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14
Dec

Spotify and Deezer urge EU to lean on Apple


Streaming is single-handedly boosting music sales and Spotify doesn’t want any one behemoth (see Apple) gaining a stranglehold over the booming market. It got its wish when the EU promised “legislative instruments” to help out the little guy, specifically smaller firms that fear bigger corporations could stifle them by imposing strict rules on their apps. Seven months later, there’s no new laws in sight, so Spotify (along with its original ally Deezer) is knocking on the EU’s door once more, reports the Financial Times.

In a letter to the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek and Deezer chief executive Hans-Holger Albrecht urge the ratification of methods to ensure a “level playing field” by curtailing firms that are “regularly abusing their advantaged position.”

Spotify and Deezer are reportedly unhappy that Apple takes a 30 percent cut from the subscription fee when a user signs up for their respective services via the App Store. And, it seems Apple’s decision to change that to a 15 percent slice after the first year wasn’t good enough. Spotify is also clearly still upset over Apple’s decision to hold back one of its app updates last year, for which it accused the tech titan of trying to squash competition.

This time round, the companies have a new partner in the form of UK shopping comparison site Foundem, which is likely more concerned about Amazon, along with a bunch of European game developers and digital publishers. They all agree that the new regulations should “go beyond mere transparency requirements, which alone will not ensure platforms act as gateways rather than become gatekeepers to the digital economy.”

In June, the EU imposed a record $2.7 billion fine on Google for unfairly directing users to its own products over those of its rivals. Although the penalty caused no real dent in the big G’s profits, the two music services are evidently hoping that regulators will follow up with legislative measures that make for a fairer playing field.

Source: Financial Times

14
Dec

Twitterrific 5.18 for iOS Gains New Black Theme Made for iPhone X, Tweet Poll Detection, and More


Third-party Twitter app Twitterrific reached version 5.18 on Thursday, bringing several improvements including an additional dark visual theme and tweet poll detection.

In what should come as good news to heavy users on iPhone X, Twitterrific has added a new energy-saving “true black” theme, which now appears as an option alongside the existing dark theme.

The Theme panel has also been expanded in other ways, including support for avatar shapes – rounded rectangle, squircle, circle and square – improved font size selections, and bonus app icons that can be unlocked by using Twitterrific for Mac or the Tip Jar.

Building on a recently introduced feature in the latest version of the Mac app, Twitterrific for iOS now recognizes polls in feeds, indicated by a button at the bottom of a tweet.

Clicking the button opens the poll in an integrated mini-browser that users can then use to submit their vote. Users can also now tag their own tweets with #poll or use a graph or ballot box Emoji at the beginning or end, and the app will recognize them as such.

Elsewhere, a number of improvements to the app have been made across the board. Highlights include: Muffle rules that can now be deactivated without having to delete them, automatically deactivating themselves after 60 days of inactivity; unread tweet indicator dots; support for Dynamic Type; and timestamps for quoted tweets that now also respect the hidden thumbnail mode.

Twitterrific for iOS v5.18 is a free download on the App Store for iPhone and iPad. [Direct Link] while Twitterrific 5.2 for Mac is $19.99 on the Mac App Store [Direct Link].

Tag: Twitteriffic
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14
Dec

A gang’s illegal drone delivery service just landed them in jail


Drone delivery services have been up and running in the U.K. for some time now. The only problem is they’re illegal because they involve flying contraband into prisons.

A criminal trial in the U.K. this week highlights how the humble quadcopter is causing a real headache for prison operators across the country. The trial ended with eight people heading to jail after they were found guilty of using the diminutive flying machine to smuggle items such as drugs, weapons, and phones into at least five different prisons over a period of nearly two years.

The carefully orchestrated operation involved the drone gang, contacts inside prisons, and contraband worth up to one million pounds (about $1.34 million).

Police had evidence of at least 49 illegal drone flights, with some using fishing lines and hooks to fly the items close to prison cell windows. Inmates who were expecting deliveries used items such as broom handles to grab the goods from the drones as they hovered outside.

The gang came to the attention of police purely by chance after cameras set up in a field to record wildlife caught the perpetrators in action, the BBC reported.

The footage showed several members of the gang in the field a short distance from one of the prisons as they prepared to send the drone, apparently a Phantom model made by leading drone firm DJI, on its mission over the prison walls.

Other security footage from inside the prisons showed prisoners entering cells and before leaving with items that were believed to have been delivered by the drone.

Birmingham Crown Court handed out the heaviest prison sentence — seven years and two months — to Craig Hickinbottom, 35, who organized the illegal drone delivery scheme from behind bars where he was already serving time for other crimes. The key player on the outside was drone pilot Mervyn Foster, 36, who was given six years and eight months of jail time. Six others were given shorter sentences for their parts in the crime.

Judge Roderick Henderson, who oversaw the trial, told the court: “Prisons are difficult enough places to run. They contain people who are dangerous and vulnerable. Supplying things into prison that should not be there — drugs, phones, tools and the like — threatens proper management and creates real risks of violence and loss of control and discipline. To do that is desperately serious.”

As in the U.S., whose prison operators face the same challenge, the U.K. authorities are looking at solutions to prevent remotely controlled copters from carrying contraband over prison walls. Earlier this year, for example, a prison started testing a 600-meter-high (about 2,000 feet) “drone shield” designed to jam the signal and thereby disable any drone that flies close to its perimeter. Les Nicolles prison on the British island of Guernsey is thought to be the first jail in the world to use such a shield.

Editors’ Recommendations

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  • New Jersey aims to get tough on sloshed drone pilots
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  • The top 10 most expensive drones that you (a civilian) can buy
  • Drones are helping French traffic cops catch hundreds of dangerous drivers




14
Dec

Autonomous helicopter completes Marine resupply simulation


Drones have become a part of the modern battlefield, but what about autonomous full-size aircraft? Aurora Flight Sciences just successfully demonstrated its self-flying setup, the Autonomous Aerial Cargo Utility System (AACUS), enabling an older helicopter to fly itself at soldiers’ requests. In the future, troops in the field could use this tech to order autonomous supply deliveries with nothing more complicated than a tablet.

Officials at ONR and their industry partners @AuroraFlightSci announced today a successful, final flight demonstration of an AACUS-enabled helicopter. #AACUS can be installed on any helicopter to increase its capability to full autonomy. https://t.co/qtEkrVpVSd pic.twitter.com/gHPUFMiTsW

— ONR (@USNavyResearch) December 13, 2017

For the company’s live test before Navy officials, Aurora installed AACUS an existing UH-1H helicopter, which had been outfitted with LiDAR and cameras to avoid obstacles. Earlier demonstrations had proven its autonomous flight capability, according to a press release, but this test had the aircraft simulating cargo and utility missions. Soldiers loaded supplies on the aircraft and it successfully took off autonomously, taking one more step toward a self-flying delivery system that doesn’t require complex training for troops to use.

While this test featured the AACUS-Enabled UH-1H, a setup that the FAA specially certified in October, the technology could theoretically be integrated into other rotary-wing aircraft. This demonstration was the final phase in its five-year testing program; Now the Marine Corps will experiment with the system and figure out whether to buy it. If so, it would be another feather in Boeing’s cap: The aerospace giant bought Aurora back in October.

We think it’s pretty cool! https://t.co/6nDmudblum

— AuroraFlightSciences (@AuroraFlightSci) December 13, 2017

Source: Office of Naval Reserch

14
Dec

AT&T’s power line-mounted internet service is back for more tests


Providing high-speed internet to rural areas is a constant challenge; after all, there isn’t a lot of incentive for companies to build infrastructure for a limited number of people. That’s why AT&T’s Project AirGig is so interesting. It provides internet speeds of up to 1 gigabyte per second thanks to power lines. Today, the company announced that it’s starting its first international trial of AirGig, as well as its second US trial in the state of Georgia.

It’s been awhile since we’ve heard about AirGig — well over a year — so you’d be forgiven for thinking AT&T had abandoned idea. Apparently, the company is just taking its time with the testing phase. It’s unclear where the first US trial took place.

AirGig works through tiny radio stations that are mounted on top of existing infrastructure and telephone poles. They don’t require access to the pole’s power source and doesn’t use the existing wiring to send signals. Instead, AirGig stations use millimeter wave signals to communicate. It’s a low-cost, low-impact way to put high-speed internet in areas that don’t currently have access to it.

The team at AT&T is hoping to develop the tech further based on what they learn in these trials. There’s no timeline on this current phase, or any hint of when the tech might be available commercially. AT&T is clearly not hurrying along with this project, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Hopefully it means that the tech will be refined and well-tested when it finally does come to market.

Via: Reuters

Source: AT&T

14
Dec

7-Eleven tests app-based deliveries in Dallas


Convenience stores earned their name by stocking food and everyday items in a shop you could easily reach. But what if your local store isn’t all that close, or it doesn’t carry what you’re looking for? If everything goes according to plan, 7-Eleven might have you covered. It’s testing a mobile app, 7-ElevenNow, that lets you order food, drinks and other products for delivery or in-store pickup. You won’t have to brave the rain just to score a pack of your favorite soft drinks — instead, a courier can bring them to you. The trial is active in 10 Dallas-area stores.

How quickly 7-ElevenNow expands will likely depend on the success of the Dallas trial, but it should reach other American locations in 2018.

The company is no stranger to dipping its toe in the delivery waters — it has even made drone deliveries. It sees features like mobile ordering as a way to expand the reach of its stores beyond their immediate neighborhoods, reducing the need for extra stores and making better use of locations that don’t get much foot traffic. You probably won’t use the mobile app often (it’s a bit ridiculous to pay a delivery fee for some milk and potato chips), but that’s not the point. This is more to cover those times when you’d be tempted to visit another store.

Source: 7-Eleven

14
Dec

Best mobile gifts for the 2017 holiday season


‘Tis the season to buy awesome tech for your friends and family, but picking the right gift can prove tricky. That’s why we prepared this list of the tried and tested mobile devices and accessories we loved this year. We have mobile gift options for all budgets that are sure to please the mobile fan in your life. For ideas beyond mobile, check out our holiday gift guide. Now, grab your cocoa, put your feet up in front of a roaring fire, and let’s shop the civilized way – online.

Smartphones

If you’re feeling flush or buying for your significant other or a close family member, then you might consider splashing out on a smartphone. These constant companions play a big role in our lives, so choose wisely.

Apple iPhone X ($1,000)

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

In a year of stellar smartphones Apple’s iPhone X still stood out as something special. If money is no object and you want the best, then you can’t go wrong with this phone. The gorgeous OLED screen, the fantastic camera, and the lightning fast performance add up to our phone of the year. Read our full iPhone X review.

Buy one now from:

Apple  Verizon

Google Pixel 2 XL ($850)

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

For people who prefer Android, there’s no better device than Google’s own Pixel 2 XL. Slick software, a gorgeous design, and one of the best cameras we’ve ever used add up to an easy purchase. Learn more about it in our Google Pixel 2 XL review.

Buy one now from:

Verizon  Best Buy

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 ($930)

You get the same seductive curves in the Note 8 as you’ll find in Samsung’s Galaxy S8, but you also get a bigger screen, an excellent dual-lens camera, and the S Pen stylus with a bunch of dedicated features for note-taking and sketching. Find out more in our Samsung Galaxy Note 8 review.

Buy one now from:

Amazon Samsung

OnePlus 5T ($500)

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Top performance, a great design, a 6-inch AMOLED screen, and a capable camera may leave you wondering why you’d pay more than $500 for a new smartphone. The OnePlus 5T is great value. Read our full OnePlus 5T review for more details.

Buy one now from:

OnePlus Amazon

Huawei Honor 7X ($200)

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

With a big, edge-to-edge screen, a great design, a solid dual-lens camera, and some other bells and whistles you’d expect to find in a phone twice this price, the Honor 7X is very reasonably priced and makes a great gift. Find out more in our Honor 7X review.

Buy one now from:

Honor

Tablets

Whether lounging around at home, or watching a movie on a flight or train, sometimes you want a bigger screen than your phone. Tablets are a great gift for young and old, so here are our top picks.

Apple iPad ($330)

Julian Chokkatuu/Digital Trends

The right tablet for most people, Apple’s 2017 iPad has a 9.7-inch display, plenty of power under the hood, and a wide choice of great, fully-optimized, apps and games. Find out all about it in our Apple iPad review.

Buy one now from:

Apple

Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch ($650)

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

If you want the best tablet in the world, then this is it. Perfect for kicking back and watching a movie, but also capable of doubling up as a laptop replacement, the iPad Pro 10.5-inch is powerful and beautifully designed. Read our full iPad Pro 10.5-inch review.

Buy one now from:

Apple Best Buy

Amazon Fire HD 10 ($150)

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

For anyone on a tight budget, the Fire HD 10 is a great pick. If you’re a Prime member and you want something to watch movies, browse the web, and play games on, this is ideal. For kids we recommend checking out the Fire HD 8 Kids Edition, which comes with age-appropriate curated content. Read our full Amazon Fire HD 10 review.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Wearables

They can help you get fit, listen to music on the go, and stay in touch, so little wonder that wearables are still growing in popularity. They also make great gifts. Here are the wearables we’d love to receive.

Apple Watch Series 3 ($330)

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

With plenty of personalization options, slick voice controls, and superb fitness tracking capabilities, the Apple Watch Series 3 is the best smartwatch on the market, especially if you own an iPhone. Read our Apple Watch Series 3 review for more details.

Buy one now from:

Apple Amazon

Samsung Gear Sport ($300)

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

If you have an Android phone, then consider Samsung’s Gear Sport smartwatch. It’s slim, stylish, and capable of tracking your fitness activities accurately. Shop around and you should be able to find it discounted. Find out more in our Samsung Gear Sport review.

Buy one now from:

Amazon Samsung

Huawei Watch 2 ($300)

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

This is one of the most feature-packed Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches around with built-in GPS, NFC, heart rate monitor, 4GB of storage, and a lot more. You can also find it highly discounted if you shop around. Read our Huawei Watch 2 review for more details.

Buy one now from:

Amazon B&H

Moov Now ($60)

If you just want a simple fitness tracker that syncs up with your phone, then the waterproof Moov Now can track various activities and boasts a battery that can last up to six months. Read more about the Moov Now.

Buy one now from:

Amazon Jet

Mobile accessories

If you’re looking for some tempting tech gift ideas that won’t break the bank, then this range of mobile accessories should be right up your street.

Phone cases

Affordable, practical, and fun, phone cases can be great gifts for the smartphone owner in your life. Incipio offer a great range of phone cases that combine style and protection. If you want something tough, then try Otterbox or Speck. For a personalized gift, why not order a customized phone case from Casetify? We also think the cases at Carved are a little bit special.

Casetify Custom Case ($40+)

Simon Hill / Digital Trends

Get a solid protective case with a photo or text of your choice on the back. You can design your ideal case at Casetify and create something personal and unique.

Buy one now from:

Casetify

Carved Traveler Case ($24+)

Simon Hill / Digital Trends

Natural wood grain and a black plastic shell with extra grip is a good combination, but Carved also offers artistic designs, like this Grand Teton case at $39. There are loads of gorgeous designs to choose from.

Buy one now from:

Carved Amazon

We have dedicated round ups that highlight the best iPhone X cases, best Galaxy S8 cases, and the best cases for just about every other phone you can name, so take a look at those for more ideas.

Battery packs

We have a big roundup highlighting the best portable chargers, but to save you some time here are our top two picks. Portable battery chargers are great gifts and perfect for keeping smartphones alive on the go.

Anker PowerCore Speed 20,000 ($56)

Simon Hill / Digital Trends

This huge capacity portable charger will refill an iPhone 8 six times over and it supports quick charging. If it’s more than you need, then check out the 10,000mAh capacity version. Anker makes our favorite, functional, no-frills portable chargers, so you can’t go wrong with any of its offerings.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

iQunix MiniPower Portable Charger ($13)

Simon Hill / Digital Trends

This will fully charge most smartphones once. It’s durable and very portable, so it’s easy to slip in a bag. It’s also very affordable and makes a nice wee gift.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Wireless chargers

If your loved one has a new iPhone or an Android that supports wireless charging, then you should get them a wireless charging pad. We have a list of the best wireless chargers if you need more ideas, but here are a couple of our favorites.

RavPower Wireless Fast Charging Pad ($50)

Fast, portable, and good value for money, this Qi-compatible pad is a great pick. When we tested three wireless charging pads with the iPhone 8 this was the winner.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Anker PowerPort Wireless 5 Stand ($27)

Simon Hill / Digital Trends

For affordable, quality mobile accessories you can’t beat Anker and this reasonably priced wireless charging stand is ideal for propping up your phone on the desk or nightstand. It works with any phone that supports the Qi standard.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Bluetooth speakers

We have a great round up of the best Bluetooth speakers, but they’re all quite expensive, so we’ve picked out a couple that are ideally priced as gifts.

Divoom Timebox Mini ($60)

Simon Hill/Digital Trends

A fun gift for kids or adults, this Bluetooth speaker also has a programmable pixel art display. You’ll find a host of unusual features via the companion app for Android or iOS.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Anker SoundCore 2 ($40)

The Anker SoundCore outputs 12W, is water resistant, works for phone calls, and has a decent big battery. If you can stretch to $80, then you can buy the even better 20W, SoundCore Boost.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Editors’ Recommendations

  • Tech the halls with the best stocking stuffers for gadget lovers
  • The best portable chargers for quickly juicing your device
  • Protect your iPhone 6 from spills, splashes with the best waterproof cases
  • The best Ethernet cables you can buy
  • The 20 best tech toys for kids will make you wish you were 10 again




14
Dec

Samsung refreshes its Notebook 9 laptops for 2018, adds model supporting S Pen


Samsung revealed on Wednesday, December 13, the latest refresh of its Samsung Notebook 9 family slated for 2018 in North America. There will be three units in the refresh along with a new 2-in-1 labeled as the Samsung Notebook 9 Pen. This model will include Samsung’s S Pen and sport a 13.3-inch screen, while the refreshed Notebooks 9 units will consist of a 13.3-inch model, and two 15-inch models.

According to Samsung, all four units rely on Intel’s eighth-generation Core i7 processors with integrated graphics. But one of the 15-inch models will ship with a discrete GeForce MX150 graphics chip built for laptops, promising four times better performance than integrated graphics. This chip is good for running PC games on medium detail settings, and at a 720p resolution.

First, let’s dig into the hardware specifics:

Notebook 9 13
Notebook 9 Pen 13
Notebook 9 15
Screen size:
13.3 inches
13.3 inches
15 inches
Resolution:
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
Color space:
sRGB 95 percent
sRGB 95 percent
sRGB 95 percent
Max brightness:
500 nits
450 nits
450 nits
Hinge:
180 degrees
360 degrees
180 degrees
Processor:
Intel 8th Gen Core i7
Intel 8th Gen Core i7
Intel 8th Gen Core i7
Graphics:
Integrated
Integrated
Integrated
GeForce MX150
Memory:
Up to 16GB DDR4
Up to 16GB DDR4
Up to 16GB DDR4
Storage:
Up to 1TB
NVMe PCIe SSD
Up to 512GB
NVMe PCIe SSD
Up to 1TB
NVMe PCIe SSD
Audio:
2x 1.5-watt speakers
2x 1.5-watt speakers
2x 1.5-watt speakers
Camera(s):
720p
720p, infrared
720p
Connectivity:
Wireless AC
Bluetooth 4.1
Wireless AC
Bluetooth 4.1
Wireless AC
Bluetooth 4.1
Ports:
1x USB-C (Gen1)
2x USB-A (Gen1)
1x HDMI
1x uSD card slot
1x Audio jack
1x USB-C (Gen1)
1x USB-A (Gen1)
1x HDMI
1x uSD card slot
1x Audio jack
1x Thunderbolt 3
2x USB-A (Gen1)
1x HDMI
1x uSD card slot
1x Audio jack
Battery:
75WHr
39WHr
75WHr

Dimensions: (inches)

12.18 x 8.18 x 0.58
12.22 x 8.13 x 0.57/0.64
13.69 x 9.03 x 0.60
Weight:
2.19 pounds
2.19 pounds
2.84 pounds
Security:
Fingerprint scanner
Fingerprint scanner
Fingerprint scanner
Color:
Titan Silver
Crush White
Light Titan
Titan Silver
Crush White

The Samsung Notebook 9 Pen version provides a built-in holder for the S Pen peripheral. Once its removed, Samsung’s Air Command utility automatically launches on the notebook, providing access to Autodesk Sketchbook, Samsung Notes, and other S Pen shortcuts.

Meanwhile, all four models are based on a premium magnesium aluminum alloy called Metal12. It’s supposedly lighter than aluminum, but durable enough to withstand everyday use. The bezel surrounding all four Notebook 9 screens measures just 0.244 inches thin, providing more viewing area and less frame.

The notebooks provide up to 16GB of system memory, PCI Express-based NVMe SSDs, HDMI output, and fingerprint scanners. The 15-inch models add a Thunderbolt 3 port while the S Pen-based unit includes an infrared camera for facial recognition. In turn, the benefits of using the S Pen means the 2-in-1 has a smaller battery than its pen-free 13.3-inch clamshell brother.

All four Samsung Notebook 9 models will hit Korea in December followed by a launch in North America in the first quarter of 2018. Samsung has yet to provide pricing, but we’ll likely find out more during the CES 2018 technology show in Las Vegas in early January.

Editors’ Recommendations

  • HP Spectre x360 13 (Late 2017) Review
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  • It’s real! Lenovo unveils 25th Anniversary ThinkPad with retro keyboard, styling




14
Dec

DOJ confirms criminal investigation into Uber vs. Waymo


The civil trial between Uber and Waymo over stolen self-driving technology was supposed to start December 4th, but Judge Alsup announced a delay last month. Now he has unsealed the letter (over objections from the US Attorney’s Office in San Francisco) from the Department of Justice that caused the delay. It not only confirms that there is a criminal investigation into Uber’s behavior, it reveals a former employee’s claim that the company intentionally used “non-attributable electronic devices” (read: burner phones and the like) to conceal use of any stolen technology.

In the letter, it also says that the former employee, Richard Jacobs, described a “hypothetical” where two CEOs could meet covertly for a long period of time prior to an acquisition. Two CEOs, like, say, Anthony Levandowski of Otto and Travis Kalanick of Uber.

Source: DocumentCloud

14
Dec

Samsung’s 2018 Notebook 9 lineup includes MacBook, Surface challengers


Last year Samsung’s Notebook 9 laptop kept it simple with a standard thin-and-light design that got the important things right, but didn’t sport flashy features like a high-res display or hybrid design. Earlier this year the Pro edition added a folding hinge for 2-in-1 tablet use and a stylus, and next year the company will fully revamp its lineup with four new devices. The new Notebook 9 Pen is ready to take on Surface devices with its built-in battery-free S Pen stylus, to go with a “thoughtfully designed” 2-in-1 hybrid laptop/tablet. The 13-inch devices comes with an 8th generation Intel Core i7 CPU, up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage, but weighs just 2.2 pounds thanks to its “Metal12” magnesium-aluminum alloy.

Samsung Notebook 9 (2018)

The three new Notebook 9 laptops have a more familiar look and feel, and are available in either 13.3- or 15-inch sizes. They can include up to 1TB of storage, and the 15-inch has an option for discrete graphics, but they share the Pen’s CPU and RAM options. All of these laptops include fingerprint scanners and Windows Hello support (the 9 Pen includes IR scanning for facial recognition), while only the 15-inch has a Thunderbolt port.

We’ll learn more about them in a couple of weeks at CES, and see all the new competition on the way in 2018. There’s no word on price or exact release date, but they’re due to arrive in the US during Q1.

  • Notebooks designed for mobility – both devices are among the thinnest in their class for easy portability, and working on-the-go. Made from Metal12™ complemented by Micro Arc Oxidation (MAO) technology, both devices are lighter than most metal laptops, yet durable with the advanced MAO treatment of oxide coating on the surface to ensure to-do lists get finished regardless of where life takes you.
  • Added security and convenience – both devices come with Windows Hello built-in for secure authentication through the fingerprint sensor without having to type in a password, while the Notebook 9 Pen also features an IR front-facing camera for facial recognition login through Windows Hello. Both PCs feature the Privacy Folder for storing sensitive data.
  • High-quality performance – combining the best in portability with a high-quality display and strong performance, the RealView display brings a bright and accurate premium image, with lifelike colors and incredible brightness ideal for using the device both indoors and out. Both devices also feature the latest 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor and Samsung Dual Channel Memory for quick speeds to handle jobs like running multiple programs or viewing and rendering high-quality graphics without reduced performance or speed.
  • Productivity and collaboration – Samsung offers several tools that appeal to tech-savvy professionals such as Samsung Link Sharing, which allows users to transfer videos, photos and documents stored on their PC to another computer or smart device*. Additional software solutions available on both devices include Samsung Message that enable users to send messages from their PC to contacts saved on their smartphone**, as well as preinstalled Voice Note for voice-activated note taking, and Studio Plus for custom content creation and editing.

Source: Samsung, Samsung Newsroom