Nothing was founded on a simple premise: phones are boring. This wasn’t always the case, of course. There was a time before the smartphone became a commodity when the tech world waited with bated breath for the latest device from Apple and Samsung.
Ultimately, however, these companies painted themselves into a corner. Phones got too good. For years, new devices have felt incremental, people have started holding onto their phones longer and sales began to plateau and eventually decrease.
In late 2020, Carl Pei announced his exit from OnePlus, the handset company he co-founded in late 2013. He promised the world something new: a tall order in a field that’s felt oversaturated for so long.
Image Credits: Brian Heater
Nothing’s first product launched in the summer of 2021. The Ear (1) was straightforward, just as one might expect from a first hardware release. There were tweaks to be ironed out, but they were solid and well priced at $99, while their transparent design with industrial elements established the company’s signature aesthetic.
Phone 1 followed in March of last year to good reviews, ourselves included. They didn’t definitively answer why the world needed another phone company in 2022, but in a category that seems to be controlled by increasingly few players, Nothing’s entry on the scene has been a nice shot in the arm. Sure, the company may be focused on building its own sneaker-style hype cycles around its products, but at the end of the day, it’s the devices themselves that matter the most.
Image Credits: Nothing
It’s true that the company has a strong team and solid funding (including a healthy $96 million round announced toward the end of last month), but it’s nevertheless impressive how quickly Nothing managed to come to market with strong products. Last year’s Phone (1) was a flag in the sand — a sign of a company looking to breathe a little life into the market. It’s a tall order, of course — especially when most smartphones are built from the same components with the same supplies.
One can only color outside the lines so far in this industry, but Nothing has found some success as an exciting upstart. The firm doesn’t break out specific figures, only saying that it’s thus far sold 1,500,000 combined units across its different lines. We’re not talking anywhere near Samsung or Apple numbers here, but it’s a promising start in a space where the first several products are very much make or break.
Nothing’s Phone (2) aims to outdo its predecessor, in part, by cutting fewer corners. Chief among them is the inclusion of a more premium processor. The Phone (1) was famously powered by a mid-tier Snapdragon 778. Nothing wrong with a mid-tier processor, of course — not everyone needs to pay high shelf prices for the latest and greatest, but the component did belie the company’s positioning of the product as a kind of flagship killer.
In February, Pei told TechCrunch, “We’re going to be using the [Snapdragon] 8 series. Earlier, I said it was going to be a premium device. But we’ve never officially acknowledged whether it’s Qualcomm or MediaTek.” Today the device was revealed to be running on the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which Qualcomm introduced last May. In December, the chipmaker announced the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The line is seemingly due for another refresh, as well, with rumors pointing to a potential reveal around Samsung’s upcoming event.
Image Credits: Brian Heater
Nothing is seemingly taking a page out of OnePlus’ book here. It’s not the latest, but the 8+ Gen 1 is still an excellent chip. In fact, a vast majority of potential users almost certainly won’t notice a difference — even among those who are up on such things. Being one or half a generation behind affords the company the ability to price aggressively. With a $599 starting point, the device is priced well below other companies’ flagships.
In the past Pei has seemingly avoided positioning Nothing as a budget device maker. After all, the company clearly sees its products as a fashion statement — a kind of luxury item worthy of limited edition drops. But pricing has been a huge factor in the decline of smartphone sales, with flagships regularly running above $1,000. If you’re looking to distinguish yourself in a difficult economy, price is a good place to start.
Here $599 will get you 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. If you want to spec it out at 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, that will run you an extra $200 — again, still well below flagship prices, and closer to the Pixel 7 Pro’s starting price of $899.
The other top-line upgrade here is the camera. Again, Pei couldn’t help himself, encouraging testers to upload their images to social media prior to today’s official unveiling. The system sports a hefty 32-megapixel front camera, and a pair of 50-megapixel sensors on the rear. The primary sensor is Sony’s Sony IMX890, which can also be found on the OnePlus 11, and various other phones from Oppo and fellow Chinese handset maker, Realme.
You don’t always see device makers touting the sensor number, but it’s clearly important that Nothing lets you know it’s not skimping there.
Image Credits: Nothing
“Equipped with an advanced 18-bit Image Signal Processor (ISP), Phone (2) has the ability to process camera data up to 4,000 times more than its predecessor, Phone (1),” Nothing writes in a release. “This empowers Phone (2) to leverage cutting-edge algorithms, resulting in incredible levels of accuracy for both photos and videos. Capturing three times more data than before, the new Advanced HDR algorithm takes eight frames with varying exposure levels within the RAW domain of the sensor.”
The system can also shoot 4K video at 60 frames a second with the rear camera and 1080p at the same rate using the front-facing camera.
The display is 6.7 inches — a bit larger than the (1)’s 6.5 inches. Like its predecessor, it supports refresh rates up to 120Hz. The battery, meanwhile, has been bumped from 4500mAh to 4700.
Like the Phone (1), the new model bears more than a passing resemblance to the iPhone from the front. True story: I thought I’d misplaced the Phone (2) for a bit, but it turns out I was mistaking it for an Apple handset while it was sitting on my desk the entire time. Things, of course, get a lot clearer on the other side.
The Glyph Interface was the one thing everyone talked about on the last version. It even inspired some fast-follow knockoffs. It’s back here, with some improvements. There are more LED segments, allowing for further customizations. Design remains the place where Nothing can most clearly distinguish itself from the competition, and the company’s leaning in. There’s also a subtle curve to the rear glass now, which adds a more premium feel.
Image Credits: Nothing
“The Glyph Interface can now serve as a visual countdown and progress tracker for ride or delivery services,” Nothing notes. “It also offers additional functionalities such as a volume checker and timer. With Essential Glyph Notifications, users can stay focused without missing what matters the most. When receiving a notification from selected contacts or apps, the top-right LED segment will remain on until it has been addressed.”
The phone’s mid-frame, buttons and SIM slot are made from 100% recycled aluminum, while 80% of its plastic parts are recycled/“bio based.” Nothing adds, “Despite incorporating more advanced features and components compared to its predecessor, Phone (2) achieves a 5 kg reduction of CO2, exemplifying Nothing’s ongoing commitment to sustainability across the years.
Image Credits: Nothing
The aesthetic touches now reach beyond the hardware design, with the addition of Nothing OS 2.0, which sits atop Android 13. The skin adopts a dark, monochromatic language with hints of red and text spelled out in circuit board etched style. Think of it as something akin to a brand specific Material You, with some added flourishes. “Nothing has reimagined home and lock screen utility with widgets so users can access key functions without having to even open their apps,” the company writes. “Nothing OS 2.0 empowers users to customize grid design, widget size, and color themes, while introducing new folder layouts and illustrated covers.”
The handset arrives in both the standard white color and a dark gray in the place of last year’s black. It’s up for preorder today in the U.S., U.K. and the rest of Europe, with general availability on the 17th. Folks in New York City can get their hands on the phone early through a pop-up at 69 Gansevoort St. in Manhattan.
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.
___
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.
