Qualcomm has launched a new 4nm chipset for smartphones. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is a mid-range solution seemingly positioned as an entry-level offering in the 2023 7-series lineup. It could arrive in the market as early as this month.
Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 specs
The naming of the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is a bit confusing. Qualcomm didn’t launch a Snapdragon 7s Gen 1 or a Snapdragon 7 Gen 2. Its modern 7-series lineup only includes a 7 Gen 1 and a 7+ Gen 2. However, the specs of the new chip tell us that the “s” versions would be the least powerful solutions in the lineup.
The new chip features an octa-core CPU setup with four Cortex-A78-based Kyro Gold cores clocked at 24GHz and four Cortex-A55-based Kyro Silver cores clocked at 1.95GHz. Qualcomm has paired the CPU with the Adreno 710 GPU, and it can handle up to FHD+ resolution on-device displays at a 144Hz maximum refresh rate.
Manufactured using Samsung’s 4LPE 4nm process, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 boasts the FastConnect 6700 connectivity platform and the Snapdragon X62 5G Modem-RF System capable of delivering up to 2.9 Gbps of download speeds. The chip supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G networks (with mmWave-sub6 aggregation) as well as Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. It isn’t ready for Wi-Fi 7.
Coming to photography, the new Qualcomm chip supports up to 200MP single camera system. The Spectra Triple ISP (Image Signal Processor) can capture 4K videos at 30 fps (frames per second) and 1080p slow-motion videos at 120 fps. Supported camera features include Multi-frame noise reduction, AI-based de-noising engine, Deep-learning face detection, and Deep-learning facial landmark detection.
The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 offers LPDRR5 RAM at 3200 MHz. It also boasts Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ technology, NFC, and USB 3.1 support. Other known features include Qualcomm Hexagon NPU (Neural Processing Unit), Snapdragon Elite Gaming, Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) video codec, Qualcomm aptX Lossless audio, and dual-frequency (L1 and L5) location support over QZSS, Galileo, Beidou, NavIC, GLONASS, and GPS satellite systems.
The new Qualcomm chip could debut later this month
Qualcomm hasn’t revealed when we’ll see the first batch of Snapdragon 7s Gen 2-powered devices in the market. However, there are rumors that the chip will debut with Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 13 series later this month. The Chinese firm is all set to launch three models in its home country tomorrow, September 21. The Pro model is expected to feature the new Qualcomm processor. Xiaomi has yet to announce the global availability of the Redmi Note 13 series.
If you’ve received a message from a company saying your data has been caught up in a breach, you might be unsure what to do next. Luckily, we have some tips for you…
If you’ve received a message from a company saying your data has been caught up in a breach, you might be unsure what to do next. We’ve put together some tips which should help you when the (more or less) inevitable happens.
1. Check the company’s advice
Every breach is different, so check the company’s official channels to find out what’s happened and what data has been breached. Organizations often put out a rolling statement on their website, blog, or X (Twitter). Follow any specific advice they offer first, and keep an eye out for any further communications.
2. Change your password
If your password has been caught up in a breach, you should immediately change it. If you’ve used the same password on another site or service then you also need to change that. Cybercriminals will often try one password on multiple sites because they know people reuse them, so make sure you use a different password for every single site you have an account on. If you don’t already use one, it’s worth considering a password manager, which will generate and store passwords for you so you don’t have to remember them all in your head.
3. Enable multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security when logging in to your online accounts, and stops anyone from logging in with just your password. One of the most common ways of adding MFA to your online accounts is with an app—such as Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator—which generates a code that you enter into the site you’re logging into. You can also use SMS MFA, where you are sent a code via text that you then enter into the website, or a hardware key such as a YubiKey which you plug into your computer.
It’s worth bearing in mind that a code can be phished as easily as a password so code-based MFA can’t protect you from phishing, but it’s still much better to have it turned on than not use it at all. Remember to never give an MFA code to anyone else, even if they pressure you into revealing it.
4. Freeze your credit report
If you’re in the US, a credit freeze stops new creditors and potential thieves from accessing your credit report. Credit freezes must be set (and removed) at each of the three bureaus.
5. Set up credit monitoring
Credit monitoring tracks your credit report and borrowing behavior and alerts you if anything changes. A breached company may offer this as a service to you, but you can also get different levels of monitoring solutions, depending on your individual need.
6. Watch out for scammers
Scammers often try to take advantage of data breaches. They know that the breached company is likely to be contacting victims, and that the victims will be looking out for emails from the company. It’s easy to spoof an email to make it look like it comes from somewhere else, and then send someone malware or a link to a phishing site.
We suggest you monitor the company’s website for information about the breach and be very sceptical of messages that appear to come from that company. All the usual advice applies: Look for inconsistencies, odd email addresses, and strange links, and watch out for the two major red flags: urgency and a request for money or personal information.
We don’t just report on threats—we remove them
Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your devices by downloading Malwarebytes today.
Best Buy has a great deal right now on the 10th Gen Apple iPad, which is going to save you $50 off of the regular price. This is really the first discount we’ve seen on the 10th Gen iPad since it launched last year. It has seen some other discounts, but they weren’t big ones. This is an all-time low for this model.
The iPad 10th gen is a great tablet for anyone looking for a powerful, versatile, and affordable device. It features the A14 Bionic chip, which is the same chip that powers the iPhone 12 series. This means that the iPad 10th gen is capable of handling even the most demanding tasks, such as gaming, video editing, and creative work.
The iPad 10th gen also has a stunning 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display. This display is bright, colorful, and sharp, making it perfect for watching movies, browsing the web, and working on documents.
In addition to its powerful performance and stunning display, the iPad 10th gen also has a long battery life. This means that you can use the iPad all day long without having to worry about running out of power.
The iPad 10th gen is also compatible with the Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard. This means that you can use the iPad for drawing, note-taking, and productivity tasks.
If you’re looking for a powerful, versatile, and affordable tablet, then the iPad 10th gen is a great option. It’s a great choice for students, professionals, and anyone who wants a tablet that can do it all.
Here are some specific reasons why you should buy the iPad 10th gen:
Powerful performance: The A14 Bionic chip is one of the most powerful mobile chips on the market, and it gives the iPad 10th gen the ability to handle even the most demanding tasks.
Stunning display: The 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display is bright, colorful, and sharp, making it perfect for watching movies, browsing the web, and working on documents.
Long battery life: The iPad 10th gen can last up to 10 hours on a single charge, so you can use it all day long without having to worry about running out of power.
Compatibility with Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard: The iPad 10th gen is compatible with the Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard, which makes it a great choice for drawing, note-taking, and productivity tasks.
Affordable price: The iPad 10th gen is a great value for the price. It’s one of the most affordable tablets on the market, but it still offers a lot of great features.
If you’re looking for a powerful, versatile, and affordable tablet, then the iPad 10th gen is a great option. It’s a great choice for students, professionals, and anyone who wants a tablet that can do it all.
As many of you know, the iOS 17 rollout started on September 18. Many users got their updates, but things are not as great as you’d hope them to be. It seems like iOS 17 drains the battery on older iPhones, at least some of them.
iOS 17 seemingly drains battery on older iPhones
Reddit is filled with reports of battery drainage, and the same goes for some other social media platforms. This is not the first time something like this is happening following a major iOS update.
It is possible that older phones are adapting to the new update still. Spotlight needs to reindex all the files and whatnot. Though, on the other hand, it’s also possible Apple will have to release a hotfix update to resolve the issue, as these differences are quite considerable.
A lot of older devices got the update
There are a lot of older devices that are compatible with this update. Some of them have rather modest battery capacities. The phones that are eligible are the iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone SE 3rd Gen, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone SE 2nd Gen, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XS and iPhone XR.
Now, the battery life aspect is a problem, but this update did deliver some new features too, of course. New features for iMessage, FaceTime, AirDrop, and more have been delivered.
We won’t be sure if this is a real problem for another couple of days
To be sure whether the battery life problem is Apple’s mistake, or simply due to file reindexing or something of the sort, we’ll have to wait a bit longer. If this still ends up being an issue after a week, Apple will have to react in some capacity.
As many of you know, the all-new iPhone 15 devices got announced quite recently, with iOS 17 out of the box, while it trickled down to the devices listed above.
In the latest hearing as part of the Google vs US antitrust trial with the DOJ DuckDuckGO CEO Gabriel Weinberg says Google uses phone deals to be the exclusive search tool on devices. This isn’t the first time a claim like this has been made.
Details about Google’s tactics and allegedly monopolistic practices have been coming to light since earlier this month. As the search company finally started trial in the DOJ’s case against it. As part of the details from that case, it was already stated that Google crafts deals with phone manufacturers where it becomes the exclusive search tool for those devices.
Google says it’s still entirely possible for users to switch tools. Going from using Google to using a different search engine to get answers. But Weinberg asserts that this isn’t really the case. Stating court on September 21 that DuckDuckGo “hit a wall with Google’s contracts.”
Phone deals that make Google the default search are only part of the issue
According to Weinberg, it’s not just Google’s exclusive deals with so many different phone companies and manufacturers that make it hard to compete. Weinberg alleges that Google makes the process of switching overly complicated. With a user needing to go through anywhere between 30 and 50 steps to switch default search engines on their devices.
“It’s too many steps,” says Weinberg. He continues by saying the process could be shortened to just a single click to make thigs faster and more convenient for users. But Google’s barrier of a multi-step process keeps users from switching. Because they don’t want to take the time or put in the effort required.
This in large part has helped keep Google in the top spot for search market share. Though it isn’t the only tactic Google has used to maintain dominance. Past reports allege that Google trains employees to avoid using certain words or phrases. In attempts to avoid sounding like monopolists. It’s also been accused of deleting chat history from internal communications.
In a recent surprising development, EV manufacturers have started producing Android phones to complement their cars. Next in line is the Chinese EV maker Nio, which unveiled its new Nio Phone at the Technology Day held in Shanghai. The company aims to capture at least a 50% market share among Nio automobile owners.
When talking about the specifications, Nio phone boasts a 6.81-inch 2K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a triple camera setup (including a 50MP IMX707 main camera with OIS, a 50MP IMX766 ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 50MP IMX890 periscope telephoto lens, all with OIS), a Snapdragon 8 Gen2, and a substantial 5200mAh battery. Additionally, it supports 66W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and even 10W wireless reverse charging.
So, what’s special about the Nio Phone?
While the phone’s specs may seem modest compared to other phones like the S23 Ultra, what sets it apart is its integration with NIO’s electric vehicle ecosystem. Running on SkyUI, the phone features a special button that doubles as a car key, enabling users to remotely control. Additionally, the phone can also manage various in-car functions as well. Moreover, the “Sky Window” feature lets users control smartphone apps on their car’s display, supporting gaming and video conferencing.
“We pay more attention to the value that each user brings to our entire brand. It is more convenient to connect users. It is also more efficient than before. What we are pursuing is the car experience we can provide to our users. I believe this portion of users are very likely to use this new form [of device] when they are changing their phones,” said CEO William Li.
However, it’s important to note that the phone’s price ranges from $900 to $1,000. And Nio does not plan to launch the phone in Europe. Moreover, pre-orders for the new device are now open, with deliveries scheduled to begin on September 28th.
Sure, Threads reached over 100 million users during its peak, but do you remember Bluesky? This is the Twitter alternative that broke the news earlier this year with its decentralized nature and invite-only system. Well, while it’s not as big as Threads, Bluesky just saw its most significant growth just a day after Elon Musk ticked off Twitter users yet again.
So, what did Elon Musk do this time? Well, during a live stream on Monday with the Israeli prime minister, Elon revealed his plan to stop bot accounts on the platform. He revealed his plans to make Twitter a fully paid platform. This means that everyone will have to pay just to use it.
As you can imagine, the masses didn’t like that idea. Thus, it sparked yet another exodus of migrating users.
Bluesky saw its biggest growth after another Elon Musk blunder
While we still need to wait for more information about Elon’s decision, Twitter users are not so patient. People are leaving the site in droves and they’re moving to the sky. Bluesky just saw its biggest influx of users since opening signups. According to Mashable, an impressive 53,583 new users signed up for the platform just one day after Elon’s announcement.
This brings the platform’s total user base to 1,125,499. That’s modest compared to the numbers touted by Threads. However, Bluesky isn’t owned by a trillion-dollar company, so it gets a pass.
Mastodon, Bluesky, Threads, and other apps have been puffed up by an inflow of fed-up Twitter users, so this should come as no surprise. However, the fact that Bluesky saw its biggest period of growth after Elon said that he was thinking about charging to use the platform says a lot. People do NOT want to pay for services that were previously free.
As stated before, there’s still a bunch of information up in the air about what Elon is going to do with Twitter. For all we know, he could change his mind on it. We’ll just need to wait for more information to come out.
Are you looking for a nice screen protector to put on your iPhone 15 Pro, so that it’s protected from day one? Then you’ve come to the right place. The iPhone 15 Pro has a stunning 6.1-inch display, but it’s only stunning until it gets scratched. While it does still have Apple’s CeramicShield available, which does keep it from shattering as easily, it doesn’t do the same for scratches. And it’s simple really. As these companies work to make screens softer to keep them from shattering, that makes them easier to scratch.
And that’s where a nice screen protector becomes a necessity. Here, we have rounded up the very best screen protectors for the new iPhone 15 Pro.
ZAGG InvisibleShield Glass Elite
The InvisibleShield Glass Elite is another good screen protector from ZAGG, though it is on the pricey side. Coming in at $34.99. This does have the same 5x stronger and reinforced edges as the other screen protector from ZAGG on this list.
ZAGG does say that this one will be scratch and smudge-resistant. So even after months of usage, this should still be looking quite nice. Which is good, since this is a single screen protector, and it’s under $40.
This is tempered glass so it will shatter if you bend it. Which means that it is super important to be delicate while you are installing this screen protector. amFilm claims that it is the easiest to install, and it is also case-friendly. So you can use something like Nomad’s Leather Case on here still.
The Ailun Screen Protector is another good option for your iPhone 15 Pro, as it is just $9. And this comes in a three-pack. That’s three screen protectors, plus three camera protectors. That’s a really great combo, as you can also protect your iPhone’s cameras. Which are pretty important these days.
This is a tempered glass screen protector, and it’s going to look great on your iPhone 15 Plus. It’s going to protect that 6.7-inch screen quite nicely, and keep scratch free. It’s also anti-fingerprint, so it’ll look really nice even months later.
Spigen has a great tempered glass screen protector for the iPhone 15 Pro, in the GlasTR EZ FIT. This is a $17 screen protector that also comes with an easy install kit. So you are able to install it onto your iPhone and not worry about having any air bubbles or it not being aligned properly.
This is a case-friendly tempered glass screen protector, so you can still use it with another case like the Apple FineWoven Case or a Spigen case of course.
People are nosey. They always want to know what others are doing on their phones. Luckily with the ZAGG InvisibleShield Glass Elite Privacy 360, you can shield your iPhone 15 Pro away from them so they can’t see. Now this screen protector is pretty pricey – the most expensive on this list actually – at $59.99.
ZAGG claims that this screen protector is 5x stronger with reinforced edges, compared to its predecessor. So your screen is going to be nice and protected here thankfully. It also has a 4-way privacy filter, making it so that only you can see your screen.
The TORRAS Diamond Shield is a really good screen protector, that the company claims is shatterproof and unbreakable. Which is alway great to see here. This is tempered glass as expected, and it comes in a two-pack for $26.
Like a lot of the other screen protectors on this list, this one does also come with an easy-to-use installation kit. It also has military-grade protection.
ESR has become a pretty popular brand for iPhone cases and other accessories, and now they have a pretty good looking screen protector for the brand new Apple iPhone 15 Pro. This comes in a three pack, plus two individual lens protectors for the rear cameras, and it’s only going to cost you $18.
This is a tempered glass screen protector, so it’ll feel just like the regular display on the iPhone 15 Pro. It does have 2.5D curved edges, so it’s going to work quite nicely with any case you decide to put on your iPhone 15 Pro.
Tempered glass is a really good option for screen protectors. As it will feel like there’s no screen protector there, and it’s also more durable to scratches, compared to the plastic ones. Now this one here does come with a nice installation kit, so you are able to install your screen protector without any bubbles, and have it aligned properly.
Caseology does include two in this pack which is $16, so you can take it off and replace it in a few months when it starts to get disgusting. It will also work with any of the iPhone 15 Pro cases mentioned in our buyers guide.
ZAGG also has a pretty inexpensive screen protector, this is the ZAGG InvisibleShield Glass+ and it is priced at $24.99 for the iPhone 15 Pro. The company says that this is 3x stronger with reinforced edges, so it’ll protect the entire front of your iPhone 15 Pro. And it also is still case-friendly. Which is a big deal, as you’re still going to want to put a case on your phone.
This is also scratch and smudge-resistant. And ZAGG has also made this super easy to install. So installation should not be a problem anymore.
Google has launched a new video editing app called YouTube Create app on the Google Play Store aimed at content creators. This app allows users to edit videos right from their phones with an easy-to-use interface and semi-professional tools — free of charge and without ads.
The app is still in beta, but is available now on Android in select countries. It’s still under development, but YouTube has released it in order to start getting feedback from creators early on so they can make it the best app it can be.
It is currently available in the United States, France, Singapore, Germany, South Korea, India, United Kingdom, and Indonesia. YouTube plans to release an iOS version in 2024.
Complete with transitions, overlays, captioning, text effects, stickers, and voiceover capabilities, YouTube Create is just shy of more professional video editors found on the Play Store such as LumaFusion and PowerDirector. It even ties in to YouTube’s extensive library of royalty-free music and audio effects in order to give your video that extra touch.
Additionally, the app contains helpful, easy-to-use production tools to help you with creating long-form and short-form videos whether they be in horizontal or vertical format. Some of the most helpful I’ve found in the short time I explored the app were the inclusion of a marker to let you know when you’ve reached the cutoff point for your video to be considered a YouTube Short, as well as a tool to auto-generate beat markers to help you edit to the beat.
Another really helpful feature is the built in audio cleanup tool, which can help get rid of background noise and thus improve the production quality of your work. The app can also export in 1080p or 720p quality, which is not surprising given that many Android video editing apps have that same restriction.
YouTube Create is definitely a step in the right direction and can become a very powerful tool for new content creators or simply anyone that would prefer to create quick edits right from their phone. I can’t wait to see how the app evolves over time and what new features are added to entice YouTubers to create more content.
Google Wallet is the payment platform that a ton of Android users use around the world. However, if you’re one of those users, then you might want to avoid the next Android update. According to 9To5Google, the Android 14 QPR 1 is basically breaking Google Wallet.
Right now, Google is gearing up to release the stable version of Android 14 to the masses. The rollout has been delayed, unfortunately. However, it’s rumored to be coming in early October. Conveniently, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are going to be unveiled in early October. We’re not sure if Google will choose to launch Android 14 along with its latest Pixel phones.
The first Android 14 QPR could be breaking Google Wallet
This sort of thing tends to happen when you’re testing out the beta version of an operating system. When you download a new version of a beta, you run the risk of having an app or service stop working. This seems to be the case when it comes to the latest Android 14 beta update and Google Wallet.
Several people running the latest version of the software, including 9To5Google’s Ben Schoon, have come across a popup when trying to use the app. When you want to use Google Wallet, your device needs to be up to standards when it comes to security. If your software isn’t secure enough, then the app will block access.
This is what is happening to people on the Android 14 QPR 1. The app is erroneously saying that their software isn’t secure enough. So, if you’re used to making contactless payments, then you’re going to be out of luck.
At the moment, it doesn’t seem that Google is aware of this issue just yet. If it’s a major issue, then you can bet that folks will report it en masse on the web. We expect a ton of complaints to flood Reddit and other places like that. For the time being, however, you’re going to have to wait for the company to issue a solution.
