In the second episode in a three-part special of BBC News technology series TechXplore set in Paris, presenter Paul Carter continues his tech journey at the Paris Games, this time exploring how the events in Paris are being experienced by the global audience.In the episode titled The Global Experience, Paul goes behind-the-scenes at the high-tech international broadcast centre and finds out how AI and the Cloud are transforming the global broadcasting experience of the 2024 games.
Paul then visits the Olympic Timekeeping Laboratory in Switzerland to see how AI is being introduced into the judging of key Paris events; joins an Olympian swimmer in the pool to test out the latest smart googles; tests his skills at an AI Talent Scouting Lab that is looking to find the Olympians of the future; and joins a team looking at footage from the Paris games of 1924 which is now being digitally re-coloured using AI to celebrate some Olympic glories from the past.
TechXplore Paris: The Global Experienceairs on BBC News on Saturday 10th August at 01:30 and 07:30 and Sunday 11th August at 14:30 and 21:30. All times GMT.
The BBC have today announced extensive content from Paris during the Olympic Games for international audiences (ex-UK). The BBC is bringing people together so they can watch, listen to and read the latest from Paris, with comprehensive international coverage across its digital, TV, audio and newsletter platforms, and special content across the BBC News channel, BBC.com/Sport, newsletters, podcasts and features.
BBC Sport
Throughout the games BBC.com/Sport will have a dedicated “Paris 2024” sub-section which will cover the latest news from the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will feature live text commentaries with the latest medal winners, expert analysis and user interaction; in-depth reporting on key athletes, major medal events, the host city and newsworthy events around Paris. There will also be regular star name columns from some high-profile former Olympians and Paralympians including Michael Johnson and Steve Cram. As well as live medal tables, schedules of events with results and stats, a day-by-day guide, as well as interactive content including a daily Olympic quiz and audience voting.
TechXplore
The BBC News channel’s technology and travel programmeTechXplorewill be airing three very special episodes before and during the games,exploring how cutting-edge technology and innovations are influencing how athletes train and compete, and also how the games are broadcast and experienced by viewers around the world.
In the first episode ‘Countdown to the Games’ (TX July 20th weekend), BBC tech journalist and huge Olympic and Paralympic fan, Paul Carter goes behind-the-scenes to see how technology underpins so much of the Olympics and Paralympics – from the events themselves to the way ‘digital twins’ of most of the key venues have been created in the virtual world. These simulations allow organisers, broadcasters and athletes to see precisely how these arenas will operate before they are even built, reducing the number of site visits needed to Paris. TechXplore also gets a sneak peek at the tools developed to streamline the Olympic experience for fans and athletes including the private 5G networks installed to help capture the opening ceremony and sailing events.
In episode two ‘The Global Experience’ (TX August 10th weekend) Carter continues his tech journey looking next at how the events taking place in the summer games in Paris will be experienced by a global audience. With AI and the Cloud transforming the global experience of the Paris games, this will be the first ever games not to use satellites as a key component in the broadcast infrastructure, instead all footage will be transferred via huge data centres in Frankfurt to broadcasters around the world, making the Paris Games far more sustainable than previous competitions.
The third episode ‘Breaking Barriers’ (TX August 17th weekend), airing in between the Olympics and Paralympics, sees Carter head to join the crowds in Paris to capture and join in with their experiences during some of the exciting highs and lows of the Olympic action. This is an opportunity for Paul to witness for himself some of the Paris atmosphere and to test the technology transforming the fan experience, including maps which are designed to help visually impaired people navigate the city and its venues.
Paul Carter, host of TechXplore Paris said: “As a lifelong fan of the Olympics and Paralympics, it’s been a privilege to see up-close how Paris will depend on technology like never before. From athletes to venues to broadcasters, tech will play a key role in making these Games a success and it’s been a real joy discovering what’s happening behind the scenes and I can’t wait for people to see it.”
TechXplore Paris ‘Countdown to the Games’ airs on BBC News on Saturday 20th July at 01:30 and 07:30 and Sunday 21st July at 14:30 and 21:30 (all times GMT).
BBC News Channel
There is a lot more Olympic related content across the BBC News Channel too, with a number of its flagship programmes including Influential with Katty Kay, The Travel Show and Talking Movies, as well as other special programming, all sharing a theme of celebration of the upcoming games.
The second season of the popular interview series Influential with Katty Kay, features four episodes with sporting legends in basketball legend Magic Johnson, alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn, track and field star Jackie Joyner-Kersee and 2-time Olympic gold medal gymnast Aly Raisman.
There will also be a repeat of the Paris special of The Travel Show titled ‘Paris: Beyond 2024’ (airing Saturday 20th July) which aired earlier this year, in which former Paralympian Steve Brown visited Paris to find out how the games are transforming the city.
Pedal to Paris will see UK celebrities traveling by bike from London to Paris and discuss issues of pollution, sustainability in sport, and beating the heat. Content will be featured across digital as well as on the BBC News Channel.
Film programme Talking Movies have also produced a special French Cinema Classics episode (repeating in August) , celebrating one of the most successful film industries in Europe.
Alongside all this special content, BBC News channel’s regular sports update Sportsday will have a reporter on location in Paris to capture the Olympic atmosphere and excitement providing updates on the games plus interviews with athletes and commentators. The programme airs at 23:45 (GMT) with overnight repeats.
Audio
In podcasts from BBC World Service English, Comedian Eliza Skinner and BBC Athletics Commentator Ed Harry interview remarkable athletes about the journeys they took to the Olympics and Paralympics in On the Podium. Presenter Rana Rahimpour takes a deep dive into the complicated relationship between Iran and its heroeswith the deeply personalAmazing Sports Stories: Legend of Takhti whichtells the story of the extraordinary Gholamreza Takhti, the multiple gold Olympic medal-winner, who in January 1968, was found dead in a Tehran hotel room.
BBC World Service English, will also host Olympics news and updates from Paris in special editions of Sportsworldand Sport Today, presented by Lee James, with on-site reporters, Ed Harry and Ade Adedoyin. Isaac Fanin will have reports and interviews on Newsday, while Sportshour, presented by Caroline Barker, will provide the human-interest stories behind the medals.
There are also a number of Olympic related audio documentaries across BBC World Service English throughout July and August including:
The Next Paralympians(TX: Saturday 24th Aug) presented by Dan Pepper, a British ex-Paralympic swimmer who has a learning disability, tells the story of pioneering athletes who are the first to represent their country at the Paralympics in the intellectual disability classification.
In Courting Success – A Journey to Paris 2024(TX: Thurs 29th August)we hear about the life and career of wheelchair tennis champion Kgothatso Montjane, who has powerful feelings regarding diversity, equity and inclusion in sport and was the first black South African woman to compete at Wimbledon.
The gay activists who won an Olympic-sized battle(TX: Thurs 25th July) tells the inspiring story of a small campaign group who forced a change after the legislators in Cobb County Atlanta, a venue for the volleyball competition at the 1996 Olympics, passed a resolution in 1993 stating that “lifestyles advocated by the gay community are incompatible with the standards to which this community describes”.
In India’s Wrestling School for Girls(TX: Thurs 25th July) BBC Journalist Divya Arya looks at how young girls living in In the industrial town of Haryana in Northern India, are breaking barriers by training to become the next generation of gold medal winning wrestlers – and what it takes to become an Indian wrestling heroine.
And finally, with this year’s Olympic Games in Paris seeing the introduction of breakdancing as a new sport,B-girl Raygun – Breaking into the Olympics(TX: Tues 6th August)follows Rachael Gunn, known as b-girl Raygun, the highest ranked female breaker in Australia and her nation’s biggest hope for a gold medal. What techniques can she use to prepare for the unknown? And where does sport end and art begin?
Newsletter
The BBC Sport team will also be delivering a daily newsletter calledBBC Medal Momentsoffering readers a global picture from the greatest sporting show on earth. BBC Sport has every angle covered from the Paris Olympics – the medal haul, the athletes to watch, the stories behind the remarkable journeys many have taken to earn their place at the Games, recaps of the can’t-miss highlights from the previous day’s action – and looks ahead to what to watch out for, and is available for sign-ups now.
Features
Sections across BBC.com will also have plenty of content including:
Earth will be publishing a series on Sports and Sustainability delving into the environmental impact of the Olympic games.
Innovation will be looking into the Science of Fitness with topics ranging from Olympic sports to everyday athleticism. It will also be covering the Paris Paralympics, looking at how tech can improve accessibility to and beyond sport.
Travel will feature its twice-weekly guide, The SpeciaList, which will be providing a local take on France, Paris and beyond, for those interested in more than just the games. Whilst The World’s Table will have interviews with the French chefs running the world’s largest restaurant: the one at Olympic Village.
Culture will also cover related topics ranging from significant moments of Olympic history to the teams with the best style today.
Cassian Harrison, SVP Content Creation & Acquisition at BBC Studios said: ‘As always, the BBC is marking the world’s oldest sporting festival with all the richness, depth and authority that only the BBC can bring. Across our digital, television and audio platforms, we will be offering a definitive but also singular and surprising overview of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games for our audiences worldwide’.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced its all-new Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6, along with Galaxy Buds3 and Galaxy Buds3 Pro at Galaxy Unpacked in Paris.
Earlier this year, Samsung ushered in the era of mobile AI through the power of Galaxy AI. With the introduction of the new Galaxy Z series, Samsung is opening the next chapter of Galaxy AI by leveraging its most versatile and flexible form factor perfectly designed to enable a range of unique mobile experiences. Whether using Galaxy Z Fold’s large screen, Galaxy Z Flip’s FlexWindow or making the most of the iconic FlexMode, Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6 will provide more opportunities to maximise AI capabilities. Built on the foundation of Samsung’s history of form factor innovation, Galaxy AI uses powerful, intelligent, and durable foldable experience to accelerate a new era of communication, productivity, and creativity.
“Samsung is driven by a relentless focus on innovation. It’s embedded in our DNA, and this launch is a testament to that, bringing to our customers the next generation of foldables – our slimmest, lightest and most durable yet,” said James Kitto, Vice President and Head of MX, Samsung UK & Ireland. “This is the next frontier of Galaxy AI, supercharging this unique form factor with enhancements across features such as Circle to Search with Google – optimised for the ultimate user experience. Another great example of this is Galaxy AI’s Interpreter feature, which uses the dual screen of our foldables to show translation for a real-time conversation. Underpinning all of this is also our commitment to bring the best to our customers, so we’re pleased to also provide seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates.”
Samsung’s continued innovation for foldables has created the slimmest and lightest Galaxy Z series ever, optimised for portability. The perfectly symmetrical design with straight edge provides an aesthetically sleek finish while a new cover screen ratio on Galaxy Z Fold6 provides a more natural bar-type viewing experience. Along with design refinements, the new Galaxy Z series is engineered to provide even more durability, offering you greater peace of mind. The dual rail hinge structure is further supported by a strengthened folding edge, better distributing the shock of external impacts. Plus, enhanced layers on the main screen help to improve the crease while maintaining strength. The latest Galaxy Z series is also equipped with enhanced Armour Aluminium and Corning® Gorilla®Glass Victus® 2, making this the most durable Galaxy Z series yet.
In addition to being reliable, every element of the Galaxy Z series is also powerful. Both the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6 are equipped with the Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy, the most advanced Snapdragon mobile processor yet, combining best-in-class CPU, GPU, and NPU performance. The processor is optimised for AI processing and offers enhanced graphics along with improved overall performance. The upgraded cooling system maximises performance with a larger vapor chamber on Galaxy Z Fold6 and, for the first time ever, a vapor chamber on Galaxy Z Flip.
Galaxy Z Fold6: Large Screen Productivity Elevated by AI
The Galaxy Z Fold6 offers a range of AI-powered features and tools that maximise the large screen and significantly enhance productivity.
Note Assist on Samsung Notes offers translation, summaries, and auto formatting for simple and easy meeting notes. Plus, a newly embedded transcript feature enables transcription, translation and summarising of voice recordings directly in Notes. Texts in PDF files can be translated and overlaid perfectly through PDF overlay translation feature in Notes[vi]- and it even supports text in images and graphs. A newly added Composer from Samsung Keyboard generates suggested text based on simple keywords for email and supported social media apps. For social media in particular, the Composer creates text that reflects your tone by analysing previous posts. Additionally, the S Pen[viii] experience is expanded further meeting with Galaxy AI on the Galaxy Z Fold6’s screen. All-new Sketch to image allows you to create more sophisticated art pieces by generating image options when you simply sketch or draw on the photos in Gallery or Note Screen.
The Galaxy Z Fold6 enables you to evolve the way you work, play, and stay informed thanks to Samsung’s longstanding partnership with Google. The latest Google Gemini app is fully integrated on the new Galaxy Z series, providing your own AI-powered assistant right on your phone. By simply swiping the corner of the screen or saying “Hey Google”, you can bring up Gemini’s overlay and get help with writing, learning, or planning. Gemini is integrated with some of your favorite Google apps, making it easy to organise a perfect travel itinerary by getting real-time flight and hotel booking information – and explore famous landmarks and the best routes to get there using Google Maps. When you want detailed information about a K-pop music video while watching YouTube on Galaxy Z Fold6’s large screen, you can access Gemini overlay in the multi-window split screen to ask questions. If you’re curious about who the artist is in the video, just long press the home button and circle, highlight, or tap on screen – and Circle to Search will offer instant search results.
Galaxy AI has also enhanced barrier-free communication on Galaxy Z Fold6. Maximising its unique dual screen form factor, Interpreter comes with a new conversation mode that enables both parties to conveniently view translations on the main and cover screens for more natural interactions. It also offers one-way translation, so you can easily understand when listening during lectures or any other type of presentation. Live Translate, which translates phone calls directly on your device in real-time, is also now being extended beyond Samsung’s own native calling app to a selection of popular third-party apps.
From capturing to editing to viewing, AI-powered ProVisual Engine on the Galaxy Z Fold6 takes your creativity to the next level. The advanced editing experience with Photo Assist on the large-screen helps to effortlessly create professional-grade content. Portrait Studio creates a variety of different portrait styles such as 3D cartoon or watercolour for more creative possibilities. And if you want to enjoy every second with a more detailed view, Instant Slow-mo allows you to instantly slow a video by generating additional frames while maintaining a smooth viewing experience. You also have the option of saving or directly sharing your videos with friends and family so they can enjoy them as well.
Not only does Galaxy Z Fold6 allow you to create content, it allows you to enjoy it, too. Galaxy Z Fold6 offers an upgraded gaming experience, anchored by its powerful chipset and 1.6x larger vapor chamber for the ability to game for longer, while still maintaining performance. Vivid, life-like graphics are supported by Ray Tracing and are brought to life on a 7.6-inch screen[xvii] that offers a brighter display of up to 2,600nit to deliver more immersive gaming.
Galaxy Z Flip6: Creating Unique Experiences, Customised to You
The Galaxy Z Flip6 is not just optimised for portability, but it offers a range of new customisation and creativity features so you can make the most of every moment.
The 3.4-inch Super AMOLED FlexWindow has been enhanced yet again, enabling AI-assisted functions without even needing to open the device. And for those communications on-the-go, you can reply to texts with Suggested replies which analyses your latest messages to suggest a tailored response. With Galaxy AI, you can get the most out of your pocket-sized device, and many of these convenient features exist on FlexWindow. FlexWindow provides access to Samsung Health[xx] updates and notifications and also allows you to select the next track you want to listen to on your music widget. Plus, FlexWindow offers more Widgets than ever, and allows you to check information from multiple Widgets simultaneously.
It wouldn’t be Galaxy Z Flip without a variety of ways for you to customise your device either. With the AI-powered Photo Ambient, a wallpaper can change in real-time, based on the time and weather. You can also easily create a unified look and feel with suggested screen layout options by analysing your wallpaper — such as moving the clock and changing the frame colour to ensure the background image stands.
Creativity also goes beyond FlexWindow. FlexCam continues to offer the most versatile camera experience and unlocks new creative options. With the new Auto Zoom,FlexCam automatically finds the best framing for your shot by detecting the subject and zooming in and out before making any necessary adjustments. That way, you don’t have to choose between your friends or an incredible backdrop being in the shot – and it’s all hands-free.
New 50MP Wide and 12MP Ultra-wide sensors provide an upgraded camera experience with clear and crisp details in pictures. The new 50MP sensor supports 2x optical zoom for noise-free photos, while offering AI zoom for an advanced shooting experience with up to 10x zoom. Nightography, enhanced with video HDR allows you to capture more brilliant videos — even in dim lighting — and goes further by partnering with popular social apps as well. The night capturing feature is now available in-app on Instagram, so you can take amazing photos at night and message or share them directly from within the app.
You can continue using all the creative and customisable features of Galaxy Z Flip6 without worrying about battery life either, with longer usage time[xxiii] made possible by hardware and software optimisation.
Security You Can Trust, Controlled by You
Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6 are secured by Samsung Knox, Samsung Galaxy’s defense-grade, multi-layer security platform built to safeguard critical information and protect against vulnerabilities with end-to-end hardware, real-time threat detection and collaborative protection. In the era of AI, Samsung’s commitment to empowering you with choice over your device settings is stronger than ever, which is why you have full control over how you allow your data to enhance AI experiences through Galaxy AI settings[xxiv]. As an added layer of protection, Enhanced Data Protection offers end-to-end encryption when you backup, sync or restore your data with Samsung Cloud. The new Galaxy Z series is also backed by Samsung’s expansive list of security and privacy features including Knox Vault, Security & Privacy Dashboard, Auto Blocker, passkeys, Secure Wi-Fi, and Private sharing in Quick Share.
Ongoing Design Journey
The latest Galaxy Z series reinforces Samsung’s commitment to reimagining how mobile technology is designed and packaged. Samsung continues to scale its use of recycled materials with the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6[xxv] by featuring recycled gold and copper for the first time.
Earlier this year, Samsung introduced recycled minerals like cobalt and rare earth elements[xxvii] in the Galaxy S24 series, all of which can be found in components of the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6, along with recycled plastics, aluminium and glass. The Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6 alsocome in a packaging box made from 100% recycled paper material, and they provide seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates.
Galaxy Buds3 Series: Expanding the Connected Experience through Galaxy AI
With the power of Galaxy AI, the Galaxy Buds3 series brings a new communication experience. If you’re attending a class in a foreign language, you can turn on Interpreter in Listening mode on Galaxy Z Fold6 or Flip6 with Galaxy Buds3 series plugged into your ears. This will allow you to hear the lecture translated directly through your Galaxy Buds, removing language barriers that may exist in your studies. Also, simply saying two words through Voice Command allows you to control functions like playing or stopping music without manually touching the earbuds or your connected smartphone.
Sound can also be intelligently optimised, regardless of how you wear your Galaxy Buds. The microphones in the Buds3 series analyse both internal and external sound in real time to enhance sound and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) quality through Adaptive EQ and Adaptive ANC. And if you are listening to music, your Buds3 Pro will constantly collect and identify surrounding sound and automatically adjust the optimal level of noise and sound without manual adjustment through Adaptive Noise Control, Siren Detect, and Voice Detect, all for your convenience.
Built upon a variety of collected statistical data, the Galaxy Buds3 series comes with a new computational design boasting a comfortable fit. The premium blade design also targets style-centric consumers with an ultra-sleek and modern style complemented with Blade Lights. This new design enables a more intuitive physical experience by allowing you to control the device by simply pinching or swiping up or down on the blade, thereby offering convenience and tasteful aesthetics at the same time. Galaxy Buds3 and Buds3 Pro offer two purpose-built design options. Galaxy Buds3 Pro is Canal Type for those looking for immersive sound, while Galaxy Buds3 is Open Type for people who prefer to use the device in a variety of situations for an extended period of time.
To deliver a premium audio experience, Galaxy Buds3 Pro is equipped with advanced hardware. Galaxy Buds 3 Pro come with enhanced2-way speakers with a planar tweeter for sophisticated, precise high-range sound production, and Dual Amplifiers for a crystal-clear sound experience on the go. And now, thanks to Ultra High Quality Audio that supports a doubled sampling rate with SSC codec, you can listen to a high-resolution audio source as it was intended and enjoy every sound in superb detail. This level of sound quality extends to phone calls, too. With a pre-trained model based on machine learning, the Galaxy Buds3 series is now able to restore the original voice of the speaker in various noise environments while also providing a rich and natural call — similar to the high-quality calls of smartphones — with the Super-Wideband Call feature.
Galaxy Buds3 and Buds3 Pro feature several components in the cradle and earbuds that use recycled plastics sourced from discarded fishing nets or water barrels. Every Galaxy Buds3 series is packaged in a packaging box made with 100% recycled paper material.
Availability
The Galaxy Z Fold6, Z Flip6 and Galaxy Buds3 series will be available for pre-order starting today, July 10, with general availability starting July 24.
Galaxy Z Fold6 is available in Silver Shadow, Pink and Navy, while Galaxy Z Flip6 is also available in Silver Shadow, Yellow, Blue and Mint colour options so you can choose a colour that best suits your style.
The Galaxy Buds3 series offers an ultra-sleek, modern and comfortable design available in two colours, Silver and White.
We have been busy in Paris lately at the latest smartphone launch from HONOR and their all new 200 series and the event was something else and there was many new devices on offer that will certainly get any mobile interested. The HONOR 200 Pro is the flagship model coming in at a really good price too which is good for competition and the consumer.
We are now checking out the HONOR 200 Pro over the next few weeks and so far I am impressed at what is on offer here and i you like portrait this is a game change make no mistake about it. With a great build quality fabulous screen great battery and a portrait mode like no other this looks like it is going to be a good one.
We are very busy so will keep this one quick and you can check out more about the launch event in Paris here and see what was on show and in the interim if you have any questions feel free to comment on our social media and YouTube where we will gladly answer any questions.
Recognizing the most important tools in portrait photography are light and shadow, the HONOR 200 Series has been equipped with advanced hardware and meticulously co-engineered AI-powered software that recognizes even the most subtle nuances of lighting. The HONOR 200 Pro features a 50MP Portrait Main Camera with a Super Dynamic H9000 Sensor enabling users to capture compelling images with the perfect balance of light and shadow in even challenging lighting scenarios. With support for 4-in-1 pixel binning technology with a pixel size of 2.4μm, users can capture intricate details in their images even in low light scenarios. Additionally, the HONOR 200 Pro features a 50MP Portrait Telephoto Camera and a customized telephoto sensor from Sony. The HONOR 200 Pro also provides better light sensing capabilities, ensuring clear and true captures of distant objects with exceptional details.
