Technology - Google News

TCL’s new $650 6-series 4K TV has Mini-LED backlighting and supports 120Hz gaming - The Verge
Nokia phones maker HMD picks up $230 million in new funding from Google, Qualcomm and Nokia - CNBC
Google Maps is back on the Apple Watch - CNN

TCL’s new $650 6-series 4K TV has Mini-LED backlighting and supports 120Hz gaming - The Verge

Posted: 11 Aug 2020 08:15 AM PDT

TCL introduced its new lineup of midrange 5- and 6-series 4K TVs for 2020. Like previous years, they pack in a lot of value, with good design, four HDMI ports, and built-in Roku software that might eliminate the need to buy a streaming device. Importantly, they also pack in complete support for HDR standards, so you won't be left out of the next HDR-enabled Super Bowl game, whenever that will be. It features what TCL calls the "HDR Pro Pack", with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG. What warrants most of your attention, though, are the premium features, like contrast-rich QLED screens and accurate Mini-LED backlighting, that have slid down the pricing scale and are much more affordable.

At the low end, the 50-inch 5-series TV (model 50S535) costs $400 and has a QLED screen, a 60Hz refresh rate panel, and 40 local dimming zones. It's definitely not the option you want if you crave the most cinematic experience or one that's suited for fast-paced gaming, but a $400 QLED TV? That's great. TCL's new 5-series is also available in a $450 55-inch model and $630 65-inch model, each with a slight bump up in local dimming zones to 48 and 56, respectively.

TCL's new 6-series has QLED, too, but more notably, it has Mini-LED backlighting, which was one of the main selling points of the high-end 8-series model from last year that rarely dropped below $1,000. With Mini-LED backlighting, there's a huge boost in local dimming zones, so you won't notice splotchy parts of the screen as much when you're watching something that's dark and atmospheric. What's more, each 6-series TV supports variable refresh rate with support up to 120Hz, which you'll want if you plan on connecting a PS5 or an Xbox Series X when they come out later this year.

To that end, TCL says the 6-series is the first TV to feature THX Certified Game Mode, which promises to thrill gamers "without any compromise in ultra-low-latency gaming." This model starts at $650 for the 55-inch version, going up to $900 for the 65-inch TV, and finally, $1,400 for the biggest 75-inch model.

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Nokia phones maker HMD picks up $230 million in new funding from Google, Qualcomm and Nokia - CNBC

Posted: 11 Aug 2020 06:00 AM PDT

HMD Global's Nokia 2720 Flip feature phone on display at a press briefing held in London on September 2, 2019.

Ryan Browne | CNBC

HMD Global, the company behind new Nokia-branded phones, has secured $230 million in fresh funding from investors including Google, Qualcomm and Nokia.

The Espoo, Finland-based firm said Tuesday that it would use the capital to invest in the development of 5G smartphones, which it hopes to sell in the U.S. in partnership with local carriers. The cash will also be used to help HMD expand in markets like Brazil, Africa and India and move beyond hardware into other areas like software and services.

HMD has held the rights to design and market Nokia phones since a joint deal with Foxconn to buy the Finnish telecoms giant's mobile unit from Microsoft in 2016. Foxconn manufactures the handsets while Nokia gets royalty payments for each phone HMD sells. HMD sold 70 million phones last year and claims to have sold over 240 million to date.

Microsoft's initial Nokia acquisition in 2014 was notoriously ill-fated due to the failure of its Windows phones. HMD has looked to turn the business' fortunes around by launching new versions of nostalgic Nokia handsets like the 8110 "banana phone" and 2720 flip phone, as well as premium Nokia-branded smartphones that run on Google's Android mobile operating system.

"We believe this clear focus on a premium and well-differentiated smartphone experience is something that sets us apart," HMD CEO Florian Seiche told CNBC in an interview. "Clearly our partners ... have confirmed their point of view as well and are giving us strong endorsement to accelerate our growth in the coming years."

Seiche added the company was still heavily investing in feature phones — also known as "dumbphones" in contrast with smartphones — but said it has seen a shift from feature phones to smartphones in markets such as Africa. The company touts its smartphones as a more affordable alternative to those of bigger players like Samsung and Apple, and has partnered directly with Google to give users regular security updates on Android.

HMD told CNBC that it made 1.7 billion euros ($2 billion) in net revenue last year, down almost 30% from 2.4 billion euros in 2018, which it said was due to reducing its presence in markets that required further investment. The company's losses mounted in 2019, rising more than 50% to 295 million euros.

The coronavirus crisis has deeply impacted the smartphone market, with market research firm IDC expecting smartphone shipments to decline 11.9% year-on-year to 1.2 billion. HMD has switched focus to online sales during the Covid-19 pandemic and Seiche said this allowed it to return to profitability in June.

"This has certainly been a challenging environment, however what we can say is we are also seeing some key shifts in the market that we believe have been really accelerated because of Covid ... the biggest being the shift to online purchasing," Seiche said. "That is not a temporary thing but that is going to stay."

It's the second time in HMD's history that the start-up has raised money from outside investors. The first was in 2018, when the business was valued privately at more than $1 billion, giving it so-called unicorn status.

HMD declined to disclose its new valuation in this investment, which it said was the first closing of a bigger funding round. The company is majority-owned by Smart Connect, a private equity fund managed by former Nokia executive Jean-Francois Baril.

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Google Maps is back on the Apple Watch - CNN

Posted: 11 Aug 2020 06:58 AM PDT

The new app, which includes step-by-step directions and estimated arrival times, will be available to download in the coming weeks, Google said.

This time around, Maps is a standalone app available in the Apple Watch app store — a bit of a change from its previous iteration, when iPhone users had to download the Google Maps iOS app then use it as an extension on their Watch. Several other apps, like Amazon and eBay, pulled their iOS apps' support for the Apple Watch in 2017 without offering an explanation, according to previous reports.

Google (GOOGL) is also rolling out an update this week that will expand its Maps app compatibility with Apple's CarPlay system. That means users can listen to music or check their calender in a side-by-side display of Google Maps. The maps appear on the left of the screen and other features, like the music, appears on the right.

Apple's CarPlay infotainment system is available in 97% of new cars, according to the company.

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