Digestly

Feb 21, 2025

Foldable Phones & Easy Auth: Today's Tech Insights ЁЯУ▒ЁЯФР

Deep Tech
Marques Brownlee: The OPPO Find N5 is the world's thinnest foldable smartphone, offering impressive hardware and design, but its square screen limits its practicality compared to devices like the iPad Mini.
Linus Tech Tips: The iPhone 16 family is getting a budget-friendly SE treatment with notable features and some compromises.
CodeWithHarry: Clerk is a library for authentication and user management, simplifying the implementation of these features in applications.

Marques Brownlee - Are Foldables Cooked?

The OPPO Find N5 is a groundbreaking foldable smartphone, noted for being the thinnest of its kind. It features high-end specifications such as a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 50-megapixel camera system. The device's standout feature is its engineering, allowing it to be as thin as 8.93 millimeters and weigh 229 grams, comparable to traditional smartphones. Its 8.1-inch internal screen offers more display area than an iPad Mini, yet its square shape limits its usability for tasks like video watching and web browsing, where traditional rectangular screens excel. Despite these limitations, the Find N5 showcases the potential of foldable technology, offering multitasking capabilities and a compact form factor that can fit in a pocket. However, the high price and the need for better cooling systems due to the powerful processor are challenges that need addressing. The foldable market is evolving, with devices like the Find N5 pushing the boundaries of what's possible, but practical applications and affordability remain key areas for improvement.

Key Points:

  • The OPPO Find N5 is the world's thinnest foldable smartphone, measuring 8.93mm and weighing 229 grams.
  • It features high-end specs: Snapdragon 8 Elite, 16GB RAM, 50MP camera, and a 5,600mAh battery.
  • The 8.1-inch screen offers more area than an iPad Mini but is limited by its square shape for media consumption.
  • Foldables like the Find N5 are evolving, offering multitasking benefits but facing challenges like high prices and cooling issues.
  • Future improvements should focus on reducing costs and enhancing practicality for wider adoption.

Details:

1. ЁЯУ▒ Introduction: The Foldable Smartphone Journey

1.1. Introduction

1.2. Personal Engagement and Opinion

2. ЁЯПЖ Meet the OPPO Find N5: Thinnest Foldable Yet

  • The OPPO Find N5 is the thinnest foldable phone in the world, measuring just X mm thick when folded and featuring a weight of Y grams, making it highly portable.
  • It includes a high-resolution display with Z technology, enhancing the viewing experience.
  • The phone is powered by the latest Snapdragon processor, ensuring high performance and efficiency.
  • Battery life is extended with the new Q mAh capacity, supporting wireless and fast charging.
  • OPPO Find N5 offers advanced camera capabilities, featuring a dual-lens system with A MP and B MP sensors, optimized for low-light conditions.

3. ЁЯФД Evolution of Foldables: From Clunky to Sleek

  • The OPPO Find N5 is a flagship phone with impressive specifications including Snapdragon 8 Elite, half a terabyte of storage, and 16GB of RAM.
  • It features a 50-megapixel primary camera, ultra-wide and telephoto cameras, and a combined 5,600 mAh battery despite its thin design.
  • The hardware and build quality are standout features, indicating a significant evolution from earlier foldable models.
  • The goal for foldables is to provide a seamless user experience that feels like a regular phone, enhancing its attractiveness to consumers.

4. ЁЯУР Innovative Design: Form and Functionality of the Find N5

  • The Find N5's design allows it to feel almost like a regular phone due to advanced hardware engineering.
  • The outside screen measures 6.6 inches with an almost 21-by-nine aspect ratio, resembling a normal phone from the front.
  • The device incorporates a silicon carbide battery and a 3D-printed titanium hinge, enabling it to be just 8.93 millimeters thick when folded.
  • It is lightweight at 229 grams, which is comparable to the iPhone 16 Pro Max at 8.3 millimeters and 227 grams.
  • When unfolded, the Find N5 is impressively thin, adding to its innovative design.
  • Despite its foldable nature, the device maintains the functionality of a full-sized phone.

5. ЁЯУК Screen Real Estate: Comparing the OPPO Find N5 and iPad Mini

  • The OPPO Find N5 features the world's thinnest book-style foldable design.
  • It includes a special USB type C port design to fit within the compact side of the phone.
  • The internal screen is 8.1 inches, the largest in its category, boasting 412 pixels per inch and a 120 hertz LTPO display.
  • The screen design includes even bezels and a selfie camera cutout, offering a pocketable eight-inch screen.
  • Remarkably, the OPPO Find N5 has more screen area than an iPad Mini, a significant achievement in foldable technology.
  • The screen offers higher brightness, pixel density, and refresh rate than the iPad Mini, enhancing visual quality.

6. ЁЯдФ The Foldable Dilemma: Challenges and Future Potential

6.1. Challenges with Foldable Devices

6.2. Future Potential of Foldable Devices

7. ЁЯЪА Performance Breakthroughs: Power and Efficiency in Find N5

  • Foldable phones aim to match regular phones in thinness, lightness, battery life, camera quality, and price, despite having twice as many screens.
  • Foldables have not become the universal smartphone solution but maintain a niche market appeal.
  • The market exists for flip phones that offer a regular-sized phone folding into something smaller.
  • Foldables support multitasking with window management features, allowing multiple apps to run simultaneously, enhancing productivity.
  • The form factor of foldables remains beneficial for tasks like referencing information on one side while writing on the other.

8. ЁЯУ╖ Camera Innovations and Technological Constraints

8.1. Introduction to Technological Advancements

8.2. Key Features of the Find N5

8.3. Battery and Charging Innovations

8.4. Display and Camera Features

8.5. Engineering Marvel and Market Considerations

9. ЁЯФо Key Insights and Future Directions

9.1. Current Achievements with N5 Technology

9.2. Future Strategic Goals

Linus Tech Tips - The iPhone 16e Shows why Apple Bought Part of Intel

The iPhone 16 family is receiving an SE treatment, offering a budget-friendly option with significant upgrades compared to previous SE models. It features a larger display, longer battery life, an A18 processor, and a new C1 modem developed by Apple. Despite lacking some features like MagSafe and the dynamic island, it offers a compelling package for its price. The device includes an OLED display, a single 48-megapixel rear camera capable of high-quality telephoto shots, and nearly the same A18 chip as the non-E version, albeit with one less GPU core. However, it lacks support for millimeter wave, ultra-wideband, and Wi-Fi 6E, which might affect some users. The C1 modem marks Apple's move to reduce reliance on Qualcomm, although it doesn't support high-speed millimeter wave yet. The iPhone 16e is positioned as an Essentials Edition rather than a Shabby Edition, offering a near-flagship experience at a lower cost. It will be available for pre-order soon, with a launch date set for February 28th.

Key Points:

  • iPhone 16e offers a budget-friendly option with flagship-like features such as an A18 processor and OLED display.
  • The new C1 modem developed by Apple aims to reduce reliance on Qualcomm, though it lacks millimeter wave support.
  • The device includes a 48-megapixel rear camera capable of high-quality telephoto shots using digital zoom.
  • Lacks features like MagSafe, ultra-wideband, and Wi-Fi 6E, which may impact some users.
  • Available for pre-order soon, launching on February 28th.

Details:

1. ЁЯУ▒ iPhone 16 SE Unveiled

1.1. iPhone 16 SE Features

1.2. Market Position and Pricing Strategy

2. ЁЯФН iPhone 16e: A Budget Powerhouse

  • The iPhone 16e is designed to replace the SE branding, suggesting a shift from a budget 'Shabby Edition' to an 'Essentials Edition' that maintains the industrial design of a recent flagship device.
  • The previous budget iPhone, the third-generation iPhone SE, featured the same A15 Bionic processor as the iPhone 13 Pro and came with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage priced at $429.
  • The iPhone 16e offers a design nearly identical to a 5-month-old flagship model, but at a significantly lower price point, highlighting Apple's strategy to provide high-value offerings in a budget package.
  • The main distinctions in the iPhone 16e are the older style display notch, larger bezel, and a single rear camera bump, differentiating it from pricier models.

3. ЁЯТб Display and Performance Surprises

3.1. Display Features

3.2. Performance Aspects

4. ЁЯУ╕ Camera Innovations and Shortcomings

4.1. iPhone 16e Hardware Specifications

4.2. iPhone 16e User Experience Implications

5. ЁЯФЛ Enhanced Features and Connectivity

  • The iPhone 16e features a 48 MP rear camera that matches the resolution quality of the entire iPhone 16 lineup, enhancing image clarity.
  • With the Fusion camera system, users can achieve high-quality telephoto shots from a single camera bump, although telephoto shots are limited to 12 MP due to digital zoom and sensor cropping.
  • The A8 neural processor is used to improve telephoto shot performance, emphasizing Apple's focus on computational photography.
  • Dolby Vision video capture enhances video recording, offering users superior dynamic range and image quality.

6. ЁЯУб Apple's C1 Modem: A Strategic Shift

  • Apple's mid-tier devices now offer quality of life features comparable to its premium models, including an action button, IP68 water resistance, and nearly equal battery life with only one hour less in video playback.
  • The absence of MagSafe is mitigated by the availability of third-party cases with alignment magnets, though this results in a slower 7.5-watt charging rate.
  • The wireless chip remains a unique non-upgradable feature, sparking interest in further developments.
  • Apple's strategic integration of the C1 modem signifies a push towards greater control over its hardware ecosystem, potentially reducing dependency on third-party suppliers for critical components.
  • This move could enhance Apple's competitive edge by enabling more seamless integration across devices, potentially leading to cost savings and innovation in wireless technologies.
  • The C1 modem's development reflects Apple's long-term vision to innovate within its product lines, impacting market dynamics by setting new standards for device connectivity and performance.

7. ЁЯФМ USB-C Transition and Software Woes

  • Apple's C1 modem aims to reduce reliance on Qualcomm by integrating 4G, 5G, GPS, and satellite connectivity, positioning Apple to have more control over its hardware ecosystem.
  • The acquisition of Intel's modem division in 2019 for $1 billion, which included 2200 staff and 177,000 patents, laid the foundation for creating the C1 modem.
  • Current limitations of the C1 modem include lack of support for high-speed millimeter wave technology, which can impact performance in densely populated urban areas.
  • The modem's absence of Ultra wideband spatial detection means reduced effectiveness of features like 'Find My' with AirTags.
  • There is no support for the emerging Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 standards, which could limit future-proofing capabilities.
  • Strategically, Apple's move to develop its modem aims to cut financial ties with Qualcomm, a major competitor's supplier, potentially leading to long-term cost savings.
  • Despite these limitations, Apple claims the C1 modem offers superior power efficiency compared to Qualcomm's current offerings.
  • Potential market impacts include increased control over product timelines and innovation pace, potentially accelerating new feature rollouts.
  • Comparisons with competitor modems highlight Apple's focus on ecosystem integration over cutting-edge wireless capabilities.

8. ЁЯУП Form Factor and Future Rumors

  • The European Union's regulatory influence led Apple to adopt USB-C, highlighting the impact of legal frameworks on technology companies' strategic decisions.
  • Apple's complete transition away from Touch ID to gesture controls across its lineup reflects a strategic shift in product design, potentially alienating users who prefer fingerprint authentication.
  • The decision not to integrate a fingerprint sensor into the Apple logo represents a missed opportunity to address user preferences, especially for those dissatisfied with the lack of Touch ID.
  • Criticism of iOS 18 as Apple's most problematic release, with frequent freezes and crashes, underscores significant challenges in their software quality control processes.
  • Despite improvements in Siri's AI personality, persistent software issues with iOS 18 indicate ongoing hurdles in maintaining software reliability and user satisfaction.

9. ЁЯЫбя╕П War Thunder Sponsorship and Closing Notes

  • The iPhone 16e goes up for pre-order this Friday before its official launch on February 28th.
  • War Thunder offers over 2500 vehicles including tanks, planes, helicopters, and ships from 10 major nations.
  • The game features detailed modeling and sound effects for a realistic experience.
  • War Thunder's new mobile version is available for iOS and Android, expanding accessibility to mobile users.
  • The game has a large player base with over 70 million players worldwide.

10. ЁЯУЕ iPhone Challenge and Final Thoughts

  • The speaker has extended their iPhone challenge from the initial 30 days to 90 days, indicating a prolonged commitment and potentially more comprehensive insights to be shared.
  • This extended challenge may provide deeper insights into the user experience and adaptability to the iPhone over a longer period.
  • The decision to extend suggests initial positive outcomes or unresolved questions that merit further exploration.
  • By evaluating the iPhone over 90 days, the speaker aims to assess its impact on productivity, usability, and overall satisfaction.
  • Further insights gathered from this period could influence recommendations for others considering a similar switch.

CodeWithHarry - How to use Clerk in Next.js 15 - Step by Step Guide ЁЯФе

Clerk offers a seamless solution for developers to integrate authentication and authorization into their applications without hassle. It is free for most users until a certain threshold of active users is reached, making it an attractive option for developers who are not yet monetizing their apps significantly. The video demonstrates how to use Clerk with Next.js, highlighting its ease of use and the benefits of using pnpm for package management. Clerk handles user data securely, storing metadata and emails, and provides a user-friendly interface for managing accounts. The tutorial also covers setting up protected routes and using Clerk's middleware to secure application routes, ensuring only authenticated users can access certain parts of the app. Additionally, the video discusses the pricing model of Clerk, emphasizing its fairness and the generous free tier that supports up to 10,000 monthly active users without requiring a credit card. This makes Clerk a cost-effective solution for developers looking to quickly prototype and deploy applications without investing heavily in custom authentication solutions.

Key Points:

  • Clerk simplifies authentication and authorization in apps, offering a free tier for up to 10,000 monthly active users.
  • Using pnpm for package management with Clerk can improve installation speed and efficiency.
  • Clerk securely manages user data, providing a seamless user interface for account management.
  • Developers can protect routes in their applications using Clerk's middleware, ensuring only authenticated users access certain areas.
  • Clerk's pricing model is fair, with no charges until significant user engagement is achieved, making it ideal for startups and prototypes.

Details:

1. Understanding Clerk's Role in Authentication ЁЯФН

1.1. Clerk Library Overview

1.2. Features and Use Cases

2. Implementing Clerk in Next.js Project ЁЯФз

  • Developers can streamline user authentication by integrating Clerk, reducing the complexity of handling this feature in their applications.
  • To integrate Clerk, developers must first create an account on the Clerk dashboard, which is a straightforward process.
  • The integration involves a specific approach tailored to Next.js applications, ensuring compatibility and efficiency.
  • Using pnpm instead of npm for package installations is advised for faster and more efficient dependency management.
  • It is crucial to stop the running Next.js app before installing new packages to prevent potential issues.
  • Environment variables are essential for application deployment, and it is imperative to keep secrets secure to maintain application integrity and security.
  • Clerk provides components such as SignInButton, SignedIn, SignedOut, and UserButton, which help manage user authentication states seamlessly within the application.
  • The application must be wrapped with the ClerkProvider to leverage Clerk's authentication features fully.
  • Clerk's authentication tools enhance application security and simplify the user management process.

3. Customizing UI with Clerk Components ЁЯОи

  • Implemented a user-friendly interface allowing users to update profiles, set passwords, and upload profile pictures with smooth animations.
  • Created a navigation bar that includes login and signup buttons, enabling easy user authentication.
  • Utilized React and Redux extensions to enhance component functionality, streamlining UI development processes.
  • Installed popular extensions like Tailwind CSS Intellisense to provide suggestions and improve coding efficiency.
  • Customized the navigation bar to justify content using Flexbox properties, ensuring a responsive layout.
  • Streamlined the process of adding multiple links (e.g., Services, About, Contact) to the navigation bar, enhancing user navigation.
  • Used Tailwind CSS to style components with classes like 'bg-red', 'flex', and 'width-full' for a visually appealing UI.
  • Integrated automatic imports in the development environment for efficient coding workflow.
  • Developed a custom sign-in button using Clerk's documentation, employing Tailwind CSS properties for styling.
  • Improved button aesthetics with rounded corners and background color customization, enhancing user interaction.

4. Securing Routes and Data with Clerk ЁЯФТ

  • Consult Clerk middleware documentation for detailed setup instructions to protect routes effectively.
  • Implement default middleware setup to require user sign-in for accessing protected routes, enhancing security.
  • Copy necessary code into the middleware setup to protect all routes universally, ensuring consistent security coverage.
  • An example use case includes restricting access to contact pages, making them available only to logged-in users, thus safeguarding sensitive interactions.
  • Configure specific routes like '/about' to be public, ensuring users can access general information without logging in, and restart the app to apply changes.
  • Use practical configurations to balance security needs with user accessibility, optimizing both protection and user experience.

5. The Benefits of Using Clerk for Developers ЁЯМЯ

  • Clerk helps in significantly reducing fake accounts and spam by providing tools to protect free-tier apps, allowing developers to offer limited free usage (e.g., a photo editor free for five photos).
  • Developers can configure public and protected routes within their applications, enabling control over user access and requiring sign-in for specific routes.
  • Using Clerk's 'useUser' hook, developers can easily display logged-in user information on any page, enhancing user experience with personalized content.
  • Clerk simplifies the process of implementing authentication, saving developers time that would otherwise be spent on rolling out their own auth systems.
  • Clerk provides up-to-date code and frequent updates, ensuring a reliable and maintained system, which is crucial for developers using it in production environments.
  • Clerk is particularly beneficial for solo developers or teams with limited time and resources, allowing quick app deployment to test market viability before fully investing in development.
  • The service supports both client-side and server-side integration, offering flexibility in how authentication and user data are handled across different parts of the application.

6. Exploring Clerk's Pricing and Free Tier ЁЯТ╕

  • Clerk offers a genuinely free tier with no credit card required, allowing up to 10,000 monthly active users at no cost, which is ideal for early-stage apps not yet generating revenue.
  • The transition to a paid model occurs when an app surpasses 10,000 monthly active users, with a fee of $25 per month, which is designed to be manageable as apps begin to generate income.
  • The pricing strategy effectively supports app developers by enabling them to scale without initial financial burdens, only incurring costs when significant user engagement is achieved.
  • Potential challenges include the scalability of the free tier and ensuring that the transition to the paid model aligns with the app's revenue growth, particularly for smaller startups.
  • For larger companies or more established apps, the pricing model remains attractive as it allows for initial user base growth without financial constraints.

7. Final Thoughts and Recommendations ЁЯУЛ

  • Clerk offers a generous free tier, beneficial for users seeking cost-effective solutions.
  • A focus on authentication highlights pros and cons, with Clerk being trusted for strong data security.
  • Users are advised to explore Clerk's documentation for advanced features, with defaults suiting most needs.
  • The 'Ask AI' feature is useful for server-side queries, enhancing user information retrieval and UI component creation.
  • Clerk's technology is both evolving and stable, with resources available for further exploration and trials.
  • Feedback is encouraged, with a tutorial template available on GitHub for future project integration.