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Oppo’s Find X2 Pro is a huge, high-spec phone to rival the Galaxy S20 Ultra

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The first thing you’ll notice about the Find X2 Pro is that it has a somewhat plain appearance compared to the legendary Find X. There are no hidden pop-up cameras; instead you’ll find three of them lined up on the back. There’s also a punch-hole camera at the top left corner of the curved screen.

Admittedly, the Find X2 Pro’s design didn’t surprise me as much as its predecessor’s, but that’s not to say it’s bad. The phone comes in black ceramic or orange vegan leather with a rose gold frame (China gets a grey vegan leather edition, too). Personally, I prefer the masculine ceramic edition. The back is etched with fine curvy lines, which form a wave pattern when you tilt it under the light. The downside, though, is that this glossy surface picks up fingerprints.

People used to the likes of regular-sized phones — the iPhone 11 Pro, Galaxy S20+ or smaller — may find the 207-gram (7.3-ounce) Find X2 Pro a little heavy. (The leather edition weighs 7 grams less.). That said, it’s still lighter than the likes of S20 Ultra and iPhone 11 Pro Max. For me, the Find X2 Pro feels just right for its size, weight and build quality.

What truly makes the Find X2 Pro stand out from the crowd is its 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 flash charge, making it the third device to benefit from Oppo’s handy feature after the Reno Ace and Realme’s X50 Pro. In this case, it takes 38 minutes to juice up that 4,260mAh battery, which is quite fast considering how other flagships take about an hour or more for a full charge. Another benefit of VOOC is that the phone doesn’t heat up that much while charging, so it’s totally fine to use it while plugged in.

Oppo Find X2 Pro

This new Oppo phone has all the guts you’d expect from a 5G flagship. There’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, 512GB of storage, in-display fingerprint reader, Dolby Atmos stereo speakers and triple-mic noise cancellation. It also packs a 6.7-inch Quad HD+ (3,168 x 1,440) AMOLED screen with an impressive 120Hz refresh rate — a rare combination in today’s market. With the periscope telephoto camera on the back, the Find X2 Pro is basically the Galaxy S20 Ultra’s brother from another mother.

The imaging similarities end there, as the Find X2 Pro has a totally different set of camera sensors. While the telephoto camera here also offers 10x hybrid zoom (16mm-160mm), it uses a 13-megapixel sensor with f/3.0 aperture and optical stabilization. The app switches to this camera for 5x zoom (optical) and beyond (hybrid). You can push all the way to 60x zoom if you really want to, but you’re not going to get anything Instagram-worthy.

As for the 48-megapixel f/1.7 main camera, it’s powered by Sony’s new IMX689 sensor, which offers “All Pixel Omni-Directional PDAF (phase-detection autofocus).” In a nutshell, rather than using just 3 percent of the pixels to focus, here all the pixels take part in a faster and more reliable autofocus, especially in the dark. Additionally, there’s optical stabilization plus laser autofocus, and these cameras can use the color sensors on both sides of the phone for more accurate brightness and color temperature measurements. The main camera also does 12-bit RAW capture for greater color depth, which Oppo claims is a first for smartphones.

Oppo Find X2 Pro

The last of the rear cameras is a 48-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide camera with a 120-degree field of view. It can also be used to take macro shots at down to 3cm, as well as offering extra stabilization for video capture. Much like the S20 Ultra, the Find X2 Pro’s rear cameras can make use of the triple microphones for clearer audio recording and audio zoom, but they can’t do 8K recording — just up to 4K at 60fps.

On the other side, there’s a 32-megapixel f/2.4 selfie camera punched into the top-left corner of the screen. Here you get the usual beautification options, as well as screen flash and gesture control. It also does 1080p video capture at 30fps.

An Oppo spokesperson told me that the rear cameras here were built based on the learnings of the earlier Reno 10x Zoom, which also had a periscope camera. The company claims that we’ll see better uniformity across all three cameras, especially when it comes to auto white balance, HDR photography and the new Ultra Night Mode — this is sometimes an issue for smartphones packing so many different camera sensors.

I asked Oppo why the company chose to ditch the Find X’s legendary pop-up cameras, and the reason was partly about achieving an IP68 dustproof plus waterproof rating. Also, the design team wanted a camera module small enough that it wouldn’t call too much attention to itself. Fair enough. And of course, the fewer mechanical parts there are, the less wear and tear users will have to worry about in the long run.

Oppo Find X2 Pro

To help show off the Find X2 Pro’s photography prowess, Oppo picked this particular “True Billion Color Display” from Samsung. The panel’s 8+2 bit color depth means it delivers 64 times more colors than conventional 8-bit displays. Oppo also worked with color tuning experts to add screen calibration process — an extra 20 seconds for each device — to the Find X2 Pro’s production line, in order to ensure a low JNCD (Just Noticeable Color Difference) ratio of no greater than 0.8 in default display mode. As phone nerds might know, this is the same standard that OnePlus teased for its upcoming smartphone, which isn’t surprising given that Oppo does the manufacturing for it.

Oppo also added a clever trick to accurately control the screen’s brightness and color temperature. Rather than relying on a single sensor, the Find X2 Pro uses the color sensors for both sets of cameras for 360-degree detection. This means the screen will less likely jump to maximum brightness when you walk under a street light at night. Additionally, the system will also learn your brightness preferences according to the current app and sensor data and automatically adjust for you in the future.

Oppo Find X2 Pro

To further leverage this 120Hz, HDR10+ display, Oppo added a proprietary feature called the O1 Ultra Vision Engine, which is mainly for upscaling to HDR and boosting frame rate in video playback (you can toggle these two features individually). While I appreciate the HDR upscaling option, I find that this engine isn’t necessary for most clips; in fact, artificially boosting the frame rate appears to reduce the sharpness slightly. In response, Oppo claims “the smoothness matters the most” for our overall viewing experience, and recommends trying this engine with action sequences with a frame rate of under 30fps.

Oppo is also taking full advantage of this 120Hz screen with its revamped, more lightweight ColorOS, based on Android 10. I’m liking it so far. The interface looks clean and the animations feel smooth, so much that it actually reminds me of the latest OnePlus phones, which isn’t a bad thing.

As a finishing touch on the UX, Oppo equipped the phone with a custom X-axis linear motor for vibration functions, which the company claims is the largest of its kind amongst Android phones. Compared to most other phones I’ve come across, the vibration here feels crisper, which is great for typing and gaming — I could really feel the difference.

Oppo Find X2 Pro

If you’ve been wondering why there’s a “Pro” in the name, there is indeed a “regular” Find X2 as well. It’ll obviously be cheaper, but you’ll mainly be missing out on the camera specs. The periscope telephoto camera is replaced with a fixed telephoto shooter, and the main camera uses an older 48-megapixel sensor (it’s the same IMX586 as the Pro’s ultra-wide camera). While the ultra-wide camera here only shoots 12 megapixels, it’s actually powered by Sony’s new IMX708 sensor, which makes up with native 16:9 capture and 4-in-1 pixel binning. You also only get 256GB of storage, the more common Z-axis vibration motor, a lower protection rating of IP54 and a choice of either ceramic or glass only. The rest is pretty much the same, though.

Alen Wu, Oppo’s President of Global Sales, told me that there are no plans to bring the Find X2 series to the US, which isn’t surprising given that the company has yet to properly enter the US smartphone market. He added that much of his company’s focus in the West is in European countries like France, Italy, Spain, UK and more. And for the first time, sales outside China accounted for more than half of Oppo’s total numbers last year. As for 2020, Oppo will be making its Latin America debut in Mexico. One step closer to the brand’s eventual arrival in the US?

Update 3/6/20 5:15AM ET:: In terms of pricing, the Find X2 Pro is asking for 6,999 yuan (about $1,010) or 1,199 euros. Like the original Find X, the Find X2 Pro also comes in a Lamborghini edition, with design inspirations taken from the Aventador SVJ Roadster. The damage? A mere 12,999 yuan or about $1,880, which includes special edition accessories plus a pair of true-wireless earbuds. If you want something a little more affordable, though, the Find X2 starts at 5,499 yuan (about $790) or 999 euros.

With the exception of the Lamborghini edition, the Find X2 series will be available in Europe from as soon as early May.

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Apple is rejecting coronavirus apps to limit virus misinformation

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Apple is manually evaluating apps, looking at both who the developers are and where they got their data from. As such, some independent developers that use World Health Organization (WHO) data are being rejected because they’re not recognized health institutions. One developer told CNBC that Apple rejected its coronavirus-related app, saying that “apps with information about current medical information need to be submitted by a recognized institution.”

Because of all that, search results on the App Store show few apps related to the virus. The top result is a Brazilian government app about the outbreak, along with a wallpaper app, a Plague Inc-like game, an app from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and a COVID-19 information app published by a medical developer.

A search on Google Play, by contrast, shows “no results found for ‘coronavirus’,” with the same message on a search for COVID-19. Google has yet to comment (we’ve reached out), but does have policies against apps that “lack reasonable sensitivity towards or capitalize on a natural disaster, atrocity, conflict, death, or other tragic events” or “profit from a tragic event with no discernible benefit to the victims.”

Google did publish a website called “Coronavirus: Stay informed,” with a list including apps from the Red Cross, Center for Disease Control (CDC) news organizations and Twitter(!). However, that page doesn’t come up in a Play Store search for coronavirus.

Google doesn’t seem to be completely banning independent apps with coronavirus info, CNBC notes. A top Android app called Corona 100m that maps COVID-19 (the diseased caused by the coronavirus) in South Korea is still available, for example.

Technology companies have been fairly proactive about fighting coronavirus misinformation. Facebook and Google are removing false coronavirus content (including bogus cures), and Facebooks is running free WHO ads to counter inaccuracies. Twitter has also banned coronavirus misinformation and Pinterest created a custom search experience to ensure users get reliable information. However, scams, cures and gouging still abound. Amazon in particular is trying to stay on top of product listings that claim to provide coronavirus cures, or are massively overcharging for hand sanitizer, face masks and other health-related items.



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SpaceX will fly space tourists to the ISS as soon as next year

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Elon Musk’s company originally developed the capsule to take astronauts to space from US soil, and its first manned flight with NASA astronauts is expected to take place between April and June. However, it also intends to expand the spacecraft’s uses to include taking paying astronauts outside our planet. In fact, it signed another deal with Space Adventures in February to take tourists on a free-flying trip to orbit the Earth at two to three times the altitude of the ISS.

The Axiom mission will last for 10 days, with two of those meant for traveling to and from the space station. Neither party has revealed how much a seat on the trip would cost. According to The New York Times, though, Axiom previously said that a seat would cost $55 million and that one person has already signed up. Also, when NASA announced in 2019 that it’s opening up the station to private astronauts, it said it would get $35,000 a night for each person.

Axiom CEO Michael Suffredini, who led NASA’s ISS program for 10 years until 2015, said in a statement:

“This history-making flight will represent a watershed moment in the march toward universal and routine access to space. This will be just the first of many missions to ISS to be completely crewed and managed by Axiom Space — a first for a commercial entity. Procuring the transportation marks significant progress toward that goal, and we’re glad to be working with SpaceX in this effort.”

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Japan’s life-size 18m Gundam statue can move (a little)

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Besides Fila apparel capsules, the 40th anniversary of Gundam is also being celebrated with a life-size, moving statue. While it won’t go on display for the public until later this year in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, a recent media tour visited the Gundam Factory and saw the latest version of the project.

There they saw the internal frame of the Gundam under construction and it… moved as if it could make a step. It’s pretty far from the real-live mecha action we’d like to see, but still impressive, and only possible by using materials to shave tons from its weight, and replacing hydraulic actuators with electrical ones. It’s far more action than the 30th anniversary statue saw before its parts were scattered across an artificial island, or even the impressive 2017 model.



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Facebook removes Trump campaign’s ‘census’ ads

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The move is notable because Facebook has previously been reluctant to apply its rules to politicians. But on Thursday, the company confirmed the ads’ removal. “There are policies in place to prevent confusion around the official U.S. Census and this is an example of those being enforced,” Facebook spokesperson Andy Stone wrote in a statement.

Trump campaign 'census' ad

The ads, which started running earlier this week and were shown to Facebook users across the country, are now listed as “inactive” and have been removed, according to the social network’s Ad Library.

Facebook announced last year that it would ban census-related misinformation, in a new policy meant to mirror its rules around voter suppression. “We must do our part to ensure an accurate census count, which is critical for the distribution of federal funds, the apportioning of electoral representatives and the functioning of a democracy,” the company said at the time.



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Steam’s personalized news hub keeps you updated about your games

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It also features announcements related to your games, though, as well as any upcoming events happening in the future. Valve says the hub’s content will be based on the games in your library and your wishlist, as well as the games you chose to follow on their store pages. In addition, it will show you the latest about the titles Steam would recommend based on what you play and the latest news from the Steam Blog and the Steamworks Blog if you’re a developer.

That said, you can always hide posts about specific titles or from specific sources, if you’re not exactly interested in hearing about them. Since it’s still a Steam Labs experiment, though, the current version of the hub isn’t its final form yet — according to the developer, it plans to add more options that will let you personalize it even further in the coming weeks.



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EARN IT act targets online child abuse but could threaten encryption

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The bill has powerful backers in the Senate, including Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R), Richard Blumenthal (D) and Dianne Feinstein (D). In a statement introducing the bill, Blumenthal said “Tech companies have an extraordinary special safeguard against legal liability, but that unique protection comes with a responsibility. Companies that fail to comport with basic standards that protect children from exploitation have betrayed the public trust granted them by this special exemption. Online platforms’ near complete immunity from legal responsibility is a privilege – they have to earn it – and that’s what our bipartisan bill requires.”

The EFF has previously spoken out about drafts of the legislation and the danger of undermining Section 230, and activists are already organizing against the legislation. Tech Freedom president Berin Szóka claimed in a response that “today’s largely effective system for policing CSAM (child sex abuse material) will come crashing down overnight — and those convicted of generating, disseminating and consuming CSAM could walk free.”

A Judiciary Committee hearing on the bill is already scheduled to take place on Wednesday, March 11th at 10 AM ET.



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DuckDuckGo shares a list of thousands of web trackers that gather your data

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Tracker Radar includes the most common cross-site trackers, plus detailed info on things like their prevalence, ownership, cookie behavior and privacy policy. According to CNET, the data set contains details on 5,326 domains used by 1,727 companies to track users online. DuckDuckGo hopes that developers will use Tracker Radar to block online tracking and that researchers will use it to better understand tracking.

For everyone else, Tracker Radar is built into DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser mobile apps and the DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials desktop browser extensions (available for Chrome, Firefox and Safari). All of those block the trackers on the Tracker Radar list.

Web trackers, which gather data on users location, search and browsing histories, are common, but companies are beginning to push back. Chrome now lets you block cross-site tracking, and Google plans to nix third-party cookies in Chrome by 2022. Firefox 69 blocks cookies and crypto-mining tracking by default, and Microsoft has tested protections in its Edge browser.

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Facebook, Google and others adopt guidelines intended to fight child abuse

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The document, Voluntary Principles to Counter Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, includes 11 principles. It covers themes like targeting online grooming, preventing searches of child sexual abuse material and responding to evolving threats. According to a statement published by the DOJ, the principles are “intended to have sufficient flexibility to ensure effective implementation.”

“We hope the Voluntary Principles will spur collective action on the part of industry to stop one of the most horrendous crimes impacting some of the most vulnerable members of society,” said US Attorney General William Barr.

Many tech companies already have at least some measures to combat child exploitation. Recently, Facebook made its algorithms for flagging harmful photos and videos open-source and available on GitHub. Microsoft has shared its tool for reviewing chat-based conversations and detecting online grooming. Still, online child exploitation is a widespread and devastating problem.

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Sonos kills its device-bricking ‘recycle mode’

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Sonos has been under fire lately for the way it has handled a few decisions around its oldest products. Last fall, the company introduced a “trade up” program — if you owned one of Sonos’ oldest products, you could send it in to the company and get 30 percent off new gear. However, to get the discount, you had to put your old products in “recycle mode,” a setting that would permanently make them unable to connect to a network or work with other Sonos gear.

Today, the company is reversing course. A Sonos spokesperson confirmed that the Trade Up program will continue, but recycling mode is no more. If you want to get the 30 percent discount, you just need to prove you own one of the eligible “legacy” products by validating its serial number. Once that’s done, you can apply the discount to anything Sonos is currently selling at its online store. Indeed, the “Trade Up” name isn’t exactly accurate, because you can continue using the legacy hardware as long as you want. Sonos says you can give it to a friend, keep using it yourself, sell it, recycle it, send it to them — it doesn’t matter. Unfortunately, if you’ve already set some products to recycle mode, you can’t reverse it, but said customers in that situation should contact its customer service team.

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