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The Oppo Find N2 Is the Lightest Foldable Phone I’ve Ever Carried

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When I think of foldable phones, I picture a large device that’s too cumbersome to carry around. Oppo’s latest foldable phone, the Find N2, is beginning to change my mind. The Chinese company’s new phone, announced Wednesday, is the lightest foldable device you can find  — even compared to its biggest rival, the Galaxy Z Fold 4. It’s also the shortest foldable I’ve ever used.

Foldable phones seem to be inherently chunky, which is one of their major shortcomings, but Oppo has made impressive progress with the Find N2. It’s 42 grams (42!) lighter than its predecessor, the Find N. Oppo credits its upgraded “Flexion” hinge with helping create a lightweight phone. Oppo says it reduced the number of components required to build the hinge and introduced materials like carbon fiber and a “high-strength alloy” used in the aviation industry.

Apart from its practical size, the Find N2 includes all the trappings of a 2022 foldable flagship. It has a powerful Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, two equally responsive displays, fast charging and solid cameras. However, there’s no official IP rating for water- and dust-resistance, and you probably won’t be able to buy this phone, even if you’re interested. The Find N2 is currently earmarked for a China-only release. Oppo has also launched a new flip phone, similar to the Galaxy Z Flip 4, however, and it’s expected to receive an international release in the coming months. There was no pricing available for the Find N2 at the time of this writing.

oppo-find-n2-0785
The cover display of the Find N2 has a 120 Hz refresh rate, which is the same as the inner screen.

 


Sareena Dayaram/CNET

The Find N2 is a shortie

The Find N2’s design is similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4’s in that it’s a book-style foldable phone. However, one key difference is that the Find N2 feels much more compact. The Find N2 is almost 1 inch shorter than the Z Fold 4. Think iPhone 13 Mini in terms of height, but backed with double the thickness. It also has a different aspect ratio of 17.7:9. This means when you unfold the Find N2, it morphs into a squarish screen as opposed to the more rectangular display seen on the Z Fold 4.

The Find N2 is the lightest commercially available foldable phone. At 233 grams, the Find N2 is 30 grams lighter than the Z Fold 4. It also weighs less than the iPhone 14 Pro Max by a few grams. This lightweight design makes it easier to deal with the inherent heft of a foldable phone.

All these qualities make for a more portable foldable phone. I feel more comfortable storing it in my pocket without worrying that it might fall or stick out. This square-like screen also makes the Find N2 stand out from Samsung and Huawei’s competing devices despite the many similarities between these phones.

The Find N2 has a nearly creaseless display

Oppo admits the Find N2’s main display has a crease, but it’s hardly discernible. In my short time with the Find N2, I hardly ever saw or felt the crease. In fact, I needed to maneuver the screen to just that right angle (in a bright room) to see it. While a completely creaseless phone is ideal, the Find N2’s didn’t bother me at all. As for durability, Oppo says the Find N2 has been tested up to 400,000 folds.

The Find N’s inner screen measures 7.1 inches and offers a 120Hz refresh rate Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 has a 7.6-inch inner display. The Find N2 also has a 5.5-inch AMOLED outer screen, which might feel short if you’re used to taller phones.


Sareena Dayaram/CNET

The Find N2 has a triple-lens rear camera

The Find N2 has a polished Hasselblad-branded camera module. There are three rear cameras: a 50-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel ultrawide and a 32-megapixel telephoto lens. In general, the Find N2 took impressively bright photos even in low-light environments. It was also great to have a telephoto camera capable of a 2x optical zoom, which is 1x less than the Z Fold. There is also support for 10-bit RAW and full manual control with Hasselblad interface elements.

Like its foldable rival from Samsung, the Find N2 has an amusing feature that lets you use the cover screen as a viewfinder for taking selfies with the rear camera. That’s a big deal because front-facing cameras are usually lower quality than the main cameras on the back of the phone.

FlexForm mode in action on the camera app.

 


Sareena Dayaram/CNET

Oppo’s Find N2 also has a feature called FlexForm Mode, which moves the app you’re using to the top of the screen while displaying the controls at the bottom when the phone is half open. This allows you to place the camera on a surface — say a table — and capture a subject from a top-down angle. In my case, I used it to take pictures of my dog sleeping on the floor and ended up getting some cool images from a lower angle. I wouldn’t have been able to capture that shot as easily with a regular, non-folding phone. Samsung’s foldable phones also have a similar software option called Flex Mode.

Taken using FlexForm mode.

 


Sareena Dayaram/CNET

Taken indoors with sunlight pouring through the window.

 


Sareena Dayaram/CNET

This is a tricky environment for the camera since there is bright light just behind the subject. The Christmas tree looks darker than it actually is in real life.

 


Sareena Dayaram/CNET

Zooming in past the Christmas tree, past the windows and into the outside environment.

 


Sareena Dayaram/CNET

20x zoom example.

 


Sareena Dayaram/CNET

I haven’t thoroughly tested the Find N2, but Oppo’s second foldable phone impressed me during the short time I spent with it. The Find N2 has a refreshingly compact design for a foldable, two sharp screens, dependable cameras, and fast charging. With its shorter design, the Find N2 proves it’s possible to design a phone with a tablet-sized screen that’s still portable. The squarish shape also differentiates the Find N2 from its main Android rival, the Galaxy Z Fold 4. It’s a shame the Find N2 will only be available in China — at least for now.

Oppo foldables vs. Samsung foldables

Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G Oppo Find N (China launch only) Oppo Find N 2 Galaxy Z Fold 4 5G
Display size, resolution External: 6.2-inch AMOLED (2,268×832 pixels); Internal: 7.6-inch AMOLED (2,208×1,768 pixels) External: 5.94-inch AMOLED, Internal: 7.1-inch AMOLED External: 5.54-inch AMOLED (2,120 x 1,080 pixels) 120 Hz Internal: 7.1-inch (1,792 x 1920 pixels) 120Hz Internal: 7.6-inch AMOLED (2176 x 1812 pixels) External: 6.2-inch HD+ (2,316 x 904)
Dimensions (Millimeters) Folded: 67x158x16mm (hinge) ~14.4mm (sagging); unfolded: 128x158x6.4mm Unfolded: 132.6 x 140.2 x 8.0 mm Folded: 132.2mm x 72.6mm x 14.6mm Unfolded: 132.2mm x 140.5mm x 7.4mm Folded: 67.1 mm x 155.1 mm x 15.8mm(Hinge) ~ 14.2mm(Sagging); Unfolded: 130.1 x 155.1 x 6.3mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams)  271 grams 275 grams 233 grams (black) 237 grams (green, white) 263 grams
Mobile software (at launch) Android 11 Android 11 Android 13 Android 12L
Camera 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (telephoto) 50-megapixel (main), 16-megapixel (ultra-wide), 13-megapixel (telephoto) 50-megapixel (main), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 32-megapixel (telephoto) 50-megapixel (main), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 10-megapixel (telephoto)
Front-facing camera 4-megapixel (under display), 10-megapixel (front cover) 32-megapixel (exterior), 32-megapixel (interior) 32-megapixel 4-megapixel (under display), 10-megapixel (front cover)
Video capture 4K 4K 4K 4K
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen Plus 1
Storage 256GB/512GB 256GB/512GB 256GB/ 512GB 256GB/512GB/1TB
RAM 12GB 8GB/12GB 12GB/16GB 12GB
Battery/Charger 4,400 mAh 4,500 mAh (4,500 mAh 33W SUPERVOOC 15W AIRVOOC 10W Reverse Wireless Charging) 4,520 mAh, 67W fast charger 4,400 mAh, 25W fast charger
Fingerprint sensor Side Side Side Side
Connector USB-C USB-C USB-C USB-C
Headphone jack No No No No
Special features 5G-enabled; Foldable display, 120Hz refresh rate (front cover and main display), water-resistance, S Pen support 5G, foldable display, 120Hz 5G, foldable display, lightest foldable phone (233 grams), 2x optical zoom, 20x digital zoom, splash-proof Foldable phone, 30x optical, 30x space zoom, IPX8, 25-watt fast-charging (no in-box charger)

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Here is how to prepare your online accounts for when you die

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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.

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Google’s partnership with AI startup Anthropic faces a UK competition investigation

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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.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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

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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.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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