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TECH FEATURE

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Google's awesome AI

A rtificial Intelligence is revolutionising technology, including working behind the scenes to enhance the performance and functionality of smartphones. Functions like speech recognition, voice assistants, biometrics (fingerprint sensors and facial recognition), enhanced camera performance, image quality and editing, and the multilingual marvel of real time translation for chat and text are all AI-driven. Google Pixel smartphones also use this clever tech to screen calls from unknown numbers. When the Call Screen function is enabled, Google Assistant will take the incoming call for you, ask for the caller’s ID, and then send the info as a text message so you can decide whether or not you want to answer it. You can set and filter which types of calls

The Google Pixel can provide the answer using an AI-based music ID feature called Now Playing, which automatically identifies songs/music playing in the vicinity of the phone and keeps a history of identified tracks for later reference. The Pixel’s AI also controls popular camera tools like Face Unblur, Real Tone for adjusting colour balance for a more authentic image, and Magic Eraser to scrub out unwanted objects.

What is Qi wireless charging? Qi (pronounced ‘chee’)

is a Chinese word meaning ‘breath’ or ‘energy’. It’s also the name of the wireless charging standard adopted by the big smartphone manufacturers, and phones that support the standard carry a Qi certification logo. Qi works by transferring power from a charging pad to a device using electromagnetic induction, unlike standard wireless charging that transmits power using radio waves. It’s more energy efficient Qi wireless charging is also better for your phone in that it reduces wear and tear caused by the constant plugging in and unplugging of cables (and the need to regularly dig pocket lint out of the phone’s charging port). Simply place your phone on the charging pad and let it power up! Qi2 is tipped to launch later in 2023 and is expected to incorporate Magnetic Power Profile to better align the device with the charging pad, providing consistent power transfer and faster charging speeds. and offers a safer alternative to wired charging by using advanced temperature control, and can even make the battery last longer.

are to be screened and/or declined. Hold for Me is another helpful AI feature of the Google Pixel. Rather than enduring an interminable wait time when put on hold, Google Assistant will listen to awful Muzak as you slowly advance in the queue, and then notify you when a human finally answers the call. Bugged by a song or piece of music that you recognise but can’t remember the name?

Housing the ‘dragon The new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor is the premium chipset for 2023’s top Android smartphones, bringing greater AI performance for gaming, language translation, and camera image processing to recognise and optimise aspects within a frame like faces, hair, clothes, and backgrounds. It’s also the first and only mobile platform with a dedicated 5G AI processor for faster connectivity, and supports Wi-Fi 7 too.

DIY repairs

Smartphones suffer numerous knocks and drops throughout their lifetime, and if a damaged phone can be salvaged, repairs can often be costly. The good news is that Nokia, in collaboration with iFixit, is offering a sustainable alternative with a repairable phone – the new Nokia G42. From cracked screens and bent charging ports to old batteries, the G42 can be repaired at home using step-by-step guides, simple tools, and affordable replacement parts or all-in-one fix kits from iFixit. With a Nokia G42 phone, you can not only prolong its life, but also reduce e-waste.

26 SEPTEMBER 2023

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