Samsung is working on another foldable smartdevice?

A report by tech leaks and rumors site LetsGoDigital reveals that Samsung is working on another foldable smartdevice model.

The revelation is based on a recent patent application by the Korean smartdevice manufacturer and comes after the brand posted a video showing the folding dynamics of its first foldable smartphone model, the “Galaxy Fold”.

Based on the patent application, the device appears to be more of a tablet than a smartphone, one which has two fold out screens on its sides.

Industry experts are convinced that the unit, should it actually see mass production, won’t come with a physical charging port but will run on wireless charging tech. This hypothesis is based on Samsung’s reputation for being detailed with its patent application, which, in the case of this new foldable device, doesn’t show contacts for charging.

The brand made waves in February this year in unveiling the foldable “Galaxy Fold” smartphone-tablet hybrid device. Expected to be available in overseas markets within the second quarter of the year, the rumored development of another Samsung foldable crops up before the “Galaxy Fold’s” official retail availability.

Though the filing of a patent doesn’t automatically mean that Samsung will be rolling out the device, its revelation got techies and tech pundits talking.

Google launches advisory council on AI and technology ethics

Concerns pertaining to racial bias that stem from software automation are among the topics covered by a recently launched global advisory council on artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.

Spearheaded by Google, the council’s launch last week reveals that it aims to provide recommendations on the development and implementation of AI-anchored tech – to aid researchers and companies that utilize tech like facial recognition better address issues and concerns that arise from their utilization and deployment.

Composed of professionals in the technology and digital ethics field, the council is expected to publish a report by the end of the year. Its roster of members includes members of the academe, chief executives of startup firms, and a former US deputy secretary of state, among others.

Canon’s “Ivy Cliq” and “Cliq+”

Japanese camera brand Canon recently made waves in announcing a new class of imaging device for the brand – camera models that come with a built-in printer.

Dubbed “Ivy Cliq” and “Cliq+”, the models are essentially Canon’s answer to Fujifilm’s hit “Instax” line.

Both models can print 2 x 2 or 3 x 3 printouts, are designed with an optical viewfinder and come with provisions for wireless connections to smartphones/tablets for image enhancements like overlaying frames or text prior to printing out images.

The ‘higher-end’ “Cliq+” comes with an 8-megapixel sensor camera, while its ‘entry level’ counterpart the “Ivy Cliq” comes with a 5-megapixel sensor camera.

Reactions over the models’ unveiling have largely been mixed, mostly owing to the type of paper they are designed to work with – Zinc paper.

Developed by Polaroid, Zinc paper is a type of paper that utilizes heat to impress images with dyes that’re integrated to the paper itself.

Since the paper tends to be costly, many have labelled the “Ivy Cliq” and “Cliq+” as reasonably priced cameras that are costly to use. More information on the models are hosted on Canon’s official online channels.