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vendredi 2 octobre 2020

These are the Best Android Phones to buy in 2020

One of the best things about being an Android user is that there are so many options to choose from. While an iPhone user may have two to three viable options anytime they’re looking to upgrade phones, we Android fans have dozens – and they come in all shapes and sizes, with software and features lists that are as different as night and day. This year, in particular, has seen a slew of magnificent slab smartphones and several adventurous, quirky ones that push the industry forward too.

We here at XDA have the privilege of testing just about every new release, and here are the best Android phones you can buy right now:

Navigate this guide:

Best Android Phone Overall: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

Best Android Phone – Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

There were several worthy contenders for this spot. However, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra edges out some tough competition – don’t worry, we still honored them on this list in other categories – by checking more boxes. The most powerful Android chipset around? Check (if you’re buying the Snapdragon 865+ version, that is). Capable cameras that let you zoom in far or take a step back and go ultra-wide? Check. Premium, unique design, and the best screen possible? Check and check! Heck, the Note 20 Ultra even throws in a stylus to boot, which offers even more functionality most smartphones can’t claim.

Sure, we can nitpick if we want — the zoom cameras here aren’t quite at the Huawei P40 Pro+’s level; it charges much slower than the Xiaomi Mi Ultra, the boxy corners make the phone less comfortable to hold for some hands — but ultimately, no phone this year packs as much in one package with no noticeable glaring flaws.

    Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
    If you're looking for the most capable and feature-packed smartphone and not quite ready to jump to the cutting-edge foldable category yet, then look no further than the Note 20 Ultra. It has everything you'd need out of a smartphone, including a stylus!

Best Android Phone for most people: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

 

Best Android Phone – Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

While the Note 20 Ultra is, in our opinion, the best slab smartphone money can buy, the just-announced S20 FE is likely the phone for most people as it still gives you much of what makes a Samsung flagship great. This includes that 120Hz Super AMOLED display, a responsive and well-thought-out UI, and well-performing cameras — except the S20 FE is half the price of the Note 20 Ultra.

You’ll have to make do with a plastic body and just Snapdragon 865 instead of the 865+, but these are concessions we think most would take to save $600-$700.

    Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
    If you're a fan of Samsung's flagships but have found the four-digit prices hard to stomach, the Galaxy S20 FE is for you. Compromises are far and few between in this sleek and powerful mid-ranger with a 120Hz Super AMOLED screen!

Best Samsung Galaxy Phones for every budget and need (updated October 2020)

Best Android Phone for software and speed: OnePlus 8 Pro

Best Android Phone – OnePlus 8 Pro

OnePlus is a brand that’s always been all about speed, and the 8 Pro is once again the fastest phone on the market. Everything – from the way apps launch at rocket speed to how the notification panel whips up and down along with your finger swipes – in the UI here has been optimized for speed. The effect looks extra fluid this year thanks to a 120Hz panel too.

When it comes to OnePlus’ UI, OxygenOS, it’s not just about speed: it’s also, in my opinion, the best Android skin around, with plenty of customization and shortcut gestures galore. Want to use multiple different icon packs on one home screen? Or change the accent color scheme of your app drawer? Or hide apps in plain sight with a simple swipe? OxygenOS offers more ways to use Android, even more so than Google’s stock UI.

The rest of the hardware is top-notch, too, although the phone looks a bit boring due to the recycled back design. For the first time in a OnePlus phone, the 8 Pro gets wireless charging and IP68 water resistance. These new additions go well with the improved camera system and the beloved alert slider hardware button.

    OnePlus 8 Pro
    OnePlus phones have always been able to go toe-to-toe with the big boys in terms of overall performance, and this year's 8 Pro is no exception. A large 120Hz AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 865, and a 48MP ultra-wide-angle camera provide more details than the less pixel-dense ultra-wides seen in many rivals. But ultimately, what sets the 8 Pro apart is its unrivaled speed and clean yet fully customizable UI.

Best point and shoot camera phone: Google Pixel 5

Best Android Phone – Google Pixel 5

Google’s Pixel series, even back when it was aspiring to be a premium flagship, never really fully got hardware right. Whether it was the original Pixel’s outdated bezels, Pixel 2 XL‘s display problems, Pixel 3 XL‘s giant, unsightly notch, or the Pixel 4’s mediocre battery life and wonky facial recognition system, every generation of Pixel has had a glaring hardware flaw. But despite that, many reviewers and tech enthusiasts still gladly carried a Pixel over the years, because Google’s camera software processing was that good.

And that camera prowess is why the Pixel 5 cracks this list, despite a spec sheet and hardware craftsmanship that sits a tier or two below other brands’ offerings listed here. But with the Pixel 5, you know you’re getting color science that is always on point, dynamic range perfectly balanced, and the best portrait/bokeh mode around.

And for the first time, we even get an ultra-wide-angle camera in a Pixel. Throw in the usual Pixel perks like the purest version of Android and specific Pixel features, and the Pixel 5 is an easy recommendation.

    Google Pixel 5
    Google's newest brings several new features, but the most important is that Pixel camera with its glorious image processing and dynamic range is back. If you just want to point, tap the shutter button, and expect a great shot, look no further.

Best camera on a budget: Google Pixel 4a

Best Android Phone – Google Pixel 4a

If you want that Pixel 5 primary camera performance but want to save a bit, the Pixel 4a (not to be confused by the larger and more expensive Pixel 4a 5G) is one of the cheapest options on this list.

You lose out on the ultra-wide-angle camera and 5G connectivity, but you still have virtually the same primary camera as the Pixel 5. If it’s just standard 1x point-and-shoot photos, the Pixel series is hard to beat.

    Google Pixel 4a
    The Google Pixel 4a brings virtually the same main camera as the Google Pixel 5, which means it's got one of the very best cameras on the market. Everything else about the phone is solid if unspectacular -- but when at this price, and with a camera performance this next level, it's hard to complain.

Best overall camera phone: Huawei P40 Pro+

Best Android Phone – Huawei P40 Pro Plus

While the Google Pixel 4a’s primary camera is arguably the king due to its color science, dynamic range, and unbeatable portrait mode, the Huawei P40 Pro+ is inarguably the most capable and versatile camera system of the year. Let’s start with the Periscope zoom lens. Other phones like the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Oppo Find X2 Pro, or Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra offer a 5x optical zoom camera — Huawei’s P40 Pro+ doubles that with a 10x, thanks to a couple of extra folds and lenses inside the Periscope hardware. Other ultra-wide-angle cameras see a significant performance drop off at night? Not the P40 Pro+’s ultra-wide, which uses the same RYYB sensor tech Huawei first introduced with the P30 series that allows it to virtually see in the dark. Throw in another short telephoto lens to cover portraits, and the P40 Pro+’s cameras are a few steps ahead of the rest. That primary 50MP main camera is excellent too — it can still pull in light in pitch black scenes better than any camera — though it tends to over-process and over-sharpen, hence why we gave the edge to the Pixel 4a.

Unfortunately, the P40 Pro+ cannot run core Google Mobile Services apps due to the ongoing sanctions placed by the US government, so be sure you weigh the pros and cons before considering one.

    Huawei P40 Pro+
    With a 10x optical zoom camera and an 40MP ultra-wide-angle camera, the Huawei P40 Pro+ has the most versatile and capable cameras on the market. The rest of the package is pretty premium too -- unfortunately, there's the Google ban issue to consider.

Best Android phone for Gaming: Asus ROG Phone 3

Best Android Phone – ASUS ROG Phone 3

If you’re into mobile gaming, then look no further than the Asus ROG Phone 3, which we named “the king of gaming smartphones” in our review. So what makes this a gaming beast? Let’s start with the 144Hz display, which the handset can maintain without micro-stutters. Throw in a massive 6,000 mAh battery to handle that refresh rate without sacrificing battery life. Then add functional shoulder buttons named “AirTriggers” that give extra control to first-person shooters in ways most normal smartphones cannot, and a bunch of optional accessories that add further controls, and you have the most equipped smartphone to handle gaming at a high level.

Of course, when you’re done gaming, the ROG Phone 3 works fine as a regular smartphone too, with a reliable camera system, Snapdragon 865+, and 16GB of RAM, no app will bog this thing down.

    Asus ROG Phone 3
    A stunning 144Hz display, 6,000 mAh battery, Snapdragon 865+, 16GB of RAM and AirTrigger shoulder buttons make this the best phone for playing games.

Best Android foldable phone: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

Best Android Phone – Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

This is a landslide win for the Fold 2 in this category, considering the only other real option is the Huawei Mate XS, which is pricier, not on sale officially in the US, can’t run core Google apps, and has a folding-screen-on-the-outside design that looks stunning but raises serious durability concerns. The Fold 2, meanwhile, is widely available, has no software restrictions, and has a firmer folding screen made of “ultra-thin glass” that is protected when not in use.

The device feels the most polished and refined of all foldable phones released so far and has won the hearts of several of us here at XDA already. Other than water-resistance and perhaps a thinner build (neither of which are realistic requests at this time as the technology isn’t there yet), there’s not much you can fault the Fold 2 for.

    Galaxy Z Fold 2
    The most cutting edge phone of the year -- but it will cost you a pretty penny. However, if money is no object and you need to have the very best that Samsung offers, look no further than the Galaxy Z Fold 2. We love it, and so will you!

Best Android phone not sold in the US: Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra

Best Android Phone – Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra

The Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra is the Chinese tech company’s 10th-anniversary commemorative device, but it should be named the Mi 120 because there’s a trio of 120-themed features that make this phone great. It has a 120Hz OLED panel, 120x max digital zoom, and 120W charging speeds. The latter is insanely fast: in our testing, the Mi 10 Ultra can go from 0 to 100 in 23 minutes, or if you’re topping up in the peak charging speed range of between 30 and 80%, expect a five-minute charge to add nearly 24% of juice.

Throw in 55W fast charging (you need Xiaomi’s specific charger to achieve this speed), a Snapdragon 865, unique clear transparent glass back, a versatile quad-camera system, and a very reasonable sub-$800 price, this is a device worth celebrating. It’s worth noting this phone only has a China version, so you’ll have to sideload Google yourself.

    Xiaomi MI 10 Ultra
    A China-only phone with a long list of specs headlined by a 120x zoom, 120W fast charging and 120Hz screen, the Mi 10 Ultra is a powerhouse that doesn't break the bank.

Best affordable phone not sold in the US: Oppo Find X2 Pro

Best Android Phone – OPPO Find X2 Pro
The original Oppo Find X, released in 2018, was a quirky and unconventional smartphone with all of its cameras hidden in an elevating module. While it was a looker, the phone was a bit awkward to use. With the Find X2 Pro, Oppo’s gone a more conventional route, but in return, crafted one of the most well-rounded and polished smartphones of the year.

With a Snapdragon 865, 120Hz OLED display, a Periscope zoom lens that can achieve 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom, and maximum 60x zoom, the Find X2 Pro has all the specs needed to compete with the best of the best — and if we were compiling this list in mid-2020, this might have well taken the top spot. But in the months since the Find X2 Pro’s 65W fast charging has been surpassed by the Mi 10 Ultra’s 120W, and the display here, while gorgeous, falls a tad short of the new heights set by the Note 20 Ultra (it’s brighter and has a variable refresh rate).

The camera system here is good enough to fill every need, with the 48MP ultra-wide-angle camera producing noticeably sharper images than the ultra-wide-angle cameras of Samsung’s or Xiaomi’s phones. We are also huge fans of the orange leather back, which adds an extra touch of character.

    Oppo Find X2 Pro
    A polished and refined flagship that shows Oppo's prowess in both hardware and software, the Find X2 Pro was arguably the best Android in the first half of 2020, but alas, other releases have edged it in performance and screen brilliance.

Phones that show a lot of promise but haven’t been thoroughly tested by us yet: LG Wing and Motorola Razr 5G

Motorola Razr 5G

Both of these phones win points right away for being different from the traditional slab smartphone. Let’s start with the LG Wing, which we’ve been testing (though not enough for a final conclusion). The Wing has a unique swivel form factor that allows the device to house two screens while keeping a relatively compact form factor. Those who multi-task often will love the ability to run two apps at the same time. And unlike large screen foldables like the Fold 2 or two-screened devices like the Microsoft Duo, the Wing can masquerade as a regular smartphone very well when it’s closed up.

The Motorola Razr 5G, meanwhile, is the company’s second attempt at a clamshell foldable, and it seems to be a vast improvement over the first-generation model, with a sturdier hinge that doesn’t make creaky sounds, an improved camera (48MP compared to 16MP last year), and newer SoC (Snapdragon 765G versus Snapdragon 710)

The post These are the Best Android Phones to buy in 2020 appeared first on xda-developers.



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Google launches the Android Partner Vulnerability Initiative to improve the security of non-Pixel devices

We do more than ever on our smartphones these days, which makes device security incredibly important. With that in mind, Google’s Android Security & Privacy team on Friday announced a new initiative to help improve the security of non-Pixel devices.

Known as the Android Partner Vulnerability Initiative (APVI), the program will let users known when it has discovered security concerns that affect devices shipped by OEMs. “The APVI covers Google-discovered issues that could potentially affect the security posture of an Android device or its user and is aligned to ISO/IEC 29147:2018 Information technology — Security techniques — Vulnerability disclosure recommendations,” Google said.

Google currently has a number of programs that allow developers to report vulnerabilities to Google, including the Android Security Rewards Program (ASR) and the Google Play Security Rewards Program. Google then releases ASR reports in Android Open Source Project (AOSP) based code through Android Security Bulletins (ASB), which must be adopted by OEMs before rolling out the current month’s Android security patch level (SPL). The introduction of APVI adds another security layer.

As part of today’s announcement, Google noted some vulnerabilities it discovered related to pre-installed apps on third-party devices. In one instance, the search giant said a popular web browser pre-installed on many devices could have exposed the credentials of its users, including password information. Google reported the issue to the developer and an update was then rolled out to users.

If you’d like to check on the progress of APVI, you can visit this website, where Google will disclose any security issues it discovers under the program. There, you can already see Google has disclosed issues that affected devices released by OPPO, ZTE, Huawei, and more.

The post Google launches the Android Partner Vulnerability Initiative to improve the security of non-Pixel devices appeared first on xda-developers.



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Google launches the Android Partner Vulnerability Initiative to improve the security of non-Pixel devices

We do more than ever on our smartphones these days, which makes device security incredibly important. With that in mind, Google’s Android Security & Privacy team on Friday announced a new initiative to help improve the security of non-Pixel devices.

Known as the Android Partner Vulnerability Initiative (APVI), the program will let users known when it has discovered security concerns that affect devices shipped by OEMs. “The APVI covers Google-discovered issues that could potentially affect the security posture of an Android device or its user and is aligned to ISO/IEC 29147:2018 Information technology — Security techniques — Vulnerability disclosure recommendations,” Google said.

Google currently has a number of programs that allow developers to report vulnerabilities to Google, including the Android Security Rewards Program (ASR) and the Google Play Security Rewards Program. Google then releases ASR reports in Android Open Source Project (AOSP) based code through Android Security Bulletins (ASB), which must be adopted by OEMs before rolling out the current month’s Android security patch level (SPL). The introduction of APVI adds another security layer.

As part of today’s announcement, Google noted some vulnerabilities it discovered related to pre-installed apps on third-party devices. In one instance, the search giant said a popular web browser pre-installed on many devices could have exposed the credentials of its users, including password information. Google reported the issue to the developer and an update was then rolled out to users.

If you’d like to check on the progress of APVI, you can visit this website, where Google will disclose any security issues it discovers under the program. There, you can already see Google has disclosed issues that affected devices released by OPPO, ZTE, Huawei, and more.

The post Google launches the Android Partner Vulnerability Initiative to improve the security of non-Pixel devices appeared first on xda-developers.



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Today’s Top Tech Deals: $430 Off a 4K Sony TV, Lenovo’s Big Sale on Computers, and More!

What are your weekend plans? Maybe it’s time to learn a new trade? No time like the present, really! We can help you with that lifetime access to five (!) eLearning platforms for just $99. That’s an incredible deal and the platforms include courses from IT to game design to HR to management. Seriously, there’s no reason to grab this deal and get to learning.

Now that you picked up the bundle and came back, our top tech deals today include Lenovo’s semi-annual sale, a nice discount on a 4K Sony TV, and plenty more!

The Animal Crossing Nintendo Switch is currently available at Walmart! If you’ve been having trouble grabbing this special edition console, now is your chance!

Aduro 6-Port 2-USB Surge Protector, Only $13

Plug it in, plug it in! Plug it all in with Aduro’s 6-port, 2-USB surge protector, only $13 at Woot!. This is the type of surge protector that plugs directly into an outlet without the bulky wire and strip, so it’s perfect for behind entertainment centers and in tight spaces. This purchase comes with free shipping if you’re an Amazon Prime member (get on that for Prime Day, by the way), and comes with a one-year warranty.

    Aduro 6-Port 2-USB Surge Protector
    Get all your devices plugged in without having to deal with a power strip! The Aduro 6-port, 2-USB surge protector will plug into your outlet nice and flat, making it a great choice for tighter areas. At Woot!, you can get free shipping if you're an Amazon Prime member!

Lenovo’s Semi-Annual Sale Has Deep Discounts on New Computers

Lenovo’s semi-annual sale is live, and you can save big on some great computers. Doorbusters include big deals on the ThinkPad X390, the Legion Tower 5i, and plenty more. There is definitely a computer there for anyone looking to upgrade! Want to save even more (of course you do)? Use the code EXTRAFIVE at checkout!

    Lenovo Semi-Annual Sale
    Upgrade your laptop or desktop and save big with Lenovo's Semi-Annual Sale. Doorbuster deals offer really deep discounts on popular models but will sell out fast, so if you see something you're interested in, grab it now and use the code EXTRAFIVEto save an additional 5%!

Tamproad 20W Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Subwoofer for $29

Bluetooth speakers often get a bad reputation, but that no longer needs to be the case. At Amazon, you can pick up Tamproad’s 20W Bluetooth speaker for $29, and it features a subwoofer! It’s not very common to see that in a Bluetooth speaker for this price. To get the maximum discount, you’ll need to both clip the 5% off coupon, and use the code 308VM9Y1 at checkout.

    20W Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Subwoofer
    Make it easy to play music with quality audio anywhere with Tamproad's Bluetooth speaker. This 20 speaker contains a subwoofer, and by using the code 308VM9Y1and clipping the coupon, you can grab it for just $29

Sony’s X900H 4K 65-inch Smart TV, $430 Off

People generally wait until Black Friday to buy a new TV, but why wait when there’s a great TV on sale right now? At Amazon, you can get Sony’s X900H TV for $970 by clipping the coupon on the page. This is $430 off the MSRP! The X900H is a 65-inch, 4K Smart TV with HDR, and it’s basically the perfect TV for a nice home theater set-up. Grab it now and take it easy during Black Friday.

    Sony X900H 4K 65-inch Smart TV
    Looking to upgrade your home theater set-up? No need to wait until Black Friday with a deal like this! The X900H is a 65-inch 4K HDR Smart TV, so basically everything you need to future-proof your setup for years to come. Clip the coupon on the page for the maximum discount!

Acer Nitro XZ342CK 34-inch Curved WQHD Monitor for $441

If you’re less interested in the home theater setup and more interested in your PC gaming setup, there’s also a nice monitor deal to take advantage of! The Acer Nitro XZ342CK is a hefty 34-inch curved monitor, and it’s specifically made to provide a great gaming experience. A 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time mean the input lag is as minimal as possible, and the ultrawide size means you’ll be able to see as much of the game as possible.

    Acer Nitro XZ342CK 34-inch Curved WQHD Monitor
    Get the best PC gaming experience with Acer's XZ342CK ultrawide curved monitor. This monitor has a great 144Hz refresh rate and a 1ms repsonse time, what more could you ask for? Grab this one before it's gone.

More Tech Deals

Looking for even more tech deals? We have them for you below! The AUKEY 20,000mAh Wireless Portable Charger is still available for $35 with the code NY7UX3UI, but today is the last day to pick one up!

Early Prime Day 2020 Deals

We’ve rounded up the early Prime Day 2020 deals we have found so far below!

The post Today’s Top Tech Deals: $430 Off a 4K Sony TV, Lenovo’s Big Sale on Computers, and More! appeared first on xda-developers.



from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3lbVNr9
via IFTTT

Today’s Top Tech Deals: $430 Off a 4K Sony TV, Lenovo’s Big Sale on Computers, and More!

What are your weekend plans? Maybe it’s time to learn a new trade? No time like the present, really! We can help you with that lifetime access to five (!) eLearning platforms for just $99. That’s an incredible deal and the platforms include courses from IT to game design to HR to management. Seriously, there’s no reason to grab this deal and get to learning.

Now that you picked up the bundle and came back, our top tech deals today include Lenovo’s semi-annual sale, a nice discount on a 4K Sony TV, and plenty more!

The Animal Crossing Nintendo Switch is currently available at Walmart! If you’ve been having trouble grabbing this special edition console, now is your chance!

Aduro 6-Port 2-USB Surge Protector, Only $13

Plug it in, plug it in! Plug it all in with Aduro’s 6-port, 2-USB surge protector, only $13 at Woot!. This is the type of surge protector that plugs directly into an outlet without the bulky wire and strip, so it’s perfect for behind entertainment centers and in tight spaces. This purchase comes with free shipping if you’re an Amazon Prime member (get on that for Prime Day, by the way), and comes with a one-year warranty.

    Aduro 6-Port 2-USB Surge Protector
    Get all your devices plugged in without having to deal with a power strip! The Aduro 6-port, 2-USB surge protector will plug into your outlet nice and flat, making it a great choice for tighter areas. At Woot!, you can get free shipping if you're an Amazon Prime member!

Lenovo’s Semi-Annual Sale Has Deep Discounts on New Computers

Lenovo’s semi-annual sale is live, and you can save big on some great computers. Doorbusters include big deals on the ThinkPad X390, the Legion Tower 5i, and plenty more. There is definitely a computer there for anyone looking to upgrade! Want to save even more (of course you do)? Use the code EXTRAFIVE at checkout!

    Lenovo Semi-Annual Sale
    Upgrade your laptop or desktop and save big with Lenovo's Semi-Annual Sale. Doorbuster deals offer really deep discounts on popular models but will sell out fast, so if you see something you're interested in, grab it now and use the code EXTRAFIVEto save an additional 5%!

Tamproad 20W Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Subwoofer for $29

Bluetooth speakers often get a bad reputation, but that no longer needs to be the case. At Amazon, you can pick up Tamproad’s 20W Bluetooth speaker for $29, and it features a subwoofer! It’s not very common to see that in a Bluetooth speaker for this price. To get the maximum discount, you’ll need to both clip the 5% off coupon, and use the code 308VM9Y1 at checkout.

    20W Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Subwoofer
    Make it easy to play music with quality audio anywhere with Tamproad's Bluetooth speaker. This 20 speaker contains a subwoofer, and by using the code 308VM9Y1and clipping the coupon, you can grab it for just $29

Sony’s X900H 4K 65-inch Smart TV, $430 Off

People generally wait until Black Friday to buy a new TV, but why wait when there’s a great TV on sale right now? At Amazon, you can get Sony’s X900H TV for $970 by clipping the coupon on the page. This is $430 off the MSRP! The X900H is a 65-inch, 4K Smart TV with HDR, and it’s basically the perfect TV for a nice home theater set-up. Grab it now and take it easy during Black Friday.

    Sony X900H 4K 65-inch Smart TV
    Looking to upgrade your home theater set-up? No need to wait until Black Friday with a deal like this! The X900H is a 65-inch 4K HDR Smart TV, so basically everything you need to future-proof your setup for years to come. Clip the coupon on the page for the maximum discount!

Acer Nitro XZ342CK 34-inch Curved WQHD Monitor for $441

If you’re less interested in the home theater setup and more interested in your PC gaming setup, there’s also a nice monitor deal to take advantage of! The Acer Nitro XZ342CK is a hefty 34-inch curved monitor, and it’s specifically made to provide a great gaming experience. A 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time mean the input lag is as minimal as possible, and the ultrawide size means you’ll be able to see as much of the game as possible.

    Acer Nitro XZ342CK 34-inch Curved WQHD Monitor
    Get the best PC gaming experience with Acer's XZ342CK ultrawide curved monitor. This monitor has a great 144Hz refresh rate and a 1ms repsonse time, what more could you ask for? Grab this one before it's gone.

More Tech Deals

Looking for even more tech deals? We have them for you below! The AUKEY 20,000mAh Wireless Portable Charger is still available for $35 with the code NY7UX3UI, but today is the last day to pick one up!

Early Prime Day 2020 Deals

We’ve rounded up the early Prime Day 2020 deals we have found so far below!

The post Today’s Top Tech Deals: $430 Off a 4K Sony TV, Lenovo’s Big Sale on Computers, and More! appeared first on xda-developers.



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Huawei Makes AI More Accessible with ML Kit

With advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) baring infinite opportunities, Huawei is combining all that is known of real-life with new virtual possibilities to provide more consumers and developers access to a new world.

Huawei believes this ever-advancing tech should not just be limited to those who can afford the investment. With the Machine Learning Kit (ML Kit), they are aiming to do just that – bridging the gap between developers seeking AI innovation and the technology that enables them to easily do so.
Driving innovation within the AI industry, ML Kit has the potential to build apps beyond the human mind, incorporating diverse AI capabilities. The kit provides both on-device and on-cloud APIs, and only requires integration with HMS Core ML Software Development Kit (SDK), removing the need to set up an ML framework altogether.

When Huawei first began to build its own ecosystem in late 2019, its development team was driven to create AI technology that offered competitive solutions to the developers’ needs. Within just three months, they had built a newly constructed AI foundation to begin developing more advanced technology. From January to June 2020, they started to consider differentiated competitiveness, and they saw more and more developers begin to integrate with this new Kit. It became especially popular amongst developers looking to apply image segmentation to their apps – a technology not readily available amongst the industry.

Then Huawei took things even further. They started to pay more attention to see how they could use the Kit to help others and found that AI could be used to support disabled individuals. Using external audio, ML Kit can generate subtitles through voice recognition for those with hearing impairment, as well as co-operate with partners to recognize sign language. For those with visual impairment, Huawei sped up their audio information playback up five times to meet their information acquisition requirement, with the insight that they are more sensitive on hearing.

Development has been prioritized for these features to drive accessible AI within the industry, meaning fairer access for all. Gone are the days of high-end devices releasing limited access to world-class technologies – ML Kit ensures everyone has the chance to experience a new, digital world.

Huawei believes that science and technology should be used in collaboration to encourage connectivity and communication across the globe. AI will continue to inspire digital production for an intelligent world, so the vision is to create more digital products to improve production efficiency within that. An example of this in action would be using Digital Human, driven by AI, to develop MOOC courseware to integrate virtual and physical data into a digital world. This creates an endless realm of possibilities to be explored, with this potential in mind, Huawei will continue to ensure the technology is as inclusive as it is intelligent.

Just a few years ago, access to AI was limited due to the expensive costs often associated with it, but the vision continues to be to remove that perception and provide simplified access to all. To us, accessible technology means that developers can use the tools on offer easily and quickly. Enabling apps or services to become smarter on collaboration lowers the AI threshold and removes barriers to the technology.

The popularity of ML Kit speaks for itself with over 200 partners outside China using it to leverage the AI technologies available. From facial, text and card recognition to the more advanced automatic speech recognition (ASR) and text to speech (TTS), apps are being updated across the globe to become more intelligent and more accessible. An example of this technology in use is seen in the PTT Blue Card app, Thailand’s most popular membership card service, which has integrated with the ML Kit to access quick QR code scanning and text recognition to improve user experience.

So, what’s next? As the development team continues to encourage its partners to take advantage of the technology available to them, the boundaries between AI and real-life will continue to expand. Huawei believes that device-side AI will become more mainstream in place of cloud-side AI. With this in mind, they will contribute by continuing to bring its capabilities to various models to drive society forwards.

In a world where digital technology is helping deliver a more advanced and intelligent world, our ML Kit, available on integration with Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) Core, creates new access to ML and AI alike, ensuring technology is not only more advanced but more accessible to all.

We thank HUAWEI for sponsoring this post. Our sponsors help us pay for the many costs associated with running XDA, including server costs, full time developers, news writers, and much more. While you might see sponsored content (which will always be labeled as such) alongside Portal content, the Portal team is in no way responsible for these posts. Sponsored content, advertising and XDA Depot are managed by a separate team entirely. XDA will never compromise its journalistic integrity by accepting money to write favorably about a company, or alter our opinions or views in any way. Our opinion cannot be bought.

 

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Huawei Makes AI More Accessible with ML Kit

With advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) baring infinite opportunities, Huawei is combining all that is known of real-life with new virtual possibilities to provide more consumers and developers access to a new world.

Huawei believes this ever-advancing tech should not just be limited to those who can afford the investment. With the Machine Learning Kit (ML Kit), they are aiming to do just that – bridging the gap between developers seeking AI innovation and the technology that enables them to easily do so.
Driving innovation within the AI industry, ML Kit has the potential to build apps beyond the human mind, incorporating diverse AI capabilities. The kit provides both on-device and on-cloud APIs, and only requires integration with HMS Core ML Software Development Kit (SDK), removing the need to set up an ML framework altogether.

When Huawei first began to build its own ecosystem in late 2019, its development team was driven to create AI technology that offered competitive solutions to the developers’ needs. Within just three months, they had built a newly constructed AI foundation to begin developing more advanced technology. From January to June 2020, they started to consider differentiated competitiveness, and they saw more and more developers begin to integrate with this new Kit. It became especially popular amongst developers looking to apply image segmentation to their apps – a technology not readily available amongst the industry.

Then Huawei took things even further. They started to pay more attention to see how they could use the Kit to help others and found that AI could be used to support disabled individuals. Using external audio, ML Kit can generate subtitles through voice recognition for those with hearing impairment, as well as co-operate with partners to recognize sign language. For those with visual impairment, Huawei sped up their audio information playback up five times to meet their information acquisition requirement, with the insight that they are more sensitive on hearing.

Development has been prioritized for these features to drive accessible AI within the industry, meaning fairer access for all. Gone are the days of high-end devices releasing limited access to world-class technologies – ML Kit ensures everyone has the chance to experience a new, digital world.

Huawei believes that science and technology should be used in collaboration to encourage connectivity and communication across the globe. AI will continue to inspire digital production for an intelligent world, so the vision is to create more digital products to improve production efficiency within that. An example of this in action would be using Digital Human, driven by AI, to develop MOOC courseware to integrate virtual and physical data into a digital world. This creates an endless realm of possibilities to be explored, with this potential in mind, Huawei will continue to ensure the technology is as inclusive as it is intelligent.

Just a few years ago, access to AI was limited due to the expensive costs often associated with it, but the vision continues to be to remove that perception and provide simplified access to all. To us, accessible technology means that developers can use the tools on offer easily and quickly. Enabling apps or services to become smarter on collaboration lowers the AI threshold and removes barriers to the technology.

The popularity of ML Kit speaks for itself with over 200 partners outside China using it to leverage the AI technologies available. From facial, text and card recognition to the more advanced automatic speech recognition (ASR) and text to speech (TTS), apps are being updated across the globe to become more intelligent and more accessible. An example of this technology in use is seen in the PTT Blue Card app, Thailand’s most popular membership card service, which has integrated with the ML Kit to access quick QR code scanning and text recognition to improve user experience.

So, what’s next? As the development team continues to encourage its partners to take advantage of the technology available to them, the boundaries between AI and real-life will continue to expand. Huawei believes that device-side AI will become more mainstream in place of cloud-side AI. With this in mind, they will contribute by continuing to bring its capabilities to various models to drive society forwards.

In a world where digital technology is helping deliver a more advanced and intelligent world, our ML Kit, available on integration with Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) Core, creates new access to ML and AI alike, ensuring technology is not only more advanced but more accessible to all.

We thank HUAWEI for sponsoring this post. Our sponsors help us pay for the many costs associated with running XDA, including server costs, full time developers, news writers, and much more. While you might see sponsored content (which will always be labeled as such) alongside Portal content, the Portal team is in no way responsible for these posts. Sponsored content, advertising and XDA Depot are managed by a separate team entirely. XDA will never compromise its journalistic integrity by accepting money to write favorably about a company, or alter our opinions or views in any way. Our opinion cannot be bought.

 

The post Huawei Makes AI More Accessible with ML Kit appeared first on xda-developers.



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