Light Start: Huawei P50 launch confirmed, iPhone 13 will be always-on, Ford’s petrol fragrance and Razer’s Sneki lockdown look

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Huawei’s next flagship, the P50 will launch this month

Thanks to the highly destructive US trade ban, Chinese smartphone maker Huawei has seen a major decline in smartphone sales. This is despite its regular launch schedule. But a smartphone sans Google? Many aren’t convinced, but maybe Huawei’s latest flagship will change their minds. 

Huawei has finally announced an official launch date for the smartphone range that we’d already seen in part in June of this year. The company announced that we’ll see the device in all its glory come 29 July — that’s next week. The date was announced at a product conference streamed on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. Group CEO Richard Yu confirmed that the world will see the unveiling of the P50 series smartphones at the event. Yu hints at something called “new mobile imaging technology”, which may indicate new camera tech. It’s to be expected, as Huawei’s pioneered more than a few camera innovations on mobile phones in the past few years. 

The incoming devices will feature the biggest-ever-seen camera sensors (at least in our market). But other than that, there really hasn’t been much in terms of spec information. Let’s patiently wait for 29 July to see what the company has in store. 

Source: Android Authority[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

The iPhone 13 may mimic an Apple Watch feature

The iPhone 13 rumours are continuing. The previous two Light Starts featured iPhone 13 rumours, so it’s time for a third. Apple incoming smartphone may feature an always-on display, in addition to its 120Hz capability, increased wireless charging capacity and a big camera upgrade. 

According to multiple sources, the iPhone 13 will see a big screen upgrade which includes a feature first seen on its wearables. An always-on display is coming to the smartphone series, which means you’ll be able to peek at your phone for an overview of what’s going on. As we’ve seen on the Apple Watch, this will definitely affect battery life, which is likely why the company is putting more effort into the device’s wireless charging coil. iPhones have historically been battery-challenged compared to Android devices. Hopefully, the company addresses the weak battery life this time around. Apple’s reportedly working to decrease its effect on battery life, Engadget explains that, “… Apple would use an LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) panel that… could drop to extremely low refresh rates to offer persistent information without a large hit to battery life.”

While not the biggest upgrade, it\’s a feature some users would like to see. Of course, users should have the option to turn the feature off in the case of low battery, or when they’re in focus mode. 

Source: Engadget[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Ford releases a petrol-inspired fragrance called Mach-Eau

Because the world isn’t twisted enough, US-based car manufacturer Ford has released its very own fragrance. It’s inspired by the new trend towards replacing fossil fuels with more sustainable options, including the rollout of more electric-powered vehicles like the company’s Mustang Mach-E. But you know what I’ll miss? That fresh smell of petrol when I start my VW Buggy in the morning, of course! At least, that’s Ford’s thinking around this scent. 

Ford’s new ‘premium fragrance’ is inspired by gasoline and is called “Mach-Eau.” It was born out of the need for… more perfume that smells terrible, we reckon? Ford Europe did some research and asked drivers what they’ll miss most when switching to electric. They found that 1 in 5 (yep, 20%) of drivers will miss the smell of petrol when they make the green move. Even wilder, “… Mach-Eau isn’t for sale, but Ford’s offered a pretty vivid description for anyone who didn’t get to smell the fragrance when it debuted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed,” according to The Verge. In addition, the fragrance “…contains notes reminiscent of almondy benzaldehyde, a smell associated with car interiors, and para-Cresol, which provides the rubber smell of tires. Those were further blended with blue ginger, lavender, geranium, and sandalwood for additional smoky, metallic, and rubbery notes.”

We’re saddened by the fact that these won’t actually make it to market, because we’d like to find out which of our friends are true ‘car guys’, or ‘car girls’. 

Source: The Verge[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

These Razer-made Sneki Snek slippers are what we need to complete our lockdown look

We can only guess that sales of slippers have skyrocketed since worldwide lockdowns were initiated. Obviously, gaming companies need to capitalise on that, right? PC hardware and peripheral maker Razer has developed the most adorable slippers based on its Sneki Snek mascot. 

They’re priced at a whopping $50 (just over R700 at the time of writing), which is… insane for a pair of slippers. But if you’re a super-fan, you’ll grab these ultra-comfortable looking slippers for access to features like slip-resistant soles, a plush inner lining and bragging rights. They’re also made from recycled materials, so you won’t really impact the environment when acquiring them. “The company claims each purchase will help save 10 trees in countries like Costa Rica, Madagascar and China. Razer hopes to help save 1 million trees eventually. With each 100,000 milestone, the company has released a new Sneki Snek product,” Engadget reports. 

If you want your feet warm this winter (in the Southern hemisphere obvs), these will have you looking like a real (comfortable) gamer real quick. 

Source: Engadget[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]