Category Archives: smartphone

Getting Enough Snooze?

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It’s hard to get enough sleep in today’s busy world. You get home from work, cook dinner, help with homework, get the children to bed, tidy up, put the laundry on, do some ironing and it’s midnight before you know it. Where did the evening go?

And if that’s not bad enough, some people are making it worse by taking their mobile phones into the bedroom, as revealed by a UK survey of 2,000 people from OnePoll. The survey found that:

  • 86% of millennials reported sleeplessness from staying up too late on their phones.
  • A quarter of 35-44 year-olds experience problems followed by 17% of 45-54 year-olds and 9% of the over-55s.
  • The bedroom (38%) is second only to the living room (47%) as the most common place for adults to be using their phones
  • Londoners (51%) are the most likely to be on their phones in bed, followed by the Welsh (43%) and those in the North East (42%)

At an obvious level, smartphones represent a distraction from the business of getting to sleep but there’s more to it than just too much Facebook. Studies suggest that the blue light produced by the displays of digital devices mimics daylight, and this reduces the body’s production of melatonin, which is the hormone that makes you sleepy.

Lisa Artis, head of The Sleep Council said: “While these results are not surprising, it is eye-opening to read that taking a phone to bed is causing sleepless nights for so many. We know that blue light inhibits sleep because the short wavelength stimulates sensors in the eyes to send signals to your brain’s internal clock, tricking it into thinking it’s daytime. Blue light is beneficial in daylight hours as it boosts mood, reaction times and concentration but in the evening, the recommendation is to avoid screen time for an hour before bedtime to help increase melatonin levels.”

The Sleep Council has some really good resources for getting a good night’s sleep – check out their “Seven Steps” in particular. I really need to get my bedroom tidied into a peaceful sanctuary.

If you can’t put the phone down, smartphone makers like OnePlus (who commissioned the survey) are increasingly offering both hardware and software tools to reduce the problem. The new E3 display panel on the OnePlus 7T cuts blue light by 42% and “Dark Mode” ensures low-light conditions are easier on the eyes. And if you really need to take a break from the phone, there’s “Zen Mode” which disables access to the phone. You can even set a prompt to start Zen Mode at, say 11pm for an hour, to ensure you’re not distracted when heading off to bed.

I’m feeling a little smug….even though I have a OnePlus 6T, I leave my phone downstairs when I go upstairs to bed. Still don’t get enough sleep, mind you…

Photo by Kate Stone Matheson on Unsplash.

OnePlus Turbos 7T Pro With McLaren Edition

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Hot the heels of the OnePlus 7T launch last month in US and India, the 7T Pro and 7T Pro McLaren Edition were revealed in London, fulfilling the promise of “more to come”. In line with the OnePlus modus operandi, the T editions are the performance upgrades to the standard models released earlier in the year. So what’s changed for the 7T Pro?

Under the hood, there’s an upgrade to the processor with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus, boosting graphics rendering and processing speeds by 15%. On the power side, OnePlus’s latest fast charge technology “Warp Charge 30T” is brought to the new OnePlus 7T Pro. Results include 23% faster charge speed than Warp Charge 30 and charging to around 68% capacity in just 30 minutes.

The display stays the same with the 90 Hz Fluid Display and an edge-to-edge QHD+ display – that’s a 3120×1440 resolution giving 516 ppi!

What hasn’t stayed the same is the camera which now has three lenses on the back for a new macro mode for really close-up photography. On top of that there’s an advanced hybrid image stabilization system combining OIS and EIS technologies for smooth and clear videos. As with the 7, the front-facing selfie cam pops up from the top.

On the software side, OxygenOS has been updated to version 10, making it the first phone to come with Android 10 out of the box.

“The new flagship smartphones we unveiled today showcase OnePlus’s constant pursuit of an excellent user experience,” said Pete Lau, CEO and Founder of OnePlus. “The OnePlus 7T Pro combines the latest innovations with our signature features such as 90 Hz Fluid Display and a triple camera setup for the next level in fast and smooth experience. We’ve also teamed up again with McLaren to challenge the standards for a premium smartphone.”

And if the 7T Pro wasn’t enough, then take a look at the McLaren Edition. With orange highlights, it references the legendary motorsport firm – only Ferrari have more F1 wins – with papaya orange trim. Frankly, I think they should have made the back completely orange.

In the box, there’s a custom case for the OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren edition, which is covered with Alcantara, a composite fabric material that provides a soft and subtle feel while being good and grippy.

The software on the phone has been tweaked too with McLaren animations, themes and wallpapers. The lock screen features a minimalist timepiece, inspired by McLaren’s dashboard instrumentation. For notifications, the display’s curved edges softly illuminate with a papaya orange glow. Additionally, custom-made icons complete the overall McLaren experience.

The McLaren edition is turbocharged with 256 GB of storage and 12 GB  RAM. Expect to pay an additional £100 for the privilege.

“Following last year’s successful ‘Salute to Speed’ launch we’re excited to once again be launching a limited-edition McLaren device with our partner OnePlus. We are two challenger brands whose restless pursuit of innovation reaches its pinnacle with the new OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition. The OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition celebrates our brands’ shared passion for design, craftsmanship and innovation and we look forward to seeing how this is received by technology enthusiasts and McLaren fans worldwide.” Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive.

For pricing and availability in the UK, these are the options, prices and availability dates for the 7T series.

  

RAM 

ROM 

Price 

Date

OnePlus 7T 

8GB 

128GB 

 £549 

10:00 BST, 17 Oct

OnePlus 7T Pro 

8GB 

256GB 

£699

10:00 BST, 17 Oct

OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren edition 

12GB 

256GB 

£799

10:00 GMT, 5 Nov

 

OnePlus Announces Launch Events for 7T

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OnePlus have announced the launch events for the upcoming OnePlus 7T smartphone. Starting in India and the US on 26 September, it will culminate with the European launch on 10 October in London at 16.00 BST.

As usual, OnePlus will be selling tickets to the event, which will be at the brand new Magazine London venue in North Greenwich. The tix go on-sale from 20th September via OnePlus.com.

OnePlus Launch NoticePete Lau, CEO and founder of OnePlus said, “OnePlus has been built around the idea of fast and smooth, and we constantly challenge ourselves to be even better. Your smartphone’s display is the element you interact with the most, so it makes sense to invest in screen innovation. I’m really excited to hear what our users think of the OnePlus 7T Series.”

Going with OnePlus’ normal behaviour, the 7T is expected to be an incremental upgrade, rather than an entirely new model. The invite confirms that the 7T will come with a 90 Hz display but you never know what else might appear – the press release promises “more to come in London”. Apparently OnePlus are launching a magazine too, called “Addition”. Interesting.

If you can’t be there in person, the launch event will be streamed live via the OnePlus official website or on its YouTube and Twitter accounts.

OnePlus 7 Landing in UK Next Week

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While both the OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro were announced earlier in the month, the 7’s availability was only listed as “June”. Today, OnePlus confirmed that the 7 would be available to buy in the UK from next week – 4 June.

The spiritual successor to the 6T, the 7 is still well-specified with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 CPU, UFS 3.0 and Dolby Atmos stereo speakers, plus software features like RAM boost, new screen unlock technology and the UltraShot photography engine, all borrowed from the 7 Pro.

The 7’s main rear sensor features Sony’s IMX586, a 48-megapixel, ½ inch super-sized sensor with an aperture of f/1.7, and OIS and EIS. While it’s not a pop-up camera, the front-facing camera is 5-megapixel, perfect for selfies and video calling. Of course, there’s a curvaceous notch at the top of the screen…

The 7 is cheaper than it’s Pro sibling, coming in at GB£499 for the 6GB RAM, 128GB storage model, and GB£549 for the 8GB RAM, 256GB version. Both are Mirror Gray and good value IMHO. For reference, the 7 Pro starts at GB£649

Available from OnePlus.com, EE and John Lewis from next Tuesday.

OnePlus Shows Off OnePlus 7 Series

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With the usual level of hoopla, OnePlus showed off the new OnePlus 7 Series of phones at three launch events in Bangalore, London and New York. Consisting of the 7, 7 Pro and 7 Pro 5G, it’s the first time the company has simultaneously launched multiple models – the closest OnePlus came to this in the past was with the 2 and the X models way back in 2015. Right at the end, Bullets Wireless 2 were announced too.

I watched the London event to see CEO, Pete Lau, take to the stage, review OnePlus’ journey and introduce the new models with a string of guests, including Akis Evangelidis (VP OnePlus France) and Kate Parkyn (Head of Growth OnePlus Europe).

The 7 Pro took centre stage and the phone sports a whopping 6.67-inch curved glass display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, making this the biggest phone that OnePlus has made, even with the absence of bezels. The screen is branded Fluid AMOLED, with 516 pixels per inch (QHD+) and supports HDR10 & HDR10+ for fantastic visual dynamic range. Beyond that, the screen is capable of an astonishing 90 Hz refresh rate. Fast and smooth for sure. OnePlus 7 Pro has earned DisplayMate’s highest A+ rating, making it one of the top smartphone displays on the market

Screen unlock is still there and will typically unlock the phone in 0.21 seconds: that’s 28% faster than 6T and OnePlus claims it’s the fastest of any smartphone on the market.

There are three cameras on the back of the phone, which form a triple camera system. There’s a state-of-the-art 48 megapixel Sony IMX586 sensor with OIS, an 8 megapixel 78 mm telephoto lens at f/2.4 and 1μm pixel size and stabilised by OIS, and a 16 megapixel 117° ultra-wide angle lens at f/2.2. Together these produce great photos in daylight and lowlight, as demonstrated by the photos on show by Krystle Wright, an Adventure Photographer with National Geographic. For other proof, DxOMark scored the 7 Pro at 111 which is the second highest score ever recorded.

There’s no notch on 7 Pro’s screen and the seflie camera pops up. It’s covered in sapphire glass and the mechanism has been tested over 300,000 times, so it should be good for a few years (but try to avoid getting any sand in there.) If you drop the camera, the phone will detect the free-fall and automatically retract the camera. That’s neat.

Inside the 7 Pro, it’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 and with up to 12 GB of RAM, it’s 45% faster and consumes 20% less power. It uses UFS 3.0 storage making it one of the first phones to use the memory type. The extra RAM can be used for RAM Boost, which is a caching technology to speed up loading times.

The new phone will come in three colours – Mirror Gray, Almond and Nebula Blue – and the last two look very good.

The presentation diverted into 5G and how wonderful it’s going to be, with gushing presentations from Qualcomm and EE. I always have a sense of déjà vu at these points as I seem to remember the same presentations for 3G and 4G. Ok, it’s going to be faster than before. Move on.

The 7 Pro will go on sale from 21st May, priced from GB£649 for 6 GB RAM, 128 GB ROM. Top of the range is £799 for 12 GB RAM, 256 GB ROM. Pricing and availability for the 5G version is TBA.

The poor OnePlus 7 (not Pro, not 5G) didn’t even get a mention until over an hour in. It’s the direct successor to the 6T and most obviously, it retains the notch for the front-facing camera. In fact, the form factor hasn’t really changed so it’s a smaller 6.41″ display, with a comparatively low 402 pixels-per-inch resolution(!) However, it has the same CPU (Snapdragon 855), UFS 3.0 and main camera sensor (IMX586) as the 7 Pro, so it’s nothing to be sniffed at all. Dolby Atmos stereo speakers are present too along with the larger in-screen fingerprint reader.

Pricewise, the 7 comes in at £499 for 6 GB RAM, 128 GB ROM and will be on sale in June. Do I upgrade from my 3T….?

OnePlus pop-ups start from 16th May and will run in 21 cities across Europe and more details can be found here. The UK pop-up is taking place in the stunning roof garden of John Lewis and Partners’ flagship store on Oxford Street in London, on the 17th May.

There’s loads of extra information over at the OnePlus website.

OnePlus Keeps Dropping Titbits

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With just a week to go, OnePlus has kept up a steady stream of news for the upcoming OnePlus 7 Pro. Mostly using Pete Lau’s Twitter, there’s news on the screen, water resistance, UFS 3.1 storage and the camera’s been busy with a few cover shoots too.

 

In official press release news, it’s been confirmed today that the 7 Pro will come with an HDR10+ certified display. As already mentioned in the tweets, the OnePlus 7 Pro display comes with an A+ top-grade rating given by DisplayMate, and is ‘Safety for Eyes’ certified by VDE. 

“HDR10+ is the future of not just television displays, but also smartphone displays as well,” says OnePlus CEO Pete Lau. “We hope that our newest device will set a new benchmark for the smartphone industry and open up a new world of visual fluidity for users. We’re glad we are leading the ranks in sharing quality technology with the world.” 

For those unfamiliar with HDR10+, it provides frame-by-frame adjustments for the best representation of contrast from the HDR source content. HDR10+ also produces 4,000 nits of peak brightness, a massive raise of 3,000 nits compared to HDR10. Being an open format, it’s license and royalty free and can be adopted by manufacturers and content producers. Quality is maintained through a HDR10+ certification and logo programme.

Let’s hope there are still a few surprises left for next Tuesday.

OnePlus 7 Series Launch Event 14 May

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As expected, OnePlus have announced the launch events for the OnePlus 7 Series in London, New York, Bengaluru and Beijing. Branded “Go Beyond Speed”, the teaser trailer is a short 11 seconds long.

With the moniker of “Series”, there’s now no doubt there will be more than one model, and they’re going to be different designs. Expect to see a 7 Pro to go up against the top-tier Samsung devices alongside a more humble 7. The video, posted to Twitter by Pete Lau, CEO of OnePlus, allegedly runs at 90 fps which suggests that the new (7 Pro) phone will have a screen with a matching 90 Hz refresh rate. That’s up from the normal 60 Hz of an ordinary smartphone. I don’t know how to confirm the video frame rate so will have to take it on trust.

Never Settle LogoThe trailer doesn’t reveal much else. There are the expected swooshes, curves and vents but no real giveaways as far as I can tell, though it looks like the ever popular alert slider is still there. There are some renders of both the 7 and 7 Pro floating around the web, with the 7 Pro sporting a pop-up camera. The 7 looks substantially the same as the 6T so expect the same in-display optical fingerprint reader.

As usual for OnePlus, there are opportunities to buy and win tickets for the launch events. Checking the London event, tickets are still available at GB£16 for early birds. It’s GB£30 after Thursday and the ticket gets you swag and snacks as well as entry to the event. If you can’t be there, it’ll be streamed live too.

The launch events are:

  • London, United Kingdom
    Time: 4 PM BST, May 14
    Location: Printworks London
  • New York, United States
    Time: 11 AM EDT, May 14
    Location: Pier 94
  • Bengaluru, India
    Time: 8:15 PM IST, May 14
    Location: Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre
  • Beijing, China
    Time: 2 PM CST, May 16
    Location: Yanqi Lake

Of course, the big unknown for both the 7 and 7 Pro is price and we’re unlikely to discover that with any certainty until 14 May.