New Samsung accessories include two 25W fast charging power banks and a 45W car charger

Tuesday was a big day for the tech world. Samsung Unpacked 2020 was a comprehensive event as Samsung launched the flagship Galaxy S20 series, the clamshell Galaxy Z Flip vertically foldable phone, and the Galaxy Buds+ wireless earbuds. The Galaxy S20 series consists, of the standard Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra. These phones have many upgrades, and come with super-high price tags to match. Samsung’s Galaxy S series is the world’s top selling Android flagship phone series, and they have an whole ecosystem of accessories. Samsung’s first-party accessories page for the Galaxy S20 5G series in the US is now live. Along with many cases, it details that Samsung has quietly launched two 25W fast charging 10,000mAh banks and a 45W car charger.

The first power bank is called the 25W Wireless Battery Pack, and its battery capacity is 10,000mAh. It has two USB Type-C ports that enable users to charge their phones at up to 25W charging speed via the USB Type-C Power Delivery standard (USB-C PD). It has Qi wireless charging as well, which lets users charge their phone, smartwatch, or wireless earbuds by placing them on top of the power bank. This one received FCC certification a couple of months ago.

The second power bank is named the 25W Battery Pack. It also has a 10,000mAh battery capacity and a wired charging speed of 25W for compatible phones. The major difference here is that it doesn’t have wireless charging, while retaining two USB Type-C ports. Samsung mentions that 25W fast charging is not supported by the two power banks when two devices are being charged at the same time.

Samsung 45W wall charger

The third new item is a a 45W car charger. It’s named the “Dual & Super Fast Car Charger.” It has two USB ports. The first is a standard USB Type-A port that outputs 15W of power, while the other is a USB Type-C port that outputs 45W. It comes with a 5A USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable that is necessary for 45W charging. This same cable is bundled with Samsung’s 45W wall charger. The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is the second phone by the company after the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ to support 45W fast charging, but Samsung doesn’t bundle a 45W charger in the box. Instead, that must be bought separately as the box only contains a 25W charger, same as the standard Galaxy S20 and the Galaxy S20+. Both of the latter phones support 25W fast charging, instead of 45W. The 45W car charger will charge 25W charging speed-capable devices at 25W, as that is the maximum these phones support.

Samsung is relying on USB Type-C Power Delivery 3.0 for 45W charging on the Galaxy Note 10+ and the Galaxy S20 Ultra. It hasn’t been all smooth sailing as many users have reported the Galaxy Note 10+ refuses to charge at even 25W with many third-party chargers. PPS support is an absolute must if users want fast charging on Samsung phones. At least the company isn’t using a proprietary fast charging standard unlike many of its China-based competitors.

Samsung hasn’t revealed the pricing and availability details of either the two power banks or the wall charger. It’s fair to expect this information to be released around the time of the Galaxy S20’s official launch date, which is March 6 in the US.  These accessories are expected to be widely available considering the history of Samsung’s strong device ecosystem.

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Via: SamMobile (1, 2)

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New Samsung accessories include two 25W fast charging power banks and a 45W car charger

Tuesday was a big day for the tech world. Samsung Unpacked 2020 was a comprehensive event as Samsung launched the flagship Galaxy S20 series, the clamshell Galaxy Z Flip vertically foldable phone, and the Galaxy Buds+ wireless earbuds. The Galaxy S20 series consists, of the standard Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra. These phones have many upgrades, and come with super-high price tags to match. Samsung’s Galaxy S series is the world’s top selling Android flagship phone series, and they have an whole ecosystem of accessories. Samsung’s first-party accessories page for the Galaxy S20 5G series in the US is now live. Along with many cases, it details that Samsung has quietly launched two 25W fast charging 10,000mAh banks and a 45W car charger.

The first power bank is called the 25W Wireless Battery Pack, and its battery capacity is 10,000mAh. It has two USB Type-C ports that enable users to charge their phones at up to 25W charging speed via the USB Type-C Power Delivery standard (USB-C PD). It has Qi wireless charging as well, which lets users charge their phone, smartwatch, or wireless earbuds by placing them on top of the power bank. This one received FCC certification a couple of months ago.

The second power bank is named the 25W Battery Pack. It also has a 10,000mAh battery capacity and a wired charging speed of 25W for compatible phones. The major difference here is that it doesn’t have wireless charging, while retaining two USB Type-C ports. Samsung mentions that 25W fast charging is not supported by the two power banks when two devices are being charged at the same time.

Samsung 45W wall charger

The third new item is a a 45W car charger. It’s named the “Dual & Super Fast Car Charger.” It has two USB ports. The first is a standard USB Type-A port that outputs 15W of power, while the other is a USB Type-C port that outputs 45W. It comes with a 5A USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable that is necessary for 45W charging. This same cable is bundled with Samsung’s 45W wall charger. The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is the second phone by the company after the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ to support 45W fast charging, but Samsung doesn’t bundle a 45W charger in the box. Instead, that must be bought separately as the box only contains a 25W charger, same as the standard Galaxy S20 and the Galaxy S20+. Both of the latter phones support 25W fast charging, instead of 45W. The 45W car charger will charge 25W charging speed-capable devices at 25W, as that is the maximum these phones support.

Samsung is relying on USB Type-C Power Delivery 3.0 for 45W charging on the Galaxy Note 10+ and the Galaxy S20 Ultra. It hasn’t been all smooth sailing as many users have reported the Galaxy Note 10+ refuses to charge at even 25W with many third-party chargers. PPS support is an absolute must if users want fast charging on Samsung phones. At least the company isn’t using a proprietary fast charging standard unlike many of its China-based competitors.

Samsung hasn’t revealed the pricing and availability details of either the two power banks or the wall charger. It’s fair to expect this information to be released around the time of the Galaxy S20’s official launch date, which is March 6 in the US.  These accessories are expected to be widely available considering the history of Samsung’s strong device ecosystem.

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Via: SamMobile (1, 2)

The post New Samsung accessories include two 25W fast charging power banks and a 45W car charger appeared first on xda-developers.

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WhatsApp now has over two billion users around the world

It’s almost needless to say it at this point, but more than ten years after its launch, WhatsApp remains the most popular IP-based messaging app in the world. The app is particularly popular in India, its largest user market, where it had 400 million users as of July 2019. In Europe, West and South Asia, South America, and Africa, WhatsApp remains the most popular messaging app. In fact, it’s only in China, Japan, and North America that WhatsApp is not well-known. WeChat and LINE are the most popular messaging apps in China and Japan respectively, while the US is dominated by iMessage for iPhone users and plain old SMS for Android users. In 2017, WhatsApp had reached the one billion worldwide users milestone. Now, the company has announced that it supports more than two billion users around the world.

This is another staggering milestone for a single messaging app, as WhatsApp now has just as many users as its parent company, Facebook. It is something that was unimaginable ten years ago. WhatsApp says it’s “humbled and honored to reach this milestone.” On the positive side, the company notes that “the more [it] connects, the more [it has] to protect.” Protecting users’ conversations is more important than ever, and that’s why WhatsApp secures every private message sent using it with end-to-end encryption. The company added end-to-end encryption to WhatsApp through the Signal Protocol back in April 2016. It explains that strong encryption is an unbreakable digital lock that keeps users’ information sent through WhatsApp secure, keeping it safe from hackers and criminals. The key feature of E2E encryption is that messages are only kept on the user’s device, and no one in between can read their messages or listen to their calls, not even WhatsApp as it doesn’t have the keys. However, it should be noted that targeted attacks using non-state actors and law enforcement agencies have taken place on WhatsApp due to exploitation of the service’s vulnerabilities.

WhatsApp states that it will not compromise on security because that would make people less safe. It also works with top security experts, employing industry leading technology to stop misuse as well as provide controls and ways to report issues without sacrificing privacy for even more protection. This statement is welcome to see considering many reports that WhatsApp’s E2E encryption is in the cross-hairs of intelligence agencies as well as the federal US government.

Finally, WhatsApp notes that it remains committed to help connect the world privately and protect the personal communication of two billion users around the world. Its enormous user base gives it immense influence. Its digital payments solution, WhatsApp Pay, has finally been cleared for approval in India, and it’s expected to gain a large segment of the Indian digital payments market. Throughout the world, WhatsApp is where messages get sent, but the US is left out. Google has now rolled out RCS/Chat to Android Messages users in the US, but without E2E encryption, RCS will remain a shadow of other IP-based messaging apps. Another important factor is the fact that unless Apple adopts RCS, the US messaging market will continue to remain fragmented as RCS and iMessages are incompatible.

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Source: WhatsApp

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via IFTTT

WhatsApp now has over two billion users around the world

It’s almost needless to say it at this point, but more than ten years after its launch, WhatsApp remains the most popular IP-based messaging app in the world. The app is particularly popular in India, its largest user market, where it had 400 million users as of July 2019. In Europe, West and South Asia, South America, and Africa, WhatsApp remains the most popular messaging app. In fact, it’s only in China, Japan, and North America that WhatsApp is not well-known. WeChat and LINE are the most popular messaging apps in China and Japan respectively, while the US is dominated by iMessage for iPhone users and plain old SMS for Android users. In 2017, WhatsApp had reached the one billion worldwide users milestone. Now, the company has announced that it supports more than two billion users around the world.

This is another staggering milestone for a single messaging app, as WhatsApp now has just as many users as its parent company, Facebook. It is something that was unimaginable ten years ago. WhatsApp says it’s “humbled and honored to reach this milestone.” On the positive side, the company notes that “the more [it] connects, the more [it has] to protect.” Protecting users’ conversations is more important than ever, and that’s why WhatsApp secures every private message sent using it with end-to-end encryption. The company added end-to-end encryption to WhatsApp through the Signal Protocol back in April 2016. It explains that strong encryption is an unbreakable digital lock that keeps users’ information sent through WhatsApp secure, keeping it safe from hackers and criminals. The key feature of E2E encryption is that messages are only kept on the user’s device, and no one in between can read their messages or listen to their calls, not even WhatsApp as it doesn’t have the keys. However, it should be noted that targeted attacks using non-state actors and law enforcement agencies have taken place on WhatsApp due to exploitation of the service’s vulnerabilities.

WhatsApp states that it will not compromise on security because that would make people less safe. It also works with top security experts, employing industry leading technology to stop misuse as well as provide controls and ways to report issues without sacrificing privacy for even more protection. This statement is welcome to see considering many reports that WhatsApp’s E2E encryption is in the cross-hairs of intelligence agencies as well as the federal US government.

Finally, WhatsApp notes that it remains committed to help connect the world privately and protect the personal communication of two billion users around the world. Its enormous user base gives it immense influence. Its digital payments solution, WhatsApp Pay, has finally been cleared for approval in India, and it’s expected to gain a large segment of the Indian digital payments market. Throughout the world, WhatsApp is where messages get sent, but the US is left out. Google has now rolled out RCS/Chat to Android Messages users in the US, but without E2E encryption, RCS will remain a shadow of other IP-based messaging apps. Another important factor is the fact that unless Apple adopts RCS, the US messaging market will continue to remain fragmented as RCS and iMessages are incompatible.

---

Source: WhatsApp

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Gboard’s new “Emoji Kitchen” lets you create custom emoji mash-ups

Google is always creating and experimenting with new features that it tests across its products. The latest is a fun tool for Gboard called “Emoji Kitchen.” A bizarre and whacky feature, Emoji Kitchen effectively merges two different emoji together into one large image, and they can be sent in conversations. I actually had the feature temporarily about a month back, but it disappeared again a few days later. While the feature is pretty fun to play with, I found it annoying as it pushes up the send button, meaning that I accidentally would send these custom emoji instead of sending a message.

Ever wanted to have a supersized sad cowboy or a ghost with a cowboy hat on? Me neither, but if you ever have that craving, Emoji Kitchen allows you to create all of the emoji you ever dreamed of – which includes your nightmares, in the case of some of them. The images really are quite big in some apps, and I’ve already seen friends of mine accidentally hitting them and sending them in conversations.

The feature doesn’t work for all emoji and is limited mostly to faces and animals. In case you didn’t realize, the feature is called Emoji Kitchen as you can combine and create many different types of emoji simply through your keyboard. As Google puts, it, “Language is infinitely creative just like art and music,” which means that emoji are art too. The feature is rolling out in the latest Gboard beta, and you can enroll in the beta program here. You can also download the latest version of Gboard below.

Gboard - the Google Keyboard (Free, Google Play) →

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Source: Google

The post Gboard’s new “Emoji Kitchen” lets you create custom emoji mash-ups appeared first on xda-developers.

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via IFTTT

Gboard’s new “Emoji Kitchen” lets you create custom emoji mash-ups

Google is always creating and experimenting with new features that it tests across its products. The latest is a fun tool for Gboard called “Emoji Kitchen.” A bizarre and whacky feature, Emoji Kitchen effectively merges two different emoji together into one large image, and they can be sent in conversations. I actually had the feature temporarily about a month back, but it disappeared again a few days later. While the feature is pretty fun to play with, I found it annoying as it pushes up the send button, meaning that I accidentally would send these custom emoji instead of sending a message.

Ever wanted to have a supersized sad cowboy or a ghost with a cowboy hat on? Me neither, but if you ever have that craving, Emoji Kitchen allows you to create all of the emoji you ever dreamed of – which includes your nightmares, in the case of some of them. The images really are quite big in some apps, and I’ve already seen friends of mine accidentally hitting them and sending them in conversations.

The feature doesn’t work for all emoji and is limited mostly to faces and animals. In case you didn’t realize, the feature is called Emoji Kitchen as you can combine and create many different types of emoji simply through your keyboard. As Google puts, it, “Language is infinitely creative just like art and music,” which means that emoji are art too. The feature is rolling out in the latest Gboard beta, and you can enroll in the beta program here. You can also download the latest version of Gboard below.

Gboard - the Google Keyboard (Free, Google Play) →

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Source: Google

The post Gboard’s new “Emoji Kitchen” lets you create custom emoji mash-ups appeared first on xda-developers.

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8 of the Best Courses to Prep for a Certification in Project Management

While the tech sector is mostly about code and design, every startup over a certain size needs project managers. Top professionals get the chance to work at companies like Apple and Google, while earning six figures. If you would like to get into project management or earn a promotion, these courses can help you pass important certification exams. Right now, you can save hundreds on the training via the XDA Developers Depot.

The Lean Six Sigma Expert Training Bundle

Used at many top companies, Lean Six Sigma combines (you guessed it) Lean and Six Sigma, two of the most popular management frameworks. This bundle prepares you to become a certified black belt through four video courses. You also learn how to use Minitab, a powerful statistical tool many project managers swear by. Normally $2,096, these courses are now just $49. 

The Complete 2020 Microsoft Azure Certification Prep Bundle

If you plan to lead a technical team, this Microsoft Azure training is the perfect compliment to your project management skills. Through 11 courses, you’ll learn about cloud computing and get full prep for five official exams. You should come away with developer-level skills. Worth $2,039.99, the bundle is now $42.90.

The Complete Six Sigma Training Suite Bundle

Bringing together 15 separate courses, this huge training suite helps you master both Six Sigma and Lean. You work through multiple levels for each framework, and you gain real-world knowledge of process mapping and Voice of Customer (VOC) techniques. Order now for $31 to get the full suite, worth $2843.91.

The Premium 2020 Project & Quality Management Certification Bundle

For any aspiring project manager, this bundle provides the ultimate education. You get 11 courses in total, covering PMP, Agile, Scrum, Six Sigma, and more touchstone topics through 120 hours of training. It’s worth $2,699, but you can pick up the bundle now for $45.99.

The Complete JIRA Agile Project Management Course

Many development teams use JIRA to manage projects. This course helps you master the cloud-based platform and integrate the Agile workflow in just one hour. Normally $200, the course is now $11.99.

Project Management Professional Certification Training Suite

PMP is considered the gold standard of certifications for project management professionals. This suite covers the whole curriculum, and the training counts as 35 contact hours towards your exam entry. You can get all five courses now for $39, saving over $1,200.

The Complete IT Project Management Certification Bundle

This bundle is a great first step for anyone who wants to lead a team in IT or cybersecurity. Through four courses, you get full prep for the highly respected PRINCE2 and ITIL certification exams. It even includes a guide to technical tests. Worth $796, the bundle is currently $29.

Deeply Practical Project Management

If you want to focus on practical skills, this PMI-based course offers eight hours of solid training. Along the way, you learn how to plan, schedule, budget, and assess risk for any project. The course also counts as 16 PDUs. Normally $200, this training is now $12.99.

Prices subject to change 

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