Salon will mine digital currency on your PC if you opt to disable ads

Salon Media Group now offers a method to block advertisements on its Salon website, but there’s a catch: you must allow the company to mine digital coins in the background. This requirement stems from the company’s FAQ explaining why visitors receive a popup when loading the Salon website using an advertisement blocker. 

Product manufacturers and service providers create revenue for television, magazines, and newspapers through advertisements. Even if you don’t purchase or subscribe to a related product, media outlets still get paid for displaying those advertisements. But that relationship is a bit different online: If you block advertisements, websites don’t get a piece of the per-page-view advertisement revenue pie. 

“Like most media companies, Salon pays its bills through advertising and we profoundly appreciate our advertising partners and sponsors,” the company says. “In this traditional arrangement between reader and publisher, we are able to offer our readers a free reading experience in exchange for serving them ads.” 

Because Salon is an online-only media outlet, it doesn’t have the additional revenue generated from print like newspapers and magazines. It depends solely on advertisements and doesn’t get paid to create content with ad blockers on. That said, Salon came up with two alternatives for readers who don’t want advertisements splashed across the pages: Purchasing the ad-free app for Android and iOS or let the company mine digital coins in the background. 

The argument is that when browsing Salon, you’re not using the full hardware potential of your PC’s processor. The company wants to use this untapped resource to generate Monero, a specific type of cryptocurrency (digital cash) that is secure, private, and untraceable. To do this, the Salon website will include a special mining script within the webpage code to generate coins by accessing your processor. 

Unfortunately, the mining process won’t be invisible. As we have seen with other websites using mining code in the background, processor use goes into high gear, activating all related fans to cool the chip and its surrounding area. The PC’s performance could significantly drop in the process until you close the tab displaying Salon’s website. The company even admits that you will hear fans running during the mining process. 

“We automatically detect your current processing usage and assign a portion of what you are not using to this process,” the FAQ states. “Should you begin a process that requires more of your computer’s resources, we automatically reduce the amount we are using for calculations.  This process will use more of your computer power and electricity than if you were browsing the site without an ad blocker.” 

If Salon readers decide to let the company mine Monero in the background, advertisements will not appear on its pages. Salon will save your opt-in preference for 24 hours. After that, you’re required to opt-in again for another 24 hours. 

Salon confirms that the mining feature does not require an additional download and is not installed on your PC. The mining script also does not access personal files or information while utilizing your PC’s CPU. 

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Intel’s latest graphics drivers can automatically optimize your favorite games

With as much attention as is being paid to the high end of the GPU market, particularly given the impact of cryptocurrency mining on the availability of the best gaming graphics, you’d think the low end might be given short shrift. That’s not at all the case, however, as both Intel and AMD have been focused even more on the needs of entry-level gamers. Now, Intel has even released a new tool to help optimize games for its own integrated GPU options.

If you’re running a thin and light notebook, which likely sports some variant of Intel HD graphics, then the company’s new utility will likely be particularly welcome. As PC World reports, as of Intel Graphics for Windows driver version 15.65, users can access the new feature — which is much like similar capabilities provided by Nvidia and AMD for their own GPUs — in the Graphics Control Panel that loads along with the drivers.

The feature is automatic, and it configures optimal settings for a variety of games depending on the Intel graphics chip that’s installed in a system. The feature works with both Intel HD integrated graphics on sixth-generation processors and later as well as with the upcoming Kaby Lake-G processors that mate an eighth-generation quad-core Intel CPU with an AMD Radeon RX Vega GL GPU.

Right now, the optimization functionality is in beta testing, and supports the following games:

• Battlefield 1
• Battlefield 4
• American Truck Simulator
• Call of Duty WWII
• Destiny 2
• Dota 2
• Grand Theft Auto V
• League of Legends
• Overwatch
• World of Tanks

In addition, systems with an Intel HD 620 graphics chip or later will see the following games automatically optimized:

• Fortnite: Battle Royale
• They Are Billions
• Lost Sphear
• Age of Empires: Definitive Edition
• Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age HD
• OK KO: Let’s Play Heroes
• Subnautica
• Legrand Legacy: Tale of the Fatebounds
• Dragon Ball FighterZ

If you’re lucky enough to be running a system with the higher-end Iris Pro GPU, then you’ll have Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition, and Metal Gear Survive automatically optimized. Overall, chances are that any system produced in the last couple of years will benefit from the feature.

You’ll want to make sure that you’ve updated your Intel graphics driver to receive the optimization. If your drivers are provided by your PC’s manufacturer, as is the case with Microsoft Surface devices, then you might have to wait a little longer to receive the feature.

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How to install RAM

There are a number of different components that could be slowing your computer down and it’s important to identify and fix them to optimize performance. If you’re not sure if RAM is causing your current slowdown, here’s our guide on how much memory your PC really needs.

If you think your memory is the cause of your performance woes, upgrading is well worth it. Better yet, it’s easy to learn how to install RAM yourself for a quick DIY boost to your PC’s power. Before we get into the step-by-step instructions, here are a couple of important tips to consider before getting started.

A few important reminders

You’ll want to make sure your motherboard is capable of supporting the speed, type, and size of the RAM you’ll be installing. Most modern motherboards support DDR4, ranging between 2,133MHz at the low end, to as high as 4,700MHz at the very top end. If your PC is a few years old, your system may be set up for DDR3 memory instead — you’ll need to check your manufacturer’s instructions to know for sure. Common manufacturers like MSI and Gigabyte list these with the specifications of your component on their sites.

Once you have the RAM you want to install, the actual process is one of the easiest upgrades you can make to a PC. Before you get started though, it’s important to protect against electric discharge. Static electricity will fry your RAM quickly, so make sure to use an anti-static wristband. Alternatively, periodically touch the bare metal of your case or the casing of your power supply to ground yourself. Wearing rubber-soled shoes doesn’t hurt either.

The Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: Disconnect the power cable from your system and if needed, unplug other back-panel cables so that you can safely turn your system on to its side.

Step 2: Remove the side panel (usually left) to give you full access to the interior and locate the RAM slots. They’re most commonly found next to the processor and its chunky cooler. If there’s already RAM in your system, eject it by pressingly firmly on the tabs on the motherboard at either end of the slots. The memory sticks will pop out and you can remove them gently.

Step 3: To install the new RAM, line up the notches in the bottom of the sticks with the gaps in the slot on the motherboard. Make sure the wings at either end of the slot are pushed back, so they’re tilted away from the RAM. When you’re sure it’s lined up properly, push down firmly and evenly on the top of the stick at either end until it clicks into place. As it does, the wings will clamp in and hold the memory securely. If it doesn’t click into place relatively easily, double check you have the stick around the right way. Forcing RAM that’s not lined up correctly can damage your motherboard. If in doubt, double check.

Step 4: Once the sticks have clicked into place, confirm that the wing clips are locked in to hold the sticks firmly in their slots and then close the PC back up. Plug all of the cables back in and try to boot the system. The good news from here is that if something went wrong, you’ll know right away when your computer doesn’t start up. If that happens, repeat the above steps and make sure the new sticks are correctly seated in their socket.

And that’s it! Once the system does start up, make sure to check that you have the correct amount of RAM displayed in your system profile. If you see that your system only has 3.2GB after a much larger upgrade, you may be because you’re running a 32bit operating system. If this whole process has piqued your interest in building computers, here’s our guide on how to put together a whole PC all by yourself.

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A commercial version of HoloLens is available to rent in the U.S. and Canada

Microsoft said on Tuesday, February 13, that customers residing in the United States and Canada can now rent the Commerical Suite version of HoloLens through Abcomrents. The idea is to provide companies with the opportunity to see if HoloLens is the right tool for their needs before sinking $5,000 into each headset. Unfortunately, Abcomrents could not provide a definitive rental price due to a pricing tier that depends on the number of units and the duration of the rental window. 

The Commercial Suite version targets enterprise users. It supports Microsoft’s Windows Store for Business, Bitlocker data encryption, support for Azure Active Directory for PIN-based identification, Windows Update for Business, and mobile device management support. There is a special kiosk mode too for showcasing specific HoloLens apps in a demo or on a showroom floor.  

“Anyone in your organization can remotely connect to the corporate network through a virtual private network on a HoloLens,” Abcomrents states. “HoloLens can also access Wi-Fi networks that require credentials.” 

With each Commercial Suite kit, you get the HoloLens headset, a clicker, a carrying case, a microfiber cloth, a charger, and a Micro USB 2.0 cable. Meanwhile, there is a lot of hardware powering the HoloLens platform itself such as see-through holographic lenses, four sensors that understand your environment, an embedded 2MP camera, four microphones, an ambient light sensor, a 32-bit Intel processor, 2GB of system memory, 64GB of storage, and loads more. It weighs around 1.27 pounds. 

In addition to enabling rentals in the United States and Canada, Microsoft plans to enable this program in additional markets in the coming months. Meanwhile, HoloLens as a product continues to spread across the globe, as Microsoft’s AR headset is now available in Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. That said, you can find HoloLens in 41 markets, including Australia, Denmark, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and more. 

“The best part of my job is seeing what people around the world are doing with mixed reality,” says Microsoft’s Lorraine Bardeen, general manager of Mixed Reality Experiences. “The innovation and development we see on the platform inspires us to create the software and tools needed to bring the potential of mixed reality to life.” 

News of the HoloLens rental and expansion into two new markets comes at the heels of HP’s new Windows Mixed Reality Headset for processionals revealed last week. Honeywell Process Solutions also introduced Honeywell Connected Plant Skills Insight Immersive Competency, a cloud-based simulation tool. It uses mixed reality to train personnel regarding critical work activities. Both are just two recent examples of how industries across the globe are adopting mixed reality technology. 

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Like 21st century taxidermy, 3D printing lets you freeze Fido forever

GravityB

You could say that it all started with Copernicus. No, not the Reformation-era astronomer who placed the sun in its rightful position in the center of our solar system, but a beautiful Icelandic Sheepdog, named Coppy for short. Coppy was 13-years-old and he wasn’t well. It was winter 2017, and it was clear to everyone that he didn’t have long left. Which is why Brian Burke, the owner of “Back in the Pack,” the dog daycare center that Coppy went to, was in such a hurry to scan him.

Burke produces picture perfect scale replicas of people’s beloved dogs.

Burke, 52 years old, isn’t just the owner of a doggy daycare center. Living in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Burke is a serial entrepreneur — which, in his case, may be a nice way of saying that, until recently, he hadn’t totally figured out what he wanted to do. He graduated from the University of Calgary as a painting major with his heart set on being a comic book artist. Then decided he didn’t have the drawing skills to be the next Jim Lee or Neal Adams, so retrained as an architect. He graduated into a recession. So he started work as a pet photographer and set up a doggy daycare business with his wife.

What may have seemed disparate career strands have perfectly converged with his latest venture, however: seizing on the recent breakthroughs in 3D scanning and 3D printing to produce picture perfect scale replicas of people’s beloved pet dogs.

This is where Copernicus, a.k.a. Coppy comes into the picture. With just months left for the Icelandic Sheepdog, Burke immortalized him as his very first 3D printed canine replica. Snapping 24 photos of Coppy with a single camera, Burke was able to create an accurate 3D model by stitching the photos together on a computer. The effect was so convincing that he became convinced that he had struck on a great idea for a business.

Burke is able to create an accurate 3D model by stitching photos together on a computer.

If this sounds an unusual idea, that’s because it is. But unusual isn’t a pejorative in the online world. A niche idea that maybe appeals to a fraction of a percentage point of the population is a whole lot more exciting if that population happens to be 3.58 billion, the estimated current total of internet users worldwide. Creating a perfect scaled-down replica of your dog got a big awareness boost last year when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg created a miniature 3D printed replica of his dog Beast for its sixth birthday.

Burke’s 3D scanning and printing pet business does what Mark Zuckerberg does (well, minus the whole “owning Facebook” thing), but makes it available to whoever wants one. As a tribute to Copernicus, who passed away in January 2018, Burke calls his multi-camera 3D capture system the “Coppy Machine.”

GravityB

Here’s how it works: “We do a 3D capture process of the dogs involving 60 cameras,” Burke told Digital Trends. “We then transfer that information to the computer, where it’s rendered into a 3D model. Once it’s been rendered, we then edit it much like you would with an image for a professional photo shoot. That means making it print-ready by finishing the model and getting rid of any little gaps that are missing. We then send the file off to the ProJet 660 printer. After this, the print goes through a finishing process and what results is a full color figurine. We then package it up and ship it out.”

Prices for a replica of your beloved trusty canine start at CAD$150 ($119), although Burke said that they can also accommodate more ambitious requests — such as manufacturing larger replicas or even putting a model of the owners in there with their dog. You can think of the results a little bit like a 21st century spin on taxidermy, only without the whole “stuffing an animal” thing.



Interactive 3D Model of Cuji by GravityB

“I’ve been working for 35 years to come up with this one really cool idea,” Burke continued. “In the back of my mind, I was always looking for something fun and innovative. Now, without any anticipation of it, I’ve come up with something that’s pretty freaking cool.”

“The announcements companies like Intel made at this year’s CES — it’s just mind blowing what’s coming.”

The business launched this year, and Burke said it’s doing well so far. His one regret (and a problem he’s currently working on) is that it requires people to physically visit his studio with their dogs so that they can be properly scanned in the right setting. That means that, unless you’re happy to hop on an airplane, the service is only really available to those who live within striking distance of Alberta. Burke explained that, at present, he’s exploring opportunities to connect with other venues with 3D scanning capabilities around the world, thereby opening pet scanning to whoever wants it.

One thing that’s for certain, he says, is that 3D scanning and printing is going to be big. It’s just a matter of coming up with an innovative timely way of taking advantage of it. “If you look at where this technology is going, it’s amazing,” Burke said. “The announcements companies like Intel made at this year’s CES — it’s just mind blowing what’s coming.”

What are his own plans for the future? “We’re thinking of getting into cats,” he said. “There’s a big demand for cat-scanning right now, but we’re trying to figure out how to do it. It’s harder to get a cat to pose how you want it to. I need to work out the variables for pricing depending on whether it’s a cat sitting down, laying down, sitting on a bed or a cat tree. It’s complicated.”

The best ideas always are.

Robert Rodriguez preps VR action series ‘The Limit’

Director Robert Rodriguez has been teasing a virtual reality video project for a while, and now it’s clear just what it entails. He’s partnering with STX on The Limit, a short-form VR action series starring long-time collaborator Michelle Rodriguez as a “genetically enhanced weapon of mass destruction” bent on destroying her creators. It’s not a profound exploration of the human condition, then, but there’s no question of the talent both in front of and behind the camera.

The Limit will premiere sometime in mid-2018 on STX’s upcoming VR ‘channel’ Surreal as an app for headsets.

The series keeps up a recent trend of big Hollywood names entering the VR space with relatively small but significant projects. Robert Rodriguez is more of an enthusiast than some early entrants (he created Double R Productions with VR in mind), but the theme remains the same: he’s experimenting with VR video production while the format is still young, but has grown just enough to start reaching the mainstream.

Source: Entertainment Weekly, Deadline

Windows 10 is adding an Ultimate Performance mode for pros

When you’re creating 3D models or otherwise running intensive tasks, you want to wring every ounce of performance out of your PC as possible. It’s a good thing, then, that Microsoft has released a Windows 10 preview build in the Fast ring that includes a new Ultimate Performance mode if you’re running Pro for Workstations. As the name implies, this is a step up for people for whom even the High Performance mode isn’t enough — it throws power management out the window to eliminate “micro-latencies” and boost raw speed. You can set it yourself, but PC makers will have the option of shipping systems with the feature turned on.

Ultimate Performance isn’t currently available for laptops or tablets, but Microsoft suggests that could change.

There are additions for people using everyday PCs. Like Samsung, Microsoft is moving toward more familiar emoji. It also helps you search for those emoji in more languages, and provides you more control over file system access for Universal Windows Platform apps. As a rule, though, this preview is aimed at pros who want to see how well a workstation can run when there’s nothing holding it back.

Source: Windows Blogs

HomePod Costs an Estimated $216 to Make

It costs Apple an estimated $216 in raw components to build the HomePod, which sells for $349, according to research conducted by TechInsights and shared by Bloomberg.

Internal components like the microphones, tweeter, woofer, and power management chips cost Apple an estimated $58, while smaller components like the lighting system used for Siri and other animations cost $60. The A8 chip, which powers the speaker’s spatial awareness, Siri features, sound adjustments, and other smart features, costs an estimated $25.

TechInsights believes the external housing and other exterior components add up to $25, while manufacturing, testing, and packaging cost an additional $17.50.

At $216 for parts and a $349 selling point, the HomePod brings in less money for each device sold than other Apple products like the iPhone. The $999 iPhone X, for example, uses components estimated to cost $357.50, and the entry-level iPhone 8 costs Apple an estimated $247.51 to make but sells for $699.

HomePod also has a smaller profit margin than competing speaker products from other companies. TechInsights says that while the HomePod has a profit margin of 38 percent based on component costs, the Google Home and Amazon Echo have margins of 66 and 56 percent, respectively. Both of those speakers use less expensive components and were not created with sound quality as the primary focus.

“Apple is compressing their margins a bit, wanting to go big or go home,” said Al Cowsky, TechInsight’s costing manager. “In doing so, I suspect they reduced the selling price from a normal Apple margin in order to sell more units on volume.”

Component costs reports from companies like TechInsights do not take into account expenses like research and development, software creation, and other related costs, and can’t be counted as an accurate look at Apple’s profit margin for any given product.

Back in 2015, Apple CEO Tim Cook said cost estimates are often “much different from reality.” “I’ve never seen one that is anywhere close to being accurate,” he said.

Related Roundup: HomePodBuyer’s Guide: HomePod (Buy Now)
Discuss this article in our forums

What’s on TV: ‘Justice League,’ ‘Secret of Mana’ and ‘Bayonetta’

This week Winter Olympics action continues on NBC (get ready for more women’s skeleton, Super-G and hockey), but you can also watch Justice League on video on-demand. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend fans will see the third season’s finale episode Friday night, while gamers can dig into a 3D Secret of Mana remake, as well as Bayonetta 1 & 2 on Nintendo Switch. Look after the break to check out each day’s highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

Blu-ray & Games & Streaming

• Justice League (VOD)
• Coco (VOD)
• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (VOD)
• Pokemon the Movie
• Wonder (4K)
• The Deuce (S1)
• The Thomas Crown Affair (50th Anniversary Edition)
• Roman J. Israel, Esq.
• Night of the Living Dead (Criterion)
• Hell or High Water (4K)
• Secret of Mana (PS4, PC)
• Xeodrifter (Switch)
• Drunkn Bar Fight (PS VR)
• Bayonetta (Switch)
• Bayonetta 2 (Switch)
• TorqueL (Switch)
• Fe (PS4, Xbox One)
• Dynasty Warriors 9 (Xbox One, PS4)
• Monster Energy Supercross: The Official Videogame (PS4, Xbox One)
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance (Xbox One, PS4)
• The Fall Part 2: Unbound (PS4, Xbox One)
• Claybook (PS4, Xbox One)
• Crossing Souls (PS4)
• CubeWorks (PS VR)
• Guilt Battle Arena (PS4)
• Pinstripe (PS4)
• Shacht (PS4)

Wednesday

• The Path, Hulu, 3 AM
• Greenhouse Academy (S2), Netflix, 3 AM
• Love Per Square Foot, Netflix, 3 AM
• This Close (S1), Sundance Now, 3 AM
• The Relationships Just for Laughs, CW, 8 PM
• The X-Files, Fox, 8 PM
• Grown-ish, Freeform, 8 PM
• 2018 Winter Olympics, NBC, 8 PM
• Alone Together, Freeform, 8:30 PM
• The Top 14 Greatest Valentine’s Day Movies of All Time, CW, 9 PM
• 9-1-1, Fox, 9 PM
• The Magicians, Syfy, 9 PM
• The Amazing Race, CBS, 9 PM
• Channel Zero, Syfy, 10 PM
• American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, 10 PM
• Slutever, Viceland, 10 PM
• Catfish, MTV, 10 PM
• Corporate, Comedy Central, 10 PM
• Knightfall, History, 10 PM
• Match Game, ABC, 10 PM
• Criminal Minds, CBS, 10 PM
• Waco, Paramount, 10 PM
• Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, TBS, 10:30 PM
• Trixie & Katya Show, Viceland, 10:30 PM
• Desus & Mero, Viceland, 11 PM

Thursday

• Re:Mind (S1), Netflix, 3 AM
• 2018 Winter Olympics, NBC, 8 PM
• Beyond, Freeform, 8 PM
• Black Card Revoked, BET, 10 PM
• Lip Sync Battle, Paramount, 10 PM
• Portlandia, IFC, 10 PM
• Thursday Night Darts, BBC America, 10 PM
• Desus & Mero, Viceland, 11 PM
• The Rundown with Robin Thede, BET, 11 PM

Friday

• The Grand Tour, Amazon Prime, 3 AM
• Breathe, Amazon Prime, 3 AM
• Everything Sucks! (S1), Netflix, 3 AM
• First Team: Juventus FC, Netflix, 3 AM
• Cardinal (S2), Hulu, 3 AM
• Mozart in the Jungle (S2), Amazon Prime, 3 AM
• Irreplaceable You, Netflix, 3 AM
• Dragons: Race to the Edge, Netflix, 3 AM
• Fly Guys, Facebook, 12 PM
• 2018 Winter Olympics, NBC, 8 PM
• Zombies, Disney, 8 PM
• Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (season finale), CW, 8 PM
• The Trade, Showtime, 9 PM
• Word is Bond, Showtime, 10 PM
• Strike Back, Cinemax, 10 PM
• High Maintenance, HBO, 11 PM
• 2 Dope Queens: Titus Burgess, HBO, 11:30 PM
• This is Not Happening, Comedy Central, 12 AM

Saturday

• 2018 Winter Olympics, NBC, 8 PM
• Premier Boxing Champions, Fox, 8 PM
• 2018 All-Star Saturday Night, TNT, 8 PM
• Planet Earth: Blue Planet II, BBC America, 9 PM
• Falling Water, USA, 10 PM
• Final Space, TNT, 10:30 PM

Sunday

• 2018 Winter Olympics, NBC, 7 PM
• Big Brother, CBS, 8 PM
• Our Cartoon President, Showtime, 8 PM
• Counterpart, Starz, 8 PM
• EE British Academy Film Awards, BBC America, 8 PM
• 2018 NBA All-Star Game, TNT, 8:20 PM
• Unsung: Silk (season premiere), TV One, 9 PM
• Here and Now, HBO, 9 PM
• Homeland, Showtime, 9 PM
• The Radical Story of Patty Hearst, CNN, 9 PM
• Victoria, PBS, 9 PM
• The Chi, Showtime, 10 PM
• Divorce, HBO, 10 PM
• Crashing, HBO, 10:30 PM
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, HBO, 11 PN

[All times listed are in ET]

Galaxy S9 teaser videos highlight potential Animoji competitor, low-light camera performance

The hype machine is in full effect.

We’re getting down to the wire here, with Samsung’s Galaxy S9 launch event just over a week away on February 25 at MWC 2018. The hype machine is in full effect, so much so that Samsung has posted three different promo videos to its Korean YouTube channel to tease upcoming features of the phones. They’re only 15 seconds each and obviously don’t show the phones themselves, but the theming of each one is pretty clear.

Focusing on the face of the individual going through all sorts of fun things at first seems like a camera play … but not just any camera feature, how about some sort of Apple Animoji competitor? About two-thirds of the way in you see a flash of a cartoonized face overlaid on the actor. It sure seems like this could be a shot at Apple’s use of the iPhone X’s front-facing camera technology for animated characters that respond to facial movements.

Even if you don’t like the idea of the feature itself (which may have dubious value in the end), it indicates Samsung may have something fresh up its sleeve in terms of the front-facing camera(s) and sensors that could be used for other things as well.

This one’s pretty clear, and lines up perfectly with the tagline of “The camera. Reimagined.” Samsung unveiled with its launch event invite. The circle of the 9 on screen shows off how bright the camera can capture low-light photos. With rumors of a variable aperture as high as f/1.5, this sure would line up with that.

This is a bit more abstract, but my take here is that Samsung is trying to emphasize the speed of the Galaxy S9 and S9+. With a Snapdragon 845 or Samsung’s latest Exynos inside, plus 6GB of RAM, these phones should fly … but the question is whether Samsung has worked on the historical slowdowns its phones have faced as they’re used. If Samsung’s pointing out the Galaxy S9’s speed in an advertisement, perhaps it’s taken this on as a point of focus.

What are your thoughts on the three quick ad spots? Is the hype real, or are you keeping it reserved? Let us know in the comments!

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

• Latest Galaxy S9 rumors and info!
• Samsung Galaxy S9 launch event set for Feb 25: ‘The camera. Reimagined.’
• The Galaxy A8+ gives us an early look at Galaxy S9 design cues
• Do you plan on getting the Samsung Galaxy S9?
• Join our Galaxy S9 forums