Verizon and Samsung will debut ‘proof-of-concept’ 5G phone this week

• Samsung and Verizon will debut a ‘”proof-of-concept” 5G smartphone at the Qualcomm summit in Hawaii this week.
• According to Verizon, Samsung will officially launch a 5G smartphone in the first half of 2019.
• It is not clear if the commercial device will be exclusive to Verizon, nor whether the device debuted this week will be that commercial phone.

---

If you’re excited about getting your hands on a Samsung 5G smartphone, some big news is dropping this week which will surely be of interest to you. During the Qualcomm Snapdragon Technology Summit in Hawaii, Samsung (in partnership with Verizon) will debut a “proof-of-concept” 5G smartphone.

The prototype device will be powered by the as-yet-unannounced Qualcomm Snapdragon 8150 (or 855, we’re still not sure on the proper name), which will also debut this week at the summit.

In addition to the debut of the prototype device, Verizon announced that there will be a Samsung 5G smartphone available for consumers to buy in the first half of 2019.

Editor’s Pick

5G has arrived – here’s what you can expect from Verizon

Verizon began its preparations for 5G years ago by densifying its 4G LTE network using small cell sites in highly-populated areas. The company’s current fiber-based network — a huge web consisting of 900,000 global fiber …

However exciting this all may sound, there are still quite a few unanswered questions. Is the commercial Samsung 5G smartphone Verizon promised today going to be exclusive to Verizon? Is the proof-of-concept device debuting this week a prototype version of that future smartphone, or is it something else?

We do know that both the proof-of-concept device and the future commercial device will be powered by the new Snapdragon chipset Qualcomm will officially unveil this week. That chipset will be paired with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X50 5G NR modem, which will enable the phone to connect with 5G signals. Traditionally, the first smartphone to market with the latest Snapdragon 800-series chipset is the latest Samsung Galaxy S device, which in this case would be the Samsung Galaxy S10.

We will have boots on the ground at the Qualcomm Snapdragon Technology Summit, so look forward to more information about this Samsung 5G smartphone as well as full coverage of the new Snapdragon 800-series chipset soon.

NEXT: 5G phones: All you need to know about every 5G phone confirmed so far

Source: Android Zone

The post Verizon and Samsung will debut ‘proof-of-concept’ 5G phone this week appeared first on TuneMaster.ml.

Deal: The 10-step guide to mastering Java is back on offer

If you’re reading this, you probably like the idea of learning to code. So why haven’t you done something about it yet?

You don’t need a college degree or to quit your day job. You don’t even need to take night classes. In just a few months, you could be a Java developer, building apps and making great money doing it. You might even be working by the pool. So what’s stopping you?

It’s never been cheaper and easier to learn to code, so no more excuses. Today’s deal is the Complete Java Programming Bootcamp. It’s a 10-part masterclass to transform you into a coding pro, and it’s on offer this week.

You learn from experts in the field, and you could be starting your journey in minutes. Over 83 hours of video tutorials, this bundle covers everything from the basics to advanced techniques. It’s all you need to build powerful software which is pleasing on the eye.

The Complete Java Programming Bootcamp:

The learning kits are pretty pricey if you purchase them separately, but right now you can pick up the whole lot for only $39. It’s an early Christmas present from to yourself.

The deal times out in less than three days, so don’t miss the boat. Hit the button below to find out more.

Get coding!

The AA Picks team writes about things we think you’ll like, and we may see a share of revenue from any purchases made through affiliate links. To see all our hottest deals, head over to the AAPICKS HUB.

---

Looking for a new phone or plan? Start here with the Android Authority Plan Tool:

This smart tool lets you filter plans by phone, price, data tiers, and regional availability. Stop overpaying for cell service you hate and a phone that you’re tired of. Use our Compare Phones & Plans tool to fully customize your mobile experience and painlessly transition from one carrier to another!

Source: Android Zone

The post Deal: The 10-step guide to mastering Java is back on offer appeared first on TuneMaster.ml.

Samsung quietly releases another Android Go device, Galaxy J4 Core

Samsung

• Samsung just quietly launched the Samsung Galaxy J4 Core.
• The J4 Core is an Android Go device, only Samsung’s second entry into that ecosystem.
• Since the Samsung Galaxy J4 Core is a Go product, its specs are underwhelming.

---

It was only in August when Samsung launched its very first Android Go device, the Samsung Galaxy J2 Core. Now, only a few months later, its quietly announced that device’s follow-up: the Samsung Galaxy J4 Core.

Since this is yet another Android Go product, don’t expect to be blown away by specs; the Samsung Galaxy J4 Core is a budget device through-and-through but should be more than capable for anyone who needs a stylish Android Go phone.

Editor’s Pick

Android Go: What is it and which phones run it?

Android Go, also known as Android Oreo (Go edition), is a stripped-down version of Android designed to run on entry-level smartphones. It’s comprised of three optimized areas — the operating system, Google Play Store, and Google apps — …

The most noticeable difference between the J4 Core and its predecessor is the sheer size of the device: the J4 Core has a 6-inch display while the J2 Core only had a 5-inch screen. However, just because the phone is bigger doesn’t make it much more powerful — the J4 Core has an unnamed 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of onboard storage, a display resolution of 1,480 x 720, a 3,300mAh battery, a single rear 8MP camera, and a single front 5MP camera.

The device comes in three colors: black, blue, and gold.

Samsung didn’t announce a release date, countries of availability, or pricing information for the Samsung Galaxy J4 Core. However, considering the J2 Core costs around $100, it’s reasonable to assume this one won’t be much more expensive than that.

NEXT: These are the best Android Go and lightweight Android apps we could find

Source: Android Zone

The post Samsung quietly releases another Android Go device, Galaxy J4 Core appeared first on TuneMaster.ml.

OnePlus 6T will be much easier to buy in the UK (Updated)

OnePlus

Update, October 24, 2018 (11:35 a.m. ET): OnePlus has added another retail partner to the pile ahead of the release of the OnePlus 6T, and this one is a biggie.

In a press release today, OnePlus confirmed that the OnePlus 6T will be sold via Amazon.co.uk, marking the first time a OnePlus phone will be available from the world’s largest online retailer from launch.

Related: Here are where all the OnePlus 6T pop-up shops will be (and when)

“We have always seen a high demand in the UK for OnePlus products,” said OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei. “So we’re pleased to be working with Amazon.co.uk – a partner who holds the same vision as us – to offer people more quality choice.”

The OnePlus 6 began selling on Amazon.co.uk earlier this month so it’s not too much of a surprise to hear the OnePlus 6T will follow suit. We’ll share more on where to buy the OnePlus 6T in the U.K. and other regions as soon as all of the price and availability details are revealed on October 29.

---

Original story, October 15, 2018 (2:37PM ET): Even though the upcoming OnePlus 6T might end up being an iterative update to the OnePlus 6, it might also represent a shift in how OnePlus sells its products. Look no further than the U.K., where OnePlus announced new carrier and retail partnerships that will make the OnePlus 6T the easiest OnePlus smartphone to buy in the country.

Once the OnePlus 6T goes on sale November 6, it will be available through EE, Vodafone, and O2. The phone will also be available through retailers John Lewis and Carphone Warehouse if you want the SIM-free version, though you can go to OnePlus’ website if you want the phone directly from the folks that made it. Finally, OnePlus also partnered with mobile distributor DataSelect.

Three is notably absent from the carrier list, though OnePlus might want to change that with future releases. Something else of note is that we do not know if the carrier versions of the OnePlus 6T will be locked to their respective carriers or be unlocked from the get-go. Finally, we still do not know how much the OnePlus 6T will cost.

Editor’s Pick

OnePlus 6T: All the rumors in one place (Updated October 23)

In this post, which will be updated regularly, we take a closer look at the latest rumors surrounding OnePlus’ upcoming OnePlus 6T smartphone.
Updated, October 23, 2018 (06:28PM EST): There have been a lot of new …

Regardless, this is a substantial business change for OnePlus. Previously, you could only buy the OnePlus 6 either through OnePlus’ website or O2. The news lend credence to the rumor that T-Mobile will offer the OnePlus 6T stateside, which would be the first time a OnePlus phone is sold through a U.S. carrier.

This is a far cry from the polarizing invite system that soured the OnePlus One and OnePlus 2’s launches, a system I am sure that no one misses. There might still be issues with stock, sure, but that is nothing compared to the pages of comments that requested invites from total strangers.

We will have to wait until October 30 to see what the OnePlus 6T offers. Rumored specs include a Snapdragon 845, 6GB to 8GB of RAM, and a dual-camera setup. OnePlus already confirmed the lack of a headphone jack, an optical in-display fingerprint sensor, and two missing gestures.

Source: Android Zone

The post OnePlus 6T will be much easier to buy in the UK (Updated) appeared first on TuneMaster.ml.

OnePlus CEO tries to explain away the headphone jack, but it seems a stretch

OnePlus

Last month, OnePlus made its troubling announcement: the OnePlus 6T’s omission of the headphone jack. While this riled the feathers of consumers who found the company’s excuse of “timing” to be unconscionable, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau shared with CNET that ditching the headphone jack affords more room for an in-display fingerprint sensor.

It may be true that the fingerprint sensor occupies nonnegotiable space towards the bottom of the phone, but is it that unfathomable to move — rather than remove — the jack to the top of the phone? No, it’s not.

Let’s face it: the OnePlus 6T ditches the headphone jack so we’re forced to buy the company’s proprietary Bullets Wireless.

Sure, Lau’s reasoning is defensible. Everything in a smartphone takes up precious real estate, and hard decisions have to be made to keep costs down. But the messages OnePlus is giving its customers are getting very confusing.

Editor’s Pick

OnePlus 6T: All the rumors in one place (Updated October 1)

In this post, which will be updated regularly, we take a closer look at the latest rumors surrounding OnePlus’ upcoming OnePlus 6T smartphone.
Updated, October 1, 2018 (02:19PM EST): We’ve added some new information to this hub, …

For example, Lau suspects that users will appreciate that the company is working hard to perfect its wireless charging technology to be on par with current Dash Charging speeds, a beloved OnePlus feature, which requires more space to dissipate heat. However, while the company is taking measures to ensure proper wireless charging, Lau’s response in the CNET article about whether the OnePlus 6T has an official IP rating is a wordier version of “it’s good enough now without an official rating.” And we’re to take him at his word without guffawing?

If OnePlus was removing the headphone jack from the OnePlus 6T to give it wireless charging and an IP rating, we’d be on board. But neither of those features are coming with the 6T.

If the anticipated flagship is anything like the OnePlus Bullets Wireless, the warranty will state somewhere that it “makes no guarantees” about water-resistance and that liquid damage isn’t covered by the warranty. So this feels like just another cash grab.

Headphone jack demand stable YoY as per my Twitter followers. You’d expect it to decrease, no? pic.twitter.com/Qe9Q3cGznP

— Carl Pei (@getpeid) March 15, 2018

Which brings us to the idea that this isn’t a matter of pleasing the self-reported 59 percent of OnePlus community members who use wireless headphones. No, rather it’s a matter of following the Apple business model: forcing customers’ hands and compelling them to buy a proprietary product like the Apple AirPods or the OnePlus Bullets Wireless to solve a company-designed problem in the name of profit.

In all fairness, it’s a smart business model seeing as its worked wonders for the $1 trillion Cupertino-based company, but it’s also one that thumbs its nose at customer loyalty by pulling the rug from our feet. If we’re loyal to a brand, we should be rewarded with more features; instead, the calculated removal of the headphone jack leaves us yearning for what was once standard. But, hey, at least we have a compensatory in-display fingerprint sensor with which to unlock our phones. What a neat party trick.

NEXT: “Unlock the future”: OnePlus teases the OnePlus 6T

Source: Android Zone

The post OnePlus CEO tries to explain away the headphone jack, but it seems a stretch appeared first on TuneMaster.ml.

HTC U12 Plus may not ship for some Amazon customers until August

• Many people who pre-ordered the new HTC U12 Plus from Amazon are reporting that shipments have been heavily delayed.
• Devices were supposed to be shipped out this week, but now some customers may not get the phone until early August.
• Other people who ordered the phone directly from HTC.com have already received their handsets.

---

If you pre-ordered your HTC U12 Plus from Amazon, you may not be getting your phone for a while. According to a report from Android Central, many people who purchased HTC’s latest flagship have stated their orders may not be shipped out until as late as August 3.

Those customers report that Amazon was supposed to begin shipping the HTC U12 Plus this week, but now they are being told by company reps that the phone was actually still on back order. The good news is that, according to reports from the XDA Developers forums, people who ordered the U12 Plus directly from HTC’s website are receiving their phones this week.

Amazon is the world’s biggest online retailer, so there are likely a lot of pre-orders of the HTC U12 Plus that are affected by this issue. Some of those customers are reporting that they have chatted with HTC reps, and are being told that the company is looking into the situation. Still, this has to be a headache for HTC. Considering its poor financial health, delayed and cancelled shipments for its latest phone is something it doesn’t need right now.

If you pre-ordered your HTC U12 Plus from Amazon, have you been told your shipment was delayed?

Order HTC U12 Plus from HTC.com

Source: Android Zone

The post HTC U12 Plus may not ship for some Amazon customers until August appeared first on TuneMaster.ml.

Xiaomi’s market share explodes in Europe

• A British analyst firm posts Q1 2018 results of the European smartphone industry.
• The results show Xiaomi’s European market share growing by over 1,000 percent.
• With Xiaomi displacing Samsung in India and blowing up in Europe, it is clearly a force to be reckoned with.

---

Canalys, a technology market analyst firm based in the U.K., posted its first-quarter 2018 analysis of the European smartphone market this week. There’s the usual news about the current “flagship fatigue,” and some dire predictions for the market going forward.

But, in a chart graphic that displays the top five smartphone vendors in Europe for the beginning of 2018, there’s a pretty notable stat:

Canalys

That’s no typo. Xiaomi’s growth in Europe in the first quarter of this year is so big that they couldn’t even fit it in the graphic, and simply had to put “>+999%” instead.

Granted, the company is still number four on the list of smartphone vendors, with the incumbents Samsung, Apple, and Huawei, far above it in shipments and market share. But you have to keep in mind that Xiaomi has only been in the European market for a short while. Some European countries, like Spain, just saw their first Xiaomi devices at the end of 2017.

You’ll also notice that both Samsung and Apple’s market share went down in Q1 2018. Where do you think that lost market share is going? To the companies in third, fourth, and fifth place, for absolute sure.

Editor’s Pick

Here are the best smartphones running stock Android

These days, the differences in specs when comparing rival smartphones aren’t massive. That’s why companies are trying to differentiate their handsets from the competition with software. Most of them apply a skin on top of …

Samsung and Apple both know that Huawei and Xiaomi are gobbling up market share like candy all over the world. Late last year, Xiaomi became the top smartphone vendor in India, knocking Samsung down to second place. There is every reason to believe that Xiaomi (or Huawei) could do the same thing across Europe.

In fact, the only place in the world that Xiaomi is not a threat to Samsung and Apple right now is here in the United States. But that’s only because Xiaomi is unable to sell smartphones here due to trade embargoes. It makes one wonder if Samsung and Apple are working behind-the-scenes to keep those embargoes in place.

If Xiaomi were to be allowed to sell smartphones in the United States, Samsung and Apple would be in big trouble.

Canalys did share some insight into why Xiaomi is able to disrupt the market so much: because it is not a public company. Both Xiaomi and HMD Global (the owner of the Nokia brand of smartphones) are private companies, and therefore do not have to continually raise profits to appease shareholders. That gives both companies the ability to spend way beyond their means to gain market share.

Canalys says that “this is not sustainable in the long term, and both Xiaomi and HMD Global will eventually have to shift their revenue and cost structures, as the top three have now done, toward profitability.”

Editor’s Pick

The best smartphone accessories

Mobile phones are quickly becoming the center of our lives, but the devices themselves only tell part of the story. What really makes a smartphone work for you are the accessories that further enhance the …

In other words, Xiaomi is able to spend tons of money now to gain a foothold in the market. But when it goes public (which is right around the corner), it will have to shift to profitability, which will undoubtedly slow its growth.

But until then, Xiaomi likely has Samsung and Apple shaking in their boots.

You can read the full Canalys report here.

NEXT: Xiaomi smart home gadgets get Google Assistant support and U.S. launch this month

Source: Android Zone

The post Xiaomi’s market share explodes in Europe appeared first on TuneMaster.ml.