Samsung Galaxy A21s with secondary macro camera on the cards: Report

Samsung appears to be paying special attention to its Galaxy A-series of entry-level and mid-range smartphones in this new year. Last month, it officially announced the Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 smartphones globally, both of which are confirmed to go live in the Indian market in the next few days. According to a new report from Sammobile, the Korean electronics manufacturer is now working on an entry-level model called Galaxy A21s with dual cameras. Other models reportedly in the works are the Galaxy A41 and possibly the Galaxy A31.

According to the report, the Galaxy A21s is not preceded by a ‘non-s’ Galaxy A21, as has been the case with many Galaxy A-series models in the past. Rather, it’s possible Samsung will market the same phone in the US as the Galaxy A21 and in other markets as the Galaxy A21s. Not much about the Galaxy A21s is known at this point. It is expected to come in two storage variants, namely 32GB and 64GB. It will also come in a number of colour options, namely blue, red, black, and white.

The Samsung Galaxy A21s, whose model number is most likely SM-A217F, is expected to sport a dual camera setup on its back panel even though it’s an entry-level device. Though the report doesn’t shed light on the resolution of the primary sensor, it does confirm the presence of a 2MP macro sensor. A macro sensor (of unknown resolution) is also expected to do duty on the more mysterious Galaxy A41. The information we have on hand so far suggests that Samsung is betting big on macro photography even on entry-level models.

The Samsung Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71, which were announced globally last month, are expected to become available on Samsung’s online store in the next few days. The Galaxy A51 features an Exynos 9611 chip with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The slightly larger Galaxy A71 features the same maximum RAM and storage options but gets a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 chip. The Galaxy A51 is expected to be priced at Rs 22,990, while the Galaxy A71 is expected to be priced at Rs 29,990. You can read more about them here.

Note: Cover image represents outgoing model Samsung Galaxy A20s

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Sony to Launch PlayStation Now Service in India This Year: Report

As per a new report, Sony is reportedly planning to launch the PlayStation Now cloud-based game streaming service in India later this year.

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Lenovo ThinkPad E14 quietly introduced in India, configurable from Rs 42,836

In early December 2019, we reported that Lenovo would switch to a simpler format of model numbers on its popular ThinkPad line of business laptops. We noted that two of the models in the E-series—the ThinkPad E490 and ThinkPad E495—were running out of numbers in the ‘400’ series and that they would be succeeded by the ThinkPad E14, which was already spotted in some Asian markets. And now, it appears Lenovo has quietly brought the ThinkPad E14 to India as well. According to the Lenovo India website, the ThinkPad E14 starts at Rs 42,836.

The ThinkPad E-series has always consisted of entry-level business laptops and the latest ThinkPad E14 is no different. When compared with its predecessors, it is slightly slimmer. New features include stereo speakers by Harman Kardon and the proprietary ThinkShutter webcam privacy slider. Though it succeeds the Intel-powered ThinkPad E490 and the AMD-powered ThinkPad E495 in terms of generation, the ThinkPad E14 comes with only Intel CPU options at the moment. In fact, Lenovo has not listed any readily shippable variants for the ThinkPad E14 on its official website. Instead, it has made the model fully configurable using Lenovo’s recently launched ‘Build your own’ online model configurator.

The ThinkPad E14 can be configured with up to an Intel 10th Gen Core i7 CPU with four cores. System RAM ranges from 4GB to 16GB. Internal storage options include a 2.5-inch hard drive with up to 2TB capacity and a PCIe NVMe solid-state drive with up to 512GB capacity. Because the laptop features dual storage, you can have a hard drive and a solid-state drive. One of the solid-state drive options included is an Opal-compliant self-encrypting unit. Though the 14-inch screen has Full HD resolution as standard, you’ll have to pay more for the IPS panel with 250 nits of brightness. There’s a single discrete graphics option, namely the AMD Radeon RX 640 card with up to 2GB of GDDR5 video RAM.

Apart from the aforementioned options, there are a few more configurable elements on the ThinkPad E14 online configurator. For example, you could throw in a backlit keyboard (something the previous models didn’t have) and a fingerprint reader (integrated into the power button now). You can also upgrade to Intel Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. By default, the laptop comes with no operating system; Windows 10 is an optional purchase. A fully kitted-out ThinkPad E14 with Windows 10 Pro will set you back Rs 97,164, while the most basic trim with no Windows OS at all will cost you Rs 42,836.

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Astronauts bake cookies in space for first time using special space oven

In what will go down in history as one of the many firsts in space, astronauts aboard the International Space Station successfully baked food using a special oven designed to work specifically in microgravity. Astronauts Luca Parmitano and Christina Koch baked five chocolate chip cookies in separate batches during Christmastime as part of a food science experiment to explore cooking options in long-haul space voyages. While the space station was filled with the aroma of fresh cookies during the experiment, the astronauts got to eat none of them. Three of them were returned to Earth earlier this month for testing.

The special space oven the astronauts used to bake cookies was designed and built by a New York-based duo called Zero G Kitchen. The oven was installed by space station services provider Nanoracks. The oven looks slightly larger than a regular microwave unit and consists of a long, tubular section for baking food. Since convection can’t be achieved in space, the oven relies on electric heating elements in the same way a typical kitchen toaster does. Designed to draw small amounts of power from the space station’s internal power grid, the plug-and-play oven can heat food up to 177 degrees Celsius.

The dough for baking cookies in space was provided by DoubleTree by Hilton, a large American hotel chain that’s known for its cookies. According to a report by CNN, the astronauts baked the first four cookies at 148.8 degrees Celsius for 25 minutes, 75 minutes, and 120 minutes, respectively. They baked the fifth cookie at a slightly higher 162.7 degrees Celsius for 130 minutes before letting it cool for about ten minutes. The fourth and fifth cookies were considered to be the most successful because of their extended baking times.

“While we have initial visual and scent feedback from the crew aboard the ISS, we're excited to dive into fully understanding the baking results -- including breaking down why the bake time and temperature in space varies from what we are used to seeing on Earth, as well as if the baking tray, which was designed specifically for microgravity, impacted the final shape of the baked cookies,” commented Mary Murphy, Senior Internal Payloads Manager at Nanoracks. Meanwhile, NASA astronaut Christina Koch tweeted an image of the baked cookies in space a day after Christmas.

 

We made space cookies and milk for Santa this year. Happy holidays from the @Space_Station! pic.twitter.com/sZS4KdPmhj

— Christina H Koch (@Astro_Christina) December 26, 2019

 

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OnePlus reveals Concept One prototype in original all-black leather finish

Whether you like the OnePlus Concept One prototype or not, it’s safe to say it turned heads when the popular Chinese electronics manufacturer showcased it at CES earlier this month. If you’re a fan of it, here’s a fun fact for you: the OnePlus Concept One prototype originally donned a plain black leather finish before it took on McLaren’s signature papaya orange look for the CES demoes. OnePlus recently published photos of the prototype smartphone in its original black trim on the OnePlus Community while sharing a bit more information on its conception.

Renowned automaker McLaren started using the papaya orange colour in 1968 for Formula One races, beginning with the McLaren M7A. Today, it’s seen on the 720S sports car as well. OnePlus, which has often collaborated with McLaren to create McLaren-inspired OnePlus models, says it drew inspiration from the 720S when it styled the Concept One prototype. “We worked with McLaren on applying the same premium leather that is used on the 720s,” comments Kevin Tao from the OnePlus Industrial Design team.

According to Tao, it took OnePlus three months to optimise that famous ‘invisible cameras’ technology on the Concept One prototype for speed and power consumption. OnePlus new technology, which uses electrochromic glass, can electronically hide or show the camera stack on the rear panel of the Concept One prototype in 0.7 seconds. Talking about mainstream availability of the technology in the market, Tao adds, “A new technology application requires user and market feedback, and when the time is ripe we will introduce it to the market.”

Tao also believes OnePlus is stepping into a new design territory that reflects the marriage of traditional design elements (colours, material, finish) on a smartphone with electronic components, as seen on the Concept One prototype. “We are now working with materials that have dynamic properties, properties we can control and tune however we like, and that then become part of the functionality of a device,” he adds. It’s entirely possible that the ‘invisible cameras’ technology we saw on the Concept One prototype will make it to the market in a OnePlus model someday soon.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip might have a tiny secondary screen, dual-camera setup details leaked

We are nearing the February 11 Galaxy Unpacked event where Samsung will supposedly launch the Galaxy S20 series of smartphones, along with its next foldable phone. Almost every other day rumours and reports about the devices are cropping up online. After a promo poster and some key specs of the Galaxy Z Flip leaked, we now have a couple of more reports about the upcoming handset. Some key specs of the phone were previously outed by XDA‘s Max Weinbach and he’s back at it again. This time, the tipster has revealed some more information about Samsung’s clamshell foldable device like it’s camera details, charging capabilities, info about the reported front display and more. 

As per the report, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip could come equipped with a dual-camera on the rear. Both the sensors here are said to feature a 12MP resolution and while one is said to be a wide camera, the other one could be an ultra-wide camera. Previously leaked renders of the phone hinted at a tiny front display and the fresh leak suggests it could be 1-inch in size and not 0.1-inch as it was mentioned in Weinbach’s original tweet. It is said to indicate charging speeds, battery info and might work as a viewfinder to guide taking selfies using the rear cameras. 

Some additional information about the device includes a side-mounted capacitive fingerprint scanner. The Galaxy Z Flip might also support 15W charging, which we presume is for wireless charging. There might also be reverse wireless charging support on the phone. Display on the device is said to employ “Samsung Ultra Thin Glass" which will have a crease and the screen is said to be a Dynamic AMOLED display.

So Galaxy Z Flip. Capacitive fingerprint scanner on the side. Dual 12MP cameras, wide and ultra wide. 15W charging. Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging are supported. It will use "Samsung Ultra Thin Glass" which has crease. It will use a Dynamic AMOLED display.

— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) January 23, 2020

A previous leak about the handset hinted at a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED Display. Instead of the 108MP camera that is rumoured to be present on the device, it is said to sport a 12MP main camera. On the front, there may be a 10MP sensor for selfies and it is said the whole package could be backed by either a 3300mAh battery or a 3500mAh battery. The phone will most likely run on One UI 2.1 and could be announced in black and purple colour models. 

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UN bars officials from using WhatsApp over security concerns, company responds

The United Nations (UN) has barred officials from communicating on WhatsApp citing accusations made against the Saudi Arabia crown prince back in 2018. The crown prince was accused of using the app to allegedly hack the phone of Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos. “It is not supported as a secure mechanism,” a UN spokesman said on Thursday. UN experts say they had details pointing to “possible involvement” of Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman in the alleged 2018 cyberattack on Bezos. As a result, senior officials at the UN have been instructed not to use WhatsApp.

Based on the forensic report by Washington-based FTI Consulting, the UN called for an immediate investigation by the US and other authorities. The report claims Bezos’ iPhone was hacked by a malicious video file sent from a WhatsApp account used by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. While there is no proof of that happening, Farhan Haq, a UN spokesman said, “the senior officials at the UN have been instructed not to use WhatsApp, it’s not supported as a secure mechanism.”

The directive to stop using WhatsApp was given to UN officials last June. When asked about the move by the UN, WhatsApp Director of Communications Carl Woog said, “Every private message is protected by end-to-end encryption to help prevent WhatsApp or others from viewing chats. The encryption technology that we developed with Signal is highly regarded by security experts and remains the best available for people around the world.”

A ban specifically targeting WhatsApp has left experts in disbelief. According to Oded Vanunu, Researcher at Tel Aviv-based security consultancy Checkpoint that regularly points out security flaws in popular messaging apps, “WhatsApp takes security seriously compared to the other social media messaging platforms.” He added, “Every application has vulnerabilities that can be exploited in some way.”

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