# RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, RX 7600 XT, AMD RDNA 4, Nvidia 5000 Price | AncientGameplays URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/rtx-4070-ti-super-rx-7600-xt-amd-rdna-4-nvidia-5000-price-ancientgameplays Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti SUPER Analysis: Enough VRAM, Paltry VALUE URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/nvidia-rtx-4070-ti-super-analysis-enough-vram-paltry-value Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # Intel Battlemage Laptops are already CANCELLED? (Early 2024 ARC Leak) URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/intel-battlemage-laptops-are-already-cancelled-early-2024-arc-leak Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # AMD Zen 5 X870E DELAY Leak, Nvidia RTX 4080 SUPER, RX 7600 XT, Intel Battlemage URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/amd-zen-5-x870e-delay-leak-nvidia-rtx-4080-super-rx-7600-xt-intel-battlemage Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # RTX 4080 SUPER Analysis | PlayStation Vita 2 Leak | AMD Zen 5 Update URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/rtx-4080-super-analysis-playstation-vita-2-leak-amd-zen-5-update Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # Intel bidding for Next Gen XBOX, Arrow Lake TOPS Leak, RDNA 4, Zen 5, AMD 8700G URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/intel-bidding-for-next-gen-xbox-arrow-lake-tops-leak-rdna-4-zen-5-amd-8700g Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # XBOX Games on PlayStation 5 Pro, PS6 AI, AAA Economics, Vita 2 | Colin Moriarty URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/xbox-games-on-playstation-5-pro-ps6-ai-aaa-economics-vita-2-colin-moriarty Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # AMD Navi 48 Leak: RDNA 4 Performance, Die Size, Release Date Targets URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/amd-navi-48-leak-rdna-4-performance-die-size-release-date-targets Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # AMD RDNA 4, Nvidia RTX 5090 GDDR7, XBOX Chaos Leak, PS5 Pro Price, Apple Vision URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/amd-rdna-4-nvidia-rtx-5090-gddr7-xbox-chaos-leak-ps5-pro-price-apple-vision Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # Nvidia RTX 5000 PCIe 6.0 Leak | XBOX Business Analysis URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/nvidia-rtx-5000-pcie-60-leak-xbox-business-analysis Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # RTX 5090 vs RDNA 4, PS5 Pro Custom DLSS, Diskless PS6, XBOX Next Gen | NXGamer URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/rtx-5090-vs-rdna-4-ps5-pro-custom-dlss-diskless-ps6-xbox-next-gen-nxgamer Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # RX 7900 GRE US Launch Leak | Intel i9-14900KS Delid Support | AMD RX 7600 XT 16GB Review URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/rx-7900-gre-us-launch-leak-intel-i9-14900ks-delid-support-amd-rx-7600-xt-16gb-review Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # AMD RX 7900 GRE Review, Nvidia Blackwell, PS5 Pro Forces DLSS, Intel i9-14900KS URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/amd-rx-7900-gre-review-nvidia-blackwell-ps5-pro-forces-dlss-intel-i9-14900ks Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # Intel Beast Lake Specs Leak: Pat KILLED this 6C/24T Monster! URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/intel-beast-lake-specs-leak-pat-killed-this-6c24t-monster Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # AMD RDNA 4 vs Nvidia RTX 5000, Zen 5 Strix vs Lunar Lake, Ryzen 9000 | KitGuru URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/amd-rdna-4-vs-nvidia-rtx-5000-zen-5-strix-vs-lunar-lake-ryzen-9000-kitguru Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # Intel Arrow Lake Benchmark Leak: AMD R7 9800X3D in Trouble? (+ Lunar Lake Analysis) URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/intel-arrow-lake-benchmark-leak-amd-r7-9800x3d-in-trouble-lunar-lake-analysis Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # Intel Lunar Lake Delayed, Arrow Lake vs 9800X3D, AMD 7600X3D, PS5 Pro Confirmed URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/intel-lunar-lake-delayed-arrow-lake-vs-9800x3d-amd-7600x3d-ps5-pro-confirmed Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # PS5 Pro Developer Analysis, AMD Zen 5 Fine Wine, RDNA 4, UDNA | Bryan Heemskerk URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/ps5-pro-developer-analysis-amd-zen-5-fine-wine-rdna-4-udna-bryan-heemskerk Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # Intel Arrow Lake Cinebench 1T Leak | Nintendo Switch 2 Update URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/intel-arrow-lake-cinebench-1t-leak-nintendo-switch-2-update Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # Why PS5 STILL lacks PS3 Backwards Compatibility URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/why-ps5-still-lacks-ps3-backwards-compatibility Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # PS5 Pro 120Hz Leak, Intel Lunar Lake Review, Nintendo Switch 2, AMD Zen 5 Strix URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/ps5-pro-120hz-leak-intel-lunar-lake-review-nintendo-switch-2-amd-zen-5-strix Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # AMD R7 9800X3D Picture Leak | RDNA 4 Delay | Nvidia RTX 5000 Update URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/amd-r7-9800x3d-picture-leak-rdna-4-delay-nvidia-rtx-5000-update Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # AMD 9800X3D, Zen 5 Trauma, Intel Arrow Lake, Nvidia RTX 5090 | Hardware Unboxed URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/amd-9800x3d-zen-5-trauma-intel-arrow-lake-nvidia-rtx-5090-hardware-unboxed Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # Nvidia RTX 5090 24GB Leak | AMD cuts Zen 4 Supply | Intel Arrow Lake & Z890 Release Date URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/nvidia-rtx-5090-24gb-leak-amd-cuts-zen-4-supply-intel-arrow-lake-z890-release-date Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # Has AMD Killed Big RDNA 4 Permanently? URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/has-amd-killed-big-rdna-4-permanently Published: 2026-05-11 Author: Editorial --- # Leak: Samsung will blow away other budget phone makers with update policy URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/leak-samsung-will-blow-away-other-budget-phone-makers-with-update-policy Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G will apparently come with six years of OS updates and security patches. This is a significant improvement over Samsung’s previous policy of four major OS updates and five years of security patches for cheap phones. Samsung and Google offer the best update policies in the smartphone industry, as their top-tier phones get seven years of Android OS updates and security patches. Now, it looks like Samsung could up the ante with its budget phones too. The Tech Outlook obtained apparent Samsung Galaxy A16 5G slides from a “reliable source,” and one of the slides mentions that the upcoming budget phone will offer six major OS updates and six years of security patches. Credit: The Tech Outlook That’s a significant step up from Samsung’s previous Galaxy A series phones, which offer four major OS updates and five years of security patches. This is also a major step forward for budget Android phones in general, while also putting some flagship Android phones to shame. For example, the OnePlus 12 and Xiaomi 14 offer four major OS updates and five years of security patches. It’s not quite on par with the Pixel 8a and its seven years of OS and security updates, but the Pixel 8a retails for $500 while the Galaxy A16 5G is expected to cost ~$200 (much like its predecessor). In any event, we’re guessing this extended update policy will also apply to all upcoming Galaxy A series phones. What else will the Galaxy A16 5G offer? The website also obtained more apparent Galaxy A16 5G details. Starting with the design, the phone is said to offer a glasstic (glass-like plastic) rear cover and the Key Island bump seen on the Galaxy A35 5G and A55 5G. The phone will purportedly be available in Light Green, Blue Black, and Gold color schemes. Samsung’s upcoming budget phone is expected to have a 6.7-inch 90Hz screen, an Exynos 1330 or Dimensity 6100 series chipset, 4GB/6GB/8GB of RAM, 128GB or 256GB of storage, and an IP54 rating. It also looks like the phone will unfortunately drop the 3.5mm jack. The Galaxy A16 5G will apparently launch in India by the end of the month. So you should keep an eye on this phone if you want a cheap device that will receive updates for years. --- # How to enable RCS messaging on iPhone to text Android users URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/how-to-enable-rcs-messaging-on-iphone-to-text-android-users Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Apple Rich Communication Services (RCS) was introduced as a successor to traditional SMS (Short Message Service) and MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), promising a modern, feature-rich messaging experience that can rival popular apps like iMessage, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Apple resisted jumping on the RCS bandwagon for the longest time, but after a lot of pressure from industry peers and users, RCS messaging is now part of the new iOS 18 update. The change marks a significant shift in how cross-platform communication is handled on Apple devices. In this article, we’ll dive into RCS messaging, its benefits, and how iPhone users can enable and use it with the iOS 18 update. What is RCS Messaging? RCS was designed to enhance SMS and MMS and offer a more interactive messaging experience. It was first developed by the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA) and is now supported by several carriers and phone manufacturers, making it a more capable alternative to SMS. With RCS support now available on iOS 18, iPhone users can seamlessly interact with Android users using the advanced messaging features listed below: Read receipts: Like iMessage on iPhone and WhatsApp, RCS messaging supports read receipts, so you know when your messages have been read. High-quality media sharing: RCS will allow iPhone users to share images, videos, and audio clips in high resolution with Android users, as opposed to the compressed versions sent over SMS/MMS. Typing indicators: iPhone and Android users talking to each other can now see when someone is typing a response. Group chats: Users can now easily create group chats with enhanced capabilities, such as adding or removing participants without disrupting the message thread. Security: While some RCS services support end-to-end encryption, this is not universal across all providers. As of now, RCS messages between iOS and Android do not support end-to-end encryption (E2EE), but that could change in the future. How to Enable RCS on iPhone with iOS 18 Apple has historically prioritized its proprietary iMessage platform. However, thanks to constant nagging from Google, nudges from various regulatory authorities, and requests from iPhone as well as Android users, the company finally caved and decided to adopt RCS. With iOS 18, Apple has put an end to the debate once and for all. That said, iPhone users will still see green bubbles when they receive an RCS message from Android users. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to enable RCS on your iPhone after updating to iOS 18: Ensure Your Carrier Supports RCS: Before enabling RCS on your iPhone, it’s essential to check that your mobile carrier supports the RCS protocol. Many carriers in the US and worldwide now support RCS, but the rollout can vary depending on the region and network. You can head to Settings > General >About > Carrier/Network Provider on your iPhone to check for RCS support. When you tap the Carrier/Network Provider, the IMS status will change to Voice, SMS & RCS. If your carrier does not have RCS support, you’ll only see Voice $ SMS as the IMS status. Update to iOS 18: To access RCS messaging, your iPhone should be running iOS 18 or later. You can check for software updates and download iOS 18 by heading to General > Software Update. Enable RCS Messaging: Once iOS 18 is installed, you’ll need to enable RCS in your messaging settings. Head to Settings > Apps > Messages. Under Text Messaging, you’ll see a toggle for RCS Messaging. Turn on this toggle. iMessage vs RCS: Key differences While RCS opens up a whole new world of communication between iPhone and Android users, there are still some key differences between iMessage and RCS. You might want to use one or the other based on these differences. Platform: iMessage is exclusive to Apple devices, whereas RCS is a cross-platform messaging protocol. Encryption: iMessage messages are end-to-end encrypted, which means they are secure against a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices. However, RCS messages between Android and iOS users are not yet protected by the same encryption. Delivery mechanism: iMessage is an internet-based service that delivers your messages via Apple’s servers. RCS, on the other hand, is a carrier-based service. Apple warns that user identifiers are exchanged for your carrier and their partners to authenticate your device and provide a connection for RCS messaging. “These identifiers could include but are not limited to your IMEI, IMSI, current IP address, and phone number. Your current IP address might also be shared with other RCS users,” the company notes. --- # Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 rumors: Everything we know and what we want to see URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/samsung-galaxy-tab-s10-rumors-everything-we-know-and-what-we-want-to-see Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Update: September 18, 2024 (5:20 AM ET): We have updated our Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 rumor hub with news that Samsung has opened pre-reservations for the Galaxy Tab S10 series in one market. We’ve also updated our hub with more S Pen details. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series has been out for a while but still ranks as the best trio of Android tablets, bringing top-notch specs, premium designs, and great software. Nevertheless, it’s only a matter of time before the Galaxy Tab S10 series becomes official. So, what will the company’s new high-end slates look like? Read on to find out more about the Galaxy Tab S10 series. Will there be a Galaxy Tab S10 series? Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority The Galaxy Tab S10 range is arguably the most popular flagship Android tablet series out there, so it stands to reason that Samsung is working on new models for 2024. It’s also worth noting that the company has launched new flagship Android slates each year for the last couple of years. The company skipped a launch in 2021, though, so this is far from a foregone conclusion. However, WinFuture journalist Roland Quandt spotted what could be the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus’s model number (SM-X828). So, it seems like the series is indeed in the works. If that’s not proof enough, after July’s Galaxy Unpacked event, a Samsung South Africa representative told Android Authority, “There will be a Tab S10 series.” The rep also confirmed that the tablet will be available before the end of the year. What is the most likely Galaxy Tab S10 series launch date? Credit: Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 series — August 5, 2020 Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series — February 9, 2022 Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 range — July 26, 2023 Nailing down a Galaxy Tab S10 series launch window is a tough task. That’s because the Galaxy Tab S9 range launched in July 2023 alongside the company’s foldable phones, while the Galaxy Tab S8 series launched in February 2022 alongside the Galaxy S22 series. The company launched the Galaxy Tab S7 series in 2020 at an August Unpacked event, skipping a flagship tablet launch in 2021. For what it’s worth, the Tab S6 series was unveiled in July 2019. Initially, we thought the Galaxy Tab S10 series would be revealed at the July 2024 Galaxy Unpacked event, but it didn’t show up. Later, a Samsung rep told Android Authority that the new tablets are definitely in the works and will be out by the end of the year, although they didn’t give an exact date. Later, well-known leaker Max Jambor hinted on X (formerly Twitter) that the Galaxy Tab S10 series could launch in October, but we still don’t have a specific date for the big reveal. More recently, Roland Quandt posted that the Galaxy Tab S10 series will launch on September 26 in Europe. According to Quandt, the tablets are expected to hit European markets shortly after. We can safely assume that a global release, including the United States, will likely occur on the same day. Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority Samsung India also opened pre-reservations on September 17 for the “new Galaxy Tab.” The accompanying graphic (seen above) shows a tablet that looks like the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. The Samsung India website also had a countdown timer that ended on September 25. What will the Galaxy Tab S10 range look like? Credit: Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority The Galaxy Tab S9 came in three different models: an 11-inch standard Tab S9, a 12.4-inch Tab S9 Plus, and a 14.6-inch Tab S9 Ultra. A report from The JoongAng claims the 11-inch model will be dropped from the lineup. If that’s the case, then we may only see a Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. This particular rumor has gained more credence since then because in all the leaks so far, we have only seen two models of the Galaxy Tab S10 series. Previously, Evan Blass posted an official-looking product render of the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. From the image, it’s evident that the Tab S10 Ultra could be physically identical to the Tab S9 Ultra, with a display notch up front, a dual camera setup at the back, and the same placement for the keyboard attachment and magnetic ports. Credit: Evan Blass A recent report from Android Headlines has provided detailed renders and the complete specifications for the Galaxy Tab S10 series. Visually, both tablets seem to maintain a similar design language to their Tab S9 predecessors and to each other. The Ultra, however, differentiates itself with a centrally positioned notch housing dual front-facing cameras and slightly slimmer bezels. Both models are expected to be offered in two color options, which may be referred to as Moonstone Gray and Platinum Silver. In terms of dimensions and weight, the report indicates that the Tab S10 Ultra will measure 208.6 x 326.4 x 5.4mm and weigh between 718g (Wi-Fi) and 723g (5G). The Tab S10 Plus is said to measure 185.4 x 285.4 x 5.6mm and weigh between 571g (Wi-Fi) and 576g (5G). This suggests a slight reduction in thickness of 0.1mm and a weight saving of approximately 10g compared to their predecessors. Elsewhere, it seems like the Galaxy Tab S10 series will not deviate too much from its predecessors. This includes design elements like metal backs with aluminum frames and an S Pen attachment slot on the back, an IP68 rating for dust and water ingress, and stereo speakers on the shorter sides of the tablets. What rumored specs and features could the Galaxy Tab S10 series have? Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority There’s been a lot of buzz lately about Samsung possibly switching to MediaTek chips for some of its big upcoming devices, like the Galaxy Tab S10 series. This rumor has been floating around for a while, but well-known leaker Ice Universe claimed that Samsung is definitely going with the Dimensity 9300 Plus for its tablets. What’s interesting is that the leaker says all the Galaxy Tab S10 models will have MediaTek chips inside. This clears things up a bit because earlier rumors weren’t sure if all the models would use Dimensity chips or if Samsung would mix and match different chips for different models or different regions. MySmartPrice recently caught the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra making an appearance on the 3C certification platform. The S10 Plus is listed as SM-X820, and the S10 Ultra is SM-X926C. These certifications confirm that both tablets will still support 45W fast charging, but we don’t get any other details from the listings. Samsung is considering a Galaxy AI key on Bluetooth keyboards and folio cases for the Galaxy Tab S10 series, according to a post by WinFuture in September. This follows Microsoft offering a Copilot key on Windows laptops. There’s no word on what this key would actually do, though. The Galaxy Tab S10 series could pack MediaTek Dimensity chips, making for a major change from Snapdragon power. The latest report from Android Headlines seems to confirm that the tablets will indeed feature the Dimensity 9300 Plus chip. Moreover, it suggests that the battery capacities will stay unchanged at 10,090mAh on the Tab S10 Plus and 11,200mAh on the Tab S10 Ultra. According to the same report, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and S10 Plus are also expected to maintain the same display sizes as their predecessors, with the Ultra featuring a 14.6-inch screen and the Plus coming in at 12.4 inches. However, both models are said to include an “Anti-Reflection panel,” which may be similar to the display glass seen in the Galaxy S24 Ultra, potentially improving screen visibility in bright settings. The camera setup also appears to remain unchanged. Both tablets are expected to feature a 13-megapixel primary camera and an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera on the rear. The Ultra’s front-facing cameras, housed in the notch, will likely consist of two 12-megapixel sensors—one wide and one ultrawide. In contrast, the Plus model may have just a single 12-megapixel ultrawide front camera. In terms of performance, the Tab S10 Plus is expected to offer c --- # You can now shoot spatial photos with your iPhone, but there’s a catch URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/you-can-now-shoot-spatial-photos-with-your-iphone-but-theres-a-catch Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority iOS 18.1 beta 4 allows iPhone 15 Pro users to shoot spatial photos, which they can view using an Apple Vision Pro. The feature relies on the vertical alignment of the rear camera lenses and will work with all iPhone 16 models. The latest iOS 18.1 beta also includes the software additions Apple first introduced with the iOS 18 Release Candidate. Last year, Apple introduced spatial video recording on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, allowing users to shoot immersive clips they can watch on their Vision Pro headsets. With iOS 18.1 beta 4, the company is now expanding spatial capture support to include images, too. While the Vision Pro can already display regular shots in 3D, using the dedicated spatial photo mode should output better results. iOS 18.1 beta 4 includes a new Spatial Mode tab in the built-in Camera app. Visiting it reveals a toggle that allows users to switch between spatial photo and spatial video capture. It’s worth noting that to use Spatial Mode, you have to hold your compatible iPhone in landscape orientation. This enables the rear lenses to capture the necessary depth data to produce spatial media. Since the latest non-Pro iPhone models have switched from diagonal to vertically aligned rear lenses, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will also be able to shoot spatial photos and videos. This should further popularize the feature among the few Apple Vision Pro users. Beyond support for spatial photo shooting, iOS 18.1 beta 4 includes the changes Apple first offered through the iOS 18 Release Candidate. These include support for pausing video recording and the new watchOS 11 faces revealed during the iPhone 16 event. iOS 18.1 will become available to all users next month. Some of its notable changes include phone call recording and transcribing, along with the first batch of Apple Intelligence features. --- # Samsung Galaxy S25 series rumors and leaks: Everything we know so far URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/samsung-galaxy-s25-series-rumors-and-leaks-everything-we-know-so-far Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Update: September 18, 2024 (6:35 AM ET): We’ve updated our Galaxy S25 series rumor hub with leaked Galaxy S25 Plus renders, leaked mock-up images comparing the S25 phones to other devices, and other design-related claims. Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series launched in the middle of January 2024, arriving a little earlier in the year than the last couple of generations. Along with it, the company introduced Galaxy AI, a titanium frame, new camera tricks, and a number of other features. But now that the Galaxy S24 launch has come and gone, it is time to start thinking about the next iteration in the series. How will the Galaxy S25 series set itself apart from its predecessor? What new features will Samsung come up with for the next generation? Will 2025 finally be the year we see a major shift in the Galaxy S design philosophy? Here, we’ll break down everything we know so far about the Galaxy S25. Will there be a Samsung Galaxy S25? Galaxy S24 Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority Samsung releases a new Galaxy S series phone on an annual cadence, and there’s no reason to believe it will stop at the Galaxy S24. But if that’s not enough to convince you, there have already been plenty of leaks and rumors about the incoming family of handsets that we’ll get into later on. Obviously, nothing is official until Samsung announces it. The company could always suddenly decide to shut down development, but that is extremely unlikely given how profitable its smartphones are. We would say it’s less of a question of whether Samsung will release a Galaxy S25 and more of a question of when it will launch in 2025. What is the most likely Samsung Galaxy S25 release date? Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority Galaxy S22 — February 9, 2022 Galaxy S23 — February 17, 2023 Galaxy S24 — January 31, 2024 The Galaxy S24 lineup launched in January, so we’re still a fair distance away from the expected release of the Galaxy S25 series. As such, it will be a while before Samsung provides an official launch date for the device. As far as leaks and rumors are concerned, there’s not really anything on that front, either. Given the lack of information, we’ll need to speculate on what the date could be. The South Korea-based firm usually launches its Galaxy S phones near the beginning of the year. For the last three years, the release date has fallen in the months of January and February. We assume Samsung will keep the same cadence for the Galaxy S25. Unfortunately, we’ll need to wait to find out the exact date. What rumored specs and features could the Samsung Galaxy S25 have? Credit: Lanh Nguyen / Android Authority Even before the Galaxy S24 launched in January 2024, we were hearing rumors about the Galaxy S25. Now that it has been a while since the release of 2024’s Galaxy phones, the rumor mill for next year’s phones has picked up a lot of steam. These rumors and leaks span the gamut from the SoC to the design and more. Let’s take a moment to break down all of the available information. Name It stands to reason that the Galaxy S25 series will consist of the Galaxy S25, the Galaxy S25 Plus, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra. After all, Samsung has used this naming convention since the Galaxy S20 series. Tipster Yogesh Brar made a rather interesting claim on August 16, though. The leaker claimed that Samsung could be thinking about a name change for the Plus and Ultra models. More specifically, Brar asserted that the Galaxy S25 Ultra could become the Galaxy S25 Note, while the S25 Plus could become the S25 Pro. Credit: Twitter/Yogesh Brar We’ve previously seen Apple offer the iPhone 15 Pro, which has more features than the iPhone 15 Plus. So we’re guessing an S25 Pro could be a more feature-packed offering than an S25 Plus. But this is just a rumor for now so you shouldn’t hold your breath for this change. Design The design of the Galaxy S series has hardly changed in the last few generations, but we might finally be in store for something a little different with the next iteration. Leaker Revegnus said that Ilhwan Lee, a former Mercedes-Benz designer, has been tasked with making the Galaxy brand feel “fresh” and that design changes are expected. Credit: Revegnus With the release of Samsung’s 2024 flagship devices, the company introduced titanium to the Galaxy S line, specifically for the Ultra model. There is reason to believe Samsung will continue to use the same metal in the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The question, however, is whether the firm sticks with the same type of titanium that appeared in the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It is also unknown if this build material will come to the regular and Plus models in 2025, though that seems unlikely. In a now-deleted social post from PandaFlash (via Android Headlines), the tipster claimed, “I have doubts about the rumors of the Highest-Grade titanium in the Galaxy S25 Ultra.” In case you didn’t know, titanium comes in different grades. For example, Apple gave the iPhone 15 Pro series Grade 5 titanium, which is an alloy made of titanium, aluminum, and vanadium. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the other hand, uses Grade 2 titanium, which is all titanium. The difference is that Grade 2 titanium is softer, cheaper, and easier to work with than the Grade 5 version. If PandaFlash is correct, then it looks like the tech giant may stay on the same path. Another rumor, this one originating from a now-deleted social post from PandaFlash (via Android Headlines), suggests Samsung is testing four prototypes for the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Although the tipster didn’t have renders of these prototypes, they did create mock-ups of what they thought the Ultra might look like based on their information: Credit: PandaFlash According to the rumor, the main changes seem to revolve around the frame and bezels. We could see thinner bezels but the same frame as before, a thinner and flatter frame with slimmer bezels, thinner sides but a thicker top and bottom, or a thinner frame with rounded edges. Outside of that, it appears the front of the device will look mostly the same as the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Leaker Ice Universe claimed in late June that the Galaxy S25 Ultra could gain a more rounded design, saying it would be “as round as the Galaxy Note 7.” The tipster also asserted that the Ultra phone will measure 8.4mm thick, making it thinner than all previous Galaxy S Ultra phones. Later on, the tipster claimed that the frame would be more rounded towards the back panel and straight on the display side. It’s said this design will make the frame thinner than the one on the Galaxy S24 Ultra and reduce the bezels on the sides. Ice Universe would go on to post an apparent mock-up showing the front of the Galaxy S25 Ultra in August, and it indeed shows a phone with a more rounded design. The leaker also posted a mock-up comparing the S25 Ultra design to the boxier S24 Ultra design. Check out the images below. Meanwhile, leaker Bennett Buhner claims that Samsung might increase the display size of the Galaxy S25 Ultra to something closer to 6.9 inches. This could mean that the device will be slightly bigger, but it could also just mean the screen has smaller bezels, giving it a slightly different aspect ratio. Ice Universe posted the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s apparent screen size on Weibo on August 17, claiming it will have a 6.86-inch screen which “can be considered as 6.9 inches.” Credit: Weibo/Ice Universe A recent X post by Ice Universe further suggests that the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra will be “the thinnest and lightest of all Ultra flagship phones to be released soon,” surpassing even the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Pixel 9 Pro XL. According to the leaker, the handset will weigh 219g. For context, the Pixel 9 Pro XL weighs around 221 grams, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra weighs 233 grams. If the leaker’s claims are indeed true, the Galaxy S25 Ultra could shave off more than 10 grams of weight from its predecessor, which is a feat that Samsung has yet to achieve with its Ultra flagship phones. In September, tipster OnLe --- # Garmin has a new off-the-grid gadget for texting photos and audio URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/garmin-has-a-new-off-the-grid-gadget-for-texting-photos-and-audio Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Garmin Garmin has just launched the brand new inReach Messenger Plus, a satellite-connected device designed to keep users connected in places with no cell service. This is the first inReach device that allows for sending text messages along with both photo and audio messages. It also has the tracking and mapping capabilities of the original inReach Messenger. When you’re going out on an adventure in the wilderness, staying connected with the outside world can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. Garmin’s satellite-connected devices in the inReach family are designed to keep you safe and, most importantly, keep your loved ones at ease while you are out in the wild. Now, the inReach family has a new member: the Garmin inReach Messenger Plus. As its name suggests, the inReach Messenger Plus is an upgraded version of the inReach Messenger (), which launched in 2022. Both devices connect to the Iridium satellite network, allowing you to communicate with the world anywhere in which you have a direct view of the sky. The 2022 Messenger, though, could only send text messages. The Messenger Plus is the first device in the inReach family that supports both photo and audio messages, too. Credit: Garmin Obviously, the biggest appeal to this new feature is the ability to send photos and audio clips to your loved ones describing all the gorgeous things you spot on your adventure, regardless of if you have cell service or not. However, this is a safety feature as well. If you were to be stuck in some sort of peril, for example, being able to send out photo evidence of your location and your predicament could allow emergency responders to better assist in your rescue. Similarly, if you are able to speak but unable to type, the ability to send an audio message could be a huge boon to your safety and security. As with all other inReach devices, the Messenger Plus has an SOS button. Hitting that will put you in touch with emergency services, giving you peace of mind that your current adventure won’t be your last. Additionally, it has the same weeks-long battery life, GPS location sharing, weather alert, and off-grid navigation capabilities as its non-Plus sibling. The Garmin inReach Messenger Plus is available now for $499. To use all the messaging and SOS features, though, you’ll need a no-commitment subscription that could cost you anywhere from $14.95 to $64.95 each month, depending on how many messages you want to send. --- # Here are the silliest Android phone features of all time URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/here-are-the-silliest-android-phone-features-of-all-time Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial I love it when Android brands get creative. Sometimes, an idea out of left field will work out perfectly, like bringing back the flip phone with a foldable display or using a bio-resin for protection instead of standard plastic or glass. Other times, it’s not quite the same stroke of genius — but sometimes, that’s just as memorable. And yet, those missteps are just as significant because sometimes they lead to something much better. Here are a few of the silliest features to launch on an Android phone. Oh, and if I’m honest, Apple’s Camera Control inspired this list. At first, I thought it would be little more than a button you could use to trigger the shutter, but we’ve since found out that it does quite a bit more. I was too far down the rabbit hole of silly Android features by the time we got all the details on the Camera Control, though, so here are the fruits of my labor anyway. Friends modules on the LG G5 It’s funny — I could have had my choice of modular phone attachments to make this list, with both LG and Motorola giving it a shot. Heck, even CMF by Nothing jumped into the modular realm not too long ago. However, I have to call the accessories launched with the LG G5, dubbed Friends, sillier. My reasoning is that at least Motorola made its Moto Mods compatible with more than one device during their lifetime. You could attach things like an external JBL speaker, a projector, and even an external 5G antenna (to give you a sense of when the Moto Mods launched) to four generations of the Motorola Moto Z. If I had a nickel for every modular Android phone that launched, I'd have a surprising number of nickels. With the LG G5 Friends, however, it’s the opposite. They were designed to work with the LG G5 and only the G5, meaning you could spend a lot of money on accessories that had no futureproofing. Now, I don’t necessarily think the idea behind the Friends accessories is a bad one — it seems pretty cool to swap out the pieces of your phone to add a better camera grip, upgrade your phone’s DAC and amp with Bang & Olufsen tuning, or attach a VR headset long before they were cool. But, when they’re designed to fit the exact body of one specific phone, and then LG adopts a new design the very next year, you look pretty silly. What ultimately happened to the LG Friends is that the company went from a clever, modular design with the G5 to a unibody construction for the G6, choosing water protection and wireless charging over swappable accessories after just one year. And yet, we’ve barely scraped the surface of silly ideas to come out of LG in the last few years. Motion Sense and Soli on the Google Pixel 4 Credit: Oliver Cragg / Android Authority Google, like LG, is a big fan of its own creativity. Over the years, we’ve had several short-lived Pixel features, like the black-and-white panda Pixel 2 XL and the deepest notch your eyes have ever seen on the Pixel 3 XL. We also had a year when Google decided that short-range radar was the future of interacting with your phone, so it crammed a Soli sensor into the top bezel of the Pixel 4 series. It was the culmination of five years of work and was designed to let you skip songs, silence phone calls, and snooze your alarms with nothing more than a lazy wave. The problem was that it never worked quite right. Sure, we had other complaints about the Pixel 4 series, like its terrible battery life, but the fact that Google’s Motion Sense gestures never really got off the ground makes the Soli sensor one of Android’s silliest. Google did its best to roll out updates that would fix its functionality, too, but they never really took hold, prompting the company to ditch its grand idea when the Pixel 5 rolled around. That’s not to say that everything Google put in the Pixel 4’s chunky top bezel was bad, though, as it also housed IR-based face unlock, which is as close to an Android version of Apple’s Face ID as we’ve gotten over the years. It relied on a pair of infrared sensors to map the depth of your face, offering a much more secure way to unlock your phone than the camera-based facial recognition that Samsung and several others used at the time. Unfortunately, IR-based face unlock made way about the same time as the larger Soli interface, mainly to shrink that top bezel. Hand ID on the LG G8 ThinQ And now, from one palm-based feature to another — unsurprisingly, back to LG. That’s right, we’re talking about Hand ID, an infrared-based palm-mapping feature that arrived on LG’s last G-series flagship, the G8 ThinQ. Essentially, the G8 ThinQ would use a time-of-flight sensor and an IR camera to make a map of the unique veins in your hand, acting like a giant fingerprint that you could use to unlock your phone and trigger gestures. Unfortunately, like the Pixel 4’s Soli sensor, LG’s Air Motion and Hand ID never caught on quite like they were supposed to. After all, you’re already holding your phone with one hand, so it’s often easier to use the other to tap or swipe on the display than to wave it around six or eight inches away like you’re casting a spell at Hogwarts. I remember a few hand-based gestures fondly, like the ability to flash your palm to trigger a three-second camera timer, but those didn’t require the advanced ToF sensor or IR camera. Holographic display on the Red Hydrogen One It turns out that Android brands like to get creative when it comes to their smartphone displays, too — for better or worse. Sometimes, things work brilliantly, like the return of foldable phones I mentioned above. Other times, it’s pretty much a disaster, like when Red put a holographic display into its debut Hydrogen One. I mean, it should come as no surprise that a high-end camera company wanted to incorporate a feature that could show off its camera capabilities, but it’s safe to say that it didn’t work quite right this time around. Essentially, the team at Red worked with a company called Leia to put an additional plate behind the LCD in the Hydrogen One. This plate would allow it to direct the light coming out of each pixel to give your eyes the illusion of depth from a flat display. It was a clever approach, too, using four images rather than the standard two so that the final product would have more movement than a traditional 3D image. Unfortunately, the Red Hydrogen One’s display is one of the silliest on an Android phone because it simply didn’t work as often as it should have. Interacting with the basics like your home screen, web browser, and most apps gave you a standard 2D experience, with 3D mode only kicking in for a few supported apps. Also, Red’s four-way effect made plenty of people dizzy when it launched, adding too much blur to the screen and making your eyes work a bit too hard to focus. And then, we never got a Red Hydrogen Two. Curved display on the Samsung Galaxy Round Although Samsung has mostly stayed away from gimmicks in recent years — to the point where we’re begging for some innovation — that wasn’t always the case. In fact, Samsung used to let its mind run wild with things like a full-blown zoom camera on the back of the Galaxy S4 Zoom, which could have also made this list. It also jumped on the curved phone trend long before it brought back foldable phones in the form of the Galaxy Z series when it created the Galaxy Round. Launched over a decade ago, the Galaxy Round was Samsung’s answer to the LG G Flex, a phone that curved from top to bottom, almost like a banana. Samsung’s idea, however, was to bend the phone from left to right, acting more like the world’s shallowest taco shell. After all, this shape would fit more naturally into your hand and sit more comfortably in your pocket than LG’s approach. The bend was also designed to help reduce screen glare by redirecting the light rather than bouncing it right back into your eyes. Samsung was early, maybe too early, to the gesture game with this one. On top of that, Samsung developed a few gestures that it hoped would incentivize users to rock --- # The iPhone 16 prepares for a portless smartphone future URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/the-iphone-16-prepares-for-a-portless-smartphone-future Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority Like Apple Watches and TVs, users can now recover a bricked iPhone 16 wirelessly using another iPhone. Older iPhone models still require a Mac or Windows PC for operating system recovery when bricked. Thanks to this implementation, Apple can now realistically release an iPhone without a USB port. For a while now, Apple has let watchOS and tvOS users restore their bricked devices wirelessly using a nearby iPhone. This spares them the need to visit an Apple Store for operating system recovery, as Apple Watches and TVs don’t offer USB ports to connect them to a computer. With the iPhone 16, the Cupertino firm is now expanding wireless OS recovery support to its smartphones, allowing eligible users to recover their bricked devices using another iPhone or iPad. As the folks at 9to5Mac discovered, iPhones and iPads running iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 can wirelessly recover bricked iPhone 16 units. While any iDevice running the latest OS version can assist with the wireless recovery, only 2024 iPhone models can be revived using this method. Credit: 9to5Mac When you bring a bricked iPhone 16 close to a compatible iPhone or iPad, an alert should appear on the functional iDevice. It states: “An iPhone near you is in recovery mode. You can help restore it with your iPhone.” You can then hit Continue to initiate the process, Learn More to read about it, or X to dismiss the popup. The feature works by downloading the firmware on the functional device and wirelessly transferring it to the bricked one. The bricked iPhone 16 then flashes the operating system and boots up. With the latest iPhones now supporting wireless OS recovery, MagSafe and Qi2 charging, and AirDrop (along with other cloud solutions) for file transfer, Apple could realistically retire the USB-C connector and release a portless smartphone. While many users prefer wired connections, the company has repeatedly sacrificed functionality in the name of minimalism. --- # iPadOS 18 turns the iPad Pro M4 into Apple’s thinnest brick yet URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/ipados-18-turns-the-ipad-pro-m4-into-apples-thinnest-brick-yet Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Palash Volvoikar / Android Authority Apple has pulled the iPadOS 18 update for iPad Pro M4 models after it bricked some users’ tablets. The company is sending affected users replacement units as it’s seemingly impossible to revive bricked ones with a computer. Other iPad models can still download and install the update, while M4 users must wait for a patched version of this release. iPadOS 18 launched earlier this week, packing a wide range of exciting additions and changes. These include a native Calculator app, dark and tinted app icons, a revamped Photos app, and a nasty software bug that could completely brick your iPad Pro M4. Apple has pulled the iPadOS 18 update on iPad Pro M4 models as it was bricking some users’ tablets. Those who have already downloaded the update won’t be able to install it now since the company has stopped signing it, and, as a result, the verification fails. Users with non-M4 models, on the other hand, can proceed with installing the update normally since the bug seemingly doesn’t affect them. Notably, those with bricked iPad Pro M4 units are reportedly unable to recover the operating system using a computer, as their tablets won’t respond to any form of input. Instead, they must head to an Apple Store and request a replacement, which could take days. In a statement to MacRumors, Apple said: “We have temporarily removed the ‌iPadOS 18‌ update for M4 ‌iPad Pro‌ models as we work to resolve an issue that is impacting a small number of devices.” It’s currently unclear when exactly Apple will patch the bug and reissue iPadOS 18 to iPad Pro M4 users. Those unwilling to wait can download and install iPadOS 18.1 developer beta 4 instead — if they don’t mind the potential glitches and inconsistencies included with pre-release builds. --- # Bose’s latest ANC earbuds offer premium features at a reasonable price URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/boses-latest-anc-earbuds-offer-premium-features-at-a-reasonable-price Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Supplied by Bose Bose has added a more affordable pair of ANC earbuds to its QuietComfort lineup. The new QuietComfort Earbuds offer a few premium features, including ANC with multiple modes, customizable controls and EQ, and a wireless charging case. You can grab the earbuds for $179 in three colorways: Black, White Smoke, and Chilled Lilac. Bose adopted the Ultra branding for its top-end wireless earbuds last year, cleverly making room for a new pair of slightly more affordable ANC earbuds in its QuietComfort range. These earbuds are finally making it to the market today, and they offer pretty much all the features you get on the flagship model at a lower price. The new QuietComfort Earbuds share their name with Bose’s flagship earbuds from 2020, but they feature a new design and upgraded hardware. Bose has gone with a more compact design with the latest model, which makes it look far less obnoxious than its flagship earbuds from the past. Despite the smaller size, the company has equipped the new earbuds with six microphones to offer impressive noise cancellation and better voice clarity in calls. Although the QuietComfort Earbuds don’t offer Snapdragon Sound and aptX Lossless support like the Ultra model, they do come with a few premium features, like a wireless charging case with fast charging support that offers up to three hours of playback with a quick 20-minute charge. Bose claims that the earbuds can last up to 8.5 hours on a single charge, with the charging case offering an additional 2.5 charges. The earbuds also include an IPX4 rating for water and sweat resistance, Bluetooth 5.3 with Multipoint support, multiple ANC modes, voice command support, a remote selfie feature, and a low latency mode for gaming. The QuietComfort Earbuds are compatible with Bose’s QC Earbuds app, which has a five-band equalizer to help you tune the sound to your preference. The app also offers a Voice ID feature for personalized audio calibration. The new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds will be available through the company’s website starting today. You can pick them up for $179 in three color options: Black, White Smoke, and Chilled Lilac. --- # Waiting for Apple Intelligence on your iPhone? Here’s some good news. URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/waiting-for-apple-intelligence-on-your-iphone-heres-some-good-news Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Apple Apple Intelligence features will be available in more countries next year than previously announced. The iPhone maker revealed that the features will also be available in English (India), German, Italian, Korean, and more. Apple previously announced a roadmap for its Apple Intelligence suite of features, giving us a good idea of what to expect in terms of availability. Now, Apple has quietly revealed that its AI tools will be coming to more countries in 2025 than previously announced. Apple stated back at the iPhone 16 launch that Apple Intelligence would expand to Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish next year. However, an Apple website post has now revealed that Apple Intelligence will also be available in English (India), English (Singapore), German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Vietnamese, and “others” in 2025. Apple Intelligence will initially be available in US English next month. It’ll then expand to more markets in December, namely Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK. In any event, Apple’s suite of AI features includes writing tools (rewriting, proofreading, and summarization), image generation smarts, and an upgraded Siri. However, the initial release will be restricted to AI-powered writing tools. --- # Wallpaper Wednesday: More great phone wallpapers for all to share (September 18) URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/wallpaper-wednesday-more-great-phone-wallpapers-for-all-to-share-september-18 Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Welcome to Wallpaper Wednesday! In this weekly roundup, we’ll give you a handful of Android wallpapers you can download and use on your phone, tablet, or even your laptop/PC. The images will come from folks here at Android Authority as well as our readers. All are free to use and come without watermarks. File formats are JPG and PNG, and we’ll provide images in both landscape and portrait modes, so they’ll be optimized for various screens. For the newest walls as well as all the ones from previous weeks, check out this Drive link. Want to submit your own? Head to the bottom of this article. Wallpaper Wednesday: September 18, 2024 Another week, another set of awesome Android wallpapers for you to share! Remember that we are always looking for submissions from our readers. Head to the bottom of this article to find out how you could have one of your images featured in an upcoming Wallpaper Wednesday! Because you’ve made Wallpaper Wednesday so popular, we are now doubling the number of reader-submitted wallpapers featured each week! Previously, we would do three images, but now we’re bumping that up to six. You guys are just too good at this! With that in mind, we’ve got six awesome images from our readers that would look great on your phone, tablet, or PC. As usual, we also have three images from the Android Authority team. First, we have a really cool shot of a raindrop from reader (and frequent contributor) Adoss. That shot was captured with a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra! Next, we have an astounding photo of the husk of a bug from reader Han Le. Han shot that in Vietnam with a Google Pixel 6 Pro! After that, we have a cinematic shot of a motorcycle and its rider from reader Antaryami Das, who used a Poco X4 Pro for the capture! Next, we have a gorgeous photo of a rainbow over Texas from a reader calling themselves “Stanley Kubrick.” They used a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra for that photo. We also have a pretty shot of a bed of orange flowers in Bangladesh from reader Rubaiyat Dipto. Rubaiyat used a Samsung Galaxy A55 for that photo! Finally, we have a serene photo of a pond, complete with butterflies and lilypads, from reader Kaustav Pramanik. Thanks so much for your submissions, all! From the Android Authority team, we have a fantastic shot of a lighthouse during sunset from Bogdan Petrovan. Next, we have some melty LPs captured by Rita El Khoury. Finally, we have a great shot of a lawn sculpture from Robert Triggs. Be sure to download these photos in their high resolutions from this Drive link! How to submit your own Android wallpapers We are very excited to see your own contributions to our Wallpaper Wednesdays project. Before submitting, here are the rules: Your submissions should be your own creation. That means photos you took, digital art you created, etc. Please don’t submit other people’s work — that’s just not cool. Also, please avoid sending images purely created with AI. Images you created and then augmented with AI tools are OK. You must agree to let Android Authority share your Android wallpapers for free with anyone who wants them. We will not accept watermarked images. You will, however, get a credit and a link in the article itself. We can link to your social media account only. Ready to submit? Fill out the form below. You’ll need to include the highest-resolution version of the image you can provide, your name, and a brief description of what the image is. If you want us to link to a social media page you own in your credit, please provide that, too, but that’s optional. --- # Google fixes Nest Learning Thermostat’s brightness problem with latest update URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/google-fixes-nest-learning-thermostats-brightness-problem-with-latest-update Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Google Google has begun rolling out a new update for the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen). The update addresses the dimness problem by optimizing how the device automatically adjusts screen brightness. The company has also added the ability to manually control the brightness level. Shortly after the release of the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) last month, users reported that there was an issue with the display’s brightness. Google said a fix would be on the way for its latest Nest product and that fix is rolling out now. Back in August, Amazon reviews for the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) claimed that when the room would get dark, the display would dim to a point where it was difficult to read. This problem was connected to the auto-brightness feature which changes the display’s brightness depending on how bright the surrounding area is. The bigger problem is that there was no way to fix the issue as the device shipped without a manual brightness control, unlike previous generations. Google says it’s now rolling out a software update that addresses this problem. Specifically, the update is said to optimize how your thermostat automatically adjusts screen brightness. On top of that, the update is adding a new manual brightness adjustment to give users more control over the brightness. Credit: Google If you want to access the new manual brightness control, you just have to navigate to the Settings Menu on the device. From there, select Device Settings, tap on Display Brightness, and select Auto or Manual. If you’re not seeing the new brightness control yet, don’t worry. All 4th-gen Nest Learning Thermostats should automatically get the update in the coming weeks. Google says, “We’ll notify all users through the Message Center in the Google Home app once everyone has received the update.” --- # The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a major camera zoom bug thanks to One UI 6.1.1 (Update: On hold) URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/the-galaxy-s23-ultra-has-a-major-camera-zoom-bug-thanks-to-one-ui-611-update-on-hold Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a significant camera zoom bug after the One UI 6.1.1 update. Images taken between 16x and 19.9x see significant ghosting as a result of this bug. Samsung is working on a fix but a temporary workaround is available by adjusting the intelligent optimization feature. Update, September 18, 2024 (11:13 AM ET): According to a new report from SamMobile, Samsung has halted distribution of its One UI 6.1.1 update to the Galaxy S23 Ultra in response to these camera issues. Availability appears to continue unchanged for other members of the S23 family. Original article, September 18, 2024 (03:43 AM ET): The One UI 6.1.1 update is now available for older Samsung phones like the Galaxy S23 series. Unfortunately, the new software introduces a major bug that affects camera zoom on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Posts on Samsung’s Korean Community website (h/t: The One Cid on Twitter) confirm significantly ghosted images between 16x and 19.9x on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Check out a couple of pictures below for a better idea of the issue. One user even posted a comparison showing a blurred image at 18x and a higher-quality, non-blurred picture at 21x. Check it out below. The ghosting and blurriness apparently occur when the intelligent optimization feature is set to maximum. Users online suggest that switching this feature to medium or minimum addresses this problem. This is nevertheless a major bug, but Samsung is aware of it. “Yes, I have reproduced the issue you mentioned and confirmed the problem. I apologize for the inconvenience. We will prepare a fix for the problem as soon as possible,” a company representative noted in a thread on the Korean forum. It’s still curious that this issue doesn’t rear its head below 16x or above 19.9x. We’re guessing Samsung has to lean more heavily on image processing at this zoom range as opposed to cropping from the 10x camera. --- # Google Chrome’s latest features ensure your browsing history follows you everywhere URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/google-chromes-latest-features-ensure-your-browsing-history-follows-you-everywhere Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Google Chrome’s new update automatically syncs tab groups across all devices for seamless browsing. Chrome is also testing a feature that suggests pages based on your browsing history on other devices. Enterprise users get new features like Google Calendar integration on the new tab page. Google has just announced a series of new features for its Chrome browser designed to improve the experience for users and businesses. These updates aim to streamline the browsing process and offer new tools to make switching between devices and managing work tasks more efficient. One of the key highlights for general users is an improvement in how Chrome handles tab groups. Previously, users could manually save and sync their tab groups on a desktop, but now Chrome will automatically do this across all devices, whether you’re using a desktop, Android, or iOS. This could mean if you’re researching something on your computer at home and want to pick it up on your phone later, your tabs will be saved and ready to go on whichever device you’re using next. Google is also testing a new feature that suggests web pages to revisit based on tabs you’ve had open on other devices. Google gave an example where Chrome would prompt you with a suggestion to open the same website on your phone’s new tab that you last visited on your computer. This proactive approach could come in handy for users who juggle multiple devices throughout the day and want a quicker way to get back to their browsing sessions without needing to bookmark or manually search for those pages again. On the enterprise side, Chrome is also introducing several enhancements to improve productivity. One new feature gives Google Workspace users a clear view of their daily calendar as soon as they open a new tab. This makes it easier for employees to quickly check their schedules or jump into virtual meetings without needing to open the full Calendar app. This functionality is rolling out gradually, offering yet another way for businesses to streamline their workflows. --- # YouTube now supports custom thumbnails for playlists, but there’s a catch URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/youtube-now-supports-custom-thumbnails-for-playlists-but-theres-a-catch Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority YouTube is finally giving users the option to add custom thumbnails to video playlists. The new feature uses AI to generate thumbnails based on a few preset themes, but it doesn’t let you upload custom images. It’s available in version 19.37.35 of the YouTube app on Android, but you need a verified account to access it. Although YouTube lets you use just about any image as a thumbnail for your videos, it doesn’t offer a similar option for playlists. Video playlists on the platform automatically pick the thumbnail from the first video in the lineup, and you can only change it by moving a different video to the top of the playlists. That’s set to change with the latest YouTube app update. YouTube has been working on giving users the option to add custom thumbnails to playlists for a while now. We first spotted the in-development feature in a teardown of the YouTube app this June, and it’s rolling out to users with version 19.37.35. However, YouTube’s implementation has some unusual limitations. For starters, the ability to add custom thumbnails to playlists is only available to those who have a verified account. This means that a vast majority of users won’t get the feature from the get-go, and they’ll have to verify their phone number on the platform to get access. If you choose to verify your phone number, you should see a new button with a pencil icon in the bottom right corner of playlist thumbnails. Tapping on it will open an edit menu, which brings us to the next limitation. As you can see in the attached screenshots, the edit menu only offers options to create a thumbnail with AI or remove the custom image. The feature doesn’t let you upload a custom image, so you can’t actually pick a thumbnail image of your liking. You can only generate one based on a few preset themes, much like the AI-enabled album art generation feature for playlists in YouTube Music. Upon selecting a theme, the feature will automatically generate sample images based on a preconfigured prompt. You will get the option to change parts of the prompt by tapping the underlined text, but the feature doesn’t let you enter a custom prompt. Alternatively, you can use the Randomize button to generate a new set of images. Although this new feature is better than relying on playlists automatically picking thumbnails from the first video, we’re sure many users would prefer having the option to upload custom images instead. We hope YouTube adds this functionality in a future update. --- # Valve Index 2 rumors: Everything we know so far and what we want to see URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/valve-index-2-rumors-everything-we-know-so-far-and-what-we-want-to-see Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Despite launching over four years ago, the Valve Index remains one of the most advanced PC VR headsets. Of course, there have been plenty of headsets since then, including cheaper options like the Quest 3. The good news for Valve is that its fans tend to be loyal, as evidenced by the fact more SteamVR users are utilizing the Valve Index over the more mainstream Meta Quest 3 as recently as August of 2024. The bad news is that this gap is shrinking fast as competition heats up. In addition to devices like the Meta Quest 3 we’ve also see the release of the high-end Vision Pro and there are upcoming devices like the Samsung XR around the corner as well. When will wee see a Valve Index 2, if ever? Here’s everything we know about the Valve Index 2 from current rumors, as well as what we’d like to see from it. Will there be a Valve Index 2? Credit: Oliver Cragg / Android Authority Let’s not beat around the bush, we really don’t know for sure if there will be a new Valve Index or not, as the company hasn’t really said much one way or another as of late. There have been small signs over the years to suggest Valve isn’t done with VR, but it’s also not afraid to shelve or retool projects that aren’t work quite hitting the mark. Anything can happen. The VR industry continues to be a growing and evolving market with its own unique ebb and flow. We often see new products like the PSVR 2 and Meta Quest 3 spark new interest from mainstream consumers, only for VR to somewhat fade into the background once more. Rinse and repeat. As we mentioned briefly above, the market is again starting to heat up again and the Valve Index is no longer the shining industry example it once was, which just might drive Valve into releasing an Index 2. While there aren’t any official details about Valve’s plans, at least a few rumors suggest Valve is working on something. For starters, a South Korean radio certification for a Valve product called 1030 surfaced in early 2024. This aligns with Valve’s previous internal labels for products, as the Steam Deck was listed as 1010, and the original Valve Index was previously listed as 1007. Judging by the numbers, this is more likely to be tied to the Steam Deck, but again we can’t say for sure. More compelling, Steam data miner Brad Lynch noted the Steam client’s September update included a number of VR-specific strings related to batteries, supporting the idea Valve might be working on a standalone VR headset. Would this headset replace the Index or augment it as a cheaper mobile option? That’s harder to guess. What we do know is that the Valve Index is still considered one of the most powerful solutions for VR. This makes it not only popular with VR enthusiasts but also with businesses adopting VR for reasons beyond entertainment. That said, maybe they have seen the Quest’s success on the low end and want to go after a more mainstream audience. Given this early evidence, we’d say it’s pretty likely an Index 2 will happen, it’s just much harder to gauge whether it will end up titled as a full successor or just the launch of a new product line. For now, we’ll continue to refer to it as the Valve Index 2 in this post, just for simplicity. What is the most likely Valve Index 2 release date? Valve Index — June 28, 2019 The original Valve Index arrived in June of 2019 and is the first and only member of the Index family so far, making it hard to draw any conclusions on when the Valve Index 2 release date might be. There were rumors earlier in the summer of 2023 claiming an Index 2 launch would happen that year, but nothing ever came of it. Now with 2024 coming closer to an end, it’s very likely we won’t see anything until 2025 or beyond. It’s also possible Valve simply has refocused its efforts on the Steam Deck and other projects, and isn’t ready to go after VR anytime soon. Either possibility seems just as likely at this point, so all we can really do is wait and see. What specs and features could the Valve Index 2 have? So far, the rumors haven’t given us too many details, other than the previously mentioned code device suggesting it might have its own battery. It’s also hard to say whether this would be a true stand-alone or just something that doesn’t require direct tethering. There have been a few recent patents for VR headset designs from Valve in 2023, but patents often are just about testing new things and don’t necessarily translate into real-world product changes. Still, it’s worth noting the most recent patent render didn’t look much different from the Valve Index — suggesting Valve is either playing its cards close to its vest, or it isn’t likely going to rock the boat too much on design. Beyond that? If Valve is planning a more portable option, it’s possible it’ll make more modest changes to things like the display technology and field-of-view (FoV) to keep costs from ballooning too much. Valve is still one of the best with a 130-degree FoV, so it might not be necessary to revolutionize this aspect. Then again, if Valve is going all in, it might decide that keeping pricing down isn’t as important as staying on the bleeding edge of VR. We also imagine Valve would at least want to match or slightly exceed the Quest 3’s 2,064 x 2,208 pixels per eye. Tracking and controllers are other areas where Valve is likely to want to make improvements, which we’ll talk about a bit more in our “What we want to see” section. What might the Valve Index 2 price be? Valve Index — $999 The Valve Index wasn’t the cheapest option when it was first released, and in the current landscape, the price of the Valve Index 2 could be even higher. For one, the economy has witnessed an increase in the pricing of VR headsets, as seen with devices like the Meta Quest 2, which increased by $100 long after its initial launch. Additionally, we must take into account Apple and its Vision Pro. The Apple VR headset costs $3,499. Why is this important? The Valve Index was one of the most powerful VR headsets at its launch, so it’s possible that the company might delve even deeper and deliver a more expensive headset to better compete with Apple. If that’s the case, the price could easily range from $1,200 to $1,600 and still be considered a more affordable alternative. It’s also worth noting the Samsung XR is expected to also have high-end specs and pricing. Taking a step back, let’s not forget the rumors about the next Valve Index VR headset having a battery, which would make it more portable. Currently, we don’t know if this means Valve is planning to compete with the new Quest 3 or if it’s more likely to align with something like the $1,099 Vive XR Elite. If it’s the former, we could expect Valve to keep the price around $500 to $750. If it is planning a more high-end standalone product like the XR Elite, a price tag of $999 or higher would make a lot of sense. Should you wait for the Valve Index 2? Credit: Valve If you are absolutely interested in the Valve Index series, yes, we’d wait. The Valve Index is currently almost five years old, so it’s not worth the hefty investment when it’s likely in its twilight years. There’s also the fact Samsung has its own device in the works. If you’re just looking for a high-end VR headset and don’t want to wait for something that might not come anytime soon, the HTC Vive Pro 2 () would be a good choice as it’s only two years old and should have quite a lot of support left. You could also could consider the Apple Vision Pro (), though that’s a much steeper investment. What if you’re hoping more for a stand-alone option? The Meta Quest 3 () could be worth the purchase if you don’t want something high-end. If you’re holding out hope the Index will have a higher-end stand-alone experience, we would actually wait to see what Valve delivers before considering something like the Vive Elite XR. Valve Index 2: What I want to see The Valve Index was a good headset, but VR technology has advanced in the last four-plus years. Base stations and --- # Take these leaked Nintendo Switch 2 images with a grain of salt URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/take-these-leaked-nintendo-switch-2-images-with-a-grain-of-salt Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Curtis Joe / Android Authority Alleged renders of the Nintendo Switch 2 have emerged online. The leak claims the Switch successor will have 12GB of RAM, support for HDMI 2.1, and 256GB of internal storage. The display is said to be eight inches. Nintendo has been playing its cards close to its chest in regards to the Switch 2. In fact, Nintendo has yet to even reveal the official name of its next-gen console. Despite that, there have been a few leaks here and there that give us somewhat of an idea of what to expect. The latest leak, however, may have revealed the design of the system and a few extra details. Alleged images of the Nintendo Switch 2 have emerged online. The images were found on Reddit, but are said to originate from an unverified source on a Chinese social media site. Before diving into the details, we recommend taking this leak with a healthy dose of salt. According to Reddit post, we’re dealing with a console that has an 8-inch screen, magnetic Joy-Cons, and USB-C ports on the top and bottom. Additionally, it’s claimed that the system will have 12GB of RAM, support for HDMI 2.1, and 256GB of internal storage. Based on the images, it looks like the SL and SR buttons on the Joy-Cons may have been revised. In addition, it appears that the release button on the controllers have been changed as well. While you should remain skeptical of this leak, the images reportedly match what Nintendo’s partners have been told to expect according to VGC‘s source who has not seen the Switch 2 but has been briefed on the plans. The details also appear to be in line with previous leaks suggesting an 8-inch display. There’s still a lot to learn about Nintendo’s next console, like what type of display will it have? Rumors have suggested that it could launch with an LCD display instead of an OLED. But we should find out more the closer we get to launch. Speaking of the launch, Nintendo did tease that it would make an announcement “within this fiscal year.” The current fiscal year ends on March 31, 2025, so there’s a good chance we’ll see the new system then. --- # Apple is (momentarily) no longer the second-biggest smartphone maker URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/apple-is-momentarily-no-longer-the-second-biggest-smartphone-maker Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Xiaomi moved more smartphone volume over the month of August than Apple, with only Samsung shipping more. This marks the first time since 2021 that Xiaomi has managed to outpace Apple. Xiaomi sales are on the rise, but this is mostly a consequence of Apple sales slumping ahead of its latest launch. When you’re a smartphone user in the West, it’s easy to fall into the trap where the market starts looking like Samsung vs Apple, and everything else is a distraction at best. Of course, the actual landscape is far more varied and interesting than just that, and even with lots of upheaval as manufacturers come and go, there are still plenty of other major brands selling phones — and in some cases, a lot of phones. Xiaomi is one of those players where you’ve probably heard its name quite a bit, but may not have a great sense for just how big it is on the international smartphone market. To simply acknowledge its bigness risks understatement, but now we have one very clear way to put it: Last month, Xiaomi sold more smartphones than Apple. That’s according to the latest analysis from Counterpoint Research, and while that’s a major mark to hit, it’s not one without precedent: Xiaomi similarly eked past Apple back around this time in 2021. Although Xiaomi’s been having a solid 2024, displaying growth month after month, the circumstances of it crossing this threshold are honestly less about Xiaomi and more about Apple, and how the company’s sales always cool off in the time immediately preceding the launch of its latest iPhones. Credit: Counterpoint Still, credit goes to Xiaomi for having the sales to slide past a giant like Apple, even if just momentarily. Counterpoint’s analysis credits some restructuring of the brand’s phone lineup to focus on fewer devices in each segment, and a growing focus on the premium space. That tends to track with our interest in the company, as well, with recent excitement centered on devices like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and its rumored camera hardware, a next-gen concept with no physical buttons, or the Mix Flip foldable. Of course, the iPhone 16 series is here now, and while we don’t have sales estimates covering these past few weeks just yet, it doesn’t take a particularly talented imagination to suspect that Apple’s fortunes have already turned around — and are likely well on their way to once again passing even Samsung. Still, good on you, Xiaomi! --- # YouTube auto-dubbing will let you watch global content with realistic voice and tone matching URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/youtube-auto-dubbing-will-let-you-watch-global-content-with-realistic-voice-and-tone-matching Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority YouTube is expanding its auto-dubbing feature to more creators and adding support for new languages. A pilot program is testing advanced auto-dubbing that captures the creator’s tone and intonation. Google has unveiled a suite of new features designed to elevate the YouTube experience for both creators and viewers. These enhancements include generative AI tools for brainstorming content ideas, a Twitch-inspired “Community” space for creators, and AI-powered reply suggestions for comments. One of the most noteworthy updates is the broader rollout of YouTube’s auto-dubbing feature, which has the potential to make the platform more inclusive and accessible to global audiences. The feature, first announced last year, allows creators to generate translated audio tracks for their videos. YouTube has been testing the auto-dub feature with a limited group of creators, and now it’s set to expand its availability to “hundreds of thousands more” creators. While there’s no precise timeline for the rollout, YouTube stated it will happen “in the coming months.” In addition to expanding access, YouTube is also increasing the number of languages supported by the auto-dubbing tool. Previously limited to Spanish and Portuguese, the feature will soon support languages like French, Italian, and more. The blog post also highlights that auto-dubbing is set to evolve even further. It will soon be able to transfer the creator’s tone and intonation, even capturing the ambiance of their surroundings and infusing it into the dubbed audio. This promises to make the experience significantly more natural and engaging for viewers. This enhanced capability is currently being piloted with a select group of creators. While YouTube didn’t mention any details, it appears that these auto-dubbing enhancements will use Gemini’s multimodal capabilities, like accurately mimicking human speech and potentially even recreating a specific individual’s voice. Though these features sound promising, their real-world performance will determine their impact. If successful, these auto-dubbing enhancements could break down language barriers, allowing creators to reach new audiences they never could before. --- # YouTube’s latest UI change makes liking and disliking more tedious URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/youtubes-latest-ui-change-makes-liking-and-disliking-more-tedious Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Damien Wilde / Android Authority The “Like” and “Dislike” buttons on YouTube for Android TV and Google TV have been combined into a single button. If you click the new button, it will bring up a mini pop-up menu for liking or disliking. The redesign adds one more step you need to follow to like or dislike a video. Google likes to occasionally fiddle around with the layout of YouTube, often to the chagrin of its users. For example, back in April, the company tested out a new UI design that relocated the video title, description, and comments to the right-side panel. The change was widely panned at the time. Now the company is trying out a new tweak that will probably also end up being controversial. According to 9to5Google, a change to the “Like” and “Dislike” buttons on YouTube for Android TV and Google TV has rolled out. Previously, there were dedicated buttons for Like and Dislike above the playback progress scrubber. These buttons existed alongside other buttons like Captions, Live Chat, Save, and more. You can see an example of how that layout looked in the left image below. In the right image above, you’ll see the new redesign. The Like and Dislike buttons have now merged into a single dual-purpose button. If you click on the new button, it will bring up a mini pop-up where you can choose to like or dislike the video. It’s unclear when this change was made, but the outlet says it appears to have rolled out in the last 24-48 hours. On one side, merging the Like and Dislike buttons does allow for other buttons to take up that space. At the same time, however, it’s less convenient as it adds an additional step to liking or disliking a video. In related news, YouTube has expanded its auto-dubbing feature to more creators. This should make content more inclusive and accessible to global audiences. --- # Deal: Save $100 on the OnePlus Pad 2 and get the OnePlus Buds 3 for free! URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/deal-save-100-on-the-oneplus-pad-2-and-get-the-oneplus-buds-3-for-free Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority If you’re looking for an excellent Android tablet, there is no doubt the OnePlus Pad 2 should be on your radar. It isn’t exactly cheap, but there are occasional deals that make it a much more enticing purchase, such as today’s! Right now, you can save $100 on the OnePlus Pad 2, bringing the price down to $450. Additionally, the manufacturer is throwing in a set of OnePlus Buds 3 earbuds for free! Get the OnePlus Pad 2 and OnePlus Buds 3 for $450 This offer is available directly from OnePlus. It’s worth noting that there are a few factors to consider to get the full value of this sale. The first $50 discount is automatic. Then, you can save another $50 by using coupon code SEP50. To get the earbuds, you’ll need to make sure to add them under the “Free Gift” section of the buy page. The OnePlus Pad 2 is a worthy 2024 high-end tablet. We especially loved its aluminum design, which makes the pad feel and look amazing. Of course, you’ll also get great performance thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and 8-12GB of RAM. The display is also very impressive. The 12.1-inch panel offers a super crisp 3,000 x 2,120 resolution, a smooth 144Hz refresh rate, and the brightness can reach 900 nits. All factors combined, this is one of the best displays on any Android tablet. We found battery life amazing, as the tablet would last us multiple days on a single charge. And when it’s time to charge, it juices up at 67W, which is pretty fast. The OnePlus Buds 3 are not really among the best wireless earbuds, but they are great if you’re getting them for free. They have cool features like touch controls, a 44-hour battery life, an IP55 rating, and active noise cancelation. They certainly seem like earbuds that should have a price higher than their $100 MSRP. Want in on this offer? Go get yours as soon as you can. It’s not often we see a nice discount on top of a free product. If you’re not quite convinced, check out other great options in our list of the best Android tablets. --- # Google just dodged a massive EU antitrust fine URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/google-just-dodged-a-massive-eu-antitrust-fine Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Google is off the hook for a 2019 €1.49 billion EU fine. The European Commission still has the option to appeal this reversal. Qualcomm has not shared in Google’s luck, and its own antitrust fine remains largely intact. Google is no stranger to finding itself stuck with a hefty fine. Over the years, the tech giant has faced off against courts and regulators time and time again, often ending up having to pay one serious bill. We recently went back and looked at just how much the company has been forced to pay out over the past decade, totaling over $11 billion — and that’s before inflation. In light of all that, we’re sure Google must be feeling very happy about this latest news, as the company manages to dodge a €1.49 billion antitrust fine in the EU. This particular fine stems from a 2019 European Commission ruling — the third entry on our list — and much like the current legal struggle it’s facing with the DOJ in the US, this one concerned online advertising. The EC accused Google of using its dominant market position to illegally limit competition. Now the European General Court has ruled in favor of Google’s appeal, and while it doesn’t clear Google of wrongdoing in this matter, Reuters reports that it quashed the fine because the EC “had failed to take into account all the relevant circumstances” when assessing it. That gives Google a little breathing room for the moment, but it’s not necessarily the end of this particular fight — the European Commission has the option to itself appeal, but right now has yet to commit to any further action. In separate but thematically related news, Qualcomm has been working to appeal its own bill stemming from accusations of anticompetitive conduct in Europe, culminating in a €242 million fine. It sounds like that team could have used a little help from Google’s lawyers, as while the General Court did ultimately reduce the company’s fine, it only did so to the tune of €3.3 million, still leaving it with hundreds of millions to pay. --- # Motorola Moto G75 leak gives a sneak peak at colors, specs, and more URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/motorola-moto-g75-leak-gives-a-sneak-peak-at-colors-specs-and-more Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: 91mobiles Images for the Moto G75 have leaked. Some of the phone’s specs were also revealed in the leak. The Moto G75 will come in black and blue color options. Motorola is getting ready to release a new budget Android phone — the Moto G75. Although the handset is still unavailable, a new leak has given us a look at this upcoming smartphone. The folks over at 91mobiles have gotten their hands on renders of the Moto G75. The leak not only reveals the design and color options, but also provides a few details on the specs. It appears the Moto G75 will be available in black and blue, with the blue colorway coming with a leather back panel. If you were hoping for a radical design change, you won’t be getting it here as the handset appears to retain the typical Motorola design. That design features flat sides, a top-center punch-hole selfie camera, two rear cameras in a boxy camera bump, volume and power buttons on right, and a SIM card tray to the left. The outlet notes that the power button could double as a fingerprint reader. As for the specs, there’s an engraving on the camera bump that suggests we’re getting a 50MP lens. It seems that that 50MP camera is a Sony LYT600 with OIS support. Some of the images also reveal the device has an IP68 rating, a 6.8-inch FHD+ display, Dolby Atmos support, and an unspecified Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. While this leak reveals a good amount of information, there’s a lot we still don’t know about the smartphone. For example, what Snapdragon chip will Motorola give this device? We’ll just have to wait patiently for more information to surface to get our answers. --- # The iPhone 16’s hidden upgrade is its repairability URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/the-iphone-16s-hidden-upgrade-is-its-repairability Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority Apple has significantly improved the repairability of the iPhone 16 series, making it easier to replace batteries, swap Face ID components, and configure parts. The company has also expanded support for third-party and used parts, potentially lowering repair costs and reducing e-waste. Despite remaining tight-lipped about it during the iPhone 16 launch event, Apple has quietly implemented a series of substantial improvements to the repairability of its latest flagship devices. Reports from Engadget and Tom’s Guide have shed light on these under-the-radar changes that promise to make iPhone 16 repairs easier and more accessible than ever before. One of the most significant upgrades involves battery replacement. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have done away with the frustratingly stubborn adhesive strips of previous models, opting instead for an innovative “ionic liquid” battery adhesive. This new adhesive releases effortlessly when a low-voltage electrical current is applied, making battery swaps quicker, safer, and less prone to damage. Apple has also tackled the complexities of Face ID repairs. With the iPhone 16 series, the TrueDepth Camera, the core component of Face ID, can now be seamlessly swapped between units without compromising security or privacy. This marks a major departure from the past, where such repairs were solely handled by Apple itself. Additionally, the ability to configure the TrueDepth camera directly on the iPhone has been added to iPhone 12 and newer models, eliminating the need for an external Mac. A newly introduced “Repair Assistant” further streamlines the repair process. It empowers customers and independent repair shops to configure both new and used Apple parts directly on the device, eliminating the previous need to contact Apple for parts pairing. On the software front, iOS 18 will let users run Apple diagnostics for repair on-device, enabling users to pinpoint faulty components without needing another device. Better third-party parts support In a move that is likely to be welcomed by both environmentally conscious consumers and right-to-repair advocates, Apple has significantly expanded its support for third-party and used Apple parts. Used parts can now be officially calibrated through Apple’s cloud-based servers and will be clearly identified as “used” in the device’s repair history. Although third-party parts still cannot be officially calibrated, the iPhone 16 will attempt to activate and utilize them to their “full capability.” Future software updates will even enable True Tone functionality on third-party displays and provide battery health information for third-party batteries, which wasn’t possible until now. Cumulatively, these changes represent a major stride forward for Apple in terms of repairability. The iPhone 16 series appears to be one of the most repair-friendly iPhone generations to date, and we can only hope that this becomes a trend across the industry. --- # Here’s another chance to get the Apple iPad 9th Generation for $199 URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/heres-another-chance-to-get-the-apple-ipad-9th-generation-for-199 Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority We last reported on the Apple iPad 9th Generation $199 deal early this month, mentioning the all-time low price could run this older model out of stock. The price increased to $224 for some days, but it’s now back to $199. Here’s another chance to get a great tablet for just a couple of Benjamins! Get the Apple iPad 9th Generation for only $199 This deal is available from Amazon, and the discount applies to both available color versions of the tablet: Space Gray and Silver. There is no sign of this being part of a specific sale campaign, but this tablet is from 2021. We’re not sure how long the offer will last, or if the stock is about to run out. If the OnePlus Pad 2 deal we reported on earlier is still a bit too expensive for your budget, here’s another excellent tablet that will cost less than half. At just $199, the Apple iPad 9th Generation is quite the steal. Despite being from 2021, it is a very capable tablet, and most users will find no issues using it daily. In fact, I have personally used this same tablet to edit RAW photos on Lightroom, and I never encountered any hiccups while doing anything, including playing some of the most demanding mobile games. Apple has optimized the software to get the most from the tablet’s A13 Bionic processor and 3GB of RAM. The rest of the tablet is also pretty nice. It has a 10.2-inch display with a crisp 2,160 x 1,620 definition, which is pretty nice, even by 2024 standards. Additionally, the 8,557mAh battery can last 10 hours while streaming video. If you care for stylus support, it also works with the 1st-generation Apple Pencil. Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority Going back to the whole stock situation, many of this tablet’s versions are starting to run out. The 64GB models in Space Gray are still available, but both 256GB versions are gone right now. The cellular model is only available in the 256GB iteration. If you want one of these iPad 2021 models, you best act quickly. If you want a newer iPad, there’s also a $50 discount on the Apple iPad 10th Generation, bringing the price down to $299. That said, we also have a list of the best Android tablets, just in case you don’t like iPadOS. --- # Deal: I’d rather save money on an iPhone 13 than get an iPhone 16 URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/deal-id-rather-save-money-on-an-iphone-13-than-get-an-iphone-16 Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority I am all about saving money, and based on the current economy, I’m sure I am not alone. All these fancy new phones are fantastic, including the brand-new Apple iPhone 16 series, but do you really need the latest and greatest? The iPhone 13 is still a great device that will keep most users happy, and you can save a bunch of cash by getting this older-generation handset. Right now, Best Buy is offering the iPhone 13 new and unlocked for just $550. Buy the Apple iPhone 13 for just $550 This deal is available from Best Buy. While the discount applies to all color versions of the Apple iPhone 13, not all of them are available anymore. More specifically, the Midnight color model is out of stock. Again, Best Buy sells the iPhone 13 new and unlocked, which means it will be covered under warranty and you can even buy Apple Care protection for it. So, what is it that makes the iPhone 13 a good purchase in 2024, despite it being a 2021 device? At $550, the iPhone 13 is priced very similarly to our favorite budget phones. The list even includes the more affordable iPhone SE, which is $429. This means you can upgrade to the iPhone 13 for just $121. What do you get for this extra cash? The iPhone 13 was launched as a high-end device, so it comes with performance that is still awesome in 2024. The Apple A15 Bionic processor, and 4GB of RAM are still pretty snappy. In fact, I still use an Apple iPhone 12 Mini as a secondary smartphone and have yet to encounter any issues. It runs games and all apps without an issue, so the iPhone 13 will do even better. The rest of the phone is pretty awesome, too. It has that newer, boxier design many of you love, with an IP68 certification for dust and water resistance. There’s also a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a crisp 2,532 x 1,170 resolution and up to 1,200 nits of brightness. Credit: Eric Zeman / Android Authority While the camera system is no longer among the best, it is still pretty outstanding, as this series did have among the best cameras at launch. And compared to the iPhone SE, you get a much larger 3,240mAh battery, 15W MagSafe charging support, and UWB compatibility. And if you were wondering, the iPhone 13 will still get the iOS 18 update. Apple no longer offers the iPhone 13, so we can only assume retailers are selling off the remaining stock. This means stock may start to run out soon, especially the most desirable color models. The cheapest iPhone 16 costs $799, and you might not even need all the extra bells and whistles it offers. Casual users might be better off saving $249 by going with an older iPhone 13, instead of the brand-new iPhone 16. --- # Android 15 release date leaks: Get ready to have some Vanilla Ice Cream URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/android-15-release-date-leaks-get-ready-to-have-some-vanilla-ice-cream Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Android 15 could roll out to Pixel phones on October 15, per a new leak. Google has not officially confirmed the release date, but a known Android insider has also corroborated the information. Android 15, codenamed “Vanilla Ice Cream,” could debut on October 15, according to a leak by Android Headlines. The publication hasn’t revealed the source of its information, but the suggested date aligns with Google’s release cadence for new Android versions. Google usually releases Android updates in October alongside new Pixel phones. However, this year, Google released the Pixel 9 series in August with Android 14. Google also has a habit of releasing new Android updates on a Monday. However, Android Headlines notes that October 14 is a holiday for Columbus Day, which is probably why Google pushed the release to October 15. In any case, an Android 15 release on October 15 has a nice ring to it. When the stable Android 15 update finally lands, it should first hit Pixel hardware, followed by other Android devices. Android 15’s late arrival also indicates that we might see fewer bugs on the update, given that the company has had plenty of time to iron them out. Google has not officially confirmed the October 15 Android 15 release date, but Android Authority contributor Mishaal Rahman concurs that this could be the date the new software will arrive. Rahman had also previously suggested an October release timeline for Android 15. Android 15 will bring enhanced system integration, more AI-driven features, improved customization options, notable UI changes, and much more. You can take a look at all the confirmed and rumored Android 15 features here. --- # Android 15 release date: When is the next update coming? URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/android-15-release-date-when-is-the-next-update-coming Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Google has unleashed early versions of Android 15, with the latest being Beta 4.2. You can download it manually onto Pixel 6, Pixel 7, Pixel 8, and Pixel 9 series phones, and also the original Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet. If you don’t have a Pixel device, betas are available on devices from several OEMs, including HONOR, OPPO, Xiaomi, and Nothing. Alternatively, you can use the 64-bit system images with the Android Emulator in Android Studio. As is customary, Google has also revealed an Android 15 release timeline. It’s very similar to the release trajectory of Android 13 and Android 14. Android 15 release timeline Credit: Google As you can see from the image above, the Android 15 release schedule aligns with what we saw last year. With the first and second developer previews now out the window, the version is well within its beta phase, with the latest Beta 4.2 launching in August. Now that we’re out of developer previews and into betas, regular folks who don’t want to flash the developer preview manually can safely experience Android 15. In fact, with Beta 3, the operating system reached Platform Stability, indicating it’s nearly ready for launch, pending any last-minute bug fixes. The fourth Beta released in July marked the second platform stability milestone for the OS. This update means all app-related behaviors and the core functionality are essentially finalized, signaling to app developers that they need to finalize their updates to ensure compatibility with the new features and avoid issues when users upgrade. While Google hasn’t outwardly mentioned a month for the final Android 15 stable rollout, details from the Android Beta Exit update screen suggest that Android 15 will be coming to Pixel devices in October 2024. Interestingly, the Android 15 source code has already rolled out on September 3. According to a leak, Google could release stable Android 15 to Pixel devices on October 15. Naturally, the Android 15 release date for Pixel phones will precede other brands. Samsung and others should also start announcing the availability details of the new Android version around the same time as its final release. Below are all the significant milestones for Android. We’ll keep updating the list as and when Google releases fresh updates. Android 15 milestones: February 16, 2024 — Android 15 DP1 March 21, 2024 — Android 15 DP2 April 11, 2024 — Android 15 Beta 1 April 22, 2024 — Android 15 Beta 1.1 April 25, 2024 — Android 15 Beta 1.2 May 15, 2024 — Android 15 Beta 2 May 20, 2024 — Android 15 Beta 2.1 June 3, 2024 — Android 15 Beta 2.2 June 18, 2024 — Android 15 Beta 3 July 1, 2024 — Android 15 Beta 3.1 July 18, 2024 — Android 15 Beta 4 August 14, 2024 — Android 15 Beta 4.2 Upcoming dates: October 2024 — Android 15 update for Pixel devices If you want to know what’s new in Android 15, visit our Android 15 features hub. If you want to try out the early versions of the software, we have a guide on how to install Android 15. --- # WhatsApp could soon let you theme your chats. Here’s how it would look URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/whatsapp-could-soon-let-you-theme-your-chats-heres-how-it-would-look Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority WhatsApp is working on a feature that lets you set the default chat theme in the conversation screen. There will be a wide range of presets to choose from, and users will be able to further select between message colors and the darkness of the wallpaper. This feature is not currently active but is expected to be rolled out to users in the future. WhatsApp is very popular in large parts of the world, even wholly replacing SMS as the standard form of text communication. But there’s no denying that the instant messaging app is behind the curve when it comes to new features. Even the most minor changes to WhatsApp will affect over two billion users, so the platform moves cautiously with changes. It seems a big change is on the horizon, as WhatsApp’s upcoming themes feature is getting ready for rollout, and we have a demo of it. WhatsApp has long been working on a default chat theme feature, and WABetaInfo spotted more evidence of it. This feature will let users choose their preferred colors for the chat bubbles in the conversation screen and the accompanying wallpaper from a handful of predefined themes. We managed to activate the feature in WhatsApp v2.24.20.12 beta, so here are some screenshots of it in action: There will be a couple of presets to choose from, though we could activate only a few. You will be able to choose from a broader range of preset wallpapers, and the chat bubble will be accented to match it in the preset. You will also be able to set the darkness of the overall look, gradually switching between a light theme and a black theme. Here’s a video demo of the feature in action: The selected theme will become your default chat theme and will be applied to all chats. You may be able to override the theme manually in specific chats. Also, note that the theme is visible only to you. Other participants in the chat will see the theme they set on their devices. Right now, the default theme presets do not work. But WhatsApp is evidently making good progress. We hope the service rolls out this feature to users soon. --- # The Pixel Studio app just got a welcome sharing addition URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/the-pixel-studio-app-just-got-a-welcome-sharing-addition Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority A recent Pixel Studio update lets you share images from other apps with Google’s AI-powered app. This means you don’t necessarily have to download pictures first before using them in Pixel Studio. Google’s Pixel Studio app on the Pixel 9 series lets you create all-new images or edit existing images with the help of AI. However, it looks like the app has received a notable addition that could make life a little easier. --- # YouTube’s new way to interrupt your viewing is going wide URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/youtubes-new-way-to-interrupt-your-viewing-is-going-wide Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority YouTube Pause ads are now rolling out widely, displaying ads when users pause videos, in addition to multiple unskippable ads during playback. The expansion has been driven by a positive response from advertisers. YouTube calls these ads “non-interruptive.” The push for more ads seems aimed at encouraging more users to subscribe to YouTube Premium. YouTube has confirmed that it’s now rolling out Pause ads widely on the platform. Yes, that means not only do you have to live with multiple unskippable ads, but you’ll also start seeing ads on the free version of YouTube when you pause a video. In a statement to The Verge, YouTube’s Communication Manager, Oluwa Falodun, said that the company has seen a strong response to Pause ads on YouTube from both advertisers and viewers. “We’ve since widely rolled out Pause ads to all advertisers,” the executive confirmed. YouTube has been testing Pause ads for some time now. In April, Google’s Philipp Schindler shared positive results from the experiment, calling Pause ads a new “non-interruptive” format that appears when users pause what they are watching. It remains unclear whether the widespread rollout of Pause ads will result in fewer regular ad breaks during video playback — though, frankly, that seems unlikely. YouTube users are already seeing more frequent Pause ads on smart TVs. Some have even reported seeing them on YouTube’s mobile app. With the company’s confirmation coming in, it’s just a matter of time before Pause ads become a new normal for YouTube users. Of course, you can always subscribe to YouTube Premium if you want to get rid of ads on the platform. That’s the whole intent here — to get users to pay for content one way or the other. --- # It’s official: OPPO Color OS 15 has a launch date URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/its-official-oppo-color-os-15-has-a-launch-date Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority OPPO has announced that its Color OS 15 software will be released on October 17. The software will likely be released in China first before a global release at a later date. OPPO’s Color OS is one of the best Android skins out there, offering plenty of features and customization options. The company has been working on Color OS 15 for a while now, and we finally have a release date. OPPO confirmed on Weibo that Color OS 15 will be released on October 17 at the OPPO Developer Conference in China. Check out the screenshot below. Credit: Weibo/OPPO Chinese smartphone makers frequently release new software versions in their home market first before a global launch thereafter. In fact, Color OS 14 was first launched in China in November 2023 before a global launch in January 2024. So we’re guessing Color OS 15 will follow a similar pattern. We already have a good idea of what to expect from the new software thanks to leaks, though. The updated skin is tipped to offer an iOS-like Control Center, a Dynamic Island-style feature, and improved animations. It’s also believed OPPO could offer support for AirDrop, although we’ll believe it when we see it. Otherwise, Color OS 15 will likely offer plenty of Android 15 features too, such as additional foldable enhancements, partial screen sharing, and more. Color OS forms the basis for Oxygen OS on OnePlus phones. So don’t be surprised if some of these OPPO features come to OxygenOS 15. --- # Non-Pro iPhone 18 users may miss out on this key change URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/non-pro-iphone-18-users-may-miss-out-on-this-key-change Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority All iPhone 17 and lower-end iPhone 18 models will reportedly feature 3nm processors, as Apple could restrict the 2nm ones to its highest-end 2026 iPhones. Apple has been offering inferior processors on non-Pro iPhones for a few years now, so this potential move isn’t surprising. Compared to 3nm chips, 2nm ones could offer more processing power while maintaining their size and efficiency. In 2022, Apple widened the gap between its regular and Pro iPhones by packing inferior chips in the lower-end models. At the time, the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max got an exclusive taste of the A16 Bionic, while the standard variants stuck to the iPhone 13 line’s A15 Bionic chipset. That is still the case today; while the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus don’t feature last year’s processor, they get a less capable version of the A18 Pro chip offered by the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. This horsepower distinction will seemingly persist in the coming years, as Apple could exclusively pack 2nm chips in the highest-end iPhone 18 models. Credit: Ming-Chi Kuo on Twitter According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, all “iPhone 17 models will be made by TSMC’s N3P process/3-nanometer technology.” Meanwhile, due to cost concerns, 2026’s iPhone 18 line could feature a mix of 3nm and 2nm chips. While Kuo’s tweet doesn’t specify which iPhone 18 models will get what, it’s safe to assume that the standard ones will get a 3nm processor. Whether only the Pro Max or both Pro models will receive the 2nm upgrade is yet to be seen. For those unfamiliar, 2nm chipsets can generally accommodate more transistors than their 3nm counterparts. This allows companies to increase the devices’ power while maintaining the processor’s size and energy efficiency. The iPhone 18 series will likely debut in September 2026, along with the Apple Watch Series 12 and possibly new AirPods models. --- # Here’s how Pixel’s software update policy changed over the years URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/heres-how-pixels-software-update-policy-changed-over-the-years Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority Software support is important, especially when you spend a fortune on a new smartphone and plan on holding on to it for a long time. Google’s Pixel lineup is currently among the best on the market in this area, but it hasn’t always been that way. The company’s first phones only promised three years of software updates, but that number has gradually increased since. Now, the company’s latest phones come with seven years of software support, just like Samsung’s flagship series. Read on if you’re wondering what the software promise is for a specific Pixel phone and how things have changed over the years. You’ll find exactly when software support ends — or has already ended — for every Pixel device released so far. We’ll also take a closer look at the software support for Pixel Watches and more. Pixel devices with seven years of software support Left: Pixel 9 Pro, Right: Pixel 9 Pro Fold Credit: Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority This list is short since Google launched its seven-year software support pledge alongside the Pixel 8 series last year. It will get longer eventually, as all upcoming Pixel phones are expected to match — or even surpass — it. Pixel 9 Pro Fold — OS and security updates until at least August 2031 Pixel 9 series — OS and security update until at least August 2031 Pixel 8 series — OS and security updates until at least October 2030 Pixel 8a — OS and security updates until at least May 2031 Pixel devices with five years of software support Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority Several older Pixel phones come with a five-year OS update promise. This consists of three years of OS and five years of security updates, as listed below. Pixel Fold — OS/security updates until at least June 2026/June 2028 Pixel Tablet — OS/security updates until at least June 2026/June 2028 Pixel 7a — OS/security updates until at least May 2026/May 2028 Pixel 7 series — OS/security updates until at least October 2025/October 2027 Pixel 6a — OS/security updates until at least July 2025/July 2027 Pixel 6 series — OS/security updates until at least October 2024/October 2026 Pixel phones with three years of software support — already ended Software support for all devices in this section has already ended, according to Google’s timeline. So if you own any of these phones, you won’t receive any more OS or security updates. Pixel 5a with 5G — OS and security updates ended in August 2024 Pixel 5 — OS and security updates ended in October 2023 Pixel 4a (5G) — OS and security updates ended in November 2023 Pixel 4a — OS and security updates ended in August 2023 Pixel 4 series — OS and security updates ended in October 2022 Pixel 3 series — OS and security updates ended in October 2021 Pixel 3a series OS and security updates ended in May 2022 Pixel 2 series — OS and security updates ended in October 2020 Pixel 1 series — OS and security updates ended in October 2019 What about the Pixel Watch Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority All three Pixel watches get three years of software support, including the most recent Pixel Watch 3 — which is a bit disappointing. Pixel Watch 3 — software support at least until October 2027 Pixel Watch 2 — software support at least until October 2026 Pixel Watch — software support at least until October 2025 When do Pixel phones get updates? The great thing about Pixel phones is that they generally get the latest updates on day one. This means that you can download the latest Android version to your phone on the day Google launches it. That’s very different from other manufacturers, including Samsung, which sometimes take months to ship out the latest versions of Android. That’s because they need to optimize it to work with their own Android skins, which can be a time-consuming process. Pixel phones also get new features in the form of Feature Drops. These are updates Google ships out every few months and come packed with various features. You can check out exactly what they are and when the last one was released in our dedicated Feature Drops post. How does Google’s update policy compare? Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority Google shares the top spot as the market leader in the Android space with Samsung, with both currently offering seven years of software support for their high-end devices. Motorola has recently started offering five years of software support, but only for its recent Edge 50 Neo phone. All other devices in its lineup are promised at least two years of support. OnePlus promises four upgrades and five years of patches for the OnePlus 12, while many other manufacturers, like ASUS and HMD Global/Nokia, only ship out two software updates to their devices. Some manufacturers don’t make specific promises about software support, which usually means that you can only expect a few years of updates at best. Moving over to Apple, the company has recently officially announced that its phones will receive at least five years of OS updates, although it’s been a well-known fact in the industry that iPhones generally get around six years of updates. We have a dedicated post about the software update policies of different smartphone brands, which you can check out for more detailed info. --- # Android 15 features: Everything you need to know about confirmed and leaked features URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/android-15-features-everything-you-need-to-know-about-confirmed-and-leaked-features Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Android 14 was publicly launched with the Pixel 8 series back in October 2023. We’re well into the new year, and Google has begun testing the next version of Android, now up to the Android 15 Beta 4.2 alongside Android 15 QPR 1 Beta 2. This 4.2 beta is the second platform stability release, meaning the APIs are finalized. Since the source code is out, so we are even closer to the stable Android 15 rollout across Android devices. In this article, we’ll tell you everything we know (and think we know) about Android 15 so far! Fair warning, we’ve covered a lot of features in immense detail, so this article is very long. Consequently, this article has several indexes that should make it easier to navigate. Android 15: Name and release date Google used to name Android versions with dessert codenames, but it strayed away from that tradition with the release of Android 10, where it decided to stick with only the version number for all future releases. So Android 15 is simply known as Android 15. However, Google still uses the dessert codenames internally. Android 15’s internal codename is Vanilla Ice Cream. Google has begun testing Android 15 through two developer previews and four betas (and several sub-releases), though the final stable release is still some weeks away for Pixel devices. Android 15’s release schedule included beta releases going through August, and we’ve already reached the platform stability stages, meaning that no new features or APIs will be added so app developers can begin testing their apps against these public APIs. The next few sub-releases, if any, will be focused on ironing out bugs for the most part. Google hasn’t mentioned a specific date for when the stable Android 15 builds will be released. We presumed it would happen alongside the Pixel 9 series launch on August 13, 2024, but the new flagship line debuted with Android 14 (though Google did open up Android 15 Betas for the Pixel 9 shortly after launch). Google also made no mention of its forthcoming OS at the launch event. This means that Android 15’s launch window could be closer to its predecessors, but it did not coincide with a new Pixel launch as was initially anticipated. We spotted an OTA screen that mentions that the Android 15 update will be available in October, aligning with Android’s release history pattern. A leak then mentioned that we could see Android 15 roll out to Pixel devices on October 15, 2024, in the stable branch. Credit: Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority On the other hand, Android 15’s source code was released on September 3, 2024. If you use a recent Google Pixel device, you will be the first in line to receive the Android 15 update. OEMs will take a little longer to release their functional Android UX skins on top of the Android 15 platform. A few Android Partner OEMs are participating in the Android 15 Developer Preview program, and you can install Android 15 beta updates (without the OEM-specific customizations, for the most part) on select non-Pixel devices. For those who don’t mind taking matters into their own hands, you can follow our guide and install Android 15 on your phone by yourself. If you are done testing, here’s how you can leave the Android 15 beta program without wiping your data. Once Android 15 is released publicly, OEMs will run their own beta programs for their skins, followed by stable releases. You can check if your phone has received the update through our Android 15 update tracker. Android 15 confirmed features, UI changes, and UX improvements Android 15 looks quite similar to previous Android versions, but there are some notable changes that Google has introduced with this update. There are also functionality updates to several important features. All of these features have either been officially announced or have been spotted in the released Android 15 build. Changes to Android Automotive OS 15 based on Android Google hasn’t made a formal announcement yet about Android Automotive OS 15 based on Android 15. However, we have seen release notes that detail the upcoming new features and changes that are coming to Android that is run on in-car entertainment systems and dashboards. Android Automotive 15 will let you stream audio from the car to a Bluetooth headset. There’s also an app dock that lets users pin their favorite apps to the bottom for quick launching. The update also brings ambient view support for when the displays are idling. Other changes include Wi-Fi hotspot persistence and improved radio support for HD and DAB radio standards. Partial screen sharing Credit: Mishaal Rahman on X With Android 15, users can share or record just an app window rather than the entire device screen. This feature was enabled first in Android 14 QPR 2 on Pixel devices but will now be available across the wider Android platform. Satellite connectivity support Android 15 extends platform support for satellite connectivity. The platform now has UI elements that are needed to “ensure a consistent user experience across the satellite connectivity landscape.” As part of these changes, apps can use APIs that allow them to detect when a device is connected to a satellite, which can give the app more awareness of why full network services are unavailable. Android 15 also provides support for SMS apps and preloaded RCS apps to use satellite connectivity for sending and receiving messages. This means that satellite connectivity will not be limited to emergency uses only. Leaks had indicated that a deeper T-Mobile tie-in would be in place for satellite connectivity features, but Google has not yet revealed such details. New in-app camera controls Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority Android 15 is adding new extensions for more control over the camera hardware on supported devices. New features added through these extensions include low-light enhancements that give developers control to boost the brightness of the camera preview and advanced flash strength adjustments that enable precise control of flash intensity when capturing photos. Universal toggle for keyboard vibration control Credit: Mishaal Rahman on X Android 15 Developer Preview 1 added a new “keyboard vibration” toggle that lets you universally disable keyboard vibration. When turned off, the system setting will override the setting within individual keyboard apps. When turned on, you can control the setting within individual keyboard apps, too. Sensitive Notifications Credit: Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority Some forms of two-factor authentication (2FA) are safer than others, but many platforms rely on the most basic form of 2FA that sends one-time passwords (OTP) via text or email. However, Android 15 will fix that by adding a sensitive notifications feature that prevents your OTPs from being read by malicious Android apps. Bluetooth popup dialog Credit: AndroidPolice Android lets you toggle Bluetooth through the Quick Settings tile, but most people leave the connection on to quickly connect to their accessories throughout the day. If you have multiple accessories around, you may find better utility with a Quick Setting tile that lets you toggle the individual connections to connect and disconnect to individual devices. Android 15 brings this functionality, letting you click on the Bluetooth Quick Settings tile to open up a popup dialog that lets you perform more functions, such as toggling Bluetooth, connecting and disconnecting to individual devices, entering their settings page, and pairing new devices. Auracast focus: Audio sharing to nearby Bluetooth LE Audio streams Android 13 lets users share or connect to nearby LE Audio streams, but Android 15 could make the Auracast feature easier to discover. This would allow Auracast-supported devices to broadcast audio to nearby Auracast devices using BLE without the hassle of pairing. There is a new “audio sharing” page that appears at Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences to facilitate this audio sharing, as sp --- # Apple and Google disagree on what a photo is URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/apple-and-google-disagree-on-what-a-photo-is Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority An Apple VP has shared his view of what a photo is and why the company doesn’t offer heavy AI editing tools. While Google is helping users capture romanticized memories, Apple is sticking to what’s realistic and concrete. Apple Intelligence only offers one essential photo editing utility that removes distracting objects and blemishes. Artificial Intelligence has taken the world by storm. Companies like Apple and Google have been actively implementing AI features into their latest smartphones, such as photo manipulators, text summarizers, and much more. The Google Pixel 9 event was undoubtedly packed with these perks, raising the bar for Apple in the process. Weeks later, the iPhone 16 was revealed, and, to the surprise of many, it doesn’t offer any heavy AI photo editing features. An Apple VP has now shared what he thinks a photo is, highlighting the stark contrast between Apple’s philosophy and that of Google. Google is providing its users with the needed tools to capture over-glamorized memories that aren’t always realistic. You can swap people’s faces, change the background’s colors, insert or remove objects, add yourself to a group photo, and so on. These features all enable users to store perfected pictures of what could’ve been an ideal day. Given that we live in a far-from-ideal universe, however, these heavily edited shots don’t always reveal the authentic stories behind them. On the other hand, Apple is sticking to traditional photography concepts while offering support for edits that enhance the shots without completely wrecking their essence. So, instead of letting users swap faces and merge the best ones, it allows them to scroll through the different frames captured by a Live Photo to pick one where everyone is looking at the camera. Similarly, the new Apple Intelligence Clean Up tool lets users remove intruders or dust particles from photos without heavily manipulating the context of the shot. In a statement to The Verge, Apple’s VP of camera software engineering Jon McCormack said: Here’s our view of what a photograph is. The way we like to think of it is that it’s a personal celebration of something that really, actually happened. Whether that’s a simple thing like a fancy cup of coffee that’s got some cool design on it, all the way through to my kid’s first steps, or my parents’ last breath, It’s something that really happened. It’s something that is a marker in my life, and it’s something that deserves to be celebrated. And that is why when we think about evolving in the camera, we also rooted it very heavily in tradition. Photography is not a new thing. It’s been around for 198 years. People seem to like it. There’s a lot to learn from that. There’s a lot to rely on from that. Think about stylization, the first example of stylization that we can find is Roger Fenton in 1854 — that’s 170 years ago. It’s a durable, long-term, lasting thing. We stand proudly on the shoulders of photographic history. So, unlike Google, Apple wants a photo to capture a moment that truly happened rather than make up flawless memories. McCormack emphasizes the influence of traditional photography, asserting its reliability and timelessness. Consequently, it’s safe to assume that iOS won’t offer any AI-powered wacky editing tools anytime soon. --- # HUAWEI Watch GT 5 series launched: Long-lasting, fast-charging watches URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/huawei-watch-gt-5-series-launched-long-lasting-fast-charging-watches Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial HUAWEI has launched the Watch GT 5 and GT 5 Pro smartwatches. The standard watch is available in 41mm and 46mm sizes while the Pro comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes. The watches start at ~$305 and ~$438, respectively. The HUAWEI Watch GT series is usually up there among the best smartwatches around, even though it’s not running Wear OS. We’re about due for a sequel, so say hello to the HUAWEI Watch GT 5 series. The new smartwatches feature circular screens and are available in standard and Pro variants. The standard HUAWEI Watch GT 5 is available in 41mm and 46mm sizes, featuring a stainless steel body. Meanwhile, the Watch GT 5 Pro is available in 42mm and 46mm sizes, featuring a ceramic body and titanium alloy body, respectively. HUAWEI Watch GT 5 series features Credit: Paul Jones / Android Authority HUAWEI’s latest watches offer a variety of sports features. They support over 100 sports modes, running form analysis, and “professional-level” features for cyclists. The Pro watch also brings improved trail running support, a comprehensive Golf Course Mode, and support for free diving down to 40 meters (131 feet). These sports features are in addition to health and fitness features like improved heart rate and SpO2 tracking, an ECG button for ECG analysis on Pro models, and an improved health summary feature. You can also expect some software additions, such as screenshot functionality, full keyboard support for texts and messaging apps, and an overhauled UI. HUAWEI also promises more accurate location tracking thanks to its so-called Sunflower Positioning System tech. The Chinese manufacturer says the 41mm Watch GT 5 and 42mm Watch GT 5 Pro support up to seven days of battery life. The 46mm standard and Pro watches tout up to two weeks of juice. Either way, you can expect a full charge in just 60 minutes. HUAWEI Watch GT 5 series price and availability In the market for a new watch and like what you see? Then the HUAWEI Watch GT 5 will be available in global markets including Europe and the UK from September 19. HUAWEI says the Watch GT 5 starts at £229.99 (~$305) while the Watch GT 5 Pro starts at £329.99 (~$438). --- # T-Mobile introduces T-Priority, a new network slice aimed at first responders URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/t-mobile-introduces-t-priority-a-new-network-slice-aimed-at-first-responders Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority T-Mobile announces T-Priority, a new network slice dedicated to providing high speeds and the best possible reliability to emergency medical service providers and emergency response services. T-Mobile has announced the city of New York as a its biggest partner in the endeavor. The new tier doesn’t change much for everyday customers but just further shows that T-Mobile is more focused on growing its network partnerships than on making positive changes aimed at everyday users. Today T-Mobile announced its new T-Priority effort, which effectively sets aside a 5G network slice specifically for first responders. The idea is that this dedicated slice will offer faster speeds and the best possible priority on T-Mobile’s robust 5G network, with Verizon claiming speeds as much as 2.5 times better. For those that don’t know, a network slice basically is like a virtual network that’s given special priority on the network. The city of New York is one of the first to embrace this service in a big way, becoming an anchor customer. This means you can expect it to roll out to emergency services throughout the Big Apple in the not-too-distant future. While that’s certainly the biggest partnership announced so far, T-Mobile intends to roll out its T-Priority service to more EMS providers throughout the country in the months and years to come. What does T-Priority mean for everyday customers? Nothing really, but it just goes to show you the T-Mobile of 2024 is a very different animal than the one that John Legere once led. During Legere’s day, the goal was to gain new customers and loyal advocates, regardless of the initial cost. This was important for growing the carrier’s reputation ahead of its eventual merger with Sprint. In the years that have passed the new T-mobile has emerged as a beast that’s all about trimming costs and optimizing revenue, even if the moves are met with disdain by the very customer base that once helped build its empire. This shift means that the new T-Mobile focuses less on growing its everyday consumer base and more on expanding its partnerships and strength through efforts like T-Priority, its expanded T-Mobile MVNO efforts, and through strategic purchases of brands like Mint Mobile. --- # WhatsApp’s latest feature makes it easier to find your next favorite channel URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/whatsapps-latest-feature-makes-it-easier-to-find-your-next-favorite-channel Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: WhatsApp WhatsApp is launching a channel directory that helps users find accounts based on their topics. The browsable categories include People, Organizations, Lifestyle, Sports, Entertainment, Businesses, and News & Information. To locate the new channel directory and view its categories, go to the Updates tab in WhatsApp, then hit the Explore button. Last year, WhatsApp introduced channels — a convenient way to keep up with news outlets, famous individuals, and other broadcasters. The feature lives in the messaging app itself and acts like a one-sided conversation, where users can only read and react to announcements with emojis. To make discovering relevant channels easier, WhatsApp is launching a dedicated directory that users can browse through. WhatsApp announced today that it’s launching a directory of channels that categorizes them based on their topics. You can explore channels associated with the following categories: People, Organizations, Lifestyle, Sports, Entertainment, Businesses, and News & Information. So, for example, if you’re interested in public figures, you can browse the People section, which lists some celebrities you may want to follow. Similarly, the News & Information section highlights several notable outlets you can add to receive timely updates. While unofficial WhatsApp channel directories have been around for a while, integrating a native solution into the app should simplify the hunt. To access the new directory, first ensure that you’re running the latest version of WhatsApp on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. If the feature is available to you, you can locate it by heading to the Updates tab and hitting the Explore button. You should find a list of relevant WhatsApp channels broken down by category in that spot. It’s worth noting that Meta tends to roll out new additions gradually. So, even if you’ve installed the latest WhatsApp update, the new directory may not appear right away. --- # Google TV gets a redesigned FreePlay experience and more free channels URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/google-tv-gets-a-redesigned-freeplay-experience-and-more-free-channels Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority Google TV has updated its free channel app experience following last week’s rebranding. The updated FreePlay UI brings new screens for picking channels and sorting through the channel guide. Google TV has also added seven more channels to its free channel library. After rebranding Google TV‘s free channel offerings last week, Google has now released an updated FreePlay app experience. The company has also added more channels to the library, bringing the total to 157. Most users access Google TV’s free channels through the Live tab, but the platform also has a little-known dedicated app experience for free channels. With the FreePlay update, Google has brought this experience to the forefront and added a new “FreePlay” shortcut to the home screen (via 9to5Google). The FreePlay app experience has also received a much-needed UI update, and it now features new screens for picking channels and sorting through the channel guide. The redesigned UI sorts channels by genre, and it even includes new Favorites, Recents, and Popular categories. You can add preferred channels to the Favorites category for quick access or select the Recents section to find channels you watched recently. The Popular category, as its name suggests, collates channels that are trending on the platform. In addition to the redesigned FreePlay app experience, Google TV has added seven more free channels to its library, including: The Bob Ross Channel Comedy Dynamics Dog Whisperer with Cesar Milan Dazn Ringside Dazn Women’s Football Dove Channel The Hill TV You can access these channels in the new FreePlay app experience or through Google TV’s Live tab. The former is not widely available at the moment, but it should reach all users in the coming days. --- # Pixel Watch 2 is selling at a crazy low $75 at select Target stores URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/pixel-watch-2-is-selling-at-a-crazy-low-75-at-select-target-stores Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority Select Targets are running a clearance sale on the Pixel Watch 2. Prices have been slashed down to as low as $75. It appears the heavy discount only applies to the Bay and Hazel colorways. The Pixel Watch 2 may be a year old at this point, but it’s still one of the best smartwatches you can buy. Now that the Pixel Watch 3 is out, the 2023 wearable is even more affordable than it was at launch with multiple retailers dropping the price down by $100. But if that’s not a big enough price cut to get you to throw down some money on the second-gen model, you might want to check your local Target for some serious savings. It appears select Target stores are currently running a clearance sale on the Pixel Watch 2. According to one Reddit post, the retailer has reduced the price from $249.99 down to $74.99. Several commenters confirmed they were also able to get in on the deal at their local Targets. One Redditor stated that the Pixel Watch 2 wasn’t marked down at their Target, but after asking an employee to check the price, it came out to $75. Based on the reports, it seems the heavy discount only applies to the Bay and Hazel color options. The Black and Porcelain colorways were still selling at full price. This is quite an amazing deal, to say the least. So if your Target is also running this clearance sale, you may want to hurry up and capitalize on it before supplies run out. You should keep in mind that Google is offering trade-ins toward the purchase of a Pixel Watch 3 (). So if you want the company’s latest and greatest, you could trade-in your newly acquired Pixel Watch 2 to save on your Piexl Watch 3 purchase. Google is currently offering $120 in trade-in value for a Pixel Watch 2 that’s in good condition. --- # Google gives secure biometric passkeys a major upgrade with cross-platform sync URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/google-gives-secure-biometric-passkeys-a-major-upgrade-with-cross-platform-sync Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial The Google Password Manager is adding support for passkeys across Windows, macOS, and Linux. The biometric authentication tokens already worked across Android devices. Chrome OS support is in the works, with a beta available now, and iOS access is also planned. When it comes to securing your devices and accounts, passwords are yesterday’s news. Last year, Google started introducing the notion of “passkeys,” cryptographically secure authentication tokens tied to your biometrics. Once you’re set up to use them, passkeys offer a lot of advantages over passwords, enhancing both security and convenience at the same time. Now Google’s making it even easier to get to that point, as it improves the way you add passkeys to all your devices. So far, Android users have been able to save passkeys to the Google Password Manager, and use that to sync them across other Android hardware. But if you wanted to use them on other platforms, that involved a slightly unwieldy process involving QR codes. In the interest of encouraging passkey use, Google is working to eliminate those barriers between seamless cross-platform access and today announces that its Password Manager is adding support for passkeys on Windows, macOS, and Linux. There’s also beta access for Chrome OS, and while iOS support isn’t ready yet, that’s in the works, too. Credit: Google Google’s also giving passkeys a small tweak to further enhance their security by asking you to set a PIN. That may feel a little counterintuitive for a system intended to replace passwords, but the company says it will help ensure end-to-end encryption and keep your data private. To get started making all your devices as secure as your Android phone, head over to the Google Password Manager site today. --- # These 2022 Samsung flagships are now getting the One UI 6.1.1 update URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/these-2022-samsung-flagships-are-now-getting-the-one-ui-611-update Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Galaxy S22 Ultra Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority Samsung has started rolling out One UI 6.1.1 to its 2022 flagships. The update is available for the Galaxy S22 series, Galaxy Z Fold 4, and Galaxy Z Flip 4 in South Korea, and it should reach more regions in the coming days. One UI 6.1.1 brings several new features to the devices, along with the September 2024 security patch. Samsung’s One UI 6.1.1 rollout has had a setback due to a camera issue on the Galaxy S23 Ultra, but that hasn’t stopped the company from releasing the update to more devices. Reports suggest that the update is now available for the Galaxy S22 series, the Galaxy Z Fold 4, and Galaxy Z Flip 4 in select regions, and it will likely reach more users in the coming days. At the moment, the One UI 6.1.1 update for the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, and Galaxy S22 Ultra is available in South Korea. It measures a little over 2.8GB and has the firmware version S90xNKSU5EXH7, according to SamMobile. A separate report from the publication confirms that the update is also available for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 in Samsung’s home market with the firmware version F936NKSU4GXH7 and F721NKSU4GXH7, respectively. The One UI 6.1.1 update for these devices packs a host of new features. These include handy tools like Sketch to Image, Portrait Studio, a Listening Mode in the Interpreter app, Automatic language recognition for voice recordings, and more. In addition, it brings the Android security patches for September 2024. Although Samsung has not shared details about global availability, we expect the company to release One UI 6.1.1 for its 2022 flagships in the US in a few days. We’ll update this post as soon as the update rolls out in more regions. --- # Check your power bank: Anker issues another recall for fire safety URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/check-your-power-bank-anker-issues-another-recall-for-fire-safety Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority Anker has issued a recall for three of its power bank models due to a manufacturing defect that could pose a fire risk. The affected models are the Anker 334 MagGo Battery, a 20,000mAh power bank, and the Anker MagGo Power Bank. Consumers are urged to stop using the affected power banks immediately and initiate a recall process through Anker’s website. Anker, a leading name in the accessory market known for its power banks and chargers, has announced a recall of several products over fire risk concerns. This recall follows a previous one of the Anker 321 power bank just months ago, which was also linked to fire hazards. (via Android Police) The company has revealed that three of its power banks are now subject to recall due to a manufacturing defect in the lithium-ion batteries. The models in question are the Anker 334 MagGo Battery (PowerCore 10K), the Anker Power Bank (20,000mAh, 22.5W, Built-In USB-C Cable), and the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10,000mAh, 7.5W, Stand), corresponding to model numbers A1642, A1647, and A1652, respectively. Anker’s official blog post explains that a small number of batteries used in these products, specifically the ones manufactured between January 3, 2024, and September 17, 2024, may overheat, posing risks of melting, smoke, and even fire. In light of these risks, the company is “out of an abundance of caution,” recalling all potentially affected units. Credit: Anker The company attributes the issue to a previous battery supplier but asserts that it has since switched suppliers and is reviewing its quality control measures. However, the effectiveness of these changes remains to be seen. What customers should do Anker is urging customers who own any of the affected power banks to immediately stop using them and to not dispose of them in regular trash or recycling bins. Instead, they should visit Anker’s website to verify their power bank’s serial number and, if affected, initiate a recall process. It’s worth noting that improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries can be dangerous and is prohibited in many areas. Consumers should check with their local municipality or fire department for safe disposal options. The company will provide replacements to affected customers, but requires proof of purchase and photos of the model and serial numbers. --- # Here’s one more reason to make your next phone purchase a refurb URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/heres-one-more-reason-to-make-your-next-phone-purchase-a-refurb Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority Buying a refurbished phone on Back Market can now get you a $20-per-month Visible unlimited plan. The partnership can save you up to $60 on your wireless plan over 12 months. The plan includes unlimited data, talk, and text on Verizon’s networks. It may not be for everyone, but there are some big upsides to buying a refurbished phone. Not only is it sustainable to give a used model a new lease of life, but you’re also getting a significant discount on the handset’s retail price. For those still unsure, a new industry partnership can now land you a cheaper wireless plan when you purchase a used device. Refurbished tech marketplace Back Market announced the collaboration with Visible this morning during a press conference in Paris. The idea is to mash Back Market’s refurbished smartphones up with Visible’s cost-effective wireless plans, giving used phone buyers the option of getting Visible’s unlimited plan for just $20 per month. Buyers aren't required to sign up for the plan. The Visible plan is usually $25 per month, but it’s 20% off over the first 12 months with every smartphone purchase on Back Market. That adds up to total plan savings of $60 — on top of what you’re already saving on a discounted phone. Unlike a standard carrier deal, buyers aren’t required to sign up for the plan — they’ll receive a Visible promo code by email that can optionally be used to secure the reduced rate. Visible’s plan includes unlimited data, talk, and text on Verizon’s network, with coverage reaching 99% of the US population. Customers also benefit from features like spam and robocall blocking, and free talk and text to Mexico and Canada. Current examples of Back Market refurbished phone deals include a Samsung Galaxy S23 for $378 and an iPhone 14 Pro Max for $700. All offers state the condition of the device and whether it’s unlocked or locked to a network. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-year warranty on all devices. --- # The Z Flip 6 and Moto Razr’s biggest nightmare is going global URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/the-z-flip-6-and-moto-razrs-biggest-nightmare-is-going-global Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority Xiaomi has confirmed the Mix Flip will launch globally in September. The phone might be unveiled at the Xiaomi 14T series launch happening on September 26. The Mix Flip boasts a massive battery, super-fast charging, and powerful cameras. Launched in China just two months ago, the Mix Flip grabbed our attention for its impressive features, positioning it as a serious competitor to established flip phones like the Motorola Razr and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. Now, after weeks of speculation, Xiaomi has confirmed the Mix Flip will be expanding to international markets soon. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the Mix Flip will be “coming to global markets this September.” Notably, the company is also launching the Xiaomi 14T series in Europe on September 26, so it’s likely that the Mix Flip could be unveiled for global markets on the same day. Despite being Xiaomi’s first venture into the flip phone market, the Mix Flip boasts an impressive set of specifications that outshine even some well-established competitors. The device is powered by a 4,780mAh battery, which is not only larger than the batteries in the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Moto Razr Plus (2024) but also beats the capacities of larger book-style foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. In addition, it supports 67W wired charging, more than double the speed offered by Samsung’s foldable models. Other specs include a 4.01-inch cover screen and a 6.86-inch internal LTPO OLED screen, both of which deliver 3,000 nits of peak brightness and a 120Hz refresh rate. For photography, the phone packs in a 50MP primary camera and a 50MP 2x floating telephoto lens that also doubles as a macro lens. There are also a few notable drawbacks. The Mix Flip lacks an official IP rating for water resistance and does not support wireless charging. In terms of pricing, a previous report suggested that the Mix Flip could be priced at around 2,600 Bulgarian leva (~$1,450) in Bulgaria. This would make the phone’s European price significantly higher than the price in China, where it starts at 5,999 yuan (~$825). However, this could partially be due to Xiaomi offering the phone with higher storage and RAM configurations for global markets. With September drawing to a close, we won’t have to wait long for Xiaomi to reveal all the details about the Mix Flip’s global pricing and availability. As with most Xiaomi products, the Mix Flip is unlikely to be officially launched in the US. --- # Google’s cute talking Pixel and iPhone are back to welcome Apple to the world of RCS URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/googles-cute-talking-pixel-and-iphone-are-back-to-welcome-apple-to-the-world-of-rcs Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial RCS is here, and that means texting between Android and iOS just got a whole lot nicer. Google brings its talking Pixel and iPhone back to help promote the accomplishment. Of course, Google can’t help but criticize Apple just a bit for being this late to the party. This week has been a big one for mobile communication, and with the release of iOS 18, iPhone users are getting their first major taste of RCS. The cross-platform messaging standard isn’t just a much-needed modernization of old-fashioned SMS text messages, but an opportunity for smartphone users everywhere to really start interacting on a level playing field. Understandably, Google is very hyped about the whole thing, and has cooked up another of its cute little anthropomorphized iPhone and Pixel ads to help share the news. You might remember these guys from earlier appearances in the likes of the Pixel 8 afterparty, but now we’ve got our iPhone and Pixel showing up for a therapy session in what appears to be an impressively faithful recreation of Dr. Melfi’s office from The Sopranos (you knew you saw that circular table and tissues before). Unsurprisingly, Google can’t resist getting a few digs in at Apple in the process, gently chastising the company for the way it’s playing catch-up here, while also trying to raise awareness about the benefits RCS affords. As we’ve spent a lot of time talking about, RCS is a huge upgrade over SMS in terms of everything from media support to read receipts. If you’re new to RCS on your iPhone, we’ve got some tips on getting up to speed. Admittedly, Google may be a little optimistic here in terms of expectations of breaking down barriers between iPhone and Android users — green bubbles aren’t going anywhere — but this is still huge progress, all the same. That said, there’s plenty of room to go, and one of the next big steps we’re looking forward to is solving the problem of end-to-end encryption across platforms. --- # You can still get the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 at steep discounts! URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/you-can-still-get-the-samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6-and-z-flip-6-at-steep-discounts Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority The Samsung Fall Sale ended on September 15, 2024. There were surprising discounts on new products like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6. We assumed that Samsung’s foldable smartphones would return to their retail price after this event, but they haven’t. You can still get the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 for as low as $900, a $200 discount. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is also $400 off right now, bringing the cost to $1,500. Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 for $900 Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 for $1,500 --- # Google Calendar is finally getting a dedicated birthday event URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/google-calendar-is-finally-getting-a-dedicated-birthday-event Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Google is finally making it easier to add birthdays to Google Calendar. The service is getting a new birthday event type that removes all unnecessary event properties. The feature will roll out to Google Calendar on Android starting next week. Adding birthdays to Google Calendar is an unnecessarily complicated process, as the service doesn’t have a native option to let users create birthday events. Instead, it syncs birthday information from Google Contacts, requiring users to add birthdays to contact entries to view them in their calendars. Alternatively, users have to rely on a workaround by creating a full-day yearly recurring event, which is less than ideal. Thankfully, that’s about to change soon. Google is finally adding a dedicated birthday event to Google Calendar on mobile and web. As spotted in a teardown earlier this year, this adds a new “Birthday” chip to the event creation screen that removes all unnecessary event properties. Credit: Google You only need to specify the name and birth date, select a color, and add custom notifications to create a birthday event. The event automatically repeats annually at the specified time, and you don’t have to bother with the other properties available for regular events. Google says that this new birthday event option will first roll out to Google Calendar on Android starting next week. It is also coming to Google Calendar for web and iOS devices soon. The feature will be available for all users, including Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual subscribers, and those with personal Google accounts. --- # Sony celebrates 30 years of PlayStation with a PS1 makeover for the PS5 and PS5 Pro URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/sony-celebrates-30-years-of-playstation-with-a-ps1-makeover-for-the-ps5-and-ps5-pro Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial PlayStation is releasing a 30th Anniversary Collection. The collection includes a limited edition console, controller, accessories, and collectibles. The 30th Anniversary Collection will be released on November 21. Only 12,300 units of the limited edition PlayStation 5 Pro will be available globally. It’s hard to believe, but it’s been 30 years since the release of the original PlayStation. Just as it did for its 20th anniversary, PlayStation is celebrating its third decade of existence by launching a limited edition digital PS5, PS5 Pro, and matching products that honor the company’s beginnings. Today, PlayStation released a video and blog to announce the launch of the 30th Anniversary Collection. Each product in the collection features PS5 and PS5 Pro hardware that utilizes the original PlayStation color design. The PS5 version of this bundle includes: A digital edition 1TB PS5 Console cover for a disc drive Matching DualSense controller Vertical stand Original PlayStation controller-style cable connector housing Four PlayStation Shapes cable ties PlayStation sticker Limited edition PlayStation poster (1 of 30 possible designs) PlayStation Paperclip Meanwhile, the PS5 Pro version features almost everything included in the PS5 bundle, except a 2TB PS5 Pro replaces the digital edition PS5. Something special about the limited edition PS5 Pro, however, is that only 12,300 units will be sold. The individual unit number will appear on the side of the console where the slanted lines are. If you’re wondering why the number is 12,300, it’s because the number matches the anniversary date of December 3 (12/3). Additionally, you can buy a 30th Anniversary DualSense, DualSense Edge, and PlayStation Portal separately if you don’t want to splurge on the whole collection. The 30th Anniversary Collection is scheduled to launch on November 21, 2024. PlayStation didn’t reveal how much you’ll have to pay for either bundle, which is particularly worrying for PS5 Pro version as the normal PS5 Pro is set to launch at $699. But if you don’t care about the price, pre-orders for the limited edition PS5 Pro, Portal, DualSense Edge, and DualSense will start on September 26. The digital edition PS5 will follow with pre-orders starting on October 10. --- # Chrome for Android biometrics want to know who you are before filling in your password URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/chrome-for-android-biometrics-want-to-know-who-you-are-before-filling-in-your-password Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Chrome for Android is working on adding biometrics to password fill-in. Systems like this already exist on browsers like Edge. The tool would add an additional layer of authentication to help keep your accounts secure Good security is all about striking a balance: Make a system too secure, and it’s likely to be arduous to use, while err on the side of being too lax, and your data risks going exposed. Companies like Google are constantly tweaking their approach in the hopes of finding the right balance, like we’ve been seeing with its emphasis on passkeys for authentication. Right now we’re checking out what could be one of Google’s next changes in pursuit of that goal, as Chrome for Android gets better about handling saved passwords. Over on X, Leopeva64 has spotted some recent commits to the Chromium codebase, setting up a means to require users to re-authenticate with biometrics prior to their browser filling in saved passwords on websites. Password managers in general are a great example of tools that exist to balance security vs convenience, but in this case, Google clearly seems worried that maybe the needle had swung a little too far in the “convenience” direction. Even if your phone itself is secured behind biometrics or a PIN (as it very well should be), you still don’t want someone grabbing it while unlocked and unprotected, and an additional layer of verification before giving anyone holding it access to your accounts sounds like a totally reasonable move. Credit: Leopeva64 In fact, it’s so reasonable, you’re probably wondering where it’s been this whole time. Leopeva64 suggests that Chrome may have tried doing this before only to back down from the idea, and points out that other browsers like Microsoft Edge on Android are already doing this very same thing. Right now this change is being implemented as a flag in Chrome’s Canary channel release, so it still may be a little while before you can hope to see it come to a stable build. --- # The best new streaming movies this week: Civil War and more URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/the-best-new-streaming-movies-this-week-civil-war-and-more Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial We’re back with a new list of movies for this week. Lots of action, drama, horror, and dystopia to look forward to, so grab a cup of coffee and keep reading. The best new streaming movies this week Boy Kills World Civil War The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed In a Violent Nature Uglies Handling the Undead Boy Kills World – September 13, Hulu Release date: April 26, 2024 Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller Rating: R Director: Moritz Mohr Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Jessica Rothe, H. Jon Benjamin, Michelle Dockery, Brett Gelman, Sharlto Copley, Andrew Koji In a dystopian world, a deaf and mute young man known only as Boy witnesses the brutal murder of his family by Hilda Van Der Koy, a ruthless dictator. Rescued by a mysterious shaman, Boy is trained to become a lethal killing machine. Now an adult, Boy vows revenge against Hilda’s regime. Unable to speak, Boy’s thoughts are voiced by an irreverent inner monologue that sounds like an old arcade game. As Boy cuts a bloody swath through Hilda’s minions, he’s helped by the imaginary presence of his deceased little sister and a cast of eccentric characters. But when he meets Hilda, he realizes everything is not what it seems. Watch on Hulu Civil War – September 13, Max Release date: April 12, 2024 Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller Rating: R Director: Alex Garland Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Nelson Lee, Nick Offerman, Jefferson White In a near-future America torn apart by civil war, veteran photojournalist Lee leads a team of reporters on a dangerous cross-country journey to Washington D.C. Their goal: to interview the president before rebel forces overthrow the government. As they travel across a war-ravaged landscape, they encounter both civilian militias and government forces. Their journey forces them to confront the ethical dilemmas of reporting on societal collapse and question their motivations. Watch on Max The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed – September 13, Hulu Release date: April 26, 2024 Genre: Comedy Rating: N.A. Director: Joanna Arnow Cast: Joanna Arnow, Scott Cohen, Babak Tafti, Peter Vack, Michael Cyril Creighton, Alysia Reiner, Parish Bradley Ann is a socially awkward young woman in New York City, drifting through uncomfortable personal and professional situations. She’s trying to find meaning and connection through various relationships, including a long-term BDSM arrangement with an older man who seems indifferent to her. At work, Ann faces mundane humiliations and a sense of purposelessness. Her interactions with her parents are stilted and unfulfilling. As Ann moves through explicitly depicted sexual encounters, awkward social situations, and moments of quiet desperation, the film builds an accurate portrait of the millennial struggle to forge genuine connections in modern urban life. Watch on Hulu In a Violent Nature – September 13, Shudder Release date: January 22, 2024 Genre: Horror, Thriller Rating: NR Director: Chris Nash Cast: Ry Barrett, Andrea Pavlovic, Cameron Love, Reece Presley, Liam Leone, Charlotte Creaghan, Lea Rose Sebastianis Deep in a remote wilderness, a masked, seemingly supernatural killer goes on a systematic rampage. The film unfolds with minimal dialogue or music, relying instead on ambient forest sounds and long, static shots that create an eerie atmosphere. Brief flashbacks hint at the killer’s tragic origins. As the body count rises, the killer encounters increasingly prepared and desperate survivors. The film maintains its unconventional approach, shedding typical slasher movie techniques in favor of a more detached, observational style. Watch on Shudder Uglies – September 13, Netflix Release date: September 13, 2024 Genre: Action, Adventure Rating: PG-13 Director: McG Cast: Joey King, Brianne Tju, Laverne Cox, Chase Stokes, Kevin Miles, Kelly Gale, Keith Powers In a future society, all citizens undergo mandatory plastic surgery at the age of 16 to achieve a standardized ideal of beauty. Tally Youngblood cannot wait for this day to come. She’ll finally go from “Ugly” to “Pretty,” allowing her to live in the gleaming city and party with her recently-transformed friend Peris. However, Tally’s worldview is challenged when she befriends Shay, a fellow Ugly who questions the system and tells her about a rebel community living off the grid. Tally’s journey leads her to this grid, where she meets the charismatic David and learns disturbing truths about her society. As she grows closer to the rebels, Tally must choose between the promise of prescribed beauty and a harder life of freedom. Watch on Netflix Handling the Undead – September 17, Hulu Release date: February 9, 2024 Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery Rating: N.A. Director: Thea Hvistendahl Cast: Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie, Bahar Pars, Bjørn Sundquist, Denise Trankalis, Bente Børsum, Jan Hrynkiewicz In Oslo, a strange electrical phenomenon causes recently deceased people to inexplicably return to life. The film follows three families as they grapple with the sudden reappearance of their dead loved ones. These resurrected individuals are not violent zombies but confused, barely functioning shells of their former selves. The authorities attempt to control the situation, leading to conflicts with those who want to keep their loved ones at home. Meanwhile, scientists race to understand the phenomenon, uncovering disturbing implications about the nature of consciousness and death itself. The story builds to a climax, forcing the characters to confront brutal truths about love, grief, and letting go. Watch on Hulu What was new and worth watching over the last month Here’s a quick roundup of our previous lists if you missed them. Also, if you’re in the mood for something else this weekend, we have a list of streaming shows to cater to that. Arthur the King – September 11, Starz Release date: March 15, 2024 Genre: Adventure, Drama, Sport Rating: PG-13 Director: Simon Cellan Jones Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Nathalie Emmanuel, Simu Liu, Ali Suliman, Juliet Rylance, Bear Grylls, Michael Landes Based on a true story, Michael Light is a washed-up adventure racer looking for one last shot at glory. He assembles an unlikely team for a grueling 435-mile race through the Dominican Republic jungle, including social media star Leo, injured veteran Chik, and Olivia, whose father is battling cancer. Their plans take an unexpected turn when they encounter a stray dog they name Arthur. Against all odds, Arthur follows the team through treacherous terrain, deep rivers, and punishing conditions. As Arthur’s determination inspires the racers to push beyond their limits, Michael forms a special bond with the scrappy canine. But when they’re forced to leave Arthur behind during a dangerous kayaking leg, Michael must decide how far he’ll go to reunite with his newfound companion. Watch on Starz Rebel Ridge – September 6, Netflix Release date: September 6, 2024 Genre: Action, Crime Rating: TV-MA Director: Jeremy Saulnier Cast: Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Emory Cohen, David Denman, Oscar Gale, Steve Zissis In this intense thriller, Terry Richmond is a mysterious drifter with a hidden past who finds himself in a corrupt small town in rural Alabama. When racist cops violently accost Terry and steal $36,000 he needs to bail out his cousin, he’s forced to take matters into his own hands. As Terry peels back the layers of corruption and brutality infecting the town, he must use his elite military training to survive and seek justice. Along the way, he forms an uneasy alliance with Summer, a local single mother caught in the crossfire. With time running out to save his cousin and the town’s ruthless police chief closing in, Terry wages a one-man war against a system built on oppression and violence. Watch on Netflix The Boy and the Heron – September 6, Max Release date: July 14, 2023 Genre: Animation, Adventure Rating: PG-13 Director: Hayao Miyazaki --- # Deal: The Ember Mug 2 smart mug is 40% off, only today! URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/deal-the-ember-mug-2-smart-mug-is-40-off-only-today Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Ember via Best Buy The Ember Mug 2 isn’t your typical mug; it is actually smart. It is also quite pricey at $150, but we see it nicely discounted every now and then. Right now, you can get it for $90, which is a 40% discount. Get the Ember Mug 2 for only $90 This offer is available directly from Best Buy. It is part of the retailer’s Deal of the Day daily sales, so you can only get it at this price today, until 10 PM Pacific. Additionally, only the Stainless Steel model is available at this price point. Arguably, $90 is still quite pricey for a mug, but sometimes splurging a tiny bit is worth it. In my case, my morning coffee is one of the most important parts of the day. It’s my time to wake up, plan my schedule, and get the push I need to tackle the day full-force. My issue is that if I take a bit too long drinking it, it gets cold. That’s when something like the Ember Mug 2 will come in handy. The Ember Mug 2 is a 10 oz smart mug. It can keep your drink at the perfect temperature, which you can pick in the app. It has some cool features, like auto-sleep mode. This feature will automatically turn off the Ember Mug 2 when it has no liquids or turn it on when liquid is poured into it. The mug will remember the last temperature you set on it. If you’re feeling techy, it even has an LED light, which you can customize. Battery life is also pretty good at 1.5 hours, so you can take it off the base and be sure your drink will stay hot for quite a while. You don’t even need to worry about washing it, either, as it has an IPX7 rating for water resistance. Is it time to upgrade your morning coffee routine? Go ahead and catch this deal soon. Again, the sale is only available today, ending at 10 PM Pacific. Get it while it’s hot, and then keep your coffee hot. --- # Check out incident reports working on Android Auto URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/check-out-incident-reports-working-on-android-auto Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Adam Birney / Android Authority An Android Auto user reports they now have the incident reporting feature in Google Maps. The feature sits underneath the icons for Settings, audio guidance, and compass. Users will be able to report incidents like crashes, slowdowns, construction, lane closures, and more. Incident reports are one of the more handy features that Google Maps offers. However, the ability to make new reports has been sorely missing from the Android Auto version of the app. A revamped version of the incident reporting system is supposed to be coming to Android Auto at some point, but the full rollout has yet to happen. As we wait for the wide release, the feature has reportedly made it onto the app for at least one Android Auto user. Just for context, the incident report feature is a tool that relies on crowdsourced data. The Google Maps community can report on anything that gets in the way between them and their destination such as crashes, hazards, speed checks, and so on. This is helpful as it gives other drivers a heads-up to avoid or prepare for these obstructions. Although Google announced that a rollout for the revamped incident reporting system would come to Android Auto in the US, almost no one is seeing the functionality live. However, it appears that the feature has been rolled out for at least one person on Reddit, giving us a look at how it will work. Credit: pkoya1 The Redditor shared a picture of the feature live in their vehicle. Based on the image, it seems incident reporting appears as a yellow triangle with a plus symbol in the middle. This icon sits underneath the icons for Settings, audio guidance, and compass. If you tap on the icon, it will bring up an “Add a report” menu with options for reporting crashes, slowdowns, construction, lane closures, and more. The other options aren’t visible in the image, but it’s likely the rest of the list includes stalled vehicle, object on road, and speed trap, as those options are available in the mobile app. It’s still unclear when the feature will become widely available. But when it does, there’s a good chance more people will start reporting incidents, which would improve the usefulness of incident reports. --- # Want a power station? Anker has a couple of hot deals for you URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/want-a-power-station-anker-has-a-couple-of-hot-deals-for-you Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Anker via Amazon Regular battery packs are great, but some of us need more power than a day’s worth of juice. I go on my weekend adventures whenever possible, and spend a lot of my time working from coffee shops, where I don’t always have an outlet. That’s when portable power stations come in handy, and Anker is offering some fantastic deals on a couple of them today. The Anker SOLIX C300 Portable Power Station is available for $50 off, reducing the cost to $200. If you have more demanding needs, you can upgrade to the Anker SOLIX C800 Portable Power Station, which is $200 off, slashing the price down to $399. Buy the Anker SOLIX C300 Portable Power Station for $200 Buy the Anker SOLIX C800 Portable Power Station for $399 --- # This is how much bigger your iPhone 16 batteries are URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/this-is-how-much-bigger-your-iphone-16-batteries-are Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority The battery capacity of the iPhone 16 series has been revealed through regulatory filings. The iPhone 16 series comes with the following battery sizes: 3,561mAh (base), 4,674mAh (Plus), 3,582mAh (Pro), and 4,685mAh (Pro Max). The iPhone 16 series goes on sale today in major markets around the world, competing against top Android flagships like the Pixel 9 series and the Galaxy S24 series. If you’ve got your hands on your new iPhone 16 or are deciding whether to take the plunge, you’d be glad to know that we finally have exact battery capacity information across the iPhone 16 lineup. Apple doesn’t release the exact battery capacity of its phones. Instead, the company focuses on battery life as a comparison metric against preceding products in the lineup to show how much battery life has improved. While we appreciate the real-world focus of the released data, it makes comparing the latest iPhone 16 against iPhones older than the iPhone 15 difficult. Thanks to Brazilian regulator Anatel (h/t BlogdoiPhone), we now know just how big the batteries are on the iPhone 16 series. Here’s how much battery you get: ‌iPhone 16‌: 3,561mAh ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus: 4,674mAh iPhone 16 Pro: 3,582mAh ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max: 4,685mAh Here’s how the iPhone 16 series batteries compare to that of the iPhone 15 series: iPhone 15 seriesiPhone 16 seriesYoY Change Base model3,349mAh3,561mAhUp 6.34% Plus4,383mAh4,674mAhUp 6.64% Pro3,274mAh3,582mAhUp 9.40% Pro Max4,422mAh4,685mAhUp 5.95% The biggest physical increase is seen on the Pro, with a very good 9.4% YoY increase. Apple officially only releases battery life figures, which are a sum total of increased battery capacity, better efficiency of the new processor, and better thermal dissipation on the phones. Here’s what Apple says about the iPhone 16 series vs the iPhone 15 series: iPhone 15 seriesiPhone 16 series Base modelUp to 20 hoursUp to 22 hours PlusUp to 26 hoursUp to 27 hours ProUp to 23 hoursUp to 27 hours Pro MaxUp to 29 hoursUp to 33 hours Some of the biggest increases are seen on the Pro and the Pro Max, lining up with the increased battery sizes. The nominal voltage across the iPhone 16 lineup is 3.892V (base), 3.878V (Plus), 3.886V (Pro), and 3.875V (Pro Max). Apple also does not disclose wired charging numbers for the iPhone. However, certification data suggests that all four phones in the iPhone 16 series support up to 45W fast charging. Apple does provide details on wireless charging. The iPhone 16 series supports Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W, Qi2 wireless charging up to 15W, and MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W. Note that comparing the battery capacity on an iPhone against an Android flagship is like comparing apples to oranges, so to speak (pun intended). iPhones have an entirely different OS, which handles standby performance very differently. Apps on iPhones are also better optimized for performance since the target phones are limited in numbers, whereas optimizing apps on Android devices is a more herculean task, given the diversity of phone options. So, we advise caution when comparing the purely technical battery capacity numbers between the two camps, as you’d be missing out on crucial context and deviating from real-world experience. Did you get an iPhone 16? How has your battery life experience been? Let us know in the comments below! --- # OxygenOS 15 could make your OnePlus phone more iPhone-like URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/oxygenos-15-could-make-your-oneplus-phone-more-iphone-like Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority A new report has detailed apparent Oxygen OS 15 features coming to OnePlus phones. It sounds like the skin could get plenty of iOS-like features, much like OPPO’s Color OS 15. OnePlus phones run the Oxygen OS skin, and we’re expecting Oxygen OS 15 to launch before the end of the year. Now, a new leak has revealed some apparent features. --- # The best Game Boy Advance emulators for iOS URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/the-best-game-boy-advance-emulators-for-ios Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial From the Game Boy to the Nintendo Switch, handheld gaming has always been an absolute joy for gamers of all generations. Playing on the go offers a certain level of convenience that console games just cannot; but whether you’re looking to replay some of your favorite Game Boy titles or are just now discovering the retro handheld, finding the original copies of old Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games can be frustrating and expensive to acquire. Thankfully, emulation has made experiencing old retro handheld games like the GBA easier and more convenient than ever before. In fact, thanks to smartphone emulators, you can play your retro games from the convenience of your iPhone or iPad. Today, we’ll be sharing some of the best GBA emulators for iOS devices that are well worth your time. --- # All your paranoia about social media sites surveilling you is probably spot-on URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/all-your-paranoia-about-social-media-sites-surveilling-you-is-probably-spot-on Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial An FTC report has accused social media companies of vast user surveillance. The report found that major social media platforms are collecting excessive amounts of user data and not doing enough to protect privacy, especially for children. The report raises grave concerns about the potential risks to user privacy and safety due to inadequate data protection measures and surveillance practices. Big tech is watching, and we’ve probably known that in our hearts all along. There’s been enough and more evidence of social media companies mining user data and having inadequate policies around how that data is used. Now, a new staff report by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has accused major social media and video streaming companies of spying on users to the extreme. The report takes into account data gathering and usage practices from companies like Meta, YouTube, X Corp (formerly Twitter), ByteDance (TikTok), Amazon (owns Twitch), Snap Inc (Snapchat), Discord, Reddit, and WhatsApp. It found that all these platforms are collecting massive amounts of user data and not doing enough to protect user privacy, especially for kids and teens. --- # OPPO Find X8 takes on iPhone 16 in first official image URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/oppo-find-x8-takes-on-iphone-16-in-first-official-image Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority OPPO has given us our first look at the Find X8 series of phones, comparing it to the iPhone 16 range. The image shows thin bezels and a flat display, and the latter is a major change compared to the Find X7 series. A leaker has also claimed that the phones will launch no sooner than October 21. OPPO is expected to launch the Find X8 series of phones next month, and these are poised to be among the best camera phones on the market. Now, a company executive has given us our first look at the Find X8 range. OPPO chief product officer Pete Lau posted an image on Twitter that compares the vanilla Find X8 (right) to the iPhone 16 series. An OPPO executive also posted the picture on Weibo, complete with Find X8 series hashtags, confirming that this is indeed the company’s upcoming flagship phone. --- # Which Samsung phones are expected to get the Android 15 update? URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/which-samsung-phones-are-expected-to-get-the-android-15-update Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority Rumors suggest we’re less than a month away from the stable release of Android 15. While Pixel devices will get it on day one, Samsung users will have to wait a bit longer, as usual. High-end Galaxy phones will be the first to get it, followed by the rest of the pack. But this begs the question: Which Galaxy phones will even get the Android 15 update? While Samsung hasn’t shared an official list yet, we can make an educated guess based on the software support length of each phone. --- # You can now try Apple Intelligence without joining the developer program URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/you-can-now-try-apple-intelligence-without-joining-the-developer-program Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Mahmoud Itani / Android Authority The iOS 18.1 beta is now available to public testers, allowing them to try upcoming iPhone features without joining Apple’s developer program. iOS 18.1 public beta 1 shares the same build number as developer beta 4 and includes the same feature set. This release packs some Apple Intelligence features, such as Writing Tools, Clean Up in the Photos app, notification summaries, and more. A few weeks ago, before iOS 18‘s stable launch, Apple started testing iOS 18.1 with members of its developer program. The release packs some of the upcoming Apple Intelligence features, such as Writing Tools and Clean Up. To allow more users to try its AI features, Apple has now expanded the iOS 18.1 beta’s availability to public testers. Days after releasing iOS 18.1 developer beta 4, Apple made public beta 1 available to testers with compatible iPhones. Both beta versions share the same build number and features, including the first batch of Apple Intelligence goods. --- # Xiaomi and vivo phones are set to borrow a cool AI feature from Google and Samsung URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/xiaomi-and-vivo-phones-are-set-to-borrow-a-cool-ai-feature-from-google-and-samsung Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority Premium Xiaomi and vivo phones are expected to get Circle to Search later this year. The feature is currently only available on Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy flagships. The Xiaomi 14T and vivo X200 devices could be the first from the two Chinese brands to get Circle to Search. Google’s AI-powered Circle to Search feature, currently exclusive to Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel flagships, is now expected to roll out to Xiaomi and vivo flagships. According to tipster Yogesh Brar, the two Chinese firms are set to introduce Circle to Search on their devices later this year. --- # Sending files between Android and iOS could soon become easier (for some) URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/sending-files-between-android-and-ios-could-soon-become-easier-for-some Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority An alleged screenshot from Color OS 15 on the upcoming OnePlus 13 showcases a wireless file transfer solution between Android phones and iPhones. This solution is said to be baked into Color OS 15 and can wirelessly transfer files such as photos, videos, documents, etc. However, you may need to install an app on iOS. It’s unclear how the solution works and whether it will arrive for global markets on OnePlus and OPPO devices. Smartphone OEMs are focusing heavily on ecosystems these days, but not everyone lives in platform bubbles. Many of us live across different product ecosystems, choosing products that work for us instead of being tied down to the ecosystem. However, this diversity in choice comes with drawbacks, as these ecosystems often don’t play nice with each other. However, changes are on the horizon, and one of them could soon make it easier to share files from an Android phone to an iPhone. Before we dive into the upcoming feature, let’s back up a little to understand the problem. Sharing a file between iPhones or other Apple devices is easy, thanks to AirDrop. Sharing a file between Android devices, and even between Android devices and Windows PCs, is easy, thanks to Google’s Quick Share. --- # Californians can now keep their state IDs on their wrists, thanks to this new Apple feature URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/californians-can-now-keep-their-state-ids-on-their-wrists-thanks-to-this-new-apple-feature Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Apple Wallet on iOS and watchOS now supports state IDs and driver’s licenses issued in California. To add your ID to the digital wallet, you’ll be prompted to submit a photo of it, a selfie, and a facial scan. Once added, you can use it to verify your age or identify at select venues and in compatible apps. Over the past few months, Apple has been gradually adding support for more US state IDs and driver’s licenses in its Wallet app. The latest expansion allows Californians to utilize this handy feature on iOS and watchOS, sparing them the need to carry their physical wallets everywhere they go. Apple announced yesterday that its Wallet app on iOS and watchOS now supports state IDs and driver’s licenses in California. Those interested can add their ID cards to the digital wallet by submitting a photo of it, along with a selfie and facial scan. Once the issuing state verifies the submitted details, you can use your iPhone and Apple Watch to prove your age or identify at select venues. The feature also works in third-party apps utilizing the relevant API. --- # Galaxy S25 charging speeds leak, and there’s bad news URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/galaxy-s25-charging-speeds-leak-and-theres-bad-news Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Android Headlines A regulatory listing has revealed charging speeds for the Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus. The Galaxy S25 tops out at 25W charging speeds while the S25 Plus will support 45W speeds. This means Samsung’s base model will have 25W charging for the sixth year running. The Samsung Galaxy S25 series is months away from its expected launch date, but leaks have already revealed apparent charging details for the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Now, a regulatory filing may have just dished out charging information for the rest of the series. Gizmochina spotted a regulatory filing for the Galaxy S25 (SM-S9310) and Galaxy S25 Plus (SM-S9360) on China’s 3C certification website. We were able to confirm the listing, as per the screenshot below. --- # We checked out the world’s first triple-screen foldable, and it’s bonkers URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/we-checked-out-the-worlds-first-triple-screen-foldable-and-its-bonkers Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial We’ve previously seen concepts from various manufacturers over the years, but HUAWEI made tech headlines last week when it launched the world’s first dual-folding, triple-screen foldable, the Mate XT. The new foldable phone is only available in China right now, but we were fortunate enough to briefly check it out this week. So is the Mate XT as cool as it looks? --- # The HUAWEI Mate XT is coming to global markets after all, and here’s when URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/the-huawei-mate-xt-is-coming-to-global-markets-after-all-and-heres-when Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oiwe_cT1iLY We can confirm that the HUAWEI Mate XT will receive a global release in Q1 2025. This is the world’s first triple-screen foldable phone, featuring a 10.2-inch folding screen that folds twice. HUAWEI launched the Mate XT last week, and it’s the world’s first triple-screen foldable phone. This was a China-only launch and the company didn’t reveal global launch details at the time. Now, we can confirm that the HUAWEI Mate XT will launch in global markets in Q1 2025. That’s a long time to wait, but we’re glad to see that the world’s first triple-screen foldable will get an international release, after all. --- # Apple’s 2025 iPads could be the first with this major internal change URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/apples-2025-ipads-could-be-the-first-with-this-major-internal-change Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Oliver Cragg / Android Authority Apple could start relying on its in-house Wi-Fi chips starting with 2025 iPads or 2026 iPhones. The iPhone SE 4 could be the first to feature Apple’s in-house 5G chips, which could reduce the company’s reliance on Qualcomm. Apple may still need Qualcomm’s help, as its 5G chips reportedly haven’t adopted the mmWave technology yet. While Apple heavily relies on third parties, especially in the hardware department, the company continues to develop its own solutions to limit its dependence on them. For example, it stopped offering Google Maps by default after releasing its native navigation service on iOS. It similarly ditched Intel once it readied the M-series processors for its Macs. To further decrease its reliance on Qualcomm and Broadcom, Apple is now reportedly moving forward with its plans to adopt its in-house network chips. 2025 iPads could be the first to pack its Wi-Fi chips, while the iPhone SE 4 could similarly integrate an Apple-made 5G chip. According to Digitimes, Apple could start using its own Wi-Fi chips in 2025 iPads. Alternatively, the firm could reserve the shift to 2026’s iPhone 18 series. While no 2025 iPhone will likely feature an Apple Wi-Fi chip, the company reportedly plans on baking its 5G chips into the iPhone SE 4, followed by the iPhone 17 models. That’s possibly to avoid simultaneously introducing two in-house network chips (Wi-Fi and 5G) into the same device. --- # The official Google Pixel 9 case is a nice silicone cover but I wanted to see this one extra feature URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/the-official-google-pixel-9-case-is-a-nice-silicone-cover-but-i-wanted-to-see-this-one-extra-feature Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2tzooI-e9E Should you buy the official Google Pixel 9 case? --- # Samsung Galaxy Ring is growing to accommodate all sizes of users URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/samsung-galaxy-ring-is-growing-to-accommodate-all-sizes-of-users Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Samsung is expected to add two new sizing options to let the Galaxy Ring support larger fingers. The wearable has already been available in nine different sizes. International availability continues to improve, with pre-registration recently opening in Mexico. Mobile devices are far from one-size-fits-all; just look at the Google Pixel family, and how it’s been growing to offer new size and feature options. That’s doubly true for wearables, and with smartwatches we expect a product to launch with two or even three different sizes available. That kind of variability is maybe most pronounced when it comes to smart rings, and this year’s Samsung Galaxy Ring arrived in nine distinct sizes. But even that may not have been enough, and a new rumor suggests that even more could be in the works. With smartphones, size is largely about preference, and with smartwatches, an adjustable strap can do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to accommodating different users. But a smart ring just isn’t going to offer that kind of flexibility, and the best a manufacturer can do is make it available in as many different sizes as shoppers demand. Samsung sells the Galaxy Ring in sizes 5 through 13, and even offers a sizing kit so prospective buyers can find just the right fit for them. --- # These are the best hidden Android features you should try URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/these-are-the-best-hidden-android-features-you-should-try Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Your Android phone has hundreds of features that you ignore every day. That’s totally normal — we’re all busy, and a bunch of them won’t improve your life in any way. But there are some very handy tricks your device can do that might not be on your radar. They’re often buried quite deep in the settings or just not widely known. Here are some of our favorite hidden Android features that might just make your life that little bit easier. Editor’s note: A OnePlus 10 Pro was used to produce this guide, so the exact steps to access these features can vary depending on your device and software version. --- # The FCC wants all phones unlocked in sixty days, AT&T and T-Mobile aren’t so keen on the plan URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/the-fcc-wants-all-phones-unlocked-in-sixty-days-att-and-t-mobile-arent-so-keen-on-the-plan Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Newly proposed FCC rules would require carriers to unlock phones after 60 days, even if they are on payment plans that have unresolved balances. AT&T and T-Mobile have both pushed back on the effort, though T-Mobile has been even more vocal claiming the FCC doesn’t have the right to authorize this change and that it even implied this change could lead the uncarrier to abandon payment plans altogether. Verizon supports the effort, though largely because it already activates its phones within 60 days due to a prior agreement with the FCC. Back in June, the FCC proposed a significant rule change that would require carriers to unlock all phones within 60 days of activation. At the time, the FCC was seeking public comment on the proposal, with plans to vote on whether to pursue the issue in early July. Since then, the proposal has been unanimously approved by the five-member commission, and the plan marches forward. To be clear, this doesn’t mean a new unlock policy is happening anytime soon; it just means that the FCC will continue to actively pursue these regulatory changes. Unsurprisingly, AT&T and T-Mobile have both spoken up against the change. AT&T has indicated that the rule changes could negatively affect its ability to offer affordable devices, though that’s about the extent of its opposition so far. T-Mobile has been considerably more vocal. The “Uncarrier” has not only made it clear that this change could negatively impact their device payment plans and other services, but it has also gone so far as to imply that the change might cause the carrier to give up on payment plans altogether (as first reported by Broadband Breakfast). Furthermore, the carrier questions whether the FCC even has the authorization to pursue such a change. --- # New T-Mobile BOGO promo means you could get two lines for free, if you act quickly URL: https://blog.progressiverobot.com/post/new-t-mobile-bogo-promo-means-you-could-get-two-lines-for-free-if-you-act-quickly Published: 2024-09-20 Author: Editorial Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority T-Mobile is known for offering BOGO promotions from time to time that include benefits like a free secondary line with the activation of two new lines. Did you know you can technically stack these offers? Typically the opportunity doesn’t come up, but this time is different. Right now T-Mobile has a BOGO line offer that’s about to expire. For those that take advantage this week, there are reports you’ll have a second opportunity as a new BOGO offer will go into place early next week. Unless T-Mobile makes some sudden changes to its terms and provisions, those who time it right should be able to take advantage of both deals if they need four new lines. While T-Mobile may not have as many promotions and freebies as it once did, it arguably remains the best of the big three carriers when it comes to special promotions. Need several new lines? Maybe your kids are old enough to be added to your postpaid plan, or perhaps you want to share an account with friends or family to split the savings. Whatever your reason, if you act fast, you could get two lines for free — though there are a few caveats. One of the better deals that pops up occasionally is a BOGO (buy-one-get-one) offer where you get one phone line free via bill credits when you sign up for two new lines. Such a deal is currently active but is expected to expire soon. To take advantage of this deal, simply apply the promo code SP097 and promo ID OR21053. Sign up for two lines, and you’ll get one free. ---