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Credit: Reddit user thevincentasteroid As the old saying goes, if something is free, you’re not the customer; you’re the product. It suggests that the only thing actually being sold is your data and engagement. True as that might be, paying with data or ads (instead of blocking ads ) is usually a win-win scenario in my eyes. This won’t be everyone’s view, but as a millennial, I remember the days when there was very little free digital entertainment. If you wanted legal digital content or good games 30 years ago, you invariably paid money for them. These days, the vast majority of digital content I consume is free. I do have some paid subscriptions, but between things like gaming, YouTube, social media, and especially podcasts , I get endless entertainment at little to no financial cost. That will never fail to impress me. And it’s not like there weren’t ads in the pre-internet age. We’re just asked to pay a bit more attention to them now in exchange for a free ride. from An...

Credit: Anker via Amazon Wouldn’t it be great if you could take your nice TV with you wherever you go and use it whenever you want? For example, if you wanted to enjoy the outdoors and watch a movie at the same time, it’d be right there for you to do both. While it’d obviously be impractical to lug a heavy TV around with you during your day, you can basically get the same experience with a mini projector. Speaking of which, one of the best Google TV -enabled mini projectors you can get — the NEBULA Capsule 3 — is currently at its lowest price ever. Get the NEBULA Capsule 3 for $379.99 ($120 off) from Android Authority https://ift.tt/QPHmapI

Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is official, and while in many ways it’s not a massive update, it still brings a few important changes to the design, camera, and more. We’ve already given you our thoughts on the Galaxy S25 Ultra vs the Pixel 9 Pro , but how does it compare to the upcoming Pixel 10 series? We take a closer look at what to expect from the Pixel 10 Pro XL based on rumors, as well as whether it’s worth waiting or if you should stick with Samsung’s latest flagship. Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Pixel 10 Pro XL: What are the biggest differences we can expect? from Android Authority https://ift.tt/0Pc7f9h

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority It is a running joke that Apple releases the same iPhone every year. Samsung probably felt it was missing out, so it jumped on this train with its Galaxy flagships , releasing minor iterations every year. Samsung has recently released its Galaxy S25 series flagships, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra, in particular, feels just like the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which in turn was quite similar to the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Galaxy S22 Ultra. It seems many of you agree with the sentiment, as a good majority of Galaxy S23 Ultra owners aren’t sold on the idea of the Galaxy S25 Ultra. When comparing the Galaxy S23 Ultra vs the Galaxy S25 Ultra , we asked users if they would be upgrading. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/To3cdzj

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority It’s nearly impossible to escape the online hype surrounding DeepSeek , a relatively new and unknown AI chatbot, right now. In just a few days, it has not only dethroned ChatGPT’s dominance in benchmarks but also become the most downloaded app on iOS and Android. What’s even more impressive is that the AI was developed by a small Chinese startup with a tiny budget and relatively outdated hardware. So what exactly is DeepSeek, why has it garnered so much attention, and should you consider using it over ChatGPT or Gemini ? I dug into the Internet’s new darling AI and took it for a test-drive to find out. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/XtUTpge

As has become the new normal, Samsung has an exclusive version of Qualcomm’s latest flagship processor tucked inside its new Galaxy S25 series . The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy , as it’s called, promises even more performance from an already incredibly quick chip, but does it live up to the hype? I’ve grabbed results from the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra to find out. Neither Qualcomm nor Samsung has much to say on the specifics of the latest “for Galaxy” chip. We’ve ascertained that peak CPU clock speeds now hit 4.47GHz, up 150MHz from the standard 4.32GHz. Big numbers, but that equates to only a 3.5% boost, hardly enough to make a meaningful difference to your apps. Other provided metrics point to a 30% faster GPU and a 40% faster NPU than the previous generation, but that doesn’t say anything about how it compares to today’s rivals. To ascertain if this is really all that much better than the regular Snapdragon 8 Elite , we’ve run the chip through our usual benchmark suite. from ...

Credit: Reddit user SuspiciousCucumber16 Several Garmin smartwatch models are stuck in an infinite reboot (aka a bootloop, or as users call it, the “triangle of death”) once users start a GPS-related functionality like workout tracking. Garmin is aware of the problem and is currently investigating the issue. Potential fixes involve removing the faulty update file through a computer and factory resetting the smartwatch. Garmin makes some of the best fitness-oriented smartwatches and excellent fitness trackers on the market. Most users usually have no complaints about them, but sometimes, they do face issues with their Garmin watches . We’ve spotted numerous user reports about Garmin watches stuck on a blue triangle bootloop after initiating a GPS-related feature, and the fix is to seemingly factory reset the device to remove a faulty update file. Garmin is aware of the issue and is investigating it, too. What is the issue with Garmin smartwatches? Reddit user G1GARF ...

I’ve been a dues-paying Spotify subscriber for as long as I can remember, and I don’t regret it. As soon as I became eligible for a dirt-cheap student discount in college, I bid iTunes farewell and dove headfirst into a commercial-free world of paying to listen to whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. And, for a long time, I was happy to keep it that way. I trained my Spotify algorithm so perfectly to my tastes that I forgot what it feels like not to know what song is coming next. Perhaps more surprisingly, I forgot about the occasional fluffy charm that morning drivetime radio had to offer. Then, Google launched Daily Listen , and it scratched an itch I didn’t know I had. Here’s why. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/q3ijFov

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority DeepSeek is the latest large language model to burst onto the scene and shake things up, so much so that it’s wiped billions off the net worth of the world’s biggest tech companies. What has really caught everyone’s attention is how DeepSeek R1 displays its reasoning, or what counts for reasoning in an LLM. Naturally, I wanted to test it out and see if it could be a full-time replacement for the assistant on my CoPilot Plus PC . Now, Microsoft’s assistant has become a fair bit smarter since I r eplaced CoPilot with ChatGPT a while back, but with DeepSeek making waves, I want to have quicker access to the hottest tool in town. Not to mention, the slightly more open nature of DeepSeek allows me to host a large language model locally as well, really stressing the AI capabilities of these new PCs. It’s time to remap that CoPilot key once again. Of course, if you want to try out DeepSeek on your Android phone , there’s an app for that too....

While Samsung already has decent Galaxy S25 preorder deals in place, the New Galaxy Club program is another viable option to consider. from Latest from Android Central https://ift.tt/o9U3iFr

Credit: Nick Fernandez / Android Authority Citron, one of the last active Switch emulators, just got a big update. Focused on compatibility, the update makes the most popular games play better. Developers claim most games now run perfectly at 30 or 60fps. A Yuzu fork, Citron no longer claims to be a mere homebrew emulator. Nintendo Switch emulation on Android is still reeling from the loss of Yuzu and Ryujinx last year, but other developers have taken up the mantle to continue to push things forward. Citron, one of the few Yuzu forks still in active development, is one of the best, and it just dropped a big update focused on compatibility with the hottest games. Citron V0.4 brings updates to graphic rendering and minor UI improvements, but the bulk of the work was put into making the most popular games run more smoothly. That includes The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, and more. from Android Autho...

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Google Messages is rolling out a new read receipts color scheme to improve readability. It gives read receipts a bolder look with a white background and colored checkmarks. This new color scheme is currently limited to users who have already received the read receipts redesign that started rolling out late last year. Google Messages started testing a new read receipts design late last year that relocated the checkmarks and introduced a new animation. The new design moved read receipts from underneath text bubbles to the bottom right corner inside text bubbles. It also allowed users to view the timestamp and end-to-end encryption status by swiping left on the text bubble. Although this redesign is still not widely available, the messaging app is now testing a new color scheme for read receipts to improve visibility. The updated read receipts design that rolled out last year shows white checkmarks within a circular background ...

It probably won’t be too surprising to learn that the Samsung Galaxy S25 series — the entire series — is powered by Qualcomm’s premium Snapdragon 8 Elite silicon this year — the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, to be exact. Whether you’re a US or global consumer buying a baseline or Ultra model, there’s no Samsung Exynos chip in sight, though the company remains tight-lipped on the exact reason. The good news for us is that this ensures battery, feature, and performance parity across the field, but for Samsung, it looks like another chipset setback. Anyone familiar with the long-running Samsung Exynos versus Qualcomm Snapdragon saga will know that the race is sometimes close and other times not so much, but in recent years, Qualcomm has gradually been gaining the upper hand. As far back as 2022, both the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Exynos 2200 inside the Galaxy S22 ran overly hot, owing to yield problems at Samsung Foundries and its 4nm node, resulting in the GOS throttling controversy . ...

Credit: Android Headlines The Samsung Galaxy A56 has been listed on the FCC’s website. The filing corroborates previous reports that the phone will offer 45W wired charging speeds. That means it’ll have faster charging speeds than the Galaxy S25. We’ve already seen a few leaks regarding the Samsung Galaxy A56 , including specs and renders. Now, the upcoming mid-ranger has swung by the FCC, and it’s indeed better than the Galaxy S25 in one area. The Galaxy A56 was found on the FCC’s website (h/t: MySmartPrice ), and we were able to spot the listing too. Perhaps the most notable nugget of information contained in the filing is a screenshot that confirms 45W wired charging speeds (10V/4.5A). For what it’s worth, my Galaxy S23 Ultra unsurprisingly lists the same figures. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/Ki2NFSj

Not too long ago, I aired my grievances about Google Chrome’s shortcomings on Android. Compared to many alternatives, Chrome isn’t as flexible or customizable, leaving me to either deal with its quirks or find something else. While I haven’t kicked it off my phone, Mozilla Firefox has usurped it as my go-to web browser on Android . For those unsure about migrating to Firefox from Chrome, I want to offer a few setup recommendations, insights, and tips for maximizing your Firefox browsing experience on Android. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/Cot9wuc

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority I’ve had the Ulanzi MA26 on my Amazon wishlist for over a year and almost forgot about it until Black Friday 2024 rolled around. As I was scrolling through my wishlist for significant price drops, I saw that the tripod’s price had fallen from a silly overpriced €45.99 in France to an all-time low of €25.99 (it had also dropped from $35.95 to $28.76 on Amazon US). It didn’t take a lot of thinking before I made my purchase, and I have zero regrets. This is the best phone tripod I’ve ever seen or owned. It’s the most versatile, the most portable, and the most solidly built. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/EQPVaYi

When Galaxy AI burst onto the scene with last year’s Galaxy S24 series, it felt novel and interesting enough to almost offset the fact that the phones hadn’t otherwise changed all that much from the previous year or the year before that. Teething issues aside, it felt like there could be an interesting future buried somewhere in all the buzzwords. Boy, how that goodwill soured quickly; the déjà-vu has never been stronger than with our Galaxy S25 hands-on . Yes, there are changes, of course, but they’re pretty minor even on the Ultra, and good luck remembering what’s new on the hardware front with the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus. Instead, it’s all about what’s new with Galaxy AI. But AI is fast becoming a crutch for a number of brands to leave hardware in the back seat. Honestly, it’s got to stop. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/JcnHgP3

Are Samsung and Google working together making Android worse? from Latest from Android Central https://ift.tt/AM74qzi

Put down the pitchforks. I know that Samsung Galaxy S phones are good Android phones , excellent even, but hear me out for a second. Every year, as Samsung rolls out the red carpet for its three new flagship phones, there’s always that one model that jumps out to me as “most improved” or “the biggest standout.” The other two? Just fine, but nothing to talk about compared to their predecessors and their siblings in the same series. It’s almost as if Samsung has a finite research and development resource for its phones (which is likely the case), and every year, it takes a big spinning wheel, writes the name of the three phones, spins it, and decides which one is getting the biggest love and focus (which is my exaggerated view of what happens in the R&D backroom). Obviously, the Ultra would always command some attention, but it’s not the clear standout every year. The regular S and the Plus have had a turn, too, in sharing the spotlight. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/h9T...

While many anticipated native Qi2 wireless charge support for the Galaxy S25 series, users will likely settle for a case and a new compatible charger coming to the market. from Latest from Android Central https://ift.tt/fyW2or3

The Samsung Galaxy S25 series is here, and with new phones come new accessories! ESR is a leading accessory brand that goes beyond simple cases and chargers and helps you take these productivity powerhouse smartphones to the next level. As one of the leading MagSafe accessory brands on Amazon, ESR is now bringing that same magnetic convenience to the Galaxy S25. Thanks to ESR’s HaloLock ecosystem, you can now enjoy Qi2-ready compatibility on your Android flagship! Here’s everything you need to know. ESR HaloLock Classic Hybrid case: The fan-favorite brings protection and extra functionality to the Galaxy S25 series from Android Authority https://ift.tt/LroUF82

Credit: Andy Walker / Android Authority If not at my desk, there’s a good chance I’m in the kitchen rummaging through the fridge and cupboards, garnering inspiration for dinner ideas. I thoroughly enjoy cooking, so much so that I have several apps dedicated to refining my craft. I regularly converse with ChatGPT to nitpick meal ideas and Gemini Live to doctor any issues when my hands are covered in residue. However, finding recipes has been the least focused part of my process. I’ll usually hit up Google Search on my phone or desktop, searching for vegetable or protein mains and recipes surrounding them. It’s not the most efficient method, I admit. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/X09eoag

Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority Finally, Samsung has a 512GB model available across the Galaxy S25 series , meaning you can now pick even the smaller phone with plenty of storage capacity to keep all your music, photos, and videos for years to come. Well, at least for global markets. For whatever reason, Samsung decided against bringing this new 512GB variant to US customers, which is disappointing, to say the least. Even then, you’ll have to pay for the privilege, an eye-watering £959 (let’s say $959 if it was coming to the US), but at least it’s an option if you’re in need of extra space. Now, I don’t want to sound unappreciative, but Samsung should have done away with the 128GB Galaxy S25 model as well, making 256GB the baseline and really giving the series a shot in the arm for storage. Myself and our readers have said it countless times: 128GB isn’t enough space for a flagship purchase, at least for most of us. Especially for a phone that’s supposed to store up...

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority Despite the US president delaying the TikTok ban, the mobile app is still unavailable on Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store. While Android users can easily sideload the APK file on their phones, there’s no straightforward way to download the app on American iPhones. There are currently over 24,000 eBay listings for “TikTok phone,” with some sellers asking for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Although the US president has delayed the TikTok ban for 75 days, the phone app’s listing remains missing on Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store. Consequently, those who have deleted the TikTok app are now limited to its website — which is unintuitive to use on smartphones. To capitalize on the situation, eBay sellers are listing their used phones with TikTok installed for thousands of dollars. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/MwPXp4o

Google is paying $250 million to acquire certain HTC XR teams to develop the Android XR ecosystem. from Latest from Android Central https://ift.tt/sgXatDx

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority Samsung’s latest flagships feature an improved version of the RAW image editor that debuted with the One UI 6.1.1 update. The updated RAW Image editor includes new menus for adjusting the exposure, contrast, saturation, vigor, color temperature, and noise levels. Samsung has also added a histogram to the editor, which helps users visualize changes in the distribution of light in edited photos. Although the camera hardware on Samsung’s new Galaxy S25 series isn’t dramatically better than last year’s lineup, the devices offer some handy upgrades that should level up your photography and videography experience. These include 10-bit HDR and LOG video support, a virtual aperture feature in Samsung’s Expert RAW app, and an audio eraser tool to remove unwanted sounds from videos. In addition, Samsung has announced some improvements for One UI ‘s RAW image editor, giving users access to more advanced editing tools. Samsung introduced t...

There’s no denying that the Galaxy S23 was one of the best Android phones when it debuted. Not only was it the first Galaxy in years to offer Snapdragon chips globally, but it also finally addressed many of the battery life issues that had historically plagued the base Galaxy models. While the Galaxy S25 is an impressive device, is it really worth upgrading if you’re still using the two-year-old flagship series? In my opinion, no. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/XhzPZYD

Google has brought Family Link to Galaxy Watches, enabling you to monitor your kid's location, communication, and health. from Latest from Android Central https://ift.tt/Sxo4B5G

Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority Google is rolling out a firmware update to a “limited number” of Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Versa 3 devices. These devices are said to be at risk of their batteries overheating. Your device will factory reset if you don’t install the update within a few days after receiving it. You may remember that out of the blue, Google surprised Pixel 4a owners earlier this month with a new update. The update was part of what the company called the Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program , which aimed to improve the phone’s battery life and stability. Now the tech giant is launching a similar program for Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Versa 3 devices. In a support document , Google warns that a “limited number” of Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Versa 3 devices are at risk of their batteries overheating. These devices, which became available around the same time as the Pixel 4a, will need a firmware update to reduce this risk. from Android Authority https://...

Samsung and Google have launched a new Galaxy Watch for Kids experience on the Galaxy Watch 7 LTE. Parents can now set up a Galaxy Watch 7 LTE for their kids to get a variety of kid-friendly watch faces, apps, and parental controls. Parents can also manage the watch through Google Family Link to set necessary safeguards and personalize the watch experience for their child. LTE smartwatches make for great tech devices for kids, letting parents and guardians stay in touch with them without exposing them to all the perils of social media-infested modern smartphones. But alas, if you want to get your kid a child-friendly smartwatch, your options are limited. The Fitbit Ace LTE is a great kid-focused smartwatch, and now Samsung is also throwing its hat into the ring with the Galaxy Watch 7 LTE for kids. The Galaxy Watch 7 LTE is a great option for adults, but its smaller 40mm sizing is also decent for kids and teens. Samsung is now launching an all-new Galaxy Watch for Kids exp...

Credit: Majin Bu A leaker has posted an alleged image of the iPhone 17 Air showcasing its outer shell. The prototype reveals a horizontal black camera bar reminiscent of Google’s Nexus 6P. The iPhone 17 Pro’s rear camera system could see significant design changes, too. In preparation for its first foldable phone , Apple will reportedly launch a slim iPhone later this year. The iPhone 17 Air will likely replace the iPhone 16 Plus, sacrificing certain high-end specifications in favor of a sleeker design. A leaker has now posted what appears to be an iPhone 17 Air prototype, closely resembling Google’s Nexus 6P. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/QUpMcD2

Caseology, one of our all-time favorite case brands, shut down recently. However, there's still some light at the end of the tunnel. from Latest from Android Central https://ift.tt/UXxaj1N

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority Google is working on a new function for Circle to Search. Users may soon be able to use the feature to compare products. The function does not currently work. Circle to Search is great if you want to learn more about something on you’re screen. But wouldn’t it be nice if you could use this handy trick to also get comparisons for the products you want to buy? The feature may soon gain this ability in a future update. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/ufZMzvO

Credit: Aalto University A Nokia internal presentation on the launch of the first iPhone in 2007 has recently been made public. Nokia saw the new device as a major threat to its products, citing its touch UI and cool factor. Despite foresight, Nokia couldn’t counter the iPhone’s dominance. Many of us tech fans remember our initial thoughts when we heard about the launch of the first Apple iPhone in 2007. What we didn’t know back then was how Apple’s competitors were taking the news. Thanks to the Nokia Design Archive being opened to the public last week, we now have our first look at an internal presentation regarding the iPhone launch at the time. Nokia was worried, and with good reason. In 2007, Nokia was arguably the leading player in the mobile phone industry, yet the launch of Apple’s iPhone sent ripples of concern through its ranks. The company’s interesting presentation, as flagged by user favicondotico on the r/apple subreddit, reveals not only sharp insights...

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority Good Lock is receiving a major redesign aligned with One UI 7. The design shifts to a simpler, cleaner layout than before. The update also introduces a new search tool that utilizes a chatbot to help you find the features you’re looking for. One UI 7 is set to make several changes to Galaxy phones. Samsung’s Android 15 skin won’t just be bringing new features, but also a few design tweaks. It looks like those changes will make their way to the Good Lock app as well. According to Sammy Fans , Samsung has released version 3.0.10.1 of the Good Lock app. With this update comes a One UI 7-aligned design revamp that gives the app a simpler, cleaner layout than before. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/U2lT3MQ

Most Samsung Galaxy S25 phones are expected to be sold with 12GB of RAM. A persistent rumor has suggested that the S25 Ultra may also have a 16GB edition in at least some markets. The latest source claims 16GB S25 Ultra sales will be available in China, South Korea, India, and Vietnam. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked gets underway just a little later this week, and smartphone fans everywhere are eager to meet the Galaxy S25 series. Even with the formal debut of these phones looming so near, when we’ll finally be able to put all these rumors to rest, that doesn’t mean that new rumors are anywhere near ready to slow down their incessant pace. Right now we’re checking out some new details on a theory we’ve heard before, concerning Samsung’s plans for its highest-end S25 configuration. While expectations are high across the Galaxy lineup, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has quite the reputation to live up to. We’re looking forward to the Ultra enjoying some exclusive features, like enhanced nightti...

New findings reveal Google's possible Android 16 betas release schedule. from Latest from Android Central https://ift.tt/MeSPTJG

Credit: Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority Thinner phones might be one of the phone trends we can expect to see in 2025, but it might not be based on public demand. As in many other markets, smartphone manufacturers sometimes try to tell us what we want rather than listen to their customers. We wanted to know if that could be happening with the slim-phone narrative, so we asked your opinion. We ran a poll in a recent article  by  Android Authority  writer Aamir Siddiqui about thinner phones. In the post, Aamir summarized the trend of thin smartphones, with upcoming models like the Galaxy S25 Slim and iPhone 17 Slim rumored to sacrifice features such as battery capacity and camera quality for thinness. Smartphone makers have often toyed with slim designs, but most devices have struck a balance between aesthetics and functionality. If we see signs of a more significant potential shift towards wafer-thin handsets, it would raise questions about whether consumers pri...

When Apple first rolled out its AI-powered notification summaries as part of iOS 18, I admit I was excited. I tend to disappear in group chats during the day — usually because I’m staying productive — which means I often come back to quite the stack of notifications that I have to read through. So, for my iPhone to sort through the mess and bring back a one-sentence summary sounded like a dream come true. As soon as it launched, I opted in. And, as it turns out,  Apple Intelligence does  summarize my notifications — or at least it tries to. By trying to condense possibly dozens of messages into one single sentence, it has to pick and choose what context matters. It’s as if I were playing a game of telephone with friends, only the message I’m waiting for is hundreds of words long. Here’s what’s going wrong and what Apple has promised to do about it. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/rVhF6ie

Although I love the abundance of unique widgets Android affords me, that affection is getting out of hand. I admit, I probably don’t need the dozens of widgets on my device, even though I’ve grown to like my peculiar setup. To fuel this passion, I use Kvaesitso as my preferred launcher as it offers vertically scrolling (daisy chained) widgets on its homepage. This layout gives me the freedom to add as many widgets as possible, which makes for a rather lengthy list. However, as much as it pains me, I should simplify my widget layout to boost productivity. So, I searched for a solution to my widget hoarding problem and I found one: stacks. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/RNqQtlf

I’ve been using Pixels for years now, but despite spending most of my time with Google’s flagships in between reviews, I just know I’ve missed one or two of the phones’ most handy features. This is especially true when new tricks and tools land with every feature drop , which arrive regularly throughout the year. Even for tech enthusiasts, keeping track of everything is virtually impossible, which is why Google includes its Pixel Tips app onboard all of its smartphones, and it’ll occasionally pop up after an upgrade to help rejig our memory. You could even go so far as to say it’s one of the Pixel’s most useful apps. I’m not embarrassed to admit it; I recently checked out the Pixel Tips app for the first time to see if I’ve missed anything cool. Unsurprisingly, there are some brilliant features I had no idea existed (or had simply forgotten about). So, I thought I’d share a few of the more interesting ones that you should almost certainly make sure you’re using. from Android Auth...

Seamless updates have been around since the original Pixel debuted in 2016, and since then, plenty of other Android OEMs have added them to their devices. Samsung has been the exception, with the Galaxy A55 being the only device the company has made that featured them. I liked that part of the Galaxy experience because I’m an impatient person. But it looks like Samsung will finally cave in and add seamless updates to the Galaxy S25 , and I’m not looking forward to it. Before you get out the pitchforks, allow me to explain. What are seamless updates? What did Samsung do before? from Android Authority https://ift.tt/6covih8

Making a phone even slimmer comes with a lot of compromises. from Latest from Android Central https://ift.tt/0owLZp2

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority I’ve been testing Chipolo and Pebblebee’s Google-compatible trackers ever since Google first launched its Find My Device network in May 2024. For eight months now, I’ve lugged them around, plus a bunch of their competitors, on every flight, train ride, outing, and activity, hoping to find the absolute best Bluetooth tracker out there. What started as a fun exercise of, “Hey, let me see if I can track my husband through a busy area in Paris,” quickly turned into a nightmare because of the sheer logistics of testing these. I often had at least two or three phones in my pocket — sometimes four — with a bunch of testing scenarios, features to check, and environments to test in. I also had to enlist my husband’s help very often because I had to be physically separated from the “lost” item without losing it for real. Overall, I’ve tried these trackers in the UK, France, UAE, Lebanon, Belgium, Albania, Italy, and Portugal. When all was said...

Credit: Google Google is rolling out Face Control to Chromebooks with the latest Chrome OS M132 update. The feature lets users control the cursor and perform tasks using facial movements and gestures. The feature aims to make Chromebooks more accessible for people with motor impairments. Google has launched a new accessibility feature called Face Control, allowing Chromebook users to control their cursor and perform various tasks using head movements and facial gestures. Rolling out as part of the Chrome OS M132 update, the feature is designed to make technology more inclusive, particularly for individuals with motor impairments. Face Control uses AI to map 478 facial points in real time, enabling gestures to control the cursor and execute actions without a keyboard or mouse. Google says the feature supports up to 18 gestures, offering flexibility for a range of uses. It joins other Chromebook accessibility tools like ChromeVox and Dictation, aiming to provide more o...

Samsung has long been rumored to be building a “Slim” version of the Galaxy S25. New claims suggest the S25 Slim may arrive similarly to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition. US carriers may not end up getting access to the S25 Slim, with Samsung selling it exclusively abroad. Samsung’s latest and greatest smartphones are right around the corner, with the Galaxy S25 lineup set to debut under one week from now, on January 22. Everyone’s got their own preferences when it comes to phones; maybe you’ve got your eye on a nice, basic S25, or perhaps the camera array on the S25 Ultra has piqued your interest? This year may see Samsung add an extra option to the mix, with the possible arrival of the phone we’ve been calling the Galaxy S25 Slim . But now a new report warns that our assumptions around Samsung’s plans for this model may be in need of serious revision. Let’s take a quick detour into Samsung’s recent past, and consider the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition . Th...

Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority The US Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the TikTok ban. The law is set to go into effect on Sunday, which would lead to the app going dark unless ByteDance divests itself from the company beforehand. There are signs that lawmakers want to delay the ban. TikTok is nearing what could be its final days here in the US, impacting the millions of Americans who use the platform. In what could be the final nail in the coffin, the Supreme Court has now ruled against TikTok’s latest effort to prevent the ban from going into effect. As reported by NBC News , the US Supreme Court rejected ByteDance’s free speech challenge on Friday. With this ruling, there’s now nothing in the way to stop the TikTok law from going into effect on Sunday. That law requires parent company ByteDance to divest itself from TikTok and sell it to a US company or be banned. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/HJgxrZ4

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority Playing with the new HONOR Magic 7 Pro , you will find plenty of interesting and innovative features to sink your teeth into. But one of my favorites might just be a small but delightful feature that’s super easy to gloss over — boost charging. How it works is very simple and pretty elegant. When you plug in the phone, a charging notification pops up and asks if you’d like to boost your charging speed (see the image above). If your phone is locked when you plug in, you can even just hold down in the middle of the screen to activate the mode. If you do this, the phone will charge up a bit faster by sustaining high power for longer, throwing caution to the temperature winds. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/0FCe1LU