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Fairphone 4 with deGoogled Android launches in the US
Fairphone 4, which first debuted in September 2021, is finally coming to the US. It’s equipped with deGoogled Android in order to offer the best level of security and privacy to its buyers. The company partnered with Murena to launch the US pilot of the Murena Fairphone 4.
Murena Fairphone 4 runs on a privacy-oriented Android-based operating system: /e/OS. It’s available in two configurations: one with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for $599 and another with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $679.
Android without Google
/e/OS is at the core of our privacy-by-design ecosystem. Murena has removed many pieces of code that send your personal data to remote servers without your consent. It won’t scan your data or cloud space, neither tracks your location hundred times a day or collect what you’re doing with your apps.
Murena Fairphone 4
The deGoogled Murena Fairphone 4 is the first 5G privacy-conscious and sustainable phone. Like all Fairphone phones, it is built to last with its modular and repairable design. It features a removable 3905 mAh rechargeable battery. You can swap out the battery or the display on your own.
No part of Murena Fairphone 4 is glued shut, so you can choose to easily repair it yourself with a standard screwdriver. The Murena Fairphone 4 features a dual 48MP rear camera and 25MP selfie camera for great pictures and videos.
This phone is the first modular phone with an IP rating. This rating provides information about the protection of the device against the intrusion of solids (such as dust particles), and liquids, such as water. Rating IP54, your Murena Fairphone 4 is protected from dust-ingress and protected from rain.
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Samsung edges ahead of Apple in Q3 2024 smartphone market
Samsung and Apple had neck-and-neck in the Q3 2024 smartphone market reports Canalys. The market research firm recently published its analysis for the quarter ended on September 30. The data shows an alarming situation for both Samsung and Apple.
Canalys reports that both Samsung and Apple secured 18% market share in Q3 2024. Xiaomi ranked third with a 14% market share in the same period. The Chinese firm grew 1% year-over-year, similar to Apple, while Samsung declined 3%.
Researchers note that it’s the highest market share Apple achieved against the leading firm in the third quarter. The company’s flagships were released in late September, with merely 3 days of sales have been counted in during the period.
The impact of the iPhone 16 series will be seen in the current quarter. iPhone 15 and other iPhone models managed to rank Apple second in a neck-to-neck fight with Samsung. The Korean tech giant declined from 21% in 2023 to 18% in 2024.
Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 in July this year. The company’s flagship foldable phones just kept it away from getting beaten by Apple. The iPhone maker grew significantly in its unusual timeframe viz. Q3.
Xiaomi was a comfortable third place with 14% of the market. OPPO (9%) and vivo (9%) rounded out the top five. The top two positions are highly likely to be shuffled in the next report on the smartphone market in the fourth quarter of the year.
“Apple achieved its highest third-quarter volume to date and has never been closer to leading the global smartphone market in a Q3 than now,” Canalys analyst Runar Bjørhovde was quoted as saying.
Canalys Q3 2024 Global Smartphone Market Report 🚨
Neck-to-neck fight between Samsung and Apple
Samsung 18% 👑
Apple 18% 🏃♂️
Xiaomi 14% 🥉All the best Samsung for the fourth quarter 🚀#Samsung #Apple #Xiaomi #OPPO #vivo pic.twitter.com/6jltXYvbmB
— Samsung One UI Software Updates #OneUI7 #OneUI (@SamSWUpdate) October 15, 2024
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Google Play Store to add fixed header for easy app installations
Google is testing a fixed header feature in the Play Store that will make installing apps easier. This feature will keep essential app details including the app icon, name, developer, average rating, and an Install button visible while users scroll.
At the moment, app listings can be quite long, filled with important information such as reviews and safety data on Play Store. While this helps users be informed about apps, it often means the Install button is far down the page. This long listing makes it hard for users to download the app by tapping on the Install button.
With the new fixed header, the Install button will always be within reach, no matter how much you scroll. This new feature has been spotted on Google Play Store v43.1.19, thanks to AsssembleDebug (via Android Authority).
The new code shows that the header will stick to the top of the screen. This will allow users to quickly install an app or choose to install it on devices.
By keeping the Install button visible at all times, Google aims to improve user experience and help developers who are advised to create detailed app descriptions.
The fixed header feature of Google Play Store will make it simpler for users to install apps with detailed information. As the Google Play Store continues to evolve, these changes make the app experience better for everyone.
News
Samsung users stay loyal despite One UI 7.0 Beta delays
As per official confirmation from Samsung, the Android 15-based One UI 7.0 Beta program has been delayed until late 2024. I wanted to see how the Samsung Galaxy phone owners feel about this wait.
As a writer and proud Samsung Galaxy device owner, I recently conducted a poll on X (previously known as Twitter) that sparked quite a conversation among the Team Galaxy: “Can you switch to another brand just because Samsung delayed the One UI 7.0 beta program?” The results were telling — over 75% of participants voted ‘No‘, indicating a strong brand loyalty that persists even in the current situation. The poll result shows that the delay hasn’t turned away the majority of Galaxy users.
Note: The poll was small but it proved the point that the Galaxy phone users are loyal despite the delayed One UI 7.0 beta program. Check the post below.
There’s a different poll by another X user, who asked a similar question, where a bigger audience participated. It also produced the almost same result. You can check the post below.
It proves that Team Galaxy is strong and loyal to the brand. For the reader, who is not aware of the current progress, Samsung was expected to release the One UI 7.0 beta program by end of the July 2024.
However, Samsung decided to delay this beta program, without any official reason for this decision. As per discussion in the tech community and social media groups, Samsung is working on the stability and the integration of new features, which has significantly changed its update timelines this year.
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