These are the coolest tech souvenirs we found in Tokyo’s famous Electric Town
The time limit was two hours, and in that time we wanted to find the coolest tech-related souvenir in Akihabara, Tokyo's famous Electric Town. It's easier said than done, and it certainly won't be a cheap endeavor. Here's what we found, from phones to robots. Which one would you have brought home?
Galaxy Fold and Google Glass show how our attitudes toward new tech have changed
They couldn't be more different visually, but there are some striking similarities between Google Glass and the Samsung Galaxy Fold, especially at the beginning of their respective lives. However, the end result couldn't be more different, and it shows how out attitudes to expensive, innovative new technology has changed.
Who is Hikari-chan? She is the mind-blowing future of A.I. in your home
It's easy to pass Gatebox off as a anime-themed smart speaker, but it is far from something so mundane. Inside is a carefully crafted digital character, Azuma Hikari, who uses some clever artificial intelligence to become your friend not your servant. Digital Trends spoke to the CEO of the company about it.
Who needs 5G? In Japan, this smart city does what its citizens need, right now
Smart cities are often seen as hives of future tech, only made possible with high speed connections and autonomous cars. In the Japanese city of Fukuoka, messaging app Line is already operating a smart city -- just in a different way than you may expect. Instead of focusing on the future, it concentrates on helping its citizens right now.
iPhone 11 Pro vs. Google Pixel 4 in a portrait mode camera shootout
How good is the portrait mode on the latest flagship smartphones? We took the iPhone 11 Pro and the Google Pixel 4 along to a photo shoot to find out, and threw the Galaxy Fold and the Huawei Mate 30 Pro in the bag too. Here's what happened when we played with portrait mode, and the different modes and lighting effects.
Apple’s latest tech acquisition gives us a hint about its future camera plans
Apple has acquired an imaging technology startup called Spectral Edge, and it may give us a hint about what to expect from future iPhone cameras. The company has patented technology that brings out more color, detail, and clarity in photos by using special image processing techniques and an infrared sensor, rather than filters.
Star Wars Amazfit smartwatch says train you must, because Vader’s watching
Amazfit, makers of reasonably priced smartwatches, have a Star Wars special edition smartwatch coming out in December. The special watch has all the things you expect from a fitness-orientated watch, plus Star Wars-themed watch faces and even special motivational messages on the strap. Take a closer look here.
How Sony’s camera guru is transforming Sony Mobile, starting with the Xperia 5
The man who was responsible for changing the fortunes of Sony Imaging has turned his attention to Sony Mobile, and is utilizing a similar plan to turnaround the struggling phone department. We spoke to members of the team in Tokyo, Japan to understand more, and to find out why it's blending pro-level tech into its new phones.
Apple’s working on a way to not charge more for its redesigned, 2020 5G iPhone
It will cost Apple more to produce its rumored, redesigned 5G iPhone next year, but the good news is the company is working on ways to absorb these costs, and not pass them on to you with a more expensive phone. This may mean the cheapest 5G iPhone will cost around $1,000, the same as you will pay for an iPhone 11 Pro now.
‘Bold and risky’ strategy pushes Samsung to sell a million Galaxy Fold phones
Samsung says it has sold a million Galaxy Fold smartphones, despite a shaky start that saw early units recalled and the public launch delayed. Speaking to a research analyst, Digital Trends learned how a "bold and risky" strategy has paid off for Samsung, and what it means for folding phones in the future.
Samsung’s unusual new camera lens module outed on the Galaxy A51 and A71
Samsung has revealed the new Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 phones, both of which show off the company's unusual new camera lens module, which bucks current design trends by being rectangular with an L-shape lens arrangement. The phones are midrange, but have strong feature and specification lists.
Samsung Galaxy S11 and clamshell folding phone may launch in February
Samsung may be planning a very exciting event for early 2020. A rumor says the Galaxy S11 and the next Samsung folding smartphone may arrive on February 18 next year, at an event said to be held in San Francisco. The Galaxy S11's arrival may be overshadowed by a Razr-challenging clamshell foldable phone.
Mobvoi’s connected Ticwatch Pro 4G LTE takes on Apple and Samsung in the U.K.
The Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro 4G LTE is one of the few cellular-connected WearOS smartwatches available, and after only being available in the U.S. on Verizon, it has now been released in the U.K. on the Vodafone network. The smartwatch has several unusual features, including a battery-boosting dual-screen feature.
How messaging app Line thrives on a culture of chaos, not cuteness
Messaging app Line may be best known outside Asia for its cute characters and stickers, but there is a massive team of developers working behind the scenes on the innovative platform. We visited Line's Developer Day in Tokyo to speak to the company's CTO, and discovered it's not driven by cuteness, but thrives on chaos.
Oppo steps into augmented reality with its HoloLens-like AR Glass headset
Oppo doesn't only want to be known as a smartphone maker, and is branching out into new product categories, with the new AR Glass headset being one of the more exciting examples of the shift. It appears to take on Microsoft's HoloLens headset, and will provide augmented reality fun and games after launch next year.
Huawei rumored to be developing graphene battery tech for the P40 Pro
A rumor says Huawei is working on some very exciting new tech for the forthcoming P40 Pro: The battery may incorporate graphene technology that increases the capacity without making the cell too large, and enable even faster charging too. The rumor does not come from Huawei, so it should be treated as speculation for now.
You better believe a port-less iPhone is coming in 2021
Rumor has it Apple's 2021 iPhone won't have a Lightning charging port. In fact, it won't have any ports at all, forcing a dramatic shift to wireless chargers, Bluetooth headphones, and -- wait what about syncing? Sound implausible? It's not, Apple has been pushing towards a wireless future for years.
Samsung’s Star Wars edition Galaxy Note 10 Plus is no longer far, far away
Samsung's exciting Star Wars special edition Galaxy Note 10 Plus has arrived earlier than we expected and is now available for pre-order through the company's online store. What do you get? It's a great themed package with a custom phone, case, and even Galaxy Buds true wireless headphones included.
Made from decades-old leather, only 197 of these Apple Watch straps exist
Pad & Quill has made a truly special Apple Watch strap. Based on its Lowry Cuff design, this limited edition is made from decades-old leather, comes individually numbered, and is even signed by the craftsman that makes it. Sure, it's going to cost you a little extra, but for something unique like this, it'll be worth it.
Qualcomm’s working with Apple ‘as fast as it can’ to help launch a 5G iPhone
With lawsuits behind them, Qualcomm says it is working closely with Apple to launch a 5G iPhone "as fast as it can." Qualcomm will supply Apple with crucial modem components, so the next iPhone to be released could be able to connect to high speed 5G networks. The 5G iPhone is rumored for release in late 2020.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 chip comes with 5G whether you want it or not
Qualcomm may not provide a 4G-only option for the new Snapdragon 865 processor, potentially making most of the major flagship phone releases next year 5G devices. The chip can apparently only be paired with the 5G X55 modem, and not a standalone 4G modem, making phones more expensive due to a feature many won't be able to use.
Snapdragon 865 phones with 5G are coming from Xiaomi, Nokia, Motorola, and Oppo
Phone maker Xiaomi has confirmed the Xiaomi Mi 10 phone will be one of the first to use the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, while Nokia, Oppo, and Motorola have also said new phones with the chip will be out in 2020. It's not just the processor that makes these desirable, it's that all will have 5G too.
TikTok lawsuit claims video app ‘vacuums up’ user data and sends it to China
A lawsuit has been filed in California against video social network TikTok, which claims the app collects user data and sends it to China, something the firm has denied in the past. Although owned by a Chinese company, TikTok says it operates independently, and stores U.S. user data on U.S. servers.
Samsung’s next folding smartphone may cost less than $1,000
Rumors are gathering about Samsung's next folding smartphone, and how it may cost less than half the price of the Galaxy Fold. If Samsung meets its target, the next folding device may require an investment of less than $1,000 to own, making it one of the most affordable devices of its type we've seen yet.
EXCLUSIVE: MediaTek failed to win at 4G, but it won’t do the same with 5G
MediaTek, by its own admission, didn’t capitalize on the 4G rush, but it has no intention of doing the same with 5G. Along with a new chip, deep changes in the way the company produces products have transformed the firm, and CEO Rick Tsai sat down with Digital Trends to talk about this, and its 5G plans.
MediaTek claims six world-firsts with new 5G Dimensity 1000 chip for phones
MediaTek has spilled all the details about its new 5G system-on-a-chip, claiming that at the time of manufacture it has six world firsts inside, and a mass of cutting edge technology, ready to connect phones and other devices to Sub-6 5G networks all over the world. It’s small, but it packs in a massive amount of cool tech.
Honor pulls its new MagicWatch 2 smartwatch out of a hat
Honor has launched the MagicWatch 2, its latest smartwatch that follows the little-seen Magic Watch released earlier this year. This time, it bears a close resemblance to the Huawei Watch GT2 and comes in a choice of two sizes and four different colors. Here's what you need to know about the features.
The Honor Band 5 is a cheap answer to the Apple Watch’s lack of sleep tracking
Frustrated by the Apple Watch’s lack of sleep tracking, but love it for everything else? Yes, us too, but we’ve found a solution that doesn’t involve messing around with an app. The Honor Band 5 with TruSleep technology seems to be highly effective, and it can be had for a really cheap price.
EXCLUSIVE: Honor Magic Watch 2 is coming, and this is what it will look like
Excited about Honor's next smartwatch? This is the Honor Magic Watch 2, and it has been exclusively revealed to Digital Trends in a set of design sketches, showing key aspects of the final look, including the size of the case and some of the materials. The Magic Watch 2 will arrive before the end of the year.
Honor V30 to launch November 26, and it’s going to have 5G
Honor will launch the V30 smartphone on November 26, and not only will it have a dual-selfie camera inside a cutout on the screen, but it will also have 5G, making it the first Honor phone to be released with the new connectivity. While the date is likely only for China, the V30 should also be released internationally.
Huawei Watch GT2 hands-on review: The software holds it back
Huawei's latest smartwatch is the Watch GT2, and it has been treated to an upmarket redesign and a host of new features, which make it more of an all-rounder than its predecessor. However, first impressions of the software are not as good, and there's still work to be done on this aspect. Read our hands-on review.