Samsung M8 smart monitor arrives with iMac-like design, 32-inch 4K display and more

In November 2020, Samsung launched its first "do-it-all" smart monitors in the form of M5 and M7. They have been designed to offer the functionality of a monitor and also serve as a smart TV. Expanding the range, the company has now unveiled a new M8 smart monitor that comes with a 4K display, slim form factor, range of color options, and more. Let's look at the details below.

Samsung M8 Smart Monitor: Specs and Features

The new Samsung M8 Smart Monitor looks similar to its predecessors (as well as the colorful iMac), although Samsung has reduced the bezels around the screen a lot. It's also quite thin, at just 11.4mm. This gives the monitor a sleek and modern look, and it also comes with a Height Adjustable Stand (HAS) with tilt function.

Samsung is offering the new smart monitor in a 32-inch option, featuring a UHD panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio, 60Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. It also has a 3000:1 contrast ratio and supports 1.07 billion colors. Just like its predecessors, the new M8 Smart Monitor can be used as a PC monitor or as a standalone smart TV . It supports Wi-Fi and runs Samsung's Tizen platform, allowing users to access OTT platforms such as Netflix, AppleTV+ and Prime Video without needing to connect to a PC or laptop. decoder.

Users can also use it as a standalone machine as it comes with Google Duo, a web browser, and Microsoft 365 programs. They can also use Samsung Dex to connect their smartphones to the monitor, and Samsung has also added support of AirPlay 2. Moreover, the M8 monitor can also become a hub for IoT devices as it comes with SmartThings support, as well as built-in Bixby and Alexa.

As for I/O ports and wireless support, the M8 Smart Monitor comes with a versatile USB-C port supporting up to 65W charging and data transfer a second port USB-C for accessories, a micro HDMI port, two speakers with a tweeter, Bluetooth version 4.2 and Wi-Fi 5.

Apart from these, the new smart monitor also comes with an additional Slim Fit Cam, which is a magnetic webcam that can be attached or detached from the monitor on demand. Users can easily mount the Slim Fit Cam on top of the monitor during a video conference without having to deal with pesky wires. The Fit Cam supports face tracking and auto zoom functions.

The M8 smart monitor, according to the company, won the CES Innovation Award Honoree from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) for its advanced display technologies. It comes in 4 aesthetic color options namely Daylight Blue, Spring Green, Warm White and Sunset Pink.

Price and availability

Now, coming to the price, Samsung is offering the M8 Smart Monitor at $729.99 (~Rs 55,526). However, the Warm White variant comes at a slightly cheaper price of $699.99 (~Rs 53,241) . All color variants of the M8 Smart Monitor are currently available for pre-order on Samsung's official website . Although Samsung hasn't revealed shipping dates yet.

So let us know your thoughts on Samsung's new M-series smart monitor in the comments below. And stay tuned for further updates.

Read More

Vivo X Fold confirmed for April 11 launch; Vivo Pad to follow

Numerous leaks suggest that Vivo will soon launch its very first foldable smartphone. This has now become a reality as the company announced the launch date of the Vivo X Fold, which is scheduled for April 11 in China. Here's a preview of what to expect.

Confirmed launch of Vivo's first foldable phone

It has been revealed that the Vivo X Fold will be launched in China on April 11 at 7:30 p.m. Chinese time (5:00 p.m. IST), and it will be an online event.

Vivo also shared a short teaser of the Vivo X Fold on Weibo , revealing the design of the device. The X Fold is shown to have a similar design to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold phones, meaning it will open like a book.

The company's first foldable phone is expected to bring the 'foldable screen 2.0 era', therefore, we can expect new foldable display technologies and features. The phone's cameras will also be backed by ZEISS, so we can expect good camera performance as well.

Further details are unknown at this time, but we have a slew of rumors with us. It is speculated that the Vivo X Fold will have an 8-inch display with UTG glass and support for a 120Hz refresh rate. It is likely to be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and could be backed by a 4,600mAh battery supporting 80W fast charging and 50W wireless fast charging. We can expect it to run Android 12.

The launch of Vivo Pad is also planned

In addition to this, Vivo is also expected to launch its first tablet called Vivo Pad. The company has already confirmed its existence and showcased its images, which show off a sleek tablet with a different rear camera bump and stylus support . The tablet is likely to be powered by a Snapdragon 870 SoC, 44W fast charging, 120Hz LCD, and more.

Along with Vivo's first foldable and tablet products, it is also expected to showcase the Vivo X Note and Vivo X80 series at the event next month. These devices are likely to fall into the premium segment and come with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile platform. However, confirmed details are not available at the time of writing.

Read More

iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max diagrams show larger camera bump; 48MP lens flipped again!

As Apple prepares to release its highly anticipated iPhone 14 series later this year, rumors have been pouring in. Earlier, analyst Jeff Pu reported that the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max might be the first iPhone models to feature a 48MP primary lens. Now, commenting on the recently leaked schematics, reputable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the biggest camera bump of the iPhone 14 Pro models is due to the 48MP sensor on the back. Let's take a look at the details.

iPhone 14 Pro/ 14 Pro Max to benefit from a bigger camera bump

If you've been following the latest developments regarding the iPhone 14 series, you might know that tipster Max Weinbach recently shared schematics of the iPhone 14 models, which show the punch-hole "hole + pill" display on the front. and larger camera bumps on the back .

Commenting on these diagrams, Kuo took to Twitter to point out that the larger camera bump is a result of the larger 48MP sensor on the rear. Kuo noted that the 48MP image sensor will increase the diagonal length by 25-35%, and the 7P lens height of the 48MP sensor will increase by 5-10%. You can check out the tweet just below.

The main reason for the 14 Pro/Pro Max's larger and more prominent rear camera bump is the wide camera upgrade to 48MP (up from the 13 Pro/Pro Max's 12MP). The diagonal length of the 48MP CIS will increase by 25-35%, and the 7P lens height of the 48MP will increase by 5-10%. https://t.co/lrwgmnLNce — 郭錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) March 27, 2022

Currently, Apple uses the same old 12MP sensor for the primary lens in its iPhone models. The height of the camera bump on the current iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max is 3.60mm, according to Apple's Guidelines for Accessory Manufacturers . However, according to the latest schematics, the rear camera bump of the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max would be 4.17mm in height which is a significant increase.

Apart from these, the upcoming iPhone 14 series is expected to bring major improvements to the RAM and display department. However, according to Ming-Chi Kuo's report, Apple will only offer its new A16 Bionic chip with the high-end iPhone 14 models. The standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max will feature the current A15 Bionic chipset. So what do you think of the iPhone 14 series? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for further updates.

Read More

Shottr is the ultimate screenshot app for macOS users; Here's why!

If you're a blogger, writer, or tech journalist like us here at Beebom, I'm sure you know the importance of quality screenshots in your life. While taking a screenshot on Windows or Mac computers is as easy as pressing a few keys simultaneously, the default screenshot tools on these platforms often offer very limited functionality. Therefore, many of us use third-party screenshot tools to achieve additional functionality such as scrolling screenshots, markup, or text recognition. While there are plenty of options, macOS has a new alternative in the form of Shottr, which offers a variety of features for taking screenshots.

Shottr – The ultimate screenshot tool for macOS

First and foremost, Shottr is a compact and fast screenshot tool for macOS which has been optimized for Apple's M1 chipsets to provide a fast and easy screenshot experience for users. It only takes around 17ms to capture a screenshot and around 165ms to display the results . For reference, the moment the default macOS screenshot tool preview box appears on the screen, you will be able to save a Shottr screenshot to your desktop.

Moreover, Shottr comes with many useful features for designers, UI developers, and pixel professionals. You can take screenshots with auto-scroll, recognize texts, remove objects and texts , and annotate screenshots with signs and symbols. The tool can also be used as a screen ruler to measure the distance in pixels between two objects. Moreover, it also offers precise quick zoom capabilities and allows users to make pixel-perfect adjustments.

• 

• 

Shottr's creator, Max K, describes his screenshot tool as "a small, human-sized screenshot app designed for those who care about pixels. Max developed the app using Swift. And one of the main strengths of Shottr is that it is completely free to use . There are no one-time payments or subscription plans at this time, which makes Shottr an ultimate screenshot tool for Mac users.

The app comes as a 1.5MB package and is available for download from its official website . Check out the official video below to watch Shottr in action. Also, if you end up using Shottr on your Mac, be sure to let us know your experience in the comments below.

Read More

Krafton partners with Solana Labs to develop blockchain-based games and services

After partnering with metaverse company Naver Z to create its own NFT-based metaverse platform earlier this year, Krafton has now announced the development of “NFT and blockchain-based games and services” with the help of blockchain company Solana Labs. The company behind ultra-popular games like PUBG, BGMI, and PUBG: New State, has now signed a commercial agreement with Solana Labs to develop future products for the Metaverse era.

Krafton partners with Solana Labs for blockchain-based games

Krafton recently shared an official blog post to announce the partnership with Solana Labs. The company claims that the latter will support the development and marketing of blockchain-based games and services using its decentralized blockchain.

Solana Labs, for those unaware, is one of Ethereum's fiercest competitors that offers blockchain with fast transaction speeds at low cost. Thus, the company will help Krafton develop its next-generation products for the Metaverse and strengthen its position in the market.

“As one of the best high-performance blockchains in the world, with high power and low fees, Solana represents the best of the Web 3.0 ecosystem and its technologies. Through this cooperation, KRAFTON will gain the knowledge to accelerate its investment and production of blockchain-based experiences,” Krafton Web 3.0 Roundtable Senior Manager Hyungchul Park said in a statement.

Now, the primary goal of this partnership, according to The Verge , is to increase Krafton's market share, amid its falling stock price . According to reports, the company's share price saw a drastic drop in 2022 as it faced stiff competition from Chinese rivals like Tencent.

For this, the company even made its popular title PUBG free last year. And with the latest partnership with Solana Labs, the Korean giant is now aiming to strengthen its position in the market by developing “play-to-earn” titles with blockchain technology .

At present, it is unclear whether Krafton will integrate blockchain technology into its existing titles to make them ready for the metaverse. However, even if this is the case, it will take some time for blockchain-based games and services to make their way into the commercial market. We suggest you stay tuned for more updates on Krafton's blockchain efforts. Also, let us know your thoughts on Krafton's partnership with Solana Labs in the comments below.

Read More