Should you’re confused about athletes taking selfies on the medal podium on the Olympic Video games, all with the identical odd-looking smartphone, you’re not alone.
It’s one thing that has received many viewers questioning what’s occurring. An official fingers a mysterious gadget to one of many medal winners, usually to their shock, to allow them to take a ‘Victory Selfie’ of the gold, silver and bronze inserting athletes.
It’s the primary time this has occurred in Olympic historical past… however why? And what’s that tiny sq. telephone they’re utilizing?
Nicely, to reply the second query, it’s the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
It doesn’t seem like a traditional smartphone because it’s one of many agency’s newest foldable smartphones. The athletes have been utilizing it within the closed place and for good motive.
Though there’s a display inside, an extra ‘cowl display’ on one half of the outer casing can present you a reside preview of your picture (see above). As this sits subsequent to the principle cameras, you get a greater high quality image than utilizing the inner digital camera – it’s 50Mp in comparison with 10Mp.
It’s a nifty function and one in every of many causes to get a foldable smartphone over the common sweet bar design we’ve develop into accustomed to.
The reply to why is easy – it’s basically product placement.
Partly, it’s as a result of athletes aren’t usually allowed private belongings on the sector (or equal) to take any pictures.
In the event that they had been, then you definitely’d think about a number of iPhones could be whipped out of pockets to seize these moments. Nonetheless, this 12 months (as standard) Samsung is a serious sponsor of the video games and is utilizing it as a chance to advertise its newest gadget.
“The Victory Selfies are provided throughout medal ceremonies for particular person medallists and groups of not more than two athletes, with every of the medallists briefed on how and when to seize their pictures on the telephones supplied by Samsung.” mentioned the Worldwide Olympic Committee.
The Victory Selfies are mapped and sorted by sport earlier than importing them to a cloud service referred to as Athlete365 the place athletes can save and share them on social media.
Added to the equation is that, like some earlier Olympics, all athletes have been given a particular Olympic Version of the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
It’s gold, in fact, and has logos on the again together with the long-lasting Olympic rings and you will have seen many utilizing them throughout the opening ceremony the place groups had been launched whereas on boats crusing down the river Seine.
Samsung has additionally loaded it with an eSIM together with 100GB 5G knowledge, an infinite complimentary public transport entry card, and several other official Olympic apps.
In fact, you possibly can’t purchase this version (except you maybe discover some ending up on eBay quickly) however the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is offered now from £1,049/$1,099.
