Samsung patent shows smartphone with almost bezel-less display and secondary rear screen

Samsung is probably one of the last (if not the last) of the big manufacturers to not embrace the notch. The company has been focused on developing its Infinity Display concept instead. A new patent shows that Samsung is continuing down this path and instead of slimming the bezels from the top, it’s doing so from the bottom and getting rid of the chin entirely (but the USB Type C port and what looks like bottom-firing speakers still exist). But that isn’t the most interesting thing about this patent. What’s more newsworthy is there seems to be a rear secondary display. The sketch you see above shows a possible application of this idea. You see the camera having to repositioned to the top left corner. The overall shape is reminiscent of the Galaxy Note.

But again, it must be remembered that patents don’t necessarily translate to actual design. And while it might take a while to figure out the rear display (or not, stranger things have happened), the front display implementation might be something in our near future.

Source: Phone Arena

Facebook will soon autoplay video ads in Messenger

Facebook has admitted in the past that it no longer has room in its main app for ads. What’s their solution? Putting it in its other apps like Messenger and Marketplace. You may or may not have already noticed ads on Messenger and tried to ignore them. But now you might no longer be able to with Facebook’s plans to rollout autoplaying video ads to integrate alongside your messages.

When asked if users might find this obnoxious, Stefanos Loukakos, who run’s Messenger’s ad business, acknowledges this possibility and said they’re monitoring user behavior to see if these ads will turn people off. He said that when they started integrating basic ads to the service, it “didn’t show any changes with how people used the platform or how many messages they send.” He adds, “Video might be different, but we don’t believe so.” Facebook will start testing this with some of its users starting Monday. Let us know what you think if this hits your inbox.

Source: Recode

Microsoft will not support VR on the Xbox

When Microsoft announced Xbox One controller support for the Oculus Rift, it was speculated that Project Scorpio was going to work with the Rift as well. Guess that isn't happening.

Microsoft backtracks from earlier announcements and proclamations that they are going to have virtual reality headsets for the Xbox. Microsoft’s Chief Marketing Officer for Gaming Mike Nichols told Gamesindustry.biz that they “don’t have any plans specific to Xbox consoles in virtual reality or mixed reality.” He adds that he believes the PC is “probably the best platform” for virtual and mixed reality, while the Xbox will keep its focus on “experiences you would play on your TV.”

This is in complete contrast with what the company started announcing back starting 2016 when Xbox head Phil Spencer said its then upcoming Project Scorpio console would support “high-end VR” like with Windows PC. But it doesn’t come as much of a surprise especially with Microsoft seemingly changing its focus for its VR and mixed reality to something more business oriented.

Power Trio: The Huawei P20 Pro Review

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Today's smartphones are as much about photography than they are about being connected, running apps and serving as the conduits to our digital lives. 

Each year smartphone makers add more cameras, more DSLR-like features, improved filters, and even myriad ways to create emojis or replicate studio lighting.

Over the course of smartphone history, however, there have been standout camera phones that have leapfrogged the market and offered outstanding camera and picture quality.

Super camera phones of the past include the Nokia Lumia 1020 with an outstanding 41-megapixel sensor as well as the Nokia PureView which was even more audacious, albeit much rarer to find. The Huawei P20 Pro is the heir apparent to this throne and this is by design. 

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