Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Fan Edition (FE) is a smartphone specifically designed for fans, according to the South Korean tech giant. Samsung claims it listened to its consumers and made the most affordable version of the S20 possible while still offering high-end features, including stellar battery life and solid camera experience.
In some ways, the S20 FE reminds me of OnePlus because it designed its smartphones specifically with its consumers in mind. It wasn’t always about selling the best smartphone on the market, but the company would listen to complaints made with other devices and fix those issues with their handset.
While the S20 FE was not made with my personal taste in mind (I’ll touch on that a bit later), I understand what Samsung had in mind when it created this piece of hardware.
I can definitively say that Samsung’s Galaxy S20+ is my favourite smartphone I’ve used this year so far, and the S20 FE does a lot of the same things as that device, which makes it a worthwhile purchase.
To say the least, this phone isn’t perfect, and I came across a couple of concerns, but for the most part, I think Samsung actually made a pretty good device for its fans.
Elegantly flat
From a design standpoint, the S20 FE looks like the company’s Galaxy A71 mid-range smartphone with slightly thicker bezels. This isn’t particularly pretty from my perspective, given I loved the design of the S20+ and its slightly curved screen edges that create an almost bezel-less design. Even the A71’s smaller black bars make for a better aesthetic than the S20 FE.
Despite the slightly thicker bezels, the handset still looks sleek. And The camera cutout on the ‘Infinity-O’ display is actually smaller than the S20 series and the A71, which I thought was a nice touch.
On the bottom of the phone, there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, which I expected and don’t mind since I often use Bluetooth headphones. Unlike the other S20 smartphones, the FE doesn’t come with USB-C wired earbuds. It’s worth noting that Samsung’s Galaxy Note series also lacked wired earbuds. On the right side of the device, there’s a volume rocker and power/Bixby button.
When you flip the handset over to its back, you’re greeted with the now-familiar feeling of plastic, similar to the Galaxy Note 20. I don’t know which fans wanted this plastic material, but I wasn’t one of them. What’s nice about this plastic rear is that it comes in tons of cool colours, including ‘Cloud Lavender,’ ‘Cloud Red,’ ‘Cloud Orange,’ and more.
However, there’s a $450 price difference between the Galaxy Note 20 and the S20 FE that makes the plastic on the rear of the S20 FE a lot more acceptable than it was on the Note 20.
Additionally, despite the plastic, I like the way the back feels, and it doesn’t attract fingerprints or smudges, which is always a plus.
2There’s also a triple camera setup in the top right corner that looks similar to the Note 20’s.
Smooth as the other S20s
Samsung’s Galaxy S20 FE also has a lower resolution than the S20 handsets with a 1080 x 2400 pixel resolution, compared to the 1440 x 3200 resolution available on the other S20 series devices.
Side by side, you can tell the quality difference between the S20 FE and the S20+ or Pixel 4 XL, but it’s not that noticeable. To most people, the S20 FE’s display will still look impressive and vibrant.
Additionally, the S20 FE sports a 120Hz refresh rate that makes on-screen animations look especially fluid. A higher refresh rate results in smoother motion when scrolling, swiping and gaming.
The S20 FE doesn’t have the same issue as the Note 20 or other S20 series, where it’s unable to switch to a 120Hz refresh rate with the display set to WQHD+ considering its screen only feature an FHD+ resolution.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the same variable display available on the Note 20, which changes the refresh rate depending on what you’re doing with the phone.
Take a snap for the fans.
Samsung’s Galaxy S20 FE’s main camera sports a 12-megapixel primary shooter, an 8-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and a 12-megapixel ultrawide shooter. This S20 device lacks a depth sensor, but it still takes great pictures.
You can definitely see some of Samsung’s scene optimization at work when taking pictures, making each shot more vibrant and slightly oversaturated, but I don’t mind it anymore.
I thought photos were detailed, clear, crisp and offered a great range of colour as well as superb contrast. With the world on shutdown due to the ongoing pandemic, I actually didn’t take any photos of other people, since I haven’t seen my friends or family in quite some time, which means that I haven’t been able to test out the portrait mode or how the S20 FE handles pictures of faces with beards or long hair.
The S20 FE’s camera is excellent and good enough for everything the average smartphone users will need to put it clearly.
Moreover, the quality of its Night mode pictures is great. I found that the S20+’ were a bit brighter, but the difference is negligible, and anyone taking pictures at night with the S20 FE will be satisfied.
Samsung’s Night mode pictures aren’t as sharp as Huawei’s, and some detail is lost, but for the most part, these images are good. Similar to Huawei’s low-light mode, Samsung’s S20+ requires users to hold their phone still while taking shots, and if your hands shake, it can result in a somewhat blurry picture.
That said, I experienced unexpected issues with the S20 FE’s camera. I find when you turn on the S20 FE in ultrawide mode at night, it sometimes causes the camera app to crash immediately, and when it doesn’t, it’s pretty slow. When using the ultrawide camera at night, the quality isn’t that great either, and the pictures are very dark. This is only an issue when using the ultrawide shooter at night.
The phone also sports an 8-megapixel telephoto camera capable of taking 3x zoom pictures that look great. Again, Huawei’s P40 Pro does a better job, but the S20 FE’s images are clear and detailed.
Phone selfie shooters aren’t always that great as a black man because these cameras are, to put it simply, not made for me. I found that the FE’s shooters made my skin look a bit brighter, but the colour isn’t that far off from my actual skin tone. In fact, the colour was better than it was with the S20+, and I thought that the phone did a pretty good job of almost reproducing my actual skin tone, so that’s saying something.
Not crazy strong, but still works
The S20 FE features 6GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 865 processor. It’s important to note that this is half as much RAM as the other S20 smartphones, and sometimes, this is surprisingly noticeable.
The S20 FE can handle about 10 apps open at once; whereas, the S20+ could handle about 15 apps and runs them at a speedier pace. With the S20 FE, everything but the camera app seems to be really quick, though sometimes I’ve noticed that re-launching some apps takes a moment longer than I expected. That said, I might only be noticing this because I used the S20+ for several weeks.
What’s important to note is how great the S20 FE’s battery life is. I consistently get more than a day and a half of usage out of the phone, and I only ever used the device with a 120Hz refresh rate. I could get anywhere from seven to nine and a half hours of screen time depending on whether I was watching a lot of YouTube and Netflix, or if it was more of a chill day and spent it scrolling through Instagram, Twitter and reading the news.
Ferda fans
The $949 S20 FE will likely offer stiff competition to the $799 Pixel 5, but the S20 FE’s battery is bigger, it has a 120Hz refresh rate and a faster processor. Without having yet touched the Pixel 5, I can’t say either smartphone is better than the other, but the S20 FE is definitely a viable option if you’re looking for a new smartphone.
The S20 FE is a great device despite its design, camera issue and display; it has an exemplary battery, a speedy processor, and a 120Hz refresh rate. I would recommend this smartphone to anyone who wants a high-end device but doesn’t want to spend a lot of money since it is $949 outright. $949 does still seem like a lot of money, but if you compare to other flagships on-the-market from 2020 like the Note 20, S20, LG V60 ThinQ 5G, Moto Edge+ and Huawei P40 Pro (all with 5G), $949 is a steal.
I would recommend this smartphone to anyone who wants a high-end device but doesn’t want to spend a lot of money since the device is $949 outright. $
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.
