It Looks Like the Pixel 6 Could Get a Face Unlock Feature After All
In recent days there has been an uptick in Pixel 6 users on Twitter begging Google to bring back the face unlock feature it offered on previous Pixels. The company left out the ability in its latest flagship in favor of an in-screen fingerprint sensor. (Some users have reported issues with that feature, too.)
If the fingerprint scanner seems too slow, or you simply miss your face being the key, there may be some light on the horizon. There is a face unlock feature lurking in the Pixel’s software shadows. According to XDA Developers, source code in the latest Pixel 6 commit dump appears to refer to a face unlock feature.
A developer discovered that on July 9, Google introduced a code change to the Pixel 6’s PowerHAL config file. The description mentions an internal feature called “Tuscany,” which seems to refer to face unlock. There are mentions of Tuscany utilized for “expensive image processing” and that the “worst case scenario” would be for it not to attempt to unlock the phone. The developer expands on their findings in a Twitter thread (though much of it requires knowledge of source code before trying to parse).
Basically, it sounds like Google was working on a face unlock feature before the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro launch. It’s possible that there is already code for an existing face unlock feature buried deep within the hardware and that Google didn’t enable it merely because of some kinks that need to get worked out.
From Gizmodo
Samsung Galaxy S22+ with Snapdragon 898 runs Geekbench
Image : Geekbench
Here is another Snapdragon 898 scorecard from Geekbench – this one belongs to the SM-S906U, which is the US version of the Samsung Galaxy S22+. The chipset ran at the top available clock speeds, meaning 3.0 GHz for the Cortex-X2 core, 2.5 GHz for the A710 and 1.8 GHz for the A510.
The score is lower than what the 898-powered Galaxy Tab S8+ managed, but inconsistent results are not unexpected with pre-release hardware and software. Qualcomm won’t announce its new flagship chipset until November 30 and the first phones with the 898 may arrive a month later, there is time left to tweak things.
Previously, we’ve seen an Exynos 2200-powered S22+ do Geekbench, however, that one had a power-saving governor enabled, so it’s the result is useless for score comparisons. Anyway, both phones ran Android 12 with 8 GB of RAM, which will be the base configuration.
There is also a result from the SM-S901U (vanilla S22), but it is suspiciously low, so we’re not including it here). Also, keep in mind that the next-gen chipsets are based on ARMv9, so software has probably not adapted yet to make the best out of the new architecture.
From Gsmarena
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE fully revealed thanks to leaked marketing materials
Going by the rumor mill, the Galaxy S21 FE has had a pretty rocky journey. First, its launch was delayed by a couple of months before leaks eventually claimed that the device was canceled altogether due to the chip shortage. Given the success of the Galaxy S20 FE, it would have been a shame to see Samsung not launch its successor. Thankfully, recent rumors indicate that the company is well on track to launch its next Fan Edition device at an Unpacked event in the first week of January. Spoiling Samsung’s upcoming event somewhat, the S21 FE’s key specifications and marketing images have been posted online by Coinbrs.
The leak reveals that the Galaxy S21 FE will sport a 6.4-inch FHD+ 120Hz OLED display, covered with Gorilla Glass and housing an in-display fingerprint scanner. The rear will be made of polycarbonate plastic and a camera module comprising a 64MP primary shooter, an ultra-wide, and a depth sensor. At the front, there will be a 32MP selfie shooter.
Depending on the market, the Fan Edition Galaxy S21 will feature a Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 chipset paired with 6GB RAM and up to 256GB storage. A 4,500mAh battery with 15W fast charging support will power the device. The design of the Galaxy S21 FE in the images perfectly matches its previously leaked renders.
From Android Police
A Dimensity 2000-powered phone is the first Android to score over 1 million AnTuTu points
MediaTek is already teasing the world’s first 4nm smartphone chipset and while the video doesn’t do much more than declare “first!”, rumor has it that the chipset designer has lined up several clients. vivo is among them and one of its phones may have just become the first Android device to get past the 1 million points mark in AnTuTu.
The phone, vivo V2184, is powered by the MT6983. Rumors have dubbed this chip the Dimensity 2000, the phone is probably a new X-series model. The score – 1,002,220 – was reported on by both Ice Universe and Digital Chat Station. AnTuTu itself is yet to confirm that the score is legitimate.
From Gsmarena
Motorola Edge 30 Ultra leak reveals the design and specs of this flagship phone
Not long ago we heard that Motorola could have a new high-end handset in the works dubbed the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra, and now we’ve had our first look at the possible design of this phone.
Leaker @OnLeaks has shared renders of the handset with 91Mobiles, some of which you can see below, and they show a flat screen with a punch-hole camera, and a fairly plain back with a triple-lens camera.
The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra is shown here in blue and grey shades, but the source doesn’t rule out the possibility of other colors. Its dimensions meanwhile are apparently 163.1 x 76.5 x 8.8mm (or 10mm including the rear camera bump).
That’s about it on the design front, but this source also shares some specs – though they largely line up with an earlier leak.
Apparently the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra has a Snapdragon 898 chipset, a 6.6-inch screen, a 50MP main camera, a 50MP secondary (probably ultra-wide) one, a 2MP depth sensor, a 60MP front-facing camera, and a 5,000mAh battery.
Those specs paint the picture of a high-end phone, with the selfie camera possibly being a highlight, given that 60MP is a far higher megapixel could than most front-facing cameras have.
From Techradar
Xiaomi 12 launch date could come before the end of the year
You may have been breathing a sigh of relief, safe in the knowledge that all the big smartphone launches of 2021 were over and you could rest for a few months – but surprise! That might not be the case!
According to popular leaker Digital Chat Station, posting on Chinese social media platform Weibo, the Xiaomi 12 looks set to launch sometime in December, with specs that focus on the screen and camera, and a ceramic body.
From Techradar
Apple to fix iPhone 13 Face ID screen repair glitch
Apple has promised to fix a problem with its iPhone 13 that means that screen repairs performed by unofficial parties break its Face ID feature.
The model contains a chip that “pairs” a screen with a specific phone and requires special software tools to “match” a new one. Repair firms have found that without those tools, the facial-identification security function no longer works. Apple, whose repairers use the tools, says it will issue a software update. The feature has been widely criticised by right-to-repair advocates, who suggest it was included to limit who could repair iPhones. The issue was first reported by iFixit, a company specialising in tools, parts and tech repair guides.
From BBC
Spotify just revealed the next phase of its unstoppable growth: audiobooks
Spotify was already one of the biggest music streaming apps on the planet before it expanded into the podcast space. While it may have lost a little ground to competitors recently, its market share of 32% is still pretty solid. It’s a similar story with podcasts, as Spotify also holds the top spot there, at least in the United States. We now know what the next piece of its audio empire jigsaw will be — Spotify is acquiring audiobook platform Findaway for an undisclosed amount.
Findaway isn’t a streaming app, but it operates multiple businesses related to audiobooks. It distributes them to various other platforms and allows up-and-coming creators to produce their own audiobooks through the Findaway Voices service. It serves authors, publishers, and consumers alike, making it the perfect acquisition for Spotify as it looks to step into the audiobook business. It’s expected to become a $15 billion industry by 2027 (up from $3.3 billion), and Spotify wants to be an integral part of that growth.
From Android Police
Incredible new Cobi robot administers vaccines without a needle
Fear of needles is something that plagues at least 10 percent of people and makes getting vaccines of any kind a lot more intimidating. A new robot created by robotics company Cobionix could help take away some of that fear.
Autonomous robots are quickly becoming more and more common. Most robots are designed for very specific purposes. Limiting their purpose makes them expensive and hard to use outside of that distinct area. Cobionix wanted to make a robot that was versatile. Cobionix says the bot can be updated and reconfigured to serve multiple purposes. To showcase just how versatile it is, the company set it up to give injections of vaccines, like the Covid-19 vaccine.
From BGR
Zombie river? London’s Thames, once biologically dead, has been coming back to life
There is a possible fix on the horizon. London is currently building a “super sewer” project, which is called the Thames Tideway Tunnel and is due for completion in 2025.
“Once operational it will capture and store most of the millions of tonnes of raw sewage that currently overflow into the estuary,” the report says.
Despite the improvements for the river’s water quality, a research paper published last year indicated high levels of microplastics in samples of the Thames water column taken in 2017.
Experiments have shown that such microplastics can have detrimental effects on aquatic life, as well as turtles and birds, according to National Geographic. Among other things, they can block digestive tracts — with some animals dying from starvation when their stomachs become filled with plastic.
From npr
