Tech

The best Apple iPhone 12 alternatives you can buy – Android Authority

Published

4 years ago

October 18, 2020

2 hours ago

Credit: Apple

The Apple iPhone 12 series is the biggest yet. From the $699 iPhone 12 Mini to the $1,099 iPhone 12 Pro Max, the Cupertino company has a variety of devices on offer.

Like the idea of the iPhone but prefer Android? Or maybe you’re an iPhone owner looking at the competition? Then we’ve got you covered with our rundown of the best Android alternatives to the iPhone 12 family.

The best iPhone 12 alternatives

1. Samsung Galaxy S20 series

Powerful Android flagship phones stuffed with a ton of features
Samsung promises three years of system updates for its phones
Available in a wide variety of markets

Apple’s arch-rival in the Android space delivered four S-series flagships that are jam-packed with features. All Samsung Galaxy S20 series phones are equipped with a Snapdragon 865 or an Exynos 990 flagship SoC, a 120Hz OLED panel, water resistance, and wireless charging.

The $1,300 Galaxy S20 Ultra is the top-end model here, serving up a 108MP main camera, a 4x periscope zoom camera, a 5,000mAh battery, and up to 16GB of RAM. Those wanting the best specs on paper will want to look at this model.

Our verdict: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE review — A fine phone for frugal fans

Samsung’s Galaxy S20 FE is on the other end of the spectrum, retailing for just $700 and making precious few compromises. Some of the cutbacks include a plastic back, no 8K recording, and an FHD+ screen. Nevertheless, you’re still getting the aforementioned features like a 120Hz OLED screen, water resistance, and wireless charging. And yes, you’re also getting a relatively large battery and a flexible triple camera setup.

It’s also worth noting that all S20 models feature a night hyperlapse mode that’s similar to Apple’s night mode timelapse functionality. Samsung has also offered night mode on the ultra-wide camera for over a year now — something Apple only just delivered with the iPhone 12 series.

The Korean company has confirmed that it now offers three years of software support for major devices (including the S10 series and higher and the Note 10 series and higher). It’s not quite as long as Apple owners usually get, but it’s certainly about as good as it gets on Android.

2. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

Essentially the Galaxy S20 Ultra with an S-Pen and a few tweaks
The standard Galaxy Note 20 isn’t really worth it though
Available in loads of countries around the world

Samsung’s late 2020 flagship continues the trend of obscene flagship pricing, coming in at $1,300 as well. So, what do you get for the price, then?

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra delivers a flagship SoC, a QHD+ 120Hz OLED screen, water resistance, and wireless charging. Other notable features include the ever-popular S Pen, 8K recording, a triple rear camera setup (108MP main, 12MP 5x optical, 12MP ultra-wide), and a 4,500mAh battery.

What we thought: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra review — No longer setting the bar

We’d steer clear of the standard Galaxy Note 20 though unless you absolutely must have a powerful phone with an S Pen. It’s more expensive than the Galaxy S20 FE but packs the same plastic back, a slightly smaller battery, a standard refresh rate panel, and no microSD slot. The only reason to buy this is if the S Pen is indispensable to you.

3. OnePlus 8 Pro

Water resistance and wireless charging for the first time in the series
OnePlus tends to support its phones for as many as three versions of Android
Available in the likes of Asia, Europe, and North America (sorry, Africa and Latin America)

OnePlus has really stepped its game up in 2020, as the OnePlus 8 Pro joins the premium flagship ranks for the first time. Sure, the phone retails for $999, but you’re also getting welcome extras like wireless charging (30W) and water resistance for the first time.

The OnePlus 8 Pro also packs a 120Hz QHD+ OLED panel, while the quad-rear camera setup is pretty neat too. You’ve got a 48MP IMX689 main camera, a 48MP ultra-wide shooter, an 8MP 3X zoom shooter, and a gimmicky 5MP color filter camera.

Our verdict: OnePlus 8 Pro review — What the OnePlus 7T Pro should’ve been

OnePlus also has a reputation for delivering updates to its phones for up to three years, as we saw with the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T. So much like Samsung’s phones, they’re among the best iPhone 12 alternatives if you value software support.

4. LG V60

Packs plenty of features for the price (including a headphone jack!)
The Dual Screen case accessory enables a foldable-style experience
Available in many countries around the world

Is the LG V60 one of the more underrated high-end smartphones of 2020? I wouldn’t vote against it, as it certainly makes for one of the better iPhone 12 alternatives at $800. In addition to the expected Snapdragon 865 and 5G combo, the phone packs a huge 5,000mAh battery, a headphone port, IP68 water/dust resistance, and wireless charging support.

LG’s phone is pretty spartan in terms of the number of cameras, foregoing a zoom-focused shooter in favor of a 64MP/13MP ultra-wide/3D ToF combination. It also packs 8K recording support and LG’s suite of features (ASMR mode, voice bokeh, cinemagraphs, and manual video).

Read: 10 things the LG V60 does well and five things it doesn’t

The V60 does lack a couple of features found on rival flagships, however. Those include a high refresh rate screen and super-fast charging. Then again, Apple’s latest phones lack these features too. It’s also not quite on Apple, Google, Huawei, and Samsung’s level when it comes to overall image quality and consistency, but the gap is closer than ever.

LG also offers an optional Dual Screen case (seen above), essentially turning your phone into a dual-screen foldable. It’s a very thick and hefty combo. It’s not nearly as polished as a phone with a folding screen, but it’s nevertheless a unique proposition in the Android space.

5. Google Pixel 5

Ditches high-end horsepower in favor of a mid-range 5G chipset
Also features an ultra-wide rear camera and software support for three years
Available in Australia, Europe, North America, Japan, and Taiwan

Google’s Pixel series has usually been heralded as the Android equivalent of the iPhone, and this is still true in many ways with the Pixel 5. You’ve got three years of system updates, stock Android with exclusive features, and a reliable and fantastic camera experience. In fact, the new Pixel just pips Apple to the post by launching Night Mode portraits first.

Google’s new phone also swaps out the Pixel 4’s secondary telephoto camera in favor of an ultra-wide camera, lining up quite well with the cheaper iPhone 12 models. Otherwise, the addition of a 90Hz OLED screen, water resistance, and wireless charging make for a well-rounded premium experience. And yes, the rear fingerprint scanner is back in lieu of face unlock — perfect for these mask-wearing times.

It’s not all fantastic though, as the Pixel 5 uses a mid-range 5G chipset to reach this price point. Furthermore, the Galaxy S20 FE has the same $700 price but offers plenty more features (e.g. triple cameras instead of dual rear cameras, 120Hz OLED instead of 90Hz).

Like the idea of the Pixel 5 but want something cheaper? Well, the $500 Pixel 4a 5G ditches the high refresh rate, water resistance, and wireless charging. But you still get the same cameras, chipset, and commitment to updates.

That’s it for our look at the best iPhone 12 alternatives! Are there any other smartphones you can recommend? Let us know via the comments below. Still keen on the iPhone 12? Hit the links below to get yours.

Apple iPhone 12 series Four to choose from

There are a total of four new iPhones in Apple’s iPhone 12 lineup: the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Brighter displays, faster processors, and more durable build quality are what you can expect with all four of these new phones.

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News

Kuwait bans ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’ video game, likely over it featuring Saddam Hussein in 1990s

Published

11 hours ago

October 23, 2024

Anne Joseph

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.

Kuwait has not publicly acknowledged banning the game, which is a tentpole product for the Microsoft-owned developer Activision and is set to be released on Friday worldwide. However, it comes as Kuwait still wrestles with the aftermath of the invasion and as video game makers more broadly deal with addressing historical and cultural issues in their work.

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.

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Tech

Building Homes Faster with our Latest 3D Construction Printer

Published

1 day ago

October 22, 2024

Press Release

Copenhagen, 22.10.2024 – COBOD International, the global leader in 3D construction printing technology, proudly introduces the BOD3 3D Construction Printer for 3D printing of real concrete. Equipped with an extendable ground-based track system, the BOD3 advances the construction process by eliminating printer downtime between multiple buildings on the same site, setting a new benchmark for productivity and efficiency. The BOD3 is the most advanced solution for high-volume low-rise construction and a very effective alternative to conventional construction methods.

The heart and key feature of the new BOD3 3D printer is the advanced extendable ground-based track system. This system enables limitless extension along the Y-axes (length), expanding the printable area to cover 2 or 3 buildings, and reducing setup time to a single installation for multi-building projects. It’s a game-changer, allowing continuous, uninterrupted printing across large sites, increasing efficiency for high volume and mass production at an unmatchable scale.

	Render of COBOD BOD3 3D Construction Printer.

The BOD3, COBOD’s third printer model, is the outstanding achievement of years of dedicated research, development, and close collaboration with customers. It is a vital advancement in automated construction technology, directly addressing the urgent global demand for faster, smarter, more efficient and sustainable building solutions. Like every COBOD 3D printer, the BOD3’s modular design offers customization, allowing it to easily adapt to any customer’s size wishes in addition to complying with the various sizes of construction sites anywhere in the world.

The BOD3 follows COBOD’s vision to build smarter through automation. Its operational stand combines the control and monitoring of both the 3D printer and supplementary equipment in one user-friendly system. The Advanced Hose Management System (AHMS) transports 3D printable material from the materials delivery system to the printhead via hoses secured within E-chains, minimizing physical labor and optimizing material flow. With the addition of the dual dosing system for additives, operators can better control the concrete and adapt it to onsite environmental conditions. By introducing additives directly at the printhead, the system reduces drying time between layers, speeding up the overall construction process. Designed for easy operation and precision, the BOD3 can be operated by a small, trained, and certified team, reducing the costs of projects.

Incorporating the innovative Universal X-Carriage, the BOD3 is ready for future COBOD advancements and technologies, like the introduction of additional tools for the printer aimed at insulating, painting, sanding, etc. This ensures long-term versatility and performance that will keep the BOD3 at the forefront of the industry for years to come.

	Universal X-Carriage with Printhead.

Already deployed to the global market, the BOD3 is currently active in Indonesia, by Modula Tiga Dimensi, Angola, by Power2Build, and Bahrain, by Ab’aad 3D. The customers report faster project execution with near-zero downtime between individual buildings on the same site. The projects showcase the BOD3’s ability to speed up construction and print with real concrete, with 99% locally sourced materials and 1% of innovative D.fab, a co-developed solution by COBOD and Cemex to make concrete 3D printable.

Henrik Lund-Nielsen, Founder and General Manager of COBOD, commented on the BOD3: “The global housing crisis demands a more efficient construction solution that is faster, more efficient, and scalable. The BOD3 is our answer to this challenge. Drawing on years of research and expertise, we’ve designed the BOD3 with innovative features, making it our most cost-effective and efficient model yet for multiple low-rise buildings. Its design supports high-volume, linear production of houses, enabling mass production without compromising quality. The fact that six units have already been sold before its official launch speaks volumes about the BOD3’s market demand and the trust our customers place in our technology.”

Michael Holm, Chief Innovation Officer at COBOD, states, “The advanced ground-based track system was developed as a response to our customers’ needs to increase efficiency and productivity. Now the 3D construction printer can be easily extended, and multiple consecutive structures can be printed with minimal repositioning and zero downtime between projects, making 3D construction printing more efficient than ever before.”

The BOD3 is now available for purchase worldwide; for more information, please visit our website, www.cobod.com, or contact us at info@cobod.com.

RELEVANT LINKS

Official announcement by Founder and General Manager, Henrik Lund-Nielsen: https://youtu.be/7kmB6uQw5G4?si=SYzBNOrA8SK3VMW-
The BOD3 onsite: BOD3 in Action — 3D Construction Printing Just Got Faster! (youtube.com)
Visit our website: World leader in 3D construction printing | COBOD
Learn more about the BOD3: https://cobod.com/the-bod3/

ABOUT COBOD

COBOD stands as the global leader in supplying 3D printers for the construction sector, with over 80 printers distributed across North and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Driven by a mission to revolutionize construction through multifunctional robots based on 3D printing, COBOD envisions automating half of the construction processes to achieve faster, cost-effective, sustainable results with enhanced design versatility.

From residential, commercial, and public buildings, COBOD’s 3D printers have been instrumental in erecting 1- to 3-story structures across all six inhabited continents. The innovative technology also extends to fabricate large-scale data centers, wind turbine towers, tanks, and more.

Embracing an open-source material approach, COBOD collaborates with global partners, including customers, academia, and suppliers. The company, backed by prominent shareholders such as General Electric, CEMEX, Holcim, and PERI, operates from its main office in Copenhagen, Denmark, and regional competence centers in Miami, Florida, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. COBOD’s dynamic team comprises over 100 professionals from 25 diverse nationalities.

ABOUT MODULA TIGA DIMENSI

PT Modula Tiga Dimensi is a joint venture between Bakrie & Brothers (BNBR) and COBOD. BNBR focuses on offering and providing solutions for housing backlog problems currently encountered by the country.

Teaming up with COBOD International, the company is now set to adopt the latest 3D printing construction technology and is ready to offer the Indonesian market a new and better solution to housing obstructions.

ABOUT POWER2BUILD
Reshaping the construction sector and adapting it to urgent human needs.

Power2Build is a technology company for the construction industry, prepared to establish partnerships with private, public, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) so that they can make the transition to Build 4.0 through 3DCP.

We offer our clients value-added services and high-quality projects, always with a multidisciplinary approach that brings together the necessary experience to deal with complex issues.

Tech

Slack researcher discusses the fear, loathing and excitement surrounding AI in the workplace

Published

2 days ago

October 21, 2024

Anne Joseph

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Artificial intelligence‘s recent rise to the forefront of business has left most office workers wondering how often they should use the technology and whether a computer will eventually replace them.

Those were among the highlights of a recent study conducted by the workplace communications platform Slack. After conducting in-depth interviews with 5,000 desktop workers, Slack concluded there are five types of AI personalities in the workplace: “The Maximalist” who regularly uses AI on their jobs; “The Underground” who covertly uses AI; “The Rebel,” who abhors AI; “The Superfan” who is excited about AI but still hasn’t used it; and “The Observer” who is taking a wait-and-see approach.

Only 50% of the respondents fell under the Maximalist or Underground categories, posing a challenge for businesses that want their workers to embrace AI technology. The Associated Press recently discussed the excitement and tension surrounding AI at work with Christina Janzer, Slack’s senior vice president of research and analytics.

Q: What do you make about the wide range of perceptions about AI at work?

A: It shows people are experiencing AI in very different ways, so they have very different emotions about it. Understanding those emotions will help understand what is going to drive usage of AI. If people are feeling guilty or nervous about it, they are not going to use it. So we have to understand where people are, then point them toward learning to value this new technology.

Q: The Maximalist and The Underground both seem to be early adopters of AI at work, but what is different about their attitudes?

A: Maximalists are all in on AI. They are getting value out of it, they are excited about it, and they are actively sharing that they are using it, which is a really big driver for usage among others.

The Underground is the one that is really interesting to me because they are using it, but they are hiding it. There are different reasons for that. They are worried they are going to be seen as incompetent. They are worried that AI is going to be seen as cheating. And so with them, we have an opportunity to provide clear guidelines to help them know that AI usage is celebrated and encouraged. But right now they don’t have guidelines from their companies and they don’t feel particularly encouraged to use it.

Overall, there is more excitement about AI than not, so I think that’s great We just need to figure out how to harness that.

Q: What about the 19% of workers who fell under the Rebel description in Slack’s study?

A: Rebels tend to be women, which is really interesting. Three out of five rebels are women, which I obviously don’t like to see. Also, rebels tend to be older. At a high level, men are adopting the technology at higher rates than women.

Q: Why do you think more women than men are resisting AI?

A: Women are more likely to see AI as a threat, more likely to worry that AI is going to take over their jobs. To me, that points to women not feeling as trusted in the workplace as men do. If you feel trusted by your manager, you are more likely to experiment with AI. Women are reluctant to adopt a technology that might be seen as a replacement for them whereas men may have more confidence that isn’t going to happen because they feel more trusted.

Q: What are some of the things employers should be doing if they want their workers to embrace AI on the job?

A: We are seeing three out of five desk workers don’t even have clear guidelines with AI, because their companies just aren’t telling them anything, so that’s a huge opportunity.

Another opportunity to encourage AI usage in the open. If we can create a culture where it’s celebrated, where people can see the way people are using it, then they can know that it’s accepted and celebrated. Then they can be inspired.

The third thing is we have to create a culture of experimentation where people feel comfortable trying it out, testing it, getting comfortable with it because a lot of people just don’t know where to start. The reality is you can start small, you don’t have to completely change your job. Having AI write an email or summarize content is a great place to start so you can start to understand what this technology can do.

Q: Do you think the fears about people losing their jobs because of AI are warranted?

A: People with AI are going to replace people without AI.

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The best Apple iPhone 12 alternatives you can buy – Android Authority

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The best Apple iPhone 12 alternatives you can buy – Android Authority