Month: October 2018

The Pixel line is known for, above all else, its wicked cameras. But one problem a certain type of mobile photography enthusiast has run into with the phones is that they don’t currently allow for the use of external microphones in the default camera app. That’s set to change next week, though.
Some camera apps on Pixel actually do support external mics, making the absence of the ability in the default app even more grating. Today, though, a Google employee commented on a Pixel support thread from all the way back in 2016 to let users who have been asking about the feature for years know it’s coming October 18, the day the Pixel 3 and 3 XL launch:
Hi, folks — Isaac here from the Pixel Camera engineering team. I have been keeping an eye on this thread since the beginning and have good news. At the same time as Pixel 3 launch (October 18th), we will introduce support for Android-compatible plugged-in external microphones in the default camera app for all Pixels. I hope you all enjoy the update.
Isaac’s language suggests that all models of Pixel will get support next Thursday, which should be a boon to serious cell phone videographers. (Of course, if you’ve got a Pixel 2 or 3, you’ll also need a dongle.)

If you’ve been keeping up with all things 5G, you might have heard that Chinese phonemaker Xiaomi is working on one of the first 5G-enabled phones you can buy. But you’ll have to wait until next year for it. Announced in Beijing Thursday at the Forbidden City, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 is the latest addition to Xiaomi’s line of all-screen flagship phones. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, it has a 6.39-inch display like the Mi Mix with a 2,340×1,080-pixel resolution, meaning 93.4 percent of its body is screen. (The Mi Mix 2 is just 5.99 inches, by comparison.)
It has four cameras — two each on the front and back — as well as a whopping 10GB RAM variant. Battery capacity is a less impressive 3,200 mAh — we’ve seen bigger ones in other Xiaomi phones like the Mi Max 3 — though the phone supports wireless charging. The fingerprint sensor remains on the back of the phone.
The Mi Mix 3 also comes in a 5G version touted by Xiaomi as the world’s first such commercially available phone, though it’s not expected to launch till the first quarter of next year. This might disappoint fans who were excited by a leak showing 5G support on the phone last month, but the delay won’t matter too much — even if 5G capabilities were available on it now, you won’t be able to use it until network buildouts are completed. This is true even in Xiaomi’s home country, even though China is at the forefront of 5G development.
In terms of design, the Mi Mix 3 takes a step closer to losing its signature chin. Mi Mix phones used to have a bottom bezel — now reduced to 4.46 mm — that housed the selfie camera. But the cameras have now been moved to a magnetic slider on the phone. You can slide the entire screen downwards to answer calls or customize it to launch different functions. The feature is similar to ones seen in the recent Oppo Find X and Huawei’s Honor Magic 2, which will be launched on Oct. 31.
You’ll be able to customize the sound the phone makes when you slide the display, but I suspect it will still become annoying eventually.
The Mi Mix 3 features powerful cameras on its front and back. On the back are 12-megapixel dual rear cameras — wide-angle and telephoto — with f1.8 and f2.4 apertures respectively that can support slow-motion videos at 960 fps. For selfie lovers, Mi Mix 3 sports a 24-megapixel primary camera backed up by a secondary 2-megapixel camera. These can be found on the retractable module along with a soft light.
The cameras also come with AI-powered features, including AI beautify, AI portrait mode and AI studio lighting on both the front and back. The rear cameras also have AI scene detection and AI background music, which adds audio to your videos automatically. Xiaomi also said that an AI face unlock feature will be added in future updates, but this feature will be limited to selected markets.
The Mi Mix 3 will come in three versions. You can get 6GB or 8GB RAM and 128GB onboard storage, or the top-end model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. It will be available in three colors: onyx black, jade green and sapphire blue.
The 10GB RAM variant (with 256GB onboard storage) is unveiled as a Forbidden City special edition available in a different hue of blue, featuring a Chinese mythical beast in gold called Xie Zhi.
Xiaomi’s Mi Mix phones are traditionally its most expensive and configurations with more storage typically cost more. The Mi Mix 3 is priced like the Mi Mix 2S was when it launched. The base model will start at 3,299 yuan (about $475, £370 or AU$675) and the top-end model will be 3,999 yuan. Global availability of the phone has not been disclosed but it will go on sale first in China on Nov. 1.
The Forbidden City special edition comes with a heftier price tag and will retail at 4,999 yuan when it goes on sale at the end of next month.

Quick specs

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
• 6.39-inch AMOLED screen, full-HD+ display (2,340×1,080 pixels)
• 6GB RAM with 128GB onboard storage; 8GB RAM with 128GB storage; 8GB RAM with 256GB storage; 10GB with 256GB onboard storage
• 12-megapixel dual rear cameras
• 24- and 2-megapixel dual front cameras
• Rear fingerprint sensor
• 218 grams (7.69 ounces), 158 by 75 by 8.5 mm

AMD’s next graphics card is almost certain to be the Radeon RX 590, and we may have our first official piece of proof of its existence.
PowerColor, a third-party Taiwanese graphics card manufacturer, seems to be readying the release of a new Radeon RX 590 graphics card, based on product listings from the Eurasian Economic Union certification office.
The listing points to an AXRX 580 8GBD5-3DH/OC product code, which seems to reference a factory overclocked GPU with 8GB of GDDR5 video memory, as well as an AXRX 590 8GBD5-3DH/OC product code.
Rather than a leak or rumor, the source of this latest information comes from a government organization. What’s more, certification tends to come at the very end of the product development cycle, so it seems certain that an AMD Radeon RX 590 will indeed launch soon.
As for what we can expect from the AMD Radeon RX 590, the GPU appeared in the 3DMark database with performance fitting in neatly between the Nvidia GTX 1070 and GTX 1060.
Of course, until the card is out and we’ve tested it ourselves, you shouldn’t buy into any rumors completely. However AMD’s next graphics card shakes out, you can be certain we’ll report on it with everything you need to know.

• Our best graphics cards guide could use some new AMD additions

Related product: AMD Radeon RX 480

Our Verdict:

☆☆☆☆☆

AMD has returned with another value-driven card that delivers the goods. Whether you’re looking to game at 60 fps at 1080p, hook up a 120Hz FreeSync monitor or even dip your toes into 1440p gaming, this card does it all without breaking the bank.
FOR

• Exceptional 1080p performance
• VR-ready
• GTX 980 performance for less

AGAINST

• WattMan clearly still in BETA

A string of code unearthed in the latest iOS 12.1 beta offers instructions to set up Face ID authentication on iPad, seemingly confirming integration of the technology in an iPad Pro refresh expected for unveiling next week.Shared in a tweet by 9to5Mac’s Guilherme Rambo, the iOS code snippet provides parameters for using Face ID on iPad.
Specifically, the code appears to be an excerpt from Apple’s initial iOS device setup process, and calls for users to “Life and Rotate iPad” into portrait mode to configure Face ID.
“Face ID needs to be in portrait to learn how to recognize you. After Face ID has been set up, it will work in portrait and landscape.”
An option to “Set up Later in Settings” is also provided.
Rumors of a Face ID-equipped iPad Pro have circulated for nearly a year, as analysts and insiders predicted Apple to build its latest biometric security technology into the flagship tablet. In July, an initial iOS 12 beta build included iPad-specific tools for creating and using Animoji and Memoji, avatar features exclusive to the TrueDepth camera system that underpins Face ID.
More recent rumblings hinted at multi-orientation support for Face ID, as seen in today’s code discovery, while rumors earlier this month suggest the slate will feature a new magnetic connector.
Apple is widely expected to launch revamped iPad Pro models at a special event in New York on Oct. 30. The new slates are rumored to come in 12.9- and 11-inch sizes, and feature a full-face design with reduced bezels thanks to Face ID integration. A second-generation Apple Pencil is also anticipated.
AppleInsider will be attending Apple’s “There’s more in the making” event on Oct 30th, where we expect new iPad Pros, and maybe even new Macs! Keep up with our coverage by downloading the AppleInsider app for iOS, and follow us on YouTube, Twitter @appleinsider and Facebook for live, late-breaking coverage. You can also check out our official Instagram account for exclusive photos.

Anker, a company that’s well-known for making some of our favorite phone accessories, has just unveiled a few new products that will hit just in time for the holidays. Included in the announcement was the company’s smallest 27W Power Delivery charger, the PowerPort Atom PD1. It’s only slightly larger than a regular 5W charger that you’d find included with a cell phone at the time of purchase, but it’s able to easily charge your MacBook, Chromebook, Nintendo Switch, and more quickly. Amazon will be the exclusive seller of this plug in November, and it will cost $30, which is just a few dollars more than the company’s previous-gen charger.
Next up, is the Soundcore Model Zero+, a new Bluetooth speaker that features a unique design. It looks almost like a purse, and is on the larger side in comparison to some of the other offerings that the company currently sells. It’s the first time Anker is integrating Dolby Audio into a portable speaker, and it also has “Designed by Scan-Speak” drivers, which have been around for a long time and offer unrivaled audio quality. It will be available in November at select retailers, and pricing comes in at $250.
The Nebula Capsule II is its next-generation pocket cinema, and it has Android TV built right in to it. The design resembles a soda can, and the projector is about as pocketable as they come. In addition to Android TV and access to your favorite apps, the Nebula Capsule II also has access to Google’s Assistant, so you can use just your voice to find your favorite shows and movies. This one is launching on Kickstarter at the end of October, with Super Early Bird pricing starting at $349, which is the same price as the existing model.
Finally, under the Eufy branding, the company is moving into home security with its first camera. It’s a wireless camera with one year of battery life, A.I. assisted face recognization, free local storage, and battery back-up in its base station. Anker has not yet released pricing or availability for this item.