News

LG Preparing True Optical Zoom Lenses For Flagship Phones

LG Innotek, a subsidiary of the Korean electronics giant, has unveiled a new telephoto module with traditional camera optics.

Published

4 years ago

December 28, 2022

Nour Nasir

lg preparing true optical zoom lenses for flagship phones

LG may have thrown in the towel after the likes of Apple and Samsung began to dominate the smartphone market, however, the electronics powerhouse is still a major parts supplier to the entire tech industry.

One of the company’s subsidiary concerns, LG Innotek, supplies camera modules to well-known smartphone manufacturers, and has just announced a new telephoto zoom unit, which will be shown off at the upcoming CES 2023 event.

The company is teaming up with Qualcomm to fast-track the new optics alongside the roll-out of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip in upcoming Android flagship phones. While smartphones have typically employed digital zoom lenses that use software to reach beyond their default focal length, LG’s design uses moving arts — much like a DSLR— to preserve detail throughout the full range of the zoom.

The resulting lens covers a 4-9x zoom range, along with true optical image stabilization, and it’s hoped that manufacturers will eventually be able to manage with fewer lenses in their smartphones, replacing them with a single multi-use module.

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Sony is the only major manufacturer already offering a smartphone with an optical zoom so far, though Oppo is working on one too. Sony’s Xperia 1 IV doesn’t offer anything like LG’s telephoto range, though, and reviewers have noted that image quality isn’t quite as good as revival offerings.

In the company’s press release, LG Innotek is making a big deal about the new tech, saying that the camera module will help them “solidify the global No. 1 position in the smartphone camera module market.” LG is already in a solid position as we approach 2023, which is largely down to its biggest customer, Apple. The iPhone 15 is rumored to include a folded-optic telephoto lens, and LG looks likely to fit its new tech into a wide range of 2023 android flagship phones.

News

New Disney+ Streaming App Has Officially Launched In The UAE

The app’s recommendations now factor in what’s popular in the UAE, and a dedicated Junior Mode gives kids their own corner of Disney+.

Published

19 hours ago

October 9, 2026

Dana Saadeh

Disney

A new Disney+ app has officially launched in the UAE, and subscribers can now keep watching their favorite titles when they travel. Disney+ says access extends across supported markets in Europe, the United States and beyond.

The app is built around a dynamic homepage and simpler navigation, with recommendations drawn from each customer’s viewing habits and what’s popular in the UAE. Content from Hulu and ESPN is now easier to find alongside Disney+’s own library, the company says. Audio and subtitles come in up to 25 languages, and supported devices get high-quality video and sound.

For families, the app includes Junior Mode, a dedicated, simplified version of Disney+ for younger viewers, built around age-appropriate shows and movies. It sits alongside existing controls such as PIN-protected profiles, customizable content ratings and account notifications when a profile is changed.

The catalog still spans Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, Hulu and FX. Returning series include Season 8 of “The Kardashians,” Season 23 of “Grey’s Anatomy” and Season 38 of “The Simpsons”. Also on the service are the second season of International Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning series “Rivals,” comedy “Only Murders in the Building,” Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootropolis 2” and 20th Century Studios’ “Send Help”.

Also Read: Best Video Streaming Services In The Middle East

Marvel Television’s “VisionQuest” is on the way, and Disney’s live-action “Moana” is due later this autumn. Beyond Hollywood, the Turkish title “Halef” is coming to the platform alongside a lineup of Korean entertainment: Korean-Japanese romantic comedy “Merry Berry Love” is streaming now, and “The Remarried Empress” arrives November 4.

Existing subscribers will be prompted to download the new app and sign in with their current credentials, with on-screen steps covering account confirmation and profile setup. Subscriptions start at AED 49.99 per month and can be canceled at any time.

For UAE subscribers planning to travel, the update will likely be well received, but Disney has left one question open. It confirms Europe and the United States as supported markets but doesn’t yet say which others fall under and beyond.