While the OnePlus Nord is shaping up to be a killer budget phone, with its impressive specs, design and camera array for a sub-$500 price. It also represents a major pivot for the Chinese phone maker. The Nord brand is at once a return to OnePlus’ roots but also a new chapter for the company.
OnePlus’ story thus far is one of rather impressive success. Founded back in December 2013 by Pete Lau and Carl Pei, the Shenzhen-based company is a mere six-and-a-half years old. But it now sees revenues of $1.4 billion and has grown from an obscure phone company into a brand that has a zealous following.
That’s not surprising, given OnePlus has spent years building up its community. The OnePlus One was the company’s first affordable phone with flagship-challenging specs. And with the Cyanogen OS it offered tech fans a powerful alternative to the Samsung, HTC and Sony handsets at the time. Available through invitation only, the first OnePlus phones laid the foundations for a company that claims to “Never Settle”.
This invitation-only means of selling the OnePlus phones allowed the company to regulate the flow of devices in the face of high demand. But a move to its Oxygen OS — a slick and lightweight skin of Android — and the removal of the invitation-to-buy scheme saw OnePlus expand its reach.
In 2017, the OnePlus 5 became the company’s fastest-selling smartphone, showing that it was no longer an Android upstart but a true mainstream phone brand. Subsequently, the OnePlus 6 and 6T cemented OnePlus’ position as a brand that made well-priced phones with flagship specs, falling sort of but a few high-end phone features and offering very good but not great smartphone photography.
(Image credit: Amazon)
However, with the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro, the company decided to fork its phone lineup, with one flagship-killer and effectively a full high-end phone. It arguably fell a little short with the latter Pro phone as well as the Pro ‘T’ versions. But with the OnePlus 8 Pro, OnePlus came out with a true flagship phone, and one with a flagship price to boot.
This was a triumph for OnePlus. But with both the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro starting at $699 and $899 respectively, OnePlus no longer had keenly-priced phones sitting at or under the $500 mark.
Tuomas Lampen, OnePlus’ head of European Strategy at OnePlus, told Tom’s Guide that as its community of users demanded “more and more” out of its devices, the prices of OnePlus’ phones have gone up.
This marked somewhat of a departure from its roots and left a gap in the market of its own making; there was no longer an OnePlus handset to properly offer a flagship-killing smartphone experience for a wallet-friendly price. But OnePlus realized this and that was how the Nord brand came about.
Heading up Nord
“Now we’ve seen a growing interest and demand from our community that we should be making affordable devices as well,” Lampen explained.
He noted that there’s been a demand for mid-range phones for years. But OnePlus needed to choose the right moment to push back into that arena while not eroding its reputation for delivering smooth and fast performance.
“We have this great user experience we are able to offer in the flagship devices; how can we bring that premium feel to [the budget segment]? Lampen posited, and then in answer to his own question he responded that OnePlus went back to its community to establish what are the core expectations they have from a OnePlus phone.
The feedback yielded a desire for a good-quality device that delivers smooth performance and has strong cameras. But that’s quite a challenge for an affordable phone. After all, the current budget champions such as the iPhone SE 2020 and Pixel 3a deliver excellent phone photography results but only come with a single camera, while those that have more tend to deliver less -than-stellar results.
But the advent of Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 7-series chipsets offered a solution to this challenge. Sitting in between the flagship 8-series and the more budget-oriented Snapdragon 6-series, the Snapdragon 765G in the OnePlus Nord offers solid performance and support for multiple cameras, 4K HDR video, and smart battery-saving features, all without requiring smartphone makers to cough up premium prices of an 8-series part.
(Image credit: Qualcomm)
“With our close partners at Qualcomm, they’ve been able to deliver a chipset that’s more affordable to us but obviously offers the most important bits of the flagship category,” said Lampen.
Lower-end Snapdragon 7-series chips have been around since 2018, but Snapdragon 765G was only available to phone makers earlier this year. That was fortuitous as it gave OnePlus a chip with an affordable octa-core processor and a 5G modem for its budget handset. This meant it could weave a line between delivering an affordable phone yet one with enough performance for pretty much every Android task and offer 5G connectivity.
The overall specs of the OnePlus Nord was decided by what makes a core OnePlus experience, Lampen explained. OnePlus took the most significant parameters of its flagship phones, such as performance, cameras and an expansive display then worked them into an affordable handset.
That’s why you’ll not only find a powerful chip but also 12GB of RAM, up to 256GB of storage space, 30W fast charging, and a 4,115 MAH battery in the Nord. And its 6.44-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate is pretty much on par with the display of the OnePlus 8; while it’s not a ‘pro-level’ 120Hz panel, it’s fast enough for most people and an impressive feature for a phone that sits below $500.
No OnePlus 8T Pro?
The OnePlus Nord looks much like a spiritual successor to the flagship-killer OnePlus phones of yore. Yet that had us wondering if OnePlus was effectively cannibalizing its premium phones, rendering the likes of the OnePlus 8 Pro moot to all but the most fevered chasers of high-end phone specs.
But Lampen said there’s still very much an appetite for premium flagship OnePlus phones.
“I completely understand the description that we’re going back somewhere we’ve been. But the difference is back then those were still flagship category devices, it’s just the industry and demand from consumers has changed,” Lampen said. He noted that while a high-end phone could once be had for $500, today’s flagship handsets – think the iPhone 11 Pro or Galaxy S20 Plus, now push towards or beyond the $1,000 mark.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
As such, what was once a flagship price range is now a place where mid-range phones sit. OnePlus isn’t exactly returning to its roots with the Nord, but is entering a new market, only one that bears a similarity to where it has been before.
And Lampen noted this means OnePlus isn’t going to stop making high-end phones either: “I feel that we still have a huge demand for the flagship category; people are expecting us to make as great devices as we can.”
“But then we have this huge mass market audience who I think they will be excited to get to experience the OnePlus user experience with our Oxygen OS and getting that in a much more affordable price point. And yes, in the price point where we used to be a few years ago,” Lampen added.
“But we definitely have the kind of separation of the flagship category devices and the target group who wants to buy those, and then this more affordable line with a new target group.”
Lampen stopped short of confirming that a OnePlus 8T Pro was in the works, but it would appear that it’s certainly on the cards. And while OnePlus is indeed returning to its roots with the Nord it’s doing it through a new brand and is certainly not going to give up making true flagship Android handsets to stand shoulder to shoulder with Samsung, Apple and Google’s very best phones.
What’s next for Nord?
With the OnePlus Nord looking set to be a hero of the affordable phone category, it’s easy to forget that Nord is actually a family of products. What that family will be made up of has yet to be seen, but OnePlus intends to build it out.
“It’s a little bit too early to discuss,” Lampen said when we pressed him on the issue. “Now the first step in the smartphones [range] is to go to this mid-range [market] with OnePlus Nord and the first device also called the same. So definitely we can expect more devices coming out going forward.”
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
But Lampen noted OnePlus needs to “follow the market” and gauge how well its first Nord device is received before pursuing other gadgets and potentially other markets; we discussed with Lampen at the potential for the OnePlus Nord to make it out of India and Europe and over to the U.S. He did say that OnePlus is following other product groups as well, such as TV and headphones, which could suggest that the Nord brand will be built out beyond smartphones.
“Our overall target as a tech company is we’re looking at different technologies […] and we just need to see where we can bring something new to the table or where we can bring the user experience to another level,” Lampen said.
In short, we can pretty much expect more OnePlus Nord phones in the future and likely in more markets. But there’s a good chance Nord could become a family of tech products that transform OnePlus for being primarily a phone maker upstart born out of Shenzhen’s melting pot of innovation and tech industry, into a consumer tech powerhouse that could snap at the heels of Apple while also drastically undercutting it.
Nord might mean North in a range of European languages, but OnePlus seems to be ready to travel in any direction as it opens a new chapter in its tech history.
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.
