Facebook is reportedly working on a device to take on the Apple TV

We reported earlier last month that Facebook has been in talks with streaming services for a streaming device it's creating. And we now have more details on said product. Variety adds on the report that this Portal device could run a modified version of Android's mobile operating system instead of the purpose-built Android TV OS. It'll also come with a camera for video calls, far-field microphones to detect audio, and built-in speakers. The device will stream content from the likes of Disney and Netflix. And it's going to take on the likes of the Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. Facebook is reportedly even working on some Apple Animoji-like features, allowing you to put a virtual mask over your face right from your television. 

Facebook has been keeping this project secret, going to lengths of using a shell company to submit all the necessary regulatory filings to the FCC. We still ask whether people will be keen to use a Facebook device with a camera in their living room considering Facebook's rep in the privacy space. But for those interested in this product, it looks like it might be coming sooner than we think.

Here's a look at Lenovo's double-folded 'clamshell' smartphone

Before we talk about anything, we're going to say that it's a patent, for now. But Lenovo hinted in the past that a foldable RAZR phone is in the works—and this might be what it looks like. In March last year, Lenovo filed a patent for a "flexible electronic device" with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). It was a double-hinged folding phone design for the RAZR phone, and it was due for launch at this year's Mobile World Congress. But the deadline proved to be too tight to present the final product.

This week on September 10th, the patent was published in both the USPTO database and the World Intellectual Property Office Global Design Database. It shows 14 sketches of a folding phone with a clamshell design. The device comes with two separate hinges, letting you fold it in a way that shows the very top of the screen or to fold and show more of the display. The sketches show a thin device with rounded edges and small bezels. The upper bezel houses the front camera and speaker, while the bottom bezel has a secondary speaker. There looks like light-ribbed plastic material at the back along with the fingerprint sensor and a single rear camera. The RAZR phone is rumoured to come out in Europe between December 2019 and January 2020 for around €1500 (approx. CA$2,200).

Source: MSPowerUser 

'Solo: A Star Wars Story' spin-off is reportedly in the works for Disney+

By Star Wars standards, Solo: A Star Wars Story was considered a box office flop. It wasn't critically acclaimed either. But the hardcore fans have been clamouring for a sequel. The #MaleSolo2Happen hashtag on Twitter has been picking up some steam as well as people have started to discover the movie and find that they like it. Star Wars Unity reports that a spinoff of sorts might be in the works for the Disney+ streaming service. Disney or Lucasfilm isn't officially confirming the rumours.

Rumours claim the project might be a movie, but it might not contain any of the iconic heroes from the last project. The focus might be on the enemy or "the Crimson Dawn and other scoundrels." It's believed that the scrapped Mos Eisley movie may have been "repurposed" for a potential Solo spinoff for the service. With no new Star Wars movie set to come out after the current trilogy ends this year, fans will be asking for content. And this might be one of them that we could anticipate. For now, we know Disney+ has The Mandalorian, the Rogue One prequel series, and the Obi-Wan Kenobi show on the way. Lucasfilm might be waiting to see how the announced programs are received before they reveal other plans. 

Rumour has it the Galaxy Note line might go away

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With the differences between the Galaxy Note and the Galaxy S lines diminishing, Samsung might be doing more harm to its flagship smartphone segment. A new rumour from tipster Evan Blass (@evleaks) suggests that Samsung might be thinking about this problem and the company might unite the two under the Galaxy One brand. And the one reportedly getting axed is the more innovative Note brand. Instead of releasing two flagships at the start and latter part of the year, the company might focus on the S series. This flagship will launch at the beginning of the year with phones that also carry the S Pen.

As for the gap in the fall, Samsung is said to be considering filling this in with the Galaxy Fold. As MSPowerUser points out, the Note line did start as Samsung's more experimental line. It makes sense that Samsung's most out-there product right now takes its place. But according to this is still reliant on a few factors. He tweets, "Assuming that Fold performs according to expectations—both functionally and in the market—the hope is to deploy its successors as a second-half flagship, in the spot that would be vacated by Note. This was described as still being very fluid and tentative at this stage." For now, these are all rumours, and we still have the Note line. But we're keeping our eyes out for any changes to suggest otherwise.