Sony Xperia X Series 2017 news, rumors, and release dates

Why it matters to you

Sony’s newest smartphones will likely feature great cameras at reasonable price points.

Sony had quite a 2016, but its 2017 looks to be even more exciting. So far, we’ve seen the Sony Xperia XZs, XZ Premium, XA1, and XA1 Ultra.

Despite those releases, rumor has it potentially even more phones are right around the corner — and we’ve already started hearing about them. Sony reportedly has three other handsets in the pipeline: the Xperia XZ1, XZ1 Compact, and X1. Although we don’t know much about them just yet, it’s believed they could debut at this year’s International Franchise Association Conference in Berlin in September.

While initial reports suggested Sony was also prepping a successor to last year’s Xperia X and X Compact, the company confirmed during its yearly investor meeting that it will be discontinuing that line to focus instead on true flagships and midrange models. The Xperia X was positioned as Sony’s “Premium Standard” family — devices offering nearly high-end internals without the high-end price tag.

Here’s everything we know about Sony’s upcoming devices, as well as pricing and availability information for those that have already been revealed.

Sony Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact

The Xperia XZ1 is pegged to be Sony’s next flagship, and leaked specifications, courtesy of German site Review.ge by way of Playfuldroid, would support that claim. The XZ1 will reportedly feature a 5.2-inch 1080p display, driven by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 system-on-chip. The device will pack 4GB of RAM as well as a 3,000mAh battery, according to the rumors.

In classic Sony fashion, the XZ1 is expected to launch alongside a smaller device packing similar power. The XZ1 Compact, as it’s called, will feature the same processor and memory as its larger sibling, only with a 4.6-inch 720p display and a 2,800mAh battery.

Both of these devices are rumored to launch at the upcoming IFA Conference in Berlin, alongside yet another product: the Xperia X1.

Sony Xperia X1

The X1 is purported to complement the XA1 and XA1 Ultra released earlier this year as another of Sony’s midrange offerings. The primary difference may be the silicon powering the device: while the XA1 and XA1 Ultra pack MediaTek’s Helio P20 processor, the X1 will reportedly receive Qualcomm’s just-revealed Snapdragon 660. With 4GB of RAM, the X1 could be much more powerful than those two phones.

Otherwise, the X1 will reportedly contain a 5-inch 1080p screen as well as a 2,800mAh battery. All the phones expected to launch at IFA have been linked to new camera technology that will allow “full pixel continuous shooting,” according to the Review.ge report.

Sony Xperia XA1

Sony Xperia XA1

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

While the Xperia XZ series is Sony’s flagship lineup, the Xperia XA is decidedly more midrange. The Xperia XA1 has a 5.0-inch display with a 720 x 1,280 resolution, and under the hood it’s powered by a MediaTek Helio P20 processor, coupled with 3GB of RAM. When it comes to storage, the phone features 32GB — however it does have a MicroSD card slot for more storage if you so choose.

Then comes the cameras, and the rear-facing camera has a 23-megapixel sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, while the front-facing camera’s sensor sits in at 8 megapixels.

The Xperia XA1 will cost $300 unlocked, which is quite pricey for its features — especially when you consider cheaper competitors like the new Moto G5. It will release in the United States on May 1, and can be pre-ordered immediately from Amazon and Best Buy. Other retailers, such as Fry’s and B&H, will also carry the device. You can read our first take hands-on report here.

Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra

Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra is a slightly higher-powered version of the standard XA1, however the two phones share many of the same specs. For example, the device does feature a MediaTek Helio P20 processor, along with 4GB of RAM. When it comes to storage, the phone offers 32GB — although once again you’ll get a microSD card slot to add as much as 256GB of storage.

Once again, the camera has a 23-megapixel sensor, while the front-facing camera has been upgraded to a 16-megapixel shooter. There is currently no word on the XA1 Ultra’s availability yet, but it should arrive sometime in the summer. Here’s what we thought of the phone when we got our hands on it.

 Sony Xperia XZs

Sony Xperia XZs

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Xperia XZs may not be as high-powered as the Xperia XZ Premium, but it still has quite a lot to offer. For example, the phone features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 — which is Qualcomm’s 2015 flagship processor. Sony has coupled that chip with 4GB of RAM and either 32GB or 64GB of storage.

The rear-facing camera on the Xperia XZs is the same 19-megapixel shooter as the XZ Premium, while the front-facing camera comes in at 13-megapixels. The display on the phone may not be as important as the XZ Premium, but it’s still relatively nice with its 1,080 x 1,920 5.2-inch display. The phone is available as of April 5, and costs $700. Check out our hands-on report here

Sony Xperia XZ Premium

Sony Xperia XZ Premium (left) Sony Xperia XZs (right)

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Sony launched the Xperia XZ in September but soon launched a follow-up at MWC in the form of the Xperia XZ Premium. The new device has quite a lot to offer in the specs department, and could come at a decent price for a flagship, too.

Under the hood, the device features the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, making it one of the first devices to do so. Accompanying that chip, the device offers 4GB of RAM and a nice 64GB of storage — however that storage can be upgraded with the MicroSD card by up to 256GB. The rear-facing camera sits in at 19-megapixels with an f/2.0 aperture, while the front-facing camera comes in at 13-megapixels, also with an f/2.0 aperture.

When it comes to the display, the phone has a 5.46-inch screen with a resolution of a massive 3,840 x 2,160 and a 807 pixels-per-inch.

We don’t know exactly when the phone will be available for purchase beyond “late spring,” nor do we know how much it will cost.

Article updated on 05-24-2017 by Adam Ismail: Added rumors about the XZ1, XZ1 Compact, and X1, as well as news that Sony will not release new Xperia X models.

Need to scale down a massive image file? Here’s how to do it in seconds

This article was updated on 5-19-2017 by Tyler Lacoma to include instructions for Paint and Resizer.

Resizing an image doesn’t have to be rocket science. It’s true that more robust image-editing software sports all sorts of magical functions — i.e., content-aware analysis and 3D rendering, among other highlights — but resizing an image is as basic as it gets.

Almost all, if not all, image-editing software contains easily-accessible resizing tools that can resize your image to your desired proportions, whether it be in pixels, inches, or by a specified percentage change. Below, we’ve outlined five tools that allow you to do so, including those for both Windows and MacOS. Also, check out our picks for the best free image-editing tools, if you’re looking for some capable programs without having to resort to your savings fund.

Note: Although it is generally fine to shrink an image, enlarging an image often results in quality degradation, reducing the image’s crispness and visual fidelity. Just keep that in mind when re-sizing. 

Photoshop, GIMP, and Preview

Photoshop — Windows and MacOS

Photoshop is a fantastic tool for resizing an image if you already have Adobe’s flagship software buried within your image-editing arsenal. Read on to find out how to use it for resizing images.

Step 1: Launch Photoshop and open your image

Launch whatever version of Photoshop you have installed and open the image you’d like to resize. To do so, click File in the Photoshop top menu and choose Open from the resulting drop-down menu. Afterward, select your image from its save location and click the Open button in the bottom-right corner.

Step 2: Resize your image

Once you’ve opened the image, click Image in the Photoshop top menu and choose Image Size from the resulting drop-down menu. A small pop-up window will appear housing various options for resizing and altering your image to your preferred specifications. Select your desired width and height — either by specifying the dimensions in pixels or percentage — and make sure the “Constrain Proportions” and “Resample image” boxes are checked. This will ensure you maintain the proper proportions when rescaling your image. When finished, click the OK button in the upper corner of the window.

GIMP — Windows and MacOS

GIMP, aka GNU Image Manipulation Program, is the Wikipedia of image-editing software; it’s an open-source application that is fueled by a community of volunteers hellbent on making the freemium application a high-quality rival to the many more robust software suites available on the web. It’s a powerful tool that touts basic and more advanced features alike, albeit with a high learning curve akin to Photoshop and other similar software.

Step 1: Download and launch GIMP. 

Head to the GIMP homepage and click the orange Download button in the upper-right corner to download the executable file. Once finished, run the necessary installation software before launching the program by navigating to your main application or program folder and clicking the GIMP icon. When installing the application, remain wary of any additional add-ons, toolbars, or general malware that may come bundled with the software.

Step 2: Open your image.

Once open, click File in the GIMP top menu and choose Open from the resulting drop-down menu. Then, select your image from its save location and click the Open button in the bottom-right corner.

Step 3: Resize your image.

Once the image is opened, click Image in the GIMP top menu and choose Scale Image from the resulting drop-down menu. A small pop-up window will appear housing various options for resizing and altering your image to your preferred specifications. Select your desired width and height by specifying the dimensions in pixels, inches, or picas, among other options, and click the Scale button at the bottom of the window.

Preview — MacOS

There’s a reason Preview has come pre-installed on all versions of MacOS for more than a decade. The built-in application is a fantastic, lightweight tool for making basic photo edits and adjustments, in lieu of more intensive software like Photoshop. Preview is typically set as the default program for viewing images and PDFs, hence it’s usually the first program to open your newly-imported images and doesn’t require any external software.

Step 1: Launch Preview and open your image.

Click the Preview icon depicting two photos and a magnifying glass in the main applications folder to launch the program. Once open, click File in the Preview top menu and choose Open from the resulting drop-down menu. Next, select your image from its save location and click the Open button in the bottom-right corner.

Step 2: Resize your image.

Once you’ve opened the image, click Tools in the Preview top menu and choose Adjust Size from the resulting drop-down menu. A small pop-up window housing various options for resizing and altering your image to your preferred specifications will appear. Choose from the custom presets at the top or select your desired width and height — either by specifying the dimensions in pixels, inches, centimeters, or percentage, among a host of other options — and make sure the “Scale proportionality” and “Resample image” boxes are checked, as to maintain the proper proportions when rescaling your image. When finished, click the OK button in the upper-right corner.

Video: Google’s crazy experiments from I/O 2017

Google I/O is about more than just keynote presentations, big announcements, developer sessions and sunburn. Each year, Google also has a tent full of wacky computational “experiments” based around some of its most important products, platforms and technologies, and I/O 2017 was no exception. This year’s “Experiments” tent combined everything from machine vision, with an AI-powered electronica robot, to VR ping-pong and machine learning picture recognition games.

As the show was winding down late last week, we stopped by the tent in question to capture these experiments in all their glory. Check out our video feature above to see how both professional and amateur developers are using Google’s technology to do fun, crazy and interesting things!

• Android Central on YouTube
• More on Google I/O 2017 experiments
• All the big announcements from I/O 2017

How to set up Samsung’s Secure Folder on the Galaxy S8

Secure Folder makes it easy to keep your stuff where only you can get to it.

Secure Folder is a component of Samsung Knox that gives you a “compartment” to hold apps and files that is separate from the rest of the phone. You don’t need to create a new user or go through any hoops to get it up and running, and once you’re all set up you can not only keep private files private but you can also use apps with a separate user login, or add apps that you only use through your secured profile.

Secure Folder is one of those awesome things Samsung offers on every Galaxy S8 or (Galaxy S7 with Android 7.0) so you don’t have to go looking for an app that tries to do the same thing.

As mentioned, it’s easy to get started.

Set up Secure Folder

Secure Folder uses your Samsung account, so you’ll need to have that setup and running. If you downloaded anything from Samsung Apps you’re already set up. If not, the easiest way to do it is to open Samsung Apps and check out some icon themes. You’ll be walked through the setup process. Don’t worry, it’s easy. Once that’s done, here’s how to set up Secure Folder.

Open the device settings by tapping the gear icon in the upper right corner of your notification shade.
Scroll down until you see the Lock screen and security section. Tap to open it.
Scroll down until you see the Secure Folder entry and tap it to open the setup process.
Log in with your Samsung account.

A few apps are part of Secure Folder by default, but you can add or remove most any app you like.

You’ll see a short tutorial about what Secure Folder is and what it can do that you should look at. The setup process itself is simple. You sign in, agree to the terms and conditions, and set an unlocking method. you can use the same options you use to unlock your phone: Pattern, PIN, Password, Fingerprint or Iris. This sets up Secure Folder with a few apps already there (Gallery, Calendar, Contacts, Email, Camera, Internet and My Files) ready for use. You can also add more, and any app you have installed on your phone can be copied to Secure Folder. You can also copy any file to Secure Folder’s storage.

This adds a Secure Folder icon in your apps list. To get inside, you tap the icon and you’re prompted to sign in with whatever method you used during the setup. You can customize the icon and name of the Secure Folder app, and if you go back to the Secure Folder section in your device settings you’ll now find other options. Be sure to take a look at them and set things up the way you like them.

Using Secure Folder

This is the cool part. When an app is copied to Secure Folder, it’s a completely separate installation. That means it doesn’t share any data with the “regular” version of the app and you can log in with a different username. Things you download or save while using an app from Secure Folder aren’t available through the regular version of an app, and you can even manually move files like photos or documents to Secure Folder to keep them private.

To install an app to Secure Folder

Open the Secure Folder app from your app drawer by tapping the icon.
Log in with the method you chose when you set things up.
Look for the Add apps button and tap it.
Choose an app from your phone or download an app through Google Play or Samsung Apps.

Data you save from an app in Secure Folder isn’t available to a ‘regular’ version of the same app.

Now your new app will be inside the Secure Folder app, ready to use and completely private. You use the apps the same way you would have before, but remember that you can’t share data between the secure version and the regular version. That means if you do something like add a calendar appointment through Secure Folder it won’t show in the normal calendar.

You can also edit the apps you have put in Secure Folder by tapping the Edit apps button instead of the Add apps button. Choose any apps you want to remove from Secure Folder or apps you want to place a direct shortcut to the secure version of on your home screen and make the corresponding choice.

To manually move files to Secure Folder

Open the Secure Folder app from your app drawer by tapping the icon.
Log in with the method you chose when you set things up.
Look for the Add files button and tap it.
Choose the file you want to be placed in the Secure Folder storage area.

You can copy files to Secure Folder or move the originals. Remember that they will still be visible outside of Secure Folder if you copy them.

You can add any file to Secure Folder by choosing the My Files button when you add a file. This opens the file browser, and from there you just choose it like you normally would. You can also filter for just pictures, music, documents and videos by using the shortcuts when you tap the Add files button.

You have a choice to move or copy files from the regular storage to the Secure Folder. If you choose to copy them you’ll still have the original that is available through any app. If you choose to move them, you’ll only be able to access them through Secure Folder.

This is awesome

Privacy is pretty important. Secure Folder gives us an option to hide files and apps from view even if we lose or phones without having to encrypt the entire SD card. The concept isn’t exactly new, but Samsung native implementation is great and it’s something you should have a look at!

OnePlus 5 confirmed to have Snapdragon 835 processor, surprising nobody

We’ll always take a proper confirmation.

The upcoming OnePlus 5 will have a Snapdragon 835 processor, matching the top-end power offered by just about every other flagship launched in 2017. OnePlus CEO Pete Lau made a post on the OnePlus Forums to confirm everyone’s suspicions on the processor choice, and go further in depth on performance aspirations for the OnePlus 5.

Having a Snapdragon 835 is simply a spec, as we all know, and while it’s something we love to point to when choosing a new phone it isn’t nearly as important as the actual performance of the device it’s in. Lau acknowledges this in his post:

But choosing the right components is only the first step. You also have to optimize performance to create the best user experience. When we began developing the OnePlus 5, we envisioned a smartphone with flawlessly smooth performance.

He goes on to explain that OnePlus is focusing on multiple performance and experience areas that start with the Snapdragon 835 and go up from there. Lau calls out examples of improved touch response (something often noted as slightly lagging behind on OnePlus phones) and better handling of apps for improved responsiveness around the entire phone.

These are the types of performance levels you expect all smartphone makers to be working on, but it’s great to see OnePlus pointing out publicly that it’s focusing on them. By setting standards for itself ahead of time, we can hold the OnePlus 5 to a higher standard as well — and hopefully it lives up to it.

Facebook redesigns Trending topics in its war on filter bubbles

The fight against filter bubbles is on. Facebook’s latest redesign focuses on its Trending news section, and it’s a direct attempt to combat the “filter bubble” effect that happens in many users’ timelines. The update changes the results page when you click on a Trending topic — instead of a single news source, you’ll see a carousel of publications writing about that item.

“By making it easier to see what other news outlets are saying about each topic, we hope that people will feel more informed about the news in their region,” Facebook says. “The stories that appear in this section are some of the most popular stories about that topic on Facebook. These stories are determined the same way as the featured headline — using a combination of factors including the engagement around the article on Facebook, the engagement around the publisher overall, and whether other articles are linking to it.”

Any publication is eligible to be featured in the Trending carousel, and Facebook hasn’t outlined any strategies for filtering out unreliable news sources in this section — a problem the company has faced in the past. This redesign doesn’t change the way Facebook finds Trending topics.

The update is live on iPhones in the United States, and it’s heading to Android and desktop soon.

Facebook is also experimenting with discoverability on mobile devices. “One of the things we regularly hear from people who use Trending is that it can be difficult to find in the Facebook mobile app,” the company says.

A handful of smartphone users will see the top three Trending topics directly in their News Feeds, and Facebook plans to use this test to fine-tune a new mobile layout.

Source: Facebook

Doomed Mars lander wasn’t equipped for supersonic conditions

Last October, the European Space Agency (ESA) lost contact with the ExoMars Schiaparelli lander as it descended to Mars’ surface. A few days later, the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter snapped a picture of Schiaparelli’s landing site and discovered where the lander crashed into the planet’s surface.

Now, an ESA inquiry board has finally pinpointed the cause of Schiaparelli’s landing failure: a computer glitch due to extreme descent conditions.

The Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) was designed to measure Schiaparelli’s inertial velocity, but it fed bad data to the guidance computer because of a glitch. The computer believed the lander was already on the surface, or very close to it, and did not fire the braking thrusters for a sufficient amount of time. As a result, Schiaparelli, which was still a whopping 3.7 km above Mars, impacted the surface at approximately 150 m/s.

But what led to the IMU’s glitch? That was the purpose of the investigation. The board quickly ruled out an internal malfunction — the component worked as it was designed to. Instead, the board’s report says, “The high dynamic phenomenon experienced during the parachute deployment phase was not due to the failure of a specific subsystem or component but rather due to a natural phenomenon caused by a combination of various parameters, which were not properly predicted/expected before flight.”

It’s not necessarily human error, because the system was designed to handle modeled conditions and functioned properly. The problem was the supersonic conditions were more severe than anything scientists had predicted and the IMU simply could not cope.

The report concludes with recommendations to avoid this problem for the ExoMars 2020 lander: more modeling, a more robust design and more rigorous testing and standards for hardware.

Nothing is easy when it comes to space flight. Scientists and engineers can test and retest every component, but when you’re dealing with the unknown, even the highest standards may not be enough. All you can do apply what you’ve learned from these costly errors to the next project, and hope they don’t happen again.

Source: European Space Agency