On February 9, Samsung announced plans to offer the Samsung Galaxy S22 family, and based on what we know so far, you can expect some pretty awesome improvements over last year’s models. So, if you’re looking to upgrade your old Android-based smartphone with something more cutting-edge and powerful, you’ll definitely want to check out Samsung’s newest additions to its 5G smartphone lineup. Meanwhile, if you need help deciding whether to switch from an Apple iPhone to one of the new Galaxy S22 smartphones, we have the head-to-head comparison for you right here.
The Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+ and Galaxy S22 Ultra release date is February 25, upon which first orders will ship. But you can pre-order your phone right now and take advantage of several awesome deals from Samsung and various Samsung retailers, including Best Buy.
Pre-Order Your New Phone Now And Save Big
Right now, when you pre-order any of the new Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphones from Samsung’s website, in addition to the other offers and trade-in deals, you’ll receive an instant $50 discount (but only for a limited time).
Upgrade To The Galaxy S22 And Save
In addition to Samsung offering between $150 and $200 in instant Samsung Credit (depending on the smartphone model), a free memory upgrade and up to $700 trade-in credit when you pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S22 (on or before February 24), all of the major cellular service providers have also announced pre-order deals. Each Galaxy S22 purchase from Samsung includes a three month Spotify Premium subscription, a four month YouTube Premium subscription, and six months of SiriusXM streaming.
From Samsung, you can also get an additional $25 discount when you divide the full purchase price of the smartphone into four biweekly payments via Affirm. Additional discounts (up to $90) are being offered through Samsung’s Offers Program to teachers, military personnel, and first responders, for example.
Here’s a quick overview of what the pre-order deals from cellular service providers:
AT&T — Whether you’re upgrading or activating a new phone, get a base model Samsung Galaxy S22 for free with any Galaxy phone trade-in. Plus, you’ll get a 256GB memory upgrade for the price of the 128GB configuration when you pre-order. In other words, you’ll get up to $800 off any Galaxy S22 device when you trade in any Note, S series or Z series phone from any year and in any condition. This means the base model Galaxy S22 is free, while the Galaxy S22+ will have a starting cost of $200, or the Galaxy S22 Ultra will have a starting cost of $400. For this deal, you must sign up for a 36-month installment plan and any Unlimited service plan. AT&T is also offering up to 50 percent off a selection of Samsung accessories.
Verizon — Verizon is also offering to double the memory within the S22 for free, plus is offering up to $1,000 off any Galaxy S22 model with a qualifying trade-in. A one year subscription to the AMC+ streaming service is included. If you switch to Verizon, an additional $1,000 prepaid virtual Mastercard is being offered. Another option is to purchase one Galaxy S22 smartphone and second a second phone for up to $1,000 off (plus up to an additional $1,000 when you switch to Verizon as you cellular service provider. Meanwhile, if you want to purchase a Galaxy S22 and get a new tablet at the same time from Verizon, you’ll qualify for an additional $310 off the tablet price (in promo credit over 36 months).
T-Mobile — Switch to T-Mobile and start off with an $800 bonus. However, you can get up to $1,000 off (over 24 months in bill credits) on any Galaxy S22 smartphone when you trade in an eligible device and sign up for a Magenta MAX service plan. Meanwhile, you can get the Samsung Galaxy S22+ for free (via 24 monthly bill credits) when you trade in an eligible device and have or switch to a Magenta MAX service plan. Also from T-Mobile, if you purchase one Galaxy S22+, you’ll get a second one for free (via 24 monthly bill credits when you trade in an eligible device and have or switch to a Magenta MAX service plan). With many new smartphone activations (based on the plan you choose), T-Mobile is offering a free 12-month subscription to the Paramount+ streaming service. With all new Magenta and Magenta MAX plans, a one year subscription to AppleTV+ is also being offered.
US Cellular — Get any model of the Galaxy S22 smartphone for free (after monthly bill credits for 30 months), with zero percent financing and no down payment.
What’s New In The Samsung Galaxy S22?
This year, Samsung is once again offering a choice between three Galaxy S22 smartphone models—including the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra. The main things that set these three models apart are their respective screen sizes, weight, the overall dimensions of the smartphone, battery life, and the resolution of the cameras. All will run Android 12 and support 5G, Wi-Fi 6e, and feature Bluetooth v5.2 connectivity. But there are enough differences between the three models to warrant consideration for each.
Breaking Down The Galaxy S22 and S22+
When looking at Samsung’s two “entry-level” offerings, the company played things safe a bit. You’ll still enjoy vibrant OLED displays with ultra-fast 120Hz refresh rates. And even the camera hardware has been slightly improved over last year’s model. However, by in large, these are more minor upgrades compared to last year’s Galaxy S21 and S21+.
Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU provides all of the power that you’ll need, and there are different storage configurations for you to pick from. But, as expected, there’s no sign of a microSD card slot, so you’ll need to make sure you get enough storage to last you for as long as you plan on owning the device.
One area where there is a bit of improvement comes directly to the Galaxy S22+, with its larger 6.6-inch display. Samsung not only packed a 4,500mAh battery into this middle-of-the-road offering, but it also marks the first of two major changes for the Galaxy S line when it comes to charging. Both the Galaxy S22+ and S22 Ultra are capable of reaching peak wired charging speeds of up to 45W, compared to the 25W available with the smaller Galaxy S22.
Moving to the cameras, it may not seem like Samsung really swung for the fences with this year’s release. But the truth is that’s because the company focused much more on shoring up its software and further optimizing image processing to make your photos and videos look their best. Both phones are equipped with triple camera setups, headlined by a 50MP wide-angle lens that will handle much of the heavy lifting. This is complemented by a 12MP ultra-wide lens with a 120-degree field of view and a 10MP telephoto sensor that provides up to 3x optical zoom.
When combining the versatility offered by the camera hardware, Samsung has also implemented a new feature known as Adaptive Pixel. This, along with Samsung’s pre-existing “Nightography” feature, essentially allows for more light to be used by the camera sensors. The end result offers brighter pictures that have even more detail.
With Google’s Pixel 6 leading the way in AI photography prowess thanks to the Tensor chip, Samsung has also included AI enhancements with the Galaxy S22 lineup, including the addition of the new AI Stereo Depth Map. Gone are the days when you find blurry edges around a subject, especially for those heart-warming pictures of your family’s pets.
What About The Galaxy S22 Ultra?
Thinking back to the good ol’ Galaxy Note days, Samsung would throw all of the company’s latest and greatest innovations into the device. Add in the fact that you get a built-in S Pen without needing a separate carrying case, and it was a slam-dunk for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
The new Samsung S22 smartphones work with the S Pen stylus, so you can write, draw, or annotate … [+] directly on the screen.
Samsung
While the Note line is no more, with the Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung has infused the Galaxy Note’s DNA, providing a smartphone that is a truly complete mobile device package for anyone that doesn’t want a foldable phone (sorry Z Fold 3). Not only is the S Pen back with a housing silo placed at the bottom of the casing, but this is Samsung’s most advanced Galaxy S device that we’ve ever seen.
The display measures in at 6.8-inches and sports a variable 120Hz refresh rate that rivals only that of the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max. There’s plenty of power under the hood with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 paired with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and you can even get up to 1TB of storage without needing an external storage solution.
The S Pen stylus slips directly into the Galaxy S22 smartphone for easy storage and access.
Samsung
Samsung knew there was a lot riding on the line with the S22 Ultra, so it pulled out all of the stops. The included S Pen offers up to 70 percent better response time compared to the S Pen with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and that’s just simply incredible. Part of this is made possible due to tweaks in the software that allow for your phone to essentially guess where you’re next pen-stroke will go.
All of that, and we haven’t even touched on the camera yet. While the Galaxy S22 and S22+ share the same triple camera setup, you can’t make the same claims with the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Samsung’s “true” flagship device for 2022 features a 108MP main lens that uses nona-binning to turn those 108 megapixels into just 12MP. This results in a much brighter and more accurate image than what can be achieved with other sensors.
Alongside S22 Ultra, Samsung is also releasing a separate app, called Expert RAW, which essentially turns your smartphone into a DSLR camera. This includes providing all of the exposure controls you would expect to see on a traditional camera—all in the palm of your hand. Adjust things like ISO on the fly and immediately see the results, then you can snap a 16-bit RAW image which opens the door to a world of editing that isn’t otherwise possible.
Save Additional Money When You Pre-Order Your Galaxy S22
Samsung Galaxy S22 Cases And Accessories
Being Samsung’s new flagship smartphone, you can bet that both Samsung and a wide range of third-party companies will offer a nice selection of cases and accessories specifically for this new device.
Samsung Offers Several New Case Designs for The Galaxy S22
Protect Your Galaxy S22 With A New Case
Pick Up A Samsung Leather Cover For $49.99
Galaxy Buds Pro Are The Perfect Companion For The Galaxy S22
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.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The tiny Mideast nation of Kuwait has banned the release of the video game “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6,” which features the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and is set in part in the 1990s Gulf War.
The video game, a first-person shooter, follows CIA operators fighting at times in the United States and also in the Middle East. Game-play trailers for the game show burning oilfields, a painful reminder for Kuwaitis who saw Iraqis set fire to the fields, causing vast ecological and economic damage. Iraqi troops damaged or set fire to over 700 wells.
There also are images of Saddam and Iraq’s old three-star flag in the footage released by developers ahead of the game’s launch. The game’s multiplayer section, a popular feature of the series, includes what appears to be a desert shootout in Kuwait called Scud after the Soviet missiles Saddam fired in the war. Another is called Babylon, after the ancient city in Iraq.
Activision acknowledged in a statement that the game “has not been approved for release in Kuwait,” but did not elaborate.
“All pre-orders in Kuwait will be cancelled and refunded to the original point of purchase,” the company said. “We remain hopeful that local authorities will reconsider, and allow players in Kuwait to enjoy this all-new experience in the Black Ops series.”
Kuwait’s Media Ministry did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press over the decision.
“Call of Duty,” which first began in 2003 as a first-person shooter set in World War II, has expanded into an empire worth billions of dollars now owned by Microsoft. But it also has been controversial as its gameplay entered the realm of geopolitics. China and Russia both banned chapters in the franchise. In 2009, an entry in the gaming franchise allowed players to take part in a militant attack at a Russian airport, killing civilians.
But there have been other games recently that won praise for their handling of the Mideast. Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed: Mirage” published last year won praise for its portrayal of Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age in the 9th century.
