The Motorola Razr Plus and Razr are back for 2024 packed with upgrades and fun features. The Chicago-based company (owned by Lenovo) on Tuesday announced the new foldable phones with new colors, finishes, upgraded cameras, larger cover screens, Moto AI and Google Gemini. I got to see and use the new Motorola Razr Plus and Razr for about 30 minutes at a press event in Brooklyn, and what stood out to me was how much fun is packed into these new flip phones.
I feel that was the biggest part of Motorola’s announcement: These Razrs are meant to strike a balance between being fashionable, fun and innovative. In a world of phones with drab titanium colors, blacks and grays, each Razr comes in a rainbow of color options that are as fun to look at as they are to hold. The big news on that front, is that the Razr Plus now comes in pink which is a direct call back to the original 2004 Razr V3 flip phone that was available in pink — y’know, the one Paris Hilton had!
But are fashionable phones enough to woo customers into buying their first foldable phone? In a time where foldable phone shipments account for a sliver of all phones sold, what seems to have worked for Motorola is offering both a premium Razr Plus at $1,000 and a more affordable Razr at $700 like the company did last year. No other phone-maker has taken this approach.
Motorola shipped 1,473% more Razrs in the first three months of 2024 than it did during the same period in 2023, according to research data firm Counterpoint. Clearly something about Motorola’s strategy is working, even if it’s outperforming a pretty low base. So it makes sense for the company to build on that momentum by launching two new versions of the Razr at the same price points as last year with major upgrades.
Whether Motorola has found the right mix of fun, fashion and technology to get people to take a chance on a foldable phone in 2024 remains to be seen. But I look forward to reviewing and testing both Razrs soon.
Watch this: First Look: The 2024 Motorola Razr and Razr Plus Come With Colorful Upgrades
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Patrick Holland/CNET
The Razr and Razr Plus have a lot of similarities. The phones forgo the glass back slabs we expect on other devices and have similar vegan leather backs that we saw last year, but this time in a variety of faux leather textures and even a faux suede. In the short time I had with each phone, holding them was a joy. Both Razrs feel like they’re fitted with a sleek and plush case that’s built right into the phone. And the faux leather stripe on the back of the two-tone midnight navy Razr Plus really caught my eye.
Motorola is pushing this fashionable look and feel, but the design is also innovative. Both phones have a new hinge that’s 30% smaller than last year’s models. A smaller hinge has fewer moving parts, which should be good for long-term durability. The smaller hinge also means that there are fewer places for dust to get in. What’s curious is that last year’s Razrs had a modest rating for water resistance but were the only foldables to be rated for dust resistance.
The 2024 Razr and Razr Plus are rated IPX8 for water resistance, meaning it can survive being submerged under water for 30 minutes — putting it on par with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip. The “X” in the rating means that there isn’t an official dust rating this year.
Another benefit of the smaller hinge is that the screen crease is reduced. Oh, it’s still there, but it’s much less visible. I also noticed that the phone is easier to open and close than previous models.
The internal screen on both phones is brighter (up to 3,000 nits), which should be helpful when outdoors. Both the internal and cover screens on both phones now have Motorola’s new water touch technology that allows the phone to respond to taps, touches and swipes even when using the phone in the rain — like we saw on the OnePlus 12.
Motorola’s New Razr and Razr Plus Look Downright Chic in Vegan Leather
One area where the differences between the two phones start to show up is in the main 6.9-inch display’s refresh rate. The Razr Plus’ internal screen has a refresh rate that tops out at 165Hz, whereas the regular Razr’s display can go up to 120Hz, which is still impressive. In the half an hour I used the phones, it was hard to tell any noticeable change in refresh rates from one phone to the other. But I know gamer friends who will be excited to have that extra 45Hz that the Razr Plus offers.
Perhaps the biggest changes on each phone are the cover screens. The Razr Plus has a new 4-inch cover screen. That’s the same size as the Honor Magic V Flip’s cover display that launched in China earlier this month.
The regular Razr inherits the 2023 Razr Plus’ 3.6-inch screen. At the briefing I attended, it’s hard to tell the difference between the two phones just from the cover screen, but one clue is that the regular Razr has a tiny strip of vegan leather across the top of the cover screen.
The cover screen software and interface have been updated. You can open any Android app on it and there are improved software panels that are easier to navigate including a new “all panels view” that you trigger by pinching and swiping outward.
Motorola Razr and Razr Plus cameras
Four different colors of the Motorola Razr Plus: (left-to-right) Spring green, midnight blue, hot pink and peach fuzz.
Patrick Holland/CNET
It wouldn’t be a 2024 phone launch without a mention of AI. The Razr Plus runs Moto AI which is done both on device and in the cloud and will offer camera features such as improved portraits, autofocus in videos, and long exposure images. I am particularly excited to try out the Razr Plus’ new cameras to see how and if the new hardware, Snapdragon chip and Moto AI improve things.
There will also be features like “Pay Attention” where the Razr Plus will record and transcribe a conversation, when requested, and a feature called “Style Sync” that generates original wallpaper for your phone that matches or compliments the clothes that you’re wearing which just seems fun — again that word.
The Razr Plus will come with Google Gemini built-in and can be accessed entirely by the cover screen if needed. You’ll also get three months free of Gemini Advanced with the purchase of the Razr Plus.
Moto AI won’t be coming to older models and is limited to just the Razr Plus. Motorola says that more Moto AI features will be added in the coming months and years.
This is a good time to mention that both the Motorola Razr and Razr Plus run on Android 14 and that the company promises major OS software support for three years and bi-monthly security updates for four years. This is a decent commitment on Motorola’s behalf but falls short by a year of Samsung’s four years of major Android software updates and five years of security updates on the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
The Moto Tag got gasps
The Motorola Razr 2024 in beach sand (left), spritz orange (right) and a Razr Plus in midnight blue.
Patrick Holland/CNET
The new Motorola Razr Plus will be available for pre-order at T-Mobile, AT&T, Motorola’s website, Amazon and Best Buy on July 10 for $1,000. The regular Motorola Razr is available to pre-order at T-Mobile also on July 10 for $700, and then will be available unlocked on Amazon, Best Buy and Motorola on July 24.
I’ve got to hand it to Motorola, the company certainly made a splash with what it added and improved on the Razr and Razr Plus. I look forward to testing each soon to see how these new additions and features actually perform and whether Motorola was able to top last year’s excellent Motorola Razr Plus. But something tells me I’ll have a lot of fun during the process.
The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.
The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.
However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”
Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.
A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.
“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.
“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.
At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.
A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”
Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.
Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.
Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.
Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.
While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.
Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.
The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.
— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.
The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.
“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”
San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.
Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”
“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.
The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.
