2020 is stacking up to be OnePlus’ best year yet, as the company follows up the very well-reviewed Nord and OnePlus 8 series with the new 8T.
The phone takes everything I liked about the 8 Pro, adds a few more features and then packs it into a case that’s a cross between the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 7T. While this sounds like a recipe for success, there are a few holdups.
The only issue I have with the phone relates to its cost. If money is no object, then you’ll be happy with this device, but several other lower-cost options this year might make you think twice about paying $1,099 CAD for a powerhouse like the 8T.
When I reviewed the OnePlus 8 series, I said that perfection was only a phone away, and the 8T just about proves me right.
Specs
Simplicity works wonders
OnePlus has been using variations of the same design for the past few years, with the only exception being the 7T’s unusual camera bump and the 7 Pro’s pop-up camera. Now, it’s finally shifted from using long camera bumps to a rectangular shape. Initially, I wasn’t a fan of the 8T’s camera module since it reminded me of Samsung’s smartphones, but the more I used OnePlus’ latest device, the more it grew on me.
I especially like that OnePlus jammed all the camera hardware into the bump, instead of placing it beside the camera like it did with the 8 Pro. The new camera enclosure is also a little thinner than the 8 Pro and the 7T, which is a welcome change since the old bumps were so large.
OnePlus covered both the front and the back of the phones with Gorilla Glass 5, Which feels nice when holding the phone in my hand. The rear of the ‘Lunar Silver’ model OnePlus sent me is also frosted with a soft-touch material that looks nice and feels great. If you don’t want silver, the phone also comes in a light green hue called ‘Aquamarine Green.’
The edges of the 8T are wrapped in a small metal band with the volume keys on the left. On the right side, you’ll find the classic OnePlus Alert slider and a power button. All the buttons are satisfyingly clicky.
OnePlus placed the USB-C port and the louder half of the device’s stereo speakers along the phone’s bottom. The other speaker is embedded in the earpiece and helps with stereo separation when the phone is in landscape, but I found it quieter than the other speaker. OnePlus said this also provides Dolby Atmos support. I’ve never had much luck with in-phone Atmos setups unless I’m Holding them level with my face and playing content at high volumes, which isn’t practical for the duration of a movie or show. That said, the speakers are loud, crisp and easily fill a room with sound.
The real star of the phone is its 6.55-inch 120Hz AMOLED display. This time around, OnePlus put extra effort into making the screen more colour accurate than ever before. It also left the smartphone’s display flat like last year’s 7T which some people, me included, like more than curved displays.
Originally, I thought the 8T had a better display than the OnePlus 8 Pro. Yet, the more I look at pictures and videos side-by-side, there isn’t a noticeable difference. Still, it’s nice to see the China-based company double down on its dedication to screen quality.
OnePlus says that the 8T’s new display is also 28 percent thinner than its previous phones with a peak brightness of 1,100 nits and the ability to cut blue light emissions by 40 percent. However, it’s hard to notice a difference until you also turn on the software-based blue light filter that most Android phones have.
Overall the 8T’s beautiful screen, soft back and 188g weight make this phone super comfortable to hold. Interacting with this device also feels super-premium with its responsive and accurate display, plus it has a very nice haptic feedback. OnePlus has been working towards making phones feel this nice for years and this is the closest it’s gotten.
My new favourite camera
I’m usually a fan of most smartphone cameras since I find that no matter what I’m using, it’s mostly about being in the right place at the right time. That said, I’ve fallen for the OnePlus 8T’s fantastic lenses.
There are three main cameras on the phone’s rear and a monochrome camera like the OnePlus 8 Pro. However, this year you can’t use it to see through thin black fabrics and plastics like the 8 Pro. OnePlus patched that ‘feature’ out of the 8 Pro following an outcry over the accidental X-ray capability.
The main lens is a 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 sensor with optical image stabilization and an f/1.7 aperture. Flanking that is a 16-megapixel 123-degree ultrawide and a 5-megapixel macro lens.
It’s disappointing that OnePlus skipped out on the telephoto lens this time around and decided that Macro and Monochrome were better. While both of those lenses are cool, neither are as useful as a zoom lens. That said, the 8T’s digital zoom is passable in some situations.
When it comes to taking pictures, the camera app is feature-packed with various modes, including OnePlus’ ‘NightSight,’ ‘Portrait mode,’ pro controls and options that give the camera additional versatility.
I didn’t find myself using the ‘Pro’ mode very often since the regular camera was pretty powerful in its own right. The primary camera setup takes images in 12-megapixel shots that look sharp and provide accurate colours. There is a shortcut to take 48-megapixel photos but OnePlus mentions that using the camera’s full megapixel count works the best in bright, well lit environments.
For the most part, the photos I took came out well, but anything with tons of small details like a furry dog or trees sometimes were a little hit-and-miss as the camera struggled to capture all the fine details.
However, I still managed to get more super sharp photos than not with this camera.
The video quality is just as good, with the new optical image stabilization helping to create stable and cinematic video. OnePlus even added some video editing tools and filters to its default Gallery app.
This time the phone is capable of capturing 4k video at either 30 or 60fps. There’s also a super slow motion mode that can shoot as high as 480fps when recording 720p video. These features are cool but the most significant improvement to video this time around is its increased stabilization.
Not new, but not bad
Inside the phone, OnePlus hasn’t packed in a ton of cutting-edge features, but it’s still filled with useful high-end gear.
This includes a 5G-capable Snapdragon 865 chipset and 12GB of RAM. Overall, this future-proofs the device as Canadian 5G networks launch and slowly expand across the country.
The 8T also features a 4,500 mAh battery that’s split in half so the company can use a new version of fast-charging it calls Warp Charge 65. The new standard is capable of boosting the phone’s battery to almost 60 percent in 15 minutes. To get to 100 percent, it also only takes roughly 40-minutes, which is pretty impressive. During my time with the phone I could easily get a day and a half of heavy use, and I bet if I really tried I could push it even further.
One of the more interesting aspects of the fast-charging on this phone is that this time OnePlus included a USB-C to USB-C cable that can support 45-watt charging with other devices like headphones, laptops, the Switch and other devices. This is useful since most company’s fast-chargers are locked down to only fast-charging their own devices. OnePlus is stressing that the new phone doesn’t get hot when you game or charge. IN my experiance this is true, which is crazy since I found that previous OnePlus phones get pretty hot.
There’s also NFC, Bluetooth 5.1 and other high-end audio codecs, which is a nice touch for people with high-end speakers and headphones.
In terms of security, the OnePlus 8T has a rudimentary face unlock that’s not super secure because it doesn’t have any way to measure depth, and a quick in-display optical fingerprint sensor.
The perfect phone still might not be the best phone for you
OnePlus really has done it. The company made a phone capable of competing against most modern flagships and in many cases, is actually better. The only classic OnePlus compromise is the fact that the OnePlus 8T lacks wireless charging.
That said, the camera, OxygenOS 11 and the hardware all stand up to the test in day-to-day use. One weird aspect though, is that the T-Mobile version of the phone in the U.S. has an IP68 rating while the unlocked version is unrated. This leads me to believe that all versions are going to be moderately waterproof, but I wouldn’t test it on purpose.
OnePlus has stepped up OxygenOS with Android 11, including a new always-on display mode, plus one that even uses Bitmoji, but I’m still waiting on the final update to add it.
Overall, there are some random software bugs, but the phone runs smoothly, and a solid restart every few days usually fixes whatever issues I encounter.
When I reviewed the OnePlus 8 Pro, I said that OnePlus made an amazing phone, but that the company needed to overhaul its software to tie it in with the device’s hardware and OnePlus’ design.
Since then, the OnePlus has done this. The OnePlus 8T checks all the boxes for me except for the $1,100 price, which is a lot to ask for a smartphone that you can’t subsidize from a carrier. If it came in closer to $700 like the Nord, I think this would be my favourite phone of the year. But for now, it’s nice to see OnePlus release a phone that’s as stellar as this and hopefully, it can take what it’s learned and apply it to the next Nord handset.
“The OnePlus 8T checks all the boxes for me except for the $1,100 price, which is a lot to ask for a smartphone…”
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.
