Pocket-lint daily - Qualcomm United, Calling time on HBO Max, and more

Good morning! By Chris Hall | Friday August 05 2022 It's Friday already! - If you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( Qualcomm signs with Man Utd, will help improve Old Trafford connectivity and more ALEX MOTOC / UNSPLASH What's happened? Qualcomm has [become one of Manchester United's global partners]( and will help the club create Snapdragon-powered experiences for fans inside Old Trafford and around the world. Why does it matter? In addition, it will advise on improvements that can be made to mobile connectivity in the stadium itself. What's my take? I remember sitting in a conference room at Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii and the Wi-Fi wasn't working. The presenter on stage said he was aware of it, and walked into the wings, before making a jibe about the hotel using a rival brand's hardware. I'm always reminded of that when I hear about Qualcomm wanting to make connectivity better - and football stadiums are a challenge. One of the big pitches (pardon the pun) of 5G was that it would solve the sort of network congestion that densely filled arenas with sudden busts of mobile data demands suddenly create. But, we're also looking at a company that's working hard to expand its brand presence - it has recently signed with an F1 team and announced an expanded presence in Samsung devices. Is Qualcomm worried people are going to forget about it? Why is Warner killing HBO Max and what's happening with Discovery Plus? WARNER MEDIA BROS / POCKET-LINT What's happened? Warner Bros Discovery has announced it will [replace HBO Max]( with a new streaming service next year. Why does it matter? Discovery+ will be folded into this new video streaming service, as well. What's my take? It looks as though Warner Bros Discovery wants one platform instead of two, saying that the tech HBO Max runs on isn't as advanced as Discovery+. I also suspect the aim is to offer one service at a higher price, justified by increased content. However, the star here is HBO and its content, so killing a successful brand does seem highly peculiar. In the UK we've often looked at HBO Max and wondered if we'll ever get it, rather than having its shows delivered through third-party deals. So, this will be one to watch: will customers tolerate being asked to pay for another high price service? Asus Zenfone 9 review: The small phone of choice POCKET-LINT What's happened? Asus is tackling a part of the market that others seem to have abandoned with the Zenfone 9. It's the compact flagship phone segment, meaning that those who want a smaller device don't have to compromise on the top specs. Our quick verdict The Asus Zenfone 9 is the compact phone of choice, making few compromises to deliver a flagship experience in a smaller package. There's plenty of power and performance, with good cameras only marred by the lack of telephoto. The design is attractive and the build is quality, including waterproofing. Still, the phone is let down through the software - bloat and app duplication are compounded by relatively short support, with only two years of updates. [Read our review](. In Case You Missed it Amazon Luna is [now on Samsung TVs](. --- Man City [turns to Roblox]( and the metaverse for its third kit unveiling. --- Sony LinkBuds S have a [25% saving today at $148]( instead of $199.99. We awarded these earbuds a recommend badge in a recent review, and you can now save $51.99 on the black and white versions. From The Gear Loop VANGO The best family camping stoves: Larger grills for car-camping cook-outs. [Read m](. And finally... NATIONALWW2MUSEUM Everything you need to know about the Band of Brothers follow-up Masters of the Air. [Check it out.]( Have you checked out our weekly podcast that comes out every Friday? It's packed with news, interviews, and top things to get. You can subscribe to the Pocket-lint Podcast via [iTunes]( and [Spotify]( or access it on the web via [Acast](. In the latest episode, we discuss the Mini Aceman concept, talk to Amazon about Fire TV, and review the Google Pixel 6a. [Listen to the new episode today.]( Thanks for reading , if you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( [The Trust Project][Why you can trust Pocket-lint]( Copyright © 2022 Pocket-lint, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website Our mailing address is: Pocket-lint PO Box 4770Ascot, Berkshire SL5 5DP United Kingdom [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](. [Mailchimp Email Marketing](