Samsung’s new 50MP ISOCELL GN2 sensor offers faster autofocus and better low-light performance

Samsung has been giving some tough competition to Sony in the mobile image sensor space lately. Samsung was quick to sense the renewed consumer demand for high megapixel count sensors and swiftly rolled out sensors ranging from 32MP going all the way up to 108MP. As it set its eye to reach the top spot and displace Sony, Samsung is expanding its portfolio with one more sensor in the form of 50MP Samsung ISOCELL GN2.

The Samsung ISOCELL GN2 is a direct successor to the last year’s ISOCELL GN1 and comes with several notable improvements, including increased pixel size, improved autofocus performance, better HDR capture, and more. The megapixel count remains the same at 50MP, but Samsung is pairing it with a larger 1/1.2 sensor and bigger 1.4-micron pixel size, which should help improve low-light performance. Moreover, when used in a 4-in-1 pixel binning configuration, the sensor doubles the pixel size (2.4-micron) to output brighter images with increased light sensitivity. Samsung also offers a hybrid 100MP mode that employs a re-mosaic algorithm to create three individual layers of 50MP frames in green, red, and blue and then upscales and merges them to produce a final high-res 100MP shot.

One of the important upgrades on the ISOCELL GN2 is the new Dual Pixel Pro technology for phase detection autofocus (PDAF). Samsung says the new technology allows all-directional focusing by splitting the pixels both vertically and diagonally, contributing to quicker focus in low-light and improved tracking of moving objects. This sounds a lot like OmniVision’s Quad phase-detection technology on its new OV50A sensor and Sony’s 2×2 On-chip Lens solution.

HDR performance also sees an upgrade as the ISOCELL GN2 is now able to capture high-contrast scenes with an increased dynamic range through the staggered-HDR feature. The staggered-HDR captures multiple frames in short, middle, and long exposures using rolling shutters to strike an optimal balance between highlights and shadows.

The Smart ISO is another new addition to the ISOCELL GN2, allowing the camera to take both high and low ISO values to quickly create a high dynamic range image while keeping the motion artifacts down. The Smart ISO Pro also promises good results in extreme low-light conditions by quickly taking and processing multiple frames in high ISO.

Finally, the sensor can shoot 8K videos, 1080p at 480fps, or 4K at 120fps.

The Samsung ISOCELL GN2 is in mass production. Samsung did not detail when we can expect the sensor to make its way on commercial phones. If we had to guess, it could be featured on the upcoming Mi 11 Ultra, which is reportedly packing a 50MP primary camera.

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Here are the best Galaxy S21 fast chargers you can buy now in February 2021!

That’s right, the Galaxy S21 series of smartphones have been released! There are a lot of things that we’ve already said about these phones, such as the fact that they carry the latest flagship specifications as well as Samsung’s best camera technology to date, but Samsung decided to remove the charger from the box starting with these devices, following in Apple’s footsteps after they themselves removed it with the iPhone 12 series. It’s a bummer we won’t have a Galaxy S21 fast charge in the box!

So, yes, you have to buy a separate charger if you don’t already have one. Not all is lost, though, as we’ve compiled a list with some of the best Galaxy S21 fast chargers you can grab right now. From first-party options sold by Samsung to third-party chargers made by accessory manufacturers such as Anker, we have a lot of options on the table for you to check out, taking advantage of the fact that the S21 series supports up to 25W wired charging as well as 15W wireless charging. Read on to know more!

Samsung 25W USB-C Charger

The official charging brick

You can't go wrong with Samsung's official charging brick. It supports the full 25W charging speeds that are offered across the board on all Galaxy S21 devices, and it's just like the charger you would get in the box.

$35 at Samsung

Anker Nano USB-C Charger

Anker's compact alternative

Anker is a very well reknown brand of third-party chargers, and the Anker Nano retains compatibility with the newest Galaxy S21 smartphones, allowing you to charge them quickly and at a lower price point.

View at Amazon

RAVPower USB-C Charger

A decent cheap brick

Another 2-port alternative that comes at a cheaper price is one of RAVPower's USB-C chargers, which can charge up to 2 devices at 18W speeds. It won't max out the full 25W charging on the S21, but it's good enough!

View at Amazon

Anker PowerPort Atom III USB-C Charger

2-port goodness

If you want to charge your Galaxy S21 and another device simultaneously, then Anker's PowerPort Atom III will give you what you need, letting you to charge 2 devices at the same time.

View at Amazon

Samsung Official 15W Wireless Stand

The official fast wireless charger

Keeping it up with Samsung's official options across the table, there's their official wireless fast charger, which will charge the S21 with 15W speeds with no cables involved.

$80 at Samsung

Anker 10W Wireless Charger

Slower, but way cheaper

Anker's wireless charger can charge your Galaxy S21 up to 10W, which is a tad lower to what you will be able to find with Samsung's official charger, but also comes in way cheaper than the Samsung alternative.

View at Amazon

Anker 10W Wireless Stand

A cheaper wireless stand

This wireless stand from Anker provides the same functionality as the regular, pad-like wireless charging, including the same charging speeds, but it comes in a stand form similar to the official Samsung wireless charger. It's also way cheaper than Samsung's offering, too.

View at Amazon

Letscom 10W Wireless Charger

Ultra-thin wireless charger

This Letscom wireless charger has the fact that it's 'ultra-thin' among its selling points, but it can charge pretty much any wireless charging-compatible device, including the new Galaxy S21 series, at a price that doesn't break the bank.

View at Amazon

WJOY USB-C Charger

3 ports + included braided cable

This charger from WJOY comes with a lot of options, including the ability to fast charge the new Galaxy S21 series + 2 other devices at the same time with 2 USB-C ports and one USB-A port. It also comes with a braided USB-C cable out of the box.

View at Amazon

Our list of the best Galaxy S21 fast chargers consists of official Samsung products mainly because they’re the most likely to charge at full speeds and give you the same experience you would be getting with a charger that comes in the box. However, Samsung’s official accessories also come at a premium compared to third-party offerings, so there are plenty of other options to choose from with this list.

In the case of the charging bricks, all of the ones in the list can fast charge your device in similar times to the official 25W charger, while the wireless chargers are a step down from Samsung’s 15W stand, clocking in at 10W: not much can be done here since we weren’t able to find a wireless charger that could actually charge these phones at their full speed.

If you would rather not buy Samsung’s official 25W charger – which is our top pick for the Galaxy S21 – we highly recommend Anker’s PowerPort Atom III USB-C charger, which will give you the speed you need while being versatile enough to charge more than one device at once! When it comes to wireless charging, you really can’t go wrong with Samsung’s official wireless charging stand!

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the ultimate overkill in the new 2021 flagship series, packing in a flagship SoC, a premium build, a great display, and an amazing camera setup, as well as all the extras expected on a premium flagship.

Purchase at Samsung

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OPPO is licensing its Fast Charging technology to car and chipmakers

OEMs have been pretty bullish on fast charging over the years. There was a time when just 5W was the standard, and 18W was considered a very good charging speed. We now have phones in the mainstream that tout 65W fast charging as their highlight feature, and a few more phones that charge quicker and can go as high as 120W. Most of these fast charging tech is proprietary, unfortunately, restricting you to a very small closed-wall ecosystem. But in some good news, OPPO is licensing its VOOC charging technology to car and chipmakers, slightly expanding the ecosystem.

OPPO’s VOOC (Voltage Open Loop Multi-step Constant-Current Charging) technology is seen on smartphones from OPPO, OnePlus, and Realme under different names. Chargers designed for the VOOC standard rely on a higher current value while keeping the voltage close to the battery’s voltage. This eliminates the need to step down the voltage purposefully, and that in turn prevents overheating. Tushar has written an excellent resource on the fast charging tech on smartphones, so we recommend you read that to know more. OPPO has applied for more than 2,950 flash charging patents worldwide, and over 1,400 have been granted already.

At MWC Shanghai, OPPO is launching its flash charging project: The Flash Initiative. Under this project, other companies can license the proprietary VOOC technology and incorporate it into their own charging products, giving smartphone users more options when it comes to fast charging their phones. At the time of the announcement, partners under this initiative include FAW-Volkswagen, Anker, and NXP Semiconductors. The combined goal of OPPO’s newest partners is to provide access to fast charging in even more scenarios. Anker is a leading brand associated with charging technology, and this licensing will provide consumers with more charger options going beyond those manufactured by OPPO and related companies. FAW-Volkswagen will use OPPO’s charging IP to incorporate rapid charging into Volkswagen cars made in China. NXP Semiconductors will implement several OPPO patents to support VOOC flash charging across its printed circuit board assemblies, allowing flash charging to be integrated into more automotive applications, public spaces, and industrial settings.

In an ideal world, standard solutions such as USB Power Delivery should have been the go-to solution for fast charging as against proprietary standards. However, the standard solution evolves at a much slower pace compared to these proprietary solutions, and a licensing model further incentivizes companies to continue innovation on this end. While a license will not magically open a closed-wall ecosystem, it’s a widely accepted decision that balances innovation, acceptance, and commercial success.

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HP Pavilion laptops updated with Intel’s 11th-gen processors and sustainable recycled plastics

HP has launched refreshed models under its Pavilion line of notebooks in India. The new models include the Pavilion 13, Pavilion 14, and the Pavilion 15 all of which are powered by Intel’s 11th-generation Tiger Lake processors with Iris Xe graphics. HP also claims that the new line-up is the company’s first consumer notebook range that makes use of post-consumer-recycled and ocean-bound plastics.

HP Pavilion 2021: Specifications

Specification	HP Pavilion 13 bb0075TU	HP Pavilion 14 dv0053TU	HP Pavilion 14 dv0084TX	HP Pavilion 15 eg0103TX
Dimensions & Weight	309 x 205 x 17.7mm Starting at 1.24 kgs	325 x 216.6 x 17mm Starting at 1.41 kgs	314.4 x 223 x 14.9mm Starting at 1.39 kgs	360.2 x 234 x 17.9mm Starting at 1.75 kgs
Display	13.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS 250nits 45% NTSC	14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS 250nits 45% NTSC	14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS 250nits 45% NTSC	15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS 250nits 45% NTSC
Processor	11th-gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 11th-gen Intel Core i7-1165G7	11th-gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 11th-gen Intel Core i7-1165G7	11th-gen Intel Core i5-1135G7	11th-gen Intel Core i5-1135G7
GPU	Intel Iris Xe Graphics	Intel Iris Xe Graphics	Intel Iris Xe Graphics NVIDIA GeForce MX450 2GB	Intel Iris Xe Graphics NVIDIA GeForce MX450 2GB
RAM & Storage	16GB DDR4 3200MHz Up to 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD	16GB DDR4 3200MHz Up to 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD	16GB DDR4 3200MHz 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD	Up to 16GB LPDDR4x Up to 1TB NVMe SSD
Battery & Charger	43Whr battery 65W charger Fast charging (50% in 30 mins)	43Whr battery 65W charger Fast charging (50% in 30 mins)	43Whr battery 65W charger Fast charging (50% in 30 mins)	41Whr battery Up to 8 hours 65W charger Fast charging (50% in 30 mins)
I/O	USB Type-C (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge) 2x USB 3.0 Type-A 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack HDMI 2.0 Power adapter pin microSD card reader	USB Type-C (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge) 2x USB 3.0 Type-A 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack HDMI 2.0 Power adapter pin SD card reader	USB Type-C (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge) 2x USB 3.0 Type-A 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack HDMI 2.0 Power adapter pin SD card reader	USB Type-C (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge) 2x USB 3.0 Type-A 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack HDMI 2.0 Power adapter pin SD card reader
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 5 Bluetooth 5.0	Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0	Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0	Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0
OS	Windows 10 Home	Windows 10 Home	Windows 10 Home	Windows 10 Home
Other Features	Bang and Olufsen speakers HP Quickdrop app Ocean-bound plastics for an eco-friendly design Backlit keyboard Fingerprint scanner	Bang and Olufsen speakers HP Quickdrop app Ocean-bound plastics for an eco-friendly design Backlit keyboard Fingerprint scanner	Bang and Olufsen speakers HP Quickdrop app Ocean-bound plastics for an eco-friendly design Backlit keyboard Fingerprint scanner	Bang and Olufsen speakers HP Quickdrop app Ocean-bound plastics for an eco-friendly design Backlit keyboard Fingerprint scanner

The new Pavilion series is said to come with clean lines and hourglass edges allowing users to easily open the device from all three sides. There is also a 3D seamless metal chassis for a sleek, clean look and feel. All four models are being offered with full-HD resolution displays along with an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor. HP says that the Pavilion 13-bb0075TU and the Pavilion 14-dv0053TU will also be available with a more powerful Core i7-1165G7 processor along with 1TB of SSD storage compared to the 512GB SSD which is available as a default across all the models. The Pavilion 14-dv0084TX and Pavilion 15-eg0103TX offer slightly better graphics thanks to the inclusion of NVIDIA’s GeForce MX450 GPU.

Notably, we could only find the 13-inch Pavilion 13-bb0075TU and the 14-inch Pavilion 14-dv0053TU with the Core-i5 processor and 512GB storage configuration listed on HP India’s website. The 14-inch Pavilion 14-dv0084TX is nowhere to be seen, although the 15-inch Pavilion 15-eg0103TX is listed on the website.

As for the pricing, the Pavilion Laptop 13-bb0075TU will be available at a starting price of ₹71,999 ($995) in either silver or ceramic white color options.  The Pavilion Laptop 14-dv0053TU will start at ₹62,999 ($870) in silver, ceramic white, or tranquil pink colors. The Pavilion Laptop 14-dv0084TX will be available for ₹67,999 ($940) in a single silver color option. Lastly, the 15-inch Pavilion Laptop 15-eg0103TX is priced at ₹69,999 ($967) in silver, ceramic white, or fog blue colors.

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Qualcomm partners with LofeIt to bring advanced haptics to Android phones

Over the last week, we’ve talked about several new features included in the first Android 12 Developer Preview build. But the new audio-coupled haptic effect feature is undoubtedly the coolest out of the lot. The feature aims to deliver an enhanced haptics experience by automatically syncing your phone’s vibrations with the ongoing audio session. It will likely make gaming on Android phones much more immersive. Along with Google, Qualcomm is also working on bringing better haptics capabilities to Android devices. The company today announced a partnership with LofeIt to bring advanced haptics to the Android ecosystem.

In a press release on the matter, LofeIt revealed that it will work with Qualcomm to deliver a “universal haptic software framework that runs natively on the Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile Platform to enhance Android phones with next-generation haptics for mobile gaming and other immersive experiences.” Android OEMs will be able to license LofeIt’s universal software framework and API for Snapdragon devices and enable advanced haptics on their phones.

Speaking of the partnership, LofeIt’s Chief Technical Officer, Gwydion ap Dafydd, was quoted saying, “Combining Lofelt haptics with the extendable Snapdragon platform will create a new generation of Android devices that deliver rich, natural haptic experiences. We also offer developers and engineers more cross-platform parity and an adaptive technology that can be directed at a specific system.”

LofeIt explains how its advanced haptics solution will help close the gap between the haptics experience on iOS and Android devices. In a separate blog post, the company highlights all the major differences between the haptics solutions on the two platforms. It then showcases how its universal software framework and API can help bridge this gap and level up the haptics experience on Android devices. In the future, the company’s haptic framework will also allow Android developers to deliver enhanced haptics on device accessories, like supported controllers, without the need to deal with any device-specific APIs.

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[Update: Restored] Facebook locks horns with Australian government by blocking news content on its platform

Update 1 (02/23/2021 @ 02:34 AM ET): Facebook has struck a deal with Australia to restore news sharing in the region. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on February 18, 2021, is preserved below.

Facebook is standing up to the Australian government’s controversial media code with a rather surprising and dramatic move. On Wednesday, the social media giant announced that it’s blocking — effective immediately — publishers and people in Australia from sharing and viewing news content on its platform.

Facebook says the proposed media law fails to understand how its platform works, leaving the company no choice but to block news content in the country altogether. The new media law would make both Google and Facebook pay news publishers for their content. This would be done by reaching an agreement between Google/Facebook and news publishers. If both parties couldn’t agree, the price would be set by an arbiter.

“The proposed law fundamentally misunderstands the relationship between our platform and publishers who use it to share news content. It has left us facing a stark choice: attempt to comply with a law that ignores the realities of this relationship, or stop allowing news content on our services in Australia. With a heavy heart, we are choosing the latter.”

William Easton, Managing Director, Facebook Australia & New Zealand

Along with local and global news sites, pages belonging to government health agencies and public welfare networks were also blocked from the platform —  Facebook later said that was a mistake.

Facebook’s move was in stark contrast to Google’s who, rather than pulling its Search service, sought to appease the Australian government by launching its News Showcase service, which pays participating publishers for distributing content on Google’s news services.

“Facebook’s actions to unfriend Australia today, cutting off essential information services on health and emergency services, were as arrogant as they were disappointing,” wrote Prime Minister Scott Morrison on his Facebook page.

Facebook argues its response shouldn’t be compared with Google as both platforms are fundamentally different in how they interact with news and publishers.

Facebook says through referrals, it helped Australian publishers earn around AU$407 million last year. But it says for the company, “the business gain from news is minimal,” and thus, it makes no sense to “penalise Facebook for content it didn’t take or ask for.”

---

Update: Facebook restores News Sharing in Australia after agreement

Facebook has struck a deal with the Australian government, and will consequently allow users and publishers in the country to once again share and view links to news articles. The company does not go on to mention the details of this agreement, but New York Times reports that the Australian Government added amendments to the proposed code recently, including a two-month mediation period.

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Google Pixel 5a looks to be a carbon copy of the Pixel 4a 5G

Last year we saw two mid-range smartphones from Google: the Pixel 4a that was launched in August and its 5G variant, the Pixel 4a 5G, which followed a month later. Since the Pixel 3, Google has followed the tradition of launching a lower-specced version of its top-tier Pixel phone. And for now, at least, it seems that the Moutain View giant is sticking with that tradition as it’s reportedly working on the Pixel 5a, a mid-range variant of the Pixel 5.

The news comes from ever-reliable Steve Hemmerstoffer, who has given us our very first look at the Pixel 5a along with some of its probable specifications. As you can see for yourself in the below renders, the Pixel 5a looks just like the Pixel 4a 5G, and by extension, the Pixel 5.

The Pixel 5a will likely feature a unibody plastic build similar to its predecessors. The device measures 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8mm (9.4mm with the camera bump), which is closer to the Pixel 4a 5G’s dimensions (153.9 x 74 x 8.2 mm). On the front, it’s said to feature a flat 6.2-inch OLED panel with slim side bezels and a hole-punch for the front-camera module. We don’t know whether the display will offer a high-refresh-rate or max out at 60Hz like the Pixel 4a 5G. Moving to the back, we can see a square camera module, a fingerprint reader, and a Google logo. According to Steve, the dual-camera setup is unchanged from the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5, meaning Google could once again stick with the same image sensors.

Lastly, the Pixel 5a is expected to retain the 3.5mm audio jack as well as stereo speakers. Details about SoC, battery capacity, other hardware, and launch date remain under wraps for now. However, if the previous Pixel launches are anything to go by, there’ll likely be tons of leaks leading up to the actual launch.

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