Report: Samsung is still undecided on using ultra-thin glass for Galaxy Fold 2

Samsung introduced the world’s first foldable phone with ultra-thin glass (UTG) in February, and it was rumored that the new material would also be used in the successor to the Galaxy Fold. However, the company is reportedly still undecided whether to use ultra-thin glass or stick to the plastic protective layer that is currently used in the Galaxy Fold.

According to a new report from ETNews, the South Korean firm wants to use the ultra-thin glass material from Samsung Display to protect the foldable screen on the Galaxy Fold 2. However, the company is still keeping its options open to use a plastic-based panel as an alternative in case it faces any problem with UTG. The UTG could increase the weight of the foldable phone by a considerable margin, which Samsung wants to avoid.

Galaxy Fold 2 rumored specs, launch time frame

The South Korean company plans to start the mass-production of Galaxy Fold 2 parts starting mid-May and launch the foldable phone sometime in August alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 5G and the Galaxy Note 20. The upcoming phone is expected to feature an 8-inch or 7.7-inch foldable Infinity-O display, which is larger than the Galaxy Fold’s 7.3-inch screen.

Although the phone was earlier rumored to come with an S Pen, it is now being reported that it won’t ship with a stylus. The Galaxy Fold 2 is internally codenamed Winner 2, and it could come with a lower price tag and 256GB of internal storage.

According to recent rumors and reports, the phone could feature a larger external display with a U-shaped notch. It could also feature the Snapdragon 865 processor, Android 10, 5G connectivity, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra-like quad-camera setup. It could also be launched in a 4G variant (SM-F910), which may allow the company to introduce the phone with a more affordable price tag.

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One UI 2.1 update rolling out to unlocked Galaxy Note 10 units in Canada

Samsung started rolling out the One UI 2.1 update to Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 series smartphones last week. Now, the update is rolling out to unlocked units of the Galaxy Note 10 and the Galaxy Note 10+ in Canada.

The update with firmware N975WVLU3CTCA and file size of 1606.22 MB is now rolling out to unlocked units of the Galaxy Note 10+ sold via various carriers in Canada. Similarly, unlocked Galaxy Note 10 units sold in the country are now receiving an update with firmware version N970WVLU3CTCA. The new software brings One UI 2.1 along with the April 2020 security patch to the smartphones.

One UI 2.1 brings various new features to Galaxy Note 10, Note 10+

The One UI 2.1 update brings multiple features that first debuted with the Galaxy S20 series. New features include the ability to share files wirelessly using Quick Share and a way to share Bluetooth audio via Music Share. The update also enables 4K 60fps video recording using the selfie camera on Galaxy Note 10 devices. Single Take, improved Night mode, Night Hyperlapse mode, improved AR Emoji, and Pro mode for video recording are also a part of the package.

The update also brings the option to create custom filters using the My Filters feature. An improved Gallery app with Clean View and Quick Crop features is also included with One UI 2.1. The NavStar module now works with Good Lock on Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+ devices with the new update.

If you’re a Galaxy Note 10 or Galaxy Note 10+ user in Canada, you should be able to see a notification for the One UI 2.1 update. You can check for the update manually by heading to Settings » Software update on your phone and tap on Download and install. Alternatively, you can also download the complete firmware from our firmware section and flash the update manually.

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All you need to know about the Spot Fixer in One UI 2.1 Photo Editor

One UI 2.1 introduced a handful of new features, many of which pertain to the Camera and Gallery apps. But one small addition that hasn’t been mentioned very often is Spot Fixer. It’s a new tool inside the Photo Editor that lets you make your selfies look better by hiding small blemishes.

Spot Fixer is essentially a smudge tool, meaning that it uses the colors around your targeted area to cover it seamlessly. You can either drag your finger or S Pen around an area to effectively smudge out a blemish, or you can just tap the desired spot to cover it.

While it is a One UI 2.1 feature that was originally introduced with the Galaxy S20 series, Spot Fixer will work better with an S Pen-enabled device like the Galaxy Note 10. That’s simply the nature of using a stylus versus a fingertip, as the former gives you more precision in these situations.

How to use Spot Fixer

Launch the Gallery app, select the desired photo, and tap the Edit icon. Swipe the menu at the bottom to the left and you will see the new Spot Fixer tool. Note that it will only show up for photos that contain a face detected in them. Otherwise, the tool will be absent.

Select the Spot Fixer and you will be presented with a slider for resizing the tool. There are also redo and undo buttons. A steady hand will yield better results, and dragging the tool across an area that is too large can have bad consequences. As a rule of thumb, you want to smudge as less as possible to achieve your goal, otherwise, you can make the area you want to hide stand out even more. So, don’t shy away from using the undo function and try again if you’re not satisfied with the results.

Check out the photos below for a side-by-side comparison (slide left for the ‘after’ version).

← SLIDE →

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COVID-19 might set Samsung’s 5nm plans back, causing serious damage

As COVID-19 continues to affect businesses around the world, Samsung might be forced to delay its 5nm mass production plans. The reason for this, according to Business Korea, is that ASML is having difficulties exporting its EUV (extreme ultraviolet) solutions from the Netherlands amid the coronavirus pandemic.

ASML is the world’s only supplier of EUV equipment for semiconductor manufacturing. Therefore, Samsung is not the only semiconductor giant to rely on ASML for EUV solutions. TSMC is in the same boat, and the report goes to mention that both TSMC and Samsung might have to deal with great losses due to this seemingly inevitable delay in production.

However, since TSMC is a step ahead of Samsung in the race for 5nm production, this delay could have a big negative impact on the Korean tech giant as it would contribute to widening the gap between it and TSMC even further. Should Samsung lose even more ground to TSMC, it will be virtually impossible for the company to win orders from industry giants like Apple and Qualcomm, claims the report.

Samsung’s future regarding the X60 modem might be hanging from a thread

Last month, Samsung revealed its plans to have the 5nm line ready for mass production by the end of June. But if the company won’t be able to get the foundry line up and running, other giants in the industry could suffer.

Samsung doesn’t manufacture chipsets only for its own smartphone business. It has numerous clients including Qualcomm. Before COVID-19 became a pandemic, the new X60 modem was confirmed to enter production in Samsung 5nm facilities, but all of this might now be in jeopardy.

The X60 modem is expected to be employed by the majority of 5G-enabled flagship smartphones next year, so only time will tell if Samsung will be able to meet the deadline in light of this recent report.

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Pokemon GO is broken on the Galaxy S20, but it’s not Samsung’s fault

Pokemon GO players who happen to own the Galaxy S20, S20+, or S20 Ultra are out of luck. The mobile game (version 0.170.0 and up) is completely broken on Samsung’s latest flagship, regardless of whether you download it from the Galaxy Store or the Play Store. The problem seems to be at the developer’s end (Niantic) so there’s not much Samsung can do about it.

The issue came to light on the Samsung Community forums where numerous Galaxy S20 owners have complained about the app freezing after it finishes loading. We tested Pokemon GO on the Galaxy S20 Ultra and confirmed this unwanted behavior, as seen in the video below.

Pokemon GO players are hoping Samsung will bring this to Niantic’s attention

It’s worth noting that Pokemon GO versions older than 0.170.0 seem to be working on the Galaxy S20 series without a problem, at least according to Community members. The reason why users began complaining about this issue on Samsung’s forums even though it’s not Samsung’s problem is that it’s been going on for the past couple of weeks. Niantic hasn’t yet addressed this game-breaking bug and Galaxy S20 owners are hoping that Samsung could at least ‘nudge’ the developer into fixing it.

Other Samsung flagships including the Galaxy Note 10 don’t have this problem. It only appears to affect the Galaxy S20 lineup.

Thanks for the tip, Milan!

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Galaxy Buds+ update improves Ambient sound, addresses white noise

Samsung is rolling out a much-needed update to the Galaxy Buds+ to address some Ambient sound issues. The new update carries version R175XXU0ATD3 and weighs 1.22MB. The changelog only mentions the usual improved system stability and reliability, and although it doesn’t go into much detail, additional improvements to Ambient sound are part of the package.

This was confirmed by the company on its Community forums. As per the official post, the latest update should address an issue with excessive wind noise when Ambient sound is enabled. Likewise, it should make the surrounding sounds a little more natural when using Ambient sound during a phone call. The update also touches on white noise issues with some minor improvements.

Samsung is looking to improve the wireless connection further

You should be getting the latest update by connecting the Galaxy Buds+ to your smartphone. It’s probably not rolling in every market at the same time, so keep checking regularly if a notification to download this new software version hasn’t yet popped up on your phone’s screen. In the meantime, the company seems to be looking at improving the stability of the wireless connection even further to prevent sound interruptions.

Have you received the latest Galaxy Buds+ update, and if so, are you happy with the new changes to Ambient sound? Leave a comment below.

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Galaxy Tab S6 Lite UK prices, specs, book cover confirmed by retailer

Yet another third-party online retailer, this time from the UK, is gearing up for the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite’s seemingly imminent arrival. Argos UK is listing the Wi-Fi version of the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite in two color options along with a £339 price tag.

The two colors are dubbed Oxford Grey and Agora Blue. The marketing material also includes pictures of an optional book cover that has a neat S Pen holder carved in the hinge. The retailer doesn’t yet list the book cover for sale, so pricing details for the accessory remain unknown.

Galaxy Tab S6 Lite specifications galore

Argos UK is listing a bunch of specifications for the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. The tablet will ship with a 10.4-inch display, an Exynos 9611 chipset, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of expandable storage. A 128GB model should also be released but it’s not yet listed.

The front-facing camera has a 5MP resolution, whereas the main shooter clocks in at 8MP. The tablet has a 3.5mm headphone jack and the listing describes the product as having ‘superb AKG sound.’

Other bits of information include a footprint of 244.5 x 154.3 x 7mm and a weight of 467 grams. The retail box should include an S Pen and USB-C data cable, as per the listing, but there’s no mention of a wall charger.

That’s not to say the tablet will necessarily ship without one. Not every detail listed on the retailer’s website seems to be accurate, particularly regarding the absurd charging time of 240 hours. Even 24 hours would be unrealistic, so take some of this information with a pinch of salt until Samsung makes the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite official. Time will tell exactly when this will happen, but Samsung shouldn’t keep us waiting for much longer seeing how the tablet keeps cropping up online at every corner.

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