Hands-on with Night Mode in Google Camera Go: Democratizing Low-Light Photography

If there’s one area Google’s Pixel smartphones remain undefeated, it is definitely in camera software. Most of the magic in the Google Camera app happens on the software side. Even though the tech giant continues to use the same 12.2MP primary camera on its smartphones since the Pixel 2, the software algorithms backing the Google Camera’s phenomenal “computational photography” keep improving significantly with each new Pixel smartphone. Google’s incredible camera processing has inspired developers, including some of the most notable personalities on the XDA-Developers forums, to modify the Google Camera app to run on non-Google smartphones. Similarly, for low-end and budget devices, developers have also ported Google Camera Go, a lightweight version of Google’s camera app for Android (Go Edition) devices, which was recently updated with a Night Mode.

Night Mode, as you would expect, is analogous with Night Sight in the full Google Camera app. We tried out Camera Go’s Night Mode using a modified version of the app courtesy of developer and XDA Senior member mickey36736, better known as Wichaya in the GCam modding community. The latest Google Camera Go (version 1.8.332394960) APK was extracted from the Google Play Store by XDA Senior Member RKBD, but Night Mode does not show up if you sideload this version. Wichaya modified the APK to activate Night Mode, and that’s what we are using to test.

Note: Night Mode in the Google Camera Go app is currently exclusive to the Nokia 1.3 Android Go smartphone, but we’re using the mod on the Nokia 5.3. This article serves as a demonstration of the Night Mode feature in Camera Go rather than a review of the camera quality of the Nokia 1.3, which we do not have on hand.

Night Mode in Google Camera Go

The Google Camera Go app was first introduced earlier this year alongside the Nokia 1.3. It’s designed for low-end devices with single cameras, so it comes with a simple interface with basic features like face enhancement, photo, video, a portrait mode, and a built-in visual translator. The latest update to the app adds Night Mode, though Google is also preparing to add HDR support to the app.

HDR is not yet enabled in the modded version of the app by Wichaya (perhaps because Google themselves haven’t finished it), but Night Mode works on most of the devices we tried it on — even though we cannot ensure support on all modern devices. The new APK weighs only 16MB in size, ideal for a low-end device with limited storage. The mod also appears to have the Night Mode processing library, called “libNightMode_jni.so” and 7.1MB in size, within the APK itself.

I took the Nokia 5.3 running Google Camera Go out for a spin last night and tested it in different low-light conditions to see how well it fares. The following are some of the examples:

Night Mode Off (left) vs On (right)

Very evidently, the Night Mode on Google Camera Go improves the lighting significantly in all scenarios. Besides illuminating the scenes, Night Mode also helps improve the sharpness in the images. Despite this, there may be some instances of fairly low brightness where the Camera Go app fails to focus. There is a fair bit of noise in all the shots, primarily due to the high ISO values.

Notably, while the images without Night Mode are taken at 12MP, the images with Night Mode on are snapped at just 2MP and that is presumably to keep the image size low. Furthermore, reading into the EXIF data reveals that the exposure time is 3-4 times higher with the Night Mode than without it.

While the resulting images with Night Mode on the Google Camera Go aren’t incredibly impressive, we have to keep our expectations in check—Night Mode in Google Camera Go isn’t meant to be on par with Night Sight on the regular Google Camera, and expecting as such is only setting yourself up for disappointment. The results, when considering them on their own, are exciting due to the fact the app is intended for devices much lower in the price bracket.

You can find all of the images above and some more in the Flickr gallery shared below.

What are your thoughts on the Night Mode on the Google Camera Go? Let us know in the comments below!

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AMD Ryzen 5000 CPUs with Zen 3 architecture officially unveiled

AMD has officially unveiled its all-new Ryzen 5000 series of desktop processors. Based on the new Zen 3 architecture, AMD is claiming its new lineup has the “Fastest Gaming CPUs in the World.” The new series is headed by the Ryzen 9 5950X, offering up to 16-cores with 32-threads and 72MB of cache.

Now for those of you who like to see numbers, AMD has compared its new lineup with its previous Zen 2 architecture-based CPUs as well as the Intel Core i9-10900K. The 12-core 5900X processor offers up to a 26% generational uplift in gaming performance and a 19% generational increase in instructions per cycle (IPC). It is also said to be 7% faster than the competition in 1080p gaming and an average of 26% faster in 1080p gaming generationally. The company hasn’t shared performance numbers for the Ryzen 9 5950X but claims it offers the highest single-thread and multi-core performance of any desktop gaming processor.

When you challenged us to continue striving for single-core performance leadership on AMD Ryzen desktop processors, we listened. And we like to think the results speak for themselves. #GameOnAMD pic.twitter.com/vH4U6CjOfL

— AMD Ryzen (@AMDRyzen) October 8, 2020

It is interesting to note that AMD is yet again limiting the maximum boosted clock speeds to be under 5GHz. Intel, on the other hand, boosts up to 5.3GHz on its current generation Core-i9 10900K. This also means that the maximum power draw is less when compared to Intel, with the 5800X, 5900X, and the 5950X all rated at 105W TDP. As per the press release, these three CPUs will not come with a bundled heatsink fan. The wraith stealth cooler will only be available with the most affordable model, the Ryzen 5 5600X. The good thing, however, is that the existing AMD 500 series motherboards will support the new Ryzen 5000 Series desktop processors with a simple BIOS update. Just yesterday, we saw Intel officially confirming that it will be launching its 11th geneneration desktop processors by early 2021, which could give AMD’s new lineup some fierce competition.

All four Ryzen 5000 CPUs are expected to start shipping on November 5. Pricing begins at $299 going all the way up to $799 if you want your hands on the Ryzen 9 5950X. AMD has also announced the ‘Equipped to Win’ game bundle program. Customers purchasing either the Ryzen 9 5950X, Ryzen 9 5900X, or the Ryzen 7 5800X processor will get a free copy of Far Cry 6 (when it’s released) if a purchase is made before December 31, 2020. The program has also been extended to the previous-gen lineup if customers buy the Ryzen 9 3950X, Ryzen 9 3900XT, or Ryzen 7 3800XT processor between October 20th and December 31st, 2020.

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Today’s Top Tech Deals: TCL 10 Pro for $380, Aukey Battery Pack for $27, and More!

You know what’s cool? Chromebooks are cool. They’re helpful little productivity devices with super long battery lives and really get the job done. I used a Chromebook for years when work took me away from the desktop until one job required me to be able to run Photoshop to create images for my posts–and Photoshop is an absolute beast of an application that eats memory and processing power like there’s no tomorrow. But as long as you don’t need Photoshop and are fine with a couple of Chrome OS‘s quirks, I highly recommend a Chromebook for getting work done.

Of course, having said all that, I don’t have any Chromebook deals for you… today, that is. We’ll probably see those deals during the madness that is Prime Week. Instead, today’s tech deals include $70 off the TCL 10 Pro, a powerful battery pack for only $27, and more!

This neat Acer portable monitor is on sale for just $130, but stock is very limited. If they’re still available and you’re in the market for a portable monitor, snap one up quick!

Corsair VOID Elite Headset for $60

It’s been a while since we last saw a gaming headset deal. They seemed to be all the rage last month! If you need a new headset now, though, Corsair has it’s VOID Elite headset on sale for $60, $20 off the MSRP. With its 4.5 rating at Amazon and durable construction, this headset promises to last for years to come. Sure, you can probably find a cheaper headset, but why mess around with lower quality headsets that will break after a couple of months when you can buy one that lasts?

Corsair VOID Elite Headset

Get a headset that's built to last, $20 off at Amazon. The Corsair VOID Elite headset is built for gaming, with a durable construction and designed for comfort over long gaming sessions. Spend more to save yourself from buying multiple cheap headsets later!

Buy at Amazon

AUKEY 20000mAh Slimline Battery Pack for $27

Aukey always has quality yet low-cost accessories, and today you can get their Slimline pack for just $27. This thin and light pack has 20,000 mAh of power and can charge up to four devices simultaneously. By using the code 4CNEPWO5 and clipping the $5 coupon, you’ll get the Slimline battery pack for just $27.

AUKEY 20000mAh Slimline Battery Pack

Aukey's slimline battery pack is thin, light, and easy to carry anywhere you go. By using the code 4CNEPWO5and clipping the coupon, grab this small but powerful battery pack for just $27. This offer is available until October 12th!

Buy at Amazon

Today Only, the Amazon Fire TV Stick is $20

You’d think this is another early Prime Day deal, but it’s not! Today only at Woot!, you can save 50% on a brand new Amazon Fire TV Stick, making the purchase only $20. If you don’t want to buy a smart TV, this is the next best thing, allowing you to easily watch shows from your favorite streaming services! Tech-savvy folks may also know a few extra uses for the Fire TV Stick, too… hint, hint. For only $20, this is impulse buy territory, but you only have until the end of the day to get one!

Amazon Fire TV Stick

Grab an Amazon Fire TV for less than the price of takeout! Today only at Woot!, you can use the Fire TV Stick to watch your favorite streaming shows from any TV.

$20 at Woot!

TCL Pro 10 (Unlocked), $70 Off

Why pay top dollar for high-end flagship phones when you can get a comparable experience with a phone like the TCL 10 Pro? If you don’t need to be on the bleeding edge of technology, this phone will get the job done with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 and 6GB of RAM. Normally retailing at $450, you can clip the coupon on the Amazon page to get this green smartphone for just $380.

TCL 10 Pro (Unlocked)

At Amazon, save $70 on the TCL Pro 10! This is an unlocked phone that will work with CDMA networks, as well as Verizon's LTE network. So regardless of your carrier, you're free to use this budget phone!

Buy at Amazon

WD My Passport 4TB External Hard Drive for $110

External hard drives will always be useful, and WD is one of the most trusted brands. Save $30 on a 4TB WD My Passport at Staples, and also get free shipping for your new backup storage device. This hard drive comes in a bright blue, as an added bonus for those that want a pop of color for their accessory… or to make it easier to find if you’re prone to losing it!

WD My Passport 4TB External Hard Drive

Get a nice 4TB external hard drive and save $30 at Staples! WD is a trusted brand for hard drives, so you know that your data is in good hands.

$110 at Staples

More Tech Deals

Looking for even more tech deals? We have them for you below!

• Motorola Razr 5G (Unlocked) for $1,200 at Amazon
• Sony X900H 4K 65-inch Smart TV for $970 with coupon clip at Amazon
• Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 1 Laptop for $683 at Lenovo
• SanDisk 512GB Extreme microSDXC for $100 at Amazon
• Sony WF-XB700 True Wireless Earbuds for $78 at Amazon
• Logitech G533 Wireless Gaming Headset for $74 at Amazon
• Homedics UV Clean Phone Sanitizer for $60 at Amazon
• 20W Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Subwoofer for $31 with code 308VM9Y1 and coupon clip at Amazon
• Anker PowerExtend Strip (12-port) for $25 at Amazon
• DEPSTECH D08 2K Webcam with Dual-Mic for $21 with code ZVXLU7KJ at Amazon
• TP-Link N300 WiFi Extender for $20 at Amazon
• PICKA All in One Worldwide Wall Charger for $16 with coupon clip at Amazon
• Aduro 6-Port 2-USB Surge Protector for $13 at Woot!

Early Prime Day 2020 Deals

We’ve rounded up the early Prime Day 2020 deals we have found so far below. Tech deals or not, take advantage of these deals to possibly save even more on Prime Day!

• Fire TV Recast, $100 Off
• Half off the Echo Show 5
• Two 3rd Generation Echo Dots for $40 with code DOTPRIME2PK
• Spend $10 at a small business, get $10 credit for Prime Day
• Spend $10 at Whole Foods, get $10 credit for Prime Day
• $3 credit toward eBook purchase
• Spend $20 on eBooks, get $5 eBook credit back

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Royole FlexPai 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2: Battle of the Foldables

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 has garnered plenty of praise lately, but it’s not the only big-screen foldable in town. Royole, the company behind the very first commercially released foldable called the Royole FlexPai, is back with a sequel device of its own too, FlexPai 2. Since I have both devices on me right now, I figured might as well do a comparison — even if the scope of these products are worlds apart.

Folding philosophy

Samsung and Royole may have had the same idea — a tablet that bends in half to become a smaller smartphone — but they have taken opposing approaches to the idea. The Galaxy Z Fold 2’s screen folds inwards, closing like a book; the FlexPai 2’s display bends backwards, wrapping around the folded device like a skin — the latter is the same idea Huawei adopted with the Huawei Mate X and Huawei Mate XS.

Personally, I prefer Samsung’s philosophy because the folding screen is protected when not in use. But there are some in tech media who believe Huawei’s (and by extension, Royole’s too) method is better.

The hinge

Royole’s hinge looks more impressive because it folds completely flat, while the Galaxy Z Fold 2’s hinge still leaves a small gap. Both hinges can stay in place at various angles, but Samsung’s hinge feels sturdier, with absolutely no creaking when folding and unfolding. In contrast, the FlexPai 2’s hinge makes a sound every now and then. Samsung also placed mini brushes inside the hinge that helps keep out small particles like dust, and a test video by popular YouTuber JerryRigEverything showed the Galaxy Z Fold 2’s hinge successfully survived being covered by a pile of pebbles and fine dust. The FlexPai 2 hasn’t been put through the same test yet, but I know Royole sent one to him for the same test too, so Royole seems confident its hardware can at least hold up to rigorous testing.

The foldable screens

This is a landslide win for Samsung. The Galaxy Z Fold 2’s main screen has a higher refresh rate (120Hz), more pixels (1768 x 2208), firmer, almost glass-like texture, and higher max brightness than the FlexPai’s 60Hz, 1920 x 1440, clearly plastic screen.

But Royole’s screen has less of a visible crease due to its different folding method, and its slightly larger (7.8-inch), 4:3 aspect ratio is more suitable for split-screen text-heavy apps (like, say, Twitter and Chrome). Because the FlexPai 2’s screen is more rectangular shaped, when it’s held vertically, there’s plenty of room to display content even with a full keyboard at the bottom. The same set-up on the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a bit more cramped due to its almost square shape. But still, the Galaxy Z Fold 2’s screen is just flat out superior tech.

Cameras

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 packs five cameras, consisting of a main triple camera system and two selfie cameras, one for each screen. The FlexPai 2 has a single quad-camera module that doubles as both, the main camera system and the selfie system.

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 will be much easier to use for most people jumping over to a foldable for the first time, because the camera UI and how you shoot behaves like any other slab Samsung phone. The FlexPai 2, however, requires you to flip the phone over for selfies.

As for photo quality, I think it goes without saying the company with far more resources and years of experience making smartphones would have a more capable camera — the question was really by how much Samsung wins.

Looking at the samples, I think the main 64MP camera of the FlexPai 2 produces photos that can be classified as solid or even above-average. But when placed side-by-side against Samsung’s main 12MP camera, Royole’s color science is duller, with less dynamic range.

At night, the gap between the two phone widens slightly.

But the FlexPai 2 wins at selfies, because it has a dedicated 32MP portrait lens that’s part of the main camera module, while the Galaxy Z Fold 2’s 10MP selfie cameras is a tiny lens in a hole-punch. In the samples below, the Galaxy Z Fold 2’s selfie appears a bit soft compared to the FlexPai’s.

Software

The first thing to note is that the FlexPai 2 doesn’t fully support GMS, mainly because it appears to be a China-only device at the moment. I’ve tried sideloading Google Play Services a few times and could not get the Play Store to load properly. Curiously, YouTube, and Google Maps do work fine on the FlexPai 2, which implies there’s some semblance of Google Services framework inside the software.

This no-Google fact alone should give the immediate win to the Galaxy Z Fold 2. But let’s take a look at what each brand offers anyway. Samsung’s software for the Galaxy Z Fold 2 works quite well, with the apps jumping from the smaller screen to the larger screen seamlessly more often than not. It’s even added letterboxing on the larger screen for apps that must be in rectangular form (like Instagram), so it doesn’t have any of the formatting issues of the Fold 1.

The FlexPai 2’s UI, named WaterOS, is surprisingly smooth. The UI changes from a smaller smartphone form to a larger tablet form without much delay or hiccups, and most apps load fine too, although some apps like Instagram must load in portrait orientation on the FlexPai 2.

Both phones handle multi-tasking similarly, with a pull-over menu that allows you to launch a second app in split-screen mode right away, and the option for a third. Samsung’s One UI for the Galaxy Z Fold 2 lets you open a fourth (or fifth or sixth) app but they must be in floating window mode; the FlexPai 2 maxes out at a trio of apps at once.

General use as a real-world device

Since the FlexPai 2 can’t run many Google apps, it’s easy to just write off the device as unusable. But I’ve been forced to use Google-less phones quite a bit last year (the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, Huawei P40 Pro, Huawe Mate XS) and I’ve realized that, for me, not having core GMS is a hassle, but not a complete dealbreaker. Gmail and Google Calendar can be synced with a third-party client like Microsoft Outlook, and other key apps I must use, such as WhatsApp, WeChat, Slack, Instagram, Twitter, all work on non-GMS devices.

Plus, unlike Huawei, Royole’s lack of GMS seems to be a choice, not a mandate by the US government. This means if Royole wants to sell this outside China, it should be able to get Google apps on there just fine. Their drawback is on the decision and choice, and not an inherent limitation.

But having said all that, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is still far easier to use. It’s shaped like a candy bar (or remote control) when folded, so it’s a very one-hand friendly device. The FlexPai 2, meanwhile, is wide even when folded up, making for a bit of a reach. I’m also nervous about having the plastic flexible screen exposed at all times. Then throw in the better camera and brighter screen, it’s another lopsided affair in favor of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Royole FlexPai 2 chase different goals

To be honest, I knew going into writing this article that the Galaxy Z Fold 2 was going to win most categories, some by a landslide too. But it’s worth mentioning that these two phones have different goals and ambitions. Samsung is the world’s largest phone brand by units sold, and the Galaxy Z Fold 2 aims to be a mainstream product, sold worldwide. Royole is an unknown in the mobile scene, and the FlexPai 2 so far only sells in China, and is meant to be a showcase of the company’s display tech more than an attempt to be a mainstream phone.

When you consider the scale of the two companies, and the scope of these projects, it’s almost a David vs Goliath matchup, and I think despite falling short, Royole put up a good show.

Galaxy Z Fold 2

If you want to the best foldable that you can buy right now, look no further than the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Royole and others definitely offer competition, but the Galaxy Z Fold 2 sets the benchmark that all foldable devices have to follow!

View deals at Samsung

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Here’s your first look at the upcoming OnePlus Buds Z

OnePlus is all set to unveil its next flagship — the OnePlus 8T — later this month. The company has already started dropping teasers for the device, some of which have confirmed that the device will feature a 4,500mAh battery and 65W fast charging support. Along with the OnePlus 8T, the company is expected to unveil its next pair of TWS earphones — the OnePlus Buds Z.

We first heard about the upcoming OnePlus Buds Z early last month, when XDA Senior Member Some_Random_Username spotted a mention of the device in an OxygenOS 11 beta release. While we’ve seen plenty of leaks and teasers about the OnePlus Buds Z since then, we’re yet to see any renders of the TWS earphones. That changes today, as Some_Random_Username has managed to extract images of the earphones from an APK shared by a reliable source.

As you can see in the attached images, the OnePlus Buds Z look like a cross between the older OnePlus Buds and the Honor Magic Earbuds. While the earbuds retain most of the same design as the OnePlus Buds, they now feature silicone tips and a charging case that greatly resembles the Magic Earbuds.

The charging case features OnePlus branding on the lid and it houses the earbuds horizontally. It has an LED indicator over on the front, a USB Type-C port on the back, and a single function button.

While the APK file mentions three color variants — Black, White, and Silver — it only includes images for the white and silver color variants.

No matter the weather, you won’t miss a beat with our new IP55-rated Buds. See them October 14.

— OnePlus (@oneplus) October 3, 2020

Although the APK reveals no further information about the OnePlus Buds Z, the company has confirmed that the earbuds will be IP55 certified for dust and water resistance. It’s worth noting that the teaser also included an image with a silhouette of the OnePlus Buds Z, which falls in line with these images.

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