Technology - Google News

This might be Sony’s secret PS5 invention to keep the price down - BGR
Switching back to a dumbphone was the smartest thing I’ve ever done - Digital Trends
Spotify Free music now plays on Sonos speakers - The Verge

This might be Sony’s secret PS5 invention to keep the price down - BGR

Posted: 12 Nov 2019 04:31 AM PST

Sporting a much faster processor and graphics card than its predecessor, as well as a much faster SSD drive, the PlayStation 5 should be significantly more expensive than the PS4, at least in theory. But Sony already teased that the PS5 might be cheaper than expected, with the PS5's price being a key factor for upgrades. And, as we learned recently, Sony wants as many PS4 owners to upgrade to the next-gen console as fast as possible. A Sony-related discovery the other day suggested that Sony might be working on a brand new console, in addition to the PS5 that's due next winter, a mysterious device that Sony hasn't addressed so far. That was speculation, of course, given that Sony revealed plenty of details about the PS5 so far, but never discussed a more portable console. It turns out there might be a much better explanation for Sony's latest invention, and it's all related to the PS5. Specifically, the Sony cartridges we looked at the other day may be the clever solution for keeping the console's price down.

The Dutch blog that discovered Sony's cartridge patent posted the following renders that imagined what the device might actually be:

Image Source: LetsGoDigital

That's right, the device that LetsGoDigital imagined, using Sony's own patent illustrations, is a PS5 SSD cartridge that would help Sony kill two birds with one stone.

First of all, Sony would be able to keep the PS5's price down with the help of a smaller capacity SSD. Solid-state drives are a lot cheaper than they used to be, but they're still an expensive upgrade. By placing a limited amount of default storage on 2020 PS5 units, say 500GB or 1TB, Sony would ensure that players have a decent amount of memory at their disposal, without breaking the bank.

SSD cartridges would also be a great way of allowing anyone to easily swap out an old SSD with a bigger-capacity model down the line. By making PlayStation storage modular, Sony would ensure that storage upgrades won't require any complicated teardown procedures.

Not to mention that, by controlling SSD upgrades, Sony could make more money off of the PS5 down the line, and prevent unofficial SSD upgrades from potentially hindering PS5 gameplay experience. The PS5, after all, is rumored to deliver a custom Sony SSD solution.

This is still speculation, but LetsGoDigital reminds us that the innovation must be related to the PlayStation family of products, considering the invention belongs to an exec who worked on PlayStation products so far.

Image Source: LetsGoDigital

Finally, there's one other detail that suggests Sony might indeed be working on an easy PS5 storage upgrade for the console. Sony casually revealed a few weeks ago that the PS5 will let you install only the game content you want to play, whether it's single-player or multiplayer support. The feature would make downloads and installs a lot faster, and would allow users to save storage space for other games, before having to consider swapping the SSD for a bigger one.

Sony is expected to unveil the PS5 in February, at which point it'll probably explain these cartridges as well, assuming they're indeed related to the PlayStation 5.

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Switching back to a dumbphone was the smartest thing I’ve ever done - Digital Trends

Posted: 12 Nov 2019 03:00 AM PST

I'm sick of looking at my phone all the time. I can't help it. On the subway, in supermarket checkout lines, binge-watching Netflix shows — here I am scrolling and tapping once again.

I'm tired of constantly being bombarded by notifications asking me if I've "checked this out."

It's not like I haven't tried to reclaim the hours I spend on my phone. I've set screen time limits, switched off as many notifications as I can, and even invested in a smartwatch in hopes to not end up in an Instagram hole after innocuously pulling out my phone to check the time. To an extent, these restrictions did work; I've nearly managed to slash my smartphone usage in half. Still, I feel hijacked by my smartphone and the companies behind it. Of late, using my phone has begun to channel a sense of anxiety and fatigue within me.

So, I did something I didn't think I would find myself doing in late 2019. I bought a yellow Nokia 8110 "dumb" phone, aka the "banana phone," as some like to call it. The last time I even touched a slider phone was — let me get the math right on this one — a gazillion years ago.

holding the Nokia 8810 banana phone — Shubham Agarwal / Digital Trends

A smarter dumbphone

This wasn't a reckless purchase driven by nostalgia, nor do I believe it's all that outrageous. Sure, I admit its looks played a vital role in swaying me toward the buy button. I mean, just look at it. The way its curved body rests naturally in the palm of my hand and the joy of sliding down the keyboard cover to answer calls bring the kind of experience a rectangular piece of glass will never be able to deliver.

All this aside, it's the operating system within that convinced me. The Nokia 8110 and a handful of other phones run on a relatively smarter OS for dumbphones called KaiOS.

This wasn't a reckless purchase driven by nostalgia.

KaiOS is designed primarily for first-time internet users from emerging countries like India, for whom smartphones and touchscreens can be a bit too intimidating. It functions and looks largely like any run-of-the-mill feature phone software. However, thanks to the HTML5-based app store, it allows tech companies such as Google and Facebook to easily build apps for physical keys and bare-bones hardware, which both have done.

Life goes on

At the time of writing, the Nokia 8110 I bought supported a string of apps I'm used to on my smartphone including Google Maps, WhatsApp, Twitter, and more. It also comes integrated with the Google Assistant, which is expected to soon gain the ability to execute actions on third-party apps, like sending a WhatsApp message, for instance. A phone that runs all my essential apps minus the unnecessary clutter and "always-on" feeling was just what I needed.

Therefore, for the past week, I've been actively using the Nokia 8110 with my primary SIM card inside, and despite my early skepticism, it has truly surprised me. I was able to chat on WhatsApp as I do normally (albeit at a much slower typing speed), search for destinations on Google Maps, scroll through Twitter and Facebook timelines, and even sync my emails. Heck, I even managed to book a cab through Uber's web app.

More importantly, switching to a feature phone disabused me of the illusion that my life will come to a halt without my smartphone. It made me realize how insignificant most of what I used to do on my phone actually is.

nokia 8110 kaios experience review pixel 3 — Shubham Agarwal / Digital Trends

Benefits and downsides

With the Nokia 8110, I wasn't constantly scrolling endlessly on Twitter, or watching all the stories on Instagram. I didn't miss out on much when I didn't check an email or any other notification as soon as it landed.

What really hammered home benefits of the experiment for me is that texting or performing other tasks on the Nokia 8110 felt a lot more private. Sure, I was still on services made by the same omnipresent, data-collecting companies, but while I was feeding their algorithms some data, not each and every one of my moves were monitored, unlike when I use my Pixel 3.

I did face the obvious downsides and compromises that come with a dumbphone, of course. It does seem, at times, like going back in time. Google Maps, for instance, doesn't have turn-by-turn navigation on KaiOS yet. Typing texts and emails takes minutes, not seconds. There's no NFC or digital payment support. The camera is barely usable and the absence of a front lens means you can't video chat.

But to be honest, I knew about these shortcomings before diving in, and they do make sense. KaiOS-powered phones, at least for now, are not made for smartphone users trying to find a little peace and solace.

My takeaway

The biggest lesson this process taught me was our smartphones don't ever let us simply get bored and ponder. There's always a new article, email, video, or tweet to consume. After the Nokia 8110 experience, I'm a lot more mindful of the time I spend staring at my smartphone. I take an extra second or two before I unlock it. At least for now.

The Nokia 8110 will be an excellent companion to my Google Pixel 3, and I will most likely choose the former when I'm just heading out to a dinner party. I'm sure there will be numerous smartphones that can take care of the selfies.

If you're in the United States and would like a similar detox option, there aren't a ton of KaiOS phones available. Your best bet may be the $50 Alcatel Smartflip, a good-ol' flip phone that runs KaiOS and is compatible with a handful of carriers including AT&T and Cricket Wireless.

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Spotify Free music now plays on Sonos speakers - The Verge

Posted: 12 Nov 2019 06:00 AM PST

Sonos is today adding a long-awaited feature to its whole-home audio solution: Spotify Free streaming support. Now you can buy an entry-level Symfonisk speaker for $99 from Ikea and start listening to Spotify immediately — no need for a Premium account that would cost more than the speaker (almost $120) after the first year.

Spotify has 248 million monthly users, of which only 113 million are paying subscribers.

Spotify Free on Sonos lets you shuffle playback of the entire Spotify catalog. It also features 15 on-demand playlists, including personalized playlists like Discover Weekly, Release Radar, and Daily Mix as well as curated faves like RapCaviar. Spotify Free streams can be played through Sonos speakers directly from Spotify (using Spotify Connect) or via the Sonos app if you prefer, just like Spotify's ad-free Premium accounts that offer the luxury of unrestricted playback.

Sonos already supports a variety of subscription-free music and radio services. With today's announcement, the company hopes to entice a hundred million more Spotify users to buy into the Sonos sound garden. Something that benefits Ikea too, through its Sonos partnership to develop and sell the budget Symfonisk speaker range.

"Spotify Free users will now be able to stream directly to their Symfonisk speakers using the Sonos app or Spotify connect, bringing affordable listening to the many people," said Johanna Nordell, Business Developer for Ikea's Home Smart division.

Spotify Free can be added after applying a software update that's rolling out to all Sonos-branded speakers today.

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