UK-based Nothing Technology has unveiled its latest smartphone – and it looks familiar.
The Nothing (2) smartphone is the company's second mobile device and is the latest determined to challenge top-tier mobiles, famously described as “flagship killers”, particularly those from market leaders Apple and Samsung Electronics.
Nothing Technology started in 2020. Its founder, Carl Pei, is the co-founder of one of the most popular devices to be given the flagship killer tag – the OnePlus.
The company's most notable investors include Steve Huffman, co-founder and chief executive of Reddit, Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin and Tony Fadell, who played a major role in developing Apple's iPod.
The latest version of the device comes almost exactly a year after the original Nothing (1) smartphone was released, also with a good amount of fanfare.
Nothing aims to deliver “top-notch features while encouraging a more intentional smartphone usage through hardware and software design innovation”, Mr Pei, who is also the company's chief executive, said on Wednesday.
Why the comparison with the iPhone?
Simple enough: the Nothing (2) phone bears a striking similarity to the latest iPhones, as both have flat edges and curved corners.
It also has a 17cm screen, at par with the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max, and also supports an always-on display, similar to the iPhone 14 Pro models.
However, there is one distinguishing feature: the Nothing (2) has a see-through rear, which lets you see the screws and how its internal components are linked up.
What's with all the lights?
The back of the phone also has flashing LEDs – glyphs, as the smartphone maker calls it – which light up to signal various actions including when there are incoming notifications, when the alarm sounds, when a video is being recorded or even when tracking a ride or delivery services.
The ability to customise how those lights flash is also an improvement over its predecessor.
What are Nothing (2)'s specs?
The Nothing (2) is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which is the same chip found in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 and Flip4, and other big-time sounding devices, including a bunch of “ultra” devices, including the OnePlus 10T Ultra, Motorola Edge 30 Ultra and Xiaomi 12s Ultra, as well as the Realme GT 2 Pro Master Edition.
It is not the latest – the Gen 2 version is the present version – but it is powerful enough.
Its storage/RAM options come in 128GB/8GB, 256GB/12GB and 512GB/12GB, while colour options are white and dark grey.
Meanwhile, it has a dual-lens camera system, with both coming with 50 mega-pixel sensors.
The company promises that it will be able to process images 4,000 times – using advanced algorithms – more than the original Nothing phone, for “incredible levels of accuracy”.
Its video supports 4K resolution. The single-lens front camera uses a 32MP sensor.
In short, the device has a spec sheet ready to give its target competition a good run for its money – at least on paper.
How much does it cost?
Nothing has priced its latest smartphone at $599, rising to $699 and $799 with the storage/RAM options, which seemingly looks like a good deal given its specs.
For comparison, the entry-level iPhone 14 will set you back at $799. Also, the iPhone 13 or iPhone 12 devices, which are still available on Apple's website, start at $599. The Samsung Galaxy S23 also starts at $799.
When will it be available?
The Nothing (2) was revealed on Tuesday, and is already available in the US. Launch dates for different countries vary but the phone will be available for purchase in the next few days, according to the company.
In the GCC, pre-orders will run from July 16 to July 20. A “Launch Edition” will be available on July 15 in select locations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The device will hit the stores starting July 21.
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%3Cp%3EThe%20influx%20of%20talented%20young%20Afghan%20players%20to%20UAE%20cricket%20could%20have%20a%20big%20impact%20on%20the%20fortunes%20of%20both%20countries.%20Here%20are%20three%20Emirates-based%20players%20to%20watch%20out%20for.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EHassan%20Khan%20Eisakhil%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMohammed%20Nabi%20is%20still%20proving%20his%20worth%20at%20the%20top%20level%20but%20there%20is%20another%20reason%20he%20is%20raging%20against%20the%20idea%20of%20retirement.%20If%20the%20allrounder%20hangs%20on%20a%20little%20bit%20longer%2C%20he%20might%20be%20able%20to%20play%20in%20the%20same%20team%20as%20his%20son%2C%20Hassan%20Khan.%20The%20family%20live%20in%20Ajman%20and%20train%20in%20Sharjah.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMasood%20Gurbaz%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20opening%20batter%2C%20who%20trains%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Academy%2C%20is%20another%20player%20who%20is%20a%20part%20of%20a%20famous%20family.%20His%20brother%2C%20Rahmanullah%2C%20was%20an%20IPL%20winner%20with%20Kolkata%20Knight%20Riders%2C%20and%20opens%20the%20batting%20with%20distinction%20for%20Afghanistan.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOmid%20Rahman%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20fast%20bowler%20became%20a%20pioneer%20earlier%20this%20year%20when%20he%20became%20the%20first%20Afghan%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE.%20He%20showed%20great%20promise%20in%20doing%20so%2C%20too%2C%20playing%20a%20key%20role%20in%20the%20senior%20team%E2%80%99s%20qualification%20for%20the%20Asia%20Cup%20in%20Muscat%20recently.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
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Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
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Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta
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Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)
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Price, base: Dh315,000
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WHAT IS GRAPHENE?
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
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Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
