We've talked a lot about foldable smartphones this week. It seems that their time has come, and manufacturers have begun to actively master the relevant technologies. Moreover, the first samples showed what displays should be. Things should get easier now! In this episode, we will tell you about one of the most exciting and anticipated foldable smartphones of this year, which is already available to order. In addition, she again gave a reason to talk about herself Huawei. They made it clear that the imposed sanctions will not pass without leaving a trace for those who imposed them, even if they were removed. Well, the central news of recent days is the coronavirus from China. Because of this, not only users began to be afraid to order packages from China, but also many manufacturers have greatly adjusted the plan for the supply of their smartphones to other countries. What is the reason for this? Will discuss it in our traditional weekly newsletter.
The smartphone looks very interesting in the pictures
- Motorola started selling foldable Razr and released new videos about it
- US sanctions crashed sales Huawei. Apple became the leader
- Huawei, Xiaomi, Vivo, ZTE and Lenovo stop deliveries to Russia due to coronavirus
- Huawei promised not to return to Google services if US lifts sanctions
- US police call Android a more secure platform than iOS
Motorola started selling foldable Razr and released new videos about it
The day came when Motorola started accepting orders for the Razr announced last year Motorola. This smartphone is a continuation, or one might even say, a modern rethinking of the legendary push-button clamshell of the past, which at one time caused more respect for the wealth of its owner than the top-end configuration iPhone now. It was truly a legendary phone. Then it began to gradually fall in price, equaled in price with ordinary pipes, and after that it went into circulation altogether, giving way to smartphones. It would seem an inglorious end, but it is back and can already be ordered.
Are you waiting for such a smartphone?
It is worth mentioning that one of the most interesting novelties of the year can only be reserved in the United States, and even then only for Verizon customers. In the US, it is Verizon that has the exclusive rights to distribute the smartphone. The Razr itself will go on sale on February 6 at a price of $ 1,499, but it will hardly be possible to simply buy it, since the demand will be very high and Verizon promises to deliver the novelty around February 18.
Demand will also be high due to the relatively low price. It is $ 500 lower than the one that is sometimes voiced in relation to the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2. Although, according to updated information, it will be even lower than the price of the Razr, but we still have to wait for its release, Motorola has already done everything.
Also today there were several videos showing the new smartphone from all available sides. They allow you to make an even more complete impression of the new product.
The first video, called 'Discover razr', shows a general view of the smartphone with an emphasis on close-ups. He also demonstrates the box of the device. We've already covered why the box is important. Moreover, it provides sound amplification. This technology even has its own name – Nightstand Amplifier.
Based on the video, it becomes clear that the aspect ratio of the screen is 21: 9. Motorola calls this Cinematic Flex View. It is with this aspect ratio that professional videos are shot. Sony has tried this before, but not in clamshells. Apparently it did not work, but the price there was simply enormous.
In addition to the main 6.2-inch P – OLED display, there is also a 2.7-inch quick view display that displays notifications, makes mobile payments, controls streaming music, answers calls and takes selfies unnecessarily open the smartphone itself. Let me remind you that this was also the case on top-end clamshells in the era of their popularity.
Motorola claims the Razr will last all day thanks to a 2510mAh battery (it should charge quickly), and the nano-coating will keep rain and splash out.
The following video shows unpacking Motorola razr. Included, in addition to the smartphone itself, is a bag for carrying accessories, which includes a charger with support for “Turbo” mode. It will charge your smartphone for several hours in a few minutes. The case also contains a pair of Razr headphones. Phone buyers will need to consider activating an eSIM. It replaces the old-fashioned SIM card with a chip soldered to the motherboard.
The third video should explain to Razr owners how to take care of their new smartphone. In order not to damage the nano-coating of the display, it is necessary to wipe it gently and try not to get as little splashes as possible, although there is protection from them.
The manufacturer warns Razr owners not to use a screen protector. In addition, it is worth remembering that you cannot remove the film that was initially glued to the screen. Probably in order not to repeat the fate of the first Galaxy Fold games.
At the end, it is added that it is necessary to protect the smartphone from sharp objects and, before putting it into a pocket, fold it. In general, everything is logical. They said nothing new.
The following video shows how to use gestures on the Motorola Razr. For example, turning on the flashlight, taking a screenshot with a tap of three fingers, and the navigation button. In addition, you can turn on the camera by shaking the phone to the side. This is convenient when you don't want to separately trigger the camera. Perhaps this will save you a second or two.
The fifth video shows you how you can use the external display to switch music, caller ID, voice typing, or take selfies. There is nothing else in the video.
The last video is dedicated to the photo-capabilities of the novelty. For selfies, there is a gesture to start the timer. You just need to show your palm to the camera. In addition, the photo is automatically taken when the subject is smiling.
Portraits can be shot with blurred backgrounds, and lighting can be changed for dramatic effects. Night Vision allows you to shoot without flash in the dark, and “Camera Cartoon” makes shooting children more fun. A funny animation will be shown on the external display. Not forgotten, and the fashionable function “Cinemagraph”, which animates one part of the photo, while everything else remains static.
It is very difficult to answer this question unambiguously, since you must first touch it. One thing is certain – the smartphone will be very interesting. It's nice that the company has released just such a rethink. This is a very beautiful and timely move on her part. The main thing is that it doesn't work out like with the republished Nokia 3310.
Although, such a development of events is unlikely. It was just released at a time when no one needed it, and Razr came out not just as a tool of nostalgia, but also as soon as possible in the wake of the popularity of folding smartphones.
US sanctions crashed sales Huawei. Apple became the leader
Popular analytics agencies have finally released their smartphone sales statistics for 2019, including Q4 2019. While the results for the whole of 2019 may seem quite normal for many, the situation with the fourth quarter was completely unexpected. As you may have guessed, we are talking about a company Huawei, which was disconnected from Google services in May this year. This led to a significant drop in sales in the fourth quarter of 2019. At the same time, there is a significant growth in sales of the company's smartphones Apple. It is surprising, because many not so long ago said that the end of the Cupertinians would come soon, but, apparently, it is too early to bury the company Apple.
How much did the sanctions affect sales Huawei?
First, let's look at the statistics for the entire 2019. Compared to 2018 Huawei increased by 2%, while Samsung managed to increase its market share by 1%. Apple, one of the top three, lost one percent of the market, taking 13% compared to 14 percent a year earlier. Huawei meanwhile holds 16% of the market, while Samsung has 20%.
Smartphone shipments in 2019
From the graph below, you can see that in the first, second and third quarters of last year, Samsung and Huawei significantly increased their market share, but then there is a sharp decline, while in the case of Huawei the decline is more than significant and amounted to 7%. It is not entirely clear what caused the drop in sales of Samsung devices. The likely reason for this is a serious increase in consumer interest in devices Apple, which managed to deliver 78.4 million devices in the fourth quarter of 2019. Meanwhile, in the fourth quarter of 2019, Samsung delivered 70.8 million phones, and Huawei managed to deliver only 56 million devices, taking 15.2% of the market. Samsung occupied 19.2% of the market, and Apple 21.3% of the market. Amazing results.
Smartphone shipments in 2019 (chart)
Overall, in 2019, global smartphone shipments fell 2% to 1.37 billion units compared to 2018. And this despite the fact that in the third and fourth quarters there was an increase in consumer interest in phones.
Obviously, if it were not for a similar problem with sanctions, initiated by the US government, today Huawei could become the leader of the world market, but instead, we are seeing a serious deterioration in performance in the fourth quarter of 2019. Huawei previously said that even if the sanctions are lifted, it will not return to Google services, and this is a serious reputational blow to the American company. It is unlikely that in the future, Chinese manufacturers such as Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo will fully trust their counterparts in the United States. In addition, not so long ago Xiaomi announced that she has a plan in case the US leads sanctions against her. This situation is not very good for Google, and it's obvious. If the company Huawei manages to tidy up its app store, it will be a good example for others who instead of Google services will use services Huawei, simply because the Chinese trust the Chinese more, which is logical. Plus, Huawei offers a much lower percentage on its app store as a tax – just 15% compared to 30% on Google Play. This fact pushes app and game developers to take the App Gallery support issue more seriously.
It is very interesting what the sales of the company Huawei will be in 2020, because the recession is really very strong and not typical. Worldwide phone sales Huawei account for 40% of total sales, and at least you can expect a drop by that same 40%. In the worst case, the company can be turned away from within China, and the current state of affairs related to the spread of the new virus should not be discounted. Many already say that the new virus will seriously affect the economic situation in China, and, undoubtedly, the company Huawei may become part of all this. Already, in Russia, the supply of all Chinese devices for 2 weeks is prohibited, and it is not known what will happen next.
Another trump card in hand Huawei is its own operating system HarmonyOS. This is a new generation OS based on a microkernel, it can be installed both on smart watches and light bulbs, as well as on personal computers and smartphones. And due to special optimizations, as well as the removal of excess kernel code Linux, Huawei will make the system more optimized in comparison with Android. So far, of course, it is too early to say. But it is possible that the scenario could be just that, and many companies will want to use the system Huawei in their phones. In this case, Google is certainly not to be envied. It is interesting to know what our readers think about this. Share your opinion in the comments and do not forget to subscribe to us in Telegram.
Huawei, Xiaomi, Vivo, ZTE and Lenovo stop deliveries to Russia due to coronavirus
The smartphone market is an extremely fluid field, dependent on many external factors. Should one manufacturer receive less components for their devices and release a smaller batch of devices than originally planned, the balance of power in the market can change dramatically. Therefore, there will certainly be someone who will occupy an empty niche and strengthen their positions due to the miscalculations of competitors. But what if supply disruptions are experienced all at once?
All Chinese smartphones may disappear in Russia soon
Chinese brands Huawei, Honor, Xiaomi, Vivo, Realme, ZTE and Lenovo suspended the supply of branded smartphones to the Russian market due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, Kommersant learned. However, the reason for such a decision was not at all the requirement of local authorities, thus preventing the penetration of the virus into Russia. The fact is that the spread of the coronavirus has led to a limitation in the production of devices and, accordingly, a decrease in the export potential of manufacturers, who were forced to reduce supplies.
What will the shortage of Chinese smartphones lead to? To higher prices, of course
The decline in the supply of smartphones to the Russian market will be a temporary phenomenon, experts predict, and is likely to last about two weeks. Despite this, as a result, a shortage of goods may arise, which in turn will lead to a natural increase in prices for scarce goods by about 10-15%. Store shelves will definitely not empty completely, but it may happen that you have to run after some smartphones, researching other outlets for the availability of the necessary device.
However, some manufacturers promise that the reduction in supply volumes will not affect the availability of branded devices in Russian retail. According to representatives Vivo, imports will resume on February 10, however, the devices will be available from retailers throughout the period of forced holidays, which went to Chinese factories responsible for assembling equipment. The reason for this is due to the recent New Year holidays, for which retailers order even more smartphones from manufacturers, insuring themselves against possible shortages.
On the other hand, there are no guarantees on how the coronavirus will spread and whether factories will be able to get out of vacation after the promised two weeks. It is quite possible that the forced time-out will last for 3, 4, and even 5 weeks, and then the stocks possessed by domestic retailers will gradually run out, which in turn will lead to a real shortage. In this case, gray retailers who sell equipment imported into the country illegally will be able to hike prices, and smartphones, which are no longer available anywhere else, will still buy.
Scientists have found that a virus cannot live long in an open environment, and therefore it is simply impossible to transmit a disease with a package. Therefore, you should not be afraid of packages from Chinese sellers operating on sites like AliExpress. In the end, it is possible that at some point they will remain the only way to buy a smartphone without the crazy extra charges of local servo carriers. But where is the guarantee that the Chinese themselves will not raise prices, sensing the increased demand?
Huawei promised not to return to Google services if US lifts sanctions
Huawei is a great example of the resourcefulness that actually keeps the company afloat. Despite the fact that the US has banned Huawei from using Google services, the Chinese have figured out how to turn the situation to their advantage. They not only implemented a strategy to release new smartphones with existing components approved by Google before the imposition of sanctions, but also invested in the development of their own services, which in less than a year turned into a digestible replacement for Google Mobile Services. So much digestible that Huawei herself no longer wants to return to the old order.
Huawei decided not to use Google services anymore
Huawei will not return to using Google services even if the US lifts its sanctions and approves the collaboration of Huawei and the search giant. This statement was made by the manager of the Austrian representative office Huawei Fred Wangfei. According to him, the company wants to be independent of US policy, because there is no guarantee that even if the sanctions are lifted, their effect will not be renewed. For this reason Huawei plans to make every effort to create its ecosystem, which can compete with ecosystems Apple and Google.
Huawei will replace Google services with its own, and she is already doing pretty well
Despite the fact that Huawei does not intend to use Google services, Android will remain the main operating system on the basis of which the smartphones of the Chinese company will work. But in this case Android is a kind of shell that needs to be filled with various tools and services that can make it work. Right now, a team of 4,000 developers are working on solving this problem, who have already been able to design an alternative for 24 of the 60 APIs.
Perhaps the best success Huawei in the development of analogs to Google services can be traced on the example of AppGallery. In just six months, the Chinese company's own application catalog has turned from a little-known and practically useless – at least in our latitudes – kiosk into a full-fledged software supermarket. In any case, for a Russian user there is almost everything you need: car sharing services, bank clients, taxi aggregators, government services, and popular games. It remains only to agree with Facebook about placing in the directory of clients of social networks and WhatsApp.
Huawei understands that gaining complete independence from Google will not be easy, Wangfei admits. The lack of applications of the search giant, which many users are used to, will reduce the market share of devices Huawei. Even the $ 3 billion that the company has already invested in developing its services, most likely, will not allow it to compensate for the lack of Google services. However, as the position of their own ecosystem Huawei strengthens, users should begin to understand that the world does not end only with Google, and there are worthy alternatives on the market.
You can catch yourself thinking that you have practically stopped using Google services. Not out of principle, but simply because there are more functional and convenient analogues. You can contact Google Play only for updates, almost without downloading new applications, Gmail replaced Gmail with Spark, which I had been using for a long time on Mac, and instead of Google Maps I chose Maps.me. The only thing that is still difficult to refuse – and I don't want to, to be honest – is YouTube, Google Chrome and the Google Duo video calling service. But maybe Huawei will offer something of their own?
US police call Android a more secure platform than iOS
Probably, today there are no active smartphone users left who have not heard about encryption. Many, most likely, do not even understand the meaning of this term, but they are absolutely sure that this is something good, useful and, most importantly, necessary for their safety. In fact, knowing more, in general, is not required, because understanding the deep principles of encryption will hardly help you. Another thing is that Android, which has earned the fame of not the most secure operating system, unlike the same iOS, does not at all dispose to believe in the effectiveness of its protective mechanisms. But this, of course, is the deepest delusion.
Android turned out to be a more secure OS than iOS
This is Cellebrite's smartphone jailbreak device
Detective Rex Keizer, who conducts forensic investigations for the Fort Worth Police Department, USA, said that Android has made great strides in user safety. If a year ago law enforcement agencies could not hack iPhone and could hack Android smartphones, now access to most devices based on the operating system of the search giant turns out to be not even difficult, but simply impossible. According to Kaiser, the tool of the Israeli company Cellebrite, with the help of which the special services still successfully bypass security iOS, are nowhere near as effective in the case of Android.
However, Kaiser explains, it is completely wrong to believe that the protection Android is the exclusive merit of Google. In many ways, we should thank the manufacturers of smartphones for this, many of which do not use a pure operating system, but shells built on its basis. They allow not only to change the design of the interface, but also to modify the software platform as the manufacturer needs. Additional protective mechanisms that appear in third-party shells are one of their advantages. Another thing is that they are not being introduced for the sake of users, Kaiser is sure.
The expert believes that manufacturers are introducing protective mechanisms into their shells in order to discourage law enforcement. After all, if a smartphone cannot be hacked, firstly, this will provide it with a reputation as a reliable device and will attract users for whom it matters, and, secondly, it will show the manufacturer's integrity and dissuade the special services from turning to him for help. After all, the provision of any data is, first of all, material costs and only secondly – reputation losses.
Does all this mean that hacking Android is not a smartphone? Of course not. It's just that this process today may turn out to be even more difficult than hacking iPhone. Indeed, as practice shows, it is not particularly difficult for law enforcement agencies to hack even iPhone 11, which is equipped with a special processor that encrypts data. However Android is proving to be a more secure platform today, at least according to the forensic expert. We fully admit this possibility, since Android is distinguished by a high level of fragmentation, which consists in an abundance of different shells and often completely unique security tools.