الغريب: 03/13/19

الأربعاء، 13 مارس 2019

Galaxy Fold Watch concept is nice, but don’t bank on it hitting the shelves

The Galaxy Fold hasn’t even hit the shelves yet, but that hasn’t stopped rumors circulating about Samsung’s next foldable handset — dubbed the Galaxy Fold Watch — and the latest web the rumor mill has spun is that it could be worn on a wrist like a watch. Best not get too excited, though: the supporting evidence comes in the form of a patent filing, and we all know the firm files them week in, week out, and the bulk of what it envisages never comes to fruition.

That said, there’s no harm in pondering what life would be like with a smartphone that can be wrapped around your wrist when it’s not in use. For starters, it would mean you wouldn’t have to fork out for both a smartphone and a smartwatch — the former would serve as the latter when it’s stowed. Second, there would be no need to fret about where you’re going to store your device on a night out, run or while in the gym — it would be with you at all times.

The purported handset, as per the above sketch, is outfitted with a complicated sliding mechanism that prevents the screen from rolling back up once it’s been unfurled, and has a series of magnets dotted around the top and bottom to keep it fastened when it’s affixed to a wrist, minimising the risk of it falling off. There’s also a camera on the front and back, a volume rocker on the left-hand side, a power button on the right and a charging port on the bottom.

Samsung isn’t ready to reinvent the wheel just yet

Still, while the concept looks fantastic and like something out of an Iron Man movie, it’s highly unlikely that’s the direction Samsung is headed in for its next foldable. After all, it’s still experimenting with foldable screens, trying to prove that an inwards-folding screen is better than an outwards-folding one — à la Huawei Mate X — while eliminating technical hitches relating to lifespan and durability, so it most certainly isn’t ready to reinvent the wheel just yet.

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Here’s how to install Google Camera on the Galaxy S10

The Galaxy S10 has some of the best camera hardware on the market, and that can now be complemented with Google’s fantastic low-light and wide-angle optimizations through the use of Google Camera. There’s a caveat, though: it’s only compatible with the Snapdragon variant.

Installing Google Camera on the Galaxy S10 isn’t as simple as opening up the Play Store and hitting install; it’ll require a bit of tinkering in the form of downloading an APK and initiating a system function, but it shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes — even on the slowest of networks.

How to install Google Camera on the Galaxy S10

Here’s what to do:

Download the most recent Google Camera APK from this link using your Galaxy S10.
Once downloaded, head into Downloads, select the APK, then follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
Open up Google Camera, then double-tap the dead space (the black area) next to the shutter button.
Select the option entitled 10csMar2.xml.

To be clear, Google Camera doesn’t appear to be as responsive as Samsung’s stock Camera client on the Galaxy S10, though the Ultra Wide and Front Portrait modes were more effective in almost all the samples we uncovered online, so we’d recommend experimenting now you have the option to.

It’s also worth noting that the above also works on the Galaxy S10e and Galaxy S10+, according to some users on the XDA Developers Forum. We weren’t able to confirm those claims at the time of writing; we did, however, manage to configure Google Camera on the standard Galaxy S10.

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PSA: Galaxy S10 fingerprint reader works best without a screen protector

Having trouble getting the in-display fingerprint sensor on your Galaxy S10 or Galaxy S10+ to recognize your fingerprint without the phone asking you to press harder? You might want to remove the stock screen protector. Every Galaxy S10 comes with a screen protector out of the box, and while the in-display fingerprint reader works Samsung’s official screen protectors, it works better without it.

Screen protectors and ultrasonic fingerprint sensors are not the perfect couple

The Galaxy S10’s ultrasonic fingerprint reader seems to have trouble working with a light touch of the finger with a screen protector installed. That’s why you should simply remove the protector if you are constantly asked to press harder despite already applying enough force. Yes, removing the screen protector might not be a good idea if you want to prevent scratches on the display. But let’s face it: Those basic screen protectors are easily scratched in a few days of regular use and can ruin the viewing experience as a result.

As for tempered glass protectors, we can’t exactly say to what extent those affect the in-display fingerprint sensor. Some glass protector makers are saying that their protectors work fine, but we’re not sure any of those will do better than basic screen protectors. It’s best to just use the S10 or S10+’ display without any protection and use a case that’s thick enough to protect the display from damage should it fall face down on the ground.

Don’t mind having to press hard? Just ignore what we’re saying

If you don’t mind the more finicky operation of the fingerprint sensor with a protector installed, you can let the stock one stay on the phone or upgrade to a tempered glass protector. Galaxy S10e owners can also leave the screen protector installed, as it doesn’t have an in-display fingerprint sensor.

Still undecided on whether you should buy one of Samsung’s new flagships? Check out our Galaxy S10e review and our Galaxy S10+ review for help on making that decision.

Galaxy S10

Model: SM-G973F
Dimensions: 70.4 x 149.9 x 7.8mm
Display: 6.1"(157.5mm) Super AMOLED
CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
Camera: 12 MP.CMOS F2.4 45° Telephoto & 12MP F1.5 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

Galaxy S10 Plus

Model: SM-G975F
Dimensions: 74.1 x 157.6 x 7.8mm
Display: 6.4"(162.5mm) Super AMOLED
CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
Camera: 12 MP.CMOS F2.4 45° Telephoto & 12MP F1.5/F2.4 77° & 16MP F2.2 123° Ultra-wide

More specifications

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SamMobile Daily Recap, March 13, 2019: Galaxy A9 (2018) Pie update, Galaxy Note 10 5G, and more

We publish a lot of stories on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the majority of news breaks during our European hours of operation, which makes it difficult for our readers in the US (and other regions) to keep up. However, we think we’ve come up with a fantastic solution — a daily recap.

Here’s what we covered today.

Phones

5G Galaxy Note 10 referenced in Galaxy S10 kernel source

Galaxy S10 features that redefine the smartphone experience

Galaxy S10 shipments predicted to reach 20 million units in H1 2019

Firmware News

BREAKING: Galaxy A9 (2018) is getting the Android Pie update

Latest Galaxy A50 update brings March 2019 security patch

General

Samsung opens its largest Galaxy showcase store in Tokyo

Teardown shows the Galaxy Buds are ‘surprisingly repairable’

The post SamMobile Daily Recap, March 13, 2019: Galaxy A9 (2018) Pie update, Galaxy Note 10 5G, and more appeared first on SamMobile.

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Is the Galaxy S10 waterproof? Here’s what its IP68 rating means

Those who are new to Samsung flagships must be wondering: Is the Galaxy S10 waterproof? All models in the new lineup have an IP68 rating. So while it won’t be a good idea to go deep sea diving with the Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10 or Galaxy S10+, you absolutely don’t need to worry about dropping your flagship in the pool.

Smartphones like the Galaxy S10 are waterproof subject to certain limitations, but this is far from Samsung’s first lineup to have an IP rating. The Galaxy S5 arrived in 2014 with an IP67 rating, which meant it could be submerged in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.

Is the Galaxy S10 waterproof?

It’s imperative to understand the distinction between waterproof and water resistant first. The former would suggest that a device is completely protected against water without any caveats. That’s not the case. Any device with an IP rating is actually water resistant and not waterproof in the true sense of the word.

The Galaxy S10 is indeed water resistant. Samsung’s new flagships have an IP68 rating. They can be submerged in 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. The IP rating on Samsung’s smartphones has evidently improved over the past few years.

The new design choices that Samsung made with the Galaxy S6 meant that an IP rating had to be sacrificed that year. However, the Galaxy S6 Active did make up for it, even though it was an AT&T exclusive in the United States. Samsung launched the Galaxy S7 the following year and it had an IP68 rating. It’s the highest rating that a smartphone can get on the IP scale.

Quite a few Samsung devices have an IP68 rating. This includes all recent flagships such as the Galaxy S8/S8+, Galaxy S9/S9+, Galaxy Note 8 and the Galaxy Note 9. The Galaxy S10 is, therefore, as water resistant as any of these devices.

What the IP68 rating means

IP or Ingress Protection is a measurement that’s universally accepted for different levels of dust and water resistance. When a device has an IP68 rating, this means that it can hold its own against certain levels of dust, dirt and sand. These devices can also be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.

However, fresh water is explicitly mentioned in the official classification for a reason. The tests for assigning ratings to a consumer device are conducted in laboratory conditions. The devices are submerged in fresh water during tests, not a swimming pool or a natural body of water that may have various contaminants.

So it would probably be best not to take your IP68 rated smartphone swimming with you into the pool. Various chemicals are used to cleanse the water in pools and they could end up damaging your device. This applies to the sea as well since seawater has a lot of salt. It’s a mineral that doesn’t really play well with electronics.

What the IP rating actually does is provide you with peace of mind that you won’t end up destroying your expensive Galaxy S10 if you accidentally spill your beer on it. Same goes for dropping it into the pool or the ocean by accident. Just rinse it off. Having rinsed my Galaxy Note 9 under running tap water after spilling a drink on it, or taking photos outside when it was drizzling in Paris, I can safely say that this protection against the elements is certainly appreciated.

In addition to that, Samsung’s smartphones also have a neat little feature. If the device gets wet moisture is automatically detected. You’re shown a notification to ensure that the USB port is dry before attempting to charge it. This helps prevents any electrical damage should you plug your phone in while it has not completely dried.

In conclusion, the Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ are all water resistant with the highest IP68 rating. The detailed explanation of the IP rating should give you a better idea of the limitations of this resistance and what it allows you to do with your phone.

Galaxy S10e

Model: SM-G970F
Dimensions: 69.9 x 142.2 x 7.9mm
Display: 5.8” (146.5mm) Super AMOLED
CPU: Exynos 9820 Octa
Camera: 12 MP, CMOS F1.5/F2.4 (77°) & 16MP, CMOS F2.2 (123°)Ultra Wide

More specifications