Similar to last year, Samsung has launched two Note series smartphones, the Galaxy Note 20 and the Note 20 Ultra.
The Note series is in an awkward position given Samsung’s S-series handsets are now so large and also still offer top-of-the-line specifications. However, the Note series comes with the S Pen stylus that many — not including myself — really value.
Rumours suggest that next year Samsung might launch an S21 smartphone with an S Pen, which means the Note 20 and 20 Ultra could be the last Note series smartphone ever — this is a good thing as far as I’m concerned.
While the Note 20 Ultra is a great smartphone, the device is expensive, especially when compared to last year’s Note 10+. On the other hand, the cheaper Note 20 is a nearly complete downgrade when compared to the Ultra.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 is cheaper than the Note 20 Ultra, and sports a price tag of $1,399 CAD outright if you purchase the device directly from Samsung. This pricing is especially strange when you consider that you can currently buy the much-better Galaxy S20+ for $1,329. It might seem like you’re paying more for the S Pen when actually, you’re shelling out the additional cash for the arguably unnecessary Snapdragon 865+ processor.
With all of this in mind, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 is receiving a lot of deserved criticism, but the average consumer probably won’t find it’s that bad of a smartphone. That said, there are several better flagship handsets options currently on the market.
The plastic back
The Galaxy Note 20’s front looks modern and elegant. The smartphone features a rectangular, symmetrical design that includes Samsung’s ‘Infinity-O’ display, which is fancy branding for a screen with a hole-punch cutout. The cutout is a bit bigger than what is featured in the Note 20 Ultra, but it doesn’t feel too big.
On the bottom of the device, there’s a speaker, a USB-C port and an S Pen located on the left side. There’s also the volume rocker and the power button on the right side of the smartphone. When you flip the phone to the rear, there’s a large camera module that’s slightly smaller than the Note 20 Ultra’s and similar in size to the S20+’s. I’m using the ‘Mystic Bronze’ Note 20, and what I like is that Samsung matched the camera bump’s colour to the rest of the phone, which helps improve its look when compared to the S20 Series rear array.
Overall, if you’re just looking at the Note 20, the device appears solid, but touching the handset is an entirely different story.
The rear of the Note 20 is made of a cheap-feeling plastic material that is strange to see in a 2020 smartphone. At first, the back reminded me of the Pixel 4 series, but on closer inspection, the Pixel 4’s plastic-like glass material feels a lot more premium. Samsung likely did this to keep the smartphone’s cost down. However, for $1,400 CAD, the handset needs to not only appear premium but also feel like it’s worthy of that expensive price tag. To be fair, this isn’t an issue everyone will notice.
On the plus side, this plastic material doesn’t attract fingerprints, and I find that I only managed to get smudges on the back if I recently applied lotion to my hands. Overall, the decision to feature a less high-end feeling back on the Note 20 is a misstep on Samsung’s part.
No 90hz or 120Hz
Beyond the design, the first thing a lot of people notice about a smartphone is its display. The Note 20’s screen isn’t bad, and to my eye, there’s nothing significant wrong with it. Viewing content always looks good, games like Limbo are still dark and dreary, and overall, the screen offers a solid viewing experience — but this only if you don’t know what you’re missing out on.
The S20 series and Note 20 Ultra both feature displays better than the Note 20’s screen.
To start, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 offers a 1080 x 2400 pixel resolution, which is inferior to the 3200 x 1400 resolution available on each of Samsung’s S20 series smartphones. It’s also not as good as what’s the Note 20 Ultra offers, either. This may not be noticeable at first, but when you hold the two devices side-by-side, you’ll really see the difference.
A higher refresh rate results in smoother animations when scrolling, swiping and playing games, which makes the device feel more responsive.
The writer
The S Pen is the Samsung Galaxy Note series’ trademark stylus. While this is my first experience with the S Pen, I’ve used a smartphone that features a stylus before. Back in 2018, I went hands-on with the LG Q Stylo+. In comparison, the Note 20’s S Pen feels a lot better, but given the Q Stylo is a much cheaper mid-range smartphone, that isn’t an impressive feat.
Samsung’s Note 20 S Pen works well and sports ‘Air Gestures’ that allow users to ‘Navigate Back,’ ‘Home,’ ‘Recent Apps,’ ‘Smart Select’ and ‘Screen Capture.’ While I found these features interesting, they aren’t particularly useful.
Writing with the S Pen feels fine with the Note 20, but the latency isn’t as good as the Note 20 Ultra’s. MobileSyrup managing editor Patrick O’Rouke said in his review of the Note 20 Ultra that the S Pen feels like writing on paper. The Note 20 definitely doesn’t feel like writing on paper.
As for the S Pen itself, the stylus weighs 3.04g and measures in at 5.8 x 4.35 x 105.08mm. It has 4,096 pressure levels and sports up to 24 hours of battery standby time.
Is the Snapdragon 865+ really worth it?
Speaking of battery, the Note 20 sports a 4,300mAh cell that, for the most part, can get through a day easily. On days where I go to the gym and watch Crave and Netflix while running, or have to Hotspot because my home internet is down, I still find that the Note 20 can last until at least 10pm. The phone doesn’t feature the best battery life out there, but it gets the job done.
One of the reasons why the Galaxy Note 20 is so expensive is its 865+ processor. The Snapdragon 865+ chipset is more powerful than the original Snapdragon 865 that’s available in devices like the Samsung Galaxy S20 series, OnePlus 8 series and the LG V60 ThinQ. Throughout the entire I’ve used the Note 20, the device has experienced absolutely no issues. It’s speedy and powerful, and whether I was multi-tasking, playing games or just scrolling through Instagram, I didn’t experience any lag.
However, I don’t think the Snapdragon 865+ processor is worth the price, and I didn’t notice a difference between the speed of this smartphone compared to the S20+ or LG V60 ThinQ. We ran a benchmark test with the Note 20 and the OnePlus 8 Pro with Geekbench. As you can see below, the OP8 Pro didn’t do as well as the Note 20, but unless you’re a major smartphone gamer, It’s unlikely you’ll push the Note 20 to its limits.
Although it’s a quicker processor, Samsung should have just went with the Snapdragon 865 or even a 765. These are fast and powerful enough chipsets and would have helped keep the cost of the smartphone down.
Picture almost perfect
When taking pictures with the 12-megapixel primary shooter, images were clear and detailed, but a bit oversaturated and too vibrant. A photo of the sun setting behind the clouds featured deep contrast comparable to the Galaxy S20+’s cameras or even the Pixel 4 XL. I think there’s a bit too much overexposing of the highlights, however.
Alongside the primary camera, the Note 20’s 12-megapixel ultra-wide shooter also takes impressive shots, offering a decent amount of detail. It’s barely noticeable that you’ve switched cameras. I think the main shooter is still preferable, but the ultra-wide is still quite great.
Last but not least, is the Note 20’s 64-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x zoom. The 3x zoom functionality works great, includes significant detail and is comparable to the Pixel 4’s and S20’s impressive zoom. Sitting down at a patio on Harbourfront, I was able to take a picture of the CN Tower, and while it was a bit grainy, the picture still looked great. The device also has 30x digital zoom, but pictures often looked blurry and lack detail.
Regarding low-light performance, I was impressed by the Note 20’s Night mode, and I think it could easily stand up to phones like the S20+, Pixel 4 XL and the P40 Pro.
The Note 20 images aren’t as detailed as Huawei’s P40 or Google’s Pixel 4 XL, but they still look impressive. For example, the photo I snapped of a motorboat on the water looks stellar.
Similar to most other smartphones launched by Asian manufacturers, selfie pictures with the Note 20 often overexpose my skin, making it lighter. Despite this, front-facing camera photos are otherwise pretty good.
To upgrade or not that’s the question
For those who are wondering if they should upgrade to the Note 20 from a recent Note device, the quick answer is no. The Note 20 isn’t a bad smartphone, but that doesn’t matter because there are more affordable, better options on the market.
If you’re someone with a Samsung Galaxy Note 8, it may be worth checking out the Note 10 that offers a Snapdragon 855 processor, 6.3-inch display, 8GB of RAM and a triple-camera rear setup. The phone is currently $1,059.99 CAD on sale right now. Even the Note 10+, which offers better specs, costs $1,259.99.
If you’re someone who’s concerned with 5G and don’t value the S Pen, take a look at the Samsung Galaxy S20+ — a phone that I personally consider absolutely phenomenal — which currently costs $1,329. And if money is not a problem, just upgrade to the Note 20 Ultra, which Patrick O’Rouke described as one of “one of the most solid smartphones Samsung has ever released.”
Oh, Samsung
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 isn’t a bad smartphone, but it’s just not worth its expensive price tag.
While could probably say the same thing about most modern high-end smartphones, the Note 20 takes things to the extreme. If someone wanted a new Samsung flagship, I’d definitely tell them to purchase the S20+, especially now that it’s $70 cheaper and offers far better specs.
If Samsung launched the Note 20 with a Snapdragon 765G processor, a more high-quality rear and a camera array similar to the S20+’s, it would be a much better device. I hate to say it, but the Galaxy Note 20 is mostly a miss for the South Korean tech giant.
“I hate to say it, but the Galaxy Note 20 is mostly a miss for the South Korean tech giant”
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.
