5G smartphones won't be in short supply at Mobile World Congress 2019 next week, but Qualcomm is already announcing its second-generation 5G modem, the Snapdragon X55. Successor to the Snapdragon X50 that, along with the Snapdragon 855 chipset, is expected to be at the heart of the first round of 5G Android devices, the new modem is arguably even more important.
Groundbreaking analysis of a distant, fast-moving comet has revealed new details in how asteroids form, shedding light on the formation of unusual shapes and, potentially, paving the way for more effective protection of the Earth from meteor impacts. The asteroid, Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, is around 2.7 miles across and moving at as much as 84,000 miles per hour, but scientists have long been fascinated by its unusual shape.
A future Apple Watch could have a display that stretches around the band, with a freshly-published Apple patent suggesting the Cupertino firm has been working on flexible screens and more. Filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in September last year, the patent describes a new display module design that could liberate the Apple Watch touchscreen from the body of the wearable, and allow it to extend into the strap.
Ford has revealed the new 2019 Focus ST, the latest version of its hot hatch, but there's bad news to go along with the good. The punchy five-door hatchback drops a choice of gas or diesel turbocharged engines under the hood, for torque that could shame a new Honda Civic Type R.
LG plans to take a wait-and-see approach to foldable phones, company execs suggest, potentially sacrificing a spot in the first wave of bendable handsets as it waits to see how the market evolves. The company will instead focus on 5G - likely to be a more predictable and widespread hit with consumers - as it bides its time with more unusual form-factors, despite rivals like Samsung embracing the new technology.
Samsung is bowing out of Blu-ray in the US, with the electronics behemoth confirming that it will no longer be offering the disc-based media players. The company's last new Blu-ray players were released in 2017, with 4K Ultra HD support as well as apps for streaming services.
Motorola was early aboard the 5G train, at least with the promise of the 5G Moto Mod, and so as US networks prepare to light up coverage for subscribers it's no surprise to see the Moto Z3 add-on get the regulatory nod. Announced last year, the 5G-toting backpack for the Android smartphone is actually a lot more complicated than it first appears.
It was while going sideways on a frozen lake in the 2020 Volvo V60 Cross Country that I began to seriously question the wisdom of giving the American customer what they want. For years now, the answer to that question at car dealerships across the US has been "an SUV, please." That may be what they want, but what they actually need is something very different.
Ford has confirmed pricing and specifications of the 2020 Explorer, and while the all-new SUV is a little more expensive than its predecessor, the automaker insists you're getting a better deal overall. Unveiled in January, the new Explorer gains power and tech in its sixth generation, including a striking new dashboard design topped by an oversized touchscreen.
Electric vehicle startup Rivian has received some big-name backing, with Amazon leading a $700m investment round into the Tesla rival. The automaker came out of stealth back in November 2018, bringing not one but two visions of its electric future to the LA Auto Show, each tapping into big selling categories in the US.
A potentially groundbreaking nanomaterial sensor could revolutionize how NASA explores planets, dramatically shrinking existing technologies into a far more capable form-factor. After refinement, the 3D printed sensor could find itself equipping future NASA missions to the moon and Mars, monitoring astronauts, and on the robotic arms of robots like the ill-fated Opportunity rover.
BlackBerry is aiming to reinvent itself as a heavyweight in autonomous and connected vehicles, announcing a huge investment into its QNX platform. The expansion will see BlackBerry invest more than $310m into the new project, while the Government of Canada will inject $40m more courtesy of its Strategic Innovation Fund.