Apple iPhone overtakes derivative Android to take majority share of smartphones used in America
The 50 per cent landmark — the iPhone’s highest share since it launched in 2007 — was first passed in the quarter ending in June, according to data from Counterpoint Research. Some 150 devices using Google’s Android operating system, led by Samsung and Lenovo, accounted for the rest.
“[O]ver the past four years the flow has consistently been Android to iOS,” said Counterpoint’s research director, Jeff Fieldhack. “This is a big milestone that we could see replicated in other affluent countries across the globe.”
The numbers are based on smartphones in use, known as the “active installed base” … This is a wider and more meaningful category than new phone shipments, which fluctuate from quarter to quarter and have already demonstrated Apple’s newfound strength.
The active installed base takes into account the millions of people brought into Apple’s ecosystem through the used phone market, as well as those who use iPhones purchased years ago.
Ben Wood, analyst at CCS Insight, said: “It’s not that we are seeing a big year where Apple grows its market share 10 or 15 per cent, but there’s this slow burn where they quietly just grab more share every year.”
From Mac Daily News
The Pixel Tablet could feature Google’s first-gen Tensor SoC, but it might lack cellular connectivity
Google showcased a host of new products at its I/O developer conference this May. In addition to the new Pixel 6a and the Pixel Buds Pro, the company also unveiled the upcoming Pixel 7 series, the long-rumored Pixel Watch, and the Pixel Tablet. However, while it shared all details about the Pixel 6a and Pixel Buds Pro, it only gave us a glimpse of the remaining devices. Over the last few months, we’ve learned quite a bit about the Pixel 7 series and the Pixel Watch, but information about the Pixel Tablet remains scarce.
So far, the only confirmed information we have about the Pixel Tablet is that it will hit the market sometime next year. But we have seen some evidence suggesting that it could be the first device to ship with a 64-bit only version of Android 13, and it might feature stylus support and a dual-camera setup. Now, developer Kuba Wojciechowski has spotted some more details while digging through AOSP code.
According to a recent string of tweets from Wojciechowski, the upcoming Pixel Tablet (codenamed Tangor) will not pack any GPS hardware or modem. The tablet will also lack proximity and barometer sensors and won’t offer support for ‘high-fidelity’ sensor processing.
From XDA
Meta’s VR headsets will continue using Qualcomm chips for the foreseeable future
Meta will continue to use Qualcomm’s chips in its Quest line of virtual reality headsets and the two companies are teaming up to build “customized” chipsets, Qualcomm announced at IFA 2022. “We’re working with Qualcomm Technologies on customized virtual reality chipsets — powered by Snapdragon XR platforms and technology — for our future roadmap of Quest products,” said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the press release.
Meta’s Quest 2 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2, so it’s essentially continuing with the status quo. However, it looks like the two companies will be working closely on developing the next generation of chipsets, with Qualcomm saying that “both companies’ engineering and product teams will deepen technical collaboration to deliver next-generation platforms and core technologies.”
Early this year, Qualcomm announced that it was teaming up with Microsoft as well on custom chips for AR glasses, with Microsoft promising “lightweight” and energy-efficient wearables. Qualcomm said that it was “working with Microsoft… [to develop] custom AR chips,” so it appears to be working with both rivals on roughly the same thing.
From Engadget
Nvidia RTX 4080 leaked photo gives us hope that it’s coming soon
Nvidia’s RTX 4080 GPU has apparently been spotted online, with a purported photo of the graphics card being shared on Twitter.
Right up front we should note that particularly heavy use of seasoning is applicable to this leak, as while it does come from one of the recognized ranks of hardware leakers on Twitter (KittyYukko, formerly KittyCorgi), there are certainly some question marks floating around as to whether or not it’s genuine.
From Techradar
Huawei’s latest MatePad tablets come w/ Snapdragon 870, 120Hz displays, run HarmonyOS
Huawei has launched a number of products at IFA 2022 that were first seen in China a few months ago in more markets. The most prominent of Huawei’s new launches are the MatePad Pro 11 and MatePad Pro 12.6.
While the company is still suffering from a lack of access to Google Mobile Services – which hinders sales in Western markets – hardware releases are certainly not lacking in volume. The MatePad Pro lineup now has two new devices in 11-inch and 12.9-inch display variants.
Both tablets include 120Hz OLED displays, with minimal bezels and are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor. The upper mid-range processor is paired with 8/12GB RAM and comes with 128/256GB onboard storage as standard. Battery sizes are 8,300mAh and 10,050mAh respectively.
Sadly, while the hardware appears to be solid for a tablet of this size, it is hard to recommend unless you are happy to live with workarounds or rely upon Huawei’s AppGallery for all of your content needs. That said, there are methods to sideload many of your favorite Google apps and selected third-party applications. Most will work without a hitch and while some apps are still notable absentees from AppGallery, the situation has improved remarkably over the past 18 months.
HarmonyOS comes pre-installed on the 2022 MatePad series, and although marketed by Huawei as an alternative to Android, it is very similar at its core. While Huawei has grand plans for platform integration, the core experience is fairly familiar to those with Android experience. Pricing has not yet been officially confirmed but we expect it to be in or around the previous asking price somewhere in the region of £650/€650. Availability is also set to be made public in the coming weeks.
Alongside refreshed Huawei MatePad devices, the Chinese OEM also launched the Nova 10 and Nova 10 Pro for the first time outside of their native markets. The device duo includes 120Hz displays, 50MP, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro plus 60MP selfie cameras, 4G-only Snapdragon 778G processors, 4,500mAh batteries, and 8/256GB variants in silver and glossy black colorways.
From 9to5Mac
Google Pixel Fold is on track for 2023, says new report
The Google Pixel foldable phone has been rumored for a few years now, but the complicated story has seen a few sources suggest the project was canceled in both 2021 and yet again in 2022. According to a new report in The New York Times, Google is still aiming to produce its own foldable phone, and it’s currently on track to arrive in 2023. It says, “Google is exploring a foldable phone for 2023.”
The report focuses on Google’s current smartphone manufacturing operation, which is moving some products from China to Vietnam. According to the report, Google aims to have half its high-end phones produced in 2023 coming from its Vietnam operation.
Previously, Google has used Vietnam factories to produce its Pixel A series, while the flagship products have remained in China. This may mean the Pixel 8 series, if that’s what it’s eventually called, will be produced in Vietnam, which could mark the first time Google has made flagship phones in the country.
However, this report says the company will still use China factories for its more complicated production methods. The report posits that the foldable phone will remain in China because of this. Sources say that’s down to the key suppliers in China for products such as hinge technology and foldable screens, and Google wants to be close to those to make this handset happen.
From Android Police
Huawei announces the global launch of the Nova 10 series
Huawei is marking its return to IFA 2022 in Berlin with the global launch of its Nova 10 series and a few other products it hopes will win over some customers.
The Huawei Nova 10 smartphones are mid-range smartphones powered by the Snapdragon 778 chipset. While this phone normally comes in a 5G version, Huawei remains unable to utilize 5G technology from Qualcomm, which potential buyers will have to consider. Otherwise, these phones both look and sound like very decent mid-range options.
Design-wise, both are practically identical, with nearly the same specs. Both the Nova 10 and Nova 10 Pro sport curved FHD+ OLED displays with 120Hz refresh rates and 300Hz touch sampling rates. The difference here is size, with the base model measuring 6.67-inches and the Pro model coming in a 7.78-inches. Included in that display is a hole punch with a whopping 60MP selfie camera capable of 4K video capture, with an additional 8MP portrait camera on the Pro.
The primary rear camera for both phones is a 50MP unit accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide angle camera and a depth sensor.
The Nova 10 has a relatively middle-of-the-road 4,000mAh battery, bumped up to 4,500mAh on the Pro model. Wired charging speeds come in at 66W and 100W, respectively.
In addition to the phones, Huawei has a new tablet with an 11-inch 2560×1600 OLED display and a 120Hz refresh rate. Depending on the model, the tablet is powered by 4G versions of either the Snapdragon 888 or the Snapdragon 870, with up to 512GB of internal storage. Both versions have an 8,300mAh battery, with 66W and 40W charging, respectively.
On the back are a 13MP primary sensor and 8MP ultrawide angle camera, while the front features a 16MP video camera.
From Android Central
Leica shows off its first 4K ultra-short-throw projector
Leica has just unveiled its first ultra-short-throw (UST) projector called the Cine 1 that can beam an 80- or 100-inch image while parked as little as six inches from a wall. While it might seem a bit strange for a camera company to build a projector, UST models require precise optics to create a square image while beaming straight up — and that’s right up Leica’s alley.
The company said it’s using its Summicron lens tech with aspherical elements “manufactured in accordance with Leica standards. It also uses a triple-RGB laser with a 25,000 hour service life (built in collaboration with HiSense, according to The Verge) and a Texas Instruments DLP chip.
Leica has two versions of the Cine 1 designed for 80-inch and 100-inch screens, with the former positioned about six inches from the wall and the latter about 12 inches. Leica recommends setting them at exactly those positions and using the suggested screen sizes, as the optics were designed for that. To that end, it’s also selling 80- and 100-inch ambient light-rejecting (ALR) screens. They output 2,100 and 2,500 lumens for the 80- and 100-inch models, respectively.
From Engadget
Twitter is testing an edit button, coming later this month to paying subscribers
People have been crying out for a way to edit tweets for years now, perhaps ever since Twitter’s inception. And now there finally is one. In testing.
Still, that’s a huge step for Twitter, and the edit button is expected to be released more widely before the end of this month. Only in this case “more widely” means to those who subscribe to Twitter Blue, the $4.99 per month service that gives access to premium features.
It’s also where you can get early access to new features, like the upcoming edit button. The test will be “localized to a single country at first” and expand later as Twitter learns how people use it. The company promises to pay “close attention to how the feature impacts the way people read, write, and engage with” tweets. In case you’re wondering, the “single country” wasn’t named, so your guess is as good as ours.
From Gsmarena
Google shifts production of Pixels to Vietnam, production of 2023 foldable may stay in China
In a new report from The New York Times, we get a look at some major tech companies and how their manufacturing of the world’s most popular tech is shifting from China to Vietnam. Google, Apple, and Microsoft are mentioned throughout the report so let’s start with Google.
“Part of Google’s newest Pixel phone production will be done in Vietnam”, writes The New York Times as per people familiar with Google’s plans. Google plans to shift assembly of its Pixel phones from Foxconn facilities in southern China over to Vietnam where it’ll begin producing the Pixel 7. As per the report, “[Google] expects Vietnam to provide as much as half of next year’s high-end Pixel phones”.
From Gsmarena
