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Google Pixel 4 XL renders suggest the notch is going away
We already know what the rear of Google's upcoming Pixel 4 looks like, and renders of the other side of the XL version suggest the smartphone will ditch the widely-derided notch of the Pixel 3 XL. Tipster Steve Hemmerstoffer, aka OnLeaks, has a solid track record with leaks, and he and Pricebaba teamed up for more renders of the Pixel 4 XL based on leaked specs.
Watch the OnePlus 7 Pro's pop-up camera lift 49 pounds of cement
If you can get your hands on the OnePlus 7 Pro -- one of two flagship phones released today -- one of the first things you'll notice is that it's done away with the front-facing notch camera. Instead, OnePlus opted for a pop-up camera. And to prove just how durable it is, the company released a video of the camera lifting a 49.2-pound block of cement.
Samsung imagines full-screen phone with a camera hidden under the display
Samsung is working on a "perfect full-screen" phone that will be 100 percent display, with no notches, bezels or cut-outs. According to Yang Byung-duk, the company's display R&D vice president, "Technology can move to the point where the camera hole will be invisible, while not affecting the camera's function in any way."
Samsung's 5G prototype phone packs a very peculiar screen
Verizon and AT&T have set up small-scale 5G networks at Qualcomm's Tech Summit in Hawaii, but what good are wireless networks without devices? Motorola is on the ground with an apparently live version of its 5G Moto Mod, but Samsung showed up with something different: a secretive prototype phone, wrapped in a dark case and with a screen unlike just about any other I've seen.
Sharp thinks two phone notches are better than one
If the thought of one notch on a phone makes you apoplectic, you might want to sit down before you read this. Sharp has unveiled the Aquos R2 Compact, a 5.2-inch handset that crams in two notches -- one for its front 8-megapixel camera and another for its fingerprint reader. The design helps make the most out of a relatively small body, but this is destined to give you fits if you dislike components jutting into the screen. It's not even symmetric, either.
Google Pixel 3 XL bug adds an annoying second notch
Several Google Pixel 3 XL owners have encountered what must be the most annoying of bugs. As if one notch wasn't bad enough, a second "software notch" is popping up on various parts of some screens, more or less making the display look like an expensive puzzle piece. Some users whose devices sprouted a second notch posted about the plague on Twitter and Reddit over the last few days.
Pixel 3 and 3 XL review: Google’s hardware takes a backseat to software
Even if they hadn't been leaked to death before their official announcement, the Pixel 3 and 3 XL probably wouldn't surprise anyone. The hardware has barely changed (at least on the outside). And there's no difference between the two handsets apart from size -- you no longer have to spring for a bigger, more expensive phone for the best features. From more powerful camera algorithms to a smarter Assistant, the standout features on this year's models are almost all in the software. The question, then, is this: If all the best stuff about these phones is basically software updates that even older devices will ultimately get, is there a point in shelling out for the new hardware? The answer, surprisingly, is yes, but only if you can live with a giant notch.
Google is adding an option to hide the Pixel 3 XL’s notch
We've all had a little bit of fun at Google's expense about the notch on the new Pixel 3 XL smartphone. It's not exactly the most flattering look, after all. But now, apparently, the company is adding an option to hide the notch on this handset. We've reached out to Google for confirmation.
The notch on the Pixel 3 XL sucks
The deep notch on the Pixel 3 XL isn't a huge surprise. It was first revealed in leaked photos posted by an XDA forum user on June 6th. Some people hoped, or prayed, that it wasn't real or could somehow be fixed before the phone's release. But as more leaks trickled out, including Engadget's own sneaky peek, it became clear that the notch was frighteningly real. Today, Google revealed the phone and its smaller notch-free sibling, the Pixel 3, at a glitzy event in New York City. I can't help but feel a tad disappointed.
The OnePlus 6T will be unveiled on October 30th
The OnePlus 6T, a more high-tech version of the OnePlus 6, will launch on October 30th, the company announced. It's expected to pack an in-display fingerprint sensor and feature a much smaller notch than Apple's latest iPhones and (apparently) the Google Pixel 3XL. On the downside, it will apparently lose the 3.5mm headphone jack, forcing you to either adapt the USB-C connector or use OnePlus' upcoming USB-C Bullets V2 earphones.
Google declares Android phones can have two notches at most
While Google is welcoming manufacturers who want to pack Android into phones with notches, it's setting a limit on how many cutouts devices can include. The company has told phone makers that they can only include notches at the top and/or bottom of the screen, and each edge can only have a single notch.
Lenovo's 'all-screen' smartphone is a lie
After ramping up the hype for the Z5, Lenovo revealed the goods, and they weren't as advertised. Its new phone, teased since May, landed with a bit of a chin at the base -- and a notch at the top. So, that's the worst of both worlds? Now, we'd make less of a fuss if the company hadn't already coaxed out teaser images of a phone with a screen that appeared to truly stretch to the edges. It turns out that the render was just that: A render and nothing else.
Google's Pixel 3 XL might have a notch and edge-to-edge screen
We've been impressed with Google's Pixel phones, but their terrible sales haven't lived up to their critical reputation. The Pixel 2 replaced the first model after just a year, so it was a good bet that the Pixel 3 would come out around the same time this fall. Now we have a hint at what the tech giant's next smartphone may look like. According to Bloomberg sources, odds are there will once again be a standard and 'XL' version, with the larger featuring an edge-to-edge screen and (unsurprisingly) a notch at the top.
The smartphone notch is a status symbol
Whether you like it or not, the smartphone notch is here to stay. After the Essential Phone and iPhone X brought the notch to the masses, other major brands such as Huawei, ASUS, Oppo and Vivo followed suit soon after, and the latest to join the party is none other than LG with its G7 ThinQ. Admittedly, this is a little painful to watch considering that LG (and even HTC) once stood by its Second Screen idea well before the notch ever happened. LG had a fair reason to join this trend: People like it, and it has the numbers to prove it.
The OnePlus 6 will have a notch
Concerned over all of the hate notches have been getting, OnePlus decided to get ahead of the issue and explain to The Verge why it's going the notch route with the OnePlus 6 and why that doesn't make it just an iPhone copycat. The company says that the OnePlus 6's notch will be larger than the Essential Phone's because going that small would've affected the earpiece and front-facing camera quality or required it to omit other sensors and lights. But it will be smaller than the iPhone X's.
First Android P beta adds full support for notched displays
It's March, and that means it's time for Google to release its first look at the next version of Android. As of today, developers can download the first version of Android P to last year's Pixel and Pixel XL as well as the newer Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. Since it's a developer preview, we're not getting a ton of information about consumer-facing features, there is a lot of detail on what new features and technologies developers will be able to take advantage of in their apps when the next version of Android arrives later this year.
Android P might support 'notched' displays
It sounds like Google is taking inspiration from the iPhone X display's notch for the next version of Android. The idea is for Android Pistachio Ice Cream (the software version's internal name, according to Bloomberg) is to win potential iPhone customers over by offering a similar look to its OS. While some like Samsung have outright mocked the cut-out, other manufacturers like Essential (above) have embraced it. This move makes it sound like Google expects more of the latter than the former, which means you can likely expect to find more phones with all manner of sensors tucked into the space in the future. Chinese OEM Huawei is rumored to join the notched-display party as well.
Google embraces the notch with iPhone X Gmail update
First released on November 3rd, the iPhone X forced developers to scramble to adapt apps to that famous notch and the lack of a home button. Google is no exception, and after optimizing its productivity suite last week (Docs, Sheets and Slides), it's now Gmail's turn. No longer will you have to put up with a letterboxed view of your communications, as Google's mail app now integrates the cutout in its top rail.
'Minecraft' creator wants you to go on a kaleidoscopic trip
Markus "Notch" Persson, the creator of Minecraft has something to show you, but you might not be ready for it. Okay, "your browser might not be ready for it" is probably the more accurate statement. The project? A kaleidoscopic "ray marching fractal generator" that'll run in virtual reality on certain browsers, or just plan old 2D on basically everything else. Road to VR linked to the mesmerizing geometry project (dubbed Unmandelboxing) apparently only weighs about 3.5 KB.
Microsoft bought 'Minecraft' after a single tweet by its creator
We're only halfway through the decade, but it's already obvious that Minecraft is the biggest game of the '10s. Its creator, Markus "Notch" Persson has now been honored for his achievement with a cover story in Forbes. The piece reveals a few interesting tidbits about how he came to leave the game that made his name, including the fact that the $2.5 billion sale to Microsoft was prompted with a single tweet.
