Apple Seeds Second Beta of macOS Mojave 10.14.2 to Developers

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming macOS Mojave 10.14.2 update to developers, one week after seeding the first beta and a little over a week after releasing the macOS Mojave 10.14.1 update.

The new macOS High Sierra 10.14.2 beta can be downloaded through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences after the proper profile has been installed from Apple’s Developer Center.

We don’t yet know what improvements the second update to macOS Mojave will bring, but it is likely to include bug fixes and performance improvements for issues that weren’t able to be addressed in the macOS 10.14.1 update.

No new features were discovered in the first 10.14.2 beta, but we’ll update this post if anything new is found in the second beta.

macOS Mojave 10.14.2 comes shortly after the release of macOS 10.14.1, an update that brought support for Group FaceTime on the Mac and introduced new emoji characters.

Related Roundup: macOS Mojave
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Common Huawei Mate 20 Pro problems and how to fix them

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

You’ve got your new Huawei Mate 20 Pro in your hands, but there’s something you’re not sure about or an issue that just doesn’t seem right. You may not be alone and your Mate 20 Pro may have a gremlin or two inside. Here’s our roundup of problems being reported regarding Huawei’s otherwise very impressive phone.

Problem: Green screen tint

Multiple cases of people complaining their phone screens have taken on a green tint, that only gets worse, have shown up online since the phone launched. Often most noticeable against a dark wallpaper or in low-light conditions, the green tint spreads from where the side of the phone curves and can extend over the top of the display.

Currently, Huawei has not issued an official statement on the situation, which has affected other manufacturer’s phones in the past, although we have reached out to the company on the situation.  A post on the Huawei Community forum unofficially suggested affected users contact an authorized service center for assistance.

Potential solution:

• The best course of action is to contact a Huawei Service Center, your network, or the supplying retailer in the event of any hardware problem, as it should be covered under warranty. Visit Huawei’s website for information on the closest one to you.

Glitch: In-display fingerprint sensor

New technology can often be problematic, and while the Mate 20 Pro’s in-display fingerprint sensor is one of the better ones, it’s not perfect, and can become less reliable over time. If your fingerprint sensor is taking a few tries to unlock the phone, when it used to only take one, the best thing to do is re-register your fingerprint.

Potential solution:

• Open Settings on your Mate 20 Pro, go to Security & Privacy, then Fingerprint ID and enter your security code. Select the fingerprint registered that’s causing the problem, then Delete from the list that appears at the bottom of the screen. You will be prompted to add a new fingerprint, or if not, select New In-screen Fingerprint from the available options.
• If you have a screen protector fitted, this may affect registration or use. If possible, remove it and rescan your fingerprint. Additionally, some screen protectors may lower reliability of in-display fingerprint sensors, so check with the company that makes it before buying.

Issue: Notification icons can’t be seen

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro has a notch at the top of the screen, and the available display either side of it is not very big, leaving room only for the permanent icons such as battery, time, network signal, Bluetooth, and NFC. App and other notifications do not often appear. Turning off the notch under Settings will not cure this problem.

Potential solution:

• This is an issue with Huawei’s EMUI user interface over the top of Android 9.0, and any notched Huawei phone will be affected, rather than specifically the Mate 20 Pro. Currently, there is no solution to this, outside of providing feedback to Huawei. The company does listen to this, and alterations may arrive in a future version of EMUI.

Problem: Missing artificial intelligence features in video

Artificial intelligence has been used to enhance still photos on Huawei phones for a while, and the Mate 20 Pro adds A.I. features to video as well. It’s possible to blur the background, isolate a particular color on screen or even add live filters to the footage. If your Mate 20 Pro doesn’t have these features, you may be running an out-of-date version of the firmware.

Potential solution:

• Firmware 9.0.0.122, or 9.0.0.126 will add these features, depending on your location, device spec, and network. Check the version your phone is running by going to Settings > System > About Phone. If it’s earlier than either of the versions above, go back a step and tap Software Update to prompt the device to check if a newer version is available.
• The release of new firmware depends on your network and location, so if it’s not, be patient as updated firmware is usually sent out in batches. Ensure you get the update promptly by tapping the menu button in the top right of the Software Update screen, then turning on the Auto-download Over Wi-Fi option.

Those are all the problems we’ve seen frequently reported with the Huawei Mate 20 Pro so far, but if others show up we will add them to the list, and help out with possible solutions, too.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The most common Xbox One problems, and how to fix them
• 11 common Google Pixel problems and how to deal with them
• What is Android fragmentation, and can Google ever fix it?
• The most common PlayStation 4 problems, and how to fix them
• Not on my watch: How to fix the most annoying Apple Watch problems

Kindle Paperwhite (2018) review

It’s has been three years since Amazon last updated its iconic Kindle Paperwhite. During that time, Amazon released two versions of its premium Kindle Oasis ebook reader, as well as a refresh to its entry-level Kindle, but it’s finally time for the Paperwhite to shine. At $130, it’s slightly more expensive than its predecessor, but this is the cheapest Kindle from Amazon with water resistance, and there’s Bluetooth now as well so you can listen to Audible audiobooks with wireless earbuds. It faces stiff competition, but the Paperwhite comes close to being the perfect ebook reader everyone needs.

Small, lightweight, and easy to hold

The Kindle Paperwhite is a near clone of its predecessor, and that’s not bad. It’s about as basic as any ebook reader can look, with a slim profile, matte finish, and a lightweight design that makes it easy to hold for extended periods of time.

Like earlier versions of the Paperwhite, you’ll find a six-inch E Ink screen packed with 300 pixels per inch (ppi), surrounded by chunky bezels. The bezels are flush with the screen this time around, which is a minor but thoughtful change that makes it a little easier to flip pages, as there are no page turn buttons.

On the bottom is the power button and a MicroUSB charging port. It’s a bit of a shame Amazon did not go with the more universal USB-C charging port in 2018, but we’ve yet to see another ebook reader with this charging port just yet.

Another nice addition to the Paperwhite is an iPX8 rating, allowing you to use it in the tub or at the pool.

Flip it over and you’ll find a rubberized back that’s slightly curved. Other than the small recessed Amazon logo on the top third of the Paperwhite, it’s unadorned, making it easy to hold in any position.

A major addition to this year’s Paperwhite is an iPX8 rating, allowing you to use it in the tub or at the pool. It should protect the ebook reader in up to two meters of water for 60 minutes. It’s a nice addition that makes the Paperwhite more versatile in a variety of reading conditions.

Crisp display

If you’re a fan of the crisp six-inch E Ink screen on the old Kindle Paperwhite you’re in luck: The 2018 Paperwhite has the exact same display. At 300 PPI, text and images look sharp, and perfect for reading.

Steven Winkelman/Digital Trends

The marquee feature that makes the Paperwhite so special however is its built-in LEDs that illuminate the display. It allows you to read in just about any condition. There’s also a black and white feature for readers who are light sensitive. The display is easy to read in all environments, though the automatic brightness doesn’t go low enough when reading in the dark — we had to manually adjust it to our liking.

We’re more disappointed at the lack of a blue-light filter, or any kind of option to adjust color temperature on the Paperwhite. The similarly-priced Kobo Clara HD also has a front-lit display along with an excellent blue-light filter called ComfortLight Pro. Filtering blue light at night can be beneficial for your health, as it can affect your sleep and therefore your health otherwise, and we’d have liked to see this option here.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2018) Compared To

Kobo Clara HD

Sony Digital Paper DPT-RP1

Boox Max 2

Kindle Oasis (2017)

Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2

Kobo Aura One

Kindle Oasis

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2013)

Kobo Aura HD

Kobo Mini

Sony Reader PRS-T2

Spring Design Alex

Barnes & Noble Nook

Amazon Kindle 2

Sony PRS-700

Amazon sent us a leather and water-safe cover for the new Paperwhite. Both do a great job of protecting the display, but they also have an added bonus: They cause the screen to illuminate when opened, and put it to sleep when closed. It’s a lovely feature that means you don’t have to worry about pressing the power button to turn the screen on, or accidentally change pages when you’re done reading.

Fast and intuitive software

If you’ve ever used an ebook reader before, you should have no problem getting around the Kindle Paperwhite. When you turn the device on you’ll see the home screen. This is where you’ll find your current book, reading list, as well as books your friends have read on Goodreads. There’s a new option to swipe up, and you’ll be greeted with book recommendations, notable options in the Prime Reading program, and a list of Amazon best sellers. It’s easy to miss this feature unless you pay close attention to the bottom of the screen.

Steven Winkelman/Digital Trends

Across the top of the display are key system icons, such as the Wi-Fi / LTE indicator, battery icon, and time. Below that, you’ll find a menu with navigation options, a brightness setting icon, search bar, and links to Goodreads and the Kindle Store. While all of this information is on display on the home screen, you simply need to tap the top of the page in any book to access it.

Alternatives

Kobo Clara HD

Kobo Forma

Apple iPad Pro

In addition to supporting Kindle ebooks, this year’s Paperwhite has another trick up its sleeve. Amazon added Bluetooth connectivity to the reader, allowing you to pair Bluetooth headphones and listen to your favorite Audible audiobooks. It adds an extra level of usefulness to the ebook reader, though it may be simpler or easier to just use your smartphone. The 4GB storage option has also been replaced with 8GB and 32GB options this year to support larger Audible files.

Reading a book on the Kindle Paperwhite is as simple as tapping on its cover from the home screen. Once in a book you can alter its appearance by tapping the top of the display and selecting Page Display. From this menu you can adjust both the font and its size as well as text layout on the page. There’s also an option to create a profile of your chosen preferences so you can quickly select it for future books.

Steven Winkelman/Digital Trends

And while the Paperwhite now offers more screen customizations than ever, there’s one thing that’s missing: You cannot customize page turns. Since the Paperwhite doesn’t have page turn buttons, we wish we could have at least customized screen gestures. It’s a feature on Kobo ebook readers we’ve come to love. Instead, you can only tap the left or right edges of the screen, or drag the page across. It’s sounds simple, but it can be tough to reach the other side of the screen when reading one-handed.

Performance was excellent overall on the Paperwhite. Amazon did not share processor and memory specifications, but this ebook reader is nevertheless plenty powerful. We didn’t experience any lag when turning pages — in fact it felt instantaneous — and we didn’t run into ghosting issues.

Battery life

Battery life on the Kindle Paperwhite is on par with what you’ll find on other ebook readers. Amazon vaguely claims “weeks” from a single charge, which we found to be a little exaggerated, though it ultimately depends on your reading habits. In a period of four days with a total of around six hours of screen on time, the battery hit 23 percent. That’s with cellular and front-lighting on, which depletes the battery quicker.

It can easily last longer on the Wi-Fi only model, or if you don’t use the front-lighting all the time. It also loses very little battery life in standby mode, so you don’t really need to worry about turning the Paperwhite off when it’s not in use.

World’s Biggest Bookstore

Over the past decade, Amazon has managed to amass both the world’s largest bookstore and audio bookstore. From best sellers to self-published titles, you’ll have no problem finding content in its store. And while we’re not fans of a lot of its self-published content, there’s no denying it has the leg up compared to the Kobo Store.

In addition to offering the most ebook and audiobook titles, Amazon has another special feature for Kindle owners. The first is a subscription service called Kindle Unlimited that allows you read an unlimited number of pre-selected books in the Kindle Store for $10 a month. The selection ranges from bestsellers to public domain titles, though you’re not likely to find newly-released books.

Price, availability, and warranty information

The Kindle Paperwhite costs $130, and it’s available now from Amazon.

Amazon offers a one-year warranty on all its hardware. It’s limited to manufacturer defects, so any type of accidents will not be covered. If you’re worried about accidental damage, you may want to pick up Amazon’s two-year protection plan when you order the Kindle Paperwhite.

Our Take

The Kindle Paperwhite isn’t perfect, but an excellent ebook reader for people in the Amazon ecosystem. It’s portable, durable, and allows you to enjoy your favorite books in multiple formats.

Is there a better alternative?

It depends on your needs. If you want an inexpensive, water resistant ebook reader with audiobook support, the Kindle Paperwhite (2018) is your best bet — especially if you’re tied to Amazon’s ecosystem. However, if you just want a ebook reader that will get the job done of letting you read ebooks and not much else, get the base Kindle, which costs $80.

If you want an ebook reader with a blue-light filtering screen, we recommend the excellent Kobo Forma, though it will cost you a good deal more.

How long will it last?

With proper care, the Kindle Paperwhite should easily five or more years. We believe you’ll be more likely to upgrade the Paperwhite than wear it out since ebook reader technology doesn’t change much year over year.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Kindle Paperwhite has long been one of our favorite ebook readers, and the refresh for 2018 makes it even better. Its new Bluetooth connectivity and water resistance makes it the perfect choice in just about every situation, from commuting to a day at the beach.

Nvidia’s ‘binning’ practice could mean the best RTX 2070s are third-party cards

Nvidia has reportedly begun binning — that is, selecting for performance — its RTX 2070 cards, delivering the best of them to its third-party partners, thereby making those with aftermarket coolers and overclockers likely to be the greatest performers. Existing owners and potential buyers will be able to find out whether they have a specially binned RTX 2070 by looking at the GPU core. Those that are binned have a special lettering to designate them as such.

The Turing generation of graphics cards from Nvidia has had some serious ups and downs since its unveiling earlier this year. Not everyone was convinced that they were really designed with gamers in mind, and everything but the 2080 Ti proved to be relatively comparable to cheaper, last-generation graphics cards. But as supplies of Pascal cards dwindle, the RTX 2070, 2080, and 2080 Ti, are likely to take over as the most popular new GPU buys — reliability issues notwithstanding.

While gamers await more affordable alternatives, like a rumored GTX 2060, the 2070 remains the most affordable of the new generation. At prices between $500 and $600, it’s still not a cheap card, but the new binning suggests it may be worth splashing out the higher amount, as doing so can get you a much more capable card. As TechSpot highlights, The UT106-400A-A1 GPUs that are appearing in some cards tend to offer greater clock speeds and overclocking potential than the non-binned TU106-400-A1 chips found in reference cards from Nvidia and third parties.

Binning is hardly a new strategy in the PC hardware game. Intel famously “created” its Anniversary Edition 8086 CPU earlier this year with a specially binned Core i7-8700K that was selected to be able to reach the 5GHz frequency that characterized the special edition CPU.

However, it does mean that the chip lottery of buying new cards is rigged against those hoping to end up with a great overclocker while spending less. If you want to buy an RTX 2070 and get the highest of overclocking potential, shelling out more for the 400A-A1 chip is likely going to be worth it.

That doesn’t mean that the reference cards sporting the 400-A1 chip will be terrible in comparison, just that they’ve been tested and found wanting where the 400A-A1 chips were not.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2060 might launch next year without ray tracing
• We tested Nvidia’s RTX 2080 and 2080 Ti. Are they a worthy upgrade?
• Gaming laptops with Nvidia’s flagship RTX cards could arrive by CES 2019
• New 3DMark benchmark will support Nvidia’s RTX 20 Series possibly this October
• A.I. makes Nvidia’s RTX 2080 twice as powerful as the GTX 1080

Check out Moen’s November sale to save big on fixtures, faucets, and more

Do it yourself.

Amazon’s hosting a Moen November sale, which means it’s time to improve your home. With discounts on faucets, fixtures, and everything in between, you’ll want to peruse the full sale to take advantage of all the deals. Most of Moen’s products are backed by a limited lifetime warranty, too.

There are 15 pages of deals, and such a wide variety of products that you could even make over your entire bathroom.

The Moen Brantford Shower Only System is down to $88, from a normal price of $125. Make your faucet match with the pictured $103 Eva Two-Handle Centerset Faucet, which is over $30 off. Tie the whole thing together with the Brantford Toilet Paper Holder in a matching finish. Today you’ll pay $20 instead of $30.

Be sure to check out the full sale before the discounts expire.

See at Amazon

How to make your own Kano Computer

We’ve all done that one thing we should never do: buy something for our kids only to figure out far too late that we have no idea how to put it together. We’re not here to judge. In fact, we’re here to help. While you could just buy the Kano Computer Kit for yourself and start on that, why not go the cheaper route instead? After all, building a computer from scratch sounds much more fun, doesn’t it?

Products used in this guide

• PiShop US: Raspberry Pi 3 Model B ($35)
• PiShop US: Raspberry Pi B 2/3 Case ($8)
• PiShop US: HDMI Cable ($3)
• PiShop US: Raspberry Pi Official Universal Power Supply ($12)
• Best Buy: MicroSD Card 8GB or Bigger ($5)
• Best Buy: USB Keyboard With Integrated Touchpad ($60)

The Guide

First thing’s first. You’ll need to unbox everything that comes in your Kano package. We advise doing this on a hard surface with plenty of space.

Now that everything’s out, take your Raspberry Pi, also known as the motherboard, and place it in its plastic casing.

Insert your USB keyboard with the integrated touchpad into the motherboard.
Your MicroSD Card 8GB will now be put to good use. It’s time to install the Kano Software.
First, you’ll need to install a program called Etcher.

You’ll see on-screen instructions. Follow them.

Check that you have the right download. If you have a Raspberry Pi 3 and an 8GB card, click the download for that version.

Sit and wait impatiently for your download.
Or connect your power adaptor to your motherboard.

Then, using your HDMI cable connect the motherboard to a monitor or TV.

Next, take the memory card with your finished download and slide it into the memory card reader in the motherboard.
Open the Kano OS software you downloaded and click Open.
Your memory card should be detected.
Click the Flash button that comes up. The computer is now accessing the data from the memory card.

Wait once again.
Once you see the Flash Complete you’re finished!

Now that you’ve finished setup, you should be able to get stuck into creating anything you want with your very own Kano Computer. Pft, who said you needed to spend so much to get everything you need?

Our top equipment picks

Our pick

Raspberry Pi Model 3B

$35 at Pi Shop US

The brain behind all your creations.

Your Kano Computer could not even exist without the Raspberry Pi. This model in particular has everything you’ll ever need, as it has two giant upgrades that changes just how you’ll work. WiFi is built in, meaning no pesky adaptors, and the processor speed is out of this world.

The Raspberry Pi 3 is also a dream to set up, coming with a HDMI video/audio connector, 4 USB 2.0 ports and a RCA video/audio connector. Honestly, why would you get anything else?

Additional Equipment

With everything you buy, you’re going to want to know the pros and cons, right? We’re here to help.

Raspberry Pi B 2/3 Case

$8 at PiShop US

A snap together case that is as stylish as it is useful. It has a cutout for all connection ports and stick-on rubber feet for stability.

HDMI Cable

$3 at PiShop US

HDMI cables are the bread and butter of our society. Where would we be without the HDMI cable that supports high definition audio, and can connect us to our TVs, consoles, and PCs? Nowhere.

Raspberry Pi Official Universal Power Supply

$12 at PiShop US

You won’t be getting anywhere without some power to make your Kano Computer work. Thankfully, the Raspberry Pi universal power supply gets the job done.

MicroSD Card 8GB or Bigger

$5 at Best Buy

There is nothing worse than running out of space. With a MicroSD card that’s 8GB or bigger, you’ll be able to store images, video, and apps with little to no trouble.

USB Keyboard With Integrated Touchpad

$60 at Best Buy

Who needs a mouse and a keyboard when you can have both in one? Even better, if you have an Android TV, this is completely compatible with it. So now you can browse Netflix while on the couch with a simple keyboard. Nice!

How to port your number to Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile is a prepaid carrier operating on T-Mobile’s network that sells its plans in multi-month bundles so you can save money. You can buy three or six months at a time, or even pay for the whole year at once, with up to 10GB of LTE each month. Should you decide to try out Mint Mobile, porting your number from another carrier is a fairly simple and painless process.

Products used in this guide

• Mint Mobile: SIM card ($45+)
• Mint Mobile: Samsung Galaxy S9 ($699)

Porting your number

Before starting the porting process, it’s important to note that your phone number must remain active on your previous carrier throughout the process. If you cancel your old service before moving to Mint, you likely won’t be able to recover your phone number — at least, not without going through a much more tedious process.

Once you’ve decided on a plan and received your Mint Mobile SIM card, starting the porting process is easy.

We used the Samsung Galaxy S9 for the purposes of this guide, but any Mint-compatible phone will do. You can get them for as low as $59.

Visit mintmobile.com and click Activate near the top of the page.

Enter your activation code. You’ll find the code on the back of your SIM card, above the “active by” date.

Click Start or Resume your Activation.

Enter the account number, PIN or password, and ZIP code associated with your previous carrier. You’ll find your account number at the top of most paperwork, including phone bills and receipts, but if you’re unsure about any information, you should call your existing carrier’s customer service line.

That’s it! Once you’re done, you can create a Mint Mobile account to keep track of your plan, but the porting process should be out of your hands and your number will change over automatically. Depending on various factors like your previous carrier, the transfer could be instant or take up to 48 hours — just be patient.

Once the number transfer is complete, you’ll receive a welcome text from Mint confirming your phone number, and in most cases, your existing service will cancel automatically. From here, all that’s left is to enjoy your new service!

Our top equipment picks

Try Mint Mobile risk-free

Mint Mobile SIM card

$45+ at Mint Mobile

Try Mint Mobile with a 7-day money back guarantee

Mint’s plans are extremely affordable, but they won’t do you any good if the service doesn’t work in your neck of the woods. You can try Mint for three months for as little as $45, and if it doesn’t work out within the first week you can get a full refund — though they’re pretty confident you’ll stick around.

Mint-compatible phone

Samsung Galaxy S9

$699 at Mint Mobile

One of the most well-rounded Android phones around

You can use almost any unlocked GSM-compatible phone on Mint Mobile, so long as it supports T-Mobile’s network. Mint also sells a number of popular Android (and iOS) phones, including the highly regarded Galaxy S9, and you can even finance it through Affirm.

Verizon Prepaid is getting cheaper, now supports tablets and big families

You don’t have to run a credit check or sign up for an expensive plan to try out the largest carrier in the U.S. Starting today, Verizon’s prepaid plans are getting more affordable with a $5 auto pay discount per line. You can get unlimited talk, text, and data with 500MB of LTE for $30 a month, though most people will want more than half a gigabyte of high-speed data on their plan.

$35 will get 3GB of data each month, and you can add up to nine additional lines to your prepaid plan (10 total, up from 5 previously) for $25 each on the 3GB plan. For $45, you’ll get 8GB, with additional lines costing $30 each, and the $65 plan offers unlimited LTE data with $45 additional lines.

Each plan supports sharing your data allotment to other devices with mobile hotspot, save for the unlimited LTE plan, and both the 8GB and unlimited plans include free unlimited calling to Canada and Mexico. You can mix and match plans to best suit everyone’s needs on the account, and of course, each line gets it own data allotment rather than pulling from a shared amount.

Those lines don’t necessarily have to be phones, either; Verizon Prepaid now supports tablets and Jetpacks (Verizon’s dedicated mobile hotspots) with the same pricing.

Amazon offers $10 smart bulbs and plugs as early Black Friday deals heat up

Amazon’s celebrating Alexa’s birthday with a present for you.

After launching a big sale for Alexa’s birthday and revealing some of its best upcoming Black Friday deals, Amazon has just kicked off a smart home sale that we doubt any holiday sale will beat. You can get a LIFX Mini LED Smart Bulb or Wemo Mini Smart Plug for just $10 using promo code SMART10 at checkout. The only downside here is that not everyone is eligible for the discount. Per the terms and conditions of the offer, it will only work if you have an Amazon Echo device or Sonos One speaker connected to your account and it’s your first smart home purchase.

Given how popular Echo and Sonos are, we’re pretty sure a big portion of you should be able to take advantage. The LIFX smart bulb regularly sells for $24 on average there, while the Wemo smart plug can be found for $29 on average; meaning either one you choose, you’re getting a great deal. There’s even a coupon you can clip on the LIFX bulb’s product page to save a little bit extra. Amazon is sweetening the offer even more by also extending a 20% discount to a range of smart home products, including the Ring Video Doorbell 2, Ring Floodlight Camera, and various TP-Link accessories.

Both the smart bulb and the smart plug work with Amazon Alexa, which means if you have a device like the Echo Dot, you can ask Alexa to turn off the LIFX bulb or power on something plugged into the Wemo smart plug and begin controlling them with your voice. They also work with Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit.

At Amazon, the LIFX bulb features a rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars based on nearly 300 reviews while the Wemo smart plug has a rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars based on over 11,000 reviews. While that indicates some middling opinions, it’s worth keeping in mind that most of those reviewers paid full price and might have changed their tune if they’d only paid $10.

See at Amazon

Court says Qualcomm has to license patents to rivals like Intel and Samsung

A U.S. federal court ruling could potentially see Qualcomm licensing its modem patents to other chip makers.

A preliminary ruling by a U.S. federal court judge could change the way Qualcomm operates its licensing business. The ruling was part of a larger antitrust lawsuit that has been filed against Qualcomm by the Federal Trade Commission, and states that the company will have to license its standard essential patents to rivals.

The court found limiting access to standard essential patents could allow Qualcomm to “achieve a monopoly in the modem chip market and limit competing implementations of those components.” Under the new ruling, Qualcomm will have to license the patents needed to build a modem to rivals like Intel or Huawei.

Thus far, Qualcomm has licensed its tech directly to manufacturers, but sharing its essential patents could allow chip vendors like Intel and Samsung to build modems of their own. That’s great news for the industry as it opens up the field for modems, but considering how closely Qualcomm guards its standard essential patents, the company wouldn’t have been too happy with today’s verdict.