The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the best device in Samsung's clamshell foldable lineup. It doesn't bring too many big upgrades over the Flip 4 or Flip 3, but the Flip 5 meaningfully elevates the overall user experience, especially when it comes to the cover screen, which has been upsized considerably compared to the cover screens on previous Galaxy Z Flip smartphones.

In some markets, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 also launched with a higher price tag than its predecessors. That hasn't stopped the phone from seeing increased demand from consumers, but it does provide the competition the chance to undercut Samsung by offering their foldables for a lower price.

And that's exactly what Chinese manufacturer Tecno has done over in India. Tecno has launched the Phantom V Flip in the country as a new option for those looking to buy a foldable phone and is depending on a lower price tag to attract customers. The Phantom V Flip starts at INR 49,999 in India, which is basically half of what the Galaxy Z Flip 5's base variant costs.

The price for Europe is around €700, which isn't as aggressive as the Indian pricing but is still lower than the Galaxy Z Flip 5. What about the specs, though? Do they match those of Samsung's latest Galaxy Z Flip, or will people have to compromise on the specs in order to take advantage of the aggressive price?

It's the latter, as you would expect, and the very first category in which it loses to the Z Flip 5 is the size of the cover screen. The Phantom V Flip has a 1.32-inch circular cover display that limits what you can do without unfolding the device. The Z Flip 5, on the other hand, has a 3.4-inch display on the outside that can be used to run many apps and also acts as a bigger viewfinder for taking pictures.

On the performance side of things, the Phantom V Flip once again trails the Z Flip 5 as it uses the MediaTek Dimensity 8050 chipset, which is fairly powerful but isn't as good as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that powers all of Samsung's 2023 flagships. The Phantom V Flip also loses out on features like water resistance and wireless charging, and its 6.9-inch 120Hz foldable OLED display can only hit 1000 nits of brightness.

Tecno's phone does have some advantages, like a 4,500 mAh battery that supports 45W charging (the Flip 5's 3,700 mAh battery charges at 25W) and a 64MP main camera, and it matches the Galaxy Z Flip 5 with features like stereo speakers and the ability to stay unfolded at different angles. And you could also argue that it looks great – the circular cover screen, with the cameras placed around it, is a different approach that could appeal to some folks.

For the asking price, the Phantom V Flip certainly is an attractive proposition, though that doesn't mean the Galaxy Z Flip 5 can be ignored. Samsung's after-sales service is not something most Chinese manufacturers can match, and the Korean giant also provides customers with four years of major OS upgrades and five years of security updates.

Samsung also has a lot more experience making foldables than Tecno and other Chinese OEMs, and that offers peace of mind that customers would prefer if they're buying something fragile like a foldable phone. That said, Samsung should certainly try bringing down its prices, and perhaps it's devices like the Tecno Phantom V Flip that will force Samsung's hands into making its foldables more affordable.

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It's time for Marvel's Avengers to end. No, we're not talking about the Avengers who have provided us with entertainment and a rollercoaster of emotions in cinemas for a decade. Those Avengers are mostly alive and kicking, even if the original group has disbanded and made way for newer superheroes to take over the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

We're talking about the action-adventure game that launched back in 2020, the one where all the heroes look like discount versions of their cinematic counterparts. In a few hours, developer Crystal Dynamics will discontinue support for Marvel's Avengers and the game will be removed from all digital stores after it turned out to be a commercial failure.

Marvel's Avengers is being discontinued just three years after launch

Marvel's Avengers had all the ingredients to be a hit. It included Kamala Khan, Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, and Black Widow as playable characters in a campaign that follows the story of how the Avengers break up after failing to stop a deadly terrorist attack but eventually get back together to fight a bigger threat.

It also had the perfect release timing. Avengers: Endgame, the final part of the Infinity saga that started back in 2008 with the first Iron Man movie (or The Incredible Hulk, the movie that had Edward Norton playing Bruce Banner/Hulk and is considered canon despite the change of actors playing the titular character), had come out in 2019, so Marvel fans who had been starving for more Avengers action found it in the game.

The game sold pretty well in the beginning thanks to all the hype, but the repetitive and lackluster gameplay that couldn't properly simulate what it would be like to play as a superhero, a big focus on loot boxes and microtransactions, and a lack of interesting content outside of the single-player campaign all contributed to its downfall. The game added more popular characters, such as Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Hawkeye, and new missions and plots involving those heroes through downloadable content, but none of it was enough to keep gamers hooked.

It will be playable for everyone buying it before September 31

So, just three years later, Marvel's Avengers is exiting the marketplace. All online stores, like Steam on PC and the Xbox and PlayStation stores on consoles, will stop selling the game from September 31st. The game will continue to be playable in both single-player and multiplayer modes for existing owners, though, at least until publisher Square Enix decides it's not worth keeping the game's servers active.

Those who don't already own the game can buy it until the end of the day on September 30. It's discounted heavily (up to 90%) on all stores at the moment, so you might want to add it to your library while you can, especially if you want to play the single-player campaign, which is good enough for at least one playthrough.

Image credits: Marvel/Steam

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Earlier today, we got to see the possible design of the Galaxy S24 for the first time. Now, the design of the Galaxy S24+ has leaked as well. Similar to the Galaxy S24, the Galaxy S24+ also looks highly similar to Samsung's current-generation Galaxy S series smartphones, albeit with one major change.

Leaked Galaxy S24+ images showcase flat sides as the biggest design change

Thanks to the images leaked by GizNext, the Galaxy S24+ design has been revealed. The report claims that the Galaxy S24+ has a 6.7-inch screen, just 0.1-inch smaller diagonally than the Galaxy S24 Ultra's rumored screen size. The biggest change, however, is its flat sides. As you can see in the images, the Galaxy S24+ appears to have a metal frame, glass front and rear, and curved corners. In comparison, the Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S23+ have slightly curved sides.

You can have a 360-degree look at the Galaxy S24+ in the video below.

Galaxy S24+ specifications

The Galaxy S24+ measures 158.5 x 75.9 x 7.75mm. In comparison, the Galaxy S24+ measures 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm. It means the newer phone is slightly taller, slightly narrower, and slightly thinner than its predecessor. The phone has three cameras on the rear, just like the Galaxy S23+, and those are likely the primary (wide), ultrawide, and telephoto units. It has a SIM card slot, a USB Type-C port, a microphone, and a loudspeaker on the bottom.

It will likely have an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint reader. Looking at Samsung's track record, it's not hard to imagine the Galaxy S24+ featuring an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, stereo speakers, and Samsung Pay. Previous reports claim that the Galaxy S24+ will come in Exynos 2400 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 variants. Some reports claim that the phone has 12GB RAM, 256GB/512GB storage, and a 4,900mAh battery.

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In the last couple of years, Google has been updating many of its Android apps with a redesigned user interface that gets rid of the navigation drawer, also called the hamburger menu, as it conflicts with the full-screen gestures that have replaced standard on-screen navigation buttons on smartphones these days (though Samsung still sticks to the buttons by default).

In the redesigned interface, instead of hitting the three horizontal lines at the top left of the app or swiping in from the left side of the screen to access additional options, users have to tap their profile picture at the top right. The new interface is already present in some Google apps, such as Maps and Play Store, and it is now making its way to the Google Messages app.

Google Messages interface modernized with new update

Google has been testing this change in the Messages app for some time, and with the app's latest update, Google is making it official for everyone. All of Google Messages' features, menus, and additional options are now accessible by tapping the profile picture/icon. You will also need to tap the profile picture if you want to switch between different Google accounts, or you can do it by swiping up or down on your profile picture.

The search screen has been redesigned to show a grid of categories/filters, like unread and starred messages, links, images, and videos, that you can individually select to narrow down your search results. Above those categories, you get to see a list of recent contacts that can be scrolled through horizontally.

If you use the Google Messages app (if you purchased a new Galaxy phone in the last two years, chances are it's your default messaging app), you should be able to download the latest update through the Play Store, though it may take a few days to become available for your device as Google tends to roll out app updates in phases.

Screenshots courtesy of 9to5Google

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Meta has launched Quest 3, a virtual and mixed-reality headset, similar to the Apple Vision Pro and Samsung’s upcoming XR headset. It succeeds the Quest 2 which was released in 2020. Compared to the previous version, the Quest 3 offers higher-resolution displays, faster performance, a new set of cameras, a smaller and more comfortable headset, new controllers, and improved software. Meta has priced the Quest 3 at $499 for the 128GB model and $649.99 for the 512GB model in the US. The new VR and MR headset from Meta is available for pre-order and the company will start shipping it from October 10, 2023.

Sharper displays, slimmer lenses, and wider FoV

Starting with the displays, the Quest 3 features two LCD panels, one for each eye, with a 2,208 x 2,064 pixels resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. That’s a 30% increase in the resolution compared to the Quest 2, offering 1,218 PPI pixel density. However, the 120Hz refresh rate mode is still in the experimental stage. For a stable performance, you have to use a 90Hz refresh rate.

These displays offer 110-degree horizontal and 96-degree vertical field of view, which is a 15% increase over that of the previous model. These are pancake-style lenses, similar to those in the mixed reality headset from Apple, offering a slimmer optic profile. You can adjust the Inter Pupillary Distance of lenses from 58mm to 71mm using a wheel on the outside of the headset.

Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2

The Quest 3 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2. According to Meta, it offers double the GPU performance compared to the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1, which you find in the Quest 2. This GPU offers “faster load times and more seamless gameplay” and the new SoC brings “enough power to support heavy applications like fast-action gaming, seamless full-colour, high-resolution passthrough, and so much more”. There’s 8GB RAM onboard, and as mentioned earlier, you get 128GB and 512GB storage options.

Two full-colour cameras, one depth sensor, and four IR cameras

Unlike the previous model, the Quest 3 offers two RGB cameras and a depth sensor for “improved depth and resolution”. The new cameras, along with the powerful SoC, enable mixed reality passthrough. That means you can see what’s around you in the real world in the headset, just like the Apple Vision Pro. According to Meta, the passthrough latency is just 12 milliseconds. There are also four IR cameras on the headset for recognising gestures which eliminates the need for controllers but we’ll talk about this later.

Smaller but heavier and more comfortable headset

Even though the Quest 3 has a smaller footprint than the Quest 2, it is heavier than the previous model (515 grams versus 503 grams). However, Meta says that the new headset offers “more comfortable wear”. The Quest 3 has a soft adjustable strap that “accommodates a variety of head shapes and hairstyles”. However, you can get a hard strap separately at an additional cost. These straps allow you to move the headset far from or closer to your face to “improve comfort and field of view”.

Redesigned controllers and new games

The Quest 3 comes with two Touch Plus controllers. These don’t have the ring for tracking the controllers in the 3D space found on the Touch controllers that you get with the Quest 2. So, it’s unclear at the moment how Meta is tracking the new controllers in the three-dimensional space. According to Meta, The Touch Plus controllers have improved haptic feedback, which should offer a better gaming experience.

Speaking of games, the Quest 3 supports the whole catalogue of games that the Quest 2 does, which contains over 500 VR titles. Plus, Meta is releasing new games with this headset, including three AAA titles. Two of them are Assassin’s Creed Nexus and Asgard’s Wrath. The company is marketing the Quest 3 as a gaming device primarily. However, Meta says that the new headset will also be very useful for fitness.

Same battery life as Quest 2

According to Meta, the Quest 3 offers 1.5 hours to 2.9 hours of usage on a single charge, depending upon the task you are performing. These figures are similar to those for the Quest 2. The company claims that the new headset can charge from 0% to 100% in approximately 2.3 hours. Fortunately, it comes with an 18W power adapter in the box. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E, and it is worth mentioning that the headset does not feature eye tracking.

What does Meta Quest 3 mean for Samsung’s upcoming XR headset?

Samsung’s upcoming XR (Extended Reality) headset, which the company is developing with Google and Qualcomm, already had to fight against the Apple Vision Pro. The launch of Meta Quest 3 makes the competition even tougher for the Samsung XR. It will not only have to fight with the Apple Vision Pro on the features-front but also with the Quest 3 on the price-front.

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Every new iPhone's release is followed by extensive media coverage, a lot of which includes publications talking about the new iPhone's best new features. Some of those features get more attention than others, and a lot of the time some of those features come to the iPhone years after they have already been available on Android devices.

And there's no better example of that than the USB-C port. Apple has ditched its proprietary Lightning connector at long last and adopted the USB-C standard because of a new law in the European Union that requires all mobile devices to feature USB-C ports after 2024, which means that iPhone and Android users will soon be able to share their charging cables and adaptors.

The iPhone's switch to USB-C is important – it doesn't just make cables compatible between iPhones and Android devices but also between iPhones and Apple's own products, like the iPad or MacBook. In fact, it seems that USB-C is the most talked about iPhone feature of all time!

100,000+ news articles written about iPhone 15's USB-C port already

Mobiles.co.uk did a bit of research to see how much coverage various iPhone features have received over the years both before and after the launch of each new iPhone and found that the switch to USB-C takes the cake by a huge margin. In the month before the iPhone 15's launch and a week after it went on sale in some markets, there are already more than 150,000 news articles online talking about the USB-C connector.

In comparison, the Dynamic Island notch introduced with the iPhone 14 had around 7,200 articles written about it in a similar time before and after the iPhone 14 launch, which is a perfect example of how big a deal the iPhone 15's USB-C port/connector is. And yes, you would be right in assuming that some of the coverage makes it seem like the iPhone's adoption of USB-C is the best thing since sliced bread.

But that's something Samsung and Android fans have been used to for many years, and no one expected it to change this year. We're just glad Apple finally saw sense (or rather, was made to see sense by the European Union) – it has been a long time coming and is ultimately what is best for consumers no matter if they are iPhone owners, Galaxy owners, or users of any other modern smartphone.

The post iPhone 15’s top ‘feature’ was first seen on Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 appeared first on SamMobile.

Today's a good day for anyone who has been longing to get a look at the Galaxy S24 flagship lineup from Samsung. A few hours after high-resolution renders of the standard Galaxy S24 were leaked online, we're now getting to see the Ultra model from all sides through renders and a 360-degree video.

This story is developing…

The post BREAKING: Galaxy S24 Ultra’s stylish design laid bare for all to see! appeared first on SamMobile.

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are regarded as one of the best, if not, the best true wireless earbuds overall for Android devices at the moment. These earphones work even better with Galaxy phones, tablets, and laptops. Samsung launched the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro about a year ago with a price tag of $229. So far, we’ve seen these earbuds selling at discounted prices a couple of times. Today, however, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are available with the biggest discount ever in the US.

Amazon is offering the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro at just $160 in the United States. That’s $70 off the launch price. The e-commerce platform hasn’t mentioned how long the deal will be live but considering that the earbuds are selling at such a low price, we bet that everyone will want a piece of the cake. That means the deal (or stock) might not last very long. If you have been eyeing the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, or looking for the finest pair of true wireless earbuds for non-Apple devices, now is your time to act.

Buy Galaxy Buds 2 Pro from Amazon ($160)

Galaxy Buds 2 Pro features

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro have dual dynamic drivers with 10mm drivers and  5mm tweeters. You get intelligent active noise cancellation (ANC) to block the background noise. There are three microphones on each earbud. As for connectivity, there is Bluetooth 5.3 with a 24-bit audio transmission onboard. You also get 360 Audio for surround sound. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro can last for 8 hours on a single charge and 29 hours with the charging case, and the earbuds come with an IPX7 water resistance rating.

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Samsung's Galaxy F lineup of phones tend to be rebranded Galaxy M smartphones with the same specs but with different paint jobs, and this week, Samsung has launched a new color option for the Galaxy F34 5G in India.

The Galaxy F34 5G will be available in violet, or Orchid Violet as Samsung calls it, in addition to the existing green and black colors starting October 8th. That's also the date when retailer Flipkart, the exclusive third-party online seller of F series phones in the country, will kickstart its Big Billion Days sale (the sale will go on till October 15). Flipkart will probably offer some discounts and other deals on the F34 5G during the Big Billion Days sale, though Samsung hasn't officially said anything about it.

The regular price of the Galaxy F34 5G is INR 19,999 (~$240) for the 6GB+128GB memory configuration and INR 21,999 (~$264) for the 8GB+128GB configuration. Its specs include a 6.5-inch Full HD+ 120Hz Super AMOLED display that's protected by Gorilla Glass 5, the Exynos 1280 chipset, a 50MP optically stabilized main rear camera flanked by an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera, a 13MP front camera, and a 6,000 mAh battery with 25W charging support.

The phone supports 11 5G bands, and similar to costlier mid-range and flagship Galaxy smartphones, the Galaxy F34 is eligible to receive four major Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates. It runs Android 13 with One UI 5.1 out of the box so its first big update will be Android 14 and One UI 6.0, which is currently being beta-tested on some Galaxy devices.

The post Galaxy F34 5G launched in new Orchid Violet color in India appeared first on SamMobile.

If you've only just got around to picking up a PlayStation 5, you can take advantage of a new promotion that Sony is offering to customers in the United States. It's offering customers a free game and the options available include some of the best titles, such as Spider-Man Miles Morales and The Last of Us Part I.

This deal is available to those who purchase the gaming console through October 20th, so there's plenty of time for you to avail it.

New PS5 customers get a free game from Sony for a limited time

To be eligible for this promotion, you must buy the PlayStation 5 from Amazon, Target, Best Buy, or Game Stop. It's applicable to both the disc and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition consoles.

You can claim the free title after buying the console. The list has 12 games which also include the likes of Spider-Man Remastered, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West, Returnal, and more.

You can take advantage of this deal if you're in the United States and have purchased a PS5 console on or after September 23rd, 2023. Once you've activated it, head over to the PlayStation Store to find the complete list of titles from which you can choose one to download for free.

Seeing as how some of these games can cost $50 or more, this deal provides an incredible value for new console owners. While you're at it, you think about upgrading your PS5 storage with one of Samsung's purpose-built SSDs.

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Apple has hundreds of millions of active devices across the globe. People using those devices need to search for stuff online so the default search engine on those devices gets an enviable traffic source. This also means that Apple can charge a lot of money to make any search engine the default on its devices.

Google already pays an obscene amount of money to Apple to be the default search engine on its devices. However, Microsoft was reportedly trying to sell Bing to Apple, but it appears that the fruit company wasn't interested.

Apple makes a ton of money from Google to let it be the default

Bloomberg reports that Microsoft and Apple executives met as recently as 2020 to discuss a potential sale of Bing. The talks, which included top executives like Apple's Eddy Cue, never went beyond the initial phase as the company wasn't keen on pursuing the idea.

Apple charges Google a lot of money to keep it as the default search engine on its iPhones and iPads. According to some estimates, Google pays more than $20 billion to Apple per year for this privilege. In return, it gets massive amounts of traffic from Apple's devices. The report mentions that this was one of the reasons why Apple wasn't too interested in buying Bing. It's also said that the company had “concerns about Bing’s ability to compete with Google in quality and capabilities.”

Microsoft's executives were aware that they were fighting an uphill battle here. They believe that Apple only entered into discussions so it could extract more money from Google. “It is no secret that Apple is making more money on Bing existing than Bing does,” Microsoft’s Mikhail Parakhin told a US District Court this week during an ongoing FTC lawsuit against Google.

That's not something that you can fault Apple for, though. It makes more than $20 billion per year for nothing more than allowing Google to be the default search engine. Why would the company lose that source of pure profit just to own a search engine?

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Earlier today, the design of the Galaxy S24 was leaked, revealing flat sides, a departure from Samsung's earlier designs with curved sides. Now, the design of the Galaxy A15 has leaked, revealing largely the same design, so it looks like Samsung has settled on a smartphone design strategy for next year.

A blurry image of the Galaxy A15 was leaked by legendary leakster Evan Blass. It shows the Galaxy A15 in its black avatar, and from what's visible, the upcoming affordable phone has flat sides, similar to the upcoming Galaxy S24 series. It also has a simple design on the back with three camera sensors arranged in a vertical layout. On the side, the phone appears to have a side-mounted power button (with a built-in capacitive fingerprint reader) and a volume rocker.

This leak lines up with a previous leak that displayed the design of the phone through 3D CAD renders. So, it looks like Samsung will use flat sides on all its phones that are planned to be released next year. The South Korean firm clearly has a plan to use a family look for all its smartphones, which is a good thing and a bad thing, depending on who you ask. On one side, all Samsung phones will be instantly distinguishable from smartphones from other brands. However, people might not be able to distinguish one Galaxy phone from another due to a similar design.

The Galaxy A15 is reportedly just 8.4mm thin, making it thinner than the Galaxy A14. It is expected to have a 6.4-inch screen with a U-shaped notch, a triple-camera setup on the rear, and a 5,000mAh or bigger battery. More details about the phone are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.

The post Another Galaxy A15 leak offers a glimpse at its design appeared first on SamMobile.

Samsung has announced that Lucid Motors has installed The Wall TVs at the company’s car design studio. According to the Korean tech giant, The Wall offers Lucid with additional tools that help the company in designing electric vehicles in a better way. Lucid Motors says that The Wall has helped them design Lucid Air Sapphire, which is an upcoming EV from the brand, from concepts all the way to final adjustments, and visualise the future of their vehicles in high resolution at all stages.

The Wall 255-inch powers Lucid's car design studio

One of The Wall models installed in Lucid’s design studio measures 255 inches. Samsung doesn’t offer The Wall in this screen size to consumers. So, it looks like the Korean tech giant made a custom model for the car company. The Wall 255-inch uses MicroLED technology, and that’s all we know about it at the moment. There’s no information about the resolution, refresh rate, and other such details about the TV.

The Wall 255-inch helps Lucid’s design team view a car on a 1:1 scale, enabling them to get a better perspective of how the EV would look in real life and inspect all the aspects of the product in detail. Samsung says that this TV has a high resolution and it offers “true-to-life” colours which produce a realistic rendering of the design and reproduces the reflection of light off complex 3D surfaces accurately. The Wall’s “flexible-yet-compact” design saves valuable studio floor space at Lucid’s headquarters, claims Samsung.

How The Wall helps Lucid design better cars

“At Lucid, we’re on a mission to inspire the adoption of sustainable energy with a focus on the human experience. With The Wall, we’re able to take this mission to new heights. While designing the Lucid Air Sapphire, from concept sketches all the way to final adjustments, Samsung enabled us to visualize the future of our vehicles in high resolution at all stages of development. No detail was left unnoticed, and we’re thrilled for our customers to experience the results of the new design process,” said Jenny Ha, Exterior Design Manager at Lucid Motors.

“The Wall has revolutionized the way our design and engineering teams work together. With this technology, we can effortlessly visualize design data that incorporates engineering feedback and simulation results, allowing us to promptly assess the effects of any alteration on the overall design. In other words, development teams now operate more efficiently, and drivers can enjoy enhanced luxury aesthetics without compromising superior vehicle performance. It can be a tricky sweet spot to balance, but The Wall helps us pinpoint it seamlessly,” he added.

“The Wall installation in the Lucid Motors design studio is another great example of how Samsung innovations are helping our partners and customers unlock their own exciting innovations to drive their business in exciting new ways. Supporting Lucid in its mission to deliver sustainable luxury vehicles – and the stunning design of the new Lucid Sapphire made possible with our 255-inch class high-resolution display — has been both inspiring and rewarding,” said James Fishler, Senior VP of Home Entertainment & Display Divisions at Samsung Electronics America.

Samsung and EVs

Speaking of EVs, Samsung’s battery development and manufacturing division, Samsung SDI, will spend $1.97 billion on building a second battery plant in the US in collaboration with Stellantis. It is also working on building a $3 billion EV battery plant in the country in partnership with GM. In Q2 2023, Samsung SDI posted a record profit of $4.48 billion. Apart from batteries, Samsung aims to supply car manufacturers with all sorts of components, including displays, SoCs, memory chips, and much more.

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Google Podcasts, which was launched in 2018, is all set to breathe its last in 2024. In an official announcement, Google confirmed that it will discontinue Google Podcasts sometime in 2024. As a part of this process, YouTube Music Podcasts will receive many updates, including complete global availability, before the end of 2023. Currently, YouTube Music Podcasts are available in the US, Canada, and Latin America.

Until 2024, Google Podcasts will continue to work normally. In the blog post, Google agreed that the spoken audio format, i.e., Podcast, will only grow in the future. However, content creators are also using YouTube to publish video versions of their podcasts, so it made sense for Google to include podcasts in their music-focused YouTube Music app.

Google will increase its investment in YouTube Music podcasts going forward

Moreover, Google will make the migration process from Google Podcasts to YouTube Music less painful. A simple migration tool will help existing Google Podcasts users transfer their subscriptions. In addition, YouTube Music will also offer the ability to add podcasts via RSS feeds.

This also includes shows that YouTube does not currently host. Google will also be providing a non-YTM export option in the form of an OPML file, which will be playable by other podcast players. However, the migration tool will be released based on its users' feedback over the months on how they would like the transition to work.

In the blog post, Google also stated that they will increase their investment in podcasts in the future to make YouTube Music a podcast destination for fans and creators.

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Earlier this year, Samsung revealed during the Galaxy S23 launch event that it is working on an XR headset. The company is working with Google and Qualcomm for its first mixed-reality headset, and it will use Google's platform and a Qualcomm chip. And that chip could be the one that Qualcomm unveiled yesterday: Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2. The company also unveiled the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chip for AR glasses.

Will Samsung XR headset use Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip?

The Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 is Qualcomm's flagship processor designed for AR (Augmented Reality), MR (Mixed Reality), and VR (Virtual Reality) headsets. It has been designed in collaboration with Meta and has already been used in Meta's Quest 3 mixed-reality headset that was announced earlier this week. The new chip is claimed to offer 2.5x faster GPU and 8x faster AI processing than the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1 chip that was launched last year.

It can support up to 3,000 x 3,000 pixels resolution display per eye, offering sharp and immersive visuals. It also offers more detailed textures, higher frame rates, and less jitter than last year's chip. More importantly, it offers 50% more power-efficient GPU, so there's no need for an external battery pack like the Apple Vision Pro headset needs.

For AR and MR headsets, the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 offers support for up to 10 concurrent cameras (and sensors) and can switch to a see-through mode in just 12ms. This enables a more realistic and life-like transition between AR, MR, and VR modes. It also allows for thinner, lighter, and more comfortable headsets that allow people to wear them for a longer period. The chip also supports faster connectivity, thanks to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3.

Qualcomm says AR/MR headsets based on this chip will be launched in early 2024, and if Samsung isn't using a completely different chip, its XR headset could use the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2. However, we think Samsung could use an exclusive chip for its first mixed-reality headset.

Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 is made for lightweight AR glasses

The Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 is Qualcomm's latest chip for AR glasses. It brings improved on-device AI processing, better noise cancellation, and better image quality. It supports up to 12MP cameras (6MP for video) and up to eight microphones, offering better camera quality, visuals, and audio quality. On-board cameras can support autofocus, auto-exposure, computational HDR, and even portrait mode.

It supports 1,280 x 1,280 pixels resolution per eye and on-glass AI processing for features like visual search and real-time language translation. It also has Wi-Fi 7 for faster connectivity with a paired device.

The post Qualcomm unveils two new powerful chips for AR glasses, headsets appeared first on SamMobile.

While we are at least four months away from the official announcement of the Galaxy S24 series, leaks have already started revealing the possible new features of the upcoming phones. Some of the design traits of the Galaxy S24 have also been rumored in the past, with most of them claiming that we will get to see a design that's not too different from the Galaxy S23.

Well, a new leak has now revealed what we can expect from the design of Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S24 flagship lineup.

Below is a 360-degree look at the Galaxy S24's design in full resolution.

This story is developing…

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The latest official filing confirms that Samsung SDI (the battery manufacturing wing of Samsung Electronics) is all set to invest $1.97 billion to develop its second battery manufacturing plant in joint partnership with Stellantis N.V. in the US. This information comes from a filing about two months after both companies joined hands for their US venture.

StarPlus Energy, a joint venture between Samsung SDI and Stellantis, announced that both giants plan to build a second battery plant in Indiana, where they have their first factory. The $1.97 billion investment corresponds to Samsung SDI's 51% stake in the proposed project. The South Korean giant will invest over the period of April 2024 to November 2027, as per the filing.

The first battery manufacturing plant will begin operations in Q1 of 2025

If everything goes according to plan, as per Yonhap News Agency, the second battery manufacturing plant built in a joint partnership between Samsung SDI and Stellantis N.V. will go operational in 2027, with the initial production set to be 34-gigawatt hours (GWh) a year. The location of the new plant hasn't been decided yet.

Samsung SDI and Stellantis N.V. joined hands for the first time in October 2021 and announced their plan to set up their first battery manufacturing plant in Kokomo, Indiana, in May 2022. The first battery plant aims to have an annual production capacity of 33 GWh, up from the initial target of 23 GWh. Operations of the first battery plant of Samsung and Stellantis N.V. are all set to begin in Q1 of 2025.

You can look at our ViewFinity S9 5K monitor video below.

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Diehard Pixel fans were pretty happy when a recent rumor claimed that Google's upcoming Pixel phones could get software updates for seven years. It sounds impressive, even if it's not clear if the seven years mean the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will get seven major Android version updates or if Google is only increasing the support duration for security updates.

Our best guess is that it will be a combination of the two. Pixel phones currently get three major Android version updates, and Google may be extending that number to four or five in addition to increasing the number of years that its devices get security updates.

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Either way, Google could soon end up marching ahead of Samsung in the update game. It won't be able to beat Apple, as Apple has been known to provide security updates to iPhones up to 10 years after launch, though Google will close the gap considerably.

Naturally, after learning that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro could get updates for seven years, Samsung fans have been wondering if the Korean giant will do something similar for Galaxy smartphones. It sure will be nice if it does, but does Samsung need to do it?

A big deal for Pixel fans, but Google is partly playing catchup

Well, I don't think so. That's because, frankly, Google isn't exactly doing something wonderful here. Yes, it's great that future Pixel devices will be supported longer, but it isn't as significant a leap as it may seem on the surface once you realize that Google currently does less than it should when it comes to software updates.

Pixel smartphones, including the $1799 Pixel Fold, are only eligible for three big Android updates, and that is too low for smartphones made by the same company that develops the software from the ground up. Google should already have been providing at least four years of OS upgrades, but instead, it's Samsung that has shown Google and other manufacturers the way, and not just on one occasion.

And there's nothing stopping Samsung from taking charge again and promising five or six big OS upgrades for Galaxy devices and more than five years of security updates. But I don't think any of that needs to happen immediately. Four years of guaranteed Android and One UI version upgrades for phones priced anywhere between $300 and $1800 is already quite amazing, and Samsung can afford to take a breather and perhaps focus on other things, like making its phones wacky and exciting again.

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Google has started rolling out ChromeOS 117 to Galaxy Chromebooks and other ChromeOS devices globally (via 9To5Google). This is a big software update as it brings Google’s Material You design language to the OS. The new design language changes the look of many UI elements, including Quick Settings, the date tab that shows the calendar, and the notification panel. The company has added Dynamic Colour theming, as well as updated the Chrome web browser with the Material You design.

Redesigned Quick Settings panel

Starting with the Quick Settings, each control is now placed in a rounded rectangle rather than a circle. This design approach uses the space in a much better way and makes this panel look clearer, more organised, and more modern than before. The sliders for controlling sound and brightness are now thicker. The new design not only gives these elements a modern appeal but also makes these sliders easier.

New features for events and privacy

Besides Quick Settings, you have the date. Once you click on it, you’ll be presented with the calendar and events. This panel now gives you a ‘Join’ button to directly attend a video call. Plus, you’ll now be able to see multi-day events. Next to this tab, there is the notification panel, which now comes with entirely new feed sections. This area will also notify you if your camera or microphone is in use with a green dot. Google will soon make it possible to switch on/off access to those from this panel.

Dynamic Colour theming

Along with these changes, the company has also added Dynamic Colour theming to the OS, which changes the system theme based on the wallpaper. This feature also gives you four accent colours to choose from. You can turn off controls for accent colours for “more basic neutral colours”. The accent colours as well as neutral colours adapt to the light and dark theme. You can access controls for accent colours and light/dark mode by right-clicking on the desktop and choosing Wallpaper & Style.

Adaptive Charging to preserve battery health

Another interesting feature that you get with ChromeOS 117 is Adaptive Charging. Google says “Devices with Adaptive Charging enabled via Settings charge to 80% and then complete charging to 100% based on an ML model’s prediction for when the user will unplug their device. Reducing the time a device spends at 100% charge helps preserve the battery’s health and ability to hold a charge over the lifetime of the device”. You can find this feature in Settings » Device » Power.

Additional accessibility features

ChromeOS 117 also brings more accessibility features, and one of them is built-in colour settings. Google says that you can “Go to ChromeOS Accessibility settings under Display and Magnification enable colour filters for protanopia, deuteranopia or tritanopia, or to view the display in greyscale. Users are given a slider to customize the filters’ intensity to meet their needs” The new update brings many other changes. You can check them out on the Chrome Releases page.

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Things are not going so well for Apple. The Cupertino company recently launched the iPhone 15 lineup, and consumers have been using them for a week at this point. While the new iPhones have received a lot of praise for the improvements they bring, that praise has been overshadowed by complaints of how the iPhone 15's design isn't as tough and how it can't seem to keep temperatures in check.

Most of those complaints seem to be coming from iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max users, especially the ones about overheating as the standard and Plus models don't have the new Apple A17 chip. Many are expecting software updates to address the heating issues, but Apple might just have to recall its latest flagship instead.

iPhone 15's Pro models might have a serious heating issue

One iPhone 15 Pro user shared a picture of their phone swelling up near the bottom of the screen after they started using a case, which probably resulted in the heat getting bottled up inside. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have problems keeping thermals in check out of the box, and it's possible slapping a case on them only serves to aggravate the issue.

Woah. Someone's iPhone 15 Pro turned into a spicy pillow (swollen battery ) after the guy started using it in a case and then noticed the case didn't fit properly coz the iPhone's got thic. What is going on?

Samsung's curse hitting apple lmao. Hope its just a rare issue.… pic.twitter.com/Yfv2RHCXAn

— Zaryab Khan (@xeetechcare) September 28, 2023

Not every iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max is overheating, so it doesn't look like all units are affected. But the issue seems to be widespread enough that Apple won't be able to sweep things under the rug or tell people they're “holding it wrong” as it did years ago in response to the iPhone 4's connection issues.

Software updates to make the new A17 chip use less power and, therefore, run cooler could be one solution Apple pursues, but if people are already seeing their phone's battery swell up, it might be a symptom of a deeper issue that can't be fixed through software. Apple certainly doesn't want a Galaxy Note 7 situation on its hands, and it will be interesting to see how it responds.

For now, Apple is providing excuses such as initial device setup to be the cause of the iPhone 15s running hotter than usual, but people have also reported high temperatures when scrolling through Instagram reels or charging their phone, so you may want to hold off on buying an iPhone 15 (especially the Pro and Pro Max models) and also recommend people you know to do the same.

And if you have the urge to buy a new phone, don't feel like waiting, and don't care about living in the Apple ecosystem, you can get great deals on a Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, or Galaxy S23 Ultra on Samsung's website. Or you could wait for the Galaxy S24 lineup, which rumors say could be here a little earlier than previously expected.

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