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Samsung’s Galaxy A9 is the first quad camera phone
Google's Pixel 3 reveal came and went earlier this week, bringing us ever closer to the end of new flagship season. For Samsung, the past few months have revolved around the Galaxy Note 9, but the company saved a little something special for its next mid-range device. Samsung may have already announced a mid-tier handset with three rear cameras, the Galaxy A7, a couple of weeks ago. But today, it's going one better with the new Galaxy A9, the world's first quad camera smartphone.
Google's Pixel 3 event by the numbers
Google offered everybody a peak at its fall product lineup during its Made by Google event in New York City on Tuesday. The internet search giant cum hardware purveyor showed off its latest handset, the Pixel 3 (as well as a wireless charging dock for it), a more robust Chromecast, a smart Home Hub, and a snazzy 2-in-1 convertible tablet.
Microsoft plans 2019 beta for its game streaming service
We've known that Microsoft is working on a cloud streaming service that will allow users to play high-quality video games on phones and tablets. Today, the company introduced Project xCloud, which is game-streaming tech that "will offer you the freedom to play on the device you want without being locked to a particular device," according to a blog post.
WSJ: New Nintendo Switch planned for 2019
Nintendo has been on an excellent run between the release of the Switch and its mini retro consoles, and the Wall Street Journal reports that next year its new hardware launch could be a revised version of the Switch. Pitched as a way to "maintain sales momentum" it's unclear exactly what might change in a new version, but one possibility is swapping its LCD screen out for a more battery-friendly and better-looking OLED display, although it's likely to stick with LCD.
Mario Kart VR lands in the US
Mario Kart VR has already graced Japan and London...now it's making a pitstop in the US. Yes, you can (finally) immerse yourself in the cartoonish karting action -- while sitting in a physical vehicle with pedals and a steering wheel -- at Washington DC's Union Station right now. But you better be quick: Bandai Namco's "VR Zone Portal" is only in town till March 2019, reports Road to VR.
Amazon increases its minimum wage to $15
Amazon has announced that it will increase its minimum wage to $15 for all of its employees, starting November 1st. The company says that the move will benefit 250,000 staffers, as well as up to 100,000 part-time, temporary and agency workers hired during busy periods. Wage increases will also be implemented at Amazon's subsidiary businesses, including Whole Foods and Zappos. Other, stock-based compensations are being withdrawn to offset the changes, but 401k matching and healthcare benefits are unchanged.
Netflix might make a choose-your-own-adventure 'Black Mirror'
Apparently, Netflix isn't content with just being a leader in traditional entertainment. According to Bloomberg, the streaming service is exploring choose-your-own-ending style interactive content. While multiple projects are reportedly in development, the first adult programming that viewers will see is an episode of Black Mirror. Viewers will be able to choose the ending to an episode, which is appropriate for a series that explores the effects and implications of technology. The company has apparently been exploring this tech for some time now.
LG V40 unveiled with all five of its cameras
We'll get our hands on the LG V40 ThinQ October 3rd, but in Korea the company has partially lifted the curtain on its latest V-series phone. While the line has grown more conventional since the release of the V10 a few years ago, this one separates itself from the pack by bringing the previously-rumored five cameras -- three in the back and two up front.
Sony finally gives in to ‘Fortnite’ PS4 cross-play demands
PlayStation gamers have been frustrated by the lack of cross-platform support for the popular game Fortnite. But now Sony has some good news. Today, the company announced an open beta that will allow for Fortnite cross-platform play between the PlayStation 4 and iOS, Android, the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows and Mac.
Instagram founders resign from Facebook
Just about six years after Facebook closed its $1 billion purchase of Instagram, both of the company's founders are resigning, according to a report from The New York Times and confirmed by a post on the company's blog. Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger served as the company's CEO and CTO, respectively, after pivoting the app from a Foursquare-style check-in service called Burbn to focus on photography in 2010. Less than two years after launching an Instagram iOS app, Facebook announced plans to purchase the company. At the time it had around 30 million users and has since grown to over 800 million. Their departure brings to mind the path taken by the founders of (fellow Facebook acquisition) Whatsapp, Jan Koum and Brian Acton. Acton left a year ago and later tweeted "#deleteFacebook" during revelations over the company's privacy issues, while Jan Koum announced his departure earlier this year, reportedly due to clashes over how to handle user data. Update: The news has been confirmed in a blog post written by Systrom. There was no indication of any issues as he said that the two are "now ready for our next chapter."
macOS Mojave is out today. Here’s what to expect.
While Apple didn't talk much about Macs at its big iPhone event two weeks ago, we did learn that macOS Mojave would be released on September 24th. Well, here we are. I've been testing a final build of Mojave for the past week or so, and while it's not radically different from what we detailed in our extensive preview three months ago, it's worth highlighting what you can expect when you update your computer today.
PlayStation Classic jumps on the retro trend December 3rd for $100
With "Classic" game systems occasionally outselling modern ones, Sony is bringing back its own old school system. The PlayStation Classic will launch in December, loaded with 20 "generation-defining" games in their original format for $100 (€99.99 RRP). It's 45 percent smaller than the original system and uses a virtual memory card for saves. It will arrive with two PS1-era replica controllers from the time before analog sticks for local multiplayer and connect to modern TVs via HDMI-out, but you'll have to bring your own USB power adapter.
The world's first hydrogen train is now in service
The world's first (and second) hydrogen-powered trains have entered service in northern Germany, marking the start of a new era for sustainable travel. Two Coradia iLint trains, made by Alstom, have begun working the line between Cuxhaven and Buxtehude just west of Hamburg. Until now, the nearly 100km-long line has been serviced by diesel trains, but will now play host to near-silent engines.
Tesla is ending its lifetime free Supercharging offer
Tesla's offer of free, unlimited Supercharger access was supposed to have ended in early 2017, but it's been on a form of life support since then. Unless you were buying a regular Model 3, you could get the no-cost charging by ordering your EV with a referral code from an existing owner. Now, however, even that exception appears to be coming to an end. Elon Musk has pointed out that the referral program is about to end. After September 16th, owners will only get to hand out $100 in Supercharging credit to Model S, Model X and Model 3 Performance buyers -- just enough for a few top-ups.
The biggest announcements from Apple's iPhone Xs event
As we all wake from the haze that follows an Apple event, we've collected together all the major announcements, new products and conspicuously absent devices that came from 2018's big iPhone briefing.
Apple Watch Series 4 hands-on: Subtle improvements
Apple has just wrapped its Gather Round press event, and as expected, we got our first glimpse at the new Apple Watch, the Series 4. As promised by some press phots that leaked ahead of the keynote, the watch has a larger screen than what we became used to on the first three editions: It's 35 percent bigger on the smaller 40mm model and 32 percent larger on the 44mm edition. It's also thinner, with haptic feedback, a louder speaker, longer battery life, more watch faces, a Mindfulness app and some new build materials: ceramic and sapphire. It ships next week, on September 21st, but I just strapped one on my wrist at the Steve Jobs Theater to bring you some early impressions.
Apple’s iPhone Xs and Xs Max are all about the display
If you've been following the Apple rumors lately, the big news from today's event should come as no surprise. The new flagship iPhone Xs and Xs Max have just been announced, and so far they match up with everything that was rumored. The iPhone Xs sticks with the same notched, 5.8-inch OLED display found on last year's model, which the Xs Max steps up to a massive 6.5-inch panel. That panel also features what Phil Schiller says is the strongest smartphone glass ever made. CEO Tim Cook calls it "the most advanced iPhone we've ever created" -- no surprise there.
Apple Watch Series 4 has a sleeker edge-to-edge screen
After some rather spectacular leaks, the Apple Watch Series 4 is official. The new models represent the first big change in screen size since the smartwatch premiered in 2015, with 40mm and 44mm models packing larger displays (35 percent and 32 percent, respectively) that run much closer to the case edge. Even so, the bodies are thinner than before. The extra visual real estate provides more room for apps, and there's a new watch face that touts as many as eight (!) complications -- yes, that image you saw earlier was real. You'll also see a Mindfulness watch face as well as ones that interact with the edges of the screen.
A project to remove 88,000 tons of plastic from the Pacific has begun
An ambitious project to clean up the 88,000 tons of plastic floating in the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" has begun. On Sunday, the Ocean Cleanup Project started towing its "Ocean Cleanup System 001" from San Francisco to a trial site some 240 nautical miles (260 miles) away. Once it arrives, the wind and waves will push System 001 into a U-shape and it will slowly drift along on its own. A 10-foot long skirt hanging below will collect pieces of plastic as small as a millimeter in size, and smaller boats will later scoop them up and take them to shore for recycling.
OnePlus 6T will include an in-display fingerprint reader
OnePlus' next phone, likely to be called the OnePlus 6T, will have an in-display fingerprint reader, CNET reports. OnePlus confirmed the feature, dubbed Screen Lock, saying it had initially planned for the fingerprint reader to be included in the OnePlus 5T, but that the technology wasn't quite ready for public release at the time. "We unlock our phones multiple times a day, and Screen Unlock reduces the number of steps to complete the action," OnePlus told CNET. "By adding this feature as an addition to other display unlocking options such as Face Unlock, users will have options to unlock the display in a way that is most efficient for them."
