Samsung Acknowledges its Foldable Phone
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| Samsung Acknowledges its Foldable Phone | |
| Number | 622 |
| Broadcast Date | SEPTEMBER 4, 2018 |
| Episode Length | 4:07 |
| Hosts | Tom Merritt |
Samsung says it has been developing a foldable phone, Amazon launches in Hindi, and Xiaomi teases a 5G phone.
Headlines
- Samsung's DJ Koh told CNBC "it's time to deliver" a foldable smartphone since surveys show consumers want one. He didn't give many details but did say the unfolded version should have benefits compared to a regular tablet. Koh said development was complicated but nearly concluded and implied an announcement might happen at the Samsung Developer Conference in November in San Francisco. Koh also said Samsung is trying to put more new technology into mid-priced phone in order to appeal to millennials.
- Amazon has launched a version of its site in Hindi. Indian shoppers can switch between English and Hindi from the top left menu of the mobile site and Android app. No word on it coming to iOS or desktop. Around 44% of people in India speak Hindi. The New York Times sources say Amazon is also planning rollouts in Bengali, Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu.
- Xiaomi's Director of product management, Donovan Sung, tweeted a picture of what appears to be the forthcoming Mi Mix 3 making a 5G connection. He added, "We've successfully tested 5G data connections on Xiaomi phones, and we can't wait for the official rollout of 5G next year!" With the Mi Mix 3 expected to be announced in October it could be the first phone to hit the market with 5G capability. Other phones coming with 5G include a mod for the Moto Z3 and an LG phone on Sprint both expected in 2019.
- A new York Times report indicates brands like General Mills, Levi and AT&T are considering putting ads on Amazon boxes, targeted by zip code. Verizon may advertise FiOS service on boxes and on Amazon's site despite not selling its service through Amazon.
- The European Union has reached a preliminary agreement on rules to require streaming services to carry at least 30% European-made content in their libraries. Individual countries can mandate up to 40% and require a minimum of that amount be made in their specific country. Surcharges on subscription fees can also be levied to pay into national film funds. Netflix already does this in Germany. A vote is expected to pass and the rules become law in December. Companies will have 20 months from then to apply the rules.
- The Verge reports on the Nubia Alpha "wearable smartphone" showed at IFA last week. The prototype consists of an elongated OLED panel inside a strap that wraps around the wrist. It can be used on your arm or removed to use flat. So it could also be described as smartwatch with a much longer screen. Nubia expects to have the device ready for sale in China by the end of the year at around the same cost as a smartphone.
- A report in the New York Times shows revenue growing at traditional retailers with consumers spending more money in physical stores. The number of stores closing has slowed as well. Stores like Target, Nordstrom and Walmart have worked to make in store shopping easier with features like picking up mobile orders in the parking lot, dropping off returns without needing to talk to a clerk and having personal shoppers select groceries and provide them curbside.
- Bloomberg's sources say China's top two wireless carriers, China Unicom and China Telecom, are exploring a merger. The combined company could roll out 5G services faster. The merger is being reviewed by the China's leaders and no decision has been made.
- The 2018 Asian Games are holding eSports tournaments as a demonstration with the hopes of having eSports become a medal event there in four years and eventually included in the Olympics. The president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach told the AP “We cannot have in the Olympic program a game which is promoting violence or discrimination," saying killer games are contradictory to Olympic values. Bach did not specify which games he classifies as "killer games." The games played at the Asian Games this year are Arena of Valor, Clash Royale, Hearthstone, league of Legends, Pro Evolution Soccer and Starcraft II.
Links
| Preceded by: "Skype: It's New, It's Improved, It's Not Terrible?" |
Samsung Acknowledges its Foldable Phone |
Followed by: "BitTorrent Launches uTorrent Web" |