Tech

iPhone 12 Mini? Why isn't there a Samsung Galaxy S20e? – Android Authority

Published

4 years ago

October 17, 2020

Harry Miller

7 hours ago

Credit: Apple

Opinion post by

C. Scott Brown

Way back in January (which feels like a lifetime ago), I wrote an article titled “Will the Samsung Galaxy S10e go down as just a one-off experiment?” You can give it a read if you missed it, but I’ll give a quick summary for you: We realized that Samsung wasn’t going to launch a Galaxy S20e alongside the rest of the Galaxy S20 series and it made me sad because the Samsung Galaxy S10e was such a terrific phone.

Fast forward to this past Tuesday. That was when we saw Apple launch the iPhone 12 series, which included the first-of-its-kind iPhone 12 Mini. During the launch, Apple summed up the phone succinctly: “With its compact size, the iPhone 12 Mini has the exact same features as iPhone 12. You’re just choosing between two great sizes.”

I’m sure many people watching that live stream were already taking out their wallets when Kaiann Drance finished that second sentence. However, I’m also sure Samsung executives were hanging their heads. After all, the Galaxy S10e was essentially the Android equivalent of an iPhone 12 Mini — but Samsung abandoned the line before it even had a chance to take hold.

It’s too late now, of course, but the Mini is more proof that Samsung made a huge mistake by skipping the Galaxy S20e.

Also read: What Android could learn from Apple’s iPhone 12

iPhone 12 Mini vs Galaxy S10e: Similar but distinct

If you reread that quote in the previous section from the Apple launch, you’ll probably notice that it doesn’t accurately describe the Galaxy S10e. While the S10e did carry over a lot of the same features as the larger Galaxy S10, it was a weaker device in multiple respects. It had less RAM, no in-display fingerprint sensor, a weaker camera, and a few other downgrades.

The iPhone 12 Mini, though, is literally as Apple described it. The only specs that don’t carry over to the smaller phone are battery capacity and display resolution, which makes perfect sense because the phone is physically smaller. Everything else, though, both phones share equally.

This probably was Samsung’s big mistake with the Galaxy S10e. Instead of trying to exclusively appeal to customers who want a smaller phone with no compromises, Samsung tried to hit that potential base while simultaneously going after the budget shopper. That’s clearly not Apple’s ambition with the iPhone 12 Mini. Apple knows that there are a lot of people out there who want smaller phones but don’t want a budget device like an iPhone SE. The Mini gives those customers what they want without needing to sacrifice anything else.

Samsung could have gone in this direction with the Galaxy S20e. It could have solidified the (admittedly confusing) “e” branding and worked harder to show why higher-end consumers should give it attention. Instead, it abandoned the line completely and went in the total opposite direction, delivering a ginormous super-premium monster in the Galaxy S20 Ultra.

Judging from the alleged sales data of the S20 line, this might have been an incredibly costly mistake for Samsung.

Remember that Apple has it easier than Samsung

We’ll never have the pleasure of seeing a Galaxy S20e. We can imagine that it would have been very similar to the Galaxy S10e but built off the Galaxy S20 series. It likely would have had a Snapdragon 865 but cut lots of corners in other areas to keep the price down.

Any descriptions of the theoretical device would just be wishful thinking, though. Whatever it might have been, it certainly wouldn’t have been totally analogous to an iPhone 12 Mini, however. There are two very significant reasons why Apple can create something like the Mini much easier than Samsung could.

The first reason is the biggest: Apple makes almost all the hardware inside the iPhone. Since Apple controls the design and production of the majority of iPhone parts, it doesn’t need to spend as much money getting those parts from other companies. This allows it to have more leeway when it comes to keeping pricing low but still earning a tidy profit.

As an example of what I mean, rumors abound that Qualcomm priced the Snapdragon 865 significantly higher than the Snapdragon 855. That alone might have been the biggest reason Samsung balked at a Galaxy S20e. It just might not have been feasible to produce a Galaxy S-caliber phone with that chipset at a decent consumer price. This is a problem Apple didn’t have since it makes the chips inside iPhones.

The second reason Apple can more easily make a Mini is that the specs of its non-Pro iPhones have historically been weaker than what we see in the Galaxy S line. If you think about it, the Galaxy S20 starts at $999, and the iPhone 12 Pro — not the iPhone 12 — starts at that same price. In essence, the iPhone 12 Mini doesn’t need to be a smaller version of the Pro, whereas the Galaxy S20e would need to be a smaller version of the Samsung equivalent.

The bottom line here is that Samsung can’t meet Apple’s standard the way things currently stand.

I hate to say it, but Samsung should copy the iPhone 12 Mini

From what we know, the Galaxy S20 line isn’t selling well by any metric, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra isn’t finding a wide audience. Meanwhile, some of the most critically-lauded phones of the year are small, cheap, or both, such as the Google Pixel 4a, the iPhone SE, and the OnePlus Nord.

Samsung shot for the moon with the initial Galaxy S20 series and missed — badly. In a way, Samsung tried to correct this by launching the Galaxy S20 FE to cater to an audience on a tighter budget. However, while Samsung fans are absolutely loving that phone, it’s likely confusing for the general consumer. What does “FE” mean? Why did it launch six months after the other phones? Remember: the general smartphone buyer doesn’t read Android Authority every day, so these are questions they would likely have. Also, the Galaxy S20 FE is much larger than the iPhone 12 Mini, so it’s not the right device for small phone fans.

Imagine, if you will, that Samsung made things simpler and debuted a new product lineup for the Galaxy S30 series. You have a Samsung Galaxy S30 that is more in-line with the specs and price of the Galaxy S20 FE (but with the Snapdragon 875 onboard). Next to it, you have a Samsung Galaxy S30 Mini, which is the same phone, but smaller. Then, you have a Galaxy S30 Plus that is more in-line with a Galaxy S20 Ultra, but a bit more compact. Then, you have the Galaxy S30 Ultra which has the same specs as the S30 Plus, but in a larger body with a few extras.

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If Samsung did that, it would hit every consumer. Every single buyer who wants a Galaxy S phone would have an option that suits them all at the same time. All the phones would be great, but slightly different to cater to different buyers. Meanwhile, truly budget-minded consumers have cheaper options too. The Galaxy A line is doing a great job at delivering mid-range experiences, and the Galaxy FE line — if required — can fill in any gaps.

Oh, and one more thing: remember that Samsung had “Mini” phones well before Apple did. In a way, this could be seen as a return to form rather than copying Apple. If you go back far enough, Apple is actually copying Samsung.

Would you like to see Samsung copy the iPhone 12 Mini and bring back a smaller S series phone? Cast your vote in the poll above and hit the comments to let us know your thoughts!

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Tech

Ottawa orders TikTok’s Canadian arm to be dissolved

Published

7 days ago

November 6, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

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Health

Here is how to prepare your online accounts for when you die

Published

3 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

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.

___

Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.

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Tech

Google’s partnership with AI startup Anthropic faces a UK competition investigation

Published

3 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

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