Samsung Galaxy Note 9, Google Pixel 3 earn top marks for selfie cameras from DxOMark's test

Today's flagship smartphones are all about camera performance and when it comes to taking selfies, the two best devices in the market according to DxOMark are the Google Pixel 3 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

These two devices are noted for capturing natural skin tones and preserving details, vivid colours and depth. Since selfie camera use is as dominant as the rear feacing camera (being deployed 40 per cent of the time), DxOMark devised new criteria for testing front-facing shooters focusing on skin tone, colour accuracy, sharpness, exposure, contrast and depth. 

Google's Pixel 3, with its dual frong-facing camera setup (ideal for group selfies as well), and the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 garnered scores of 92. They were followed by the Xiaomi's Mi Mix3, Apple iPhone XS Max and the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus which earned scores of 84, 82, and 81 respectively.

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Google starts rolling out call screening transcripts to Pixel owners

You might no longer need to look at your Pixel’s screen to see if the call is worth answering. Google has reportedly started rolling out Call Screen transcripts to the Pixel 3 and the older Pixels. Call Screen lets Google Assistant answer your phone calls for you and it asks the caller the purpose of the call and you’ll get to see a live transcription of the conversation. But now, you’ll be able to look at the conversation after the call has ended with the new transcripts option, which lets you save them after the call ends. The Call Screen transcripts are accessible through the Recents tab on your phone app. You can choose any call you want to look at that you’ve screened and select Call Details. There should be a See Transcript option there. It’s unclear how widely the feature has been rolled out, though, so best to keep checking if it’s available for you. For now, you might have to keep checking your phone when it answers a call for you.

Source: Digital Trends

Pixel Camera to get to external mic support

Review: Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XLJust because your hanging on to your original Pixel or Pixel 2, doesn’t mean you aren’t getting some new things to play around with—especially when it comes to the phones’ impressive cameras. The Pixel Camera team confirmed it will be adding “plugged-in” external microphones support for the default camera app for all Pixels. The original Pixel will just use the 3.5mm mic in directly. Meanwhile, as Android Central points out, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 users might need to use USB microphones that plug in via USB-C to USB-A adapter, like the one included in every Pixel. This option might see a bit cumbersome but if you’ve been waiting for external mic support, you’re finally getting that option when the Pixel 3 officially launches on October 18.

Google ‘teases’ a ‘mini Pixel,’ seen as company poking fun at rumoured ‘Pixel Ultra’ smartphone

Google is all set to launch new hardware on October 9th and leading up to the date, the company is having fun at its expense—or as a jab at all the rumor-mongering surrounding the possibility of a larger notch-less Pixel Ultra being launched alongside what’s more or less confirmed as the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. The Made by Google Instagram shares design mockups of a “mini” phone complete with physical models and a sketch that shows a phone that’s small enough to fit on a keychain. This could be seen as the company taking on the Pixel Ultra and thinking of going at the opposite end of the spectrum. 

While it is a joke, we can’t help but want a more pocket- and smaller hand-friendly phone. We wouldn’t mind a mini Pixel, to be honest. Probably not that small but something that would be easier to lug around and use with one hand. 

Source: 9to5Google