Technology - Google News

The Morning After: The problem with the Galaxy Fold - Engadget
Epic Games consider adding Apex Legends' respawn feature to Fortnite - Dexerto.com
Oppo announces 5G and 10x lossless zoom handsets - TechCrunch

The Morning After: The problem with the Galaxy Fold - Engadget

Posted: 23 Feb 2019 06:07 AM PST

Welcome to your weekend! Did you hear? Foldable phones are a real thing. Beside Samsung's big Unpacked showcase, we re-reviewed PlayStation's streaming service, we need to (and do) talk about Huawei's rough year and dream of solar farms in space. MWC kicks off this weekend, so expect even more foldable phone announcements, and more from the world's biggest mobile show.

But at a price. What a price!
Samsung's foldable phone is officially the Galaxy Fold

The future of mobile could be foldable. Perhaps. If you've got $2,000 at the ready. Samsung finally unveiled its flexible marvel, a dual-screened phone-tablet hybrid (just don't call it a phablet) that looks gorgeous when opened. And less so when it's not. To Samsung's credit, it looks like it's managed to achieve its promise of a foldable Galaxy phone, which will launch at the end of April. Unfortunately, however, it wasn't ready for handling at Galaxy Unpacked, and attendees had to make do with the new Galaxy S10 family. But it's not all good news.

Samsung Unpacked was a masterclass in showing your good side.
The problem with the Galaxy Fold

Technically impressive? Yes? Desirable? Perhaps. No complaints? Wait a second.

Everything that was leaked, and not much more.
Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10+ hands-on: New screen, new cameras

The Galaxy S10 and S10+ are two of four phones Samsung has unveiled, alongside a smaller S10e and a souped-up Galaxy S10 5G. We played with them and they're well-rounded, attractive flagships that, once again, iterate on a proven formula. Samsung's 2019 Galaxy series is an unsurprising mix of high-quality processors and cameras with a sumptuous screen. We've come to expect excellence from the Galaxy S series: Great design, performance, cameras and displays are pretty much table stakes now. On those criteria, the new flagships seem to deliver. But groundbreaking? Maybe not. Both the Galaxy S10 and S10+ arrive on March 8th starting at $900.

It would beam energy down to Earth using a microwave or laser.
China wants to put a solar farm in space by 2025

According to China's state-backed Science and Technology Daily, Chinese scientists plan to build and launch small power stations into the stratosphere between 2021 and 2025, upgrading to a megawatt-level station in 2030 and a gigawatt-level facility high above Earth before 2050. Without atmospheric interference or night-time loss of sunlight, these space-based solar farms could provide an inexhaustible source of clean energy.

It's over.
Netflix officially cancels 'Jessica Jones' and 'The Punisher'

Netflix has cancelled Jessica Jones and The Punisher, putting an end to the Marvel partnership that started in 2013. Jessica Jones' third season will still launch on Netflix later in 2019 as a last hurrah, but that's as far as it goes.

The company now says its inclusion was 'never intended to be a secret.'Google put a microphone in Nest Secure and forgot to tell anyone

Google's decision to bring Assistant-enabled voice controls to its Nest Secure system is causing a stir almost a year after the integration was rolled out. The problem is no one actually knew the security device, launched in September 2017, packed a microphone in the first place. Google built a mic into its Nest Guard -- a small hub with a keypad on top that communicates with the other sensors in its Secure system -- but failed to mention it in its product materials, reports Business Insider. Asked about the microphone's existence, Google said it was "never intended to be a secret." Eep.

But wait, there's more...

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Epic Games consider adding Apex Legends' respawn feature to Fortnite - Dexerto.com

Posted: 23 Feb 2019 04:16 AM PST

Fortnite developers Epic Games have confirmed that they are "exploring" the possibility of adding a respawn feature to the battle royale mode, perhaps taking inspiration from Apex Legends.

Unlike traditional battle royale's, Apex Legends allows players to respawn their teammates after they have been fully eliminated, by taking their 'banner' (like dog tags) to a nearby respawn beacon.

Teammates will then drop back into the map, with no gear or weapons, and have the chance to loot up again and get back in the fight.

Respawn beacons can be used to bring back teammates in Apex Legends.

The feature has been praised in Apex Legends, as it means teams don't always have to be at a disadvantage if they lose a player, with the ability to bring them back.

In Fortnite, and every other battle royale for that matter, once you are eliminated, there is no chance at respawn, and you will have to watch your teammates carry on without you.

Producer at Epic Games, u/RZELive on Reddit, answered a fan about the possibility of this respawn feature being added, confirming it is being considered.

Season 8 of Fortnite is set to begin at the start of March, and along with it will be a major update which will make some big changes to the overall gameplay.

It might be slightly hopeful to imagine that a respawn feature will be added for the start of the new season, but Epic may consider using an 'LTM' (limited time mode) to test out possible respawn mechanics.

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Oppo announces 5G and 10x lossless zoom handsets - TechCrunch

Posted: 23 Feb 2019 05:58 AM PST

Saturday afternoon is a rough time for a press conference — particularly with the official kickoff of Mobile World Congress still a few days away. That said, there are certain advantages to being an early bird. Chief among them is the ability to claim firsts — namely having the first 5G handset of the show.

That might not mean a lot in the grand scheme of things, but in a week that’s expected to be dominated by 5G announcements, it’s a way to stand out from the crowd. Of course, like the rest of the promised 5G handsets we’ve heard about so far — with the noble exception of Samsung’s — details are still pretty scarce

What we do know is that the handset — along with so many others set to be announced this week — will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855. Fitting, given that we can almost certainly expect some 5G news out of the chipmaker this week. Oppo also says the device will be on display on the show floor this week — actually firing it up and experiencing those next generation speeds in person, however, is a different thing entirely.

Another bit of news out of the event is the promise of 10x lossless zoom (16mm-160mm) for the company’s next flagship. If its works as advertised that’s a nice little distinguisher from the competition — though 10x zoom likely isn’t a day to day feature for most smartphone users. That device is due out at some point in Q2.