February 2023 – Page 15 – Tech News Feed

Rare, Jurassic-Era Giant Insect Discovered at Arkansas Walmart – CNET

A trip to buy milk turned into a stunning entomological find.

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Nothing Phone (2) confirmed to get a big power boost from a Snapdragon 8

The Nothing Phone (2) will use a powerful Snapdragon 8 series chipset, but at what cost?

The Nothing Phone (1) is a mid-range device, but for the Nothing Phone (2) it looks like the company could be targeting the high-end, as it’s set to pack a high-end chipset.

Specifically, Nothing announced during MWC 2023 that the Nothing Phone (2) will use a Snapdragon 8 series chipset, which are the top mobile chipsets Qualcomm makes.

Of course, there is more than one Snapdragon 8 series chipset, otherwise it wouldn’t be a series, and there’s every chance the Nothing Phone (2) won’t be using the top model, which currently is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, found in the likes of the OnePlus 11, nor a bespoke platform like you’ll find in the Samsung Galaxy S23 line.

Whatever platform Nothing chooses, any Snapdragon 8 series chipset should make for a substantial upgrade on the Snapdragon 778G Plus found in the Nothing Phone (1), so this is promising news, especially as our review of that phone listed the chipset performance as a weak point.

Nothing’s CEO Carl Pei announcing the use of a Snapdragon 8 series chipset (Image credit: TechRadar)

We might learn exactly which 8 series chipset will be used soon too, as Nothing has said we’ll hear more in the coming weeks. Unless Qualcomm is making something new, the phone will use either the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (found in the OnePlus 10 Pro among others), or the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, found in the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.

Either way, that makes for a powerful platform, and sounds like a promising upgrade – though of course it might mean this is also a more expensive handset than the Nothing Phone (1), and that phone’s price was one of its best selling points.

It sounds like Nothing is confident about the phone, as Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing, told us that “our engineering is a lot stronger than before. We had a lot of partners that were helping us on the outside, but today we have almost a hundred people, so the maturity of products at the same stage, is a lot higher

“We’ve run a lot of prototypes, unfortunately we can’t really share them just yet, but it’s been going much better than before.”

Analysis: what we know about the Nothing Phone (2)

So far, other than this news of the chipset, the Nothing Phone (2) is mostly a mystery, but not completely.

Nothing has confirmed that – unsurprisingly – the phone will land this year, and has also said that it will be a “more premium” smartphone, which fits with this chipset news.

Additionally, Nothing has previously said that the company is focusing on software improvements with the Phone (2).

Beyond that, we’d imagine that it will have a similarly head-turning design, but as for other features like the cameras and battery, that’s anyone’s guess for now. Hopefully we’ll find out more about this promising Android phone before long.

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Samsung Galaxy S23+ review: A solid phone that’s probably not worth the upgrade

Despite what companies would like you to believe, you don’t need to get a new phone every year or two. So while Samsung’s 2023 lineup of its Galaxy S flagship phones may seem underwhelming when compared to the last generation, it’s not a bad thing that these devices offer little reason to upgrade. It’s just that after having said the same thing about the 2022 models, as well as competing phones from Apple and Google, it feels hard to be excited about non-folding smartphones anymore.
Like most of the competition, Samsung has focused on tweaking the S23 series’ camera and software features, alongside small adjustments to display and design. We’ve also got the typical processor upgrade and promised battery life improvements, which are objectively good things on paper, but in reality don’t impact your daily use that much.
We’ve already reviewed the S23 Ultra which, thanks to a large screen, onboard S-Pen and 200-megapixel camera, is aggressively targeted at power users. For everyone else looking to get a new Android phone, there’s the S23+ or the S23. Samsung hasn’t made the smallest model available to review yet, so we’re focusing on the Plus model here. If you’re considering Samsung’s middle child, it’s probably only worth it if you’re currently using something at least three years old or if you’re outside the US.
Design
One of the most noticeable changes between the S23+ and its predecessor is this year’s cleaned up appearance. The two phones are basically the same, save for the shiny camera housing on the back of the older model, wrapping around the top left corner. Samsung introduced this “contour cut” housing on the S21, and I grew to like the aesthetic, especially on the lavender and pink versions.

Looking at the S22+ and S23+ side by side, I’m ambivalent – they’re both inoffensive. Whether you prefer the cleaner look depends on your personal taste. Functionally, nothing is too different between the two designs — the S23+ wobbles slightly less, but that was never a huge deal on the S22. I liked the lavender color of our review unit, as well as the green version I saw at Samsung’s hands-on event, but the cream and black options bore me.
In terms of physical dimensions, the differences between the two generations are negligible. They’re practically the same weight, width and length and exactly the same thickness. The S23+ is slimmer and lighter than the Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Plus, though those two have larger displays.
Display and audio
Speaking of, one area that Samsung did somewhat improve on the S23+ is its screen. Yes, it’s mostly the same as before, with the same size, same FHD+ resolution and an up to 120Hz refresh rate. By now you probably have heard reviewers like myself extol the virtues of screens with high refresh rates and how great they are for scrolling your Instagram or Reddit feeds. The S23+ is no exception.
Cherlynn Low / EngadgetBut it’s now capable of hitting up to 1,750 nits when outdoors compared to 1,200 nits before, meaning it should be easier to read in sunlight. There haven’t been many sunny days recently, so it’s been hard to put this to the test. But, the S23+ still offers a vibrant, colorful screen as is typical for Samsung’s mobile products.
Meanwhile, when it comes to audio, the Galaxy S23+ is as good as any flagship smartphone. That is to say it offers clear vocals and ample volume, but is slightly lacking in bass. Voices of The Weeknd, SZA and Rihanna all sounded clear in the songs that I listened to, though the instruments in the latter’s cover of Love On The Brain sounded a little messy.
Cameras
The triple rear camera system on the S23+ is the same as before. That is to say, its main 50-megapixel sensor is accompanied by a 10MP telephoto and a 12MP ultrawide. Up front, though, the S23+ has a new 12MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and 80-degree field of view.
Cherlynn Low / EngadgetAs a professional pixel peeper (™), I could make out just the slightest difference in sharpness between selfies taken with the S22+ and S23+, specifically in the highlighted strands of my hair. There was some distortion in the pictures taken with the older phone, whereas the same lines were tack sharp on the 12MP version. Overall, though, barring some general color temperature variations, it was hard to tell the two images apart.
Compared to the Pixel 7 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro, the S23+ has a slight advantage in retaining detail, thanks to its dual-pixel autofocus as well. I shot some selfies with a friend as we were cackling maniacally one night, and Samsung’s flagship was the only one that retained the gorgeous greens, purples and blues in her hair, while capturing every individual strand of her eyelashes. You could even see the texture of the pigmentation in her purple eyeshadow.
The Pixel’s 10.8MP front camera managed to capture the hues in her hair too, but its picture simply wasn’t as detailed or clear. Meanwhile, the iPhone’s 12MP photo barely showed any of the colors in my friend’s tresses.
Though they remain unchanged, the S23+’s rear cameras are still pretty capable. In most situations with adequate light, they deliver pictures that are similar in quality to the Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro. My shots of the New York cityscape one overcast day all showed slightly different coloring. The S23+ had the deepest, brightest blue, while the Pixel was the most neutral. Samsung’s 3x telephoto lens let me get the closest to faraway buildings and still get crisp pics, though Google’s algorithms still made for clean results.
In low light, however, the Pixel consistently outdid the S23+, with better exposure and retention of clarity in my numerous shots of mouth-watering food. Whether it’s a shiny fried shrimp or a plate of tantalizing scallops, the Pixel delivered more even highlights than the S23+. Google’s portrait mode also consistently kept subjects in focus, although every now and then the S23+ would produce a photo with surprisingly accurate outlines of my subjects.
While it’s not at the same level as Google’s or Apple’s flagship cameras, the S23+ isn’t lagging far behind and offers some versatility for those looking to take shots from a distance.
Performance and battery life
This year marks the first time Samsung is using a Snapdragon processor in all variants of the Galaxy S series, regardless of where they’re bought. That means if you were relegated to using a version with Samsung’s own Exynos chip in the past, getting an S23 would be a bigger upgrade for you than someone in the US. Exynos models have been criticized for performance and battery life drawbacks compared to their Snapdragon counterparts, so trading your S22 in for an S23 would make more sense in Europe or Asia than in the US.
The S23 series is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, which is a customized version of Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line mobile processor. It has slightly higher clock speeds than the regular edition, so if this is the only deciding factor for you when choosing between a Galaxy and, say, a OnePlus, then know that this difference is extremely slight.
Cherlynn Low / EngadgetIn daily use, the S23+ felt as zippy as any of the new phones I’ve tested lately. Whether I’m dragging and dropping my face between apps, learning Japanese on “Hey Japan,” mindlessly scrolling on Instagram or trying to get into Genshin: Impact, the S23+ never hiccuped. I generally expect pretty smooth performance out of new phones like this, so I can’t say I’m especially impressed, and it’s probably more realistic to evaluate performance after a few months with the phone.
I can, however, talk about how impressive the battery life has been. In general the S23+ has matched the Pixel 7 Pro that I also carried around while testing their cameras, and both devices stuck around for longer than two days without a charge. Granted, I wasn’t heavily using either during that time, mostly whipping them out to take photos and videos throughout the day.
On our video rundown battery test, the S23+ clocked a whopping 25 hours, which beats pretty much every phone we tested in 2022, as well as the Galaxy S23 Ultra and OnePlus 11.
Wrap-up
It might feel like nitpicking, but with so few meaningful changes, the S23+ doesn’t feel like it’s worth upgrading to if you’re using an S22 or S21. That is, at least, if you’re in the US. Those who are living with an Exynos version of an older Galaxy flagship will likely find a greater improvement in performance and battery life, making it a more worthy upgrade.
But just because the S23+ isn’t chock full of surprises and updates doesn’t mean it’s not a good phone. It still ranks up there as one of the best Android phones around. Samsung has consistently delivered capable phones with thoughtful software and features in the last few years and with the S23+, it continues to be a serious contender for those looking for an excellent Android phone.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-galaxy-s23-review-a-solid-phone-thats-probably-not-worth-the-upgrade-173026346.html?src=rss

Despite what companies would like you to believe, you don’t need to get a new phone every year or two. So while Samsung’s 2023 lineup of its Galaxy S flagship phones may seem underwhelming when compared to the last generation, it’s not a bad thing that these devices offer little reason to upgrade. It’s just that after having said the same thing about the 2022 models, as well as competing phones from Apple and Google, it feels hard to be excited about non-folding smartphones anymore.

Like most of the competition, Samsung has focused on tweaking the S23 series’ camera and software features, alongside small adjustments to display and design. We’ve also got the typical processor upgrade and promised battery life improvements, which are objectively good things on paper, but in reality don’t impact your daily use that much.

We’ve already reviewed the S23 Ultra which, thanks to a large screen, onboard S-Pen and 200-megapixel camera, is aggressively targeted at power users. For everyone else looking to get a new Android phone, there’s the S23+ or the S23. Samsung hasn’t made the smallest model available to review yet, so we’re focusing on the Plus model here. If you’re considering Samsung’s middle child, it’s probably only worth it if you’re currently using something at least three years old or if you’re outside the US.

Design

One of the most noticeable changes between the S23+ and its predecessor is this year’s cleaned up appearance. The two phones are basically the same, save for the shiny camera housing on the back of the older model, wrapping around the top left corner. Samsung introduced this “contour cut” housing on the S21, and I grew to like the aesthetic, especially on the lavender and pink versions.

Looking at the S22+ and S23+ side by side, I’m ambivalent – they’re both inoffensive. Whether you prefer the cleaner look depends on your personal taste. Functionally, nothing is too different between the two designs — the S23+ wobbles slightly less, but that was never a huge deal on the S22. I liked the lavender color of our review unit, as well as the green version I saw at Samsung’s hands-on event, but the cream and black options bore me.

In terms of physical dimensions, the differences between the two generations are negligible. They’re practically the same weight, width and length and exactly the same thickness. The S23+ is slimmer and lighter than the Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Plus, though those two have larger displays.

Display and audio

Speaking of, one area that Samsung did somewhat improve on the S23+ is its screen. Yes, it’s mostly the same as before, with the same size, same FHD+ resolution and an up to 120Hz refresh rate. By now you probably have heard reviewers like myself extol the virtues of screens with high refresh rates and how great they are for scrolling your Instagram or Reddit feeds. The S23+ is no exception.

Cherlynn Low / Engadget

But it’s now capable of hitting up to 1,750 nits when outdoors compared to 1,200 nits before, meaning it should be easier to read in sunlight. There haven’t been many sunny days recently, so it’s been hard to put this to the test. But, the S23+ still offers a vibrant, colorful screen as is typical for Samsung’s mobile products.

Meanwhile, when it comes to audio, the Galaxy S23+ is as good as any flagship smartphone. That is to say it offers clear vocals and ample volume, but is slightly lacking in bass. Voices of The Weeknd, SZA and Rihanna all sounded clear in the songs that I listened to, though the instruments in the latter’s cover of Love On The Brain sounded a little messy.

Cameras

The triple rear camera system on the S23+ is the same as before. That is to say, its main 50-megapixel sensor is accompanied by a 10MP telephoto and a 12MP ultrawide. Up front, though, the S23+ has a new 12MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and 80-degree field of view.

Cherlynn Low / Engadget

As a professional pixel peeper (™), I could make out just the slightest difference in sharpness between selfies taken with the S22+ and S23+, specifically in the highlighted strands of my hair. There was some distortion in the pictures taken with the older phone, whereas the same lines were tack sharp on the 12MP version. Overall, though, barring some general color temperature variations, it was hard to tell the two images apart.

Compared to the Pixel 7 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro, the S23+ has a slight advantage in retaining detail, thanks to its dual-pixel autofocus as well. I shot some selfies with a friend as we were cackling maniacally one night, and Samsung’s flagship was the only one that retained the gorgeous greens, purples and blues in her hair, while capturing every individual strand of her eyelashes. You could even see the texture of the pigmentation in her purple eyeshadow.

The Pixel’s 10.8MP front camera managed to capture the hues in her hair too, but its picture simply wasn’t as detailed or clear. Meanwhile, the iPhone’s 12MP photo barely showed any of the colors in my friend’s tresses.

Though they remain unchanged, the S23+’s rear cameras are still pretty capable. In most situations with adequate light, they deliver pictures that are similar in quality to the Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro. My shots of the New York cityscape one overcast day all showed slightly different coloring. The S23+ had the deepest, brightest blue, while the Pixel was the most neutral. Samsung’s 3x telephoto lens let me get the closest to faraway buildings and still get crisp pics, though Google’s algorithms still made for clean results.

In low light, however, the Pixel consistently outdid the S23+, with better exposure and retention of clarity in my numerous shots of mouth-watering food. Whether it’s a shiny fried shrimp or a plate of tantalizing scallops, the Pixel delivered more even highlights than the S23+. Google’s portrait mode also consistently kept subjects in focus, although every now and then the S23+ would produce a photo with surprisingly accurate outlines of my subjects.

While it’s not at the same level as Google’s or Apple’s flagship cameras, the S23+ isn’t lagging far behind and offers some versatility for those looking to take shots from a distance.

Performance and battery life

This year marks the first time Samsung is using a Snapdragon processor in all variants of the Galaxy S series, regardless of where they’re bought. That means if you were relegated to using a version with Samsung’s own Exynos chip in the past, getting an S23 would be a bigger upgrade for you than someone in the US. Exynos models have been criticized for performance and battery life drawbacks compared to their Snapdragon counterparts, so trading your S22 in for an S23 would make more sense in Europe or Asia than in the US.

The S23 series is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, which is a customized version of Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line mobile processor. It has slightly higher clock speeds than the regular edition, so if this is the only deciding factor for you when choosing between a Galaxy and, say, a OnePlus, then know that this difference is extremely slight.

Cherlynn Low / Engadget

In daily use, the S23+ felt as zippy as any of the new phones I’ve tested lately. Whether I’m dragging and dropping my face between apps, learning Japanese on “Hey Japan,” mindlessly scrolling on Instagram or trying to get into Genshin: Impact, the S23+ never hiccuped. I generally expect pretty smooth performance out of new phones like this, so I can’t say I’m especially impressed, and it’s probably more realistic to evaluate performance after a few months with the phone.

I can, however, talk about how impressive the battery life has been. In general the S23+ has matched the Pixel 7 Pro that I also carried around while testing their cameras, and both devices stuck around for longer than two days without a charge. Granted, I wasn’t heavily using either during that time, mostly whipping them out to take photos and videos throughout the day.

On our video rundown battery test, the S23+ clocked a whopping 25 hours, which beats pretty much every phone we tested in 2022, as well as the Galaxy S23 Ultra and OnePlus 11.

Wrap-up

It might feel like nitpicking, but with so few meaningful changes, the S23+ doesn’t feel like it’s worth upgrading to if you’re using an S22 or S21. That is, at least, if you’re in the US. Those who are living with an Exynos version of an older Galaxy flagship will likely find a greater improvement in performance and battery life, making it a more worthy upgrade.

But just because the S23+ isn’t chock full of surprises and updates doesn’t mean it’s not a good phone. It still ranks up there as one of the best Android phones around. Samsung has consistently delivered capable phones with thoughtful software and features in the last few years and with the S23+, it continues to be a serious contender for those looking for an excellent Android phone.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-galaxy-s23-review-a-solid-phone-thats-probably-not-worth-the-upgrade-173026346.html?src=rss

How Final Fantasy 16 is brought to life with PS5 hardware

Final Fantasy 16 benefits from the PS5’s hardware to deliver the boldest and most detailed RPG adventure yet.

Final Fantasy 16 is looking like the biggest and most detailed game in the series to date and takes full advantage of the PS5’s capabilities to achieve its lofty ambitions. It’s slated for a June 22 release.

The biggest difference that separates Final Fantasy 16 on PS5 from most of its predecessors is the real-time battle system which goes for all-out spectacle. This is done by utilizing the console’s NVMe SSD and GPU prowess for enemy encounters that just weren’t possible on older hardware.

A recent hands-on with Final Fantasy 16 from the PlayStation Blog has deep-dived into exactly why the RPG will become: “an essential PS5 title”. This can be evidenced through encounters with the Eikons, which are essentially giant monsters that you’ll have to face throughout your journey. Inspired by Japanese Kaiju, you’ll be taking on all manner of larger foes to see what you’re made of. From the early gameplay revealed, it’s looking to have more in common with something like God of War Ragnarok than your everyday JRPG.

(Image credit: Square Enix)

The combat appears to have taken influence from Devil May Cry 5 in terms of the sheer scale and cinematic flair. So, if you’re a fan of fast-paced spectacle fighters, Final Fantasy 16 should cater to you with the lengthy combos that can be pulled off and special Eikon-themed moves that are only a cooldown away.

For a game that’s this fast-paced, it’s no surprise that the PS5’s internal was required. The console uses NVMe Gen 4.0 technology and can be expanded with one of the best SSDs for PS5 if you’re running out of room on the system. This will mean a seamless game world without loading times, as some of the best PS5 games can go from menu to gameplay in less than 5 seconds. You won’t be having to wait around for long when entering new areas, fighting through random encounters, and watching cutscenes.

Though it hasn’t been detailed extensively, there has now been confirmed support for the DualSense’s haptic feedback. Little information is out there as to what role, if any, the adaptive triggers will play, but you should be able to get an immersive experience through the localized HD rumble. That means everything from explosions to more subtle movements will be captured as accurately as possible.

A world split

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Everything I’ve seen from Final Fantasy 16 looks incredibly promising. As someone who isn’t really into turn-based JRPGs, I definitely appreciate the more action-orientated tone that this upcoming release has in its approach to monster battles.

The concept of standing there and waiting for my time to strike never really sat right with me. Surely if a giant beast came down from the sky and started tearing things up, the last thing it would do would be to wait patiently before reducing the population to charcoal.

Other entries in the series have certainly experimented with real-time combat. We saw this with Final Fantasy 15’s Active Cross Battle System, and later with Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s Active Time Battle gauges. However, Final Fantasy 16’s combat looks faster and more dynamic than its predecessors and seems to offer a big step up for players. Instead of slowing things down, the action looks to be tight and focused, and will hopefully make for far more engaging, and challenging encounters.

Final Fantasy 16 may already have been outdone by a new 16-bit RPG