ITy Bytes 10 May are small news nuggets to keep you informed.
In ITy Bytes 10 May
- Huawei to pursue innovation and growth in other areas;
- Huawei adds dual view camera to P30 and P30 Pro camera phone;
- Samsung Galaxy Note10 may have a 50W (or higher) charger;
- Windows to allow Android phone notifications on the desktop – and you can answer them too;
- UK to legislate to make IoT home devices safer out of the box;
Huawei to pursue innovation and growth in other areas
While Huawei remains locked out of some key 5G infrastructure markets, its boffins are busy looking at other products that utilise the mega-electronics companies IP and help make it a global household name.
Huawei’s first attempt is to add TV sets to its ‘ecosystem’ of consumer electronics which already includes excellent smartphones, laptops and wearable devices.
For example, it is preparing an 8K TV with a built-in 5G router and Wi-Fi networking. The TV utilises its existing screen maker investments in BOE and China Star Optoelectronics Technology.
Its HiSilicon Technologies is already the world’s second-largest provider of TV chipsets. It’s Balong 5G chipset/modem/router technology it more than capable of downloading data-heavy content, such as 360° videos which viewers can watch in every direction, and virtual reality programs.
Huawei also says it will be a top five PC maker by 2021. Currently, this is HP and Lenovo (neck and neck), Dell, ASUS and Acer – which will it knock off and what is its endgame? Its Matebook series has won universal applause for quality and performance (GadgetGuy review here).
Huawei currently uses Intel CPUs but is developing its own x86 processors as well as a Windows compatible operating system as part of the countries Made in China 2025 vision. It is likely we will never see these outside China.
The key to becoming a household name is to expand well beyond smartphones, laptops, speakers, earphones, wearables and TVs to build an aspirational brand and ecosystem.
Huawei adds dual view camera to P30 and P30 Pro camera phone
The new Dual-View Camera Mode (free OTA firmware upgrade) creates split-screen videos by simultaneously using the phone’s primary camera and its zoom lens, showing two perspectives at once on the screen – one overall and the other, 2x to 15x zoomed-in.
Top features of the Dual-View Camera Mode in the P30 and P30 Pro include:
- Capturing a wide view with more of the background and surrounding objects
- Simultaneously zooming in on desired subjects via the split screen
- Shooting two different angles, panoramic and close up, at the same time
- Ability to adjust the magnification level
- Taking artsy and creative shots for a vivid recollection of special moments
We say – that is a cool software addition from a company out to impress! GadgetGuy gave the excellent P30 Pro and rates it a 5-out-of-5.
Samsung Galaxy Note10 may have a 50W (or higher) charger
When OPPO introduced the SuperVOOC 50W charger (2x25W channels) on its Find X Lamborghini, we rejoiced. Samsung Note10 is likely to have a 50W or higher capable of a full charge in less than 30 minutes. Add that to its use of the new Galaxy S10 5G camera (which ties with Huawei P30 Pro) and a selfie camera which thrashes all comers, and this could be the year’s best phone. Oh, and next-gen RAM and storage that redefine smartphone data access speeds.
The dual front camera O-hole (which is less polarising than the ‘Notch’ may also receive attention with some leaks suggesting it has managed to get the second IR depth lens under glass allowing a single O-hole.
A smaller 6-inch Galaxy Note10e has been spotted in performance tests. It does not have an on-screen ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and triple camera arrays of the Galaxy S10/+.
You can read the rest of the Note10 rumours here.
Windows to allow Android phone notifications on the desktop – and you can answer them too
Coming soon (it is on Windows Insider now) is an upgrade to ‘Your Phone’ that will allow a paired Android smartphone to display notifications (of your choosing) on the Windows Desktop. Although not functional yet you will be able to respond to without accessing your phone.
And in the ‘interesting’ category Microsoft will separate Windows 10 feature updates from security updates. Users can easily disable feature updates if they are concerned about older system instability.
This is yet another sign that CEO Satya Nadella is smarter than the average CEO and has been the driving force in Microsoft’s return to cool as the third US$1 trillion cap company and stay there.
UK to legislate to make IoT home devices safer out of the box
The UK is legislating cybersecurity by design for IoT devices that are incredibly easy to hack, compromise home networks or make them part of a DDOS botnet.
Of course, that does not address the millions of devices already in use so please read GadgetGuy’s Five steps to secure your IoT network.
One of the first issues is that there must be no default admin password like admin/admin. Each device must have a pre-set unique device password that is not resettable to a ‘factory default’. That could cause issues if you forget the password, but it should be printed on the device.
Next, Manufacturers must commit to a minimum time that that device receives firmware and security updates.
New devices must carry a security label to show compliance although this is voluntary at present.
In February, ETSI (European Standards Organisation) Iaunched Technical Specification 103 645, the first globally-applicable industry standard on the cybersecurity of Internet-connected consumer devices. TS 103 645 builds on the Code of Practice for Consumer IoT Security for wider European and global needs. Cybersecurity Tech Accord signatories endorsed the ETSI TS 103 645 in March 2019.
ETSI standards cover 13 issues. We all need to do more to secure IoT which includes routers, security systems (cameras, doorbells, locks), home appliances, climate control, environment monitors, lighting, smart plugs and more. The UK (and California) laws are a great start but go nowhere near far enough.
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