LG, Huawei unwrap 'Samsung Galaxy-killers' This year’s flagship smartphones will run even faster and have even more features than last year’s flagship smartphones, The Register discovered today. Who knew? With Samsung delaying the launch of its Galaxy S8 flagship until after Mobile World Congress, both LG and Huawei used the event to capitalise on the delay. So let’s …
Probably to preserve the same width, since removing the bezel frees more space on the top and the bottom than on the sides, you keep the same form factor going to 18:9 versus going wider or shorter to stay 16:9.
I actually don't think its a terrible idea, but I think you'd want to use that extra space better. If they had really put the screen all the way to the top edge, they could have moved that front camera to the other side of the speaker and put screen all around it. Use it for an always visible (except when held in landscape) status area, like that iPhone 8 concept photo that recently circulated. You don't need the whole top row from end to end for status, just 1/3 on the right and 1/3 on the left, with the 1/3 in the middle taken up by hardware. I thought that was a pretty cool way to do edge to edge while nodding to the necessity of having bits on the top of the phone.
On the bottom, since it is Android, they could have had always visible (again, unless you are in landscape mode) navigation buttons, except they could be programmable so you could add additional functions like one that snaps a picture instantly regardless of whatever you are doing at the time. That would be more of a unique feature to build buzz than saying "two completely square screens side to side in landscape mode". I've yet to ever hear of ANYONE who wants that, or bemoans the fact that splitting a 16:9 screen leaves rectangles instead of squares! How dumb!!
The spare CPU cycles are also being used for defragmentation and memory optimisation, using ML algorithms
Go on then, tell me how space CPU cycles on a single phone can do ANYTHING useful in machine learning terms? At full throttle, it might just learn how to turn itself off if left running for a thousand years.
If you're using ARM cores, to do anything worthwhile you need something like a million cores, running full tilt continuously (like the SpiNNaker project at the Uni of Manchester, back a few years).
Um, well, you can use spare cycles to perform ML *inference* to optimize the system. Inference is very cheap. You're probably thinking of training, which is intensive. Modern ARM cores are beefy enough to do inference.
Basically, ideally, you train the system offline to optimize memory allocation, deallocation and organization based on loads of different scenarios (which types of apps are running, for how long, with how much charge, etc), build that model and code into your firmware. Then the phone can make better decisions on how to save power or provide performance, all through cheap inference.
More operating systems should do this. Forget the AI/ML hype, this is useful stuff for letting devices cope with a large range of users and their demands, without an ugly codebase of heuristics, if-elsif, and switch() blocks.
C.
Quite disappointed with the G6. I was effectively expecting a something comparable to the recent V20. Particularly the DAC. Very disappointed to find the DAC has been removed from the European model...and wireless charging also.
Its about on par with other current handsets (820 chip, 4 gig ram, 32 Gig storage) but these are due to be replaced soon whereas the G6 is fresh out of the box. In 3 month there will be plenty of 2:1 ratio handsets, LG havent done anything else to differentiate themselves....assuming of course that this handset doesnt suffer from bootloop.
So am I. LG took away the two features I love best about my G4: the removable battery and the rear volume buttons. I am still quite angry that all modern Android phones replaced the very very useful menu button at the bottom with a task switch button. There is room enough for 4 buttons.
Wireless charging is not all it's cracked up to be at this point. It's not as efficient, emits too much heat, and is harder to control. Ergo, it murders the batteries (which in these models can't be replaced--consider that). I switched out batteries in S4's and Note 4's way too soon due to heat damage induced from Qi chargers, so I can speak from experience.
LG has done away with all the buttons except the volume keys, and retains the power up / fingerprint sensor on the rear
So what does this mean? No power button at all? So you HAVE to use the fingerprint sensor?
The sensor on my 6P sucks. Also, this leaves you open in the US to having the cops demand you unlock your phone. That's another reason to not use it.
sd card slot yes / no
replaceable battery: yes / no
makes it much easier. if the answer is no to either, its not for me and i dont have to bother reading the rest. i appreciate this is just me, but it is me asking.
cue lots of people asking why it needs to be a replaceable battery....yawn....with my usage the battery will hit 50% of capacity in about 9 months. and no i dont want to have to carry around a usb battery brick to charge it from
It isn't just you. LG have been the last bastion of SD and Battery flexability in recent years. Looks like those options are even more limited now.
I'd possibly give up the SD slot, but a replacable battery is infinitely more convenient than having a pocket USB charger.
It's not convenience I'm concerned about but safety. Getting the battery out when it starts to bulge is a decent safety measure. Given the potential for spontaneous phone-bustion, I'm surprised some country hasn't required user-removeable batteries by law due to fire risk, much like how lithium batteries can't be placed in airplane cargo holds without special packaging but having them in carry-on baggage (where humans would be present) is less of an issue.
All they are doing is willy waving their not so new/great features.
There will always be incremental "improvements" in the original specs, but designwise, the all look the same to me. Performance of a few microsceonds on my eys of a youtube video or game is no justification for paying 7 time more on such gimmicky phones. And you cant even change the battery. trying to bind you into a compulsory upgrade cycle. (Rememebr Apple started the trend - capitalist greed)
What can a £120 Lenovo K5 Note not do 95 percents of times that this £700 can do?
They are just appealing to the egoists and mugs.
Difficult to say where is the best place for the fingerprint scanner.
I have a Mate S with it on the rear and an M3 with it on the front. The rear one is very natural when holding the phone in one hand except when you have one of those fold back covers. On the other hand I often use both of these on a table top in which case the front scanner is best if the device turns off while I am working at something else.
Perhaps Huawei should have both, and make it so as one can set either to the functions one finds most useful.
Does it make calls? If so, whats the call quality? Will it play music? Are speakers good?
Surely, basic requirments in a mobile phone?
What are they trying to sell? Just the highlighting of facts about fingerpirnt scanner being moved? And buttons being rejigged? WTF?
What a waste of space, really. Gimmicks indeed, to make you part with your money on meaningless upgrades. Smart mobile phones/designs have plateaued. There is only so much you can cram into an ever thinner piece of electronics. What more do you want ? And why spend upwards of £700 on a not so great upgraded model?
I have a Note 4. While there are newer phones out there with now bigger screens, better cameras and other spiffy new features, they have all gone to sealed cases where you cannot swap a better out. Many have added back a slot for a memory card, but you are stuck with the battery. While the phone may last you a long time it will feel old as the battery's capacity diminishes over time.
Last year I replaced my battery and easily get a full day out of it. I even have a spare battery (with separate charger) for those times when usage goes a little nuts. Water/dust-proofing is nice, but unless a phone has the ability for a user-swappable battery it is not a viable candidate for a new phone.
For years I used a Blackberry which had the requisite functionality for my technology profession needs, and just last year "finally" upgraded to Huawei P8 smartphone which was evaluated by several Mobile media as equal in quality, workmanship and features/functionality to Samsung Galaxy S7 and Apple iPhone7.
Not only did the phone live up to it's praise, but was approximately "half" cost of an iPhone7.
For first time un my life, I am keen to upgrade to new Huawei P10 - in act like many smartphone
lovers, since the choice of an excellent alternative to the 2 hegemony players' products that are ridiculously over priced is refreshing.
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