[Update: September 15th] Microsoft xCloud launches September 15th on Android with over 100 Xbox games

Update 1 (08/05/2020 @ 09:12 PM ET): Microsoft has announced that they’ll launch their xCloud game streaming service on September 15th. They have also shared a partial list of titles that will be supported at launch. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on July 16, 2020, is preserved below.

Don’t own a powerful PC or a newer console? No problem: Thanks to cloud game streaming services, you don’t have to dish out hundreds of dollars to enjoy the best that the gaming industry has to offer. For example, NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW cloud gaming service lets you play Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding with DLSS 2.0 enabled while Google’s Stadia cloud gaming service offers arguably the lowest latency and highest quality for its selection of games. Microsoft’s competing Project xCloud, which offers up a range of popular Xbox titles, has been in preview for a few months but will soon launch for everyone later this year.

Gaming hardware keeps getting more and more expensive: consoles like the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X are not expected to cost any less than $500 at launch, while a decent gaming PC that can play AAA games will set you back even more. That’s why game streaming has become attractive; you can play many games without needing expensive hardware aside from a controller and a decent Internet connection. The three major game streaming services have wildly different models: NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW lets customers play from select titles in their existing Steam/Epic Games library, Stadia requires users to purchase titles from its online store, and Project xCloud lets users play over a hundred Xbox Game Pass titles. NVIDIA has a free tier with limited playtime and fewer quality options, Stadia has a Pro tier that gives users free games from time-to-time, and Project xCloud requires a monthly subscription fee but offers many games upfront.

In September, Project xCloud will be exiting preview, so invites won’t be required anymore. Microsoft is combining Xbox Live, Xbox Game Pass, and xCloud game streaming into a single $15 per month subscription called Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. According to The Verge, Microsoft won’t always limit xCloud to the $15/month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription tier, though Microsoft did not share concrete details on future subscription plans. At launch, you’ll be able to play from over 100 Xbox Game Pass titles on supported devices, including Android phones or tablets. However, Microsoft hasn’t shared a list of games that will be available at launch, nor have they shared which specific phone and tablet models will be supported.

Support for DualShock 4 controllers and PC streaming are still planned to happen, though no specific announcements have been made today. Microsoft hasn’t announced which countries they’ll launch the service in, though the current preview includes multiple European nations. Lastly, Microsoft told The Verge that Project xCloud won’t be the final name of the service, though the company hasn’t settled on what they’re going to call it at launch.

Here’s what Microsoft announced on their official Xbox blog earlier today:

Finally, today we’re announcing that this September, in supported countries, we’re bringing Xbox Game Pass and Project xCloud together at no additional cost for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. With cloud gaming in Game Pass Ultimate, you will be able to play over 100 Xbox Game Pass titles on your phone or tablet. And because Xbox Live connects across devices, you can play along with the nearly 100 million Xbox Live players around the world. So when Halo Infinite launches, you and your friends can play together and immerse yourselves in the Halo universe as Master Chief—anywhere you go and across devices.

Cloud gaming in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate means your games are no longer locked to the living room. You can connect more than ever with friends and family through gaming. And just like you do with your movie and music streaming services, when cloud gaming launches into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can continue your game wherever you left off on any of your devices.

Are you excited about Project Cloud?

Source: Microsoft

Via: Windows Central ||| The Verge

---

Update 1: September 15th Launch, Partial Game List Revealed

In a blog post published yesterday, Microsoft revealed that it plans to launch its cloud gaming service, xCloud, on September 15th. As the company had previously revealed, access to xCloud will require an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate monthly subscription, which will cost $1 for the first month followed by $15 per month after that. At launch, users will have access to over 100 titles, 36 of which Microsoft revealed today to publications like The Verge.

Here’s the partial list of games that will be available at launch:

Partial list of supported Xbox titles on Microsoft xCloud

• Ark: Survival Evolved
• Bleeding Edge
• Costume Quest 2
• Crackdown 3 (campaign)
• Destiny 2
• F1 2019
• Forza Horizon 4
• Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
• Gears of War 4
• Gears 5 Ultimate Edition
• Grounded
• Halo 5: Guardians
• Halo Wars: Definitive Edition
• Halo Wars 2
• Halo: The Master Chief Collection
• Halo: Spartan Assault
• Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
• Killer Instinct Definitive Edition
• Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
• Minecraft Dungeons
• The Outer Worlds
• Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps
• Quantum Break
• ReCore: Definitive Edition
• Ryse: Son of Rome
• Sea of Thieves: Anniversary Edition
• State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition
• Sunset Overdrive
• Super Lucky’s Tale
• Tell Me Why
• The Bard’s Tale Trilogy
• Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut
• Wasteland 3
• Wasteland Remastered
• Yakuza Kiwami 2

Here are the 22 countries that Microsoft says xCloud will be available in at launch:

List of countries where Microsoft xCloud will launch in

• Austria
• Belgium
• Canada
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Spain
• South Korea
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• United States

Microsoft partnered with Razer and PowerA for new mobile gaming controllers designed for Xbox. Pre-ordering the new Samsung Galaxy Note 20 will allow you to redeem PowerA’s new controller as well as a free 3-month Xbox Game Pass subscription. The future of xCloud on iOS is up in the air, though, as The Verge notes that Microsoft recently ended its xCloud preview for the platform without specifying plans for a future launch.

The post [Update: September 15th] Microsoft xCloud launches September 15th on Android with over 100 Xbox games appeared first on xda-developers.

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[Update: September 15th] Microsoft xCloud launches September 15th on Android with over 100 Xbox games

Update 1 (08/05/2020 @ 09:12 PM ET): Microsoft has announced that they’ll launch their xCloud game streaming service on September 15th. They have also shared a partial list of titles that will be supported at launch. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on July 16, 2020, is preserved below.

Don’t own a powerful PC or a newer console? No problem: Thanks to cloud game streaming services, you don’t have to dish out hundreds of dollars to enjoy the best that the gaming industry has to offer. For example, NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW cloud gaming service lets you play Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding with DLSS 2.0 enabled while Google’s Stadia cloud gaming service offers arguably the lowest latency and highest quality for its selection of games. Microsoft’s competing Project xCloud, which offers up a range of popular Xbox titles, has been in preview for a few months but will soon launch for everyone later this year.

Gaming hardware keeps getting more and more expensive: consoles like the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X are not expected to cost any less than $500 at launch, while a decent gaming PC that can play AAA games will set you back even more. That’s why game streaming has become attractive; you can play many games without needing expensive hardware aside from a controller and a decent Internet connection. The three major game streaming services have wildly different models: NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW lets customers play from select titles in their existing Steam/Epic Games library, Stadia requires users to purchase titles from its online store, and Project xCloud lets users play over a hundred Xbox Game Pass titles. NVIDIA has a free tier with limited playtime and fewer quality options, Stadia has a Pro tier that gives users free games from time-to-time, and Project xCloud requires a monthly subscription fee but offers many games upfront.

In September, Project xCloud will be exiting preview, so invites won’t be required anymore. Microsoft is combining Xbox Live, Xbox Game Pass, and xCloud game streaming into a single $15 per month subscription called Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. According to The Verge, Microsoft won’t always limit xCloud to the $15/month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription tier, though Microsoft did not share concrete details on future subscription plans. At launch, you’ll be able to play from over 100 Xbox Game Pass titles on supported devices, including Android phones or tablets. However, Microsoft hasn’t shared a list of games that will be available at launch, nor have they shared which specific phone and tablet models will be supported.

Support for DualShock 4 controllers and PC streaming are still planned to happen, though no specific announcements have been made today. Microsoft hasn’t announced which countries they’ll launch the service in, though the current preview includes multiple European nations. Lastly, Microsoft told The Verge that Project xCloud won’t be the final name of the service, though the company hasn’t settled on what they’re going to call it at launch.

Here’s what Microsoft announced on their official Xbox blog earlier today:

Finally, today we’re announcing that this September, in supported countries, we’re bringing Xbox Game Pass and Project xCloud together at no additional cost for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. With cloud gaming in Game Pass Ultimate, you will be able to play over 100 Xbox Game Pass titles on your phone or tablet. And because Xbox Live connects across devices, you can play along with the nearly 100 million Xbox Live players around the world. So when Halo Infinite launches, you and your friends can play together and immerse yourselves in the Halo universe as Master Chief—anywhere you go and across devices.

Cloud gaming in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate means your games are no longer locked to the living room. You can connect more than ever with friends and family through gaming. And just like you do with your movie and music streaming services, when cloud gaming launches into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can continue your game wherever you left off on any of your devices.

Are you excited about Project Cloud?

Source: Microsoft

Via: Windows Central ||| The Verge

---

Update 1: September 15th Launch, Partial Game List Revealed

In a blog post published yesterday, Microsoft revealed that it plans to launch its cloud gaming service, xCloud, on September 15th. As the company had previously revealed, access to xCloud will require an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate monthly subscription, which will cost $1 for the first month followed by $15 per month after that. At launch, users will have access to over 100 titles, 36 of which Microsoft revealed today to publications like The Verge.

Here’s the partial list of games that will be available at launch:

Partial list of supported Xbox titles on Microsoft xCloud

• Ark: Survival Evolved
• Bleeding Edge
• Costume Quest 2
• Crackdown 3 (campaign)
• Destiny 2
• F1 2019
• Forza Horizon 4
• Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
• Gears of War 4
• Gears 5 Ultimate Edition
• Grounded
• Halo 5: Guardians
• Halo Wars: Definitive Edition
• Halo Wars 2
• Halo: The Master Chief Collection
• Halo: Spartan Assault
• Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
• Killer Instinct Definitive Edition
• Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
• Minecraft Dungeons
• The Outer Worlds
• Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps
• Quantum Break
• ReCore: Definitive Edition
• Ryse: Son of Rome
• Sea of Thieves: Anniversary Edition
• State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition
• Sunset Overdrive
• Super Lucky’s Tale
• Tell Me Why
• The Bard’s Tale Trilogy
• Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut
• Wasteland 3
• Wasteland Remastered
• Yakuza Kiwami 2

Here are the 22 countries that Microsoft says xCloud will be available in at launch:

List of countries where Microsoft xCloud will launch in

• Austria
• Belgium
• Canada
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Spain
• South Korea
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• United States

Microsoft partnered with Razer and PowerA for new mobile gaming controllers designed for Xbox. Pre-ordering the new Samsung Galaxy Note 20 will allow you to redeem PowerA’s new controller as well as a free 3-month Xbox Game Pass subscription. The future of xCloud on iOS is up in the air, though, as The Verge notes that Microsoft recently ended its xCloud preview for the platform without specifying plans for a future launch.

The post [Update: September 15th] Microsoft xCloud launches September 15th on Android with over 100 Xbox games appeared first on xda-developers.

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These are the best cases for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is here, and with a starting price of $1299, it’s definitely an investment. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the heaviest Samsung smartphones to-date, and trust me from personal experience, the added weight and large proportions of my similarly-sized Galaxy S20 Ultra resulted in more than one drop. Thankfully, I had a case on it and it survived, and some of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra cases featured below could also save your shiny new phone. We’ll be updating this post with new options as they pop up so check back frequently!

Samsung Kvadrat Cover

Eye-catching and beautiful

One of a handful of first-party accessories, this Kvadrat Cover might be one of Samsung's best looking accessories. It's made from sustainable materials and looks and feels great!

$35 at Samsung

Ringke Air-S Case

Slim-line and mighty fine!

Why put a thick case on a thin phone like the Galaxy Note 20? Keep those sleek curves and guard against scratches with this minimalist case from Ringke, which protects without being too bulky.

$11 at Amazon

Caseology Parallax

Grippy fun that looks good!

Add style and texture to an already stylish phone with the Parallax series from Caseology. Not only does it protect, but it also adds a colorful pattern to the rear of your phone!

$11 at Amazon

Samsung Leather Cover

The perfect leather look

Samsung's official leather cover remains the best choice, and there's this year, your color choices include black, brown and green. Based on previous Samsung leather covers, this one should also survive many months of use.

$50 at Samsung

dbrand Grip Case

The Ultimate in Customization!

If you want something truly custom that also protects your phone, the dbrand Grip Case fits the bill. It's extremely protective, but you can customize the design using one of the many skin types available.

From $30 at dbrand

Spigen Liquid Armor Case

Slim-line and mighty fine!

When it comes to cases, you've probably heard of Spigen. The company has a lot of popular products, but the Liquid Air brings added grip and a beautiful symmetry and uniformity that really appeals to us.

$12 at Amazon

Incipio DualPro

Top-notch protection

If you're looking for a case that really protects your phone, the Incipio DualPro is designed with protection in mind, including a drop test rating of 10 feet, shock-absorbing inner core and raised bezels to protect your screen.

$30 at Incipio

Ringke Fusion X

Show off your Note's beauty

The Ringke Fusion X is one of the company's most popular case line-ups, combining a clear back so you can show off your stunning new smartphone with protective features like a raised lip and rugged exterior.

$13 at Amazon

Caseology Skyfall Case

Slim yet protective

Instead of a thick case, show off your phone's natural beauty while keeping it protected with this beautiful Caseology Skyfall case, which is available in 3 colors. I've used one before and it's a fantastic case!

$11 at Amazon

Samsung Silicone Cover

Minimalistic and Grippy!

Want a case with some grip that matches the color of your phone perfectly? Look no further than Samsung's official silicone cover, which comes in Black, White and 'Brown', which is actually Pink in color.

$30 at Samsung

ESR Metal Kickstand Case

Prop your phone up anywhere!

Being able to prop up your phone while you're out and about is one of the big selling points for this case. Others include raised screen and camera bezels to protect against scratches, and additional grip.

$19 at Amazon

anccer Ultra Thin Slim Cover

Slim-line yet colorful

If all you want is a super-slim case, look no further. This won't provide you a lot of protection against drops, but your phone will still remain sleek. It's also available in gorgeous Red and Blue colors.

$13 at Amazon

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is a large phone with a considerable amount of weight to it, so you’ll want to factor this in when deciding which case to buy. The larger size also means you’ll want to look at how much grip a case provides. If you’re set on a slimline case, the Ringke Air-S case provides protection without being too bulky. Our favorite pick is the Samsung Kvadrat Cover which looks stylish while protecting your phone.

If you need something a little more rugged, the Incipio DualPro comes with some serious claims, including being able to withstand a 10-foot drop and helping to protect against scratches with raised bezels. Considering the $1300 starting price tag of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, this might be the most protective case for your investment.

The post These are the best cases for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra appeared first on xda-developers.

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These are the best cases for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is here, and with a starting price of $1299, it’s definitely an investment. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the heaviest Samsung smartphones to-date, and trust me from personal experience, the added weight and large proportions of my similarly-sized Galaxy S20 Ultra resulted in more than one drop. Thankfully, I had a case on it and it survived, and some of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra cases featured below could also save your shiny new phone. We’ll be updating this post with new options as they pop up so check back frequently!

Samsung Kvadrat Cover

Eye-catching and beautiful

One of a handful of first-party accessories, this Kvadrat Cover might be one of Samsung's best looking accessories. It's made from sustainable materials and looks and feels great!

$35 at Samsung

Ringke Air-S Case

Slim-line and mighty fine!

Why put a thick case on a thin phone like the Galaxy Note 20? Keep those sleek curves and guard against scratches with this minimalist case from Ringke, which protects without being too bulky.

$11 at Amazon

Caseology Parallax

Grippy fun that looks good!

Add style and texture to an already stylish phone with the Parallax series from Caseology. Not only does it protect, but it also adds a colorful pattern to the rear of your phone!

$11 at Amazon

Samsung Leather Cover

The perfect leather look

Samsung's official leather cover remains the best choice, and there's this year, your color choices include black, brown and green. Based on previous Samsung leather covers, this one should also survive many months of use.

$50 at Samsung

dbrand Grip Case

The Ultimate in Customization!

If you want something truly custom that also protects your phone, the dbrand Grip Case fits the bill. It's extremely protective, but you can customize the design using one of the many skin types available.

From $30 at dbrand

Spigen Liquid Armor Case

Slim-line and mighty fine!

When it comes to cases, you've probably heard of Spigen. The company has a lot of popular products, but the Liquid Air brings added grip and a beautiful symmetry and uniformity that really appeals to us.

$12 at Amazon

Incipio DualPro

Top-notch protection

If you're looking for a case that really protects your phone, the Incipio DualPro is designed with protection in mind, including a drop test rating of 10 feet, shock-absorbing inner core and raised bezels to protect your screen.

$30 at Incipio

Ringke Fusion X

Show off your Note's beauty

The Ringke Fusion X is one of the company's most popular case line-ups, combining a clear back so you can show off your stunning new smartphone with protective features like a raised lip and rugged exterior.

$13 at Amazon

Caseology Skyfall Case

Slim yet protective

Instead of a thick case, show off your phone's natural beauty while keeping it protected with this beautiful Caseology Skyfall case, which is available in 3 colors. I've used one before and it's a fantastic case!

$11 at Amazon

Samsung Silicone Cover

Minimalistic and Grippy!

Want a case with some grip that matches the color of your phone perfectly? Look no further than Samsung's official silicone cover, which comes in Black, White and 'Brown', which is actually Pink in color.

$30 at Samsung

ESR Metal Kickstand Case

Prop your phone up anywhere!

Being able to prop up your phone while you're out and about is one of the big selling points for this case. Others include raised screen and camera bezels to protect against scratches, and additional grip.

$19 at Amazon

anccer Ultra Thin Slim Cover

Slim-line yet colorful

If all you want is a super-slim case, look no further. This won't provide you a lot of protection against drops, but your phone will still remain sleek. It's also available in gorgeous Red and Blue colors.

$13 at Amazon

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is a large phone with a considerable amount of weight to it, so you’ll want to factor this in when deciding which case to buy. The larger size also means you’ll want to look at how much grip a case provides. If you’re set on a slimline case, the Ringke Air-S case provides protection without being too bulky. Our favorite pick is the Samsung Kvadrat Cover which looks stylish while protecting your phone.

If you need something a little more rugged, the Incipio DualPro comes with some serious claims, including being able to withstand a 10-foot drop and helping to protect against scratches with raised bezels. Considering the $1300 starting price tag of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, this might be the most protective case for your investment.

The post These are the best cases for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra appeared first on xda-developers.

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Samsung launches Galaxy Watch 3 with ECG, blood pressure monitoring, and more

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Series offers one of the best smartwatch experiences for Android users and the company is dialing things up a notch with its latest Galaxy Watch 3. Unveiled alongside the Galaxy Note 20 series at the recently concluded Galaxy Unpacked event, the new Galaxy Watch 3 brings more to the table than most other premium smartwatches out there.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3: Specifications

Specifications	Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
Dimensions & Weight	41mm: 41.0 x 42.5 x 11.3 mm, 48g 45mm: 45.0 x 46.2 x 11.1mm, 53g
Display	41mm: 1.2″ Super AMOLED Corning Gorilla Glass DX 45mm: 1.4″ Super AMOLED Corning Gorilla Glass DX
Watchband size	Large: 22.0 x 130.0 x 9.4mm Small: 20.0 x 115.0 x 9.4mm
Memory	1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage
Connectivity	LTE Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4GHz Bluetooth v5.0
Other features	2 physical buttons Rotating bezel Mic Linear Motor Speaker
Sensors	8 LED photoplethysmography (PPG) Electrocardiogram (ECG) Accelerometer (up to 32G) Gyroscope Barometer Ambient light
NFC Payments	Yes, Samsung Pay
Battery	41mm: 247mAh 45mm: 340mAh
Durability	5ATM + IP68/ MIL-STD-810G
OS	Tizen Based Wearable OS 5.5
Colors	41mm: Mystic Bronze, Mystic Silver 45mm: Mystic Silver, Mystic Black Band: Black Leather, Pink Leather (41mm only)

In terms of design, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 looks more or less like its predecessor. It still features a circular dial with a rotating bezel on the outside and it’s crafted with premium materials that rival luxury timepieces. But while Samsung may not have made a ton of changes to the design, the company has included a bunch of new features on the inside.

For starters, the new Galaxy Watch 3 offers all of the wellness and fitness tracking features that you’d find on an older Galaxy Watch. On top of that, the Galaxy Watch 3 includes support for ECG and blood pressure monitoring (limited to South Korea), on-demand VO2 max and SPO2 readings, real-time heart rate monitoring, and a new Trip Detection feature that can automatically send out a customizable SOS message in case you take a hard fall.

In combination with the Samsung Health app, the Galaxy Watch 3 claims to be your perfect fitness companion, offering advanced coaching tools, sleep scoring to maximize recovery, and video workouts to help you achieve your fitness goals without a dedicated trainer. As with previous iterations of the Galaxy Watch, the latest wearable from Samsung also lets you receive notifications, reply to messages, and make contactless transactions using Samsung Pay.

The Galaxy Watch 3 packs in a 247mAh/340mAh battery, depending on the size, which is capable of keeping the smartwatch up and running for a couple of days on a single charge. The smartwatch runs Samsung’s proprietary Tizen-based Wearable OS v5.5, which is compatible with both Android and iOS devices.

Pricing and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 will be available in Bluetooth and LTE variants in two dial sizes — 41mm and 45mm. The Bluetooth variants have been priced at $399.99 and $429.99, while the LTE variants have been priced at $449.99 and $479.99. All variants will be available starting from August 6th in the US and users will be able to choose from a couple of color options for each dial size.

The 41mm Galaxy Watch 3 will be available in Mystic Bronze and Mystic Silver, while the 45mm variant will be available in Mystic Silver and Mystic Black. The watch will be available for purchase on Samsung’s website, and through major retailers and carriers in the US.

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Samsung Galaxy Buds Live with ANC, 28-hour battery life launched at $169

At the recently concluded Galaxy Unpacked launch event, Samsung has finally lifted the covers off the all-new Galaxy Note 20 series, the Galaxy Z Fold 2, the Galaxy Tab S7 series, and the Galaxy Watch 3. Along with these devices, Samsung also unveiled the new Galaxy Buds Live that we’ve seen in countless leaks and rumors over the last couple of months. Samsung’s latest TWS earphones are a major step up from the Galaxy Buds+ from earlier this year and they offer an all-new design, active noise cancellation, and up to 28 hours of battery life.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live: Specifications

Specification	Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
Dimensions & Weight	Buds: 27.2 x 17.3 x 15.5 mm, 5.6g (each) Case: 50.0 x 50.2 x 27.8 mm, 42.2g
Battery and Charging	Earbud: 60mAh (each) Case: 472 mAh Wireless charging support
Speaker and Mic	12mm driver tuned by AKG Bass duct 3 microphones + Voice Pickup Unit
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.0 BLE Codec: AAC, SBC, Scalable Codec
Sensors and other features	Proximity sensor Accelerometer Touch-sensitive sensor Hall sensor IPX2 water resistance
Colors	Mystic Bronze, Mystic White, Mystic Black

As seen in previous leaks, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live feature a unique bean-shaped design with a touch-sensitive area on the outer surface for media controls. The buds measure in at 27.2 x 17.3 x 15.5 mm and pack in 12mm drivers, a bass duct, three microphones each, a Voice Pickup Unit, and a 60 mAh battery, which is rated for up to 6.5 hours of media playback on a single charge. The Galaxy Buds Live are the first TWS earphones from the company to offer active noise cancellation (ANC) support, which is expected to greatly improve their overall performance at the cost of battery life. However, Samsung claims that the earphones will be able to last up to 4.5 hours on a single charge with ANC turned on.

The Galaxy Buds Live come in a new square-shaped charging case that packs in a 472 mAh battery, which extends the playback time to 28 hours on a single charge. The case features a USB Type-C port for charging and it also includes wireless charging support. Much like the Samsung Galaxy Buds+, the media playback controls on the Galaxy Buds Live will let you play/pause music with a single tap, switch to the next track with a double-tap on either earbud and switch to the previous track with a triple-tap on either earbud.

For calls, the Galaxy Buds Live will let you double-tap to accept incoming calls and tap-and-hold to reject calls. You’ll also be able to activate ANC by tapping and holding either earbud. The Galaxy Buds Live also include support for other software features like multi-device pairing, find my earbuds, and the option to read your notifications aloud.

Pricing and Availability

The Galaxy Buds Live have been priced at $169 and will be available for purchase starting from August 6th. You will be able to pick them up in three color variants — Mystic Bronze, Mystic White, and Mystic Black. The Galaxy Buds Live will be available for purchase on Samsung’s website and from most major retailers and carriers in the US.

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Galaxy Tab S7 Unveiled – Samsung’s answer to Apple’s iPad Pro

At its second Galaxy Unpacked event of the year, Samsung officially unveiled its latest flagship Android tablets, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+. These two tablets represent the best of what Samsung has to offer, which makes them the de facto best Android tablets on the market since, apart from Huawei, no other Android device maker is even trying to make a decent tablet. In previous generations, Samsung’s best effort still paled in comparison to what Apple offered, but with the new Galaxy Tab S7, Samsung has finally put together a tablet that rivals the Apple iPad Pro.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 with the S Pen, Book Cover, and Book Cover Keyboard.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Specifications

Specification	Samsung Galaxy Tab S7	Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+
Dimensions & Weight	253.8 (W) x 165.3 (H) x 6.3mm (D) 498g (Wi-Fi), 500g (LTE), 502g (5G)	285.0 (W) x 185.0 (H) x 5.7mm (D) 575g (Wi-Fi, LTE, 5G)
Display	11-inches 2560×1600 (WQXGA) LPTS TFT 120Hz	12.4-inches 2800×1752 (WQXGA+) Super AMOLED 120Hz
CPU & GPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus: 1 x Kryo 585 (ARM Cortex-A77-based) Prime core @ 3.1GHz 3 x Kryo 585 (ARM Cortex-A77-based) Performance core @ 2.4GHz 4 x Kryo 385 (ARM Cortex A55-based) Efficiency cores @ 1.8GHz Adreno 650 GPU Fabricated on TSMC’s 7nm (N7P) process
RAM & Storage	6GB LPDDR5 RAM + 128GB UFS 3.0 storage 8GB LPDDR5 RAM + 256GB UFS 3.0 storage Expandable storage (up to 1TB microSD)
Sound	Quad Speakers Tuned by AKG, Dolby Atmos
Battery & Charging	8,000 mAh 45W Super Fast charging	10,090 mAh 45W Super Fast Charging
Security	Capacitive side-mounted fingerprint by Goodix	Optical under-display fingerprint scanner by Goodix
Rear Camera	13MP f/2.0 main + 5MP f/2.2 ultra-wide LED flash
Front Camera	8MP f/2.0
Ports	USB Type-C, 3.2 Gen 1, DP Out
Connectivity	5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.0
Sensors	Accelerometer, compass, gyroscope, light sensor, hall sensor
Software	Android 10 with One UI 2.5

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 / Tab S7+ Forums

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Features

Design

Samsung’s new flagship tablets come in 3 different colors: Mystic Black, Mystic Silver, and Mystic Bronze. The tablets look similar in design except the Tab S7+ has a larger display than the Tab S7. They each have the same rear camera bump placed horizontally on the rear, the same magnetic docking strip for the S Pen, the same port and button placements, and the same speakers. Both tablets have a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port (with DisplayPort Alternate Mode support) on the right side and quad speakers tuned by AKG (and with Dolby Atmos support).

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ is surprisingly a bit thinner than the Galaxy Tab S7 (by about 0.6mm) despite having a display that’s 1.4″ larger diagonally. Despite the larger display size, both tablets have about the same aspect ratio (16:10). The Tab S7+ is, of course, heavier than the Tab S7 by about 73-77g depending on the model.

One key design difference between the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and the Tab S7+ is in the placement of the fingerprint scanner. On the regular Tab S7, the capacitive sensor is mounted on the side. On the larger Tab S7+, the optical sensor is mounted under the display. Both modules are provided by Chinese technology company Goodix Technology.

Display

The smaller Galaxy Tab S7 has an 11-inch LPTS TFT LCD at 2560×1600 (WQXGA) resolution while the larger Galaxy Tab S7+ has a larger 12.4-inch Super AMOLED display at 2800×1752 (WQXGA+) resolution. While the two tablets differ in screen technology, they both offer the same, fluid 120Hz refresh rate. Samsung finally has a tablet on its hands that can match the fluidity of the Apple iPad, which introduced 120Hz refresh rate options back in 2017.

Although Samsung has introduced a 120Hz Super AMOLED display on the Galaxy Tab S7+, the company isn’t using its new LTPO backplane technology as they are on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 2. That means the device won’t support variable refresh rate switching, which means it’ll instead switch between various preset resolution and refresh rate display modes. Perhaps Samsung will bring this technology to its next-generation Galaxy Tab devices.

Camera

Camera quality is not a typical concern for tablet users, but it is nice to have a tablet with a decent camera when you need to scan the occasional document, do a video call, or take a photo if it’s the only device at hand. Since the camera quality isn’t a major selling for a tablet, Samsung isn’t differentiating between the two tablets in camera hardware. Both the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and the Tab S7+ have the same front and rear cameras. There are 2 rear cameras comprised of a 13MP main image sensor with an f/2.0 aperture lens and an 8MP secondary image sensor with an f/2.2 aperture, wide-angle lens. Both devices support recording 4K resolution videos at up to 30fps from the rear cameras. Lastly, there’s one front-facing camera that’s an 8MP image sensor with an f/2.0 aperture lens.

Performance

After a brief period of being unseated by Huawei, Samsung is once again offering the most powerful Android tablets on the market with the new Galaxy Tab S7. Both the Tab S7 and the Tab S7+ are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus, a performance binned version of the Snapdragon 865 mobile platform announced back in December. The Snapdragon 865 Plus is the most powerful SoC for mobile devices not made by Apple, and it’s also what powers the new Galaxy Note 20 series, Galaxy Z Fold 2, and Galaxy Z Flip 5G.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus has an octa-core CPU in a 1+3+4 configuration; 1 ARM Cortex-A77 “Prime” core clocked at up to 3.1GHz is joined by 3 additional ARM Cortex-A77 “Performance” cores clocked at up to 2.4GHz as well as 4 ARM Cortex-A55 “Efficiency” cores clocked at up to 1.8GHz. The GPU is Qualcomm’s Adreno 650, an overclocked version of the same Adreno 650 in the standard Snapdragon 865. The SoC is fabricated on TSMC’s 7nm (N7P) process.

Samsung is pairing the Snapdragon 865 Plus with either 6GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.0 storage or 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.0 storage, at least in the U.S. variants of the device. The storage is expandable by up to 1TB with a microSD card, but the RAM capacity is a bit lower than what’s offered on top-tier flagship smartphones. Samsung’s own Galaxy S20 Ultra featured up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, which is definitely overkill for the average person but could prove useful for heavy multitaskers reliant on Samsung DeX.

With the Snapdragon 865 Plus mobile platform comes support for 5G connectivity thanks to the Snapdragon X55 modem. We’ve seen plenty of 5G smartphones before—Samsung’s own Galaxy S20 can be credited with making 5G more mainstream—but the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ are actually the first tablets in the U.S. to offer 5G connectivity. Your tablet can thus be the Internet source for other devices, and with Samsung’s Auto Hotspot feature, you can automatically tether other Samsung Galaxy devices over 5G.

Power

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ vary considerably in size, so Samsung has, of course, packed different batteries in each device. The smaller 11-inch Galaxy Tab S7 has an 8,000mAh battery while the larger 12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S7+ has a 10,090mAh battery. Both tablets support Samsung’s 45W Super Fast Charging technology, which is based on the USB Power Delivery 3.0 specification with Programmable Power Supply (USB-PD PPS). Neither tablet supports wireless charging, which Huawei offers on its MatePad Pro.

S Pen

Samsung intends the Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ to be used for productivity purposes, which is why support for the optional S Pen accessory has returned. The S Pen connects to the tablet via Bluetooth Low Energy and can be attached magnetically to the rear near the cameras. When attached to the rear of the tablet, the S Pen wirelessly charges. (The S Pen does not need charge to act as a stylus.) If you have the Book Cover, the S Pen even fits snugly underneath the cover. Likewise, the Book Cover Keyboard also has an S Pen holder.

The S Pen measures 147mm in length and 8.2mm in diameter, weighs only 8g, and is IP68 dust and water-resistant. It retains the same functionality from the previous generation, meaning you can use S Pen Air action gestures to take selfies or videos or control multimedia content. You can also jot down notes in Samsung Notes that can be converted to digital text and then exported to Microsoft Word-supported formats or to a PDF. Samsung Notes’ floating window also returns, letting you take notes or make sketches while you’re in another app.

New to the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 series are five new “Anywhere” S Pen actions for simple touchless navigation. You can return to the home screen or take a screenshot with an S Pen action, for example. Samsung says the upgraded S Pen can also be used as a pointer and has 9ms of latency.

Software

The latest version of Samsung’s Android software, One UI 2.5, is pre-installed on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+. One UI 2.5 is based on Google’s Android 10 release, but the two are extremely distinguishable. Samsung made a ton of UI tweaks and likewise added a ton of features on top of stock Android. Samsung’s design philosophy involves splitting up the UI into two areas: the top-half “information area” and the bottom-half “interactive area.” This design language extends to One UI 2.5 and the many updated versions of Samsung’s stock apps.

Samsung has added a lot of new features to One UI 2.5, but most of the changes are more relevant to the Samsung Galaxy Note 20. One of the changes that relate to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 includes the upgraded Samsung Notes app with a new folder management system to make finding files easier, and the ability to annotate and highlight PDFs. Samsung Notes can also be used to transform messy handwriting into legible digital text and also record audio notes. Notes are auto-saved and synced to Samsung Cloud so you’ll never lose your work.

Microsoft and Samsung worked together to better integrate the Galaxy Tab S7 with Windows. The upgraded Link to Windows app lets you access your tablet’s apps directly from your Windows 10 PC, on top of letting you send messages, manage notifications, sync photos, and mirror your display. Later this year, Samsung will even let you run multiple apps side-by-side on your Windows 10 PC. Samsung Notes will sync with Microsoft OneNote and Microsoft Outlook while Samsung Reminders will sync with Microsoft To Do and Microsoft Teams, so if you’re big into Microsoft’s app ecosystem, then the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is a perfect productivity companion.

Finally, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Tab S7+ feature on-device Samsung DeX, so you can get a PC-like experience without having to connect to an external monitor. Speaking of which, Samsung DeX now supports wireless connections to TVs, so you don’t have to plug in a cable to run DeX on a larger screen. If you own the Galaxy Book Flex, Galaxy Book Flex alpha, Galaxy Book Ion, Galaxy Book S, or Samsung Notebook Plus, you can duplicate or extend your Galaxy Tab S7’s display using Samsung’s Second screen function.

Lastly, the Galaxy Tab S7 supports Samsung’s Quick Share feature to quickly transfer files to nearby contacts. It’ll also, of course, support Google’s new Nearby Share feature.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Pricing & Availability

Samsung has built two premium Android tablets with top-tier hardware and loads of impressive software features, so they won’t come cheap. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 starts at a price of $649.9 while the Galaxy Tab S7+ starts at a price of $849.99. Both devices will be available in the U.S. this Fall 2020 in Mystic Black, Mystic Silver, and Mystic Bronze colors. Both tablets will, of course, also be available in markets like Europe and Asia, though regional pricing will differ.

The S Pen, Book Cover, and Book Cover Keyboard accessories are all sold separately and availability varies by market.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 / Tab S7+ Forums

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