I was planning to write some article on the mobile trends on this year based on news-feed from MWC 2020 mobile event, but MWC canceled because of Coronavirus COVID-19. And so some other events.
Here are some trends:
It seems that smart phones seem to have as much excitement when a new model is released. Usually there is no new feature that renders the latest model an absolute must-have. Apart from potential prestige, there’s usually very little difference to the user whether the phone cost $300 or $1200.
People still remember the failed promise of foldable phones and 5G. For those 2019 had been a year of failed promises.
Along with foldable displays, the fifth generation of networking technology was touted as being the next big thing in the mobile business. It seems that year 2020 will be a real test for 5G if it will really take on or fails to full-fill the big expectations. This year will be the real test for 5G devices as the 5G device mass market has not yet really started. Read more on that on my 5G trends 2020 post.
The smartphones market was valued at USD 714.96 billion in 2019. It was expected to reach USD 1351.8 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 11.2%. But it seems that this year does not meet those expectations, as IDC expects Smartphone market to drop 2.3% in 2020 due to coronavirus. COVID-19 outbreak is expected to result into 10.6 percent drop in the first half of 2020 and China’s smartphone market will drop by nearly 40 percent year over year in the first quarter. The SMEs in the phone industry, especially retail channel partners, will see the biggest effect.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
iOS 15 Is Available Now With These Stunning New iPhone Privacy Features https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateoflahertyuk/2021/09/20/ios-15-is-available-now-with-these-stunning-new-iphone-privacy-features/
It’s been a long time coming but iOS 15 is now available, along with a bunch of stunning new iPhone privacy features you can start using straight away.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Federico Viticci / MacStories:
In-depth iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 review: many quality-of-life updates, especially to core apps, but few bold new features and no big iPad productivity leaps — In my career as an iOS reviewer, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a response as universally positive and enthusiastic as the general public’s reception of iOS 14 last year.
iOS and iPadOS 15:
The MacStories Review
https://www.macstories.net/stories/ios-and-ipados-15-the-macstories-review/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Chaim Gartenberg / The Verge:
Review of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, which are now available: focus modes are great, Safari update is an acquired taste, and iOS’ Dark Sky-style Weather is excellent — Apple’s latest updates lay good groundwork, but don’t add many big new features — iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 are strange updates.
iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 review: foundational fixes
Apple’s latest updates lay good groundwork, but don’t add many big new features
https://www.theverge.com/22683681/ios-15-ipados-review-iphone-ipad-apple?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
Tomi Engdahl says:
Chance Miller / 9to5Mac:
Kuo: an iPhone SE with 5G is coming in H1 2022; a cheaper 6.7″ iPhone and two high-end models with a punch-hole display and 48MP wide camera are due in H2 2022 — Following last week’s release of the iPhone 13 lineup, reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is out with new expectations for what to expect from the iPhone 14.
Kuo: iPhone 14 Pro to feature hole-punch design, new 48MP wide camera
https://9to5mac.com/2021/09/20/kuo-iphone-14-pro-to-feature-hole-punch-design-new-48mp-wide-camera/
Tomi Engdahl says:
José Adorno / 9to5Mac:
Kuo revises forecast and says an under-display Touch ID for iPhone will not arrive until H2 2023 and a foldable iPhone is not expected until 2024
Kuo: Apple delays under-display Touch ID for iPhone to 2023, foldable iPhone to 2024
https://9to5mac.com/2021/09/20/kuo-apple-delays-under-display-touch-id-for-iphone-to-2023-foldable-iphone-to-2024/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Dieter Bohn / The Verge:
iPhone 13 review: excellent cameras and battery life, more base storage, but front camera is unchanged, refresh rate is standard, and iPhone 12 cases don’t fit — So are bigger cameras — What, really, do you want out of a new phone? — Assuming you’re starting with a good foundation …
iPhone 13 review: yep, bigger batteries are better
So are bigger cameras
https://www.theverge.com/22684421/apple-iphone-13-mini-review?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
Tomi Engdahl says:
Dieter Bohn / The Verge:
Apple iPhone 13 Pro review: incredible cameras, improved battery, and high refresh display, but front camera is average, no USB-C, and Cinematic Mode is limited
https://www.theverge.com/22684033/apple-iphone-13-pro-max-review?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Verge:
Tim Sweeney says Apple told Epic that it will not consider reinstating Epic’s developer account until all legal appeals have concluded, likely years from now — Epic CEO Tim Sweeney revealed the conversation in a series of tweets — Fortnite will not be returning to the iOS App Store any time soon …
Apple won’t let Fortnite back on iOS until the Epic v. Apple verdict is final
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney revealed the conversation in a series of tweets
https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/22/22687968/fortnite-ios-epic-apple-appeal-verdict-antitrust?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
Fortnite will not be returning to the iOS App Store anytime soon, according to a series of emails published on Twitter on Wednesday by Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney.
Epic’s iOS developer account had been suspended as a result of the company’s intentional violations of the App Store guidelines in August 2020, which set the stage for the companies’ court battle. But in the wake of the ruling earlier this month, the state of Epic’s iOS apps — particularly Fortnite — has been unclear.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Scott Stein / CNET:
Apple iPad mini (2021) review: A15, Pencil 2 support, better cameras, and USB-C, but no keyboard case support and the screen feels too small for some apps — What’s the most improved product in Apple’s lineup this year? It might be the sixth-gen iPad Mini.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/ipad-mini-review-an-excellent-2021-upgrade-but-still-a-niche-tablet/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Caitlin McGarry / Gizmodo:
Apple iPad (2021) review: solid performance and battery life, True Tone, upgraded front camera, and a reasonable price, but the design now feels boring — A new processor, upgraded front-facing camera, and more storage make Apple’s latest budget iPad a steal. — Alerts
Apple’s Cheapest iPad Is Its Most Reliably Good One
https://gizmodo.com/apples-cheapest-ipad-is-its-most-reliably-good-one-1847713113?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
A new processor, upgraded front-facing camera, and more storage make Apple’s latest budget iPad a steal.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Tom Warren / The Verge:
Microsoft unveils Surface Laptop Studio, replacing Surface Book, with 14.4″ 120Hz display that can slide into new positions, Thunderbolt 4, and haptic trackpad — The successor to the Surface Book is here — Microsoft is announcing the Surface Laptop Studio today, a successor to the Surface Book line of powerful laptops.
Surface Laptop Studio is Microsoft’s new powerful flagship laptop
The successor to the Surface Book is here
https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/22/22686010/microsoft-surface-laptop-studio-price-specs-release-date?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
Microsoft is announcing the Surface Laptop Studio today, a successor to the Surface Book line of powerful laptops. It presents a total redesign for Microsoft’s flagship laptop, ditching the removable display in favor of one that pulls forward to transform from laptop into tablet (or what Microsoft calls studio mode).
“Surface Laptop Studio is the most powerful Surface we’ve ever built,” says Pete Kyriacou, vice president of devices at Microsoft. “It is the culmination of years of Surface innovation – on hinges, display, silicon, and more – and brings the best of the Surface heritage together in one powerhouse device.”
Dieter Bohn / The Verge:
Hands-on with Surface Laptop Studio, which starts at $1,600: new hinge offers three modes, under-device pedestal is strange, and screen is very nice
https://www.theverge.com/22686706/microsoft-surface-studio-laptop-design-specs-photos-hands-on?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
Tomi Engdahl says:
Dan Seifert / The Verge:
Microsoft unveils Surface Duo 2 with 8.3″ 90Hz dual displays, three 12MP rear cameras, Snapdragon 888, 5G, Android 11, curved screen for exterior notifications — 5G, better cameras, and bigger screens — Microsoft has officially announced the new Surface Duo 2, its second attempt at an Android-powered folding phone.
Microsoft’s new Surface Duo 2 has all the features that were missing the first time around
5G, better cameras, and bigger screens
https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/22/22684814/microsoft-surface-duo-2-price-specs-features-release-date?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
¨
nside one half of the device is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor — a significant upgrade over the 855 chip that was in the first version. It also supports 5G connectivity, another upgrade from the 4G radio that was in the first Duo. Microsoft says it’s the thinnest 5G device on the market. Paired with the processor is 8GB of RAM (2GB more than the first gen) and between 128GB and 512GB of storage. Other hardware upgrades include NFC but no wireless charging, two things that were annoyingly omitted from the first Duo. Microsoft hasn’t specified how big the battery is, but it claims the usual line of “all day battery life.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Dieter Bohn / The Verge:
Hands-on with Microsoft Surface Duo 2: addresses obvious problems with the first model, adding modern specs and a far better camera system, but starts at $1,500
Microsoft Surface Duo 2 hands-on: once more, with cameras
Duo, part deux
https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/22/22686707/microsoft-surface-duo-2-phone-design-specs-features-photos-hands-on?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
Tomi Engdahl says:
Zoe Schiffer / The Verge:
Leaked email: Tim Cook says recent leakers of info about Apple products and internal meetings “do not belong here” and the company is tracking them down — The CEO says the company is doing everything in its power to track down workers — Tim Cook sent an email …
Tim Cook says employees who leak memos do not belong at Apple, according to leaked memo
The CEO says the company is doing everything in its power to track down workers
https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/22/22687747/tim-cook-employee-leak-memos-do-not-belong-at-apple?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
Tim Cook sent an email to Apple employees Tuesday evening about an all-hands meeting that leaked to The Verge last week. He said the company is doing “everything in our power to identify those who leaked” and noted that “people who leak confidential information do not belong” at Apple.
On September 17th, Tim Cook announced during an internal company-wide meeting that Apple would be requiring frequent testing for unvaccinated employees — but was stopping short of a vaccine mandate. He also said that he was “looking forward to moving forward” after the Epic v. Apple antitrust case. Shortly after the meeting, both pieces of news leaked to The Verge.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Liettua paljasti Xiaomin kännyköiden sensuroivan käyttäjän hakuja ja kehotti ostoboikottiin suomalaisasiantuntija pitää paljastusta vakavana
https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12109988
Liettuan viranomaisten mukaan Xiaomi-puhelimien sisään on rakennettu ohjelmisto, joka sensuroi Kiinalle epämiellyttäviä sanoja ja sloganeita. Suomessa Kyberturvallisuuskeskus selvittää asiaa.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Lithuanian Agency Warns Against Use of Chinese-made Phones
https://www.securityweek.com/lithuanian-agency-warns-against-use-chinese-made-phones
Lithuanian cybersecurity experts are urging the country’s government agencies to abandon the use of Chinese smartphone brands after an investigation identified security vulnerabilities and censorship concerns with certain devices.
Lithuania’s National Cyber Security Center said it found four major cybersecurity risks for devices made by Huawei and Xiaomi, including two relating to pre-installed apps and one involving personal data leakage, and warned against using these two brands.
Xiaomi phones, which contain a content-filtering feature for 449 keywords or groups of keywords in Chinese characters, also carry the risk of possible restrictions on freedom of expression, according to the Lithuanian investigation.
The cybersecurity center warned the function could be activated at any time and said it did not rule out the possibility that words written in Latin characters could be added. According to the Lithuanian report, apps receive updated lists of censored words and phrases and are capable of blocking them.
The phrases include “Free Tibet,” “Voice of America,” “Democratic Movement” and “Long Live Taiwan Independence.” Although the content-filtering feature was disabled and no censorship was performed on the phones the Lithuanian center inspected, the center warned the function could be activated at any time.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/12545-samsung-ratkaisi-fold3-n-vesitiiviyden-elegantisti
Tomi Engdahl says:
European Union Will Force Apple to Use the Same Charger as Everyone Else
A new 18 page directive from the European Commission outlines a beautiful future where everything runs on the same charger.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvzqv8/european-union-will-force-apple-to-use-the-same-charger-as-everything-else?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-motherboardvice&utm_content=later-20840281&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkin.bio
The European Union announced on Thursday that it will force manufacturers to adopt a universal phone charger, meaning the iPhone will have to use USB-C or whatever standardized charger regulators decide to use and will no longer be able to use Apple’s proprietary Lightning Charger.
According to the AFP, the European Commission released an 18 page directive that outlined the new legislation it said was aimed at reducing waste and saving EU consumers millions of dollars a year.
https://ec.europa.eu/growth/content/pulling-plug-consumer-frustration-and-e-waste-commission-proposes-common-charger-electronic_en
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/eu-may-force-apple-to-add-usb-c-ports-to-iphones/?PostType=link&ServiceType=facebook_page&TheTime=2021-09-23T13%3A33%3A21&UniqueID=D1FA8B08-1C72-11EC-B363-B70C933C408C&ftag=COS-05-10aaa0a
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://gizmodo.com/apple-may-be-forced-to-embrace-usb-c-for-future-iphones-1847729786
Tomi Engdahl says:
Tim Cook says employees who leak memos do not belong at Apple, according to leaked memo
The CEO says the company is doing everything in its power to track down workers
https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/22/22687747/tim-cook-employee-leak-memos-do-not-belong-at-apple
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/09/23/eu-proposes-to-force-apple-to-switch-to-usb-c/
Tomi Engdahl says:
EU rules to force USB-C chargers for all phones
https://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbbc.in%2F2XKTzsL&h=AT342FMqZTORsmRyFPbUBoHyigWTXO7QHoVU2dHXRN0m8jrtlfvUM40E2u2EF4otPC5hfGEC9KoQrhHGhjwzoYMK3HtU_Cmpn09mUMoYTn0ONszQrCUwHPAnI8XV91TcWA
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/12609-liettua-testasi-kolme-puhelinta-vain-oneplus-sai-puhtaat-paperit
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.xplora.fi/xplora-kellopuhelin-mukana-koulussa/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Review: Facebook’s Ray-Ban Stories make the case for smart glasses
The Stories realize the vision that Snap’s Spectacles dreamed
https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/09/facebooks-first-smart-glasses-make-the-case-for-face-worn-wearables/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung shares new promotional video for its pixel-packed 200MP HP1 mobile image sensor
https://m.dpreview.com/news/0661906932/samsung-shares-new-promotional-video-for-its-pixel-packed-200mp-hp1-mobile-image-sensor?utm_source=Facebook-share&utm_medium=desktop-article-header&utm_campaign=social-sharing
Samsung has published a new promotional video detailing the features of its new ISOCELL HP1 mobile image sensor.
In the three-minute video, Samsung Sensor Design Team member Minho Kwon shares the various technologies the HP1 sensor brings to mobile image. Specifically, he addresses the 0.64μm pixel size of the sensor, as well as its various pixel-binning modes, including the 4-to-1 pixel binning (to give an equivalent pixel size of 1.28μm) used when recording 8K video, as well as 16-to-1 pixel binning (to give an equivalent pixel size of 2.56μm) used in low-light environment for still images.
The HP1 sensor uses a color filter array in which each of the primary colors covers a 4 x 4 group of photodiodes (effectively a 12MP Bayer pattern). The camera then interpolates the missing R,G or B values within these 4×4 regions, in its high-res mode, using what Samsung calls its ‘re-mosaicing’ algorithm. This algorithm has been trained using machine learning to produce more plausible results than simple mathematical interpolation.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Miten kiinalaisten puhelinten käy Suomessa? Näin kommentoivat operaattorit https://www.is.fi/digitoday/mobiili/art-2000008286255.html
Suomen operaattorikolmikko ottaa väitteet puhelinten tietoturvaongelmista vakavasti, mutta myynti jatkuu toistaiseksi normaalisti.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Onko kiinalainen puhelin vaarallinen? Näin kommentoivat viran¬omainen ja tieto¬turva-asian¬tuntija https://www.is.fi/digitoday/tietoturva/art-2000008283666.html
Liettualaisten löydökset herättivät pelkoa kiinalaispuhelimiin.
Asiantuntijoiden mukaan kyse ei ole yhteen maahan liittyvästä ongelmasta. Kuluttajan asema on kuitenkin vaikea.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mishaal Rahman / XDA Developers:
Hands-on with an Android 12.1 build with support for foldable devices, including an updated taskbar, split-screen view, and more — Google is expected to release the next major update to Android, Android 12, next week, but ahead of its release, we’re already hearing about Google’s plans for a follow-up update.
https://www.xda-developers.com/android-12-1-hands-on/
Tomi Engdahl says:
iPhone 13 Face ID Won’t Work If Broken Screen Is Repaired By Non-Apple Support
https://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indiatimes.com%2Ftechnology%2Fnews%2Fiphone-13-face-id-broken-screen-apple-support-550447.html&h=AT2w7lWWUd6syPL0eAtFPWMMAoRnZR_7XEiHb9ouuZF0T75RzkYB4vNnThvAtoghBO0NZDZze3NogofjoDaGmQmVhgyi4mkYSfktXZBlwYyTBDDjji-1GJz61g-I9rnjwIJ5smW1NPmpSpYH2g
Tomi Engdahl says:
Uusi Fairphone on ensimmäinen jäteneutraali älypuhelin
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/12642-uusi-fairphone-on-ensimmaeinen-jaeteneutraali-aelypuhelin
Hollantilainen Fairphone hakee markkinaosuutta eettisellä toiminnalla. Tarkoitus on kutistaa älypuhelimen aiheuttama ympäristörasitus minimiin. Tänään esitelty Fairphone 4 vie konseptia entistä pidemmälle ja on ensimmäinen jäteneutraali älypuhelin.
Fairphone 4 on aiempien Fairphone-mallien tapaan modulaarinen laite. Modulaarisuus tarkoittaa paitsi rakennetta, myös ohjelmistopäivityksiä vuoteen 2025 asti. Nyt otettu laite oäivittyy siis tulevina vuosina sekäAndroid 12:een että sen seuraajaan eli Android 13:een. Fairphone pyrkii tarjoamaan ohjelmistopäivityksiä aina vuoteen 2027 asti, mikä sisältää päivitykset myös tuleville Android-versioille 14 ja 15, tarjoten näin jopa 6 vuoden ohjelmistotuen.
Jos esimerkiksi näyttö, kamera tai akku rikkoutuu, ei puhelinta tarvitse hävittää eikä maksaa kalliisti sen korjauttamisesta. Fairphonen kotisivuilta voi tilata Fairphone 4:ään varaosia ja voit itse vaihtaa vialliset osat uusiin – tarvitaan vain ruuvimeisseli. Näin voit käyttää Fairphoneasi taas monen vuoden ajan.
Fairphone on laajentanut luetteloaan reilusti hankituista materiaaleista, ja niitä on nyt 14. Tämä koskee muun muassa Fairtrade-sertifioitua kultaa, Aluminium Stewardship Initiativen (AS) kautta hankittua alumiinia, reilusti hankittua wolframia Ruandasta sekä kierrätettyä tinaa, harvinaisia maametalleja ja muovia. Lisäksi Fairphone 4:n mukana toimitetaan 100-prosenttisesti kierrätysmuovista valmistettu takakansi. Reilusti hankkiminen tarkoittaa, että Fairphone osallistuu hankintaketjuun ja pyrkii ratkaisemaan lapsityövoiman käytön ja vaarallisten työolosuhteiden kaltaisia ongelmia esimerkiksi kaivostyöläisten keskuudessa.
Tomi Engdahl says:
“Hups, hinta pompsahti” – vältä 6 tyypillistä mobiilisovellusostajan virhettä
https://superapp.fi/blogi/valta-mobiilisovellusostajan-virheet/
Omaa kustomoitua mobiilisovellusta ei tule ostettua montaa kertaa elämässä. Ei ihme, jos projekti vähän jännittää. Rentouta hartiat ja ota mukava asento. Me kerromme, miten vältät tyypilliset appiprojektien sudenkuopat.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Suomi arvioi kohua herättäneen raportin kiinalaisista puhelimista:
Pääosin paikkansa pitävä
https://www.is.fi/digitoday/tietoturva/art-2000008315834.html
LIIKENNE- ja viestintävirasto Traficomin Kyberturvallisuuskeskus on antanut arvionsa Liettuan viranomaisten syyskuun lopulla kohua aiheuttaneesta kehotuksesta lopettaa kiinalaisten puhelimien käyttö.
Liettuan puolustusministeriö tutki perinpohjaisesti Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G:n, Huawei P40 5G:n sekä OnePlus 8T 5G:n. Xiaomista löytyi käyttäjän viestintää avainsanojen perusteella seuraavia ominaisuuksia ja Huaweista tietoturva-aukko.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Älylaseihin uusimpia MEMS-peilipiirejä
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2021/10/11/alylaseihin-uusimpia-mems-peilipiireja/
Suurikokoisten virtuaalisilmikoiden lisäksi kevyemmät ja silmälasimaiset ratkaisut kiinnostavat valmistajia. Uusimpana Infineon ja startup-yritys TriLite Technologies kertoivat älylaseista, joissa hyödynnettään mikropeilipohjaista laserskanneria ja sen ohjauspiiriä. Myös ST ja suomalainen Dispelix kehittävät vastaavaa MEMS-peilipiiritekniikkaa.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Jon Porter / The Verge:
Fairphone 4 review: water and dust resistant, five-year warranty, and years of software support, but camera is so-so and performance can be sluggish
Fairphone 4 review: the price of sustainability
https://www.theverge.com/22716194/fairphone-4-review?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
A modular smartphone that (mostly) feels like a modern device
It’s been hard to fault Fairphone’s sustainable credentials over the years, whether it’s the company’s lengthy support periods, easy repairability, or ethically sourced materials. But when it comes to the devices themselves, previous Fairphones have struggled to be competitive with similarly priced smartphones. They lacked modern features, used outdated designs, and generally had more quirks than you’d expect to get from a modern phone.
The Fairphone 4 is a big step forward. It’s every bit as sustainable, with a modular repairable design that Fairphone now offers a five-year warranty for. But more important is that it feels much more like a modern smartphone.
With a starting price of €579 / £499 (around $669, though Fairphone has no plans to sell the Fairphone 4 in the states) for the 6GB RAM / 128GB storage model, the Fairphone 4 costs a premium compared to its competitors. It’s also getting a much more limited Europe-only release, with no plans for a US launch. But if you only need a smartphone to do basic smartphone stuff, and you’re prepared to pay a premium over other similarly capable competitors, I think the Fairphone 4 is up to the task.
Yes, the bezels are still sizable by modern standards, but they’re small enough that the phone is able to have a large 6.3-inch display without feeling too ungainly. It’s LCD rather than OLED, and viewing angles aren’t amazing, but I was happy with how it looked after I turned off its overkill image enhancement options in its Settings app and tweaked the color temperature.
There are two versions of the Fairphone 4 available: one with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (the model I’ve been using for this review) and a step-up version with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which retails for €649 / £569. Both are otherwise identical and feature the same cameras, 3,905 mAh battery, and Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor.
More important than the specs are what the internals of the Fairphone 4 are actually made of. In here, there’s Fairtrade-certified gold, ethically sourced aluminum and tungsten, and recycled tin, rare earth minerals and plastics. Fairphone also aims to turn these materials into a phone as ethically as possible
Each phone is also “e-waste neutral,” Fairphone claims, since the company will recycle either a phone or an equivalent amount of e-waste with each sale.
Flip over the Fairphone 4, and you’ll see its back (made out of 100 percent recycled plastic), which can be easily removed without any tools to reveal the phone’s removable battery and the Phillips head screws that can be used to easily remove everything from its rear cameras to its USB-C port and loudspeaker. You’ll need to take this rear panel off to insert a SIM card underneath the battery during setup, a process which handily doesn’t require the use of a SIM tool — convenient given there isn’t one included in the box (though Fairphone tells me this may differ between release markets).
iFixit is yet to pass its official judgment on the repairability of the Fairphone 4, but the company’s previous phones are the only two devices to have gotten perfect 10s from the repair specialists. As well as being easy to remove, the parts should also be easy to replace since Fairphone plans to have replacements available until at least 2027
On the software side, the Fairphone 4 ships with Android 11, but the company hopes to provide at least two major Android updates, or four if it can manage it. It’s done a good job at delivering on these promises with previous phones… eventually.
As you might expect from a phone that can ship without a SIM tool, the Fairphone 4 doesn’t come with anything in the way of accessories in the box as standard. There’s no charging brick, no included headphones, and no USB-C charging cable in the box. There’s also no miniature included screwdriver like we saw with the Fairphone 3. It may have been a cute indicator of its repairability credentials, but including it didn’t make much sense if you’re trying to minimize unnecessary accessories.
There’s no headphone jack next to the Fairphone 4’s USB-C port, which isn’t exactly surprising given it’s a smartphone released in 2021
The team tells me the tradeoff was made to allow for the phone to have an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance. That means the phone should survive being used in the rain, but not full submersion, and it’s not an insubstantial achievement given the back of this modular phone can literally be unclipped without any tools.
It’s great to see Fairphone using a more capable 7-series Snapdragon processor compared to the 6-series one used in the Fairphone 3.
But while overall performance is OK, the phone isn’t without its quirks. The most frustrating issue I found is that the Fairphone 4 isn’t great at palm rejection, so when you’re holding it one-handed and reach your thumb across, it’ll confuse your palm for an intentional tap. The Fairphone 4 also seemed to spend more time connected to 3G networks than other smartphones I’ve used, even in areas where I normally get a 4G signal. Other times, however, it happily connected to 5G networks. A strange quirk.
Performance is acceptable, battery life is good, and the phone’s screen is perfectly fine. But the only area of the Fairphone 4 that I think could be a real dealbreaker for some people is its camera, which, despite being based around a pair of 48-megapixel sensors (one for the main camera and one for the ultrawide), produces mediocre shots, even in broad daylight. It’s nice to have the versatility of dual cameras, which are a first for a Fairphone, but it’s a shame that the images they capture are disappointing in anything other than broad daylight.
IfIf you’re spending money on a Fairphone 4, your money isn’t being spent on performance. It’s being spent on that five-year warranty, the promise of years of software support, and the security of knowing that, when 2026 rolls around, you’ll still be able to buy a new battery and pop it into the back of the phone without having to learn what a pentalobe screw is. And, of course, you’re paying to ensure that all these parts have been made from as responsibly sourced materials as possible in the first place.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Bloomberg:
Sources: Apple will likely cut its projected iPhone 13 production targets for 2021 by 10M units, due to shortage of Broadcom and Texas Instruments parts — Apple Inc. is likely to slash its projected iPhone 13 production targets for 2021 by as many as 10 million units because of prolonged chip shortages …
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-12/apple-poised-to-slash-iphone-production-goals-due-to-chip-crunch
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/12695-xiaomin-uutuudet-tulivat-myyntiin
Tomi Engdahl says:
Phone touchscreen auto-clicker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugPr3HV4yBc
A look a curious Chinese device used to fake keypresses on phone touchscreens.
What an awesome electronics invention.
Tomi Engdahl says:
HTC reveals the $499 Vive Flow, a tiny VR headset with some big tradeoffs
https://techcrunch.com/2021/10/14/htc-reveals-the-499-vive-flow-a-tiny-vr-headset-with-some-big-tradeoffs/
Today, HTC has revealed their latest consumer-focused headset, the $499 Vive Flow. It’s designed for portability with a compact design and 189 gram weight, though there are some big caveats, which I’ll get to later.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2021/10/15/kierratetyista-raaka-aineista-valmistettu-fairphone-4-puhelin-tuli-myyntiin/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Patrick McGee / Financial Times:
Analysis: Apple Search Ads now account for 58% of iOS app installs from an ad click, up from 17% a year ago; Apple to earn $5B from its ads business in FY 2021 — iPhone maker’s share of mobile app advertising market has tripled in six months — Apple’s advertising business has more than tripled …
https://t.co/CaNaMTJp6E
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/12702-htc-esitteli-kevyet-vr-lasit-jaetti-akun-pois
HTC on esitellyt kevyemmät kannettavat lasit VR-sisältöjen katseluun. VIVE Flow -laseissa huomio on selvästi ollut laisen koon pienentämisessä. Jopa niin paljon, että laitteesta on jäänyt oma akku kokonaan pois. Virtansa se tarvitsee ulkopuolelta.
https://www.vive.com/uk/product/vive-flow/specs/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Trying OPPO’s First Rollable Smartphone!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCrZZ1aNkAc
Absolutely a stunning piece of engineering. I just wonder how displays like this will hold up to micro-scratches in the long term once they are out on the market.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ron Amadeo / Ars Technica:
Q&A with Google executives on the Pixel 6′s new Tensor SoC, which has two big ARM Cortex-X1 cores, 2 medium cores, and 4 efficiency cores — Learn more about the Google Tensor from the people that designed it. — The Pixel 6 is official, with a wild new camera design, incredible pricing, and the new Android 12 OS.
The “Google Silicon” team gives us a tour of the Pixel 6’s Tensor SoC
Learn more about the Google Tensor from the people that designed it.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/10/the-google-silicon-team-gives-us-a-tour-of-the-pixel-6s-tensor-soc/
The Pixel 6 is official, with a wild new camera design, incredible pricing, and the new Android 12 OS. The headline component of the device has to be the Google Tensor “system on chip” (SoC), however. This is Google’s first main SoC in a smartphone, and the chip has a unique CPU core configuration and a strong focus on AI capabilities.
Since when is Google a chip manufacturer, though? What are the goals of Tensor SoC? Why was it designed in its unique way? To get some answers, we sat down with members of the “Google Silicon” team—a name I don’t think we’ve heard before.
Google Silicon is a group responsible for mobile chips from Google. That means the team designed previous Titan M security chips in the Pixel 3 and up, along with the Pixel Visual Core in the Pixel 2 and 3. The group has been working on main SoC development for three or four years, but it remains separate from the Cloud team’s silicon work on things like YouTube transcoding chips and Cloud TPUs.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Kris Holt / Engadget:
Google releases Android 12 to current Pixel devices, featuring Material You, revamped Quick Settings, and more — Just as Google kicks off its big Pixel 6 event, the company has finally started rolling out Android 12 on Pixel 3 and above. The company released the first public beta …
Android 12 is now rolling out to Pixel phones
The OS is coming to Pixel 3 and above.
https://www.engadget.com/google-android-12-pixel-3-rollout-170031989.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge:
A look at Pixel 6 and 6 Pro’s cameras: main sensor takes in 150% more light, Real Tone can more accurately capture skin tones, Face Unblur, Magic Eraser, more — New cameras and sensors aim to put the Pixels back on top of mobile photography — Today at its Pixel Fall Launch event …
Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro finally bring new camera hardware in addition to software
New cameras and sensors aim to put the Pixels back on top of mobile photography
https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/19/22727944/google-pixel-6-pro-cameras-computational-photography-features?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
Tomi Engdahl says:
Dan Seifert / The Verge:
Google launches $599 Pixel 6, with 90Hz 6.4″ display, and $899 Pixel 6 Pro, with 120Hz 6.7″ display, both featuring an upgraded 50MP rear camera, coming Oct. 28
https://www.theverge.com/22731034/google-pixel-6-pro-price-specs-features-release-date-hands-on?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
Tomi Engdahl says:
Fisher Price’s Iconic Toy Telephone Now Actually Makes Phone Calls
Kids can learn the agony of phone tag and conference calls before they can even walk.
https://gizmodo.com/fisher-prices-iconic-toy-telephone-now-actually-makes-p-1847846984
As companies trip over themselves to get retro toys back on shelves for nostalgic adults, Fisher-Price is taking a different route. Its iconic Chatter Telephone has been enjoyed by toddlers for 60 years now, and to celebrate that anniversary, Mattel has turned the toy into a fully-functional smartphone accessory that can actually be used to place or take phone calls.
Referring to this as the Chatter Telephone 2.0 isn’t entirely accurate. Over the last 60 years the toy has undergone countless revisions and updates both to make it safer for kids to play with and also to update its appearance.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The PinePhone Pro Is Here. But It’s Still Probably Not The Year Of Open-Source Linux On The Smartphone
https://hackaday.com/2021/10/19/the-pinephone-pro-is-here-but-its-still-probably-not-the-year-of-open-source-linux-on-the-smartphone/
A trope in open source commentary over the last decades has been the phrase “Is this the year of Linux on the desktop?”, as though the open source OS will finally break through and challenge Windows. In fact the process has been one of stealth rather than explosive growth, as the likes of ChromeOS with its Linux underpinnings become the go-to choice for an inexpensive consumer laptop. In the phone arena the same has happened with Android, as most users have no idea that a Linux foundation lies beneath their Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel.
Fully open-source via Android on the phone has been very slow to arrive, but could that be changed by the arrival of Pine64’s PinePhone Pro? The new device will be available alongside their existing PinePhone, and will continue the dream of a fully open-source mobile phone with its increased-specification hardware.
https://www.pine64.org/pinephonepro/