Sony’s next-generation smartphone image sensor looks set to propel the next wave of flagship handsets further into the territory of dedicated compact cameras, but one major obstacle still remains.
According to the prolific leaker @rodent950, the new IMX800 camera sensor is expected to launch this April. It’s predicted to arrive first in Huawei’s P50 range of flagship smartphones and is also high on the wishlist for many awaiting the Google Pixel 6, with some speculating that the IMX800 may be the new sensor expected to feature in the next Pixel flagship.
The IMX800 is reportedly a “1-inch type” sensor. Although physically much smaller than one inch in size, thanks to some archaic naming conventions, this would make it the largest smartphone camera sensor ever produced, beating Samsung’s recently announced Icocell GN2 and equalling that of Panasonic’s 2014 Lumix DMC-CM1 hybrid camera device.
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This means smartphones will soon feature image sensors equivalent in size to high-end compact cameras, such as Sony’s popular RX100 range. More importantly, the larger sensors have the potential to boost camera quality significantly.
Sensor size is one of the most important factors in determining picture quality. A bigger sensor captures more light at any given moment, and this gives it a huge advantage, particularly in low-light situations or when photographing fast-moving subjects. Try both of these tasks at the same time and you’ll really appreciate what a larger sensor can do.
Smartphones compensate for their smaller sensors through software, pairing cutting-edge multi-shot imaging techniques with on-board processor power that often far exceeds that of a typical dedicated camera. Google mastered this with its early Pixel smartphones, although rivals such as Apple have since caught up.
It remains to be seen how the next-generation smartphone lenses will hold up when paired with huge sensors like the IMX800. Large sensors require correspondingly large lenses which aren’t suited at all to slim smartphone designs. However, if successful, they will surely eat into the niche market the RX100 and competition such as Canon’s PowerShot GX and Panasonic’s Lumix ZS ranges have carved out for themselves.
For me, the best result would be to see compact cameras incorporating more of the image processing capabilities of modern smartphones. The combination of Google Pixel-like image processing with larger sensors and bright, sharp lenses would surely be a formidable combination. In fact, if this doesn’t happen, a whole category of cameras may soon be under threat.
More importantly, It’s also a threat to the likes of Samsung and Apple, who will have to respond to Huawei’s increasing camera capabilities. Samsung has its own large, albeit slightly smaller, sensor in the form of the Isocell GN2, should they choose to use it. I expect a somewhat slower response from Apple, but it must surely come eventually.
If you walk into a shopping mall, you spend a great amount of time running from one store to another than actually buying a product. Samsung is just like your neighbourhood mall; it offers the maximum number of smartphone models among its competitors, right from a phone that costs Rs 7000 to Rs 150,000 for a foldable device. Because Samsung sells so many different models, buying a Galaxy smartphone can be a confusing task. If you are in the market for a Samsung Galaxy phone, it’s important to know exactly what you’re looking for – something that no retailer/or tech website ever tells you. Our step-by-step guide will help you decide which Galaxy phone is worth buying before you make a final call.
The Galaxy S21 Ultra is the most powerful Android smartphone, and it deserves special mention. Don’t buy the Galaxy S21 Ultra just because it costs Rs 105,999; buy this device only when you need a smartphone with an incredible display and impressive cameras. While some might question the existence of a super high-end Android phone in the first place, the Galaxy S21 Ultra isn’t made for everyone. It targets a niche customer base who want a technically superior phone that helps them achieve more. For example, a Vlogger would be the right target consumer who might want to use Director’s View, a video feature that simultaneously shows the view from all the cameras at the same time. Not to forget, the S21 Ultra also has four cameras including a 108MP wide-angle lens and two 10MP telephoto lenses. The Galaxy S21 Ultra also appeals to a senior marketing executive who might be interested in the phone’s massive 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display that refreshes at 120Hz per second. And since the Galaxy S21 Ultra works with Samsung’s S Pen stylus, even though you have to buy it separately, it’s useful for jotting down quick notes. The Galaxy S21 Ultra is indeed Samsung’s most accomplished smartphone to date but it’s also a large and heavy phone. If you have over a lakh to shell on an Android smartphone, the Galaxy S21 Ultra stands out. Read our review of the Galaxy S21 Ultra here.
Unlike the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12, buying the Galaxy S21+ or Galaxy S21 is less confusing. The S21 (starts at Rs 69,999) and S21+ (starts at Rs 81,999 ) differ only in screen size — 6.2 inches and 6.7 inches, respectively. Sure, you won’t get 100x “Space Zoom” camera support or a more polished design, but that doesn’t mean the Galaxy S21 and S21+ are less exciting smartphones. They are very much flagship phones that come with faster processors, excellent cameras and long battery life. A 6.2-inch flat high definition screen should be fine for consuming Netflix, and the Exynos 2100 is ridiculously fast with no stutter or any kind of lag. Both phones come in a new matte finish and although the camera system doesn’t match the super flagship S21 Ultra, the results are still superior. The devices support 5G, though neither of the phones comes with a microSD card slot or a charger. The upgrades aren’t drastic over the Galaxy S20 lineup. Instead, the focus seems to be on improving the performance and camera chops. Read our review of the Galaxy S21+ here.
When Samsung launched the Galaxy S20 FE (which stands for “Fan Edition”) last year, it was a breath of fresh air focused on an “accessible” yet premium smartphone experience. The idea wasn’t to kill off the Galaxy S20; rather the phone aimed at a new demographic segment who aspire to own a flagship device but couldn’t due to price. The fact that Samsung was able to take the best features from the Galaxy S20 (a 120Hz display, good performance and similar cameras) to the S20 FE, resulted in a device that questioned the need to spend Rs 70,000 on a high-end smartphone. It wasn’t a perfect phone, though. These days, the Galaxy S20 FE is available for as low as Rs 40,000 on e-commerce sites which makes it a good deal. Read our review of the Galaxy S20 FE here.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2. (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/Indian Express)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2
Although we wouldn’t call the Galaxy Z Fold 2 a necessity, luxury would be the right word to describe Samsung’s third foldable phone. This is exactly the crème de la crème of smartphones. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a fascinating device, a phone that transforms into a tablet. The pitch is simple, and while Samsung does manage to create the “halo effect” around foldable phones, there are many questions that need an answer. At Rs 150,000, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is an expensive phone and certainly, Samsung knows who might be interested in a foldable phone. But the big question is: what will you do with the Galaxy Z Fold 2? The Fold 2 explores the idea of expanding smartphones but there are certain realities one has to live with and until those get solved, the foldable remain far from achieving mainstream status.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
You may call the Galaxy Z Flip less ambitious but this clamshell-style foldable phone is imperative to the mainstreaming of foldable devices. With the Galaxy Z Flip, Samsung incorporated a lot of cutting-edge technologies like a flexible glass screen. The company also got right with the hinge, perhaps the most difficult part of the design that could make or break a folding phone. In a way, the Galaxy Z Flip explores the idea of making smartphones pocketable. When it’s closed, the Galaxy Z Flip is more pocketable than a standard Galaxy phone. The closed Galaxy Z Flip looks like a men’s wallet. Rather than looking like some kind of prototype device, the Z Flip appears to be a polished device and it’s a big win for Samsung. At Rs 66,800, the Galaxy Z Flip sets its eyes on the growing fashion influencers who seem to be the target audience for the hotdog-style foldable phone. Read our review of the Galaxy Z Flip here.
The idea of a business phone with the S-Pen stylus is still enticing, despite many questions surrounding the relevance of the Galaxy Note series. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is undoubtedly expensive and huge, but it’s so feature-rich you might not want to settle for any other smartphone. If you are living an opulent lifestyle and need a phone with great performance, fantastic cameras, a smooth 120Hz screen and the S Pen, the Galaxy S20 Ultra may be the device for you. But before you settle for the S20 Ultra, remember this is a big phone and using the device is nearly impossible with one hand. Although Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has gained many of the Note’s features, Samsung has said a new Note series phone will launch in 2021. If you can hold a bit, better wait for the Galaxy Note 21 Ultra. It’s going to be a much better handset, though exact details are still missing as of now. Read our review of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra here.
We have a love and hate relationship with the standard Galaxy Note 20, and although the phone will be perfectly fine for daily use, its high price does not give the same value as the top-end Note 20 Ultra. For a lot of people, though, we think the Galaxy Note 10 Lite makes a lot of sense. It’s a full-fledged Galaxy Note handset, minus the extra bells and whistles you will find in the Note 20… and the high price tag. Starting at Rs 29,999, the Galaxy Note 10 Lite brings popular features like the S-Pen and big screen to a lower price point. Don’t worry, the phone will last you for a good long time. If you want a Galaxy Note handset with the S-Pen but don’t want to spend Rs 80,000 or a lakh, you can check out the Galaxy Note 10 Lite. Read our review of the Galaxy Note 10 Lite review here.
The Galaxy M31s sets the benchmark for mid-range phones, a position previously Xiaomi used to hold for a long. The M31s may have set its eyes on masses but doesn’t skimp on performance and features. The phone is a powerhouse, a mid-range phone that is as good as Samsung’s recently released flagships but cost under Rs 20,000. With that price, you get a large 6.5-inch AMOLED display, a 6000mAh battery and a capable Exynos 9611 processor. The Galaxy M31s is a terrific handset for anyone who wishes to spend less money but demands a large screen and long battery life. Read our review of the Galaxy M31s here.
The Galaxy F62 (starts at Rs 23,999) takes the best from last year’s Galaxy M51 — the screen, design, cameras and battery – and shoehorns them into a new shell. It’s Rs 1000 cheaper than the previous Galaxy M51, but this handset offers the same Exynos 9810 processor that also powers the Galaxy Note 10 Lite. In terms of value, the Galaxy F62 does everything you need a smartphone for. It features a faster processor paired with a 7000mAh battery, a smooth AMOLED display and capable cameras. It’s a phone we are going to recommend to a lot of people in the coming months. Remember: the Galaxy F62 is a heavy phone. It’s not a design flaw as such – after all, it packs in a 7000mAh battery and a 6.7-inch screen. Read our review of the Galaxy F62 here.
Samsung Galaxy M02s. (Image credit: Samsung)
Samsung Galaxy M02s
The Galaxy M02S is perfect for people who want a budget smartphone for WhatsApp or watching YouTube videos. For them, the Galaxy M02s should serve the purpose. It’s fast, the battery lasts a full day thanks to a 5000mAh cell, and the 6.5-inch HD+ Infinity-V display still looks modern. Other features include a plastic body, a headphone jack, and microSD card expansion, and dual cameras on the back. Sure, the Galaxy M02s can’t match Samsung’s pricey phones in performance or finish but this handset costs just Rs 6999.
January 14, 2021 - Michael Jaworowski, Notre’s co-founder and CEO, attributes his first encounter with the Dunk as catalyst for his career, his interests and his community-driven approach to retail.
“I happened to be at a hockey game for the local team in Grand Rapids and I saw a kid go up the escalator in some crazy red and silver Nikes. I was taken aback by them. When I got home, I jumped on the computer and just started searching Nike red and silver — eventually I discovered it was a Nike SB Dunk,” says Jaworowski.
The discovery steered an awakening. Jaworowski hit the era’s blogs and message boards, which led to a job at Grand Rapid’s Premier skate shop (and mentorship from its owners, Eric and Josh) and has culminated in a maturation through the business of sneakers and streetwear to the founding, almost a decade later, of Notre in Chicago.
“We wanted to be a place, a business in Chicago, that could uplift individuals and organizations in the city and believe we’re making positive changes,” says Jaworowski.
The store’s name translates from French to “our.” And within Notre there is a resounding commitment to cultivating connections and allowing a wider sense of ownership. “I definitely had an idea of the type of shop that I wanted to have,” says co-founder Jose Villanueva. “Community was always a big part of it.”
To make it happen, Jaworowski, Villanueva, co-owners Charlie and AJ Nordstrom and the rest of the Notre team have applied an ingrained diligence to a decidedly high-fashion, high-design platform. It is true to their unique ethos, a celebration of collaboration, curiosity, durability and work ethic. The store, for all involved, is a shared labor of love held by a belief that there are many valuable ways of doing things beyond one’s own.
With the Nike Dunk, Jaworowski’s love of the silhouette blends with Notre’s unabashed humility. A hard-working, Midwestern attitude rendered through the store’s elevated aesthetic. “We were always inspired by work shirts, and we wanted to make sure we represented durable materials and the triple-stitch details we associate with hard-wearing clothing and boots,” says Villanueva.
Subtle suede and leather details complement the clean colorways, enriching the story and adding texture. The medial Swoosh offers another element, making Notre’s Dunk “ours” — the linking hands that have become a brand hallmark.
The Nike x Notre Dunk releases exclusively at Notre January 21 in tan and blue colorways. A second release of the blue colorway follows January 23 on SNKRS.
Nike‘s latest Free Run Trail has been given a bold update — reflective lines resembling geographic mapping of hiking trails.
Most of the shoe’s uppers come in a smooth matte grey, complemented by cream-colored mesh. A “NIKE FREE TRAIL 5.0” tag is placed at the top of the tongue, followed by a teal lacing system that matches the same tone as the shoe’s heel tab. The shoe features a thinly embroidered Swoosh over a body of perforated synthetic leather detailed with fragmented reflective lines. All of these details rest over a flexible mint-colored, eco-friendly Free midsole that offers a vibrant touch to the shoe’s grey uppers.
No release dates have been disclosed, but this model of Nike’s Free Run Trail is expected to land soon on Nike’s website — prices have yet to be confirmed.
brande.indah.link Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge
Samsung’s latest Chrome OS laptop, the Galaxy Chromebook 2, is now available for purchase at Best Buy. The Chromebook 2 was first announced at CES in January and features a new QLED display, 360-degree hinge, and a striking red paint job. It starts at $549.99 for a Celeron model and goes up to $699.99 for a Core i3 version, putting it at the higher end of Chromebooks.
That price is the most significant thing about the Chromebook 2 because it’s considerably less than the Galaxy Chromebook that debuted a year ago. The older Chromebook had an 4K OLED screen and came with a stylus — neither of which you’ll fine with the new model — but it also cost just under $1,000 when it came out. In our review, we found despite the gorgeous screen and striking paint job, the original Galaxy Chromebook didn’t justify its cost, particularly thanks to abysmal battery life.
The Galaxy Chromebook 2 is Samsung’s flagship Chrome OS laptop for 2021. It has a new QLED screen, either Intel Celeron or Core i3 processors, and comes in a striking red paint job.
We’ve yet to put the new Chromebook 2 through its paces, but we did get to see the machine in person back in January and it certainly seems like it will be competent. The QLED screen isn’t quite up to the marks of the OLED panel, but you’d be hard-pressed to notice without putting them side-by-side, and the rest of the Chromebook 2’s fit and finish are appropriate for the price Samsung is asking. Importantly, it still comes in that amazing red color, as well. You might notice the extra weight — the Chromebook 2 is about half a pound heavier — but it still falls under three pounds total and should be easily portable.
We will have a full review of the Chromebook 2 in the near future, but if you don’t want to wait and grab one yourself, you might be able to find one in stock at your local Best Buy right now. Let’s just hope Samsung improved the battery life over last time.
We all lose things, with keychains and wallets being the most common items sucked into a parallel universe only to reemerge when we least expect it. Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag may not be able to keep you from losing these items, but they sure can help you find them.
Similar to Tile devices, Samsung’s SmartTags are self-contained location devices based on a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio chip. Inside, there’s a microcontroller, a switch, a speaker, and a small watch battery to power it all (it will likely need to be replaced once a year). While they are small and convenient and work great for finding your phone, Samsung’s SmartTags have a few too many limitations that prevent us from recommending them over the competition.
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag pricing and configurations
At the moment, there’s just one SmartTag model available for $29.99. It can be had in white or black.
Samsung offers a free account for the SmartTag and a useful app that can help find everything from a lost key ring to a runaway pet. The interface not only lets you home in on the tag and object it’s attached to, but it can link it to other Galaxy phones if it’s left far from your home.
Released in 2018, Samsung’s other option, the SmartThings Tracker tag, is a little thicker, heavier and at $100, is a lot more expensive. It uses a totally different approach to telling you where it is. Rather than locating an item by tapping into a local Bluetooth signal, the Tracker uses a combination of GPS and LTE mobile data to pinpoint it on a map. Because of this, it requires a mobile data plan. The tag is included with some Galaxy S21 phones.
Powering up a SmartTag
Changing the tag’s battery starts with prying the case open with a quarter or screwdriver and removing the lid.
Then, pop the CR2032 battery out by prying it free with the end of a paperclip.
Press the new one in place, making sure that the positive side is facing up. It should beep when it’s ready.
Finish up by snapping it all back together.
All told, it took less than a minute and my tag is now ready for a full year of use.
By contrast, Tile, which has been selling tracking devices for about eight years, has four different tags. There’s one that’s a little smaller than the SmartTag, one with a longer range, and another one with an adhesive backing for attaching permanently to an item, like a favorite pair of headphones or an independently minded pet tortoise. Finally, Tile has a thin card that’s a better fit for a wallet. The tags range in price from $17.50 to $35.
Tile has upgraded service plans that make Samsung’s offerings look rudimentary. To start, Tile’s free service is on a par with Samsung’s, but Tile Premium adds things like free replacement batteries and a 30-day history of where the tag has been that looks a lot like Google Map Timeline. My favorite is Smart Alerts that warn you that you’re about to leave an item behind. The premium plan costs $3 a month or $30 a year.
Tile’s Premium Protect adds insurance for losing a tagged item. It costs $100 a year and will reimburse you for up to $1,000 for a tagged computer, headphones or backpack but not a runaway pet. Both plans include a free first month.
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag design
At 1.5 x 1.5 x 0.4 inches, the SmartTag is smaller than a car’s key fob and weighs just 0.4 ounces. By contrast, the Tile Mate is also 1.5 x 1.5 inches but is only 0.2 inches thick and weighs 0.3 ounces, making it a little easier to hide.
(Image credit: Samsung)
The SmartTag has a hole for attaching to a key chain, backpack or dog collar. While the SmartTag fits comfortably on a keychain, it’s a little thick for a wallet. It’s much more appropriate hanging from a handbag, briefcase or even an umbrella that’s always hiding during a rainstorm.
While Tile products can also be had in black or white, some, like the Pro model, are available in bright colors and striking patterns, like bright red with chevron stripes. That said, Samsung plans to add additional models to catch up, but more on that later.
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag durability
The SmartTag’s IP52 rating means it will likely stand up to some water dripping onto it. By contrast, the Tile Mate and Pro models are surprisingly rugged with an IP55 rating. That means they are impervious to dust and will likely survive a water spray. Still, the SmartTag worked fine in a raging snowstorm and when I accidentally splashed water on it.
Getting started with SmartTags is easy. After unboxing the device, it’s time to register it with the Samsung SmartThings app, but first, you’ll need to download and install the Find portion of the app. Fortunately, the phone automatically downloads and installs it.
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Just press the tag’s button and the phone instantly reacts by trying to make contact with it. It takes about a minute and you need to do this once to register it with the phone. If you want to link it to a different phone, you’ll need to wipe the connection data by opening the tag, removing the battery and pressing the button. After replacing the battery and snapping the cover back on, it’s as good as new and ready for a new connection.
The app adds a host of functionality to the device. For instance, whenever you start the app, it scans the area for your tags. The app’s On-the-go interface is well integrated and the place to start a search for a lost tagged item. It starts by showing if the tag is either nearby or can’t make direct contact. At the bottom is a place to adjust the tag’s settings and check its battery status.
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After a little nosing around, I dug a level deeper into the app and found where I could change the tag’s name and add others. If you have just one tag, it’s not a big deal, but naming them comes in handy if you have several. It can mean the difference between trying to find your keys or your backpack.
The app’s Find section is where the action is for the tags. It lets you ping the tag and play one of the 10 simple available tunes. They’re all equally annoying and effective, providing excellent encouragement not to lose your keys ever again. In case your lost item is buried in the depths of a couch, it’s easy to raise or lower its volume.
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If that’s not enough help to locate a lost key ring, the interface can report if you’re getting warmer or cooler when you walk around looking for it. The screen has a circular signal-strength gauge that filled in as I got closer to the tag. It helped me find my misplaced keys in the dirty clothes hamper in the pocket of yesterday’s pants, just in time to avoid a date with the washing machine. By contrast, Tile’s comparable proximity screen has four concentric rings that blink and change color when you get close.
The tag’s button can be customized in the app. In addition to the default settings, the tag can be configured to send a text message to up to 10 recipients (for use as an emergency beacon) or to connect with Samsung’s SmartThings home automation scheme, allowing an extra level of control over IoT devices. Tile offers no similar connection.
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SmartTag has similar functionality to Tile. The tag sends out a unique coded Bluetooth signal that identifies the device. However, Samsung goes a step further, encrypting the code and changing it every 15 minutes for safety and privacy. Once the tag’s signal has been acquired by the phone, it shows up on its screen and allows the user to trigger the tag to play one of those aggravating tunes from the Find section. Happily, it works the other way around to use the tag to find a misplaced phone.
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag performance
To find out how well a SmartTag fit into my careless and forgetful lifestyle, I lived with it for a month of daily use. The tag not only helped me find my Samsung Galaxy Note 20 phone, but my keys and backpack as well. At the moment, the SmartTags only work with recent Samsung Galaxy flagship devices, like the S21 and Note 20 phones as well as the Tab S7 tablet. Unlike Tile’s software, there’s nothing for PCs, iPhones or iPads nor can tags help find things using Mac systems.
While Tile has built its technology into things like SkullCandy earphones, HP’s Elite Dragonfly and even a loss-proof mouth aligner case made by Smile Direct Club, Samsung is a one-trick pony with just the basic tags. It couldn’t help me when I misplaced the headphones or notebook.
Happily, the SmartTag can help find a phone. I found my temporarily missing phone by giving the SmartTag a double squeeze. It got the phone playing a tune, even though the device was set to vibrate. The tune was loud and played for a minute (although it seems much longer). It made finding a phone that had fallen between a sofa’s cushions that much easier. It was easy to turn off the music when I found the phone.
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Up close, the SmartTags allowed me to find all manner of things in my cluttered home. I found my keys several times after wracking my brain for where I last saw them. But what if I had left them behind at a coffee shop or hotel? SmartTag deals with that in a manner similar to Tile’s approach but with a twist. If the phone and tag are out of Bluetooth range, finding your SmartTag and whatever it is connected to relies on connecting to a nearby Galaxy phone.
As soon as its Bluetooth signal hits a stranger’s Galaxy device, the tag’s location data is gathered and anonymously sent to your Samsung account. It shows up on a map with the legend “Spotted by nearby Galaxy device”.
This sequence assumes a few things that might not be realistic in the real world. To start, the other person’s phone needs to have its Bluetooth radio turned on to receive the signal. Plus, this phone’s owner needs to be enrolled in the SmartThings program.
The SmartTags can also be used in tandem with smart home devices. I set up a connected lightbulb near the front door via the Samsung SmartThings interface. When I got home, I gave the SmartTag a long press to turn it on before I unlocked the door, making for a more inviting entrance to my home. With the right gear, I could just as easily have used it to turn off the air conditioner when leaving.
In daily use, the SmartTag had a range of about 110 feet with my Note 20, well short of Samsung’s estimated 390 feet. Still, it’s a little farther than the Tile Mate’s 85-foot reach. The bottom line is that the SmartTag is perfect for finding items in and around a home unless you live in a mansion.
Tile vs. SmartTag
The advantage remains with Tile because of its variety, performance and extra services. However, the best could be yet to come as the next generation of tags is coming into focus. To start, Apple’s AirTags could see the light of day in the coming months and integrate into the company’s My Find interface.
Then, Samsung’s SmartTag Plus should arrive with the power to shake up the technological landscape. By tapping into a phone’s Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) communications as well as Bluetooth, it opens new vistas for location services. The SmartTag Plus tags are expected to cost $40 each.
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The result is that if you’re looking for your keys, the UWB connection could point to the direction where the tag (and your lost item) is. That’s just the start because UWB could open a world of augmented reality. Imagine if the phone’s screen showed not only prompts for which way to go to reach the tag but created a montage of the video feed from its rear-facing camera with the tag superimposed over it in its current – and presumably hidden – location.
This can obviously help find the tag quicker than just listening to an irritating tune. It could also turn anxious moments trying to find keys or a wallet into something akin to a game with on-screen fireworks going off when you get close enough to grab the item. On the downside, it is likely that, like earlier Samsung location tags, it will work only with Samsung gear.
Tile may have a head start on the technology, products and software, but Samsung has grand plans for extending the SmartTag ecosystem. It all depends on whether the company can deliver new and innovative devices quickly or else your keys might just remain in that parallel universe.
Bottom line
If you’re the careless type who leaves their stuff all around the house, Samsung’s StartTags are for you. They’re not only small, lightweight and at $30 each, inexpensive, but they can be clipped to a variety of items, including keychains, headphones and even a stubborn pet. Using the SmartThings phone app, you can hone in on the tag to find a lost item or press the tag’s button to make your missing phone ring. A big bonus is that the tags can link with your home automation devices -- like connected thermostats and light bulbs -- but at the moment, the tags only work with Samsung phones and tablets.
A newcomer to the location tag market, the SmartTags are not as rugged or colorful as Tile’s tags and are only available in one model. Tile takes it a step further by offering upgraded service plans that can help locate lost items or pay for a replacement. The best is yet to come with an upgraded family of SmartTags that might add a level of augmented reality to the mix, potentially making it fun to eventually find your lost keychain.
Samsung’s One UI 3.0 interface based on Android 11 arrived at the same time as the new Galaxy S21 releases last month. But Samsung isn’t done with its software updates, and this time foldable phones are the big beneficiaries.
The One UI 3.1 update is out, and landing on Samsung phones, including the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Galaxy Z Flip. That’s noteworthy because Samsung says the latest update has a number of improvements specifically aimed at its foldable devices.
Among the highlights for foldable phone users are improvements to Multi-Active Windows, a multitasking function. You use Multi-Active Windows to run multiple apps, letting you do things like search for something while watching a video.
Under One UI 3.1, you can now bring up to three different Multi-Active Windows on your foldable phone’s main screen. On the Z Fold 2, you can bring two Multi-Active Windows from the internal screen to the cover display on the outside of the phone.You also gain the ability to launch Multi-Active Windows from the Quick Panel's notifications center.
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One UI 3.1 also simplifies the process of turning off the screen by adding a Palm Touch to Turn Off Screen capability. Enable that feature and you can put either screen on your Galaxy Z Fold 2 to sleep simply by touching them with your palm or double-tapping.
The update also brings greater camera flexibility to Samsung foldables. When you opt to shoot in Flex mode, you can change the way controls are positioned so that it's more comfortable to start shooting. Samsung has also implemented Share and Delete buttons to Flex mode's preview mode.
Video calls in Flex mode have also been improved. When making calls in Flex mode, Z Fold 2 users can now opt to fill the top half of their display with the video stream of whomever they're connected to.
The enhanced update should be hitting a variety of devices shortly, with Galaxy S10, Note 20 and Note 20 models also getting One UI 3.1
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