The Mi 11 is Xiaomi’s inaugural global flagship for this year and it’s a phone for a “new generation of movie lovers,” whatever that means. It has a 6.5-inch OLED display, and houses Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon 888 chipset, and with a 120 Hz display that features a peak brightness of 1,500 nits, it might just be the brightest phone available yet.
I spent a couple of days with the Mi 11 ahead of its global launch on Monday, and can say it delivered a solid all-round experience packed in a sleek device with premium build quality. From the bright display, long-lasting battery life, dependable cameras, zippy processor to its exceptional speaker system, this is Xiaomi’s latest tour de force. The Mi 11 is missing an IP rating for water- and dust-resistance, however Xiaomi says the device is splash-proof just like its predecessor.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
Of course we still have to wait for Xiaomi to reveal pricing, which hasn’t been disclosed as of this writing, before we can understand the complete package and write a review. This is the international version of a phone released in China a couple of months ago, where it fetched 3,999 yuan which converts to approximately $610, £440 or AU$790. But note that Xiaomi tends to bump up its prices for Western markets.
Xiaomi has no current plans to bring the Mi 11 stateside, and this is unlikely to change any time soon considering its ongoing legal tussle with the US government. As of this writing, Xiaomi revealed only a single device as part of the Mi 11 series, but I expect at least one more model in the form of Mi 11 Pro based on the company’s past launches. Last year, Xiaomi debuted the Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10 Ultra.
Xiaomi’s Mi 11
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
Plenty of bundled accessories
When Xiaomi launched the Mi 11 in China, it followed Apple and Samsung’s example and didn’t include a wall adapter. It’s putting its best foot forward for international markets, though, and this global version comes with a 55-watt wired charger, a USB-C adapter and one case, though the media kit I received contained two.
Take that, Apple (and Samsung).
Xiaomi’s Mi 11 comes with a 55W charger.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
Xiaomi also took an opportunity to make what I think is a thinly veiled jab against Huawei, which was famously banned from usingGoogle apps including Gmail and Google following US sanctions levelled by the Trump administration. On the side panel of the box, you’ll see, “with easy access to the Google apps you use most” inscribed.
The Mi 11 features a 120Hz display.
What Xiaomi changed in the Mi 11
The Mi is Xiaomi’s main flagship line, as opposed to its budget Redmi and Poco sub-brands. Last year’s phone, the Mi 10, also served up many top-shelf specs like a smooth display and fast charging, but here’s what the Mi 11 changes.
Three cameras on the rear — as opposed to four in the Mi 10 — and a reshuffled rear camera module.
Bumped up wireless charging support to 50W compared to 30W in the Mi 10 line.
Improved display: Higher resolution and speedier refresh rate.
Codeveloped speaker system with Harmon and Kardon.
Faster processor.
Lighter than the Mi 10.
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For more details on what Xiaomi changed, scroll down to CNET’s specs chart below.
The Mi 11’s 3 rear cameras
The Mi 11 boasts a revamped camera bump taking the form of a “squircle” and a reshuffled camera array consisting of three rear lenses: a 108-megapixel wide-angle camera, a 13-megapixel ultrawide-angle camera and a 5-megapixel telemacro lens, which is the equivalent of a 55mm lens. Xiaomi ditched the macro and depth lenses seen in the Mi 10 in favor of what Xiaomi calls a “telemacro” lens in the Mi 11. Keep in mind that that absence of a telephoto lens in the Mi 11 means that all zoom is digital.
Flip the phone around, and you’ll see a barely there notch on the upper left of the display that houses a 20-megapixel selfie camera. Take a look at the pictures below to see the cameras in action.
The Mi 11’s ultrawide-angle camera with a 123 degree field of view is useful for taking landscape photos.
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Taken in bright lighting conditions using main camera.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
This was taken indoors but with sunlight pouring in through the windows.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
Taken with the ultra-wide camera. Scroll down to see the level of detail the macro lens captures.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
Taken on default settings.
Screenshot by Sareena Dayaram/CNET
Taken using the telemacro lens on Super Macro mode.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
Example of 30x zoom.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
Taken with the Mi 11’s 20-megapixel front-facing camera.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
The Mi 11 runs on Snapdragon 888
Under the hood, the Mi 11 carries Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon 888 chipset backed by 8GB RAM and 128GB or 256 GB of storage, making it a bona fide powerhouse. You probably won’t notice an immediate difference from a Snapdragon 865 processor, which is already blazing fast, but Qualcomm promises 25% to 35% better CPU and GPU performance with the 888.
The Mi 11’s 108-megapixel main shooter is accompanied by an ultra-wide and “telemacro” lens.
Sareena Dayaram/CNET
The Mi 11’s flagship-level display and solid batteries
The Mi 11 boasts a stunning waterfall screen complete with an 6.5-inch OLED panel that’s exceptionally bright and clear whatever the lighting conditions. With a peak brightness of 1500 nits, the Mi 11 might just be the brightest phone available yet. In addition, the Mi 11 has wide quad HD plus resolution (3,200×1,440 pixels) and 120Hz refresh rates, which can be used together or dialed back a notch if you’re trying to preserve battery life. Most phones have refresh rates of 60Hz, which means the screen refreshes 60 times in a second. 120Hz displays can look a lot smoother when scrolling though webpages by comparison. There’s also an in-screen fingerprint reader, which Xiaomi says doubles up as a heart-rate sensor.
The battery lasted me about a day and half with mild use. That means I made a few calls, sent some emails, watched a couple of YouTube videos and browsed the internet. Even when you eventually run out of juice, refilling the Mi 11’s 4,600-mAh battery is relatively quick work thanks, in part, to that 55-watt wired charger I mentioned earlier. Based on my tests, 15 to 20 minutes of time was sufficient to recharge the battery by 50% to 60%. Within 50 minutes, the battery had been completely revitalized. Safe to say that battery anxiety will be a thing of the past when you’re using the Mi 11. Keep in mind, the Mi 11 also supports 50W of wireless and reverse-wireless charging.
Mi 11’s loud and crisp speakers
One of the features that stood out in last year’s Mi 10 Pro was a pleasantly loud and crisp speaker system complete with one speaker on each end of the phones. This year Xiaomi says it has levelled up its speaker game by refining its audio experience together with Harman Kardon, a decades-old audio equipment manufacturing company. I’m no audiophile, but I was impressed by the audio quality on the Mi 11 even if it isn’t the loudest set of mobile speakers out there. Still, the speakers were loud enough, and audio remained crisp even when I cranked the volume all the way up. Plus it has a tight bass to boot.
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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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.
