Google Pixel Owners Report Another Issue with the Camera

Although many have praised the camera prowess on the new Google Pixel and Pixel XL, some owners haven’t had the best of luck with their photo-taking experience.

The camera has been a major selling point for the Google Pixel phones. Google has been touting the DxOMark camera rating in its marketing materials before the phones were even launched. Many Android smartphone publications, including our own, have lavished praise on the camera performance of the two Google Pixel devices. Sadly, some users have been having quite different experiences.

Right around launch, we started to see reports from users experiencing a mysterious lens flare/halo effect appearing in their photos. This lens flare/halo effect isn’t present in all photos and seemingly depends entirely on what the user is taking a picture of. Google has already acknowledged this issue’s existence and said they would work on a software update to eliminate the lens flare issue.

But, this lens flare isn’t the only issue users have been reporting with the camera experience on the Google Pixel/Pixel XL. Users posting on the Google’s Pixel User Community have been reporting a strange issue involving the viewfinder of the camera application itself. Seemingly at random times, people are seeing strange pink and purple lines appearing within the app’s viewfinder. Furthermore, taking a photo will result in the camera capturing these pink and purple lines in the photo itself, which means the issue may go beyond a bug within the Google Camera app itself.

This issue was first reported towards the end of October, and throughout all of November more and more reports have been flooding in from users within the Pixel User Community saying they are experiencing the same issue. Many have speculated the cause behind this strange bug, but an explanation has yet to confirm the true source. Fortunately, Google has responded to the thread with assurances that they are aware of and are actively investigating the issue. The company has marked the bug as a high priority and will report back in the future with further details.

Source: Google Product Forums

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MediaTek Announces the Helio X23 and Helio X27

After unveiling their flagship SoC, the 10nm-based Helio X30, earlier in September, MediaTek has announced two other upgrades in the Helio family: the MediaTek Helio X23 and the MediaTek Helio X27. The new Helio SoCs upgrade the overall performance, camera quality and power consumption of the SoC family.

The aim here is to improve the user experience along with offering a range of performance options for OEMs for their product differentiation needs.
Both the MediatTek Helio X23 and the X27 continue along MediaTek's Tri-Cluster Deca-Core architecture on a 20nm process, with cluster setups of 2x Cortex-A72 + 4x Cortex-A53 + 4x Cortex-A53, which is similar to the previously released Helio X20 and X25. The differences manifest themselves in the various clock speeds of the clusters, the clock speeds of the GPU and the presence of what MediaTek is calling "EnergySmart Screen" feature.

As the number would imply, the X27 takes over the X25 as the currently highest-end SoC in the X20 Series, while the X23 offers an improvement over the X20 in clock speeds. Further, the Helio X27 also leads the pack in the GPU, with a slight increase in speed of the Mali-T880 MP4 from 850MHz in the X25 to 875MHz. The table below better encapsulates the differences in the SoCs:

MediaTek is claiming best in-class performance and power consumption with the new SoCs, with overall processing improvement of more than 20% and "significant" increases in Web browsing and application launching speeds. The SoCs also support dual camera photography with MediaTek's upgraded Imagiq ISP (Image Signal-Processing) solution, which MediaTek claims is the first ISP to integrate color and mono cameras and depth-of-field applications into a single ISP.

With regards to MiraVision EnergySmart Screen technology, this is a power-saving tech which modifies the display parameters based on the on-screen content and ambient lighting, claiming up to 25% reduction in display power consumption while maintaining the best visual experience possible. It will be interesting to see this technology in practice through competent OEMs on good displays and experience the quality tradeoff (or as MediaTek claims, the lack of tradeoff).

The press release provided by MediaTek does not mention any timeline for the SoCs, but assures that smartphones powered by these new SoCs will be available soon.

What are your thoughts on the newest additions to the X20 series? Let us know in the comments below!

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MediaTek Announces the Helio X23 and Helio X27

After unveiling their flagship SoC, the 10nm-based Helio X30, earlier in September, MediaTek has announced two other upgrades in the Helio family: the MediaTek Helio X23 and the MediaTek Helio X27. The new Helio SoCs upgrade the overall performance, camera quality and power consumption of the SoC family.

The aim here is to improve the user experience along with offering a range of performance options for OEMs for their product differentiation needs.
Both the MediatTek Helio X23 and the X27 continue along MediaTek’s Tri-Cluster Deca-Core architecture on a 20nm process, with cluster setups of 2x Cortex-A72 + 4x Cortex-A53 + 4x Cortex-A53, which is similar to the previously released Helio X20 and X25. The differences manifest themselves in the various clock speeds of the clusters, the clock speeds of the GPU and the presence of what MediaTek is calling “EnergySmart Screen” feature.

As the number would imply, the X27 takes over the X25 as the currently highest-end SoC in the X20 Series, while the X23 offers an improvement over the X20 in clock speeds. Further, the Helio X27 also leads the pack in the GPU, with a slight increase in speed of the Mali-T880 MP4 from 850MHz in the X25 to 875MHz. The table below better encapsulates the differences in the SoCs:

MediaTek is claiming best in-class performance and power consumption with the new SoCs, with overall processing improvement of more than 20% and “significant” increases in Web browsing and application launching speeds. The SoCs also support dual camera photography with MediaTek’s upgraded Imagiq ISP (Image Signal-Processing) solution, which MediaTek claims is the first ISP to integrate color and mono cameras and depth-of-field applications into a single ISP.

With regards to MiraVision EnergySmart Screen technology, this is a power-saving tech which modifies the display parameters based on the on-screen content and ambient lighting, claiming up to 25% reduction in display power consumption while maintaining the best visual experience possible. It will be interesting to see this technology in practice through competent OEMs on good displays and experience the quality tradeoff (or as MediaTek claims, the lack of tradeoff).

The press release provided by MediaTek does not mention any timeline for the SoCs, but assures that smartphones powered by these new SoCs will be available soon.

What are your thoughts on the newest additions to the X20 series? Let us know in the comments below!

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Netflix Brings Offline Downloads for Mobile Devices

For years, fans of the most popular video streaming service, Netflix, have been clamoring for offline playback support.

We’ve seen this feature included with competitor services such as Amazon Prime Video for well over a year now. Even other competitors like Starz and now YouTube Red offer the ability to download video content onto a mobile device so users can play their favorite media back at a later time when they are without Internet access. Netflix resisted this trend initially, but eventually caved and recognized that users in many parts of the world simply do not have access to the Internet everywhere they go. Thus, the company launched an offline playback feature – but only for select markets. Yesterday though, Netflix officially launched its offline viewing feature worldwide for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets.

For iOS users, you must be running version 8.0 or higher whereas Android users will need to be on Android 4.4.2 KitKat or higher. As long as you’re on a compatible version of Android or iOS and have updated to the latest version of the Netflix application, you can download select TV shows and movies for offline playback. You’ll simply need to look for the download button located on the details page of a TV show or movie.

At this time, unfortunately, not every title on the service supports offline playback. Although more movies and TV shows are promised to support offline playback in the future, right now we’re told you can download many of the most popular shows such as Orange Is the New Black, Narcos, House of Cards, Stranger Things, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Master of None, and The Crown right now. Next Wednesday, other titles like Breaking Bad, Supernatural, The Office, The Flash, Minions, Kung Fu Panda 3, and Home will be made available, with more to presumably follow.

Source: Netflix Media Center

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Netflix Brings Offline Downloads for Mobile Devices

For years, fans of the most popular video streaming service, Netflix, have been clamoring for offline playback support.

We've seen this feature included with competitor services such as Amazon Prime Video for well over a year now. Even other competitors like Starz and now YouTube Red offer the ability to download video content onto a mobile device so users can play their favorite media back at a later time when they are without Internet access. Netflix resisted this trend initially, but eventually caved and recognized that users in many parts of the world simply do not have access to the Internet everywhere they go. Thus, the company launched an offline playback feature – but only for select markets. Yesterday though, Netflix officially launched its offline viewing feature worldwide for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets.

For iOS users, you must be running version 8.0 or higher whereas Android users will need to be on Android 4.4.2 KitKat or higher. As long as you're on a compatible version of Android or iOS and have updated to the latest version of the Netflix application, you can download select TV shows and movies for offline playback. You'll simply need to look for the download button located on the details page of a TV show or movie.

At this time, unfortunately, not every title on the service supports offline playback. Although more movies and TV shows are promised to support offline playback in the future, right now we're told you can download many of the most popular shows such as Orange Is the New Black, Narcos, House of Cards, Stranger Things, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Master of None, and The Crown right now. Next Wednesday, other titles like Breaking Bad, Supernatural, The Office, The Flash, Minions, Kung Fu Panda 3, and Home will be made available, with more to presumably follow.

Source: Netflix Media Center

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Fitbit Reportedly Buying Pebble For $40 Million

Fitness wearables and smartwatches share a lot of their use cases, to the point where one encompasses the other. Most smartwatches come with fitness tracking as one of their features, and a few fitness wearables also seek to integrate smart services into their functionality. The end result is that both of these categories end up competing for the same spot on your wrist, and some might not survive the competition.

You might have heard of Pebble before. Pebble is one of the most influential campaigns on Kickstarter, with the original Pebble campaign taking over $10 Million in funding for its $100,000 goal, the Pebble Time getting over $20 Million for its $500,000 goal, and the Pebble 2 campaign getting over $12 Million in funding for its $1 Million goal. With all of this money pouring in, one might get the impression that all was smooth sailing. But the picture was not as rosy, as Pebble had to lay off around 25% of its employees in March this year. The company also had to resort to debt funding and loans, according to Techcrunch.

Amidst all of these tough decisions, new reports coming in from The Information [subscription needed] and confirmed by Techcrunch, point that wearable giant Fitbit is nearing a deal to purchase Pebble. The Information mentions that the acquisition involves a “small amount”, but Techcrunch goes on to mention a sum between $34 and $40 Million for Pebble, “barely covering their debts”. The acquisition deal will see Pebble and its products closed down over time, with Fitbit acquiing the compny’s assets including intellectual property and software.

This deal is not the first one that Pebble received. Watch maker Citizen expressed interest in purchasing Pebble for $740 Million in 2015, while Intel made an offer of $70 Million before the launch of Pebble 2. Pebble’s CEO turned down both offers.

Spokesperson from Fitbit declined to comment on rumors and speculation, while Pebble is yet to respond to the request to comment from Techcrunch.

What are your thoughts on this acquisition deal? Let us know in the comments below!

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Fitbit Reportedly Buying Pebble For $40 Million

Fitness wearables and smartwatches share a lot of their use cases, to the point where one encompasses the other. Most smartwatches come with fitness tracking as one of their features, and a few fitness wearables also seek to integrate smart services into their functionality. The end result is that both of these categories end up competing for the same spot on your wrist, and some might not survive the competition.

You might have heard of Pebble before. Pebble is one of the most influential campaigns on Kickstarter, with the original Pebble campaign taking over $10 Million in funding for its $100,000 goal, the Pebble Time getting over $20 Million for its $500,000 goal, and the Pebble 2 campaign getting over $12 Million in funding for its $1 Million goal. With all of this money pouring in, one might get the impression that all was smooth sailing. But the picture was not as rosy, as Pebble had to lay off around 25% of its employees in March this year. The company also had to resort to debt funding and loans, according to Techcrunch.

Amidst all of these tough decisions, new reports coming in from The Information [subscription needed] and confirmed by Techcrunch, point that wearable giant Fitbit is nearing a deal to purchase Pebble. The Information mentions that the acquisition involves a "small amount", but Techcrunch goes on to mention a sum between $34 and $40 Million for Pebble, "barely covering their debts". The acquisition deal will see Pebble and its products closed down over time, with Fitbit acquiing the compny's assets including intellectual property and software.

This deal is not the first one that Pebble received. Watch maker Citizen expressed interest in purchasing Pebble for $740 Million in 2015, while Intel made an offer of $70 Million before the launch of Pebble 2. Pebble's CEO turned down both offers.

Spokesperson from Fitbit declined to comment on rumors and speculation, while Pebble is yet to respond to the request to comment from Techcrunch.

What are your thoughts on this acquisition deal? Let us know in the comments below!

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