible with the aptX Low Latency codec.

Specs

This DAC can transmit a 24-bit/96kHz (4608 kbps) signal through USB-C and up to 24-bit/192kHz (9216 kbps) through SPDIF. Also, it uses the Bluetooth 5.4 standard. Powering the device, there’s the Qualcomm QCC518x Bluetooth audio chip.

It supports RCA, Bluetooth, 4.4mm headphone, SPDF and USB-C input. It also outputs through RCA and Bluetooth.

There are knobs on the front of the device that let you select the different modes and outputs.

This is a fantastic device to get if you’re looking for an affordable solution for your audio setup. It costs $299, which is a good price for what you’re getting.

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Neiman Marcus confirms breach. Is the customer data already for sale?

Malware

andreasc

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June 25, 2024

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Luxury retail chain Neiman Marcus has begun to inform customers about a cyberattack it discovered in May. The attacker compromised a database platform storing customers’ personal information.

The letter tells customers:

“Promptly after learning of the issue, we took steps to contain it, including by disabling access to the relevant database platform.”

In the data breach notification, Neiman Marcus says 64,472 people are affected.

An investigation showed that the data contained information such as name, contact data, date of birth, and Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman gift card numbers. According to Neiman Marcus, the exposed data does not include gift card PINs. Shortly after the data breach disclosure, a cybercriminal going by the name “Sp1d3r” posted on BreachForums that they were willing to sell the data.

Post by Sp1d3r offering Neiman Marcus data for sale which has since been removed — Image courtesy of Daily Dark Web

“Neiman Marcus not interested in paying to secure data. We give them opportunity to pay and they decline. Now we sell. Enjoy!”

According to Sp1d3r, the data includes name, address, phone, dates of birth, email, last four digits of Social Security Numbers, and much more in 6 billion rows of customer shopping records, employee data, and store information.

Neiman Marcus is reportedly one of the many victims of the Snowflake incident, in which the third-party platform used by many big brands was targeted by cybercriminals. The name Sp1d3r has been associated with the selling of information belonging to other Snowflake customers.

Oddly enough, Sp1d3r’s post seems to have since disappeared.

Later screenshot

Sp1d3r’s post count went down back to 19 instead of the 20 displayed in the screenshot above.

So, the post has either been removed, withdrawn, or hidden for reasons which are currently unknown. As usual, we will keep an eye on how this develops.

Protecting yourself after a data breach

There are some actions you can take if you are, or suspect you may have been, the victim of a data breach.

Check the vendor’s advice. Every breach is different, so check with the vendor to find out what’s happened, and follow any specific advice they offer.
Change your password. You can make a stolen password useless to thieves by changing it. Choose a strong password that you don’t use for anything else. Better yet, let a password manager choose one for you.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). If you can, use a FIDO2-compliant hardware key, laptop or phone as your second factor. Some forms of two-factor authentication (2FA) can be phished just as easily as a password. 2FA that relies on a FIDO2 device can’t be phished.
Watch out for fake vendors. The thieves may contact you posing as the vendor. Check the vendor website to see if they are contacting victims, and verify the identity of anyone who contacts you using a different communication channel.
Take your time. Phishing attacks often impersonate people or brands you know, and use themes that require urgent attention, such as missed deliveries, account suspensions, and security alerts.
Consider not storing your card details. It’s definitely more convenient to get sites to remember your card details for you, but we highly recommend not storing that information on websites.
Set up identity monitoring. Identity monitoring alerts you if your personal information is found being traded illegally online, and helps you recover after.

Check your exposure

While matters are still unclear on how much information was involved in the Neiman Marcus breach, it’s likely you’ve had other personal information exposed online in previous data breaches. You can check what personal information of yours has been exposed with our Digital Footprint portal. Just enter your email address (it’s best to submit the one you most frequently use) to our free Digital Footprint scan and we’ll give you a report.

We don’t just report on threats – we help safeguard your entire digital identity

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Protect your—and your family’s—personal information by using identity protection.

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Motorola Razr will only get updated to Android 17

Android

andreasc

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June 25, 2024

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Motorola Razr will only get updated to Android 17

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With the launch of the new Motorola Razr and Razr+ (or Razr 50 and Razr 50 Ultra outside of the US), one of the biggest questions has been, how many updates will it get? Well, Motorola has the answer: it’s three OS upgrades – meaning it’ll get Android 15, Android 16, and Android 17 along with four years of security updates, which will still arrive every other month.

It’s okay to get three years of OS upgrades and four years of security updates, but that does put Motorola far behind the competition. With Google and Samsung now promising seven years of updates (both OS and security) and Apple even promising six years of updates, Motorola sticking to three years of OS updates is not a good look. But then again, Motorola is still very slow at rolling out updates. Here we are in June 2024, and the Motorola Razr 2023 still doesn’t have Android 14 – Motorola said it will be rolling out this summer.

If Motorola wants to challenge Samsung, it has to do better with updates

One of the biggest complaints of Motorola users lately has been the lack of updates. While it is rolling out updates bi-monthly, which is perfectly fine, the OS updates are the problem. For example, the Android 14 launched last October, but Motorola has not yet pushed it out to a single one of their smartphones. That’s a full eight months after Android 14 launched. That’s just unacceptable in 2024.

Now, Motorola has said that the update will start to roll out this summer, but Android 15 is set to launch in either August or September, which means Motorola will still be behind on an entire OS. In my review last year of the Razr, my main complaint was about the phone. Is the fact that updates aren’t going to come anytime soon, at least on the OS front.

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Mozilla is testing an AI chatbot in the Firefox sidebar

Tech

andreasc

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June 25, 2024

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With the AI race heating up, more and more companies are integrating AI features into their products. Microsoft offers Copilot in Edge, and Google offers Gemini in Chrome. Now, Mozilla is also entering the fray by adding its own AI chatbot to Firefox.

An AI chatbot is coming to Firefox

Nowadays, almost all major browsers have their own AI chatbot. Whether you’re talking about Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Opera, every big player in the browser market is offering AI chatbots. Now, it seems like Mozilla is also planning to jump on the bandwagon, as they’ve begun experimenting with an AI chatbot in Firefox Nightly.

You’ll be able to access this chatbot starting this week, and it will be available in the browser’s sidebar. To try out the chatbot, first download the latest version of Firefox Nightly. Then, click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and choose Settings.

In the Settings menu, select Nightly Experiments in the left sidebar and check the box for AI Chatbot Integration on the right. After that, you need to pick a chatbot that you want to use in Firefox. You can choose between Google Gemini, ChatGPT, HuggingChat, and Le Chat Mistral.

Once you’ve selected your chatbot, you’re ready to use it. You can use it to summarize information, test your knowledge and memory of an excerpt, or simplify the language of the text. You simply need to select the text you want the chatbot to work on, hover your mouse cursor over an option that’s relevant to the chatbot, and then choose the action you want to perform.

These AI models are still under development

In their blog post, Mozilla discussed why they’re giving users a choice of AI services. They want users to decide which service works best for them, not be limited to a single option. The blog also mentioned that these AI models are still under development, and none of them are perfect.

Some AI models excel in particular areas, while others excel in completely different ones. With multiple AI services available, you’ll have the option to choose different services for different tasks, depending on their area of expertise.

As mentioned above, the Firefox AI chatbot is still under testing and far from being released in the stable version. It will be interesting to see what other changes Mozilla will make to its chatbot before it’s available in the stable browser version.

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Motorola’s new Razr flip phones won’t be available at Verizon

Android

andreasc

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June 25, 2024

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Motorola’s new Razr flip phones won’t be available at Verizon

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The brand new Motorola Razr and Razr+ won’t be sold by Verizon once again. Last year, when this news surfaced, we thought it was weird, seeing as Verizon and Motorola have had such a tight relationship over the years. But that decision has happened once again. Both the Razr and Razr+ will be available at AT&T and T-Mobile but not Verizon.

The most likely reason Verizon is left off is that there’s no mmWave 5G support. Verizon is pretty well-known for only selling phones that support mmWave 5G support, and with the Razr and Razr+ not supporting mmWave 5G, that means Verizon is not interested, unfortunately.

The good news, however, is that the Razr and Razr+ both do support Verizon’s Sub-6 5G bands – that’s bands 2, 5, and 77. So you will be able to use the new devices on Verizon, but only if you buy it unlocked. Motorola sells Razr, and Razr+ unlocked through its website, as well as Best Buy and Amazon.

Motorola is missing out by skipping Verizon again

Motorola is really bringing the fight to Samsung with the Razr and Razr+ again this year, but the company is really missing out by not making the phones available at Verizon. Obviously, this is likely due to Motorola wanting to keep the price down. You see, mmWave is quite expensive to add to a phone. Take the Pixel 8a, for example; it costs $499; however, at Verizon, for the mmWave model, it is $549. For the Pixel 7, and Pixel 8 there is a $100 difference for mmWave.

So it’s fairly likely that Motorola wanted to keep the price down on the Razr models by skipping mmWave. However, by doing this, Motorola is also skipping the largest US wireless carrier. That’s a lot of customers who won’t be able to buy the Razr or Razr+ and get Verizon’s full 5G experience.

Motorola does offer financing, so you can still finance your unlocked Razr or Razr+, and there are also trade-in promos available.

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Motorola Razr Series 2024: Everything you need to know

Android

andreasc

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June 25, 2024

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Motorola Razr Series 2024: Everything you need to know

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On June 25, 2024, Motorola announced the Razr and Razr+ in the US (Razr 50 and Razr 50 Ultra in the rest of the world). This is the fifth-generation of Motorola’s fifth-generation flip-style foldable, which brought back the iconic “Razr” name that was synonymous in the early 2000s.

Both new Razr models offer up incredibly larger displays than their predecessors, with the Razr+ offering up the largest external display currently on a flip phone. That is pretty incredible, considering how large some of the competitors are going these days. Like the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the OPPO Find N3 Flip.

Motorola Razr series 2024: Specs

Here are the specs for the new Motorola Razr and Razr+ 2024.

	Razr (2024)	Razr+ (2024)
Display	6.9-inch FHD+ 2640×1080 pOLED up to 120Hz 3000nit HDR10+ Certified 3.6-inch 1066×1056 OLED 120Hz 1700nit	6.9-inch FHD+ 2640×1080 pOLED up to165Hz 3000nit HDR10+ Certified 4-inch 1272×1080 pOLED up to 165Hz 2400nit
Processor	MediaTek Dimensity 7300X	Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
RAM	8GB	12GB
Storage	256GB	256GB
Battery Capacity	4200mAh	4000mAh
Charging Speeds	30W wired 5W wireless	45W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless charging
Software	Android 14	Android 14
Rear Cameras	50MP wide f/1.7 13MP ultrawide/macro f/2.2	50MP wide f/1.7 50MP 2x telephoto f/2.0
Front Camera	32MP f/2.7	32MP f/2.4
Dimensions	Open: 73.99 x 171.3 x 7.25mm Closed: 73.99 x 88.08 x 15.85mm	Open: 73.99 x 171.42 x 7.09mm Closed: 73.99 x 88.09 x 15.32mm
Weight	188g	189g
Price	$699	$999
Colors	Koala Gray Beach Sand Spritz Orange	Midnight Blue Spring Green Peach Fuzz Hot Pink
Available	July 24	July 24

How much does the Razr 2024 cost?

Motorola was able to stick with the same prices for Razr and Razr Plus in 2024 despite some pretty major upgrades to both models this year. That means that the Motorola Razr is going to cost you $699, and the Razr+ will cost you $999. Those are pretty good prices, especially with the rumored price increase of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 that is launching next month.

In Canada, the Motorola Razr+ will be available for $1,299. Motorola also indicates that the pricing will vary depending on the carrier. Unfortunately, it looks like the Razr will not be coming to Canada right now.

When does the Razr go on sale?

The Motorola Razr and Razr+ will go on sale on July 10, with pre-orders shipping on July 24. The Razr will expand its availability on July 25 to Cricket, Spectrum Mobile, Straight Talk, Total by Verizon, Visible, Google Fi Wireless, Optimum Mobile, and US Cellular. Boost Mobile will carry the Razr later this summer.

In Canada, the Razr and Razr+ will both open pre-orders on July 10 from Motorola.ca. The device will be on sale at select carriers and retailers starting on July 24.

Where can I buy the new Razr?

The new Razr will be available virtually everywhere. Here’s where the Razr (2024) will be available:

T-Mobile (pre-orders)
Motorola.com (pre-orders)
Amazon (pre-orders)
Best Buy (pre-orders)
Consumer Cellular (July 24)
Xfinity Mobile (July 24)
Cricket (July 25)
Spectrum Mobile (July 25)
Straight Talk (July 25)
Total by Verizon (July 25)
Visible (July 25)
Google Fi Wireless (July 25)
Optimum Mobile (July 25)
US Cellular (July 25)

For the Razr+, Motorola will be selling it at more postpaid carriers than prepaid carriers. Which is a stark contrast from the regular Razr. Here’s all the retailers and carriers that will be selling the Razr+:

Motorola.com
Amazon
Best Buy
T-Mobile
AT&T

The Razr+ will also be available universally unlocked from Motorola’s website, Amazon and Best Buy. With a starting price of $999.

What colors does the Razr and Razr+ come in?

The Motorola Razr comes in three colors, while the Razr+ comes in four colors. Motorola is one of the few smartphone makers that offer its phones plenty of fun colors.

Motorola’s Razr (also known as the Razr 50 outside of the US) will be available in Beach Sand, Coala Gray, and Spritz Orange colors. The Motorola Razr+ (the Razr 50 Ultra outside of the US) comes in Midnight Blue, Spring Green, Peach Fuzz, and the iconic Razr hot pink color.

These are all going to be vegan leather backs, except for the Coala Gray and the Midnight Blue, which are vegan suede. The vegan suede feels really nice and smooth. Motorola says it should hold up well to scratches and scraps, but it’s too early to say if that is true.

What features does the Motorola Razr offer?

The Motorola Razr offers a number of new features and upgrades compared to the 2023 model. That includes some big camera upgrades, display upgrades and Moto AI.

Moto AI

Motorola, like just about every other Android OEM, is adding plenty of AI features to its phones. However, it is hoping to make these AI features useful for the user. That includes being able to do things like improve your pictures, generative pretty wallpapers, and much more. Like Samsung, Motorola is also using Google’s Gemini to power its AI features.

With Gemini, Motorola will allow you to use Gemini from the External Display, as well as using the power button to quickly bring up Gemini. It’s built into the phone, similar to the Galaxy S24 series, as well as TECNO’s new CAMON series.

Motorola has said that purchasers of the Razr and Razr+ will get three months of Google One’s AI Premium plan, which is a $20/month value and includes access to Gemini Advanced.

Additionally, Motorola has previewed a number of features that will be added to Razr in the coming months. This includes notification summaries. It’ll also be easier to help you remember things, and it can quickly pay attention to start recording a conversation and provide you with a summary.

Bigger and Better External Displays

Both Razr models sport larger external displays, though both now run full Android apps on the outside, which is incredible. The Razr has a 2.5x larger external display at 3.6 inches. At the same time, the Razr+ jumps from a 3.6-inch to a 4-inch display. They are making it truly full-screen when the phone is closed.

With the external displays, you’re able to run full Android apps like Spotify, Google Maps, Gmail, TikTok, X, and much more. You also get plenty of panels that you can use as full-page widgets. This all works to give you less reason actually to open the phone. And let’s not forget, you can play many games on the external display too.

Razr+ ditches ultrawide for a 2x telephoto camera

While both Razr models sport a new 50-megapixel main sensor, the Razr+ does ditch the ultrawide sensor for a new 2x telephoto sensor. With this telephoto camera, you’re able to get better bokeh for portraits, but you also get 2x optical zoom, along with 4x zoom, which is done by cropping in on the large 50-megapixel sensor.

Smaller, more durable hinge

The hinge on the Motorola Razr is also smaller this time around. Motorola is about 30% smaller, which also helps it to be more durable and resistant to dust and water. This hinge also helps to create a creaseless display on the Razr. On top of all of that, this new hinge also makes it more stable. While allowing the phone to unfold completely flat, unlike a handful of other foldables that have launched recently, Motorola is still keeping that Razr at 180 degrees.

Should I upgrade to the Motorola Razr or Razr+?

Unlike most new smartphones in 2024, Motorola has actually provided some pretty big updates year-over-year for the Razr. For the regular Razr, Motorola is providing a pretty major update to the cameras, as well as the front-display. However, the performance is likely very similar due to the fact that Motorola has switched to the MediaTek Dimensity 7300X. Whereas the Motorola Razr+ has also improved the cameras (swapping the ultrawide for a telephoto sensor), and an even larger display, along with a huge improvement in performance. Since it jumps from the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 to the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3.

Now, if you’re coming from another foldable, the Motorola Razr+ is still a pretty good upgrade, as it is far ahead of the Galaxy Z Flip 5, never mind the fact that there is no crease on the Razr+. You’ll have to wait for our full review of both models in the coming weeks to see if it’s really a big enough upgrade.

The post Motorola Razr Series 2024: Everything you need to know appeared first on Android Headlines.

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Motorola Razr+ 2024 specifications

Android

andreasc

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June 25, 2024

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Motorola has announced two new foldable smartphones today, the Motorola Razr 2024 and Razr+ 2024. Those are their names in the US, while they’ll be called differently in Europe and Asia. Having said that, we’re here to take a closer look at the Motorola Razr+ specifications.

The Motorola Razr+ is the more powerful of the two phones the company announced. We can say this is the company’s new flagship flip phone, basically. It looks very similar to its sibling, but it has a larger cover display, with thinner bezels, and better specs on the inside.

The Motorola Razr+ 2024 has more powerful specifications than its sibling

The Motorola Razr+ is fueled by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor. That is Qualcomm’s new powerful chip, even though it’s not as powerful as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Motorola also included 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM here, and 256GB of UFS 4.0 flash storage (non-expandable).

A 6.9-inch fullHD+ (2640 x 1080) pOLED display is used here. That’s the phone’s foldable panel. It’s an LTPO display, and it supports HDR10+ content. Its aspect ratio is 22:9, while its refresh rate goes up to 165Hz. The peak brightness is set at 3,000 nits.

There is a 4-inch cover display included here, with a 165Hz refresh rate

The cover display, on the other hand, is a 4-inch pOLED panel. Its resolution is 1080 x 1272, and it’s also an LTPO panel. This is a flexible AMOLED display with HDR10+ support. Its refresh rate also goes up to 165Hz, and brightness up to 2,400 nits. Gorilla Glass Victus protects this panel.

A 4,000mAh battery sits inside the phone. The device supports 45W TurboPower wired charging. 15W wireless charging is also supported, as is 5W reverse charging.

There are stereo speakers included inside of this phone, while the phone also has Dolby Atmos support. Spatial Sound is featured too, and the same goes for Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound 4. There are also three microphones on the device.

Wide and telephoto cameras are used

The Motorola Razr+ has two main cameras, plus the one on the main display. A 50-megapixel main camera (wide, f/1.7 aperture, 0.8um pixel size, OIS, Instant-all Pixel Focus) is backed by a 50-megapixel telephoto unit (f/2.0 aperture, 0.64um pixel size, 2x optical zoom). The front-facing camera is a 32-megapixel unit (f/2.4 aperture, 0.7um pixel size).

The phone’s frame is made out of aluminum, while vegan leather is placed on the back. Wi-Fi 7 is supported here, and the same goes for Bluetooth 5.4. The Motorola Razr+ is IPX8-rated, and 5G is supported here. Android 14 comes pre-installed. A side-facing fingerprint scanner is also included.

The Motorola Razr+ measures 171.42 x 73.99 x 7.09mm when open, and 88.09 x 73.99 x 15.32mm when closed. The device weighs 189 grams. It comes in Hot Pink, Midnight Blue, Peach Fuzz, and Spring Green colors. A charger is not included in the retail box.

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Google could announce its next devices 2 months early

Android

andreasc

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June 25, 2024

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Google could announce its next devices 2 months early

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[Update: Google France posted a teaser video confirming the date. Jump to updated content]

Timing is everything! When you own a business that’s launching devices in a heavily competitive market, you need to make sure that you’re launching them at the proper time. We’re all used to Google launching its devices in October. However, it seems that Google is opting for an August launch event for its new Pixel device.

We’re still dealing with early information with sparse details. However, this information comes straight from Google. There’s always the chance that this was an error. If so, we’ll keep you updated if anything changes.

Google could opt for an August Pixel event this year

When Google I/O ended, we all said “Bye, Google! See you in October.” That’s how it goes pretty much every year. However, it seems that the company might be looking to push the date up a bit. We thought that Samsung’s Unpacked events were pushing it by moving from August to July.

People have been receiving invites to attend Google’s Made by Google event. The date on the invite says August 13th, a full two months earlier than last year’s event. “You’re invited to an in-person Made by Google event where we’ll showcase the best of Google AI, Android software and the Pixel portfolio of devices.”

When Google says “Pixel portfolio,” we’re not sure if the company means that it’s going to announce all of the rumored devices or if it’s going to withhold some. Right now, we’re expecting to see the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Fold (or Pixel Fold 2), and Pixel Watch 3. That’s a heck of a lot of products to announce in one go. As such, it’s possible that Google could split up its announcements.

Right now, we’re going to have to play the waiting game. Thankfully, there’s not too much time to wait, it’s north of a month away.

Updated content

The Google France Twitter account posted this short teaser.

What Google’s up against

Hopefully, Google knows what it’s doing. It could launch products during the most competitive part of the year. It’s literally sandwiched between Samsung’s second Unpacked event of the year and Apple’s iPhone event. What makes things worse for Google is the fact that the iPhone 16 is going to be a HOT topic because of the AI features.

Let’s not mince words, the AI present on the Pixel 8 Pro heavily pales in comparison to Apple Intelligence. We’re not saying that Google’s new Pixel phones are going to be dead on arrival, but they might not stand out amid the Galaxy/iPhone sea.

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YouTube’s latest experiment adds Shorts to Smart Downloads

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andreasc

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June 25, 2024

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YouTube’s latest experiment adds Shorts to Smart Downloads

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Image credit — PhoneArena

YouTube Premium users are now able to automatically download recommended Shorts for offline viewing through a limited-time experiment. The feature, called “Smart Downloads” has been around for some time for regular long-form videos. Now, it is also available for Shorts.

The feature is currently being tested with YouTube Premium users and allows them to automatically download recommended Shorts to their devices. Users can enable the feature by going to the Your Premium benefits section in the YouTube app and selecting the Try experimental new features option. Once enabled, the feature will automatically download recommended Shorts based on the user’s recent viewing history.

YouTube Experiments section offering up Smart Downloads for Shorts as an option on the web and Android

| Image credit — PhoneArena

It’s important to note that currently you can only have one YouTube Experiment active at a time. For example, I currently have the YouTube Redesigned Watch Page experiment active until July 8th, which means that me signing up to try out the new Smart Downloads for Shorts would automatically remove me from the other experiment.

This new feature appears to have been available to some users as early as April, but it has now been rolled out to a wider audience. YouTube Premium members can try out the feature until July 15.Smart Downloads has been available for regular YouTube videos for some time, and it allows users to automatically download recommended videos for offline viewing. The feature is designed to help users save data and watch videos when they don’t have an internet connection.

YouTube is constantly experimenting with new features and ways to improve the user experience. Smart Downloads for Shorts is just one of the many new features that the company is testing, and whether it becomes a permanent feature or not likely depends on user feedback. This means that if you are interested in having a feature like this available for Shorts, make sure to sign up for it to make it known to the powers that it’s worth keeping.

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